Happy to Health with Dr Preeya

Clinical psychologist Hayley Zarb joins Preeya to chat about the beast that is anxiety. What's the difference between stress and anxiety? What happens during a session with a psychologist? What's the role of medication and when is it useful? This is a chat filled with practical takeaways (including some tools you can implement to those annoying anxious thoughts!) and raw moments with Preeya sharing her own journey with generalised anxiety disorder during medical school and how it continues to impact her role with patients in the consulting room. If this episode raises any concerns for you please speak to a qualified health professional. 24/7 support is also available in a crisis from Lifeline - 13 11 14Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@doctor.preeya.alexander⁠⁠⁠Books: ⁠⁠⁠Eat, Sleep, Play, Love⁠⁠ by Dr Preeya Alexander⁠⁠⁠Full Plate⁠⁠⁠, out nowTo find out more about AIA Australia head to ⁠www.aia.com.au⁠

Sunscreen got (super) sexy and dermatologist Dr Cara McDonald and Preeya are here for it! They break down which sunscreen (chemical, physical or both!) and when and answer your nitty gritty questions around the order to apply sunscreen, serums and make up, tricks when it comes to reapplying and whether you need a dedicated sunscreen or if the all in one stuff is good enough.Instagram: ⁠⁠@doctor.preeya.alexander⁠⁠Books: ⁠⁠Eat, Sleep, Play, Love⁠ by Dr Preeya Alexander⁠⁠Full Plate⁠⁠, out nowTo find out more about AIA Australia head to www.aia.com.au

In this final bonus episode before we start recording the new season, Dr Preeya chats to two of her oldest and best friends about life, ageing, the juggle, and why it's ok that Preeya never remembers their birthdays. Lots of giggles in this one.

We invited kids to ask their medical questions and here are the answers. From why we need vaccines to how germs get into our bodies, what the heck an appendix is and the big one, why needles hurt. Dr Preeya has all of the easy to understand answers for these very clever questions.  Joining Preeya to ask the questions (and give one or two answers) is her daughter "Stevie". This is a great episode for the school holidays, a long drive or just passing the time at home. 

We're back with more medical questions from kids. From why it's sometimes hard to fall asleep to why mosquito bites itch. Also who has the best stickers Dr Preeya or her husband Dr Will? Dr Preeya has all of the easy to understand answers for these very clever questions.  Joining Preeya to ask the questions (and give one or two answers) is her daughter "Stevie". This is a great episode for the school holidays, a long drive or just passing the time at home. 

This time of year you should be winding down and relaxing but if you're the Christmas Day cook maybe you're not so lucky. In this bonus Happy to Health, Preeya and her husband Will Alexander chat to their great mate and awesome chef Adrian “Richo” Richardson about how to keep the Christmas feast delicious, easy and budget friendly. If you need some food ideas for the festive season or just a solid laugh and some banter - this one is for you.

Friends we've finished Season One of Happy to Health and Season Two is already in the works and coming to you early in 2025.  But to say a huge thank you for joining us on this ride we have some bonus episodes to get you through the festive season. So watch the feed, make sure you keep following @doctor.preeya.alexander on Insta and listen now to find out what we have in store. 

Do you try to go to bed early but lie awake for hours? Do you struggle to wind down when your head hits the pillow? And are you doing things in bed that you really shouldn't? Dr Preeya talks all things sleep with Dr Peter Wallbridge, respiratory and sleep physician.  From setting yourself up for a good night sleep to addressing worries about insomnia and being judged by your wearables. The discussions in this podcast are general in nature and do not replace the need for you to see a qualified health professional for any concerns you may have.  Guest: Dr Peter Wallbridge Instagram: ⁠⁠@doctor.preeya.alexander⁠⁠ Books: ⁠⁠Eat, Sleep, Play, Love⁠ by Dr Preeya Alexander⁠ ⁠Full Plate⁠⁠, out now

Why are bowel cancer rates rising in younger people? What's the best age to get a mammogram? And how is modern day cancer treatment different from what we see in the movies? Dr Preeya and her friend/medical oncologist Dr Kortnye Smith chat about the myths and realities of cancer treatment and exactly what it's like to be the doctor friend you never want to need for a favour. Guest: Dr Kortnye Smith, Medical Oncologist Instagram: ⁠⁠@doctor.preeya.alexander⁠⁠ Books: ⁠⁠Eat, Sleep, Play, Love⁠ by Dr Preeya Alexander⁠ ⁠Full Plate⁠⁠, out now

Dr William Alexander (aka Willy) is Dr Preeya's partner in crime; he's a dance floor enthusiast, plastic and reconstructive surgeon for kids and adults and known as the “tickle monster” at home (no one is safe). These two chat about everything from surviving surgical training and managing stress to managing  the joys and challenges of parenting. It's all on the table. Laughs, teariness and banter included. The discussions in this podcast are general in nature and do not replace the need for you to see a qualified health professional for any concerns you may have.  Guest: Dr William Alexander - no Insta friends (yep, he's that guy) Instagram: ⁠⁠@doctor.preeya.alexander⁠⁠ Books: ⁠⁠Eat, Sleep, Play, Love⁠ by Dr Preeya Alexander⁠ ⁠Full Plate⁠⁠, out now

Food allergies are on the rise, but there are some things you can do to try and reduce the risk of them developing in your kids. From eating a variety of food during pregnancy - yes including nuts if you're not allergic yourself - to avoiding food-based skin products like almond oil on your infant. And it's so important that you introduce a range of foods, bit by bit, when your bub starts eating solids. Dr Nelu Simonsz (pediatrician and mother of 3) joins Dr Preeya to share a pile of practical golden nuggets when it comes to preventing food allergies, along with how to manage them (and the stress) if they do develop. All those FAQs on “do we need a skin prick test?” “is this red skin around the mouth a food allergy reaction?” answered with plenty of singing and giggles on the way. The discussions in this podcast are general in nature and do not replace the need for you to see a qualified health professional for any concerns you may have.  Guest:  Dr Nelu Simonsz - paediatrician Useful Links: Nip Allergies in the Bub ⁠https://preventallergies.org.au⁠  Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) “How to Introduce Solid Foods to Babies for Allergy Prevention” ⁠https://www.allergy.org.au/⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@doctor.preeya.alexander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@dr_nelu_simonsz⁠ Books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eat, Sleep, Play, Love⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by Dr Preeya Alexander⁠ Preeya's new book ⁠⁠⁠Full Plate⁠⁠⁠ is out now!

How do GP's navigate dozens of patients and countless conditions with so little time? There's an art to it and today we're letting you in on our secrets. My dear friend and mentor Dr Andy Morgan taught me so much as a medical educator. He's here to explain why the first minute of a consult is the most important, why your GP might involve you in the decision making, and how we feel as clinicians when we don't have all of the answers. This episode will give you a new perspective on what happens in the consulting room (and might give you an idea of what you should be looking for in your GP!) The discussions in this podcast are general in nature and do not replace the need for you to see a qualified health professional for any concerns you may have.  Guest: Dr Andy Morgan, retired GP and medical educator. Instagram: ⁠⁠@doctor.preeya.alexander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eat, Sleep, Play, Love⁠⁠⁠⁠ by Dr Preeya Alexander⁠ Preeya's new book ⁠⁠Full Plate⁠⁠ is out now!

What does your skin actually need and what is just an overhyped waste of your time and hard earned money? Retinol, toners, cleansers, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, chemical peels, AHA, BHA (ahhh what do these terms even bloody mean?!) Dermatologist Dr Cara McDonald lets Dr Preeya pick her brains (for her personal interest but also to help you friends) so we can figure out where our pennies are best spent, what the evidence says and what ACTUALLY works. This episode is a serious game changer filled with golden nuggets to navigate the skin care aisles with confidence. *Please note this episode focuses on skin care and active ingredients and does not cover injectables (that needs its own episode entirely!) The discussions in this podcast are general in nature and do not replace the need for you to see a qualified health professional for any concerns you may have.  Guest: Dr Cara McDonald - Dermatologist Instagram: ⁠⁠@doctor.preeya.alexander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @drcara_dermatologist Books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eat, Sleep, Play, Love⁠⁠⁠⁠ by Dr Preeya Alexander⁠ Preeya's new book ⁠⁠Full Plate⁠⁠ is out now!

Do you wonder every month what is and isn't normal when it comes to period pain? It's time to feel empowered to say “nope I'm not putting up with this sh*t anymore” as obstetrician/gynecologist Dr Mei Cheah joins Dr Preeya to bust all the societal expectations when it comes to period pain, PMS and all the rest. Period pain 101 - it's basically a biology lesson with 2 mates; when should you see your GP, what can you expect, does everyone need a referral to a gynecologist, is laparoscopy the only way to diagnose endometriosis? Plus plenty of practical tips on managing period pain even if there is no underlying cause found (yes, there are things you can do and no you do not need to put up with it). The discussions in this podcast are general in nature and do not replace the need for you to see a qualified health professional for any concerns you may have.  Guests: Dr Mei Cheah - Obstetrician/Gynaecologist Instagram: ⁠@doctor.preeya.alexander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @drmeicheahBooks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Eat, Sleep, Play, Love⁠⁠⁠ by Dr Preeya Alexander⁠ Preeya's new book ⁠Full Plate⁠ is out now!

Friends, it's time for a short break so that we can escape the winter before we get cracking on a bunch more episodes for the rest of the year. I'll be back on 5 August to talk about evidenced based skin care with an actual dermatologist (because we are all about debunking the wonky info that's out there). And in the meantime enjoy our chat with Obstetrician/Gynaecologist Dr Mei Cheah all about period pain. Links: Instagram: ⁠@doctor.preeya.alexander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Eat, Sleep, Play, Love⁠⁠⁠ by Dr Preeya Alexander⁠ Preeya's new book ⁠Full Plate⁠ is out now!

Trying to feed a fussy eater can make even the most confident parent feel like they're failing. But (and hopefully this comforts you) it's actually very common. Some fussiness can be a normal part of child development. Dr Preeya chats to Alex Fili, accredited practicing dietician (working with Karitane in NSW) and mother of fussy eaters (not dragons). Preeya and Alex provide practical tips on preventing and managing fussy eating (if it happens to rear its head in your home) whilst also sharing their own tumultuous journeys with their kids and food. Lots of practical takeaways and reassurance - just what the fatigued soul dealing with fussy eating needs. The discussions in this podcast are general in nature and do not replace the need for you to see a qualified health professional for any concerns you may have.  Guest: Alex Fili, Accredited Practicing Dietician Links:  Parenting Tips for Toddlers from Karitane NSW ⁠https://karitane.com.au/stores/_sharedfiles/Brochures/Digital_Toddlers_Brochure_V2_(19Aug22)_Karitane.pdf⁠ Eat for Health recommended serves for chilfren, adolescents and toddlers ⁠https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/how-much-do-we-need-each-day/recommended-number-serves-children-adolescents-and-toddlers⁠  Instagram: ⁠@doctor.preeya.alexander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @themummawellnessjourney Books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Eat, Sleep, Play, Love⁠⁠⁠ by Dr Preeya Alexander⁠ Preeya's new book ⁠Full Plate⁠ is out now!

Diet culture is a problematic beast and when you know how to spot it, you'll start to see it everywhere. There are so many "aha" moments in this chat with Helen Bird, the Acting Head of Prevention at the Butterfly Foundation as she joins Dr Preeya to dissect diet culture - what it looks like, why it's dangerous and how to combat it.  They chat about parenting (and the powerful practical things you can do every day to reduce the impact of diet culture on your children), diet culture in the wellness industry and personal experiences with the beast. *Please note this episode does not discuss eating disorders (that's a whole other conversation). Here we focus on diet culture and its impact. The discussions in this podcast are general in nature and do not replace the need for you to see a qualified health professional for any concerns you may have.  If this episode raises any concerns for you please check in with a qualified health professional like your GP or psychologist. Guest: Helen Bird - Head of Prevention at The Butterfly foundation Links: https://butterfly.org.au/ Instagram: @doctor.preeya.alexander⁠⁠⁠⁠ @thebutterflyfoundation Books: ⁠⁠⁠Eat, Sleep, Play, Love⁠⁠ by Dr Preeya Alexander⁠ Preeya's new book Full Plate is out now!

Tantrums, sensitivites, trouble listening: many parents will wonder if their kids' behaviour is typical or a sign of autism or ADHD. Dr Preeya chats to developmental pediatrician and mother of three Dr Anisha Pillay about neurodivergence - what is it? What signs might prompt you to check in with a qualified health professional?  And what does “seeing a GP or pediatrician” actually look like? Whilst Preeya and Anisha share plenty of practical titbits on this huge topic (with a focus on Autism Spectrum Disorder) they also provide a big dose of reassurance - there is no “normal”. The discussions in this podcast are general in nature and do not replace the need for you to see a qualified health professional for any concerns you may have.  Guest: Dr Anisha Pillay - Thrive Paediatrics Links: ASDetect App https://asdetect.org  Instagram: ⁠⁠@doctor.preeya.alexander⁠⁠ Books: ⁠⁠Eat, Sleep, Play, Love⁠ by Dr Preeya Alexander⁠ ⁠Preorder ⁠Full Plate⁠⁠, out 1 May

Life will throw a lot of challenges at you that may not seem medical, but as a GP, Dr Preeya is often just there to listen. Preeya and Megan Burslem (host of Classic Breakfast on ABC Classic) met through work and had a clash of souls (yep, it's a thing - we think!). Two humans discussing everything from the pressures on women (from diet culture, family planning and relationships) to mental health (and yes there are some tears so be warned) If any of the topics raised in this episode are confronting for you please see a qualified health professional like your GP or psychologist, or seek help through organisations such as Lifeline (13 11 14). You are not alone. The discussions in this podcast are general in nature and do not replace the need for you to see a qualified health professional for any concerns you may have. Guest: Megan Burslem Links:Martha Argerich plays Ravel Concerto in G 2nd mvt Instagram: ⁠@doctor.preeya.alexander⁠ @meganburslem Books: ⁠Eat, Sleep, Play, Love by Dr Preeya Alexander⁠ Preorder ⁠Full Plate⁠, out 1 May

Go behind the operating theatre curtain with a GP, an anesthetist and a surgeon. Drs Will, Ash and Preeya answer all the sh*t you've wondered about; who is actually in charge (the surgeon or the anesthetist?), do people wake up mid operation, what happens if you lie about fasting? (Seriously DO NOT lie about fasting!) And what worries them most when it's someone they love going under?  The discussions in this podcast are general in nature and do not replace the need for you to see a qualified health professional for any concerns you may have.  Guests: Dr Ash Dash - Anaseshetist Dr Will Alexander - Hand, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon + Spunky Husband Links: Instagram: ⁠@doctor.preeya.alexander⁠ Books: ⁠Eat, Sleep, Play, Love by Dr Preeya Alexander⁠ Preorder ⁠Full Plate⁠, out 1 May

Swelling; bleeding; incontinence; sex after childbirth. Absolutely bloody nothing is off limits when Dr Preeya and pelvic floor physio Mel Layton discuss the realities of the post partum phase. It's all covered in great detail (with anecdotes - sorry not sorry) with plenty of practical tips on how to navigate this huge time in one's life. The discussions in this podcast are general in nature and do not replace the need for you to see a qualified health professional for any concerns you may have.  Guest:  Melissa Layton - Pelvic Floor Physio  @pelvicfitmelbourne Links: Instagram: @doctor.preeya.alexander Books: Eat, Sleep, Play, Love by Dr Preeya Alexander Preorder Full Plate, out 1 May

Happy to Health with Dr Preeya Alexander is all about dissecting complex medical stuff and making it easy to digest. Before you begin, learn a bit more about who Preeya is and who she'll be talking to this season (hot tip - plenty of awesomeness).