Awkward. Taboo. The stuff of juvenile comedy. That's how many people would describe hemorrhoids, if they even talk about them at all. And if the emotional discomfort isn't enough, they're also pretty physically uncomfortable.

But for something we don't talk about, a LOT of us experience them. One in two people will experience a hemorrhoid by the time they reach 50.

On this episode of Health Matters, gastroenterologist Dr. Sarah Umar — also known to her Mayo Clinic patients as the Queen of Hemorrhoids — joins us to answer all our burning questions about hemorrhoids.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

Pets are close to our hearts — and they’re good for our hearts. Having a pet is linked to a whole host of cardiovascular benefits, from reduced blood pressure to increased physical activity. So snuggle up with your pup, and let’s learn how caring for our animals helps us care for ourselves, too.

On this episode of Health Matters, cardiologist Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez talks with us about the connection between cardiovascular health and your furry, feathered or fanged friend.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

Space: the final medical frontier. This is the interview with Dr. Jan Stepanek. His continuing mission: to explore strange new medicine; to seek out new treatment and new conditions; to boldly treat where no doctor has treated before.

Or in other words, on this episode of Health Matters, we talk with aerospace medicine specialist Dr. Jan Stepanek about what medicine looks like in outer space. Buckle up, strap yourself in, and let's go the stars!

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

Nothing says summer like fun in the sun. But that can also give us cancer! In fact, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. — one in every five Americans will develop it. So how do we enjoy the sun, soak up its benefits, and stay safe?

On this episode of Health Matters, we talk with dermatologist Dr. Naiara Sbroggio Barbosa about Vitamin D, choosing the right sunscreen, and how and when to soak up those summer rays.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

Sweating. Freezing. Sweating. Freezing. That's the “nordic cycle,” or alternating between a sauna and cold water. More spas are offering both hot and cold therapies as part of their services, and at-home sauna tents and ice baths are becoming more and more popular. But how beneficial are these methods of extreme temperature exposure for your health? And are they always safe?

On this episode of Health Matters, we talk with sports medicine specialist Dr. Amy Beacom about the sweating, the shivering and whether this should be part of your routine.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

In 2023, both a toddler in Arkansas and a swimmer in Texas died from the infection of a brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, likely contracted from local water sources. ""Brain-eating amoebas"" is a scary headline that sounds like something out of the Twilight Zone, but just how worried should we be? And how serious are the ramifications of infection? (Spoiler: They're pretty darn serious.)

On this episode of Heath Matters, we sit down with Dr. Bobbi Pritt to talk about brain-eating amoebas, what they are, how concerned we should be about them, and ways to avoid infection.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

Distraction runs rampant in our society — we can all relate. But when you have ADHD, navigating a chaotic world can be especially challenging. And adult ADHD is on the rise. During the pandemic, diagnoses and prescriptions for ADHD in adults increased significantly. So what’s driving this increase in diagnoses? And how do you tell if you yourself have ADHD, or are experiencing a typical level of distraction?

On this episode of Health Matters, family physician Dr. Robert Wilfahrt joins us to talk about all things ADHD.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at mcppodcasts@mayo.edu.

Join host Kristen Meinzer in conversation with Mayo Clinic’s leading medical experts as she asks all the questions you’re eager to (or maybe even afraid to) ask, letting curiosity lead the way. Wondering if you might have ADHD? Or how your pet affects your health? Be part of an informative—and fun—discussion about one of the most important topics: your health.