For many people, their 40s bring subtle but significant health shifts. The habits that once worked may no longer deliver the same results, and between careers, caregiving, and family responsibilities, personal wellness often takes a back seat. In this episode, we cut through the noise of social media health hacks and wellness trends to focus on what truly matters: nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management. We spoke with Susan Hardwick-Smith, MD, founder of the Complete Midlife Wellness Center in Houston, about building a strong foundation for long-term health, creating wellness goals with your future self in mind, and why prioritizing your own well-being is one of the most important investments you can make.

Credits 
Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
Show Notes: Lauren Summers
Guest: Susan Hardwick-Smith, MD

For many people, their 40s bring subtle but significant health shifts. The habits that once worked may no longer deliver the same results, and between careers, caregiving, and family responsibilities, personal wellness often takes a back seat. In this episode, we cut through the noise of social media health hacks and wellness trends to focus on what truly matters: nutrition, exercise, sleep, and <a href="https://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/stress-management">stress management.</a> We spoke with <a href="https://drsusan.com/">Susan Hardwick-Smith, MD</a>, founder of the <a href="https://completemidlifewellnesscenter.com/">Complete Midlife Wellness Center</a> in Houston, about building a strong foundation for long-term health, creating wellness goals with your future self in mind, and why prioritizing your own well-being is one of the most important investments you can make.
Credits&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM</li>
<li aria-level="1">Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers</li>
<li aria-level="1">Show Notes: Lauren Summers</li>
<li aria-level="1">Guest: Susan Hardwick-Smith, MD</li>
</ul>

WebMD Chief Physician Editor Neha Pathak, MD, and Chief Medical Officer, John Whyte, MD, MPH, explore fascinating stories to find the unexpected things that help us understand our health.

Health Discovered

Wellness in Your 40s: Building a Foundation for Lifelong Health

Constantly being “on” doesn’t just drain our energy – it can rewire our brains, blur the lines between what’s urgent and what’s not, and leave us feeling overwhelmed and disconnected. In this episode, we explore why our brains and bodies need regular digital detoxes. We sit down with Romila “Romie” Mushtaq, MD, ABIHM, a board-certified physician and author of The Busy Brain Cure, to discuss how modern digital life fuels burnout, why it’s a culture problem – not a willpower problem – and how small, structured resets can help calm an overstimulated brain. Dr. Mushtaq also shares her 3-30-3 method for taking brief, regular breaks from devices to reconnect with people, movement, nature, and meaningful routines.

Credits 
Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
Show Notes: Lauren Summers
Guest: Romila Mushtaq, MD, ABIHM

Constantly being &ldquo;on&rdquo; doesn&rsquo;t just drain our energy &ndash; it can rewire our brains, blur the lines between what&rsquo;s urgent and what&rsquo;s not, and leave us feeling overwhelmed and disconnected. In this episode, we explore why our brains and bodies need regular <a href="https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-digital-detoxhttps://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-digital-detox">digital detoxes</a>. We sit down with <a href="https://drromie.com/about-dr-romie/">Romila &ldquo;Romie&rdquo; Mushtaq, MD, ABIHM</a>, a board-certified physician and author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Busy-Brain-Cure-Eight-Week-Anxiety/dp/1335007113">The Busy Brain Cure</a>, to discuss how modern digital life fuels burnout, why it&rsquo;s a culture problem &ndash; not a willpower problem &ndash; and how small, structured resets can help calm an overstimulated brain. Dr. Mushtaq also shares her 3-30-3 method for taking brief, regular breaks from devices to reconnect with people, movement, nature, and meaningful routines.
Credits&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM</li>
<li aria-level="1">Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers</li>
<li aria-level="1">Show Notes: Lauren Summers</li>
<li aria-level="1">Guest: Romila Mushtaq, MD, ABIHM</li>
</ul>

Digital Burnout: How to Reset an Overstimulated Brain

Tens of millions of Americans live with chronic pain, often after years of tests, treatments, and specialist visits without finding relief. Chronic pain can also be misunderstood, whether it takes the form of migraines, IBS, fatigue, or other symptoms, and can significantly affect quality of life and emotional health. We spoke with Howard Schubiner, MD, author of Unlearn Your Pain: The Science of Recovering from Chronic Pain, Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depression, about “neuroplastic” pain, how to distinguish structural injury from brain-driven symptoms, practical steps to take alongside pain treatment, and his five-step approach to unlearning pain. We also emphasized how trauma, stress, life pressures, and experiences of medical dismissal can shape and amplify chronic pain. For those suffering from chronic pain, having their experience validated and understood – not minimized – can be an important part of healing.

Credits 
Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
Show Notes: Lauren Summers
Guest: Howard Schubiner, MD

Tens of millions of Americans live with <a href="https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/understanding-pain-management-chronic-pain">chronic pain</a>, often after years of tests, <a href="https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/pain-management-treatment-overview">treatments</a>, and specialist visits without finding relief. Chronic pain can also be misunderstood, whether it takes the form of migraines, IBS, fatigue, or other symptoms, and can significantly affect quality of life and emotional health. We spoke with <a href="https://www.freedomfromchronicpain.com/howard-schubiner/">Howard Schubiner, MD</a>, author of <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/782218/unlearn-your-pain-by-howard-schubiner-md-foreword-by-kate-murphy/">Unlearn Your Pain: The Science of Recovering from Chronic Pain, Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depression</a>, about &ldquo;neuroplastic&rdquo; pain, how to distinguish structural injury from brain-driven symptoms, practical steps to take alongside pain treatment, and his five-step approach to unlearning pain. We also emphasized how trauma, stress, life pressures, and experiences of medical dismissal can shape and amplify chronic pain. For those suffering from chronic pain, having their experience validated and understood &ndash; not minimized &ndash; can be an important part of healing.
Credits&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM</li>
<li aria-level="1">Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers</li>
<li aria-level="1">Show Notes: Lauren Summers</li>
<li aria-level="1">Guest: Howard Schubiner, MD</li>
</ul>

Understanding the Mind-Body Connection in Chronic Pain

For many parents, dropping their child off at school comes with the expectation that they will be safe. Yet for children across the United States, safety concerns – from lockdown drills to real threats – have become an increasingly common part of childhood. How do we talk to our children about these experiences, and how can parents cope in ways that support their children? We spoke with Adjoa Smalls-Mantey, MD, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, about school safety concerns, how they can affect children’s mental and emotional health, and how parents can help. We also discuss warning signs, opportunities for intervention, opening communication, and grounding techniques for moments of crisis.

Credits 
Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
Show Notes: Lauren Summers
Guest: Adjoa Smalls-Mantey, MD

For many parents, dropping their child off at school comes with the expectation that they will be safe. Yet for children across the United States, <a href="https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/expert-advice-school-violence">safety concerns </a>&ndash; from lockdown drills to real threats &ndash; have become an increasingly common part of childhood. How do we talk to our children about these experiences, and how can parents cope in ways that support their children? We spoke with <a href="https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/doctors/smalls-mantey-adjoa/">Adjoa Smalls-Mantey, MD</a>, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, about school safety concerns, how they can affect children&rsquo;s mental and emotional health, and how parents can help. We also discuss warning signs, opportunities for intervention, opening communication, and grounding techniques for moments of crisis.
Credits&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM</li>
<li aria-level="1">Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers</li>
<li aria-level="1">Show Notes: Lauren Summers</li>
<li aria-level="1">Guest: Adjoa Smalls-Mantey, MD</li>
</ul>

Wellness in Your 40s: Building a Foundation for Lifelong Health

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