Live Long and Well with Dr. Bobby

Get my Newsletter and 1-page action sheets Explore whether emotions like grief, fear, anger, loneliness, and chronic stress can truly affect the heart — and what the evidence suggests we can do to protect ourselves. Can you really die of a broken heart? Rarely, yes. The clearest medical example is Takotsubo syndrome, also known as stress cardiomyopathy or “broken heart syndrome.” It can occur after an intense emotional or physical stressor, causing chest pain, shortness of breath, and a tempo...

Summary: I separate cold-season fact from folklore so you know what truly prevents colds, what (slightly) shortens them, what eases symptoms—and what to skip. Save money, feel better, and keep it simple. What we cover How common colds are and how long they last (2–3 per year on average; usually 5–7 days; cough can linger).Prevention audit: Vitamin C doesn’t prevent colds in the general population (Cochrane), though it helped in physically stressed groups; handwashing probably helps...

Summary: Microplastics are showing up in our water, food, air—and in human tissues. In this episode, I unpack what the best studies actually show (and don’t), why risk is plausible but not proven, and the realistic steps you can take today without panic. In this episode, I cover: What microplastics are and why they’re everywhere—from packaging and clothing to tire dust—and why production is still projected to rise ~70% by 2040 (OECD). OECD+2 OECD+2The signal that caught my attention: p...

Be honest—have you ever rescued a French fry from the floor? In this bite-size myth episode, I test the famous “5-second rule.” I walk through what actually transfers to your food (fast), when that matters, and why a little microbial exposure isn’t always the villain—while drawing a hard line for high-risk settings and situations. Key Topics & Takeaways The verdict meter: The 5-second rule is false—bacteria can transfer in <1 second. In a Rutgers lab study, juicy foods like watermelon ...

I unpack what “ultra-processed” really means, why these foods are so easy to overeat, what the best evidence shows (including metabolic-ward studies), and how I personally navigate them without fear or perfectionism. Key topics & evidence (in plain English): What counts as “ultra-processed”? I walk through the NOVA system—useful, not perfect—and where borderline items (frozen meals, boxed mixes) fit. See an overview of NOVA classifications here . How we got here: post-WWII abun...

Visit my website Can a positive mindset truly improve your health—or even help you beat disease? In this episode, Dr. Bobby and guest Sean McDevitt explore the evidence behind optimism, visualization, and prayer to uncover what really works. In today’s episode of Live Long and Well, Dr. Bobby is joined by fitness and life coach Sean McDevitt to explore whether positive thinking can influence health outcomes. They dive into both anecdotal and clinical evidence, starting with sports psychology ...