Episode 56 of The Health Exchange Podcast examines how autoimmune disease care is evolving when advanced medicine is paired with lifestyle-based intervention. Host Dr. Rutland speaks with Drs. Melissa Mondala and Micah Yu, a married physician team who combine rheumatology, lifestyle, and integrative medicine in their practice. They share their personal journeys—Micah’s own autoimmune diagnosis and Melissa’s early patient experiences—that shaped their approach to care. The conversation covers how autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus affect energy, mood, and overall health, and why assessment of diet, sleep, stress, and environment is critical alongside advanced medications. Through real patient stories, they illustrate how combining biologics with lifestyle changes—plant-forward diets, stress management, and movement—can improve symptoms, reduce medication needs, and empower patients to reclaim control over their health.

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Episode 55 of The Health Exchange Podcast dives into the science, stigma, and real-world impact of migraines with neurologist Dr. Philip O’Carroll and pain management specialist Dr. Richard Paicius. Dr. Rutland leads a wide-ranging conversation on why migraines are not “just headaches,” but complex neurological and inflammatory events shaped by genetics, hormones, brain signaling, and lived experience. The episode explores how migraines are misdiagnosed, why women are disproportionately affected, and how central nervous system sensitization, trauma, and emotional stress can drive chronic pain. From breakthrough CGRP medications and Botox to nerve blocks and emerging psychedelic therapies, the doctors explain how modern, precision-based treatments are transforming care—while emphasizing that empathy, accurate diagnosis, and coordinated, whole-person treatment remain just as critical as the science.

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Episode 54 of The Health Exchange Podcast features interventional cardiologist Priya Rao Kothapalli in a wide‑ranging conversation about what really determines heart health — from emergency procedures that save lives in minutes to the invisible forces that shape disease over decades. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Rao explore how heart attacks happen, how blocked arteries and faulty valves are treated in the cath lab, and why technologies like transcatheter valve replacement and intravascular imaging have transformed modern cardiology. They also dive into the concept of “vulnerable plaque,” showing why heart attacks often come from hidden inflammation rather than obvious blockages, and how new blood markers and cardiac imaging can identify risk long before symptoms appear. Beyond procedures and lab values, the episode emphasizes prevention, stress, genetics, and personalized care — reframing heart disease not just as a plumbing problem, but as a lifelong, whole‑body process shaped by biology, environment, and how people live.

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