Having friends at work helps with your mental health and could even help advance your career. How can you go about making friends if you're shy or if you work from home? Here to help us understand why it's important to have friends at work and give us advice on how to make friends are Lynn Jennings, Ph.D., and Nicole Noble, Ph.D. They are both coun…

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According to the Pew Research Center, nearly one third of adults in the U.S. have a tattoo, and 22% have more than one. What happens to our skin when we get a tattoo and what makes them permanent? Alan Pang, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians surgeon specializing in burn would, trauma and critical care, is our guest expert for this episode. Dr. Pang answe…

Jeepers, creepers! Would you like to make your brown eyes blue? We can change our mind, and we can change the color our hair. Can we change the color of our eyes? Kelly Mitchell, M.D., is a well-known expert to our listeners. He's an ophthalmologist with Texas Tech Physicians. Dr. Mitchell explains how we get our eye color and the purpose behind th…

Around 60% of Americans have pets, and many of them are considered family members. How do we deal with the loss when our pet dies? Natalie Harryman, a licensed marriage and family therapist with the Counseling Center, explains that pets bring joy, motivation and unconditional love, but they also bring stress. She notes that grieving a pet is simila…

Occupational or work-related lung diseases are lung conditions which have been caused by long-term, or even a one-time, exposure to certain irritants. Our guest for today, Anuhya Alapati, M.D., is a pulmonologist with Texas Tech Physicians. Dr. Alaptai tells us which occupations potentially pose problems, signs of lung disease, treatments and steps…

Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are common infections, but they're much more common among women than men. What causes a UTI? What should you do if you think you have one? How can you prevent them? Guests for this episode are Melissa Sanford, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians urologist, and Kristen Sharma, Texas Tech Physicians urology family nurse pra…

With the number of people aged 65 years and older projected to more than double in the next quarter century, the need for caregivers will increase as well. Caregiving, especially for adults with dementia, is even now expensive and labor intensive, with some choosing home-care putting pressure on family members and even leading to burnout. Gayle Aye…

September is designated as Healthy Aging Month, but social isolation and loneliness among older adults negatively affect their mental and physical health. What does that mean and what can we do to help minimize that risk? Gayle Ayers, D.O. is a psychiatrist with the TTUHSC Garrison Institute on Aging and our guest for this and the next episode. Dr.…

Violent and horrific images of events and even descriptions of these incidents in the media seem frequent and unavoidable, especially recently. This can have a significant impact on your mental health. Natalie Scanlon, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in the TTUHSC School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, explains what impact these images can hav…

Breathe easier as you listen to this podcast about lung health and learn about keeping your lungs healthy. Anuhya Alapati, M.D., pulmonologist in the Department of Internal Medicine, is our expert for this episode. Dr. Alapati tell us about how to keep our lungs healthy by explaining what symptoms to watch out for, precautions we should take, how e…

Many of us are aware of our thyroids, but how many of us know what it does or what happens when there’s a problem with our thyroid. Mohammad Sidani, M.D., guest for this episode, tells us all about the thyroid, including the origin of its name, and why if you’re on thyroid medication you should take it exactly as prescribed. Dr. Sidani is a Texas T…

Mental disorders affect men and women, but men are less likely to have received mental health treatment than women in the past year. Men are also more likely to die by suicide than women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What does it mean when men bottle up their emotions? How can we encourage them to seek help? Taylor J…

If you or a loved one have food allergies, make sure you check those epinephrine injectors before you hit the road to either drop off a kiddo at camp, take a family vacation or join your friends or family for a meal. Also make sure that you and your loved ones know how to use it properly. That’s the advice from James Tarbox, M.D., an allergist with…

Be mindful of your feet as you step into the heat this summer. Our expert for this episode is Jerry Grimes, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Grimes reminds us to keep our feet safe by wearing footwear that's appropriate for the occasion, applying sunscreen on our feet if they’re exposed to the sun and if you can’t feel your feet …

Women are the most common caregivers, but they must remember to prioritize their physical health too. Jennifer Ward, M.D., assistant professor for the School of Medicine's Family and Community Medicine, explains why having annual checkups and screenings is important, but so is knowing one's family medical history. Dr. Ward tells us some common heal…

We’re highlighting women’s health this month and would like to encourage women and girls to prioritize their health. One of the ways to do that is by becoming physically active. Toby Brooks, Ph.D., is program director for the TTUHSC School of Health Professions Master of Athletic Training. Brooks also has worked as an athletic trainer and/or streng…

There are more than 5 million cases diagnosed in the U.S. every year, making skin cancer America’s most common cancer. It’s also one of the most preventable ones. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and Meredith Pham, M.D., with the department of dermatology at Texas Tech Physicians shares with us facts about early detection and sun protection. Also…

It’s been 70 years since the first bariatric surgery, and weight loss continues to dominate headlines. As you’ve heard our experts stress before, effective weight loss strategies emphasize changes in habits for long-term weight loss and overall health. Sima Shahbandar, M.D., an internal medicine doctor with Texas Tech Physicians at the TTP Multispe…

You may have heard about encephalitis being a possible threat in certain areas of the world, but if you’re like me, you might not know much else. Although we hear about it happening somewhere else in the world, it doesn’t mean we’re immune to it here in the U.S. Our guest for this episode is Walter Duarte, M.D., a neurologist with the TTUHSC School…

Hearing loss in rural adolescents is almost double that of the general population of children. We might think of rural areas as peaceful and quiet, but sometimes it gets loud enough to cause harm. Our expert for this episode is Leigh Ann Reel, Au.D., Ph.D., Director of the Center for Speech, Language, and Hearing Research in the Doctor of Audiology…

This is the final installment of our three-part series on artificial intelligence in health care for patients, in education and for providers. Part three focuses on the impact of AI on health care providers. Our guests for this series are: Dr. Steph Hoelscher, DNP and associate professor, and Dr. Grace Sun, DNP and associate professor, both from th…

This is part two of a three-part series on artificial intelligence in health care for patients, in education and for providers. Part two focuses on the impact of AI on health care education, including the benefits and challenges. Our guests for this series are: Dr. Steph Hoelscher, DNP and associate professor, and Dr. Grace Sun, DNP and associate p…

This is part one of a three-part series on artificial intelligence in health care for patients, in education and for providers. Part one focuses on the impact of AI for the general public and how it is used to improve everything from patient education and preventive care to diagnostics and personalized medicine. Our guests for this series are: Dr. …

Learn to be mindful of your mental health during election season. If you're feeling overwhelmed by campaign ads or dreading talking to loved ones, coworkers or neighbors because they bring up politics, you're not alone. Our guest for this episode is Madison Bishop, LMFT, senior therapist at the Department of Psychiatry's Counseling Center's employe…

Is it allergies? Is it a cold or is it something else that's making us sneeze and cough? If you do find yourself with a runny nose or cough, is it better to stay home and eat chicken soup or to visit your primary care provider or even go to the emergency room? Our guest for this episode is Rafael Rosalez, M.D., a family medicine doctor with Texas T…

Consider the largest organ in the body. Look after it and it'll take care of you. Our guest for this episode is Patti May, M.D., TTUHSC School of Medicine’s Family and Community Medicine Department and is with Texas Tech Physicians at UMC Health and Wellness Hospital. Dr. May tells us that it’s never too early to pay attention to your skin for prev…

What does it mean to be jealous or envious in a relationship? What does it do to our mental and physical health? Our guest for this episode is Robert Ragland, licensed professional counselor in the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry and Employee Assistance Program. He explains the differences …

Advances in detection and treatment for prostate cancer has improved so much that it's possible that patients are left with less dramatic side effects than those of past years. The key to this is early detection. Pranav Sharma, M.D., division chief of urologic oncology and clinical medical director, tells us who should get tested and when, who is a…

Children eye diseases and conditions are common, but certain diseases can only be cured if caught before they turn two. Temiloluwa Abikoye, M.D., an ophthalmologist, specializing in pediatric ophthalmology at Texas Tech Physicians, describes and explains these conditions and diseases. Dr. Abikoye also tell us what physicians look out for and what p…

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness and more prevalent among Black and Hispanic populations. Matt Porter, M.D., is an ophthalmologist in the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences. Dr. Porter explains the different types of glaucoma and treatments and how it affects our vision. He al…

Self-care isn't selfish. It's taking time to do the things that will help improve your physical and mental health. Poorvanshi Alag, M.D., assistant professor in the department of psychiatry, explains the different kinds of self-care and why it's important to practice, even small acts of self-care.De către Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

One of the things our experts agree on for improving our health, in addition to quitting smoking, is getting daily exercise. Move that body. How do you start or how do you get back to exercising if it’s been a while? Here to tell us how to ease into it is Toby Brooks, Ph.D., associate professor and program director of the TTUHSC School of Health Pr…

Since the pandemic, many of us have seen an increase in the time we spend in front of screens – whether it’s placing an order for food or a delivery, scheduling an appointment, doing homework or chatting with friends or family. That additional time in front of screens could be harming our physical and mental health. Our guest for this episode is Lo…

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, a time dedicated to help the public understand the benefit of this type of serious-illness care and the importance of advance care planning. Our guest for this episode is Kelly Klein, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians Department of Family Medicine and associate professor in the TTUHSC School of Medi…

It's the season to say "thanks," but expressing your gratitude daily could help improve your health. Our guest for this episode is Natalie Scanlon, Ph.D. She graciously accepted our invitation to come back and tell us the benefits of gratitude on our mental and physical health. Dr. Scanlon encourages us to practice gratitude and mindfulness and see…

Many of us celebrate Halloween, Dia de los muertos, and even All Saints Day and All Souls Day -- the time of year when we remember loved ones who have passed away. These holidays also give us an opportunity to think about loved ones we lost and how we grieve. However, some people, regardless of age, can become overwhelmed by their grief. Prolonged …

Eating disorders can cause a lot of harm to children and adolescents, but treatment is available. Our guest for this episode is Rosa Gomez de Jesus, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians pediatrician. Dr. Gomez explains the different types of eating disorders, warning signs, treatment and advice for parents and caregivers to help their children.…

It’s the time of year when we go over the list of things we need to do to prepare for the fall and winter – take warmer clothes out of storage, get our cars serviced, prepare our lawns and gardens for the upcoming harsh weather and get vaccinated against flu, COVID and RSV. Our guest for this episode is Fiona Prabhu, M.D., School of Medicine Profes…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity is a serious problem in the U.S. and puts children and adolescents at risk for poor physical and psychological health. How can parents and caregivers help their children manage their weight? That’s what Amanda Masters, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians pediatrician and associa…

Our guest for this episode, Christina Sanders, D.O., associate professor in the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Department of Neurology and a pediatric rehabilitation medicine (PRM) and brain injury medicine (BIM) physician, goes over different types of brain injuries, symptoms, treatments and long-term effects of le…

There are few more painful or confusing experiences than a gallbladder attack. This episode's guest, Justin Vaughan, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians surgeon, explains what a gallbladder does and how gallstones are formed, what triggers an attack and the risks associated with not getting treatment.De către Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

The annular solar eclipse will cross North, Central and South America on Oct. 14 and it will be visible in parts of the U.S., with the greatest path visibility in Texas. Everyone should know by now not to stare directly at an eclipse but may not know why. Our guest, Kelly Mitchell, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians ophthalmologist, explains why we should…

There are nearly 6 million children in the U.S. with asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What can you do if your child has asthma and how can you encourage them to be active without triggering an asthma attack? Our guest for this episode is Adaobi Kanu, M.D., is a pediatric pulmonologist for Texas Tech Physicians. S…

Plastic surgery is more than just improving someone's appearance. It involves much more, including procedures such as repairing complex wounds. For a variety of reasons, some people choose to get plastic surgery abroad, but they might come home with more complications. Guests for this episode, Bryce Stash, M.D., and Deepak Bharadia, M.D., Texas Tec…

Alcohol use tends to be higher among college students compared to non-college youth. Frequent heavy drinking (binge drinking) can greatly increase one's chances of developing an alcohol use disorder, which can cause serious physical and emotional damage. This episode's guest explains the dangers of college binge drinking and alcohol abuse and provi…

How can parents and guardians and college students themselves make sure their first year of higher education is a fun yet safe and productive experience? Our guest for this episode is David Edwards, M.D., medical director for TTUHSC's Student Health Services, and associate professor of Sports Medicine in the School of Medicine. Dr. Edwards talks to…

Synthetic opioids like fentanyl, are oftentimes mixed with other illicit drugs, such as cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin and marijuana, leaving many users unaware they were taking fentanyl. What does this mean for someone who is mentally ill or is taking other prescription medications? Our guest for this episode is Poorvanshi Alag, M.D., assista…

More than 25 million adult Americans experience temporary or chronic urinary incontinence. It can happen at any age too. For women, what are the causes and treatments? Guests for this episode are Melissa Sanford, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians urologist, and Kristen Sharma, Texas Tech Physicians urology family nurse practitioner. They answer our quest…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2015-2019 Black men were 1.2 times and 1.7 times, respectively, more likely to have new cases of colon and prostate cancer, as compared to non-Hispanic white men. Additionally, they have lower 5-year cancer survival rates for most cancer sites, as compared to non-Hispanic white men. …