In The Doctor's Chair

In this episode of my wellbeing podcast, ‘In The Doctors Chair’, I talk to Lorraine Cooney, a specialist gastroenterology dietician at Dublin’s Blackrock Clinic about her new book ‘Why You Can’t Go’. Her book is a gut health ‘bible’ that delves into all the relevant factors contributing to constipation and excess bloating, empowering people to find their own personal solution to digestive relief.

Find more episodes and helpful content on www.drmarkrowe.com. Firstly there’s no real way to prepare for grief. It’s part and parcel of life. While to love and be loved beings great joy and meaning to life, it also equates with loss. Kahlil Gibran, the Persian writer, put it well when he wrote that the depth of your loss is a mirror image to the depth of your love. In his words, ‘you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.’

Grief is a ubiquitous experience that befalls everyone during life. To live and to love as a human being has its polar opposite of death, loss and suffering. Sometimes this loss can lead in time to a sense of posttraumatic growth with a renewed of purpose and meaning. Find more episodes and helpful content on www.drmarkrowe.com.

Just like Groundhog Day, each day that we wake up our brains are hardwired for fear, for anxiety, and for survival. Gratitude as a practice is a powerful way to attune your thinking and way of being in the direction of a more positive mindset. Find more episodes and helpful content on www.drmarkrowe.com.

Find more episodes and helpful content on www.drmarkrowe.com. Recently I interviewed Professor Ciaran O’Boyle, a pioneering leader the area of psychology, leadership and positive health. As Professor of Psychology at the RCSI he is the Founding Director of the RCSI Centre for Positive Health Sciences (formerly the Centre for Positive Psychology and Health).

Find more episodes and helpful content on www.drmarkrowe.com. Alana James is an artist, author, and academic whose artwork expresses the love of the intricacies of life as a human being. She obtained her degree in Fine Arts from the University of Colorado in 1971 and exhibited her art in galleries and competitive shows in the US during the 80s.

Find more episodes and helpful content on www.drmarkrowe.com. As a family doctor for over three decades, I have met many patients who materially may have very little, but actually have so much. I have also seen people who are materially very wealthy, but are very miserable.

Find more episodes and helpful content on www.drmarkrowe.com. Originally from Tramore Co. Waterford, John McCarthy is a champion surfer who has competed and has travelled all over the world – including to Hawaii, Australia, Africa, Central and South America and all over Asia – in search of what he calls the ‘perfect wave’.

Episode #93 see www.drmarkrowe.com for more episodes. Dr. Liana joins me again this episode to discuss adopting a strength-based approach to living our lives. We explain what individual character strengths are and discuss why we need to pay attention to and savor the moments when we’re at our best. We discuss how routinely using our character strengths to our advantage helps contribute to our overall sense of well-being and why many people are hesitant about embracing their character strengths.

Episode #144 see www.drmarkrowe.com for more episodes. In this episode, I explore different solutions and suggestions to support your mental health. I highlight the difference between mental health and mental illness. I present UK research that identified seven separate lifestyle factors that reduce the risk of developing depression. I discuss the role of making positive lifestyle choices in preventing and managing mental health issues and how mental health can benefit from movement and exercise.

Episode #21 see www.drmarkrowe.com for more episodes. In this episode, I talk about the different types of cholesterol, and I explain why some are good and some aren’t. I talk about what your numbers should look like in each category, and I talk about how to improve these numbers when they’re not where they should be. I talk about the different ways you can help and hurt your cholesterol numbers, and I go into specific diet changes you can make to improve these levels or keep them healthy.

Episode #26 see www.drmarkrowe.com for more episodes. Today, I talk about the Mediterranean lifestyle and diet. I explain why I do not like the term “diet” for its connotations, and I note that, over the course of ten years, you make 11,000 food choices. I explain what blue zones are and list the four healthy lifestyle factors. I note the importance of consistency and color in your food, and I explain what is included in the Mediterranean diet. I also note that it supports better telomeres. None of us can go back to the beginning and start again, but starting today, you can create a brand new ending.

Episode #70 see www.drmarkrowe.com for more episodes. In this episode, I discuss what Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is and why it’s not as uncommon as society typically believes. I discuss the connection between frequent erectile dysfunction issues and other, sometimes more serious, health concerns. I explain the common physical and psychological causes of ED and the connection between your psychological health and your physical wellbeing. I explain how certain health issues like diabetes, chronic pain, and anxiety as well as certain prescription medications can often lead to erectile dysfunction.

Dr. Liana Lianov is the President of Global Positive Health Institute (GPHI), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the integration of positive psychology in the healthcare setting. She is an innovative global leader in lifestyle medicine who has led the development of its core competencies for physicians and healthcare professionals which, most recently, has been expanded to include positive psychology-based knowledge and skills. Episode #81 see www.drmarkrowe.com for more episodes.

Today, I talk about how to navigate this situation. I note that we’re hardwired for fear and that it doesn’t take much to trigger stress in us. I talk about how to be mindful of how you consume media, noting that you don’t need to unnecessarily stress yourself to stay informed. I note the power of differentiating between the things you can control and the things you can’t. I discuss the importance of self-care, pointing out that every environment you spend time in can be health-depleting or health-enhancing. I posit that you can control your level of stress to an extent and offer practical tips on how to do so. You have the power to choose how to respond in any given situation. Episode #58 see www.drmarkrowe.com for more episodes.

Today, I explain what acne is, some of the most common causes for acne breakouts, and the most common areas you may find blemishes develop. I highlight how chronic acne can sometimes lead to emotional distress, anxiety, and even depression for some people. I explain the difference between white-head and black-head pimples and how squeezing pimples can ultimately create scar tissue. I also discuss treatment options currently available, including home remedies, over-the-counter medications, and prescription medications, to treat acne breakouts and share a few basic skin care tips you can do each day to keep your skin looking and feeling healthy. The good news is – while acne may not be preventable, it’s really treatable. There are so many effective options out there. Episode #84 see www.drmarkrowe.com for more episodes.

Today, Kayleen joins me to share her story. She shares what’s behind her love for learning and she notes that you can transform your pain into something beautiful. She emphasises the power of gratitude, offering practices to cultivate it, and she points out that beauty is always woven into the darkness; you just have to shift your way of seeing. She talks about her heroes, sharing why each one makes the list, and she notes that goodness, truth, and beauty are all united. She talks about the power of pilgrimage and emphasises the importance of cultivating habits that contribute to your vitality. Episode #61 see www.drmarkrowe.com for more episodes.

In this episode, I discuss health beyond the absence of disease and how making lifestyle changes can significantly improve your health and well-being. I define lifestyle medicine and outline its six pillars. I share the Million Veteran Study and explain how it demonstrated the cumulative effects and age-specific benefits of adopting multiple healthy habits. I also suggest a few small, positive lifestyle changes and habits you can adopt today and underscore the interconnected nature of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Episode #138 see www.drmarkrowe.com for more episodes.

In this episode, Michelle and I discuss how self-care and self-compassion can help us show up for ourselves and others. We explore her background in sports, sports development, and her interest in psychology and personal development. We describe the power of hope and how faith allowed Michelle to navigate the most challenging chapters of her life. We also outline her daily gratitude practice, discuss her experience writing A Heart Full of Love, and highlight Michelle’s thoughts on the essence of life.

In this episode, I discuss how you can live better and longer through strength-based training and exercise. I share the story of John, an 84-year-old man whose biological age is decades behind his chronological age. I explain how our bodies lose lean muscles as we age—leading to eventual decline—and how the environments we spend our time in can be health-enhancing or health-depleting. I also outline the key benefits of strength training on aging, metabolism, mental health, and vitality and offer advice on starting strength training as a habit.