Health411

In this episode of Health411, host Dr. Jonathan Karp and producer Daniel Geller discuss the therapeutic potential of psilocybin. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring compound found with highest potency in the Psilocybe genus of fungi. Although used recreationally for its hallucinogenic properties, magic mushrooms also show promise for the treatment of a wide variety of mental ailments including addiction, major depression, and PTSD.

In this episode of Health411, host Dr. Jonathan Karp and producer Daniel Geller discuss cardiology with Dr. Harit Desai. Dr. Desai has extensive training and experience in various aspects of cardiovascular health, and he shines some light on common heart conditions and symptoms.

In this episode of Health411, host Dr. Jonathan Karp and producer Daniel Geller discuss the Air Force Medical corps with Brigadier General Alfred K. Flowers, Jr. and Major Andrew R. Auerbach. Their pathways to successful careers in the medical aspect of the military is discussed, as well as how being alumni of Rider University helped prepare them for their journeys in the medical corps.

In this episode of Health411, host Dr. Jonathan Karp and producer Daniel Geller discuss the concept of "Phantom Limb Pain". Essentially, this is when people who have recently had a limb amputated feel real pain in the (now removed) limb. Why does this occur? What sort of neuroanatomy does it rely on? Can we "reorganize" the brain as a treatment to this ailment? All of these topics (and more) are discussed in this episode.

In this episode of Health411, host Dr. Jonathan Karp and producer Daniel Geller discuss the human microbiome with Dr. Riggs, professor of immunology at Rider University. We are composed of roughly 40 trillion "human" cells but are equal parts bacterial cells. Understanding the interaction between our cells and the bacterial microbiome is integral to disease studies of the gut, mouth, skin, and more.

In this Episode, Dr. Karp and Daniel discuss new data implicating that SSRI medication typically used as antidepresants may improve COVID symptoms in positive patients.

Cryopreservation has been an ongoing area of research in the United States since the 1930s, but only since the 1980s have scientists been able to freeze oocytes (human eggs) and then later use them to successfully birth a human baby. Since 1983, the technology for oocyte cryopreservation has advanced vastly, and has become a more widespread medical procedure. Different techniques have emerged, allowing for a higher likelihood that the eggs will survive freezing, and creating a more stable environment for the eggs until they need to be used again. Today, Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Kaya Basatemur discuss what cryopreservation is, how it's done, why people may choose to do this, and what they do with the eggs after they are frozen. To learn more about this growing industry, make sure to tune in to this week's episode of Health 411!

Long before western modern medicine became popularized, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) had already been in practice from anywhere between 3,000-5,000 years ago, during the Shang Dynasty of China. Unlike western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine focuses on balancing the energy of the body. The primary belief in TCM is that the reason you fall ill and contract diseases is if one or more of the bodies' systems is out of balance. There are many ways to treat these imbalances according to TCM, including herbal remedies, physical treatments, and lifestyle changes. Today, Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Kaya Basatemur discuss the history of TCM, how it works, it's application in modern western society, and how it differs from reductionistic medicine (treating diseases by breaking the components down into smaller, more manageable treatments). Don't miss this episode of Health 411!

While hospitals are medical institutions, you don't need to be a doctor or a nurse to work in healthcare. Today, Kate Stier from Capital Health joins our host, Dr. Jonathan Karp, and student producer Kaya Basatemur to talk about being the Director of Public Relations and Community Education at a large hospital like Capital Health. In this episode, Kate discusses the roles and responsibilities of being the director of Public Relations and Community Outreach, collaborations and events she organizes, her publications, and how to begin a career in PR, marketing, or community outreach. If you want to pursue a career or internship at capital health in their marketing, social media, or public relations departments, reach out to Kate at publicrelations@capitalhealth.org. Read more about Kate and Capital Health at: https://www.capitalhealth.org/contact-us/media-relations

With a rise in the number of Flu and Cold cases this winter, it's helpful to know what the difference is between these two ailments, and how to know if you have it or not. Dr. Cecilia Baradhi Garduno joins our host Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Kaya Basatemur to discuss what to do if you start to feel sick, and how you can take care of yourself. Dr. Cecilia Baradhi Garduno is a board certified DO from New Jersey who practices Family Medicine at Capital Health Medical Center Hopewell in Pennington, NJ. Dr. Baradhi studied Nutrition at Rutgers as an undergraduate and received her medical degree from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. In this episode, Dr. Baradhi also talks about her journey to becoming a family medicine practitioner and how her background in Nutrition and Osteopathic Medicine gave her additional resources to use to treat her patients today. Don't miss this episode of Health 411, and find out more about Dr. Cecilia Baradhi Garduno at:https://providers.capitalhealth.org/family-medicine/cecilia-baradhi-garduno-do

Wouldn't it be great if there was a way to increase our lifespans and health spans? While many factors go into what makes us live longer and stay sharp, a term arose in the early 2000's to describe areas of the world that housed people with extraordinary longevity: "Blue Zones". This is a term coined by researchers Michel Poulain and Gianni Pes in March of 2000 when they were studying centenarians (people 100 years of age or older) in Sardinia, Italy. Later on, from 2004-2008, Dan Buettner, a journalist with National Geographic, set out to find more "Blue Zones", or areas with high instances of centenarians, and marked four more places besides Sardinia in the world that eventually became the blue zones of the world. These places include Sardinia Italy, Okinawa Japan, Nicoya Costa Rica, Ikaria Greece, and Loma Linda United States. The goal here was to find common factors that allowed for older populations to reach 100 years of age or surpass it. Eventually, Dan Buettner came up with around 4 general commonalities between these places. The people in these areas were highly active, they ate wisely, had a positive outlook on life and a sense of purpose, and connected with the community and themselves. Today, Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Kaya Basatemur dive in to what blue zones have in common, how it relates to general health and wellness advice, and if there really is anything "special" about these locations that improves longevity. Don't miss this episode of Health 411!

Alzheimer's Disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the buildup of Amyloid Beta plaques and Tau proteins. The initial symptoms often manifest as a loss of cognitive function, especially with learning and memory. Currently, there are numerous pharmaceutical ways to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, including drugs to manage the severity of symptoms and clearing plaque. However, a recent paper from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) shows that a new non-pharmaceutical treatment may be a valuable prospect in future Alzheimer's research.This paper details the use of an auditory stimulation of 40Hz on Rhesus macaques possibly clearing Amyloid Beta plaques from the brains of elderly macaques with Alzheimer's pathology. Today, Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Kaya Basatemur discuss this paper and what it could mean for future Alzheimer's research and theoretical treatments.

As one of the world's leading causes of death, cancer does not yet have a cure. It is one of the most studied diseases, however, and researchers have been studying every aspect of cancer that they can. What we do know is that cancer is most often caused by abnormal uncontrolled cell division and replication, which can spread to other parts of the body and create tumors. On October 29th, 2025, Nature magazine published a paper researching a paradox regarding cancer that has been around since the 1970s. Peto's Paradox is an observation made by epidemiologist Richard Peto, who noticed that larger animals with more cells were not more susceptible to getting cancer than smaller animals were. This observation was unusual, because it was thought that the more cells an organism has, the more chances that organism's cells have to mutate and become malignant. This paper is studying possible reasons for why this paradox happens. Researchers looked at the cells of Bowhead whales (which can live up to or more than 200 years), and their low incidence rates of cancer. Why don't large animals like whales and elephants get cancer as often as we do? Are they resistant to cancer? Can this lead to scientists finding a cure? Listen in to this conversation between Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Kaya Basatemur to find out more!

William Person is a retired Team USA Olympic bobsledder that competed in 9 seasons, from 1998 to 2007. Throughout his career, he obtained countless concussions and traumatic head injuries due to the nature of the sport. In his thirties, Person says he started to experience extremely concerning symptoms, such as severe brain fog, confusion and disorientation, memory problems, depression, light sound and smell sensitivities, and other "dementia-like" symptoms. In his efforts to learn more about what was happening, he came across a New York Times article describing his symptoms exactly, and connecting it to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in athletes, but particularly bobsledders. From then on, William learned more about his condition and found Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) through Joe Namath, a former NFL player with the same condition. He says that this therapy was able to restore his ability to think clearly, to complete daily tasks, and gave restored a sense of purpose to his life. Now, William is on a mission to raise awareness of brain damage in sports, the military, and other lifetime collisions, and share the importance of protecting and healing the brain. He’s currently working on opening a nonprofit CTE Recovery Center to help athletes, veterans, and civilians heal from brain injuries for free. Every donation to William's GoFundMe goes directly to supporting free treatment therapy for affected individuals whose insurance doesn't cover it. Today, William joins our host, Dr. Karp, and student producer, Kaya Basatemur, in a deep conversation about CTE; Why do people get CTE? How does it affect their lives? How can this lifelong detrimental condition be treated? Listen in to this week's episode of Health 411 to find out the answers to these questions and more!William Person on social medias: @onemanwithachamberGoFundMe: https://gofund.me/93ff9c6e Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/one.man.with.a.chamber.hbot?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfrhttps://www.facebook.com/william.person.792233LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-person-4072b417/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/willp1234567?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrYouTube:https://youtube.com/@braininjurysurvival?si=KfTK-iFXlhLORgQCTikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@hyperbarichealing?_t=ZT-8zD0dNeEvPi&_r=1_

According to the AAFA (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America), approximately 28 million people in the U.S. have asthma, which is about 1 in 12 people. Additionally, over 100 million have some kind of allergy (food, seasonal, eczema, or environmental), and that's about 1 in 3 people! With allergies and asthma being so prevalent in the United States, it's important to know what they are, why they happen, and what to do if you or a loved one has either of these conditions. Dr. Reneé Matthews is an MD who is dedicated to making health information readily available and digestible for the American public. She hosts Out of Office, a TV show that broadcasts to more than 45,000 doctor's offices across the U.S., and she also hosts her own TV show, the Ask Dr. Renee Show, which is a weekly online show. She's been recognized as a renowned advocate for women's health, black health, allergies, asthma, and self-advocacy in the healthcare industry. Today, Dr. Reneé Matthews joins Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Kaya Basatemur to discuss what allergies and asthma are, how they affect people and young children, how treatments for these conditions have changed over the years, and recent discourse over allergies and asthma in various health communities and political contexts. Dr. Reneé Matthews has two published books on allergies and asthma, has been on the Oprah Winfrey Show, has been featured as a medical correspondent on SiriusXM radio, and has many more accomplishments that you can read about on her website, https://askdrrenee.info/media/Don't miss this incredible episode of Health 411, and make sure to check out Dr. Reneé Matthews!

Are smart watches actually good at monitoring your heartbeat? With the age of new and emerging medical technology, diagnostics are getting more and more specialized, leading to more specialization opportunities for doctors as well. Dr. Zabeer Bhatti is a cardiologist with Capital Health who subspecializes in electrophysiology. Electrophysiologists typically see patients who have arrhythmias, which are disorders that disrupt the heart's natural rhythm. Today, Dr. Bhatti joins Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Kaya Basatemur to discuss how to become a cardiologist, what being an electrophysiologist means, and medical procedures and technology designed to further increase diagnostic and treatment efficacy for arrhythmia patients. Don't miss this week's episode of Health 411!

In the 1970s, the term "Holistic Medicine" started popping up in the United States. Holistic Medicine refers to the practice of treating a patient by focusing on the entire body and interactions between systems, and not just the individual symptoms. This is typically done using natural vitamin and mineral supplements, medicinal herbs, making diet and lifestyle changes, and increased mindfulness and meditation. One of the lesser known ways to use holistic medicine however, is by spending time in infrared saunas. According to the CEO of Relax Saunas, Phillip Wilson, this is an incredibly helpful tool to utilize in holistic medicine. From helping with migraines to increasing your energy, infrared saunas can help, says Wilson. Wilson has been in the field of Holistic medicine for 55 years, has owned a Natural Food Store for 45 years, and has owned his infrared sauna company for 23 years. Listen in to this week's episode to find out more about how Phillip Wilson got to where he is today, how infrared saunas work, and the health and wellness benefits of using one. Phillip Wilson: https://www.phillipawilson.com/about/Relax Saunas: https://relaxsaunas.com/ Use code "Rider" for $100 off your first order!

Getting scared is part of life. Whether it's animals, heights, the dark, bugs, or flying in an airplane, we all experience fears. Sometimes, you have a bad experience and get scared-- but then when you do it again, you realize it's not actually scary or dangerous. Maybe you visited a haunted house as a kid and you felt nervous, convinced something bad was going to happen, or that you would get hurt. Then, as an adult, you went back to the haunted house and nothing bad happened, so you weren't afraid or anticipating danger anymore. While this is just an analogy, this is applicable to real life in many different scenarios. Just as there is a neural circuit for establishing fear, there is also one to overwrite a fearful memory with a new memory that signals to you that you are safe. In this episode, Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Kaya Basatemur discuss a recent paper that figures out what these circuits are, how they work, and how we can eliminate fearful memories faster. In the future, this could possibly lead to more research for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is a disorder in which a person cannot forget traumatic memories. Tune in to the latest episode of Health 411 to find out more about these recently discovered neural circuits and what makes them so important!Article Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428220605.htm

This week on Health 411, Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Kaya Basatemur are joined by a Reiki Master, Taylor Smith, from Belmar New Jersey. According to Smith's description of her practice, "Reiki (pronounced ray-kee) is a Japanese healing practice based on the idea that a universal life force energy flows through all living things. The word itself means universal (Rei) life force energy (ki) . Reiki is about channeling this energy through the hands to bring balance and harmony to the body, mind, and spirit. It’s a gentle, calming practice that helps clear energetic blockages and supports the body’s natural ability to heal, leaving you with a deep sense of peace and relaxation.From a scientific point of view, Reiki is seen as a form of biofield therapy, which means it works with the body’s natural energy. Studies show that Reiki can help trigger the body’s relaxation response, lower stress, and bring the nervous system into balance. In simple terms, it helps your body shift out of stress mode and into a state where it can rest, restore, and heal itself more easily."Listen in on this exciting and informative conversation to learn about how Smith became a Reiki Master, the reasons behind her passion, and her incredible journey. You can find out more about her after the episode on Instagram @RisingSol.Offerings

With more and more new research coming out on cancer treatments, it seems that we're bound to have some sort of breakthrough soon. Today Dr. Jonathan Karp and student producer Kaya Basatemur discuss an article that might just be one of the newest and best concepts that we have right now for advancement of cancer treatment. This article was published on October 9th, 2025, in the Cell Reports Medicine journal; since its publication it has become very well-discussed and brought up in the press. So what is this "cancer vaccine"? Does it work for all types of cancer? Is this a viable concept to continue researching in hopes of a cure for cancer? Tune in to this week's episode of Health 411 to find out!