In this episode we feature:
An interview with foot and ankle surgeon, Dr. Brad Schaefer.
The benefits of learning a musical instrument.
How using Emojis can make you happier.
How to protect your feet from the symptoms of diabetes.
How too much screen time can change your perception of time.
And more ways you can improve your health today!
For more information, and to sign up for our private coaching, visit tesh.com
Our Hosts:
John Tesh: Instagram: @johntesh_ifyl facebook.com/JohnTesh
Gib Gerard: Instagram: @GibGerard facebook.com/GibGerard X: @GibGerard
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Unknown (00:07):
Music, hello and welcome to the podcast. I'm Gib
Gerard. We have for you anotherintelligence for your health
with Connie Celica. Edition ofthe podcast today on the show,
we've got an interview with footand ankle surgeon, Dr Brad
Schaefer, so all kinds of healthinformation that you can use
today to make yourself a wholelot healthier, plus that
interview with foot and anklesurgeon, Dr Brad Schaefer here,
(00:30):
without further ado,intelligence for your health
with Connie selika, ifyou've ever thought about
picking up a guitar, playingpiano or learning any musical
instrument, here's a good reasonto start. It makes you smarter.
According to the journalfrontiers in neuroscience,
people who have musical traininghave better executive function,
that's the ability to focusdespite distractions and ignore
(00:52):
irrelevant information. Theyalso have better decision making
skills. And even if you don'tstart playing until you're an
adult, you'll still have betterbrain health. In fact, learning
an instrument improves thinkingability in adults more so than
playing brain games or doingpuzzles. The next time you get a
text message crammed full ofhappy smiley face emojis, beware
(01:15):
the person sending that messagemay actually be feeling quite
blue. That's according to astudy in the journal frontiers
in psychology. It found that alot of people admit they use
more positive emojis on dayswhen they feel more negative
feelings and want to hide them.
(01:36):
Researchers say that'ssurprising, since facial emojis
were designed to reflect ourreal emotions. But as we've
learned from social media, whatwe see on a screen doesn't
always reflect reality, and thetruth is, most of us embellish
our life online in some way.
Researchers call it the displayrule, and this new study found
that we do that with textmessages too, and usually, the
(02:00):
worse we feel, the more we'll goover the top with positive
emojis coming up. We'll talk tofoot and ankle surgeon, Dr Brad
Schaefer, owner of Central Parksoul in New York City. He'll
explain why Achilles tendontears are among the most common
injuries he treats, especiallyaround this time of year, but
(02:21):
first, your bad dreams may bedown to the position you sleep
in. For a study in the journalsleep and hypnosis, adults
filled out a popular sleepquestionnaire called the
Pittsburg sleep quality index.
They noted which side they slepton and whether their dreams were
positive or negative. Theresult, right side sleepers
(02:44):
experienced more positive dreamsand fewer nightmares than left
side sleepers. Right siders alsoreported more dreams with
feelings of safety or relief.
That may be because right sidesleeping reduces nervous system
activity, which lowers heartrate and blood pressure making
people feel calmer. Here are afew things that are healthy but
(03:05):
people think are not startingwith frozen vegetables. They're
typically flash frozen rightafter they're picked, which
packs in a lot more vitamins andminerals than having those
vegetables sitting on a truckfor days, crying is healthy,
too, According to psychologistDr Natalie Dillo from Brigham
(03:25):
and Women's Hospital in Boston,crying can actually improve our
mental health, making us moreresilient in stressful times,
because crying stimulates abranch of the nervous system
that promotes relaxation andrecovery. Another thing that's
healthy and people think is notpotatoes. Registered Dietitian
(03:46):
Michelle Cook says bakedpotatoes contain tons of
potassium, which helps removeexcess sodium from your
bloodstream. In fact, when ourpotassium levels go up, our
sodium level automatically goesdown. Finally, silence is
healthy. University ofConnecticut researchers say 12
(04:08):
minutes of silence a day canboost the production of GABA by
30% that's a calmingneurotransmitter. GABA helps us
feel content, relaxed andfocused. Okay, listen to this.
If you walk for exercise andwant to increase your pace, walk
and chew gum at the same time.
(04:31):
According to the society ofneuroscience, we tend to chew
gum faster than we walk. We chewabout 75 times per minute, but
walk only 60 steps per minute.
But our brains aren't great atprocessing two speeds at once,
so you'll subconsciously startto walk faster at the pace of
your chewing. In a study at OldDominion University, both
(04:53):
younger and older participantshad the same results. They
walked faster. Her to keep pacewith their chewing rate. So if
you want to walk more quickly,chew a piece of gum today, our
guest is Dr Brad Schaefer. He'sa board certified foot and ankle
surgeon who you may know fromthe hit TV reality show My feet
are killing me on TLC. I askedhim, What are the most common
(05:18):
injuries he's been treatinglately. Now that the weather is
getting warmer,what I'm seeing at my practice
in New York City is that there'sa lot of Achilles injuries and a
lot of heel pain injuries, whichis also called plantar
fasciitis. I honestly think it'sbecause of everyone being
sedentary during COVID times andfinally ramping themselves back
(05:38):
up. I know it's been a littlebit, but for some people, it
takes a little longer,especially when you've been at
rest for a bit so on. Everyone'srunning around getting back, and
we're seeing a lot of those footand ankle injuries, for sure.
You said Achilles injuries arevery common, and in fact, a
report from the University ofMichigan says a whopping 1/3 of
(06:00):
all sports related injuriesinvolve the Achilles. So what
causes that tendon to tear? WithAchilles tendon injuries, a lot
of times, it's due to ourweekend warriors. It's the
people that are going out alittle too fast and, you know,
crushing it like they did whenthey were in peak shape. So
there are a lot of patients thatare jumping or sprinting, you
(06:23):
know, when you're just goingthrough a regular work week,
really, we're just walkingaround, you know, throughout our
office or, you know, from car toOffice. So a lot of people
during the weekends go out andplay basketball with friends or
run different things. It's thepeople that really try to go out
too hard, too fast, is what'sshowing that the Achilles tendon
(06:46):
can start to get little strains,and those strains become tears,
and then they start tearing inmultiple places, then they rip,
and that would be an Achillestendon rupture. So it's super
important. When you're noticingthe inflammation and pain, you
rest a little bit, and then youget back at it. A few days
later,today, we're talking to foot and
(07:08):
ankle surgeon, Dr Brad Schaefer,and one of the best ways to
prevent foot injuries is toalways wear comfortable,
properly fitting shoes. So Iasked Dr Schaeffer to give us a
crash course on what we shouldbe looking for whenever we buy
new shoes, depending on whatI'm doing, whether I'm playing
basketball or if I'm playingsoccer, if I'm just running or
(07:31):
working out, there are differenttypes of shoes for each
activity, as I think a lot ofpeople now, but you have to make
sure you have room In your toebox for your toes to move around
and not be so pinched up there,because if your toes become
pinched, the nerves becomepinched, and you felt things
that are called neuromas, andthey can be very painful. As far
(07:51):
as your heel is concerned, youreally just want to make sure
you get a shoe that cups theheel really well. If you get a
shoe that cups the heel reallywell, then you're usually
supported properly. Arch supportis every setting. I tell my
patients all the time, make sureyou get an appropriate insole in
your shoes. Dr Scholl's isperfect for that, and then it'll
(08:13):
really make whatever shoe youhave that much better.
People tend to get more coldsores in summer, because the
virus can be activated by heatand sunlight. So when you feel
that Telltale tingle, get avitamin D gel capsule, prick it
open with a clean pin and put adrop of the liquid on your cold
(08:34):
sore. Dermatologist, JoshuaZeichner is from Mount Sinai
Hospital in New York City, andhe says the anti inflammatory
properties in vitamin D canreduce the severity of cold
sores and help them heal faster.
Today's medical term neuroma,it's a condition that our guest,
Dr Brad Schaefer mentionedearlier, that's often the result
of wearing poor fitting shoes.
(08:57):
For example, if your shoes aretoo tight at the front. Dr
Schaeffer says it can pinch thetoes together in a way that
triggers painful neuromas, and Iasked him to tell us more about
them. Whenyou have ball of foot pain,
which is the front of the foot,which is really every step that
we take, sometimes the nervescan get pinched in between our
bones, and what happens withthat is the nerve forms a little
(09:20):
ball, which is called an aroma,and it's really just the nerve
needing more room to breathe,and it's an inflammatory state
of the nerve. So what you needto do is make sure we're good
support good shoes. Sometimesyou need a cortisone injection,
which is a steroid, the decreasethe inflammatory response of the
(09:41):
nerve. Once that calms down, itusually gets better, but you
really have to support the feet,and that's today's medical term,
neuroma coming up. We'll hearmore from foot and ankle
surgeon, Dr Brad Schaefer. He'llexplain why you're significantly
more likely to. Have footproblems if you're among the one
in four North American adultswho either have or are at risk
(10:03):
for diabetes. But first,sleeping six hours a night is
not good for you. Researchersfound people who slept six hours
a night for two weeks functionedas poorly as those who stayed
awake for two days straight, andthe sleep deprived people had no
idea they weren't functioningproperly. They thought they were
(10:25):
perfectly fine, but poor sleepmakes us eat more, act more
emotionally, worry more, drivepoorly, make more mistakes at
work, and makes us 400% morelikely to get sick. So don't
trust yourself to know whetheryou're sleep deprived. Trust the
clock, and if you're gettingonly six hours, find a way to
(10:46):
get more. There's an oldfashioned game that can really
help people suffering fromdementia and Alzheimer's it's
bingo. According to the Journalof Alzheimer's disease, playing
bingo every week improves thememory of people with dementia.
The game itself keeps the mindin a competitive state, and the
(11:06):
speed of the game is mentallystimulating. Bingo also
stimulates areas of the brainthat control attention, focus,
concentration and immediatememory. It involves visual and
auditory perception, and itrequires accurate motor movement
to place the pieces on the bingocard, even when small changes
are made to the color andcontrast of bingo cards.
(11:29):
Dementia sufferers play at thesame level as people without
dementia. It's also a socialactivity, and socializing is a
brain workout in itself, and forresidents in care homes who
don't have dementia, bingo has aprotective effect. It can keep
residents from developing it tobegin with. Okay, listen to
(11:51):
this. Do you get indigestionafter a strenuous hike or jog?
You might want to cut the lengthand intensity of your workout,
because researchers found thatprolonged vigorous exercise can
impair gut function. It's calledexercise induced
gastrointestinal syndrome, andpeople who spend at least two
(12:11):
continuous hours at 60% of theirmaximum intensity can have
slowed digestion and nutrientabsorption. It can even trigger
endotoxemia, which can causeshock, hemorrhaging and kidney
damage. So if you getindigestion after strenuous
exercise, you might want to dialback the length and intensity of
(12:32):
your workout and see a doctorback with more health
intelligence from boardcertified foot and ankle
surgeon, Dr Brad Schaefer, andthroughout the foot care
industry, he says there's been agrowing focus on providing help
for the whopping one in fourNorth American adults who either
have or are at risk fordiabetes. So I asked Dr
(12:54):
Schaeffer why diabetics need tobe especially careful when it
comes to taking care of theirfeet. You know, diabetes
is a big problem in ourcommunity. Being Foot and Ankle
Specialists or podiatrists, whatwe really do is we talk to our
patients a lot about this,because once that condition or
disease takes over, you canessentially lose feeling in your
(13:18):
feet. You could step on a pin orattack and not even know it. And
when that happens, bacteria getsin, and then infection sets. But
when that happens, you know,sometimes people lose toes feet,
and I know it's horrific tohear, but you know, we need a
little wake up call with that inour health, just to make sure
we're eating properly andgetting enough exercise. Because
(13:40):
although diabetes is amanageable condition, it's
something that affects a lot ofit, because I think we just
disregard it backwith more health intelligence
from foot and ankle surgeon, DrBrad Schaefer, and he was just
talking about the specificissues diabetics face when it
comes to foot care, whichinclude everything from a loss
of sensation in their toes to agreater risk of amputation. Dr
(14:01):
Schaeffer says the good news isthat people with diabetes can
minimize their foot issues bywearing what's known as diabetic
shoes. Diabeticshoes are essentially a shoe
that has a little more room andaccommodates your foot type,
meaning somebody that has awider foot needs a wider toe box
(14:22):
so the toes don't rub. Becauseif your toes rub and you have
diabetes, develop neuropathy,which is decreased sensation in
the feet, or numb feet, thenthat rubbing every step you take
will create an ulcer or blister,so the diabetic shoes are
cushioned and have extra room toaccommodate a person's
(14:46):
individual foot type. Whenyou talk about our foot type, is
that something we can figure outfor ourselves, or do we need to
see a foot specialist to knowwhat our exact foot type is as
far. Isyour foot types concerned? You
know, we can do something that'sjust even, you know, putting a
piece of paper on the floor andputting our foot in water and
(15:08):
then stepping on the piece ofpaper. If your foot looks like a
pancake and it flattens out, youdon't see an arch. That means
you have a flatter type of foot.
If you see an arch, that meansyou should have a regular arts
type, or maybe you have a higharch foot, and then you'll
really just be a fate outline ofa foot. You'll kind of notice it
on pool decks. Also when you'rewalking around, when you get out
(15:31):
of a pool, look at your feetcompared to other people's feet.
You'll notice if they're pancakeor not. That kind of tells if
you're going to need a littlemore arch support or less. Our
support foranyone who needs to remember
important material, stopcramming, because when you cram
before a test, you'll remembernext to nothing a week later,
Tyler Harrison is a cognitivepsychologist from Georgia Tech,
(15:53):
and he says repetition isessential for memory, so try
spending an hour each daystudying any material like next
week's sales presentation oryour best man toast. Dr Harrison
says memorizing something over afew days adds more layers to
that memory than one long cramsession. That way you'll be
(16:15):
prepared for your big moment,but you'll also remember that
information years later, moreintelligence for your health
from board certified foot andankle surgeon, Dr Brad Schaefer.
If you'd like to know more abouthim, or some of the latest foot
care treatments, check outCentral Park sol.com that's soul
as an S, O, L, E, and I asked DrSchaeffer if it's true that
(16:41):
people are more likely todevelop warts on their feet in
warm weather. Here's what he hadto say,
warts can be so so so pesky, andyou do see them in warmer
climates, and the reason beingis because warm, moist
environments is when warts loveto come out. That's when the
(17:01):
virus is like in its glory. Solike sweaty socks, sweaty shoes,
people that are working outsidea lot, runners, if you're not
checking your feet or makingsure that your shoes and socks
are changed regularly, that islike a perfect environment for
warts to grow. Also, bacteria,bacteria and viruses. Love those
(17:24):
warm, moist environments.
Do you swim for exercise or fun?
Well, if you spend more than sixhours in a pool every week, you
could be putting your teeth atrisk because pool water that
contains too much chlorine isdangerously acidic, and when
highly acidic water comes intocontact with tooth enamel for
extended periods, you candevelop so called swimmers
(17:46):
calculus, a buildup of calciumthat can turn your teeth yellow
or even Brown. Excess chlorinecan also leave your teeth
brittle and sensitive. So if youswim frequently, brush your
teeth as soon as you climb outof the pool. Also consider using
a fluoride rinse to helpstrengthen your teeth. And if
your teeth still look a bitdingy, get your teeth cleaned
(18:08):
more often. Here's an email Ireceived at Connie at
intelligence for your health.comIt comes from Dana Latham, who
writes, My dog has been gettingbad allergies lately. What can I
do to help him? Dana, start bywiping down your dog when he
comes in from a walk or theyard, just like pollen and
allergens stick to human hairand clothing, they stick to your
(18:31):
dog's fur and paws. That meanswhen your dog lies on his bed,
he's transferring all thoseallergens to the place he
sleeps, making his symptomsworse. Also bathe him once a
week using a hypoallergenicshampoo. Then try adding some
omega three fatty acids to hisdiet. That's because omega
threes reduce inflammation andkeep allergy symptoms in check.
(18:55):
One more tip for reducing yourdog's allergies. Get more
vitamin D into their diet. Itcuts the risk of infection from
the scratching. But don't givethem your human supplements,
especially for vitamin D, whichcan be toxic to dogs in large
doses, ask your vet for arecommendation about which
products to buy the rightsupplement dose should be based
(19:16):
on your dog's size and weight,and they now make allergy
medications just for animals.
For instance, there's a versionof Claritin that's made
specifically for dogs, and youcan get it over the counter,
just make sure to check withyour vet first. Thank you for
your email. Dana, I hope thishelps. Okay, listen to this. If
(19:38):
you feel like time is rushingby. It may be down to too much
screen time, according to JamesCook University in Australia,
our gadgets require our brain toprocess things faster, and that
increased cognitive speed makesus feel more time pressure.
That's why you get irritatedwhen a video won't. Load in two
(20:00):
seconds. In fact, when peopleare working on a computer or
tablet, they feel like an hourpasses 10 minutes faster than it
actually does. So to get in syncwith the natural pace of time,
experts say, just get away fromyour screens and do something
else for a while. Go for a walk,fold laundry, climb some stairs,
anything, you'll reset yourperception of time. What
(20:25):
separates healthy sleepers whocan drift off to sleep within
minutes from the estimated onein three people who regularly
struggle with insomnia? Newresearch shows it really is down
to what you think about when youclimb into bed. That's according
to Dr Hayley meeklem, a sleeppsychologist at the University
of Melbourne in Australia. Shesurveyed people and simply
(20:48):
asked, What do you think aboutwhen you're trying to fall
asleep? And the results may notsurprise you. Dr meeklem found
that good sleepers almost alwayshave visual dream like thoughts
where they picture specificpeople and objects in their
mind, but Poor Sleepers Tend tobe less visual, meaning they get
(21:08):
bogged down with planningproblem solving or rehashing
negative conversations they havethat day. But any amount of
stress or negativity at nightwill increase your cortisol and
activate your brain enough tokeep you awake. The fix. Dr
meeklem says, Before you climbin bed, choose a scenario that
(21:29):
you want to think about that'sas positive and visual as
possible. That's a techniqueknown as cognitive refocusing,
and based on this new study, itworks more intelligence for your
health from foot and anklesurgeon, Dr Brad Schaefer and
one of the latest treatments forfoot injuries is known as PRP,
(21:50):
or platelet rich plasma therapy.
It's proven to speed up thehealing of injured tendons,
ligaments, muscles and joints inthe feet. Platelet rich plasma
therapy has been used to treateverything from arthritis in
dogs to male pattern baldness tomuscle injuries in athletes. So
I asked Dr Schaeffer to tell usmore about what PRP therapy
(22:11):
involves when it comes to ourfeet. So
PRP is a regenerative medicinetechnique that is used
throughout the country and theworld, essentially. But PRP,
which is amazing, is, it's yourblood, you know, it's no one
else's. It's nothing fromanyone. You take your blood, you
(22:31):
spit it in a centrifuge, and youre inject it. What happens there
is, you're really taking thehealing factors out of your
blood, because at the end of theday, our blood heals everything.
You know, if you have an injury,your blood goes to the area and
it repairs it well, this takesthe blood out of your body and
spins out those amazing factorsin our blood that heal things,
(22:53):
and then we re inject thatdirectly into the area of
concern, whether that be atendon strain or Achilles tendon
issue or like plantar fasciitis,and that's heel pain, so you can
inject it for heel pain. Also,I've also injected a lot of
areas where people havearthritis, whether that be in
the ankle or the big toe joint.
These are all areas of concernfor people. And regenerative
(23:18):
medicine is the future, and Ilove it. I think it's fantastic.
That's it for our show today,our special intelligence for
your health with Connie Selig,edition of the podcast, I'm Gib
Gerard. Don't forget to rate,comment and subscribe on Apple
podcast. Spotify, wherever youget your podcast. It helps us
out a lot. And also, you canreach out to us on social media.
(23:38):
All of our links are listed downin the show notes, we try to
respond to every DM, everymention of the show, because
ultimately, we do the show foryou guys. So thank you so much
for listening. You.
Music, hello and welcome to the podcast. I'm Gib
Gerard. We have for you anotherintelligence for your health
with Connie Celica. Edition ofthe podcast today on the show,
we've got an interview with footand ankle surgeon, Dr Brad
Schaefer, so all kinds of healthinformation that you can use
today to make yourself a wholelot healthier, plus that
interview with foot and anklesurgeon, Dr Brad Schaefer here,
(00:30):
without further ado,intelligence for your health
with Connie selika, ifyou've ever thought about
picking up a guitar, playingpiano or learning any musical
instrument, here's a good reasonto start. It makes you smarter.
According to the journalfrontiers in neuroscience,
people who have musical traininghave better executive function,
that's the ability to focusdespite distractions and ignore
(00:52):
irrelevant information. Theyalso have better decision making
skills. And even if you don'tstart playing until you're an
adult, you'll still have betterbrain health. In fact, learning
an instrument improves thinkingability in adults more so than
playing brain games or doingpuzzles. The next time you get a
text message crammed full ofhappy smiley face emojis, beware
(01:15):
the person sending that messagemay actually be feeling quite
blue. That's according to astudy in the journal frontiers
in psychology. It found that alot of people admit they use
more positive emojis on dayswhen they feel more negative
feelings and want to hide them.
(01:36):
Researchers say that'ssurprising, since facial emojis
were designed to reflect ourreal emotions. But as we've
learned from social media, whatwe see on a screen doesn't
always reflect reality, and thetruth is, most of us embellish
our life online in some way.
Researchers call it the displayrule, and this new study found
that we do that with textmessages too, and usually, the
(02:00):
worse we feel, the more we'll goover the top with positive
emojis coming up. We'll talk tofoot and ankle surgeon, Dr Brad
Schaefer, owner of Central Parksoul in New York City. He'll
explain why Achilles tendontears are among the most common
injuries he treats, especiallyaround this time of year, but
(02:21):
first, your bad dreams may bedown to the position you sleep
in. For a study in the journalsleep and hypnosis, adults
filled out a popular sleepquestionnaire called the
Pittsburg sleep quality index.
They noted which side they slepton and whether their dreams were
positive or negative. Theresult, right side sleepers
(02:44):
experienced more positive dreamsand fewer nightmares than left
side sleepers. Right siders alsoreported more dreams with
feelings of safety or relief.
That may be because right sidesleeping reduces nervous system
activity, which lowers heartrate and blood pressure making
people feel calmer. Here are afew things that are healthy but
(03:05):
people think are not startingwith frozen vegetables. They're
typically flash frozen rightafter they're picked, which
packs in a lot more vitamins andminerals than having those
vegetables sitting on a truckfor days, crying is healthy,
too, According to psychologistDr Natalie Dillo from Brigham
(03:25):
and Women's Hospital in Boston,crying can actually improve our
mental health, making us moreresilient in stressful times,
because crying stimulates abranch of the nervous system
that promotes relaxation andrecovery. Another thing that's
healthy and people think is notpotatoes. Registered Dietitian
(03:46):
Michelle Cook says bakedpotatoes contain tons of
potassium, which helps removeexcess sodium from your
bloodstream. In fact, when ourpotassium levels go up, our
sodium level automatically goesdown. Finally, silence is
healthy. University ofConnecticut researchers say 12
(04:08):
minutes of silence a day canboost the production of GABA by
30% that's a calmingneurotransmitter. GABA helps us
feel content, relaxed andfocused. Okay, listen to this.
If you walk for exercise andwant to increase your pace, walk
and chew gum at the same time.
(04:31):
According to the society ofneuroscience, we tend to chew
gum faster than we walk. We chewabout 75 times per minute, but
walk only 60 steps per minute.
But our brains aren't great atprocessing two speeds at once,
so you'll subconsciously startto walk faster at the pace of
your chewing. In a study at OldDominion University, both
(04:53):
younger and older participantshad the same results. They
walked faster. Her to keep pacewith their chewing rate. So if
you want to walk more quickly,chew a piece of gum today, our
guest is Dr Brad Schaefer. He'sa board certified foot and ankle
surgeon who you may know fromthe hit TV reality show My feet
are killing me on TLC. I askedhim, What are the most common
(05:18):
injuries he's been treatinglately. Now that the weather is
getting warmer,what I'm seeing at my practice
in New York City is that there'sa lot of Achilles injuries and a
lot of heel pain injuries, whichis also called plantar
fasciitis. I honestly think it'sbecause of everyone being
sedentary during COVID times andfinally ramping themselves back
(05:38):
up. I know it's been a littlebit, but for some people, it
takes a little longer,especially when you've been at
rest for a bit so on. Everyone'srunning around getting back, and
we're seeing a lot of those footand ankle injuries, for sure.
You said Achilles injuries arevery common, and in fact, a
report from the University ofMichigan says a whopping 1/3 of
(06:00):
all sports related injuriesinvolve the Achilles. So what
causes that tendon to tear? WithAchilles tendon injuries, a lot
of times, it's due to ourweekend warriors. It's the
people that are going out alittle too fast and, you know,
crushing it like they did whenthey were in peak shape. So
there are a lot of patients thatare jumping or sprinting, you
(06:23):
know, when you're just goingthrough a regular work week,
really, we're just walkingaround, you know, throughout our
office or, you know, from car toOffice. So a lot of people
during the weekends go out andplay basketball with friends or
run different things. It's thepeople that really try to go out
too hard, too fast, is what'sshowing that the Achilles tendon
(06:46):
can start to get little strains,and those strains become tears,
and then they start tearing inmultiple places, then they rip,
and that would be an Achillestendon rupture. So it's super
important. When you're noticingthe inflammation and pain, you
rest a little bit, and then youget back at it. A few days
later,today, we're talking to foot and
(07:08):
ankle surgeon, Dr Brad Schaefer,and one of the best ways to
prevent foot injuries is toalways wear comfortable,
properly fitting shoes. So Iasked Dr Schaeffer to give us a
crash course on what we shouldbe looking for whenever we buy
new shoes, depending on whatI'm doing, whether I'm playing
basketball or if I'm playingsoccer, if I'm just running or
(07:31):
working out, there are differenttypes of shoes for each
activity, as I think a lot ofpeople now, but you have to make
sure you have room In your toebox for your toes to move around
and not be so pinched up there,because if your toes become
pinched, the nerves becomepinched, and you felt things
that are called neuromas, andthey can be very painful. As far
(07:51):
as your heel is concerned, youreally just want to make sure
you get a shoe that cups theheel really well. If you get a
shoe that cups the heel reallywell, then you're usually
supported properly. Arch supportis every setting. I tell my
patients all the time, make sureyou get an appropriate insole in
your shoes. Dr Scholl's isperfect for that, and then it'll
(08:13):
really make whatever shoe youhave that much better.
People tend to get more coldsores in summer, because the
virus can be activated by heatand sunlight. So when you feel
that Telltale tingle, get avitamin D gel capsule, prick it
open with a clean pin and put adrop of the liquid on your cold
(08:34):
sore. Dermatologist, JoshuaZeichner is from Mount Sinai
Hospital in New York City, andhe says the anti inflammatory
properties in vitamin D canreduce the severity of cold
sores and help them heal faster.
Today's medical term neuroma,it's a condition that our guest,
Dr Brad Schaefer mentionedearlier, that's often the result
of wearing poor fitting shoes.
(08:57):
For example, if your shoes aretoo tight at the front. Dr
Schaeffer says it can pinch thetoes together in a way that
triggers painful neuromas, and Iasked him to tell us more about
them. Whenyou have ball of foot pain,
which is the front of the foot,which is really every step that
we take, sometimes the nervescan get pinched in between our
bones, and what happens withthat is the nerve forms a little
(09:20):
ball, which is called an aroma,and it's really just the nerve
needing more room to breathe,and it's an inflammatory state
of the nerve. So what you needto do is make sure we're good
support good shoes. Sometimesyou need a cortisone injection,
which is a steroid, the decreasethe inflammatory response of the
(09:41):
nerve. Once that calms down, itusually gets better, but you
really have to support the feet,and that's today's medical term,
neuroma coming up. We'll hearmore from foot and ankle
surgeon, Dr Brad Schaefer. He'llexplain why you're significantly
more likely to. Have footproblems if you're among the one
in four North American adultswho either have or are at risk
(10:03):
for diabetes. But first,sleeping six hours a night is
not good for you. Researchersfound people who slept six hours
a night for two weeks functionedas poorly as those who stayed
awake for two days straight, andthe sleep deprived people had no
idea they weren't functioningproperly. They thought they were
(10:25):
perfectly fine, but poor sleepmakes us eat more, act more
emotionally, worry more, drivepoorly, make more mistakes at
work, and makes us 400% morelikely to get sick. So don't
trust yourself to know whetheryou're sleep deprived. Trust the
clock, and if you're gettingonly six hours, find a way to
(10:46):
get more. There's an oldfashioned game that can really
help people suffering fromdementia and Alzheimer's it's
bingo. According to the Journalof Alzheimer's disease, playing
bingo every week improves thememory of people with dementia.
The game itself keeps the mindin a competitive state, and the
(11:06):
speed of the game is mentallystimulating. Bingo also
stimulates areas of the brainthat control attention, focus,
concentration and immediatememory. It involves visual and
auditory perception, and itrequires accurate motor movement
to place the pieces on the bingocard, even when small changes
are made to the color andcontrast of bingo cards.
(11:29):
Dementia sufferers play at thesame level as people without
dementia. It's also a socialactivity, and socializing is a
brain workout in itself, and forresidents in care homes who
don't have dementia, bingo has aprotective effect. It can keep
residents from developing it tobegin with. Okay, listen to
(11:51):
this. Do you get indigestionafter a strenuous hike or jog?
You might want to cut the lengthand intensity of your workout,
because researchers found thatprolonged vigorous exercise can
impair gut function. It's calledexercise induced
gastrointestinal syndrome, andpeople who spend at least two
(12:11):
continuous hours at 60% of theirmaximum intensity can have
slowed digestion and nutrientabsorption. It can even trigger
endotoxemia, which can causeshock, hemorrhaging and kidney
damage. So if you getindigestion after strenuous
exercise, you might want to dialback the length and intensity of
(12:32):
your workout and see a doctorback with more health
intelligence from boardcertified foot and ankle
surgeon, Dr Brad Schaefer, andthroughout the foot care
industry, he says there's been agrowing focus on providing help
for the whopping one in fourNorth American adults who either
have or are at risk fordiabetes. So I asked Dr
(12:54):
Schaeffer why diabetics need tobe especially careful when it
comes to taking care of theirfeet. You know, diabetes
is a big problem in ourcommunity. Being Foot and Ankle
Specialists or podiatrists, whatwe really do is we talk to our
patients a lot about this,because once that condition or
disease takes over, you canessentially lose feeling in your
(13:18):
feet. You could step on a pin orattack and not even know it. And
when that happens, bacteria getsin, and then infection sets. But
when that happens, you know,sometimes people lose toes feet,
and I know it's horrific tohear, but you know, we need a
little wake up call with that inour health, just to make sure
we're eating properly andgetting enough exercise. Because
(13:40):
although diabetes is amanageable condition, it's
something that affects a lot ofit, because I think we just
disregard it backwith more health intelligence
from foot and ankle surgeon, DrBrad Schaefer, and he was just
talking about the specificissues diabetics face when it
comes to foot care, whichinclude everything from a loss
of sensation in their toes to agreater risk of amputation. Dr
(14:01):
Schaeffer says the good news isthat people with diabetes can
minimize their foot issues bywearing what's known as diabetic
shoes. Diabeticshoes are essentially a shoe
that has a little more room andaccommodates your foot type,
meaning somebody that has awider foot needs a wider toe box
(14:22):
so the toes don't rub. Becauseif your toes rub and you have
diabetes, develop neuropathy,which is decreased sensation in
the feet, or numb feet, thenthat rubbing every step you take
will create an ulcer or blister,so the diabetic shoes are
cushioned and have extra room toaccommodate a person's
(14:46):
individual foot type. Whenyou talk about our foot type, is
that something we can figure outfor ourselves, or do we need to
see a foot specialist to knowwhat our exact foot type is as
far. Isyour foot types concerned? You
know, we can do something that'sjust even, you know, putting a
piece of paper on the floor andputting our foot in water and
(15:08):
then stepping on the piece ofpaper. If your foot looks like a
pancake and it flattens out, youdon't see an arch. That means
you have a flatter type of foot.
If you see an arch, that meansyou should have a regular arts
type, or maybe you have a higharch foot, and then you'll
really just be a fate outline ofa foot. You'll kind of notice it
on pool decks. Also when you'rewalking around, when you get out
(15:31):
of a pool, look at your feetcompared to other people's feet.
You'll notice if they're pancakeor not. That kind of tells if
you're going to need a littlemore arch support or less. Our
support foranyone who needs to remember
important material, stopcramming, because when you cram
before a test, you'll remembernext to nothing a week later,
Tyler Harrison is a cognitivepsychologist from Georgia Tech,
(15:53):
and he says repetition isessential for memory, so try
spending an hour each daystudying any material like next
week's sales presentation oryour best man toast. Dr Harrison
says memorizing something over afew days adds more layers to
that memory than one long cramsession. That way you'll be
(16:15):
prepared for your big moment,but you'll also remember that
information years later, moreintelligence for your health
from board certified foot andankle surgeon, Dr Brad Schaefer.
If you'd like to know more abouthim, or some of the latest foot
care treatments, check outCentral Park sol.com that's soul
as an S, O, L, E, and I asked DrSchaeffer if it's true that
(16:41):
people are more likely todevelop warts on their feet in
warm weather. Here's what he hadto say,
warts can be so so so pesky, andyou do see them in warmer
climates, and the reason beingis because warm, moist
environments is when warts loveto come out. That's when the
(17:01):
virus is like in its glory. Solike sweaty socks, sweaty shoes,
people that are working outsidea lot, runners, if you're not
checking your feet or makingsure that your shoes and socks
are changed regularly, that islike a perfect environment for
warts to grow. Also, bacteria,bacteria and viruses. Love those
(17:24):
warm, moist environments.
Do you swim for exercise or fun?
Well, if you spend more than sixhours in a pool every week, you
could be putting your teeth atrisk because pool water that
contains too much chlorine isdangerously acidic, and when
highly acidic water comes intocontact with tooth enamel for
extended periods, you candevelop so called swimmers
(17:46):
calculus, a buildup of calciumthat can turn your teeth yellow
or even Brown. Excess chlorinecan also leave your teeth
brittle and sensitive. So if youswim frequently, brush your
teeth as soon as you climb outof the pool. Also consider using
a fluoride rinse to helpstrengthen your teeth. And if
your teeth still look a bitdingy, get your teeth cleaned
(18:08):
more often. Here's an email Ireceived at Connie at
intelligence for your health.comIt comes from Dana Latham, who
writes, My dog has been gettingbad allergies lately. What can I
do to help him? Dana, start bywiping down your dog when he
comes in from a walk or theyard, just like pollen and
allergens stick to human hairand clothing, they stick to your
(18:31):
dog's fur and paws. That meanswhen your dog lies on his bed,
he's transferring all thoseallergens to the place he
sleeps, making his symptomsworse. Also bathe him once a
week using a hypoallergenicshampoo. Then try adding some
omega three fatty acids to hisdiet. That's because omega
threes reduce inflammation andkeep allergy symptoms in check.
(18:55):
One more tip for reducing yourdog's allergies. Get more
vitamin D into their diet. Itcuts the risk of infection from
the scratching. But don't givethem your human supplements,
especially for vitamin D, whichcan be toxic to dogs in large
doses, ask your vet for arecommendation about which
products to buy the rightsupplement dose should be based
(19:16):
on your dog's size and weight,and they now make allergy
medications just for animals.
For instance, there's a versionof Claritin that's made
specifically for dogs, and youcan get it over the counter,
just make sure to check withyour vet first. Thank you for
your email. Dana, I hope thishelps. Okay, listen to this. If
(19:38):
you feel like time is rushingby. It may be down to too much
screen time, according to JamesCook University in Australia,
our gadgets require our brain toprocess things faster, and that
increased cognitive speed makesus feel more time pressure.
That's why you get irritatedwhen a video won't. Load in two
(20:00):
seconds. In fact, when peopleare working on a computer or
tablet, they feel like an hourpasses 10 minutes faster than it
actually does. So to get in syncwith the natural pace of time,
experts say, just get away fromyour screens and do something
else for a while. Go for a walk,fold laundry, climb some stairs,
anything, you'll reset yourperception of time. What
(20:25):
separates healthy sleepers whocan drift off to sleep within
minutes from the estimated onein three people who regularly
struggle with insomnia? Newresearch shows it really is down
to what you think about when youclimb into bed. That's according
to Dr Hayley meeklem, a sleeppsychologist at the University
of Melbourne in Australia. Shesurveyed people and simply
(20:48):
asked, What do you think aboutwhen you're trying to fall
asleep? And the results may notsurprise you. Dr meeklem found
that good sleepers almost alwayshave visual dream like thoughts
where they picture specificpeople and objects in their
mind, but Poor Sleepers Tend tobe less visual, meaning they get
(21:08):
bogged down with planningproblem solving or rehashing
negative conversations they havethat day. But any amount of
stress or negativity at nightwill increase your cortisol and
activate your brain enough tokeep you awake. The fix. Dr
meeklem says, Before you climbin bed, choose a scenario that
(21:29):
you want to think about that'sas positive and visual as
possible. That's a techniqueknown as cognitive refocusing,
and based on this new study, itworks more intelligence for your
health from foot and anklesurgeon, Dr Brad Schaefer and
one of the latest treatments forfoot injuries is known as PRP,
(21:50):
or platelet rich plasma therapy.
It's proven to speed up thehealing of injured tendons,
ligaments, muscles and joints inthe feet. Platelet rich plasma
therapy has been used to treateverything from arthritis in
dogs to male pattern baldness tomuscle injuries in athletes. So
I asked Dr Schaeffer to tell usmore about what PRP therapy
(22:11):
involves when it comes to ourfeet. So
PRP is a regenerative medicinetechnique that is used
throughout the country and theworld, essentially. But PRP,
which is amazing, is, it's yourblood, you know, it's no one
else's. It's nothing fromanyone. You take your blood, you
(22:31):
spit it in a centrifuge, and youre inject it. What happens there
is, you're really taking thehealing factors out of your
blood, because at the end of theday, our blood heals everything.
You know, if you have an injury,your blood goes to the area and
it repairs it well, this takesthe blood out of your body and
spins out those amazing factorsin our blood that heal things,
(22:53):
and then we re inject thatdirectly into the area of
concern, whether that be atendon strain or Achilles tendon
issue or like plantar fasciitis,and that's heel pain, so you can
inject it for heel pain. Also,I've also injected a lot of
areas where people havearthritis, whether that be in
the ankle or the big toe joint.
These are all areas of concernfor people. And regenerative
(23:18):
medicine is the future, and Ilove it. I think it's fantastic.
That's it for our show today,our special intelligence for
your health with Connie Selig,edition of the podcast, I'm Gib
Gerard. Don't forget to rate,comment and subscribe on Apple
podcast. Spotify, wherever youget your podcast. It helps us
out a lot. And also, you canreach out to us on social media.
(23:38):
All of our links are listed downin the show notes, we try to
respond to every DM, everymention of the show, because
ultimately, we do the show foryou guys. So thank you so much
for listening. You.
Popular Podcasts
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Decisions, Decisions
Welcome to "Decisions, Decisions," the podcast where boundaries are pushed, and conversations get candid! Join your favorite hosts, Mandii B and WeezyWTF, as they dive deep into the world of non-traditional relationships and explore the often-taboo topics surrounding dating, sex, and love. Every Monday, Mandii and Weezy invite you to unlearn the outdated narratives dictated by traditional patriarchal norms. With a blend of humor, vulnerability, and authenticity, they share their personal journeys navigating their 30s, tackling the complexities of modern relationships, and engaging in thought-provoking discussions that challenge societal expectations. From groundbreaking interviews with diverse guests to relatable stories that resonate with your experiences, "Decisions, Decisions" is your go-to source for open dialogue about what it truly means to love and connect in today's world. Get ready to reshape your understanding of relationships and embrace the freedom of authentic connections—tune in and join the conversation!