Healthy Matters - with Dr. David Hilden

08/31/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E23 - Beyond the Common Cold:  Understanding Pneumonia

With Special Guest:  Dr. Jessica Oswald, DO

Pneumonia!  It's something we've all heard of - or maybe even had!  It's sometimes deadly, sometimes contagious and almost always misunderstood.  But what's going on in the body exactly?  Is it contagious?  How is it different than a bad cold or bronchitis?  And why does it start with the letter P anyway?  (sorry, we don't really have an answer for that one...)

The lungs are sensitive spaces in our body and...

08/17/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E22 - Why Medicaid Matters for Everyone...

With Special Guest:  Susie Emmert - Sr. Director of Advocacy and Public Policy

It's probably pretty safe to say that the healthcare system in this country is complicated, at best, and something that's only made worse by politics.  The recent passage of "The Big Beautiful Bill" has put an often debated, seldom understood and always essential piece of the healthcare puzzle in jeopardy - that being Medicaid.  But what is Medicaid exactly, and what role does it play for ind...

08/03/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E21 - The Small, but Mighty ... THYROID!

With Special Guest:  Dr. Sreekant Avula, MBBS

Sometimes, the why behind how we feel is a little hard to pinpoint.  Are you feeling sluggish and tired all the time, even though you're getting enough rest?  Are you gaining or losing weight without even trying?   Well, it could have something to do with your small, but mighty, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck - the thyroid.  Turns out this gland is responsible for quite a bit in the body!

But w...

07/20/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E20 - Sweet Talk: Decoding Diabetes

With Special Guest:  Dr. Allison Estrada, MD

Think about this:  1 in every 10 Americans is living with Diabetes in one form or another.  It's one of the most common chronic conditions today, and it's a condition that's often misunderstood and easily oversimplified.  Diabetes isn’t just about sugar—it’s about science, lifestyle, and the small decisions that shape our health every day.  But who's most at risk?  Is it at all reversible?  Can GLP1 drugs actually help?  And is cream always a bad i...

07/06/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E19 - Hunger, Health, and Hope: Tackling Food Insecurity

With Special Guests:  Dr. Dianna Cutts, MD, and Amy Harris

It’s pretty hard to concentrate, work, or pretty much do anything while you’re hungry.  And while, for many of us, hunger is a passing moment, there are far too many children and adults living with this as a daily reality.  Food insecurity extends well beyond the physical effects of being hungry.  It can be a major stressor on the daily lives of kids in school, their pa...

06/22/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E18 - The ABCs of COPD

With Special Guest:  Dr. Caroline Davis, MD

Did you know that 6.5% of Americans have physician-diagnosed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?  That's a pretty staggering statistic...  You might think that people get it from smoking, and well, you'd be right.  But that's not the only thing that can cause it!  COPD is a disease of the airways where people have difficulty getting air out  of there lungs.  But why is that an issue?  Who's most likely to be afflicted with this condition...

06/08/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E17 - Bedside Bots!  AI Scribing in Healthcare

With Special Guest:  Brian Imdieke, MAN, ANP-BC

Ever feel like your doctor is paying more attention to their keyboard than to you? You're not alone—and that's one of the problems AI scribes are trying to fix.  But how do they work?  How good are they?  Is my data still private?  And are we nearing the age of Dr. Bot, M.D.?

In this episode, we'll take a look at how artificial intelligence is transforming the exam roo...

05/25/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E16 - We're Talkin' Speech-Language Pathology

With Special Guest:  Adam Terrell, MS

When it comes to the field of Speech Pathology, we might tend to think it's all about helping people with the challenges of a stutter or helping kids get out a proper "R" sound - but it turns out there's a lot more to it!  Communication is a 2-way street, and there can be a lot to manage when it comes to speaking, listening and retaining information.  From a child struggling to say their fir...

05/11/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E15 - Heat, Haze & How Climate Is Affecting Our Health

With Special Guest:  Beth Stegora, PT, DPT

As global temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more frequent, it's not just our environment that’s feeling the impact—our bodies and communities are, too.  Worsening air quality, heatwaves and supply chain disruptions are just some of the many ways climate change can have profound effects on both our physical and mental heath, making it an essential part of any conversation around public health.

But as alw...

04/27/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E14 - Gut Check: Understanding Crohn's Disease

With Special Guest:  Dr. Jason Eckmann, MD

We've all had a stomach bug at some point in our lives, and it's probably safe to say that every one of us would rather skip the next one.  But for millions worldwide with a Crohn's Disease diagnosis (AKA Crohn Disease), that stomach issue is much like the condition they live with every day of their lives.  Crohn's is a chronic condition, and whether you’re newly diagnosed, supporting someone who is, or ju...

04/13/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E13 - We Need to Talk (About Menopause)

If there was something that had profound effects on more than half the population for decades of their lives, well, that something would certainly be worth talking about!  Menopause is something that we've all heard about before, but very few women experiencing it say they were prepared for it.  So on Episode 13 of the show, we're diving into the often mysterious world of Menopause with 2 special guests from Hennepin Healthcare - Dr. Heather Legris, a pharmacist, and Dr. Lisa Legrand, a...

03/30/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E12 - Bipolar Disorder:  The Ups, Downs, and In-Betweens...

Bipolar disorder affects millions of people worldwide - and actually, a higher percentage of people in developed countries.  It can bring euphoric highs and depressive lows at any time, with no rhyme or reason, and understandably, can have a real impact on those living with the condition, as well as their loved ones.  But what is bipolar disorder, exactly?  What's the lived experience like?  And what are things to be aware of for those with the condition and the peopl...

03/16/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E11 - Why Are Kids Always Sick?! Let's Talk About It.

If you have (or know) a kid, you've probably wondered: "How can such a tiny human catch so many illnesses?" And, "How is it humanly possible to create such an endless supply of snot?!"  Let's face it, kids are mini germ factories. From coughs to colds to ear infections, kids seem to pick up everything.  But which symptoms are just part of growing up, and which ones should actually worry you?

On Episode 11 of the sh...

03/02/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E10 - Controlled Chaos: A Day in the Life of an Emergency Nurse

There are a lot of important people in healthcare, but the medical system itself simply would not exist without one essential piece of the puzzle: NURSES.  It might be impossible to give them enough credit for the many important jobs they do - from the Emergency Department to the clinics.  They literally see it all, and regardless of how intense the situation might be, somehow always seem to keep their cool.

Emergency Department nu...

02/16/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E09 - Hypertension: Avoiding the Silent Killer

High Blood Pressure, or hypertension, is often called The Silent Killer because it can wreak havoc on our bodies, oftentimes without us even knowing.  It's estimated that 85 million people in the U.S. alone have high blood pressure, which is an alarming stat, especially given that it can be a major contributor to a whole host of bad stuff - like stroke, heart attacks and kidney disease, to name just a few.  But what causes hypertension?  Why is it so...

02/02/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E08 - The MS Journey: From Symptoms to Solutions

Did you know that 1,000,000 people in the U.S. alone are living with Multiple Sclerosis?  We've all likely heard of MS before, and many of us may even know someone with the condition, but there are always a lot of questions when it comes to these types of diseases.  Like, what's actually happening in the body?  What are typical symptoms?  And what help is there available to those living with it?

Thankfully, we've got experts on hand to g...

01/19/25

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E07 - Let's Learn About Lupus!

Did you know that in 2024, over 200,000 people in the U.S. alone had Lupus?  It's a condition that many of us have likely heard of, but it's one that often presents with a lot of questions - like where does it come from?  Who is most likely to get Lupus?  Is it a life-long condition?  And what help is available for those living with it?

On the next episode of the show, we'll be joined by Rheumatologist, Dr. Rawad Nasr, and...

01/05/24

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E06 - How to Live to be 100 (or Die Trying...)

When it comes to our longevity, there's certainly no shortage of advice out there. We'll often get an earful about the superfood du jour, fad diets, or trendy exercise routines - but what's the word from an actual MD on the subject?  Are there really keys to living a longer, healthier life?  And can I still eat bacon?

Well, on Episode 6 of our show, we'll be joined by an extra special guest - Dr. David Hilden!  He...

12/22/24

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E05 - A is for Alcohol. A Primer.

Are you doing a "Dry January"?  Do your family gatherings get a little more colorful when the wine starts flowing?  Like it or not, alcohol plays a role in many of our lives, both directly and indirectly.  It lives deep within the fabric of our society (and it has since ancient times!) but there've been quite a few changes to how the medical community has viewed it in the past decade.  But is it all bad?  How much is too much...

12/08/24

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E04 - Decoding Food Labels

Our diets are a major contributor to our overall health, so of course it's important to know what's in the food we eat.  And what better way would there be to find out what's in our food than to read its label?  But let's face it, oftentimes food labels can be confusing, and sometimes even a little misleading.  So how do you interpret what's on a food label?  What does each of the items mean for our diets?  And what is Riboflavin, anyway?
<...

11/24/24

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E03 - All About Gout!

Gout!  It's kind of a funny word, but ask anyone who's got experience with it, and it is no joke!  It's on the rise in the U.S., and although men are the more likely candidates, women and even some dogs(!) are also susceptible.  But what is it exactly?  Why is it so often found in our big toes?  And, which dogs can actually get Gout?!

Many people who have experienced a Gout flare are quick to say it's the most painf...

11/10/24

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E02 - Dr. Thomas Wyatt and the Hospital's Front Door (Open 24/7/365)

It can be said that the emergency department is the front door between a community and healthcare - that never closes.  Within it, there's an immense team of providers working together to attend to anyone and everyone who comes in through the door - every hour of every day.  Safe to say, it's an intensely busy place with no two days ever being the same.

Hennepin County Medical Center is a Level I Adult and Pe...

10/27/24

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S04_E01 - Elder Essentials: Keys to Aging Gracefully and Caring for Older Adults

Though some of us might not like to admit it, it's a fact that right now, we're all getting (at least a little) older.  But aging doesn't have to be scary, and there are certainly better practices to helping our loved ones - and ourselves - age in the best way possible.  But what does "healthy aging" really mean?  How do we distinguish a "senior moment" from something more serious?  When is the righ...

10/13/24

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E24 - Insomnia... and How to Fix It.

I’m sure most of all of us would agree that sleep is precious…

But sooner or later we all run into issues falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early.  Of course, missing out on quality sleep can have direct consequences on how well we function in our daily lives, but did you know it can have real consequences on your physical and mental health as well?  So, wh...

09/29/24

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E23 - Measles!  They're baaaaaaack...

Measles!  There's been a bit of an outbreak recently across the planet which has raised significant public health concerns in many of our communities - including in Minnesota.  So, we thought it was time to get wise on the topic.  Many of us have gotten our MMR vaccines (and for good reason!), so does that mean we're safe?  What is Measles exactly?  How is it transmitted and why is the virus so contagious?  What are common symptoms and what treatments are availab...

09/15/24

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E22 - Caring Beyond Cure - Exploring Hospice Care

A birth is something that is often prepared for and certainly talked about without reservation, but conversations about death and dying can be difficult and something many of us would like to avoid whenever possible.  Although that's understandable, these conversations around end-of-life are likely among the most important ones we can have with those we love and our healthcare providers.

Hospice might be one of the most misconceived subjects in modern healthcare, and is, in f...

09/01/24

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E21 - The Dizzying World of POTS

Lightheaded?  Short of breath?  Heart racing for no good reason?  POTS is one of the more mysterious subjects in medicine in recent years, and although it's been around for quite some time, it has really come to the fore since the COVID pandemic.  But what is it exactly?  What causes it?  How is it diagnosed, and more importantly, how is it treated? 

The multitude of symptoms around pots are enough to make your head spin (if it wasn't...

08/18/24

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E20 - From Hurt to Healing:  The Power of Being Trauma-Informed

Today, we're diving into a topic that's crucial but often overlooked: adverse childhood events (ACEs), and trauma-informed care (TIC). According to the CDC, nearly two-thirds of all U.S. adults have experienced one or more ACEs. That’s how common they are, and the effects of these adverse events can add up over time. Many of us may not realize how deeply early experiences of stress, neglect, or trauma can shape not only our mental hea...

08/04/24

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E19 - The A-Z on Abdominal Hernias

Hernias!  They're a lot more common than you think, and in fact over 20 million hernias are repaired every year!  All genders and ages - from babies to the elderly - can have a hernia, so it's high time we talked about them on the show.  They won't go away on their own, so it's good to know your options if you suspect you have one (or know you already do...).

On episode 19 we'll be joined by Dr. Rac...

07/21/24

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E18 - Face It, It Hurts...Understanding Orofacial Pain

Toothaches!  Neuralgias!  Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD)!  Apart from these being great Scrabble words, they are also just a few things that fall under the category of Orofacial Pain.  Any one of these conditions can severely impact our daily lives, with wide-ranging effects that can extend well beyond pain.  They can affect the way we eat, speak, breathe, and even how we feel psychologically.  But like many things in healthcare, we're left with a few of the same questi...

07/07/24

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E17 - Beyond Medication - Effective Strategies for Pain Management

On a scale of 0-10, where is your pain right now?  We've all been asked that question at one point or another, but really - think about where it is right now.  Most of us experience some level of pain throughout our daily lives that we manage in one way or another, and oftentimes we assume that the best tools for dealing with pain are medications.  But they've got their downsides, too, and more and more, we...

06/23/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E16 - The Next Step for Community Violence Prevention & Intervention

The rise of community violence has become an alarming issue in many areas, impacting the daily lives of residents, law enforcement, hospital personnel, and the overall health of neighborhoods. As these incidents increase, they bring with them a host of health (and life) problems that extend beyond immediate safety concerns. Understanding the causes and effects is crucial for developing effective strategies to restoring peace and stability, and breaking the cycle of community violence. And in...

06/09/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E15 - UroLogic: Understanding Men's Urological Conditions

This is the second in a 2-part series on Urology (Episode 12 focused primarily on Women's urologic conditions and the pelvic floor) and on this episode we'll shed some light on the conditions that affect millions of men worldwide.  From BPH, to urinary incontinence, and yes, erectile dysfunction - we'll explore the anatomy and function of the male urinary and reproductive processes, and treatment options for when issues arise, with Dr. Travis Pagliara, MD. 

What does the prostate actually do?  Why...

05/26/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E14 - Brainstorms and Breakthroughs - The Science of Strokes

Chances are we've all known someone who has suffered a stroke, and it turns out they're a lot more common than we might think - nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. every year.  Brain health is essential to our wellbeing and suffering a stroke can have profound and even life-altering effects, assuming the patient survives the event.   But how can we identify a stroke?  What should we do when we see one?  What treatments and ther...

05/12/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E13 - Focus on Psychosis - A Conversation with a Clinical Psychologist

Schizophrenia, Delusional Disorder, Hallucinations, Bipolar Disorder...  These are some of the many conditions that fall under the category of Psycosis.  But did you know that 1 in every 30 people in the U.S. will experience a psychotic event at some point in their life?  But who is most at risk?  What are some of the early signs?  How is psychosis diagnosed and what treatments do we have?

It's safe to say psychosis has been...

04/28/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E12 - Strengthening Our Understanding of the Pelvic Floor

The Pelvic Floor.   Everyone with a pelvis, has a pelvic floor.  But what is it?  For starters, it's something many of us take for granted - until issues arise...  And although pelvic floor issues commonly effect women, they effect plenty of men as well.   From feeling like you need to sprint to the bathroom every five minutes, to anxiety around the body's ability to "hold it", to experiencing discomfort during intimate moments, these conditions can really throw a wre...

04/14/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E11 - Keeping Up with Pacemakers

The heart is pretty amazing.  In the orchestra the human body, the heart is the conductor, but sometimes, even the most skilled maestro needs a little backup.  Enter pacemakers, the tiny conductors that can help us keep the beat.  But when might you need one?  How are they implanted?  How long do they last?  And can I still use the microwave?

Join us to learn about the world of pacemakers with our guest, Dr. Rehan Karim.  He's an electro...

3/31/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E10 - Getting a Better Understanding of ALS

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a rare but serious condition that affects around 5 people in every 100,000, but due to its devastating effects on both the patient and the caregivers, it's something that certainly merits a deeper conversation.  Lou Gehrig and Steven Hawking may be the two most well-known cases, but it seems once ALS is mentioned, many people are in one way or another connected to it.  But what's actually happening in the body?  What do we think cau...

3/17/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E09 - Cholesterol:  The Good, The Bad and the Triglycerides...

Cholesterol can be a confusing subject for many of us.  And, as many of us can attest to, seeing the results from a lipid panel can be like reading a foreign language.  What's a safe range?  Does good cholesterol cancel out the bad?  And what is a lipid, anyway? 

It turns out cholesterol is a necessary piece of the human puzzle, but like a lot things, too much of anything is likely not good.  But wha...

3/3/2024

The Healthy Matters Podcast

S03_E08 - Getting our Brains Around TBI and Concussions

Brains!  We've all got 'em.  (Well, perhaps some of us more than others...)  But it's estimated that almost 50% (!) of all adults in the U.S. have experienced a concussive event or some sort of traumatic brain injury in their lifetime.  That's a staggering statistic, and on Episode 8 of the show, we'll be joined by Dr. Matthew Puderbaugh to help us define what a traumatic brain injury is, how to identify one, and what to do when we see...