Mayo Clinic Health Matters

We know most of our health problems because they're obvious, but high blood pressure can sneak up on you if you're not watching it. So how can you be sure you've got it handled?

On this episode of Health Matters, we talk with cardiovascular nurse epidemiologist Yvonne Commodore-Mensah, Ph.D., M.H.S., RN, about how to take better care of our arteries, as well as the changes we can make today to get our blood pressure under control.

For more resources to help manage your blood pressure and build a control plan that works for you, visit MyBPControl.org.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

A chronic condition can be with you anywhere from a long time to a lifetime. So how do you stay grounded when your health is constantly threatening to take over your life?

On this episode of Health Matters, health policy advocate, chronic illness patient and author Gwen Mayes joins us with her cardiologist, Steve Ommen, M.D. Together, they share what 20 years of working together have taught them about chronic illness.

You can find Gwen's book, "More Person Than Patient: Finding Your Purpose and Power with Chronic Illness,” here: https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/product/more-person-than-patient

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

The gut microbiome is one of the great medical discoveries of our time. It could revolutionize the way we treat GI issues, autoimmune diseases, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases and even mental health. But has the internet started getting ahead of what the science actually says?

On this episode of Health Matters, gastroenterologist Purna Kashyap, M.B.B.S., helps us understand what the research says, what we're hoping to find out and the best way to invest in your gut health based on what we know so far.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

No one wants to hear their doctor say "you have cancer." But if that happens, the conversation will affect your life for years to come.

On this episode of Health Matters, medical oncologist Pooja Advani, M.D., pulls back the curtain on what those early conversations look like and gives us advice on how to handle such an overwhelming diagnosis.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

Strokes seem sudden, but they can actually be years in the making. In fact, 80% of strokes are preventable. So what can you do today to help prevent a stroke further down the line?

On this episode of Health Matters, we talk with radiologist David Miller, M.D., about the stroke risk factors you can control.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.