Sarah Has Questions

We've talked about pelvic floor issues a lot on this show. The pelvic floor is the bowl of muscles between your hips that holds all your pelvic organs. Weakened pelvic floor muscles can lead to bladder leakage and sexual pain and dysfunction. So what's the solution? Pelvic floor therapy is one option, but what exactly is it? Jenn Harrington is our guest in this episode. She's a pelvic floor physical therapist who shows Sarah what a typical PT visit is like, from assessment to excercises. You can find her at WakeMed.org. Send us your questions and ideas for future episodes at www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions.

Making the right nutrition choices for yourself isn't easy. There's so much info out there, where do you start? Add social media to the mix and you're probably getting a constant stream of contradicting, too-good-to-be true advice on what to eat and how often. To clear up the confusion, we're talking to an actual registered dietitian, Marissa Robinson, who has some very sensible advice on nutrition. You can find her at WakeMed.org. Send us your questions and ideas for future episodes at www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions.

The #1 cause of lung cancer is smoking. Even if you stopped years ago, you could still be at risk depending on how much you smoked and for how long. The #2 cause of lung cancer is environmental exposure to radon. Dr. Vickie Fowler, a primary care physician from WakeMed is here to discuss both types of risk and how to know when to get screened. Get more information on WakeMed's online smoking cessation program here. https://www.wakemed.org/care-and-services/quit-with-wakemed-tobacco-cessation-program. Send us your questions and ideas for future episodes at www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action. 

We all burp. We all fart. But why? What's going on inside us that makes those gas bubbles form and then demand to be released? Carbonated beverages, gum, lactose and even pork could be making us gassy. Sarah has plenty of questions for Jordan Meaton from WakeMed Gastroenterology. https://www.wakemed.org/wakemed-physician-practices/specialties/gastroenterology This episode is packed with listener questions. Send us your questions for future episodes at www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions. DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action. 

An attack of kidney stones is enough to drop a strong, healthy person to the ground. Why is the pain so terrible? What causes stones to form? And most importantly, how can we prevent and treat recurrent stones? Dr. Josip Vikina has the answers! We're talking about foods that cause stones, the impact of too much tea, and treatments like lithotripsy, medication and stents. If kidney stones are a recurrent issue for you, check out WakeMed's Kidney Stone Center for treatment. https://www.wakemed.org/wakemed-physician-practices/specialties/urology/kidney-stone-center Send us your ideas for future episodes at www.wralfm/com/sarahhasquestions DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action. 

70-80% of women will develop uterine fibroids! These non-cancerous growths can cause a lot of problems, especially if you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Some people never need treatment, but others experience heavy bleeding and pain. Sarah King has tons of questions about uterine fibroids! Her guest in this episode is Dr. Michael Armstrong from WakeMed. You can find out more about him and WakeMed Women's care at https://www.wakemed.org/care-and-services/womens Send us your episode ideas at www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions. DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action. 

The symptoms of perimenopause are all-incompassing. Insomnia, brain fog, sore joints, itchy skin, weight gain, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweats, low libido, UTIs, mood swings... Perimenopause is the time between regular periods and menopause. It's only a phase, right? Maybe, but this "phase" can last for years. Dr. Amantia Kennedy from WakeMed discusses the litany of symptoms and what we can do about them. Find her and other WakeMed Women's doctors at https://www.wakemed.org/care-and-services/womens. Send your questions to us at wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions.  DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action. 

Getting a mammogram might not be your favorite thing to do, but if you have boobs, it's vital. This life-saving test is one of the best cancer detection tools we have. Adrienne Jackson and Dana Knapp from Wake Med discuss mammograms, dense breast tissue, 3-D images, breast health and what happens if you get called for a "second look."  https://www.wakemed.org/care-and-services/womens/womens-health/breast-cancer-awareness Send us your questions or ideas for future episodes. Go to www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions. DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action. 

Dry January. Sober October. Mocktails. A lot of drinkers flirt with sober curiousity. Have you ever tried to go alcohol-free for a whole month? Dr. Christopher Thompson from WakeMed discusses how alcohol impacts the body and mind and how being sober for even a month can make a big difference. Dr. Thompson's blog https://www.wakemed.org/blog/drinking-defined-sober-curious-beyond Send your questions to www.wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action. 

When it comes to stroke, BE FAST! That's an acronym to help you learn how to test yourself and others for a possible stroke. Sarah talks with Dr. Chandni Kalaria from WakeMed in Raleigh, NC on the importance of calling 911 quickly and not waiting around, hoping for symptoms to pass. Get in touch with Sarah King at wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions Calculate your risk of stroke on WakeMed's website https://tinyurl.com/mrxus4rk DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action. 

Life without healthy boundaries can result in anger, dread or frustration. Setting boundaries is a learned skill and if you’re a people pleaser who doesn’t like to say no, it’s probably a skill you find challenging.  Dr. Micah Krempasky from WakeMed answers Sarah’s questions about boundaries and self-care, including how to start examining your own relationships for triggers that signal your boundaries need some work.  Find Dr. Krempasky at wakemed.org. Send your questions to Sarah at wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions.  DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action. 

PCOS affects up to 15% of women and is usually diagnosed in the teen years. The hormonal imbalance can be tied to insulin resistance, high triglycerides, metabolic syndrome and an increase in the male hormone, androgen. You can bet Sarah King has a lot of questions about this one! Dr. Darlene Esper from WakeMed covers the causes, symptoms and treatments.  Find Dr. Esper at wakemed.org. Send your questions to Sarah at wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions.  DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action.   

Most women will get a urinary tract infection (or UTI) at some point. Yes, men can get them too, but they’re more common for women. With the rectum, vagina and urethra in close proximity, there’s bound to be some cross contamination.   So how can we avoid UTIs? Nurse Practitioner Emily Shama Barnes answers Sarah’s questions about causes, symptoms, treatments and whether cranberry juice is a cure all. We also discuss the symptoms of UTIs in older people. They’re not at all the same as for younger people!  Find Emily Shama Barnes (who specializes in urogynecology) at wakemed.org. Send your questions to Sarah at wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions.  DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action.  

Endometriosis sucks! It affects 10-15% of women and there is no cure. It’s a painful condition where cells from the uterine lining end up outside of the uterus. Those cells can attach to your cervix, bladder, bowel or other organs. And they continue to be affected by your monthly cycles just like regular uterine tissue.   Sarah King talks to Dr. Adam Kansagor, an OB-GYN with Wake Med Health and Hospitals about symptoms, treatments, and why simply getting a diagnosis can be difficult.  Find Dr. Kansagor at wakemed.org. Send your questions to Sarah at wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions.  DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action.  

WTH is a boric acid vaginal suppository? If you've been down the “female hygiene” aisle at the drug store lately you've probably seen them. And there are hundreds of products out now that claim to tackle vaginal pH balance and reduce odor. Do we really need these things? Are soap and water not enough?  Dr. Victoria Fashakin, an OB-GYN from WakeMed in Raleigh, NC, answers Sarah’s questions on vaginal health. And side note: the whole region includes a lot more than the vagina. Dr. Fashakin walks us through the vulva and why it’s important to call things what they are!  Find Dr. Fashaskin at wakemed.org. Send your questions to Sarah at wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions.  DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action.  The opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Capitol Broadcasting Company or WakeMed Health and Hospitals.   

We could ask questions about sex and sexual dysfunction all day. We tackled the first round of questions in an episode in season one. Now Dr. Jenna Beckham is back to answer more of Sarah’s questions, including:   What exactly happens during an orgasm?  Is wanting less sex really a dysfunction, or is every human just built different?  Do straight and lesbian women bring up different sexual concerns? What about different generations?  Send your questions to Sarah at wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions. Find Dr. Beckham at wakemed.org.  DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action. 

We’ve been conditioned to believe “obesity is an epidemic,” but can a person be healthy AND overweight? Are the old standards of obesity and BMI really applicable when human beings come in all shapes and sizes?  Sarah talks with Dr. Tiffany Lowe Clayton, a bariatrician with WakeMed, about body image, obesity, weight loss and the idea that we can be “healthy at any size.” They also dive into weight loss medication (especially the current fad of semaglutides) and how they work.  Send your questions to Sarah at wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions  DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action. 

Plantar fasciitis can take months to resolve. If you’ve ever had it (and 1 in 10 of us will at some point), you know it’s an ordeal. Sarah tackles plantar fasciitis, bunions and bone spurs with Dr. Corey Thompson, an orthopaedic surgeon at WakeMed who specializes in feet and ankles.  Sarah and Dr. Thompson will also assess several types of women’s shoes for stability, comfort and how much strain they put on our feet.   Send your questions to Sarah at wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions  DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action.

Pregnancy takes a major toll on the human body. Those nine months are tough enough, and even when it’s over most of us never revert to our pre-baby shapes and sizes.  In this episode Sarah asks totally unfiltered questions about everything from nipples and hair loss to permanent changes in shoe size after having a baby. And you know, we’re gonna talk about pelvic floors...again.  Answering Sarah’s questions is Dr. Jessica Schloesser an OB/Gyn at WakeMed.  Send your questions to Sarah at wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions  DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action. 

In North Carolina spring pollen is a situation! Yellow pine pollen blankets everything. And guess what...that's not even the pollen that irritates most of us. It's the pollen we can't see that causes the most trouble.  In this episode Sarah asks totally unfiltered questions about seasonal allergies and how to deal with them.  To answer all her questions is Dr. Gita Fleischman an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor from WakeMed. Send your questions to Sarah at wralfm.com/sarahhasquestions DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast is intended to be educational and nothing said by the host or guests should be taken as medical advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your health is important, and seeking the advice of your own healthcare provider is always the best course of action.