Radio Naturopath Episode 307: Statins: Pros and Cons, More Natural Help for Cardiovascular Disease

This week we have more discussion of cardiovascular health. We touch on how statins actually help to lower cardiovascular risk, but also the problems associated with them. We also suggest ways to mitigate these problems. We talk about supplements that help with healthy blood vessels and to keep plaque at bay. We also list some foods that can help with your heart health.

Radio Naturopath Episode 306: A Month After Bypass Surgery: Ron's Experience

This week, we talk to Ron at length about his progress, just one month past his coronary artery bypass graft surgery. We specifically ask him about his healing scars, healing bones, how he's doing with exercise, meds, and most importantly, his mental state. People who have undergone cardiac surgery can go through many varied feelings and psychiatric issues, and it's important to attend to those as they are occuring.

Radio Naturopath Episode 305: Chest Pain, Stroke, and Pulse Rate

This week we continued the discussion about cardiovascular health, and checked in with Ron about his healing process. He is getting along great! However, the metoprolol is making him very sleepy, even though it's allowing him a good rest.

This week we talked about the various things that can present with chest pain, from as mild as a pulled muscle to as serious as a heart attack, and everything in between. If you have new chest pain that doesn't let up, it's a good idea to go straight to the ER.

We also talked about the signs of stroke and causes, from ischemic to hemorrhagic and thrombotic vs. embolic. High blood pressure is a major cause of stroke, and most strokes happen in women and are thrombotic or embolic.

We began to talk about heart healthy foods and will talk more next week! We also talked about variations in resting pulse and what that might mean.

Radio Naturopath Episode 304: Cardiovascular Disease: Ron's Bump In The Road

We talked about Ron's experience of chest discomfort and shortness of breath during exertion, and how that led us to have him go to first his primary care physician, then the walk-in, and then finally consult with cardiology. It turns out this healthy fit guy had cardiovascular disease! It was pretty severe, and he had no idea because he had no marked symptoms until his arteries were over 90% blocked. So, here's the saga of his surgery, his aftereffects, his recuperation and treatment! Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Radio Naturopath Episode 303: COVID-19: Safely Getting Back to Life, More On Asthma

Today I did a short history of Cinco de Mayo, which is NOT Mexican Independence Day, but a celebration of the triumph of the Mexicans over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Still a good excuse to celebrate our Mexican-American friends, and eat tacos, burritos, enchiladas, nachos, and raise a Margarita!

I reviewed the new CDC recommendations about the safety of various activities with or without a mask and whether or not you're vaccinated. The bottom line is, if you have to get near anyone for whom you don't know their vaccination status, wear a mask. The pandemic is not over yet.

I talked some more about asthma as I didn't get to all my information last week. Next week: specifics on exercise-induced asthma!

Radio Naturopath Episode 302: More on J&J Vaccine, CBD for Health, and Natural Help for Asthma

This week we talked about how the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 is still very low risk compared to the risk of catching COVID-19. Having said that, if you're a woman under 50 it's probably a good idea to take the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, since they have no incidence of unusual blood clots. If you have gotten Johnson and Johnson, let your doctor know immediately if you have any unusual symptoms, especially severe headaches with blurred vision, seizures, loss of consciousness; or any severe unremitting abdominal pain. If this occurs it will likely be in the 2 weeks following vaccination. As I said, this is VERY unlikely to occur, and you're much more likely to get a blood clot sitting still on an airplane trip.

We covered more about the various benefits of CBD, such as help for pain, anxiety, depression, and inflammtion. We also talked about natural help for asthma, and will discuss this and exercise induced asthma next week too!

Radio Naturopath Episode 301: Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine and Blood Clots, Happy Cannabis Day!

This week I talked about the blood clotting situation with the Johnson & Johnson and Astra-Zeneca COVID-19 vaccinations. In the US, the J&J vaccination administration has been put on pause until the government knows who can safely take this vaccine. It's because of an exceedingly rare, but often deadly condition involving platelet factor 4 complexes, antibodies, and blood clots to the brain and gut that uses up platelets and increases bleeding likelihood. The likelihood of getting these rare disorders from these vaccines is astronomically lower than getting these conditions from actually having COVID-19. Having said that, YOU don't want to be the one to have this condition, so the CDC is figuring out who has the most likelihood of getting these disorders and will recommend that those folks take Pfizer or Moderna instead, which are not showing these side effects. it's problematic because these single-dose, easliy refrigerated vaccines are the answer for disadvantages populations here and abroad. It's likely that they'll be re-approved for specific populations.

Tuesday, April 20 is Weed Day! It's the day to celebrate cannabis. We talk a little bit about access and health benefits.

Radio Naturopath Episode 300: High Intensity Interval Training, Respiratory Allergies 2021

In our continuing quest to inform about exercise, we talked about how high intensity interval training can be helpful. It can increase fat burning during and after exercise, improve insulin sensitivity, lower blood sugar, increase muscle mass, and burn visceral fat. It doesn't have to take a long time, so it's very effiicent! Anyone can do it if they find an intensity level that works for them.

The pollen is flying, so we did a review of respiratory allergies and how to help them. It's time for neti-pots, salt water, bioflavonoids, nettles, and lots of other natural help. Next (live) week we'll talk about asthma!

Radio Naturopath Episode 299: Preservatives and Gut Flora, Food Tracking for Weight Loss, Basic and High Intensity Exercise

This week, we had a question about potassium sorbate effecting gut flora, and it was a great question because additives and preservatives CAN affect gut flora. Cutting out processed food can help your digestion!

We went on to talk about food tracking, how services like MyFitnessPal, LoseIt, and Fooducate can all help with weight loss. We compared WW and Noom as weight loss strategies, and were reminded by a woman listener that hormones are important too and Metabolic Renewal worked for her.

We talked about a general period for exercise that can be helpful for most people. Then we discussed tabatas, what they are and how they can help your fitness.

Radio Naturopath Episode 298: Happy Spring! More Women's History, Sleep Better During the Pandemic

Today we welcomed in Spring and encouraged people to enjoy it.

It's still Women's History Month, so today we honored a former teacher and researcher in naturopathic medicine, Anna MacIntosh, Ph.D., N.D. There is a research scholarship named for her. She managed to make physiology, nutrition, and biochemistry interesting and fun!

I also honored Mayim Bialik. Ph.D., who has a great podcast, Mayim Bialik's Breakdown, in which she discussed mental health and some neuroscience, which is her background.

The main topic of the day: getting better sleep during the pandemic! Stressors of all kinds are high right now, and that leads to issues that affect sleep. We talk about some healthy habits that can help you to sleep better despite the pandemic.