Health Discovered

Indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM) is a rare form of systemic mastocytosis (SM) caused by an abnormal buildup of mast cells throughout the body. What causes ISM, and how is it diagnosed? In this episode, we speak with Aaron Gerds, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine in Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Institute, about the signs and symptoms of ISM, the diagnostic process, and how ISM differs from other forms of systemic mastocytosis. We also hear from Candice Pauley, an ISM patient and co-host of the Mast Cast Pod, who shares her journey to diagnosis, her experience living with the disease, and the challenges of navigating a rare condition. Credits  Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM Producer/Editor: Matt Stillo Show Notes: Lauren Summers Guests: Aaron Gerds, MD; Candice Pauley See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health wearables can provide valuable insights into sleep, heart rate, steps, and blood oxygen levels – but how many of us bring that data to our healthcare appointments? What can these numbers tell us about our baseline and important changes in our health? We spoke with Calum MacRae, MD, PhD, a cardiologist at Mass General Brigham, about how to use wearable data to better understand your body, identify patterns, and potentially spot changes before a health crisis. We discussed why wearables are more than vanity metrics or tools for tracking activity, and how they can help us pay attention to the factors influencing our health. But context matters: Wearables are a tool, not a replacement for medical care or treatment. Credits  Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers Guest: Calum MacRae, MD, PhD See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether you’ve been fired abruptly, terminated after a performance improvement plan, or affected by a mass layoff, losing your job can feel like the floor just dropped beneath your feet. One moment, you’re working with colleagues and basing life decisions on a regular paycheck and health insurance. The next, your income, self-worth, community, routine, and imagined future can feel drastically changed. You’re left asking: Who am I without this title, this income, this future – and what’s next? We spoke with Monica Johnson, PsyD, licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Kind Mind Psychology, about caring for your mental health after job loss, why you don’t need to rush into your next role, how to make space for difficult emotions, and practical steps to regain a sense of control and direction. Credits  Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers Guest: Monica Johnson, PsyD See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Constantly being “on” doesn’t just drain our energy – it can rewire our brains, blur the lines between what’s urgent and what’s not, and leave us feeling overwhelmed and disconnected. In this episode, we explore why our brains and bodies need regular digital detoxes. We sit down with Romila “Romie” Mushtaq, MD, ABIHM, a board-certified physician and author of The Busy Brain Cure, to discuss how modern digital life fuels burnout, why it’s a culture problem – not a willpower problem – and how small, structured resets can help calm an overstimulated brain. Dr. Mushtaq also shares her 3-30-3 method for taking brief, regular breaks from devices to reconnect with people, movement, nature, and meaningful routines. Credits  Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers Show Notes: Lauren Summers Guest: Romila Mushtaq, MD, ABIHM See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tens of millions of Americans live with chronic pain, often after years of tests, treatments, and specialist visits without finding relief. Chronic pain can also be misunderstood, whether it takes the form of migraines, IBS, fatigue, or other symptoms, and can significantly affect quality of life and emotional health. We spoke with Howard Schubiner, MD, author of Unlearn Your Pain: The Science of Recovering from Chronic Pain, Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depression, about “neuroplastic” pain, how to distinguish structural injury from brain-driven symptoms, practical steps to take alongside pain treatment, and his five-step approach to unlearning pain. We also emphasized how trauma, stress, life pressures, and experiences of medical dismissal can shape and amplify chronic pain. For those suffering from chronic pain, having their experience validated and understood – not minimized – can be an important part of healing. Credits  Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers Show Notes: Lauren Summers Guest: Howard Schubiner, MD See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.