Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. Guest: Tara Schmidt, RDN, LD It’s not uncommon to gain a pound or two each year as we get older. For many, most of our annual weight gain occurs during the holidays.  It’s a time of celebration and is filled with parties and events, often with high calorie foods and…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.   Guest: Jon O. Ebbert, M.D. According to the CDC, in 2020 nearly 20% of high school students reported using a vaping product, and nearly a quarter of them indicated they used the product daily. It’s now known that vaping has potential health risks and is just as addictive as…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.   Guest: Aleksandra Kukla, M.D. In 2023, an estimated 14% of all adults in the U.S. or just over 35 million individuals had chronic kidney disease and it’s even more common in the elderly population affecting over 1/3 of those over the age of 65. It represents the 8th leading…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. Guest: Maria L. Collazo-Clavell, M.D. Its common knowledge that those who are obese are at greater risk for developing metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, the reason for this association has not always been clear. It does appear that systemic inflammation plays a major role and obesity triggers this…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD] Guest: Alina M. Allen, M.D., M.S. Fat deposits in the liver are quite common and many individuals have no idea they have the condition. A minority of those individuals will develop an associated hepatic inflammation. It’s not entirely clear why some progress to this state, although there are some…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD] Guest: Regis I. Fernandes, M.D. Inflammation commonly occurs as a response to injury or infection but can lead to damage when it develops in healthy tissue. It’s now known that inflammation plays a key role in the development of cardiovascular disease. It produces damage to the endovascular arterial cells…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD] Guest: Vinaya Simha, M.B.B.S., M.D. Type 2 Diabetes is a commonly seen condition in a general medical practice. It’s estimated that over 38 million adults have the disease. When we think of diabetes, we think of a metabolic condition with patients who have hyperglycemia, often overweight, and occasionally have…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD] Guest: Atul Jain, M.D., M.S. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women and it’s responsible for 1 in every 5 deaths. It’s estimated to cost over $250 billion a year, which includes the cost of medical services, medications and lost productivity. Patients with…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD] Guest: Joselyn R. Lebow, Ph.D., L.P. Unfortunately, mental health problems are common in our youth. A recent study by the CDC found that among adolescents aged 12 to 17, just under 21% had experienced a major depressive episode within the past year. Among high school students, more than 35%…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD] Guest: Erick D. Bothun, M.D. It’s estimated that more than 1 in 20 preschool-age children and 1 in 4 school-age children have a vision disorder. Since the eyes are the source of sensory input for much of the learning that takes place in our children, these statistics take on…