PodcastDX
Bacteria called group B Streptococcus (group B strep, GBS) commonly live in people’s gastrointestinal and genital tracts. The gastrointestinal tract is the part of the body that digests food and includes the stomach and intestines. The genital tract is the part of the body involved in reproduction and includes the vagina in women. Most of the time the bacteria are not harmful and do not make people feel sick or have any symptoms. Sometimes the bacteria invade the body and cause certain infections, which are known as GBS disease. GBS bacteria can cause many types of infections: ...
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Incontinence refers to the involuntary leakage of urine (urinary incontinence) or feces (bowel incontinence), a common problem that can significantly impact quality of life. Urinary Incontinence: Definition: Urinary incontinence is the accidental loss of urine. Types: Stress incontinence: Leakage during physical activity or when the bladder is under pressure (coughing, sneezing, laughing). Urge incontinence: A strong, sudden urge to urinate that you can't control, leading to leakage. ...
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Winter sports are thrilling and enjoyable, but they come with unique risks that require careful preparation and safety measures. Activities such as skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and sledding expose participants to hazards like icy conditions, extreme cold, and potential collisions. Wearing appropriate protective gear, such as helmets, padded clothing, and eye protection, can significantly reduce the risk of injury. Additionally, dressing in moisture-wicking and layered clothing helps maintain body warmth and prevent frostbite or hypothermia. It is also crucial to stay hydrated, as...
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This week we discuss vectors in a hotter world. Vector-borne diseases, which are transmitted by hematophagous arthropods such as mosquitoes, ticks, and sandflies, pose a significant burden on global public health. These diseases disproportionately affect populations in tropical and subtropical regions, where environmental conditions favor the survival and proliferation of vectors. Given that vectors are ectothermic organisms, their life cycles, reproduction, survival rates, and geographic distribution are heavily influenced by climate variables such as temperature, rainfall, and...
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This week we discuss the basics about a topic several of our guests have spoken about- Ehlers Danlos Syndrome or EDS. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of inherited disorders that affect your connective tissues — primarily your skin, joints and blood vessel walls. Connective tissue is a complex mixture of proteins and other substances that provide strength and elasticity to the underlying structures in your body. The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes received and this is what we now know: EDS are heritable connective tissue disorders affecting the quality of collagen in every...
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This week we discuss "Food is Medicine". The concept of "food is medicine" refers to the idea that certain foods and dietary patterns can play a significant role in promoting health, preventing disease, and managing chronic conditions. This concept is based on the notion that food is not only a source of energy and nutrients but also a powerful tool for influencing our physiological and biochemical processes. Access to affordable, nutritious food is crucial for good health, yet many Americans, particularly in under-resourced communities, face barriers. The result? A...
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Our guest today is Evelyn Gamble. Evelyn is a dedicated healthcare worker and passionate heart disease advocate. With a deep commitment to improving health outcomes, Evelyn uses her personal and professional experiences to raise awareness about heart health, particularly for young adults. As a strong voice for change, she aims to inspire others to take proactive steps in managing their heart health and to advocate for better care and resources for those affected by heart disease. Definition: A heart arrhythmia, also known as a cardiac arrhythmia, is an abnormal rhythm...
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This week's episode we will discuss the resurgence of TB/ Tuberculosis. TB is a treatable and curable disease. Active, drug-susceptible TB disease is treated with a standard 6-month course of 4 antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information and support to the patient by a health worker or trained volunteer. Without such support, treatment adherence is more difficult. Since 2000, an estimated 66 million lives were saved through TB diagnosis and treatment. A total of 1.5 million people died from TB in 2020 (including 214 000 people with HIV). Worldwide, TB is the 13th leading...
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Our guest today is a Physical Therapist that specializes in Sciatica. Dean Volk, MPT, and owner of Sciatica Relief Now, has spent over 33 years revolutionizing sciatica treatment. After owning three successful clinics and a cash concierge practice and working with professional athletes, Volk transitioned to a virtual model in 2018, turning this side hustle into a full-time operation in 2021. Now based in Santa Monica, CA, Dean and his team of coaches provide virtual consultations and coaching to clients worldwide, helping them live their lives to the fullest. The cornerstone of Sciatica...
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In this episode we will discuss Myasthenia Gravis, an Autoimmune Disease affecting the neuromuscular system of the body with Tasha White, Director of a new Non-profit organization called My Walk with MG located in St. Louis, MO. Myasthenia gravis is a chronic neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the voluntary muscles. Voluntary muscles include muscles that connect to a person’s bones, muscles in the face, throat, and diaphragm. They contract to move the arms and legs and are essential for breathing, swallowing and facial movements. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune...
info_outlineThis week we will discuss Metabolic Systems with our guest, Francis Fessler.
A certified personal trainer and conditioning coach for the last 25 years, Francis Fessler has built a career by designing programs and coaching professional and amateur athletes, celebrities, business professionals, parents and children to achieve their wellness and fitness goals. Throughout his time in the health and wellness world he evaluated, tried and tested countless ‘diet and nutrition plans’ and could not find one that had consistent results for both women and men- so he built one. Francis created F2 Wellness and the highly successful F2 Weight Loss Program for not only his clients, but for anyone looking for a simple, successful and sustainable weight loss program.
Have you ever experienced tiredness in your muscles while working out and you couldn’t continue exercising after a certain point? Have you wondered what can make you lift heavier weights or run longer than you can today? If you have, understanding the mechanism of the body's energy system can help you find answers to these questions.
Three metabolic pathways generate the energy required to perform an exercise: the phosphagen pathway, the glycolytic pathway, and the oxidative pathway, together known as the energy systems. Although your body is always using all three simultaneously, depending on the intensity and duration of the exercise, your body will choose from which pathway it will use the largest percentage of its energy.
As you may know, all energy used by our bodies is generated from the breakdown of food and drink. The three macronutrients are protein, carbohydrate, and fat. Those are metabolized to create adenosine triphosphate, which is the source of fuel for all body processes, including muscle contraction.
Unfortunately, the supply of readily available ATP is very limited. It means our bodies constantly have to produce the substance; otherwise, muscle contraction would stop. This re-synthesis of ATP is done by the three energy systems.
The first 10 to 20 seconds of high-intensity physical activity is fueled by the “ATP-CP,” also known as the phosphagen energy system. Once the available ATP is used up, which occurs in a few seconds, a molecule called phosphocreatine is used to re-form ATP in the muscle. This energy system operates very quickly and can bring the highest output of the three systems. However, it is limited by the availability of creatine phosphate, which is usually consumed within 15 seconds.
Your body can eventually refill these stores when you rest. This is why this system is most active for athletes who engage in short bouts of very intense, explosive movement, such as a the 50-meter dash or powerlifting. This is also the reason we can sprint at full speed for only a few seconds or lift maximum loads only 1-2 times before requiring rest or a decrease in exercise intensity using another metabolic pathway.
The second pathway, the glycolytic pathway, is the primary energy system used for exercise lasting from 15 seconds to three minutes. People running an 800-meter event, for example, use this pathway the most. This energy system uses the glucose stored in the muscle, broken down primarily from carbohydrates, to form ATP. The benefit of this pathway is that it kicks in quickly, but it doesn’t make very much energy; it can only supply a maximum of about three minutes of energy. This pathway is responsible for the buildup of lactic acid in our muscles, which contributes to fatigue.
For exercise lasting longer than three minutes, the oxidative pathway is used. Unlike the others, this energy system requires oxygen. The increase in respiratory rate meets the oxygen demand during physical activity. The oxidative system is slow, but is also the most efficient. Using fat as its primary energy substrate, it produces enough ATP to sustain longer duration activities, but only at submaximal exercise output. It means fat is the predominant fuel source used during low to moderate-intensity activity, like biking or jogging long distances.
Now you are more knowledgeable on how your body relies on each of these systems working together to meet the energy demands needed for activities of daily living and exercise.
The system your body will use primarily depends on the type of activities you mostly engage in. The more you train in that particular type of exercise, the better your body adapts to being able to efficiently use that energy system.
For example, individuals who have trained in powerlifting can store more phosphocreatine and ATP than a marathon runner or sedentary individual. On the other hand, endurance-trained individuals have better ventilation ability, maximizing oxygen availability for the oxidative pathway. At the end of the day, consistency is key. If you want to excel at a particular type of exercise, just keep doing it and in time, your body will adapt. (Credits: US Army)