It’s estimated that between 10 and 15% of people in the US suffer from IBS – irritable bowel syndrome.      People with IBS experience diarrhea, or constipation. Sometimes both! Add abdominal pain to the mix, and a range of other symptoms, and the resulting experience can range from uncomfortable and inconvenient, to debilitating.     People have a lot of questions about IBS, and there is a lot of information out there online. Unfortunately, not all of it is rooted in facts.     In this episode, gastroenterologist William Chey, M.D. joins us to ..read more

Sleep quality, or lack of it, can affect how we feel, how we act, our performance at work, our relationships. The American Sleep Association has found that more than 37% of Americans reported unintentionally falling asleep during the day at least once in the preceding month.    That’s a lot of tired people.    In this episode, clinical sleep psychologist Deirdre Conroy, M.D. joins us to answer the most commonly searched questions on the internet about sleep, including:    What are the most common types of sleep disorders?  Is restless leg syndrome a sleep di ..read more

Dry, scaly patches and relentless itching are the hallmark signs of eczema. 1 in 10 people will develop eczema at some point during their lifetime. It’s uncomfortable, and can seem embarrassing. In this episode, dermatologist Frank Wang, M.D. joins us to answer the most commonly searched questions about eczema, including: What is eczema? Are there different types of eczema? What is the difference between eczema and psoriasis? Is eczema contagious? Can it spread from one part of your body to another? Is eczema genetic? Does eczema run in families? Does stress cause eczema? What can cause an ..read more

If you’ve ever heard someone describe feeling like they were punched in the back of their legs, or hearing a popping sound from their heel or calf area, it’s very possible that they’re talking about an Achilles tendon injury. It’s a very common-activity related injury – but it can be a serious one. In this episode, James Holmes, M.D. joins us to answer the most commonly searched questions about Achilles tendon injuries, including: What does the Achilles tendon do? What are some of the more common Achilles tendon injuries? How are Achilles tendon injuries treated and how long does it take to ..read more

What do you know about the numbers that get read out to you after you get your arm hugged by a blood pressure cuff? Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure. And because there are no obvious symptoms, many people don’t even know it. Cardiologist Nicole Bhave, M.D. joins us to sort out answers to the most searched questions about the “silent killer” that is high blood pressure. What is “good blood pressure”? What causes high or low blood pressure? How can someone lower their blood pressure? Can COVID affect your blood pressure? Is it a good idea to monitor your blood pressure f ..read more

Young or old. Male or female. Pro athlete or afternoon dog walker. Knee pain is one of the great equalizers that affect people of all ages and backgrounds. Walter Alomar-Jimenez, M.D., joins us to answer the top asked questions about knee pain. What causes knee pain? Should you rest, or exercise, to address knee pain? What exercises are best for knee pain? Should you get a knee brace for knee pain? When should you see a specialist about knee pain? What are the most common treatments for knee pain? Not all knee pain is serious, but if it’s keeping you from doing all the things you want to d ..read more

Autism has been the subject of endless debate, garnered international headlines, and sent many parents to their favorite search engine looking for answers. Unfortunately, not everything you see online is based on evidence and facts, so we called in Jenny Radesky, M.D. to help us sort through myths and facts associated with the most searched questions about autism.    What is autism?  What are the signs of autism, and how is it diagnosed?  What is Asperger’s syndrome?  What causes autism?  Is there a cure for autism?  How do you help support someone with ..read more

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in the U.S. today. Even so, there’s still a stigma around anxiety and panic attacks. Emily Bilek, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at University of Michigan Health, joins us to answer some of the most searched questions on the internet about anxiety, including: What’s the difference between an anxiety attack and a panic attack? Why do anxiety attacks cause chest pain? What can you do to help someone who is having an anxiety attack? What could exposure therapy mean for people who live with anxiety? Anxiety disorders are real, and t ..read more

The internet has become a top destination for people looking for information about everything from heart healthy recipes to symptoms of a heart attack, and everything in between.  We’re taking these questions and tackling them with help from experts at Michigan Medicine.     Each week, we’ll dig deep into a different health topic, answering the top-searched questions about that topic on the internet.    The Michigan Answers podcast is hosted by Preeti Malani, M.D, M.S.J., Chief Health Officer at the Universit ..read more