Primary Care Today

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Rethinking Pain Management in an Opioid Epidemic: Prevention and Treatment Updates Jan 30, 2018

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

According to a report from the Trust for America’s Health, an estimated 1.6 million people could die from drugs, alcohol, and suicide in the next ten years. This is a 60% increase from the past decade.

Host Dr. Brian McDonough talks with John Templeton Jr, President of Footprints Beachside Recovery Center in Florida, about treating addiction and what doctors need to know about reducing opioid addiction risk in their pain medication management.

Beyond Opioids: Alternative Options for Pain Management Jan 26, 2018

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

Over 33,000 lives were lost to opioid overdose in 2015, translating into 91 people dying each day, according to the most recent CDC data. Reducing exposure to prescription opioids, for situations where the risks of opioids outweigh their benefits, is a crucial part of reversing this trend.

Host Dr. Brian McDonough explores alternative options to prescription opioids with addiction specialist Dr. Isaac Alexis, Medical Director of the Lifeline Addiction Center in Beckley, WV.

Keeping the "Fit" in Fitness: How to Avoid Exercise Pitfalls Jan 15, 2018

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

Exercise can improve your health and reduce the risk of developing several diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

Host Dr. Brian McDonough chats with veteran personal trainer and exercise therapy specialist Bobby Whisnand about ways to to keep your workout "working out" and how to avoid exercise pitfalls.

Best in Show: The Health Benefits of Therapy Dogs Dec 11, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

Several studies have shown that therapy dogs help to reduce people’s pain levels and anxiety. Therapy dogs have also been found to increase patients’ physical, mental, emotional and social states and improve their quality of life.

Host Dr. Brian McDonough talks with David Frei, co-creator of Angel on a Leash, a charity supporting therapy dog programs that serve health care facilities, about how therapy dogs bring comfort, affection and happiness to people in confined living situations. Frei is the former host of The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and expert analyst for The National Dog Show on NBC Thanksgiving Day.

Altering the Collision Course: Protective Effects of Omega-3 Intake on Concussions Dec 05, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

There is nearly a 20% chance that each of us will suffer a concussion this year. More concerning yet, over 30% of those concussions will lead to a long-term, potentially permanent disability. Many studies have explored how the use of Omega-3 fatty acids may add some measure of resilience within the brain to withstand injury in those at significant risk.

Host Dr. Brian McDonough chats with Dr. Michael Lewis, founder of the nonprofit Brain Health Education and Research Institute about how the utilization of Omega-3 fatty acids may facilitate the concussion healing process and relieve symptoms.

5 Simple Steps to Kick Your Patients' (& Your Own) Sugar Cravings Dec 05, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the average American consumes between 150 to 170 pounds of refined sugars every year. Excessive sugar consumption is linked to a long list of health problems, from obesity and cardiovascular disease to joint inflammation and ADHD, but most of us can’t seem to be able to stop eating sugar no matter how hard we try.

Joining Dr. Brian McDonough to address the growing threat of sugar addiction is health educator and wellness expert Dr. David Magnano.

Spanning Broadcast Medicine to Big-Wave Surfing: The Life, Career and Hobbies of Dr. Bob Arnot Nov 20, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

Dr. Bob Arnot is an award-winning medical correspondent for NBC and CBS News and served as MSNBC’s chief foreign correspondent in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He also worked as an Olympic physician and is a sports enthusiast who competes in Ironman events, triathlons, marathons, big-wall ice climbing, Himalayan climbs, the 100-mile Canadian ski marathon, 24-hour bike races, big wave surfing and stand-up paddling.

Host Dr. Brian McDonough sits down with Dr. Arnot to talk about his medical career and his involvement in endurance sports competitions. His broad experiences allow for unique insights into pain management, opioid addiction, and living and working through injuries.

Treating Hip Fractures in Elderly Patients: An Orthopedic Surgeon's Perspective Oct 27, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

Out of the approximately 340,000 hip fractures that occur in the US each year, 9 out of 10 of them happen to people older than 65. Hip fractures in an older population can result in significant complications including pneumonia and blood clots, among others.

Host Dr. Brian McDonough sits down with Dr. Derek Donegan, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery in the Division of Orthopedic Trauma at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania to talk about some of the challenges physicians face when treating hip fractures in elderly patients.

Sharing Tools and Assessments for Suicide Prevention Worldwide Oct 27, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 44,193 Americans die by suicide each year. The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) has been developed as a means of helping users identify whether someone is at risk for suicide, assessing the severity and immediacy of that risk, and gauging the level of support that the person needs.

Host Dr. Brian McDonough talks with Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber, Founder and Director of the Columbia Lighthouse Project who disseminates the C-SSRS worldwide as a tool for suicide prevention.

Addressing Rheumatic Diseases: Diagnostic and Treatment Updates Oct 08, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

With more than 100 different disorders, rheumatic diseases comprise one of the most prevalent disease groups in the industrialized world. In fact, a third of the population will be affected by a rheumatic disease at some point during their lifetimes.

Host Dr. Brian McDonough sits down with Dr. Carol Langford, Chair of the Committee of Education at the American College of Rheumatology, about the diagnostic and treatment challenges of rheumatic diseases.

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