Primary Care Today

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Immune Cells: Are They the Key to Better Allergy and Infection Therapies? Sep 23, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

Allergies occur when your immune system mistakes a normally harmless allergen for a dangerous invader and moves to destroy it, producing an allergic reaction. What exactly causes this response, and what are the best treatments to combat it?

Host Brian McDonough chats with Dr. Avery August, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine, about his research regarding how allergens affect the immune system.

Food-Proof: A USDA Expert's Tips for Avoiding Food Poisoning Sep 20, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

Every year, 1 in 6 Americans get sick from eating contaminated food.

USDA Food Safety expert Sarah Lichtman joins host Dr. Brian McDonough to discuss ways to safely handle food, prevent food poisoning, and minimize risk of foodborne illnesses.

Millennials & Mental Health: A Generation Wrestling with Depression & Anxiety Sep 06, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

Millennials report higher incidence and prevalence rates of depression than any previous generation. Why is this, and what can be done to help these patients?

Host Brian McDonough speaks with Dr. John Huber, Chairman for Mainstream Mental Health, about the reasons why millennials are struggling with depression and anxiety, and tips for helping these patients handle the unique stressors in life they are facing.

The Angry Smile: Exploring the Psychological Impacts of Passive-Aggressive Behavior Aug 25, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP
Guest: Signe Whitson

What is passive-aggressive behavior, and what can (or should) people do when confronted with it?

Host Brian McDonough sits down with Signe Whitson, author of the book The Angry Smile: The New Psychological Study of Passive-Aggressive Behavior at Home, at School, in Marriage & Close Relationships, in the Workplace and Online. Ms. Whitson is an educator on bullying, crisis intervention, and child and adolescent emotional and behavioral health. She offers real-world examples and empowering, practical strategies for individuals confronted with passive aggressiveness.

Rethinking Nicotine: The Campaign to Break the World's Tobacco Habit Aug 25, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

Cigarette smoking is one of the leading cause of preventable death in North America, an unfortunate statistic that is rapidly replicating across the rest of the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts based on current trends that cigarette smoking will kill a billion people this century.

But what can be done to reverse this trend?

Host Brian McDonough talks with David Sweanor, Adjunct Professor of Law, and Chair of the advisory committee for the Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics, at the University of Ottawa. Mr. Sweanor has been spearheading efforts to reduce cigarette smoking nationally and globally.

Olive Oil: The Secret Ingredient Preventing Alzheimer's Disease? Aug 25, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

The Mediterranean Diet, rich in plant-based foods, is associated with a variety of health benefits, including a lower incidence of dementia. Extra-virgin olive oil, a specific ingredient used abundantly in this diet, is now speculated to help protect people against cognitive decline.

Host Brian McDonough talks with Domenico Pratico, Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Microbiology at the Center for Translational Medicine at the Louis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, about how consumption of olive oil can preserve memory and cognitive ability and potentially reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease.

Unraveling Health Disparities for Women with Parkinson's Disease Aug 25, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP
Guest: Allison Willis, MD

More men than women are diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease by almost a 2 to 1 margin. However, women receive supportive surgery less often than men, and their symptoms are more severe on average by the time surgical options are taken.

Host Brian McDonough chats with Dr. Allison Willis, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, about gender differences in diagnosing and managing Parkinson's Disease.

Redefining the Vegetative State: How Imaging Measures Consciousness Aug 12, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

Vegetative state is commonly defined as "wakefulness with awareness." Patients with a vegetative state diagnosis will show only reflex behavior, are not able to follow commands and are unable to communicate. This barrier in the inability for patients to communicate can make it difficult for doctors to measure their level of consciousness. In fact, some patients who are believed to be in a completely vegetative state may be more aware of what's going on than people realize.

Host Brian McDonough joins Dr. Adrian Owen, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience and Imaging at the Brain and Mind Institute at Western University. They talk about how the use of MRI technology is aiding doctors in measuring the level of consciousness in patients under vegetative states.

Understanding Millennial Outlooks: The Shift Toward Social Responsibility Aug 04, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

Recently, Millennials (those born after 1980) have become the largest generation in the U.S. workforce and are also the fastest-growing population of customers in the marketplace. By extension this makes them a dominant player in the health care field, both as patients and providers. But Millennials exhibit different attitudes toward employment, consumerism, health, and wellness compared to previous generations, with greater emphasis on social responsibility. This challenges conventional thinking on workforce management and customer/patient engagement.

Dr. Brian McDonough sits down with Brian Peavey, CEO of real estate company Profitshare, about the shifting paradigm toward social responsibility in Millennials.

The Case for Medical Interoperability: Why Health Information Systems Must Work Together Jul 28, 2017

Show notes

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP

Interoperability refers to the capacity for computer systems and software to exchange information and interpret that shared data.

The ability for machines to communicate efficiently within healthcare systems offers a myriad of vital benefits to patients and providers. For instance, as data becomes more mobile, personal health information entered by clinicians can begin to reach patients wherever they are and whenever they need it.

Dr. Brian McDonough sits down with Brendan McCorkle, CEO and Founder of CloudMine, to discuss his perspectives on the importance of health care systems interoperability and how to implement it successfully.

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