The Dr. Leigh Vinocur Show

How can you avoid a setback in your diet this holiday season?During the holidays, it can be hard to escape unhealthy foods or to stick to your diet. Research has found that the average American gains between one and two pounds between Halloween and New Year's.Even though that may not seem like a lot, losing one or two pounds can be extremely challenging.What are 12 tips for healthy eating during the holiday season? Drink water Limit holiday drinks If you're hosting a party, provide healthy snacks Eat smaller portions of food Holiday hors-d'oeuvres Slow down Fill your diet with fruits and vegetables Holidays and the fast food trap Holiday Staples and Stuffing Don't deprive yourself Holiday deserts and your sweet tooth Holiday treats and the healthier option Listen in as Danine Frugé, MD, shares the 12 tips for eating healthy during the holiday season.

How is debt related to health?During the holidays, it can be easy to get carried away, especially if you find joy in giving to the ones you love.However, just because the holidays usually mean you exchange gifts, this doesn't mean you need to go overboard and overspend. In fact, if you do overspend and find yourself in credit card debit, it can take a toll on your health.How can debt be damaging to your health, and how can you avoid overspending during the holidays?Listen in as Paul J. Lavrakas, PhD, discusses why holiday overspending can affect your health.

Vacation is so important, that many companies are beginning to encourage their employees to use their vacation days.Numerous studies have shown that taking a vacation at least once a year is extremely beneficial for your overall health.Not only does it help relieve stress and give you adventure, but if you're someone who lives in areas where most of the winter months mean frigidly cold weather and gray skies, vacation can boost your mental health as well.Vacations are so important, that some companies, like Diamond Resorts, encourages their employees to take regular vacations in order to stay healthy and happy.Why are regular vacations important? And, what are the benefits of vacationing?Listen in as Patrick Duffy, Global Director of Vacations for Diamond Resorts International, shares why vacations are important for your overall health and why some companies encourage their employees to take vacations.

Vacation is so important, that many companies are beginning to encourage their employees to use their vacation days.Numerous studies have shown that taking a vacation at least once a year is extremely beneficial for your overall health. Not only does it help relieve stress and give you adventure, but if you're someone who lives in areas where most of the winter months mean frigidly cold weather and gray skies, vacation can boost your mental health as well. Vacations are so important, that some companies, like Diamond Resorts, encourages their employees to take regular vacations in order to stay healthy and happy. Why are regular vacations important? And, what are the benefits of vacationing? Listen in as Patrick Duffy, Global Director of Vacations for Diamond Resorts International, shares why vacations are important for your overall health and why some companies encourage their employees to take vacations.

Vacation is so important, that many companies are beginning to encourage their employees to use their vacation days.Numerous studies have shown that taking a vacation at least once a year is extremely beneficial for your overall health.Not only does it help relieve stress and give you adventure, but if you're someone who lives in areas where most of the winter months mean frigidly cold weather and gray skies, vacation can boost your mental health as well.Vacations are so important, that some companies, like Diamond Resorts, encourages their employees to take regular vacations in order to stay healthy and happy.Why are regular vacations important? And, what are the benefits of vacationing?Listen in as Patrick Duffy, Global Director of Vacations for Diamond Resorts International, shares why vacations are important for your overall health and why some companies encourage their employees to take vacations.

Why was it said before that women who are pregnant should stay away from coffee?Being pregnant can be a joyful and exciting time within your life.However, you may be surprised at how much change you need to make while pregnant in order to stay healthy for you and your baby.It may seem obvious that you shouldn't be drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and eating like a college kid. However, having to give up something like coffee can be tough, especially if you're used to drinking two cups every morning in order to function.Recently, a study suggested that drinking coffee isn't as harmful as previously thought. The study was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology and analyzed data collected from 2,197 expectant mothers that participated in the Collaborative Perinatal Project (CPP). Researchers were interested in the chemical paraxanthine (a central nervous stimulant).Researchers found that after comparing paraxanthine levels at 20 and 26 weeks gestation to the child's IQ and behavioral problems, there wasn't a consistent pattern between maternal caffeine ingestion and children's IQ.What else did researchers find?Listen in as Michael Fenster, MD, shares the recent study and why coffee isn't as harmful to drink in moderation as it was previously thought to be.

Why was it said before that women who are pregnant should stay away from coffee?Being pregnant can be a joyful and exciting time within your life. However, you may be surprised at how much change you need to make while pregnant in order to stay healthy for you and your baby. It may seem obvious that you shouldn't be drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and eating like a college kid. However, having to give up something like coffee can be tough, especially if you're used to drinking two cups every morning in order to function. Recently, a study suggested that drinking coffee isn't as harmful as previously thought. The study was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology and analyzed data collected from 2,197 expectant mothers that participated in the Collaborative Perinatal Project (CPP). Researchers were interested in the chemical paraxanthine (a central nervous stimulant). Researchers found that after comparing paraxanthine levels at 20 and 26 weeks gestation to the child's IQ and behavioral problems, there wasn't a consistent pattern between maternal caffeine ingestion and children's IQ. What else did researchers find? Listen in as Michael Fenster, MD, shares the recent study and why coffee isn't as harmful to drink in moderation as it was previously thought to be.

Is there a way you can ease the stress from your job without having to quit?Stress can be found everywhere and it can be extremely dangerous to your health. Escaping stress isn't easy, especially if it's from your job. A recent study found that having a high-stress job can increase your chance of having a stroke, especially if you're a woman.The meta-analysis, which was published in Neurology, looked at six studies involving 138,782 participants over a span of three to 17 years. Out of the 138,782 participants 11-27 percent had high-stress jobs and had a 22 percent higher risk of stroke than those with low-stress jobs.What can you do to help lower your stress?Dr. Fite joins Dr. Leigh to discuss the correlation of high-stress jobs and stroke and how you can help ease your stress.

Is there a way you can ease the stress from your job without having to quit?Stress can be found everywhere and it can be extremely dangerous to your health. Escaping stress isn't easy, especially if it's from your job.  A recent study found that having a high-stress job can increase your chance of having a stroke, especially if you're a woman. The meta-analysis, which was published in Neurology, looked at six studies involving 138,782 participants over a span of three to 17 years. Out of the 138,782 participants 11-27 percent had high-stress jobs and had a 22 percent higher risk of stroke than those with low-stress jobs. What can you do to help lower your stress? Dr. Fite joins Dr. Leigh to discuss the correlation of high-stress jobs and stroke and how you can help ease your stress.

What steps can couples take to make sure their tones of voice are working to their advantage?If you've been in a relationship for a long period of time, it seems like you know your better half better than anyone. You know when they're angry, when they're upset, and when they switch over to a tone of voice that can drive you insane.New research that was published in Proceedings of Interspeech found that the tone of voice you use to talk to your partner can predict whether or not your relationship will last.In the study, researchers listened to recorded conversations during marriage therapy sessions of more than 100 couples over a span of two years and then tracked their marital status for five years.What did the researchers find? Is your tone of voice that important in your relationship?Listen in as Paul Coleman, PsyD, shares why the tone of your voice can make or break your relationship.

What steps can couples take to make sure their tones of voice are working to their advantage?If you've been in a relationship for a long period of time, it seems like you know your better half better than anyone. You know when they're angry, when they're upset, and when they switch over to a tone of voice that can drive you insane. New research that was published in Proceedings of Interspeech found that the tone of voice you use to talk to your partner can predict whether or not your relationship will last. In the study, researchers listened to recorded conversations during marriage therapy sessions of more than 100 couples over a span of two years and then tracked their marital status for five years. What did the researchers find? Is your tone of voice that important in your relationship? Listen in as Paul Coleman, PsyD, shares why the tone of your voice can make or break your relationship.

How do the costs of transgender health services compare to other services for people with cancer or other major diseases?Within the past year, there has been a ton of light shone on transgender issues, specifically within the healthcare system. A new analysis from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that most U.S. health insurance plans don't give benefits to transgender men and women for medical care in order to transition to the opposite sex, but that paying for sex reassignment surgery and the hormones that are needed is actually quite cost-effective when the factors of not making that transition are considered (depression, suicidal tendencies, drug use, etc.). According to the study, which was published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, it's estimated that between 3,000 and 9,000 Americans undergo sex reassignment surgery each year. For the study, researchers reviewed data from the 2011 National Transgender Discrimination Survey, which looked at information on access to medical care and health outcomes, as well as the cost of medical services. One researcher points out that health insurance companies pay for rare diseases such as cystic fibrosis (which affects 30,000 people in the U.S.), which is treated as a chronic condition and has medications that can cost up to $300,000 a year. Why can't the same be done for transgender patients? Listen in as one of the lead authors of the study, William Padula, PhD, MS, discusses why transgender health care costs aren't covered and why they should be.

How do the costs of transgender health services compare to other services for people with cancer or other major diseases?Within the past year, there has been a ton of light shone on transgender issues, specifically within the healthcare system.A new analysis from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that most U.S. health insurance plans don't give benefits to transgender men and women for medical care in order to transition to the opposite sex, but that paying for sex reassignment surgery and the hormones that are needed is actually quite cost-effective when the factors of not making that transition are considered (depression, suicidal tendencies, drug use, etc.).According to the study, which was published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, it's estimated that between 3,000 and 9,000 Americans undergo sex reassignment surgery each year.For the study, researchers reviewed data from the 2011 National Transgender Discrimination Survey, which looked at information on access to medical care and health outcomes, as well as the cost of medical services.One researcher points out that health insurance companies pay for rare diseases such as cystic fibrosis (which affects 30,000 people in the U.S.), which is treated as a chronic condition and has medications that can cost up to $300,000 a year.Why can't the same be done for transgender patients?Listen in as one of the lead authors of the study, William Padula, PhD, MS, discusses why transgender health care costs aren't covered and why they should be.

Why was it said before that women who are pregnant should stay away from coffee?Being pregnant can be a joyful and exciting time within your life.However, you may be surprised at how much change you need to make while pregnant in order to stay healthy for you and your baby.It may seem obvious that you shouldn't be drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and eating like a college kid. However, having to give up something like coffee can be tough, especially if you're used to drinking two cups every morning in order to function.Recently, a study suggested that drinking coffee isn't as harmful as previously thought. The study was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology and analyzed data collected from 2,197 expectant mothers that participated in the Collaborative Perinatal Project (CPP). Researchers were interested in the chemical paraxanthine (a central nervous stimulant).Researchers found that after comparing paraxanthine levels at 20 and 26 weeks gestation to the child's IQ and behavioral problems, there wasn't a consistent pattern between maternal caffeine ingestion and children's IQ.What else did researchers find?Listen in as Michael Fenster, MD, shares the recent study and why coffee isn't as harmful to drink in moderation as it was previously thought to be.

What are your chances of increased suicide behavior after weight-reduction surgery?If you've been struggling with losing weight and you feel like you're running out of new diets and exercise trends to try, you may be considering weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgery can help those who are morbidly obese. Unfortunately, people who are morbidly obese also oftentimes suffer from mental health problems. Recent research has found that suicide risk might increase for some people after weight loss surgery. The study was published in the journal JAMA Surgery and looked at 8,800 patients in Ontario for three years before and after their weight loss procedures. Out of that group, 111 patients had 158 self-harm emergencies during the follow-up period and about 93 percent of those suicide attempts occurred in patients diagnosed with a mental health disorder prior to surgery. What else did the researchers find? Amir A. Ghaferi, MD, MS, joins Dr. Leigh to discuss weight loss surgery and who is at risk for a higher suicide rate.