Resurgence of Worrisome Diseases
PodcastDX
Several preventable diseases are experiencing a resurgence due to declining vaccination rates. These include: Diphtheria: A bacterial infection that can lead to a thick membrane in the throat and respiratory failure. Tuberculosis: A bacterial infection that can affect the lungs and other organs. Chickenpox: A viral infection that can cause blisters and scarring. Polio: A viral disease that can cause paralysis. Measles: This highly contagious virus can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis. Mumps: A viral...
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Understanding POTS with Dr. Diana Driscoll
PodcastDX
This Week on PodcastDX: Understanding POTS with Dr. Diana Driscoll This week we are honored to welcome none other than Dr. Diana Driscoll, a world-renowned authority on the autonomic nervous system. An optometrist and Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO), Dr. Driscoll is internationally recognized for her groundbreaking research on Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and other conditions once thought to be “invisible.” Dr. Driscoll has dedicated her career to improving the lives of those affected by autonomic disorders. Her journey began as a patient...
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Spinal Muscular Atrophy SMA with Gyzele Brown
PodcastDX
Gyzele Brown is a proud native of Greenville, MS, now residing in Cleveland, MS. She is the owner and operator of Gyzele’s Salon and Spa, where she’s dedicated to not only transforming looks but also impacting lives through her work. A graduate of Delta State University and Goshen Cosmetology School, Gyzele’s journey began with a background in speech and hearing science — yet her passion for hair and beauty took center stage. Beyond her career, Gyzele is a proud mother of three amazing children who all have spinal muscular atrophy, a rare genetic disease. Her journey...
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The Trifecta: EDS, POTs & MCAS
PodcastDX
What do we mean when we see the word "Trifecta" ? In Horse Racing you would be talking about a bet where you must pick the first, second, and third-place horses in the precise order they finish. In skincare, "The Trifecta" can refer to a set of three essential skincare products that work together for visible results, like a cleanser, serum, and moisturizer. But in this show where we discuss healthcare conditions, "" refers to the three specific diseases which are often found to occur together. For today's show that means EDS, (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) POTs (Postural...
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Friedreich's Ataxia with Alexia Baker
PodcastDX
This week we talk with Alexis, 25, was diagnosed with Friedreich ataxia (FA) five years ago and since then, has been using her voice and social media platforms to raise awareness for the rare disease. Alexis recently started a foundation, whose goal is to raise money to provide new walkers and wheelchairs for those in need. She currently lives in Tennessee, loves fashion and is currently planning a wedding to her fiancée. Friedreich's ataxia is a rare, inherited disease. It damages the spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and the cerebellum part of the brain. It also leads to heart...
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Hemiplegic Migraine
PodcastDX
Migraine can present in a variety of ways. Hemiplegic migraine is a rare form of migraine where people experience weakness on one side of their body (hemiplegia) in addition to the migraine headache attack. The weakness is a form of migraine aura and occurs with other forms of typical migraine aura like changes in vision, speech or sensation. Our guest on today's show is Amber is a Registered Nurse turned blogger and patient advocate for those with chronic illnesses. Amber Blackburn is a Registered Nurse turned blogger and patient advocate for those with chronic...
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Dangers in the Beauty Industry
PodcastDX
This week we discuss dangers in the beauty industry. From a client's perspective, the issues might not be as severe, but the clinicians who must deal with chemicals day in and day out are at a greater risk. The average woman uses 12 different beauty products every day — cleansers, conditioners, hair dyes, fragrances, skin care products, scented lotions, nail polish, and makeup, to name a few. Take a quick glance at the labels, and you'll see a cocktail of chemical components. You might assume that all these ingredients have been tested to ensure that they're safe for long-term...
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Elderly Fade
PodcastDX
This week's episode has the cohosts talking about social isolation and earlier death among the elderly population. Studies have shown that loneliness is associated with a higher risk of mortality in older adults. For example, one study found that individuals experiencing loneliness at one or more points in time had a higher hazard for mortality compared to those who never experienced loneliness. Loneliness can trigger physiological stress responses, potentially leading to chronic inflammation and reduced immunity. These factors can contribute to the development of...
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Tularemia or Rabbit Fever
PodcastDX
Tularemia is a highly infectious disease you get from the bacterium F. tularensis. You can get it from bug bites, infected animals, contaminated water or food, and particles of bacteria in the air. Tularemia can affect your skin, eyes, throat, lungs and intestines. Tularemia should be treated as soon as possible with antibiotics. We will not have a guest for this week, but would love to invite anyone who has been diagnosed with Tularemia to be a guest on a future show. Tularemia causes your lymph nodes to painfully swell and other symptoms in your lungs, eyes, throat and intestines,...
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Blastomycosis
PodcastDX
Our guest for this week is Sara Olson. Sara (her TikTok name is ) is from the Wolf River area of Wisconsin which just happens to hold the highest concentration of the fungus that causes Blastomycosis. When Sara got Blastomycosis in January 2024, she thought it was 'just the flu'. With a chest xray, she was diagnosed with pneumonia. Several rounds of antibiotics didn't help so she did a CT scan where they found an embolism. Still not knowing anything else, they continued treating her for bacterial pneumonia. They did a swab of her sputum in which her health...
info_outlineThis week we will discuss the annual medical checkup or annual physical exam. We will not have a guest on this episode but hope you will learn just as much from the discussion based on the research we have done for this episode.
Annual Physical Exam: The Basics
The physical exam is an essential part of any doctor's visit. Surprisingly, though, there are no absolutes in a routine physical. A good doctor may be thorough or brief, but they will spend time listening to your concerns and providing counseling for your particular complaints and risk factors.
Annual exams usually check your:
History. This is your chance to mention any complaints or concerns about your health. Your doctor will also likely quiz you about lifestyle behaviors like smoking, excessive alcohol use, sexual health, diet, and exercise. The doctor will also check on your vaccination status and update your personal and family medical history.
Vital Signs. These are some vital signs checked by your doctor:
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Blood pressure: Less than 120 over less than 80 is a normal blood pressure. Doctors define high blood pressure (hypertension) as 130 over 80 or higher.
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Heart rate: Values between 60 and 100 are considered normal. Many healthy people have heart rates slower than 60, however.
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Respiration rate: From 12 to 16 breaths per minute is normal for a healthy adult. Breathing more than 20 times per minute can suggest heart or lung problems.
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Temperature: 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit is the average, but healthy people can have resting temperatures slightly higher or lower.
General Appearance. Your doctor gathers a large amount of information about you and your health just by watching and talking to you. How is your memory and mental quickness? Does your skin appear healthy? Can you easily stand and walk?
Heart Exam. Listening to your heart with a stethoscope, a doctor might detect an irregular heartbeat, a heart murmur, or other clues to heart disease.
Lung Exam. Using a stethoscope, a doctor listens for crackles, wheezes, or decreased breath sounds. These and other sounds are clues to the presence of heart or lung disease.
Head and Neck Exam. Opening up and saying "ah" shows off your throat and tonsils. The quality of your teeth and gums also provides information about your overall health. Ears, nose, sinuses, eyes, lymph nodes, thyroid, and carotid arteries may also be examined.
Abdominal Exam. Your doctor can use a range of examination techniques including tapping your abdomen to detect liver size and presence of abdominal fluid, listening for bowel sounds with a stethoscope, and palpating for tenderness.
Neurological Exam. Nerves, muscle strength, reflexes, balance, and mental state may be assessed.
Dermatological Exam. Skin and nail findings could indicate a dermatological problem or disease somewhere else in the body.
Extremities Exam. Your doctor will look for physical and sensory changes. Pulses can be checked in your arms and legs. Examining joints can assess for abnormalities.
Male Physical Exam
An annual physical exam for men might also include:
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Testicular exam: A doctor can check each testicle for lumps, tenderness, or changes in size. Most men with testicular cancer notice a growth before seeing a doctor.
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Hernia exam: The famous "turn your head and cough" checks for a weakness in the abdominal wall between the intestines and scrotum.
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Penis exam: A doctor might notice evidence of sexually transmitted infections such as warts or ulcers on the penis.
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Prostate exam: Inserting a finger in the rectum lets a doctor feel the prostate for its size and any suspicious areas.
Female Physical Exam
A woman's annual exam might include:
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Breast exam. Feeling for abnormal lumps may detect breast cancer or benign breast conditions. The doctor will also check the lymph nodes in the underarm area and look for visual abnormalities of the breasts and nipples.
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Pelvic exam: The pelvic exam allows examination of the vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus and ovaries. Routine checks for sexually transmitted infections are often done. A Pap test and HPV test can screen for cervical cancer and help assess risk.