What does inflammation have to do with your heart? 🫀In this episode of the Take a Pain Check Podcast, Natasha sits down with Dr. Subodh Verma, a cardiac surgeon-scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, to explore the connections between heart health, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes.We discuss inflammation and cardiovascular risk, ways young people living with rheumatic diseases can start thinking about their heart health, and the role of research and education in helping people make informed decisions.Dr. Verma also shares his journey into cardiac surgery, his work with the CardioLink clinical research platform, and how he uses social media to make health information more accessible. 💬 What’s one thing you wish more people understood about living with a rheumatic disease? Let us know in the comments.Like, subscribe, and share this episode to help more young people find these conversations.Connect with @BehindTheMedicineTV Dr Verma:https://www.instagram.com/drsubodhverma/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drsubodhvermaCardioLink: https://www.cardio-link.ca/Learn more about Take a Pain Check:https://www.takeapaincheck.com/https://www.instagram.com/takeapaincheck_/ https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheckhttps://ca.linkedin.com/company/take-a-pain-checkhttps://www.youtube.com/@takeapaincheckhttps://www.facebook.com/TakeaPainCheckhttps://www.x.com/takeapaincheck#TakeAPainCheck #HeartHealth #cardiology #medicine #PatientEducation

What does it mean to grow up and grow older with a rheumatic disease?Andrea Ou-Hingwan and Cristina Montoya share their experiences navigating chronic illness from adolescence into adulthood.Andrea was diagnosed with lupus at 16 and founded TLC (Taking Life as a Challenge), a support group for youth living with chronic illness. She continues to advocate for people with invisible disabilities through education, storytelling, and volunteer work.Cristina is a registered dietitian and the founder of Arthritis Dietitian. Having lived with rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s disease for over 20 years, she supports people with inflammatory arthritis through practical, nonrestrictive approaches to nutrition.Together, they discuss:• Their diagnoses and early healthcare experiences• Unexpected challenges in adulthood• Careers, workplace accommodations, and self-advocacy• Family planning and parenting with chronic illness• Mental health, grief, and coping strategies• Social support and invisible disabilities• Advice for young people and familiesWatch now to hear their honest lessons, challenges, and perspectives on building a meaningful life with rheumatic disease.Read more about our in person event from last year: https://www.takeapaincheck.com/in-per... !Our socials:

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Lisa Wang went from being an athlete to being in a wheelchair at the age of 14. Now, she's the winner of take a pain check's 2026 STEM Without Limits Scholarship. What happens when a life-changing chronic illness diagnosis at age 14 inspires a lifelong mission to find a cure?In this episode of the Take a Pain Check Podcast, Lisa Wang shares her journey navigating juvenile ankylosing spondylitis from enduring severe diagnostic delays, debilitating pain, and mobility loss to becoming an award-winning student researcher fighting for the future of pediatric rheumatology.We discuss:- What it is like being diagnosed with a severe rheumatic disease in high school- Overcoming mobility challenges, crutches, and the stigma of an "old person's disease"- Navigating the fear of biologics, injections, and complex treatment plans- How Lisa turned her personal health struggle into academic and research excellence- Her work in the lab studying cellular biomarkers to discover new treatments- Winning top scholarships and paving the path toward becoming a clinician-scientist- The power of patient story-sharing in driving scientific research forwardHow do you transform your greatest physical pain into your biggest life achievement?Watch the full conversation to learn how resilience, patient advocacy, and scientific curiosity can turn a diagnosis into a groundbreaking career.Don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share this episode.Take a Pain Check's Socials:https://www.takeapaincheck.com/https://www.instagram.com/takeapaincheck_/ https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheck / take-a-pain-check https://www.linkedin.com/company/take-a-pain-check/?originalSubdomain=ca / thttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRF07SYaN-9fbatNCKhL08ghttps://www.x.com/takeapaincheckDonate today: https://www.gofundme.com/f/takeapainc...#JuvenileArthritis #ArthritisAwareness #PediatricRheumatology#Rheumatology #scholarships #ChronicIllness