Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Robert Pignolo, M.D., Ph.D.  Our population is aging as our life expectancy increases with time. In general, we’re living longer than those before us. Aging is an interesting concept; we all want to achieve old age, but it’s not something we look forward to. What we really want is to maintain our physical, mental and social well-being in order to achieve a high…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Bhanu Kolla, M.D.  We commonly take sleep for granted. That is, until our sleep quantity or quality is compromised. This can result in both mental and physical health problems, including daytime fatigue and sleepiness. Sleep disorders are quite common and often undiagnosed, yet they can contribute to diabetes, cognitive impairment, and cardiovascular disease, potentially…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Brittni A. Scruggs, M.D., Ph.D.  There are a variety of eye disorders which involve the retina, and they all have the potential to cause significant vision loss or blindness if not detected early. Two of the most common retinal disorders we see in primary care include diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. Since most…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Stephen Kopecky, M.D.  Cardiovascular disease is highly prevalent in our society. Fortunately, we have a variety of treatment options to lower the risk of developing its complications. Over the past decade, there’ve been many changes in managing hyperlipidemia, one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This includes a change in assessing our patients’…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Kathryn del Valle, M.D.  Chronic liver disease can result in a variety of complications which can involve multiple organs. One of these complications can occur in the pulmonary vascular system. Two of the most clinically significant include hepatopulmonary syndrome and Portopulmonary hypertension. Patients with these syndromes may present to their primary care provider and if the medical condition…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Stephen Ansell, M.D., Ph.D.  Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a group of hematologic malignancies originating in the lymphatic system. There are over 60 subtypes of lymphoma with varying degrees of aggressiveness. It can present with a variety of rather subtle symptoms, often making the diagnosis challenging. Although Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is typically managed by a hematologist or…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Stephen Ansell, M.D., Ph.D.  Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is an uncommon but very curable malignancy involving the lymphatic system. It most commonly presents in young adults as well as middle-aged and older individuals. Although Hodgkin’s is generally managed by hematologists or oncologists, the primary care provider plays a major role in its recognition, hopefully leading to a timely diagnosis…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guests: Jae K. Oh, M.D., Tahir S. Kafil, M.D.  Diastolic heart failure is also known as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Although we don’t hear the term all that often, it actually represents a fairly large percentage of all cases of heart failure. Some studies suggest it represents the majority of heart failure cases. Older adults are most commonly affected with symptoms similar to those…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Balaji Tamarappoo, M.D., Ph.D.  With advances in oncology, patients are living longer than ever following a diagnosis of cancer. Newer treatments have dramatically improved survival. However, we’re also seeing an increasing number of cancer survivors who are at risk for cardiovascular complications; at times during treatment, and sometimes years later. Complications such…

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Hema Narayanasamy, M.B.B.S.  Pericardial disease represents a spectrum of both inflammatory and non-inflammatory disorders which involve the pericardium, with acute pericarditis being the most common disorder. Although not often seen in a primary care practice, we still need to consider pericarditis as it can masquerade several other more commonly seen conditions. It’s important to recognize…