Stage 4 Cancer as an ER Doc
PodcastDX
Our guest today is a physician, author and activist. The topic this week is "Stage 4 Cancer as an ER Doc". Dr. J practices emergency medicine at St. Michael’s, Toronto’s inner-city trauma hospital, is Associate Professor and -winning teacher and at the University of Toronto. He has written two books so far, the international bestseller “” and more recently, ““, winner of Canada’s largest non-fiction . You can find more of his writing here: He was editor of both the and and founding, strategic director of...
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Ai and Robotics in Medicine
PodcastDX
This week on PodcastDX, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar joins Lita, Ron, and Jean Marie to discuss AI and robotics in medicine—from surgical robots and rehabilitation technology to hospital automation, patient safety, and the importance of keeping human judgment at the center of care. Dr. Sanjeev Kumar was the first surgeon to perform a robotic cervical cerclage in the city of Memphis on a outpatient basis leading to discharge of the patient on the same day. This operation was called as a breakthrough by the local media as it helped local people in Memphis to achieve the dreams of having a family. Before...
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EECP The Most Underutilized Therapy in Medicine
PodcastDX
Retired U.S. Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer Jack Clifford joins PodcastDX to share how severe chronic angina once limited even everyday activities and left him facing the possibility of triple-bypass surgery. After researching options and advocating for a referral, Jack began Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP), a noninvasive outpatient therapy in which timed leg cuffs inflate and deflate in sync with the heartbeat. He describes the gradual improvement he experienced after treatment and why he has devoted more than 700 hours to EECP, written EECP: The Most Under Utilized Therapy...
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Diary of An Epileptic
PodcastDX
In this episode of PodcastDX, we speak with , founder of Diary of an Epileptic, about the realities of living with epilepsy beyond what most people see. Allany shares how her diagnosis changed her life and led her to create a platform built on honest storytelling, awareness, and connection. Together, we explore the many ways epilepsy can affect memory, confidence, relationships, mental health, daily routines, and a person’s sense of identity—not only seizures. This thoughtful conversation also addresses misinformation and stigma, the value of tracking symptoms and triggers, and the...
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Memory Villages
PodcastDX
Memory Villages explores the promise and the questions surrounding dementia villages—care communities designed to feel more like neighborhoods than institutions. We discuss how familiar surroundings, routine, meaningful activity, and freedom of movement may support dignity and engagement, while also examining the important concerns: cost, access, staffing, evidence of benefit, safety, and ethics. The United States has been slower than countries such as the Netherlands and Canada to build full residential memory villages. The reasons appear to be less about lack of interest and more about...
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Ebola
PodcastDX
In this PodcastDX episode, Lita and Jean Marie unpack Ebola as a severe but not casually spread viral disease, explaining that infection requires direct contact with blood or other body fluids or contaminated materials, not simple proximity or everyday social contact. They outline key facts about animal reservoirs (likely bats), how spillover into humans occurs, and why understanding zoonotic origins helps shape outbreak prevention in affected regions. The conversation walks listeners through typical Ebola symptoms, the incubation period, and why early recognition and intensive...
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Sunscreen
PodcastDX
In this week’s episode of PodcastDX, Lita and Jean Marie break down why sunscreen is about far more than avoiding a bad sunburn—it’s everyday cancer prevention. They explain how UV damage happens while driving, walking the dog, or sitting by a window, and why “broad spectrum” protection against both UVA (aging, deeper damage) and UVB (burns) really matters. The episode covers the newly FDA‑approved ingredient bemotrizinol, what SPF numbers actually mean, and why using enough product and reapplying is just as important as what’s on the label. Together they walk through commonly...
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Vagus Nerve Reset
PodcastDX
In this solo PodcastDX episode, Lita introduces the concept of the vagus nerve and explains why it has become such a focus in wellness, neurology, psychiatry, and online health spaces. She describes the vagus nerve’s path from brainstem through neck, chest, and abdomen, highlighting its role in heart rate, breathing patterns, digestion, and the body’s stress response, and explains that most people using the term “reset” are really talking about wanting to feel less stuck in a chronic high‑alert or fight‑or‑flight state. Lita then breaks down the different things people may...
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When Seconds Matter
PodcastDX
“When Seconds Matter” is a strong, urgent PodcastDX episode. It is a personal story about emergency response and the critical minutes before help arrives. It's focused on recognizing danger early, calling911 fast, starting CPR, and using an AED when needed. When Seconds Matter explores what to do in a true medical emergency, when every moment can determine whether a person survives. Drawing from a deeply personal story, the episode explains how to recognize signs of heart attack, cardiac arrest, drowning, and collapse, why immediate911 activation matters, and how CPR and AED use...
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Heart, Brain & Immunity: New Clues After a Heart Attack
PodcastDX
After a heart attack, the story doesn’t end in the arteries. In this episode of PodcastDX, Lita and Jean Marie explore new science showing how the heart, brain, and immune system talk to each other during and after a heart attack—and how that three-way conversation can either protect the heart or make damage worse. We break down a “triple‑node” loop discovered in recent research, where vagus‑nerve sensory fibers in the heart send danger signals to the brain, the brain ramps up fight‑or‑flight output, and the immune system responds in ways that can change healing, scarring, and...
info_outlineThis 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 herself, battling POTS. Frustrated by the lack of answers, she self-funded much of her research to accelerate progress for patients today. That personal fight has fueled over a decade of innovation in diagnosis and treatment strategies that are transforming patient care.
In this episode, we explore her unique perspective as both a former patient and a leading researcher. Dr. Driscoll shares her story, her research, and her vision for the future of POTS treatment.
What is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)?
POTS is a form of orthostatic intolerance that causes the heart to beat abnormally fast when moving from sitting or lying down to standing up. Breaking down the name helps explain the condition:
• Postural: Related to body position
• Orthostatic: Related to standing upright
• Tachycardia: A heart rate above 100 beats per minute
• Syndrome: A collection of symptoms occurring together
Normally, the autonomic nervous system keeps heart rate and blood pressure stable regardless of position. In POTS, that balance is disrupted. The body struggles to constrict blood vessels and regulate heart rate properly, leading to dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, fatigue, and more.
Who Does POTS Affect?
POTS affects an estimated 1 to 3 million Americans, most often women between the ages of 15 and 50. However, men can develop the condition as well.
Risk factors include:
• Viral or serious infections (such as mononucleosis)
• Pregnancy
• Physical trauma or surgery
• Certain autoimmune conditions (e.g., Sjögren’s syndrome, lupus, celiac disease)
How Does POTS Affect the Body?
When standing, gravity naturally pulls 10–15% of blood into the lower body. Normally, leg muscles and hormonal responses (like the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine) help keep blood circulating back to the brain and heart.
For people with POTS, too much blood pools below the heart. Their blood vessels don’t constrict properly, forcing the heart to compensate by racing. This imbalance causes hallmark symptoms such as dizziness, exhaustion, brain fog, and even fainting.
While POTS is not life-threatening, it can be life-altering. Daily tasks may become difficult, and symptoms often fluctuate over time. The good news: with the right combination of dietary adjustments, medications, and physical activity, many people experience meaningful improvements in their quality of life.
Learn More
Join us as Dr. Diana Driscoll shares her remarkable journey, her patient-centered research, and her continuing mission to bring visibility and solutions to the millions living with POTS.