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The Institute of Medicine reports that the average patient experiences at least one error every day he is hospitalized. The annual death toll from medical errors is estimated at 44,000 to 98,000 Americans. How can you protect yourself or a loved one from a dangerous mistake? Learn how one woman discovered that her doctors had covered up a serious surgical error they made when she was a teenager.

Guests: Janet Lynn Mitchell, a patient’s right’s advocate and author of Taking A Stand. Her Web site is http://www.janetlynnmitchell.com/

 Pierce Scranton, MD, an orthopedic surgeon in private practice in Seattle, Washington. He has been team physician for the Seattle Seahawks and president of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society. He is author of a novel, Death on the Learning Curve. His Web site is: http://www.piercescranton.com/

Here are Dr. Scranton's questions:

Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Accepting Medical Treatment

How long have you been in practice?

What is your experience in treating this condition?

What are the treatment options, and what other options are available that you or the health plan are not offering? If you don’t understand the doctor’s basic explanation of your condition and treatment, then by all means ask him or her for more information.

What are the possible complications of the proposed medical treatments or surgeries?

If there are any complications, how will you correct the problem?

Aside from your own partners, who would you go to for medical treatment if you had this condition?

Are you personally going to perform the surgery?

Will others assist and participate, in a major way, in this medical treatment?

Can I ask your bookkeeper what my financial responsibility will be? You need to know in advance…and don’t be afraid to negotiate!

Over the last several decades, the American waistline has been expanding relentlessly. But obesity is not only a problem in our country; it has now spread around the world. We explore the causes and possible cures for global obesity.

Nutrition scientists have been debating the best diet for weight loss for decades, but there have been little data to help determine which approach is best. Researchers pitted low-fat and low-protein approaches in a well-controlled two-year study and found that the diet that works is the one you can stick with. Results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Guests: Barry Popkin, PhD, is the Carla Steel Chamblee Distinguished Professor of Global Nutrition. He is Professor of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and directs the University’s Interdisciplinary Center for Obesity. His book is titled: The World Is Fat: The Fads, Trends, Policies, and Products That Are Fattening the Human Race. The photo is of Dr. Popkin.

Frank Sacks, MD, is Professor of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. He was the lead investigator on “Comparison of Weight-Loss Diets with Different Compositions of Fat, Protein, and Carbohydrates”

Peanut allergies can be life threatening, but scientists are finding new ways to reduce the danger.

Good medical care requires the right diagnosis along with the proper treatment. We talk with an expert on patient safety about the hazards of misdiagnoses.

We take your questions about Rx drugs, dietary supplements and home remedies.

Guests:
David Newman-Toker, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and co-author of “Diagnostic Errors--The Next Frontier for Patient Safety” in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The photo is of Dr. Newman-Toker. 

Wesley Burks, MD, chief of the division of pediatric allergy and immunology at Duke University Medical Center

The very medicines many people take to relieve pain may actually be causing their headaches. A vicious cycle of pain relievers is behind too many cases of chronic headache. How can you break out of this insidious cycle?

Guest: Joel Saper, M.D., FACP, FAAN, is founder and director of The Michigan Head-Pain and Neurological Institute. He is past president of the American Association for the Study of Headache, past chairman of the American Council for Headache Education. Dr. Saper is professor of medicine (neurology) at Michigan State University.

Exercise has a reputation for improving health. Just how much does it take to improve your quality of life?

People are often told to lose weight or quit smoking, but they have trouble following through. Do financial incentives help?

Some doctors worry about giving their patients false hope. Do they worry enough about making sure that patients do have hope when they leave the office? We talk with two prominent physicians about their essay on the power of hope in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Explore the stories behind the health headlines.

 Sherwin Nuland, MD, discussed hope at the TED conference. 

Guests: Catherine de Angelis, MD, Editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Medical Association, where the editorial on The Power of Hope was published (Dec. 24/31, 2008).

James C. Harris, MD, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Pediatrics, and Mental Hygiene at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. The photo is of Drs. De Angelis and Harris, who are married to each other.

Alan Greene, MD, founder of DrGreene.com, president of the Society for Participatory Medicine and Clinical Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. His books include From First Kicks to First Steps and Raising Baby Green.

The New York Times recently suggested that vitamin D may become the nutrient of the decade.  The CDC estimates that more than half the American population gets too little vitamin D. A study published this month in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that fully one-fourth of the population tested in sunny southern Arizona was deficient in this, the sunshine vitamin.

Why are Americans falling short on vitamin D? And what are the health consequences. We talk with a clinician and a researcher about this critical—and often underappreciated—nutrient.

Guests: James E. Dowd, M.D., F.A.C.R., is Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Michigan State University and the founder and director of both the Arthritis Institute of Michigan and the Michigan Arthritis Research Center. He is the author of The Vitamin D Cure; Five Steps to Heal Your Pain and Improve Your Mood. His Web site is www.thevitamindcure.com.

Michael Holick, Ph.D., M.D., is Professor of Physiology and Biophysics at Boston University School of Medicine, and Director of the Vitamin D, Skin and Bone Research Lab. Since 1987 he has been the Program Director of the General Clinical Research Center. He also directs the Bone Healthcare Clinic and the Biologic Effects of Light Research Center. He is the author of The UV Advantage: The Medical Breakthrough that Shows How to Harness the Power of the Sun for Your Health. The photo is of Dr. Holick. His Web sites are www.uvadvantage.org and www.vitamindhealth.org. 

Human beings seem to be wired for music. Neurologists get some unique insights into that wiring when things go wrong, such as musical hallucinations. They can also use music therapeutically for conditions ranging from autism to stroke and Parkinson’s disease. Explore the meaning of music with one of the country’s foremost neurologists, Dr. Oliver Sacks.


Guest: Oliver Sacks, MD, is Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center and has written ten books. The latest is Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain. Dr. Sacks has also been designated a Columbia University Artist. The photo of Dr. Sacks was taken by Elena Seibert. His Web site is www.oliversacks.com.

People with diabetes have been urged to keep their blood sugar as close to normal as possible. Doctors believed that this would reduce the likelihood of serious complications from the disease. A new study from the Veterans Affairs Health Centers throws this assumption into question.

As the Obama administration takes office, health care will be targeted for reform. No one knows quite what that will look like, but we get a sneak preview from the president-elect’s advisor on health care policy.

Explore the stories behind the health headlines.

Guests: John Buse, MD, PhD, Past President of the American Diabetes Association. He is Professor and Chief of Endocrinology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill.

Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD, breast oncologist; Chair of the Clinical Center Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health; author of several books, including the recent Healthcare, Guaranteed: A Simple, Secure Solution for America (Public Affairs); and senior counselor at the White House Office of Management and Budget on health policy for the Obama administration. The photo is of Dr. Emanuel.

Tieraona Low Dog, MD, Director of Education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Clinical Lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy

A large trial of Crestor was stopped early because it reduced inflammation and the risk of a heart attack. How should we interpret the JUPITER trial, and what does it mean for you?

Explore the stories behind the health headlines.

Guests: Paul Ridker, MD, Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School and Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. He led the JUPITER trial of Crestor against CRP. The photo is of Dr. Ridker.

Nortin Hadler, MD, Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is attending rheumatologist at UNC Hospitals. His books include The Last Well Person: How to Stay Well Despite the Health Care System and Worried Sick: A Prescription for Health in an Overtreated America.

Stephen Sinatra, MD, FACC, cardiologist at the New England Heart Center in Manchester, CT. He edits the monthly newsletter, “Heart, Health and Nutrition” and is author of several books, including The Sinatra Solution. His Web site is drsinatra.com.

Millions of American kids have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without hyperactivity. This can make for challenges in the classroom, and even at home or with friends.

People with ADD are often prescribed stimulant medications to help them focus better. What are the benefits and risks of such drugs? What other approaches can help? How does ADD affect relationships such as marriage?

Dr. Ned Hallowell is one of the country’s leading experts on ADD and ADHD. His books, Driven to Distraction and Delivered from Distraction are classics in the field.

Guest: Edward (Ned) Hallowell, MD, is a child and adult psychiatrist and founder of The Hallowell Center in Sudbury, Massachusetts. His books include Driven to Distraction, Delivered from Distraction, and  CrazyBusy: Overstretched, Overbooked and About to Snap.
His Web site is www.drhallowell.com

Inhaled medicines used to treat a respiratory condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may increase the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes. Who is at risk?

Homocysteine is thought to be a bad actor, increasing the chances of heart disease. Folic acid and other B vitamins can lower homocysteine. How well do they work to protect the heart?

Explore the stories behind the health headlines.

Guests: Sonal Singh, MD, MPH, assistant professor of internal medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Christopher Gardner, PhD, Director of Nutrition Studies at the Stanford Prevention Research Center at Stanford University

As men get older, they become more likely to experience symptoms of prostate enlargement. This is a common phenomenon that isn’t necessarily dangerous, but it can be inconvenient to have urine flow slow or to be unable to empty the bladder completely. There are medications for enlarged prostate. Are there natural alternatives as well?

Most men will develop prostate cancer if they live long enough. In many cases, it is very slow growing and has no impact on the quality of life. In other cases, though, it is more aggressive. How is prostate cancer treated and what are the pros and cons of a watch and wait policy?

Erectile dysfunction can be a red flag for other health concerns. What treatments are best?  What other issues should be considered for men with this problem?

Guests: Culley C. Carson III, MD, Rhodes Distinguished Professor and Chief of Urology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. (Photo is of Dr. Carson)

Mark W. McClure, MD, Founder and director of Landmark Urology and Complementary Medicine in Raleigh, NC. He is author of Smart Medicine for a Healthy Prostate.

We usually assume that the primary problem with health care in the U.S. is that so many people don’t have good access to it. But while many Americans suffer because of lack of medical care, others undergo unnecessary procedures or take potentially dangerous drugs they don’t really need. How does the health care system lead to overtreatment and what are the consequences?

Guest: Shannon Brownlee, essayist and writer, has written for The Atlantic Monthly, the New York Times, The New Republic, Slate, Time, Washington Monthly, the Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times, among other publications.

Ms. Brownlee is a Schwartz Senior Fellow at the New America Foundation, a non-partisan think tank in Washington, D.C. Overtreated: Why Too Much Medicine Is Making Us Sicker and Poorer,  is her first book.

She is the winner of several prestigious journalism awards, including the 2004 Association of Health Care Journalists Award for Excellence in Health Care Journalism, the Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting, the National Association of Science Writers Science-in-Society Award, and the Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists.

Losing weight is hard work, as anyone who has tried it knows. Diet experts have been debating the pros and cons of counting calories, reducing fat or cutting carbs. A new Israeli study compares the health effects of the Mediterranean diet to a low-fat (Dr. Ornish-type) diet and a low-carb (Dr. Atkins-type) diet. You may be surprised by the outcome.

Statin-type drugs are effective at lowering cholesterol and helping prevent heart disease. But some people report severe muscle pain and weakness as a side effect. A British team used sophisticated genome analysis to find a gene variant that greatly increases the risk of this bad reaction.

As children come home from camp and prepare to go back to school, parents are tearing their hair out over lice. Dr. Alan Greene has an interesting approach.

Explore the stories behind the health headlines.

Guests: Eric Westman, MD, MHS, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Lifestyle Medicine Center, Duke University Medical Center; Vice-President of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians. The photo is of Dr. Westman.

Rory Collins, MD, British Heart Foundation Professor Epidemiology, University of Oxford

Alan Greene, MD, founder of www.DrGreene.com, president of Hi-Ethics (Health Internet Ethics) and Clinical Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. His books include From First Kicks to First Steps and Raising Baby Green.

Vitamin and mineral supplements are popular, but do they make sense? Many people have been told that taking vitamins just results in expensive urine. Find out which vitamins really make a difference—you may be surprised.

Dr. Tieraona Low Dog is one of the country’s leading experts on the evidence base behind herbs and dietary supplements. She knows how to overcome insomnia and anxiety without medications. Are there supplements that can boost the immune system against colds and flu? Is there value in mangosteen, hoodia, goji berries, black cohosh or milk thistle?

Guest: Tieraona Low Dog, MD, Director of Education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Clinical Lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy
Her Web site is:  www.drlowdog.com

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is the medical term for severe heartburn. Doctors prescribed more than $88 million worth of acid-suppressing drugs to help people handle GERD last year. What should you know about them, and are there other ways to ease the pain?

IBD, or inflammatory bowel disease, and IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, are very different conditions but they can both make life miserable. What are the best treatments?

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death among American adults. Better prevention and more regular screening could reduce the death toll. Learn about the most important guidelines for avoiding colon cancer.

Probiotics may be helpful for a number of GI problems. Dr. Pochapin mentioned Lactobacillus GG, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. L. GG is sold under the brand name Culturelle. He also mentioned Saccharomyces boulardii, sold under the brand name Florastor.

Guests: Mark Pochapin, MD, is director of The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health. He serves as Chief of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Associate Attending Physician at the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He is author of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Colorectal Cancer: New Tests, New Treatment, New Hope.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound found in hard clear plastic, has come under intense scrutiny lately. The National Toxicology Program issued a report acknowledging that it might harm humans, especially infants. Health Canada announced it may ban the compound from baby bottles. We talk with a biological researcher, Dr. Fred vom Saal, about this hormone disrupter.

You know about the germs lurking in your kitchen sink, but have you ever thought about the ones you are tracking into the house on your shoes? Dr. Chuck Gerba says they are worth worrying about, especially if there are small children in the household.

A stop-smoking drug called Chantix has become very popular. But epidemiologist Curt Furberg says the side effects can be hazardous to public health. People operating machinery such as airplanes, cranes or vehicles may lose consciousness or control.

A People’s Pharmacy/iGuard survey shows that muscle aches and pains are common among people taking statin cholesterol medicines. iGuard is a community for patients to learn about risk and interaction concerns as well as share feedback. www.iGuard.org.

Explore the stories behind the health headlines.
Guests: Frederick vom Saal, PhD, is professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Missouri at Columbia, Missouri.

Charles Gerba, PhD, is professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ.

Curt Furberg, MD, is professor of public health sciences at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Bill Moyers Journal did a story on BPA and the science behind the regulation.

The practice of yoga goes back thousands of years in India. Although many Americans think of it as an exotic form of exercise, yoga has many other aspects. It could be used to manage disease as well as to improve strength and flexibility. But it is also possible to go astray. Practicing the wrong postures or doing them too rapidly could lead to injury instead of healing.

Listen to several experts on the healing power of yoga: a medical doctor, a yoga teacher and a musician who learned yoga (as well as music) as part of his family tradition during his Indian childhood.

Guests: Timothy McCall, MD, is a primary care physician. His first book was Examining Your Doctor: A Patient’s Guide To Avoiding Harmful Medical Care. After that he got interested in yoga, both personally and professionally.
He is now medical editor of Yoga Journal and author of the book, Yoga as Medicine: The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing.

Carol Krucoff is a yoga therapist at Duke Integrative Medicine. She is co-author of Healing Moves: How to Cure, Relieve and Prevent Common Ailments with Exercise. Her latest project is "Healing Moves Yoga,” an audio CD that offers a basic, home yoga practice for all levels. It can be ordered on her Web site, www.healingmoves.com.

K. Sridhar is a musician who grew up in India and has been playing the traditional Indian stringed instrument, the sarod, for more than 50 years. He has also been practicing yoga most of his life. For more about his music, consult his Web site, www.sridhar.org

Dr. Ruth Westheimer is America’s most renowned sex expert. She shares her decades of experience answering questions on sex. What are the most common concerns facing couples?

The husband and wife team of Irwin and Sue Goldstein have blazed a trail for recognizing sexual medicine as a specialty. They share secrets about female sexual dysfunction and reveal some surprising new research about drug development for women. Pink Viagra may not be a pipe dream.

Guests: Dr. Ruth Westheimer is America’s best known sex expert. She has degrees in sociology and a doctorate in education from Columbia University. She completed post-doctoral work in human sexuality at New York Presbyterian. She hosted a radio show on WYNY called "Sexually Speaking" for many years. Some of her books include:
Sex for Dummies
Rekindling Romance for Dummies
Dr. Ruth’s Guide to Safer Sex
Sex and Morality: Who is Teaching our Sex Standards?
Dr. Ruth’s Guide to Good Sex
Sex After 50: Revving Up the Romance, Passion and Excitement

Her Web site is www.drruth.com 

Irwin Goldstein, MD, is editor-in-chief of The Journal of Sexual Medicine and Director of Sexual Medicine at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego, California. He is also Clinical Professor of Surgery at University of California at San Diego and Director of San Diego Sexual Medicine.

Sue Goldstein is sexual medicine education coordinator and co-author of the book, When Sex Isn’t Good: Stories and Solutions of Women with Sexual Dysfunction.

The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most profitable, both in America and around the world. But recently in the US, fines for malfeasance have stained its image.

We speak with Dr. Peter Rost, who worked inside the pharmaceutical industry for decades. He was a vice president at Pfizer when he saw first-hand how pharmaceutical marketing can cross the line.

After he blew the whistle on illegal marketing practices, Dr. Rost lost his job in the drug industry. We discuss his memoir, Whistleblower: Confessions of a Health Care Hitman, and get his critical perspective on the business of prescription drugs.

Guest: Peter Rost, MD, former vice-president of Pfizer. Author of Whistleblower: Confessions of a Health Care Hitman and a novel, Killer Drug. His blog is: http://peterrost.blogspot.com/

Medical errors and adverse events are much too common, especially when it come to pediatric patients. Is there a way to protect children in the hospital?

Traumatic brain injury affects more than 1,000,000 people in the United States each year, not counting veterans returning from Iraq. The trauma often results in death or permanent injury, but one researcher has come up with a treatment that could save lives.

A People’s Pharmacy/iGuard survey shows that chronic cough from the ACE inhibitor blood pressure medicine lisinopril is common. iGuard is a community for patients to learn about risk and interaction concerns as well as share feedback. www.iGuard.org.

CT scans are extremely useful for making some diagnoses, but doctors and patients don’t always stop to think about the ramifications. Is this technology as safe as it seems?
Explore the stories behind the health headlines.

Guests: Paul Sharek, MD, MPH, Medical Director of Quality management and Chief Clinical Patient Safety Officer at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine

Michael Esposito, MD, radiologist in Tampa Bay, Florida and author of Locked In, a medical thriller.

Alan Greene, MD, founder of www.DrGreene.com, president of Hi-Ethics (Health Internet Ethics) and Clinical Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. His books include From First Kicks to First Steps and Raising Baby Green.

Donald Stein, MD, Asa G. Candler Professor of Emergency Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine

Exercise is essential for keeping the heart and circulatory system healthy. It helps, too, to moderate blood sugar and control metabolism. Now, animal research suggests that physical fitness also benefits the brain.

Guest: John Ratey, MD, is an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and has a private practice in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has co-authored Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood through Adulthood with Dr. Ned Hallowell. His most recent book is Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.

Israelis love their cell phones and have used them heavily for a long time. New research suggests a link with salivary gland cancer.

Placebos work surprisingly well for many symptoms, including pain. But do pricey placebos work better than cheap ones?

Explore the stories behind the health headlines.

Guests: Siegal Sadetski, MD, epidemiologist on the Tel Aviv University Sackler Faculty of Medicine

Dan Ariely, PhD, behavioral economist and author of Predictably Irrational. His Web site is www.predictablyirrational.com/

Alan Greene, MD, founder of DrGreene.com, president of Hi-Ethics (Health Internet Ethics) and Clinical Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. His books include From First Kicks to First Steps  and Raising Baby Green.

Bisphenol A is an estrogen mimic, found in some of the plastics we use in our everyday lives. How much of a problem is this endocrine disrupter? Are there other compounds that should concern us?

Biologists suggest that some natural experiments could help illuminate this question. For example, cats are experiencing an unusually high number of thyroid problems. What could be triggering this hormone disturbance? Alligators in Florida lakes also demonstrate abnormal development. What can they teach us?

This is the second in a two-part series on endocrine disruption.

 Bill Moyers Journal did a story on BPA and the science behind the regulation.

Guests: Linda Birnbaum, PhD, is Division Director of Experimental Toxicology at the United States Environmental Protection Agency. She is past president of the Society of Toxicology and president elect of the International Union of Toxicology. Dr. Birnbaum also serves on the faculties of both Duke University and the University of North Carolina.

Louis Guillette, PhD, is distinguished professor of zoology at the University of Florida in Gainesville and professor at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

A common compound found in the lining of cans, plastic water bottles and even baby bottles can mimic the hormone estrogen. Environmental contamination is widespread and most Americans have measurable levels of the compound, bisphenol A, in our bodies. Will these hormone disruptors affect our health and our children’s health?

When Agouti mice are exposed to bisphenol A pre-natally, lean brown mice become fat and blond. The implications for humans are not yet fully known. The photo shows two genetically identical mice with differing prenatal exposure in Dr. Jirtle's laboratory.  

This is the first in a two-part series on endocrine disruption.

Guests: John McLachlan, PhD, Weatherhead Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Professor of Pharmacology at Tulane University and Director of the Tulane-Xavier Center for Bio-Environmental Research.

Randy Jirtle, PhD, Professor of Radiation Oncology at Duke University Medical Center  http://www.geneimprint.com/lab/

Frederick Vom Saal, PhD, Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Missouri at Columbia, Missouri. http://endocrinedisruptors.missouri.edu/vomsaal/vomsaal.html

Living a long time is appealing, but only if the extra years can be healthy ones. Dr. Mark Liponis, medical director of the Canyon Ranch Resorts, says paying attention to the immune system can make a big difference. We discuss his thesis that managing the immune system to keep it from becoming overactive can slow down the aging process. He shares his seven steps for a healthier life—and we find out what barnyard animals have to do with it.

Guest: Mark Liponis, MD, Corporate Medical Director of Canyon Ranch Resorts and author of UltraLongevity: The Seven-Step Program for a Younger, Healthier You. His previous book, with Dr. Mark Hyman, was Ultraprevention.

Depression is debilitating and surprisingly common. Scientists have found that 5 percent of the people in a large survey reported symptoms of depression during the previous year. Nearly 13 percent of Americans experience depression at some point during their lives.

The big question is how to treat depression? It’s hard to get a good picture of the effectiveness of antidepressants from the published medical literature, because many studies that show little or no benefit don’t get published. Dr. Erick Turner explains how unpublished studies may skew medical opinion.

Dr. David Mischoulon discusses the pros and cons of antidepressant medication and many alternative treatments for this devastating mental disorder.

Guests: David Mischoulon, MD, PhD, is the Director of Research, Depression Clinical and Research Program, at the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry. He is also an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School. He is currently working on the second edition of his book, Natural Remedies for Psychiatric Disorders: Considering the Alternatives. (Photo is of Dr. Mischoulon.)

Erick Turner, M.D. is Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and in the Department of Pharmacology & Physiology. He is the Medical Director of the Portland VA Medical Center Mood Disorders Program, where he acts as site principal investigator (PI) on several multicenter clinical drug trials. His article, "Selective Publication of Antidepressant Trials and Its Influence on Apparent Efficacy," was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Jan. 17,  2008.

A lot of people are suffering with winter colds at this time of year. Questions have been raised about the safety and efficacy of over-the-counter cold medicines for young children, and possibly even for the rest of us. Are there natural alternatives to help ease cold symptoms?

A century-old drug, salsalate, is showing new promise. This chemical cousin of aspirin may help treat or even prevent type 2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar and reducing inflammation.

A giant of cancer research passed away last month. We remember Dr. Judah Folkman and the contribution he made in the fight against cancer.

Guests: Bruce Barrett, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Tieraona Low Dog, MD, Director of Education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Clinical Lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy

Allison Goldfine, MD, head of the Clinical Research Section of the Joslin Diabetes Center and Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School. Her research was published in Diabetes Care.

Alan Greene, MD, founder of DrGreene.com, president of Hi-Ethics (Health Internet Ethics) and Clinical Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. His books include From First Kicks to First Steps (McGraw-Hill, 2004) and Raising Baby Green (Jossey-Bass, 2007).

Sal Pizzo, MD, Distinguished Professor of Pathology and Chair of the Department of Pathology at Duke University Medical School

Judah Folkman, MD, founder and director of the Vascular Biology program at Children's Hospital Boston until his recent death

The skin is the largest organ in the body. And when something goes wrong with the skin, it is often very visible. This means skin problems can have psychological complications.

Dr. Amy Wechsler is both a dermatologist and a psychiatrist. She can help her patients figure out when stress is aggravating their skin conditions, as well as how to minimize the social impact of problems like acne or psoriasis. Learn about treatments for rosacea, eczema, dry skin and wrinkles. She recommends Cetaphil cleanser or lotion and Cutemol for cracked fingertips.

Guests: Amy Wechsler, MD, a family dermatologist practicing in New York City, board-certified in both dermatology and psychiatry. Her hospital appointments include Assistant Clinical Professor in Dermatology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and Adjunct Clinical Professor in Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College. Her Web site is www.dramywechsler.com (Photo is of Dr. Wechsler)

Hilary Baldwin, MD, President of the American Acne and Rosacea Society, Associate Professor and the Vice Chair of the Department of Dermatology at the State University of New York at Brooklyn.

Vitamin and mineral supplements are popular, but do they make sense? Many people have been told that taking vitamins just results in expensive urine. Find out which vitamins really make a difference—you may be surprised.

Dr. Tieraona Low Dog is one of the country’s leading experts on the evidence base behind herbs and dietary supplements. She knows how to overcome insomnia and anxiety without medications. Are there supplements that can boost the immune system against colds and flu? Is there value in mangosteen, hoodia, goji berries, black cohosh or milk thistle?

Guest: Tieraona Low Dog, MD, Director of Education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Clinical Lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy
Her Web site is:  www.drlowdog.com

The Food and Drug Administration is charged with ensuring the safety of our medications, but over the past several months it has endured mounting criticism. We discuss the criticism, morale at the agency, and what needs to be done with Dr. Janet Woodcock, Chief Medical Officer of the FDA.

We hear a lot about the Mediterranean diet, but what exactly is it? Dr. Christopher Gardner, Director of Nutrition Studies at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, explains. New research indicates that you don’t have to be Greek (or Italian, French, or Algerian) to benefit from a Mediterranean diet.

Hand washing is crucial for preventing the spread of infection, particularly in winter when colds and flu are rampant. But how important is it to use warm water for washing up? We hear from an expert, Dr. Allison Aiello of The University of Michigan.

Guests: Janet Woodcock, MD, Chief Medical Officer and head of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at FDA, Rockville, MD.

Christopher Gardner, PhD, Director of Nutrition Studies at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA.

Allison Aiello, PhD, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, The University of Michigan School of Public Health

Vitamin E has been very controversial. A number of studies have shown that supplements don’t protect people from heart attacks or cancers. But a new study shows people who get plenty of vitamin E from foods are less likely to die from these problems.

Doctors often treat depression with medications, but many people would like to find a way to lift their mood without the risk of antidepressant side effects. An Australian researcher has come up with a number of ideas for natural treatments.

The People's Pharmacy pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, tells us about the dangers of ipods. The People’s Pharmacy herbal expert, Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, tells us how to cope with PMS naturally. And we open our lines for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366.

Guests: Dianne Volker, PhD, nutrition scientist in the Department of Psychology at the University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Margaret E. Wright, Ph.D. Research Fellow in the Nutritional Epidemiology Branch of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS

Alan Greene, MD, founder and CEO of www.drgreene.com and Stanford University Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. His book is From First Kicks to First Steps: Nurturing Your Baby’s Development from Pregnancy Through the First Year of Life.

Tieraona Low Dog, MD, Director of Education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Clinical Lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. www.drlowdog.com

Diverticulitis accounts for 130,000 hospitalizations each year but many people don’t understand this common condition. Danny Jacobs, MD, MPH, is Chairman of Surgery at Duke University School of Medicine. He explains how to diagnose and treat diverticular disease.

Experts have told us that cough and cold remedies don’t work for kids, and may pose unexpected hazards. We talk with the Baltimore Commissioner of Health, pediatrician Joshua Sharfstein, MD, about his petition to the FDA asking the agency to crack down on kid’s cold medicines.

Dr. Charles Gerba is the guru of germs. He has cultured bacteria, fungi and viruses from some unexpected places in our environment. He will tell us how to decontaminate our desks and avoid colds this winter?

Guests: Danny Jacobs, MD, MPH, Professor and Chairman, Department of Surgery at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC. Author of article on Diverticulitis (Clinical Practice) in The New England Journal of Medicine, Nov. 15, 2007. (Photo is of Dr. Danny Jacobs)

Joshua Sharfstein, MD, Pediatrician and Commissioner of Health for Baltimore, MD. Author of Perspective in The New England Journal of Medicine, Dec. 6, 2007.

Charles Gerba, PhD, Professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ.

Solving medical mysteries has been turned into entertainment on TV’s popular series “House.” Dr. Gregory House may be a curmudgeon, but somehow he manages to unravel the disparate threads of a patient’s story just in time to save a life, and complete the episode. In real life, the drama may not be compressed into such a short time, but the outcome is just as important. Our guest, Dr. Lisa Sanders, writes the column on Diagnosis in The New York Times Sunday magazine section. She tells us how doctors think when they need to figure out what is wrong.

Guest: Lisa Sanders, MD, is Clinical Instructor for Yale University School of Medicine at Waterbury Hospital in Waterbury, CT. Her articles in the New York Times Sunday magazine section illustrate how diagnostic decisions and errors are made. She serves as a consultant for the producers of the television show, “House.” If you have a solved case to share with Dr. Sanders, you can email her at LSanders@pol.net. She is unable to respond to all email messages.

There have been conflicting headlines lately about vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, and whether it can ward off cancer. Dr. Joan Lappe, a scientist who did a placebo-controlled trial in postmenopausal women, found it could help. How much vitamin D do you need?

Discarding drugs is difficult. We are warned not to toss them away where children or animals might have access to them. Flushing them down the drain puts a strain on water treatment facilities. So what should you do with leftover pills?

 The FDA is considering a new medication (rimonabant) that helps people lose weight, improve their blood fats and lower their blood sugar. But it also may trigger psychiatric side effects.

The lines are open for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366.

Guests: Joan Lappe, PhD, Professor of Nursing and of Medicine, Creighton University: first holder of The Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss and Drs. Gilbert and Clinton Beirne Endowed Chair in Nursing at the Creighton University School of Nursing

 Xavier Pi-Sunyer, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Chief of Endocrinology at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital 

Wellbutrin XL is a once-a-day antidepressant that has become quite popular. Some patients have found that a generic substitute does not work in quite the same way. An investigation by ConsumerLab.com showed a striking difference in the way the two drugs dissolve.

Most of the health information on the Internet is general. One Web site is devoted to providing people with personalized evaluations of drug risks from side effects.

The lines are open for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366.

Guests: Tod Cooperman, MD, president of ConsumerLab.com

Hugo Stephenson, MD, President of iGuard.org

Tieraona Low Dog, MD, Director of Education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Clinical Lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy
www.drlowdog.com

Christopher Gardner, PhD, Director of Nutrition Studies, Stanford Prevention Research Center at Stanford University.  

The FDA is considering whether to change the dosing guidelines for children on over-the-counter cough and cold remedies. Some experts suggest these drugs should not be given to children at all.

Blueberries are surprisingly rich in antioxidants. An extract containing these powerful agents helps aging rats keep their wits. Will it do the same for us?

The way we look has an impact on how we feel about ourselves. A novelist describes why his characters are burdened with acne and obesity.

The lines are open for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366.

Guests: Ian Paul, MD, pediatrician, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA

James Joseph, PhD, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University

Doug Crandell, author of The Flawless Skin of Ugly People

Pollen, peanuts, dust mites and animal dander are just a few of the many possible triggers for sneezing, wheezing or hives. During the fall, millions of people suffer from seasonal rhinitis, more commonly known as hay fever. What can be done to relieve their misery? How can allergic symptoms be prevented? 

Guest: David B. Peden, MD, MS. He is Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Immunology and Infectious Disease. Dr. Peden is also Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics and Director of the Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill.

With toys, toothpaste and pet food from China coming under scrutiny, consumers have a right to wonder whether the FDA is monitoring imported medications more carefully. Former Associate FDA Commissioner Peter Pitts provides an inside look.

Pepcid, Tagamet, and Zantac are popular non-prescription drugs for heartburn. One study suggests that they may contribute to declining brain power in older people. Do you need to worry?

The lines are open for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366.

Guests: Peter Pitts, former Associate Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration

Michael D. Murray, PharmD, Mescal S. Ferguson Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy Division at the University of North Carolina School of Pharmacy.

Christopher Gardner, PhD, is Director of Nutrition Studies, Stanford Prevention Research Center at Stanford University.

Tieraona Low Dog, MD, Director of Education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Clinical Lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy

Over 20 million Americans have diabetes. As many as 40 million may have pre-diabetes. Controlling blood sugar is key to preventing the complications of this widespread metabolic disorder. But recent headlines have a lot of people worried that their medicine might be causing some of the very problems the drugs are supposed to prevent.

An old-fashioned pain reliever may offer a surprising new way to control blood sugar without putting people at risk of heart failure. But will doctors prescribe a drug that has been around for more than 100 years?

Guests: John B. Buse, MD, Chief of Endocrinology, UNC-CH School of Medicine and Director of the UNC Diabetes Care Center. He is also President-elect of the American Diabetes Association.

Steven E. Shoelson, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine at Harvard University and Section Head of Cellular and Molecular Research at the Joslin Diabetes Center.

Allison B. Goldfine, MD, Assistant Director for Clinical Research and Investigator at the Joslin Diabetes Center.

Their clinical trial can be contacted at www.tinsal-t2d.org. 

Soft drinks aren’t high on anyone’s list of healthy beverages, but at least diet sodas are better...or are they? Data from the Framingham Heart Study casts doubt on that assumption.

Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor and other cholesterol-lowering drugs are widely prescribed. Now the World Health Organization has detected a signal. Are these drugs really linked to a higher risk of Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS)?

The lines are open for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366.

Guests: Vasan Ramachandran, MD, DM, FACC
Professor of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Framingham Heart Study

Ralph Edwards, MD, Professor of Medicine and Director of the World Health Organization's drug-monitoring center in Uppsala, Sweden.

Chocolate has a surprising number of health benefits. Previous studies have shown it can even lower blood pressure, but the dose was quite high. Now we know even a little bit of chocolate a day may help keep high blood pressure at bay.
Another dietary study had men eating ground flaxseed on their cereal or in their smoothies. How did this simple approach affect their risk of prostate cancer?
For years, dermatologists told their teenage patients to stay away from chocolate shakes and fries. Then they decided diet didn’t matter. Now a study says it can make a difference after all. What’s the right diet to keep acne under control?
The lines are open for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366.

Guests: Joe Vinson, PhD, Professor of Chemistry, University of Scranton, Scranton, PA.

Denise Snyder, MS, RD, LDN, Clinical Trials Manager at Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC.

Tieraona Low Dog, MD, Director of Education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Clinical Lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy
www.drlowdog.com
 

People are turning to the Internet increasingly often to look for the answers to their health questions. How are people using the Web for health information, and how reliable is the information they find? Will the Internet empower patients or overwhelm them? Find out about e-patients and how they could change health care.
 

Guests: Susannah Fox, associate director of the Pew Internet and American Life Project and principal author of the Project's survey reports on e-patients and online health. The Web sites she mentions are: the Pew Internet and American Life Project
Medical Library Association 
Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network
DrGreene.com


Gilles Frydman, Founder & President of ACOR, the Association of Cancer Online Resources, the largest online support group for cancer patients.

Dr. Alan Greene and Cheryl Greene, Founders of Dr.Greene.com, the most popular pediatric site on the Internet. More than a million people visit the site each month.

Summertime sunshine underscores the dilemma. Dermatologists warn us to stay out of the sun because it can damage skin and predispose us to skin cancer. But new research shows that vitamin D—the sunshine vitamin—helps protect against cancer of the breast, colon and other organs. How much vitamin D is enough?

Just to complicate things, the Environmental Working Group says we put too much faith in many sunscreen ingredients. What should we look for in sunscreen and how can we use them responsibly?

The lines are open for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366.

Guest:  Michael Holick, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics, and Director of the General Clinical Research Center at the Boston University School of Medicine; Director of the Bone Health Care Clinic at Boston Medical Center

More than 65 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure. That means one adult in three is at greater risk of heart disease, kidney damage or stroke. There are many medications that can be used to treat hypertension, but not everyone tolerates the drugs well. Find out about non-drug approaches to managing high blood pressure that can help make the medicines more effective—or even unnecessary.

Guest: Bruce Wilson, MD, President of the Wilson Heart Care Associates in Milwaukee, WI and Medical Director of HeartMath in Boulder Creek, CA. Dr. Wilson is co-author with Doc Childre of The HeartMath Approach to Managing Hypertension. His website is: www.wilsonheartcare.com

Experts have been wringing their hands over the epidemic of childhood obesity in this country. Far too many youngsters are developing type-2 diabetes and other complications of being overweight, and nobody seems to know how to address the problem. Lots of kids these days would rather play video games than tag, so exercise is part of the equation. But what are we feeding our children?

Dr. Jamie Bailes has studied an Atkins-type approach to low-carb eating among his pediatric patients. He reports his findings, and we discuss the potential benefits and risks of the low-carb approach with Dr. Eric Westman, who has also done clinical studies of this diet.

Guests:  James R. Bailes, M.D., is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Marshall University School of Medicine. He has a special interest in type-1 diabetes and obesity. He is presently performing research using a high-protein, low carbohydrate diet for children. He is the author of No More Fat Kids: A Pediatrician’s Guide for Safe and Effective Weight Loss, with Misty Trent-Strow, M.D. www.nomorefatkids.com

Eric C. Westman, M.D., M.H.Sc., is Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine (Division of General Internal Medicine) and the Director of the Smoking Research Laboratory at Duke University Medical Center. He has conducted several studies on the Atkins diet and its effects.

An analysis of studies of the popular diabetes drug Avandia suggests that it may be doing more harm than good. Steve Nissen, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic describes his concerns with this drug.

Dr. Nissen’s study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. It was accompanied by an editorial. Curt Furberg, MD, one of the editorialists, tells us how the Avandia issue highlights problems at the FDA.

Some researchers have found evidence that a traditional Mexican folk remedy, prickly pear cactus leaves, can help diabetics control blood sugar. 

The lines are open for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366.

Guests: Steven Nissen, MD, cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic and co-author of “Effect of Rosiglitazone on the Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Death from Cardiovascular Causes,” New England Journal of Medicine.

Curt Furberg, MD, Professor of Public Health Sciences at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and co-author of “Rosiglitazone and Cardiovascular Risk” (editorial), New England Journal of Medicine.

Everyone has heard about the health benefits of garlic, but how many of us are up to speed on the power of curry powder? We discuss culinary herbs and spices with Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, one of the country’s foremost experts on the scientific evidence behind botanical medicine. Learn which spices are especially good for you and why.

Guest: Tieraona Low Dog, MD, Director of Education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Clinical Lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy
www.drlowdog.com

Breast cancer rates have dropped over the past few years. This change highlights the role of hormone replacement therapy in promoting breast cancer in postmenopausal women, now that many women have decided to forgo it.

Cherries are rich in antioxidants, including one surprising compound—melatonin. Can cherries help fight jet lag?

If you too are upset about FDA's proposed changes in chocolate, you can register a complaint: http://dontmesswithourchocolate.guittard.com/  

The lines are open for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366.

Guests: Kim Blackwell, MD, is associate professor of medicine at Duke University. She is a breast cancer specialist.

Russell Reiter, PhD, is professor of neuroendocrinology at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio. His research focuses on antioxidants, especially melatonin.

We all think we know what will make us happy, but we are mistaken surprisingly often. Parents make decisions for their children based on what will give them happiness, but we are no better at predicting happiness for our children than for ourselves. How might we do better? Christopher Reeve believed himself in some ways better off after his accident. For most of us, coping with paraplegia seems impossible, but Christopher Reeve taught us all that disability does not have to mean disaster. What do such experiences teach us about resilience? Guest: Daniel Gilbert, PhD, Harvard College Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. He is the author of Stumbling on Happiness.

Pregnancy is an exciting time in a couple’s life together, but it can also be stressful. We talk with Dr. Tracy Gaudet about how mindfulness can help.

We often go to great lengths to lower a fever, but are we making a mistake? Many animals that can’t regulate their own body temperatures seek out heat when they are sick. A new study suggests there is a good reason.

The lines are open for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366!

Guests:

Tracy Gaudet, MD, is Director of the Duke Center of Integrative Medicine and Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Duke. Her new book is Body, Soul and Baby: A Doctor’s Guide to the Complete Pregnancy Experience, from Preconception to Postpartum (Bantam Books).

Sharon Evans, PhD, is an immunologist and associate professor of oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York. Her article on fever-range thermal stress was published in Nature Immunology (December 1, 2006).

Cocoa compounds have been shown to make blood platelets less sticky and to relax blood vessels. Can they improve blood flow to the brain? 

Garlic has a time-honored reputation for promoting health. One claim, that it can lower cholesterol, was tested in a rigorous double-blind trial. How well did it do?

Another look at the Women’s Health Initiative finds that hormone replacement therapy may be less dangerous for younger women. The People’s Pharmacy herb expert, Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, offers suggestions for menopausal women coping with hot flashes.

The lines are open for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366!

Guests:

Ian McDonald, PhD, is Co-Director of the Institute of Clinical Research and Director of Research for Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
 
Christopher Gardner, PhD, is Director of Nutrition Studies, Stanford Prevention Research Center at Stanford University. “Effect of Raw Garlic vs Commercial Garlic Supplements on Plasma Lipid Concentrations in Adults With Moderate Hypercholesterolemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.” Archives of Internal Medicine, Feb. 26, 2007. http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/167/4/346

Tieraona Low Dog, MD, is Director of Education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Clinical Lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy.

Dr. Tyrone Hayes has found that a commonly used herbicide has a big impact on how frogs develop. What are the implications for human health? Fawn Pattison of the Pesticide Education Project suggests ways concerned people can get involved in the issue.

A large study of Hispanic seniors has looked for connections between nutrition and the risk of dementia. Could a simple B-vitamin provide protection?
The lines are open for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366!

Guests:

Tyrone Hayes, PhD, is Professor of Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. His research is on hormones and frog development.
 
Fawn Pattison is Executive Director of the Pesticide Education Project. www.pested.org

Mary Haan, MD, is Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Michigan. The study she directs is called SALSA.

Popular diet books have dispensed conflicting advice for years—eat less fat, or eat less carbohydrate. The only thing everyone agreed on was that whatever Americans are eating is making them fatter. Finally, a carefully designed study shows which diet plan is better: Atkins, Ornish, Zone or the health professionals’ cautious recommendations. The lead investigator of the A to Z study explains their results.

Pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen are often taken for granted. But new research suggests that constant use of such medications can affect blood pressure. What other options should people consider for arthritis and other chronic pain?

The People’s Pharmacy herb expert, Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, discusses the benefits of culinary herbs and spices.

The lines will be open for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366!

Guests:

Christopher Gardner, PhD, Director of Nutrition Studies, Stanford Prevention Research Center at Stanford University. “Comparison of the Atkins, Zone, Ornish, and LEARN Diets for Change in Weight and Related Risk Factors Among Overweight Premenopausal Women.” JAMA, March 7, 2007. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/297/9/969
 
Gary Curhan, MD, ScD, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Frequency of Analgesic Use and Risk of Hypertension Among Men.” Arch. Intern. Med., Feb. 26, 2007 http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/167/4/394

Tieraona Low Dog, MD, Director of Education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Clinical Lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy
www.drlowdog.com

Climate scientist Stephen Schneider knows a lot about making decisions in the face of uncertainty. Those skills from his profession were put to use when he came down with a rare kind of lymphoma. Schneider learned how to challenge doctors treating cancer by the book, and he discovered that patients who advocate for themselves get better treatment. Learn how becoming the "patient from hell" could save your life. Guests: Stephen Schneider, PhD, is Professor of Biological Science and co-director of the Center for Environmental Science and Policy at Stanford University. He is a MacArthur Prize Fellow and the author of The Patient from Hell (2005). His Web site is www.patientfromhell.org. Dr. Charles Smith. He is the Executive Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the Univ of Arkansas for the Medical Sciences and the medical director of the Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is also Professor of Family and Community Medicine and Founder, Chairman, and Medical Director of eDocAmerica, a service offering online physician consultation directly to patients. To contact Dr. Smith, email: cwsmith@uams.edu. Or, if you would like to visit his Web site: http://www.edocamerica.com Gwendolyn Stritter, M.D., is a clinical patient advocate and a member of the American Society for Clinical Oncology, the American Association for Cancer Research, and the American Pain Society. Her practice is based in Portola Valley, California. She can be reached at 650-851-0377 or at the following email address: asst@strittermed.org

Despite campaigns urging Americans to drink more milk, some researchers suggest heavy milk drinkers may run a higher risk of certain cancers. We discuss the evidence for this concern.

Aspirin has a solid reputation as a way to prevent heart attacks. But nearly all the research has been done in men. Do women benefit from aspirin, too, or should they hold off?

Exercise is beneficial for health in many ways, and cycling is a great way to get exercise. But some men who spend a lot of time in the saddle end up paying for it later in bed. We’ll talk with an editor of the Harvard Health Letter about how to avoid problems.

The People’s Pharmacy herb expert, Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, discusses the benefits of beverages: coffee, tea and wine.
The lines will be open for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366!
Guests:

Michael Pollack, MD, Director of the Cancer Prevention Center at McGill University in Montreal.
 
Michael Pignone, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Medicine at the University of North Carolina.  http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/167/3/290

Michael O’Leary, MD, Associate Professor at in the Department of Surgery Division of Urology at Harvard University. He is also an editor for the Harvard Health Letter.

Tieraona Low Dog, MD, Director of Education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Clinical Lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy

Hypnosis has a long history, but in many circles it seems to have a questionable reputation. Although Mesmer’s showmanship (remember mesmerism) may have given hypnosis a bad name, modern health care providers are using the practice to enhance health. What is hypnosis and how can it help you? We’ll learn about easing stress, relieving pain, stopping smoking and eating mindfully with the aid of hypnosis and self-hypnosis. Guests: David Spiegel, MD, is the Jack, Lulu and Sam Willson Professor in the School of Medicine and Associate Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. He is co-author (with his father, Herbert Spiegel, MD) of Trance and Treatment, the standard textbook on clinical uses of hypnosis. Roberta Temes, PhD, is a psychotherapist and is on the faculty at Downstate Medical School in Brooklyn, NY. She is the author of Medical Hypnosis—An Introduction and Critical Guide, a textbook for medical students, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Hypnosis. Her Web site is www.hypnosisnetwork.com publisher of a CD program on weight loss created by Dr. Roberta Temes. For more information on hypnosis, go to the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis www.sceh.us or the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis www.asch.net

We’re always told to eat a well-balanced diet. But what, exactly, does that mean? Does it really ensure we will get the vitamins we need to stay healthy? Our guest experts will clear up the confusion around vitamin E. Should you be taking Vitamin D, or can you get all you need from food and sunlight? Guest: Meir Stampfer, MD, Dr.P.H. is Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology Department of Epidemiology and Nutrition at Harvard University School of Public Health. Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, is a pharmacologist and Professor of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. He is also Senior Scientist and Director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory

When people are revived after a cardiac arrest, they sometimes report leaving their bodies and watching the resuscitation attempts from above. They may describe going through a tunnel, seeing a bright light, or rejoining dead relatives. There are many hypotheses about the source for these experiences. Our guest aims to study these phenomena scientifically. His research has taken him on a quest to understand the very nature of human consciousness. Guest: Dr Sam Parnia, M.D., Ph.D., MRCP Fellow in Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, USA; also Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the School of Medicine of the University of Southampton, UK

Statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs are powerful. But new questions are being raised about the evidence behind medical guidelines for their use. Even more disturbing, there is a possible link between low cholesterol and the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease. The hot stuff in hot peppers, capsaicin, may turn out to be a cancer fighter. We talk with the British scientist who’s been looking into this possibility. The People's Pharmacy pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, tells us how we can encourage children to be more physically active. The lines will be open for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366! Guests: Xumei Huang, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of North Carolina and Director of the Parkinson’s Disease Clinic Timothy Bates, PhD, physiologist and specialist in cell metabolism and cancer biology at the University of Nottingham. John Abramson, MD, Author of Overdosed America. He is a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School. Alan Greene, MD, founder and CEO of drgreene.com and Stanford University Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. His book is From First Kicks to First Steps: Nurturing Your Baby’s Development from Pregnancy Through the First Year of Life.

There is an alarming increase of type-2 diabetes in this country. Although this was once termed “adult-onset” diabetes, it is being diagnosed at younger and younger ages. A new review of research demonstrates that type-2 diabetes can be prevented, or at least delayed, with either drugs or exercise and diet. What type of diet is best? What new treatments are available for diabetes? And how are complications managed? Guests: John B. Buse, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Chief of the Division of Endocrinology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine; President-elect, American Diabetes Association Peter Sheehan, MD, Director of the Diabetes Center of Greater New York; Senior Faculty of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Nasal congestion and headache could be symptoms of a cold, but they also might signal a sinus infection. The National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases estimates that some 37 million Americans suffer with sinusitis each year. Can you prevent it? How is it best treated?

Guests:

Harold Pillsbury, MD, Thomas J. Dark Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at University of North Carolina Medical Center

Ronald Gerbe, MD, an ear, nose and throat physician in private practice in Chapel Hill, NC, who has been treating patients with chronic sinus problems for 26 years.

Heavy-duty drugs for reflux are widely prescribed. Doctors usually think of medicines like Aciphex, Prilosec, Protonix or Nexium as having few if any side effects. But a new study suggests there may be a link to weaker hip bones.

Drugs to strengthen bones also made headlines. Osteoporosis medicines such as Actonel, Boniva and Fosamax help prevent fractures, but they can be difficult to take. Do the benefits disappear as soon as you stop them?

The People's Pharmacy pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, tells us how a child can stop a nosebleed. The People’s Pharmacy herbal expert, Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, tells us about dealing with menstrual migraines. And we open our lines for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366!

Guests:

Yu-Xiao Yang, MD, PhD, gastroenterologist and epidemiologist at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia

Cathleen Colon-Emeric, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Geriatrics at Duke University

Alan Greene, MD, founder and CEO of drgreene.com and Stanford University Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. His book is From First Kicks to First Steps: Nurturing Your Baby’s Development from Pregnancy Through the First Year of Life. www.drgreene.com

Tieraona Low Dog, MD, Director of Education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Clinical Lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy www.drlowdog.com

As another year draws to a close, and we prepare to welcome the new year, one thing is guaranteed to help all of us! As Bernie Siegel says in his introduction to Debbie Mandel’s book, Changing Habits, “There are few things all doctors agree about, but one is the value of exercise. Exercise has so many beneficial effects that every specialty expounds the need for and the value of exercise. It benefits mood, brain, cardiac function and more.�?

We’ll find out about the exercise program Debbie Mandel initiated for a group of Dominican nuns, and we’ll talk with Bernie Siegel about exercising our souls. What more inspiration do we need?

Guests: Dr. Bernie Siegel is a well-known proponent of alternative approaches to healing the body, mind and soul. Since retiring from his full and active general and pediatric surgical practice in 1989, Dr. Siegel has dedicated himself to humanizing the medical establishment’s approach to patients and empowering patients to play a greater role in the healing process.

He is the author of several books, including his most recent 101 Exercises for the Soul – A Divine Workout Plan for Body, Mind and Spirit. His Web site is: http://www.ecap-online.org/

Debbie Mandel is a stress-management specialist. She runs an educational website: http://www.turnonyourinnerlight.com/, and is the author of Changing Habits: The Caregiver’s Total Workout.

Sister Peggy Tully is the Pastoral Associate of Cure of Ars Church in Merrick, New York.

In our busy lives we rarely take time to reflect on the many blessings that we are given. Even adversity can have unexpected benefits if we will let it. Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen shares the old Testament stories her rabbi grandfather told her when she was child and offers uplifting interpretations about faith, compassion, perseverance and healing.

Guest: Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, is co-founder and medical director of The Commonweal Cancer Help Program in Bolinas, California. She is also clinical professor of family and community medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Her books include: Kitchen Table Wisdom and My Grandfather’s Blessings.

According to a recent study, special drug-coated stents put in arteries to help hold them open may not prevent heart attacks as they were expected to do. What is going on?

Lowering bad cholesterol is accepted as one way to help protect the heart. But how about raising good HDL cholesterol? A drug that was supposed to do just that recently failed a clinical trial. Are there other ways to improve heart health? How low should cholesterol go, and how can you get it down?

Cardiologist Steve Nissen was on the FDA advisory panel that reviewed the heart problems resulting from Vioxx and Celebrex. Find out how pain relievers affect the heart.

Guest: Steven E. Nissen, M.D., FACC, is the Chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Sunshine is in short supply in the wintertime, and so is vitamin D. Could lack of this nutrient be partially responsible for our susceptibility to infections such as colds and flu?

Folic acid is another nutrient that is often lacking in the diet. New research says this B vitamin may help protect us against heart attacks and strokes. How much do you need?

The People's Pharmacy pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, tells us why you shouldn’t swallow your chewing gum. And The People’s Pharmacy herb doctor, Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, tells us how to cope with insomnia and anxiety naturally. And we open our lines for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366!

Guests: David Wald, MD, clinical cardiologist and senior lecturer at a major London teaching hospital. Here is Dr. Wald's review of folic acid: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7578/1114 Alan Greene, MD, founder and CEO of drgreene.com and Stanford University Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. His book is From First Kicks to First Steps: Nurturing Your Baby’s Development from Pregnancy Through the First Year of Life. www.drgreene.com

Tieraona Low Dog, MD, Director of Education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Clinical Lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy www.drlowdog.com

A recent report from the prestigious Institute of Medicine indicates that the Food and Drug Administration is not doing enough to protect Americans from medication dangers. In some cases, the agency seems to pay more attention to the needs of pharmaceutical manufacturers.

That makes it all the more alarming when we hear that these companies have become corrupt. We talk with the controversial whistleblower making this charge as well as a spokesman for the industry and an objective observer. Have the regulators lost sight of the public good?

Guests: Peter Rost, MD, former vice-president of Pfizer. Author of Whistleblower: Confessions of a Health Care Hit Man. His blog is: http://peterrost.blogspot.com/

Alan Goldhammer, PhD, associate vice-president of regulatory affairs for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

Raymond Woosley, MD, PhD, formerly Chairman of Pharmacology at Georgetown University; formerly vice-president for Health Sciences at the University of Arizona; currently president of the Critical Path Institute, a nonprofit organization partnering with FDA and industry to accelerate development of safe medical products, and director of the Arizona Center for Research and Education on Therapeutics.

Flu season is just beginning, but some schools in North Carolina are reporting a lot of children out with flu-like illnesses. The best prevention for flu, we are told, is the vaccination. How strong is the evidence to support its use?

Lice have developed resistance to many of the chemicals used in lice shampoos. Now scientists in Utah have developed a device that could kill the lice in school, without harming the children or sending them home. How good is industrial-strength hot air against these parasites?

The People's Pharmacy Pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, explains that vitamin C can help prevent some of the damage from second-hand smoke. We learn about the Chinese herb dong quai from Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, an expert on the evidence behind herbal medicine. And we open our lines for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366!

Guests: Tom Jefferson, MD, Cochrane Collaboration http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7574/912

Dale H. Clayton, Ph.D., Professor, Dept. of Biology, University of Utah: http://unews.utah.edu/showImage.php?image=1346&size=300&resizeOn=w&quality=h

Alan Greene, MD, founder and CEO of drgreene.com and Stanford University Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. His book is From First Kicks to First Steps: Nurturing Your Baby’s Development from Pregnancy Through the First Year of Life. http://www.drgreene.com

Tieraona Low Dog, MD, Director of Education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Clinical Lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy http://www.drlowdog.com

Headaches affect almost everyone at some point. 45 million Americans get chronic, recurrent headaches. Even children can suffer.

Find out why over-reliance on over-the-counter medications can be counterproductive. What are the best new treatments? Can acupuncture be helpful?

Guests: Joel Saper, MD, Founder and Director of the Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor. He is also clinical professor of neurology at The University of Michigan.

Remy Coeytaux, MD, PhD, is assistant professor in the department of family medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

To find out more about the migraine-prevention diet you can go to the Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute Web site at: www.mhni.com

You will have to request the diet information and you can also do this by going directly to the contact page for MHNI : http://www.mhni.com/contact_form.html Request the headache diet information in the message box.

or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute; Migraine Diet Information; 3120 Professional Drive; Ann Arbor, MI 48104

There are 44 million Americans with thinning bones. Although osteoporosis is usually considered a “women’s condition,� 20 percent of those diagnosed with dangerously weakened bones are men.

What causes this degeneration of bone? How can it be prevented, and what are the best treatments? Find out if the association of jawbone death with certain osteoporosis drug is significant or so rare it is not a real concern.

Guest: Felicia Cosman, MD, is Professor of Clinical Medicine at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. She is an endocrinologist specializing in osteoporosis at the Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw, New York, and Clinical Director of the National Osteoporosis Foundation in Washington, DC.

Thomas Weber, MD, is Assistant Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and Duke University Medical Center, where he is Medical Director of the Duke Clinical Bone Laboratory and Program Director for the fellowship training program in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism.

A nap can be refreshing, or it can leave you feeling foggy. For some older people, long daytime naps might be a red flag that something is wrong. When should you worry?

Reiki is a healing technique in which we can use use our hands to bring pure life-force energy to heal ourselves. We talk with Israeli Reiki Master Rahel Warshaw-Dadon about her work. Her organization in Jerusalem , Reiki for Peace, brings Palestinians and Israelis together to heal each other on many levels.

The People's Pharmacy pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, explains that diagnosing a strep throat requires tests at the doctor’s office. We also speak with an interventional cardiologist who has turned to natural products to prevent heart disease. And we open our lines for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366!

Julius called from Lake Monticello, VA, with this recipe for a cholesterol-lowering smoothie: Put orange juice (8 oz? unspecified) and a diced banana or peach into a 16 oz jar, cap tightly and shake. Then add 1/3 cup raw rolled oats and 1 Tablespoon ground flax meal. Cap once again, shake, let sit for 15 or 20 minutes. The smoothie can be frozen and will stay cool for hours after coming out of the freezer.

Guests: Daniel Blazer, MD, J.P. Gibbons Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Duke University Medical School.

Rahel Warshaw-Dadon, Israeli Reiki Master . Her nonprofit organization can be found on the Web: www.reikiforpeace.org

Alan Greene, MD, founder and CEO of drgreene.com and Stanford University Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. His book is From First Kicks to First Steps: Nurturing Your Baby’s Development from Pregnancy Through the First Year of Life.

Dennis Goodman, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, and at the Scripps Clinic Integrative Medicine Department. He was formerly Chief of Cardiology at Scripps Memorial Hospital. The natural product he discusses is called HDL Booster.

Nearly 30 % of Americans are bothered by chronic symptoms that don’t respond completely to medical treatment. Concern about such symptoms may alter the way people live. But changing the way they view their symptoms may allow them to stop being victims and reclaim their lives.

Guest: Arthur Barsky, MD, is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Director of Psychiatric Research at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is the author, with Emily Deans, MD, of Stop Being Your Symptoms and Start Being Yourself.

Women used to be prescribed hormone therapy to prevent heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease as well as osteoporosis and menopausal symptoms. But once the Women’s Health Initiative demonstrated that hormones don’t help the heart, many women and their physicians started looking for alternatives, especially natural approaches.

Dr. Tieraona Low Dog is one of the country’s leading experts on the evidence base for herbal medicine. She tells us what works and what doesn’t as we explore issues in women’s health.

Guest: Tieraona Low Dog, MD, is the Director of Education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and a Clinical Lecturer for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy.

In 2000, President Clinton appointed Dr. Low Dog to the White House Commission of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a blue ribbon panel whose goal was to make legislative and administrative recommendations concerning complementary and alternative medicine. The commission worked for two years and submitted its final report to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson in March 2002.

In August 2003, the Secretary of Health and Human Services appointed Dr. Low Dog to the Executive Advisory Board for the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicines. From 2000 to the present, she has also served on the United States Pharmacopoeia Dietary Supplements and Botanicals Expert Committee. Dr. Low Dog serves on the Executive Editorial Boards of Menopause Magazine and Explore Journal. In addition she is on DrWeil.com’s Science Advisory Board.

Her book is Women’s Health in Complementary and Integrative Medicine: A Clinical Guide. Her Web site is www.drlowdog.com

Thyroid problems are surprisingly common. Last year, more than 80 million prescriptions for thyroid hormone (Synthroid, levothyroxine, Levoxyl and Levothroid) were dispensed. That means it is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in America. Is there an epidemic of thyroid disease?

Fatigue, dry skin, hair loss, high cholesterol, constipation, weakness and depression are just a few of the symptoms of low thyroid function. But it sometimes takes a long time for a patient to get a diagnosis, and it can take even longer to get relief from the symptoms. What can be done beyond the usual treatment?

Guests: Kenneth Blanchard, MD, PhD, is a board certified endocrinologist with a private practice in Newton, Massachusetts. He is the co-author of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Hypothyroidism: A Simple Plan for Extraordinary Results.

Mary Shomon is a patient advocate, and runs the internet’s most popular thyroid patient website, www.thyroid-info.com Mary is also the author of a number of best-selling books on thyroid disease, including The Thyroid Diet and Living Well with Hypothyroidism.

Drug companies have traditionally been reluctant to test their products on children. An initiative to encourage more research is working—but are the results getting to the doctors who need them?

Green tea has a reputation as a beverage with real health benefits. Is it deserved?

The People's Pharmacy pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, will tell why French fries may be bad for kids. We’ll also learn why ear infections don’t automatically mean antibiotics any more. And we open our lines for calls from listeners at 888-472-3366!

Guests: Daniel Benjamin, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical School; also with the Office of Pediatric therapeutics, Office of the Commissioner, FDA. Publication: Peer-Reviewed Publication of Clinical Trials Completed for Pediatric Exclusivity. JAMA, Sept. 13, 2006. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/296/10/1266

Lenore Arab, PhD, is Professor of Epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles

Alan Greene, MD, is founder and CEO of www.drgreene.com and Stanford University Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. His book is From First Kicks to First Steps: Nurturing Your Baby’s Development from Pregnancy Through the First Year of Life.

Pollen, peanuts, dust mites and animal dander are just a few of the many possible triggers for sneezing, wheezing or hives. During the fall, millions of people suffer from “seasonal rhinitis,� more commonly known as hay fever. What can be done to relieve their misery? How can allergic symptoms be prevented?

Guest: David B. Peden, MD, MS. He is Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Immunology and Infectious Disease. Dr. Peden is also Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics and Director of the Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill.

Fish oil has become extremely popular. There’s even a prescription version available. Is it as helpful as its proponents claim, or is it just a fad? Guests: Joseph Maroon, MD, Vice Chairman and Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He is also the team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steeler football team. He is co-author, with Jeffrey Bost, of Fish Oil: The Natural Anti-Inflammatory. Jennifer Dianto, Seafood Watch Program Manager at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The Website is: http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp Richard Deckelbaum, MD, the Robert R. Williams Professor of Nutrition and Director of the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University. Dr. Deckelbaum wrote an editorial on fish oil in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/84/1/1 Kathleen Wyne, MD, F.A.C.E., an endocrinologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX. She consults for Reliant Pharmaceuticals, the company that makes the prescription product Omacor.

More people than ever before are dealing with hearing loss. More than 9 million senior citizens and 30 million baby boomers don’t hear well. And the popularity of personal mp3 players may mean that many more people will experience diminished hearing in the future. What can be done to protect our hearing?

Guest: Michael Seidman, MD, FACS, is Director of the Division of Otologic/Neurotologic Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, and Medical Director at the Center for Complementary/Integrative Medicine of the Henry Ford Health System in West Bloomfield, MI. He is the author of Save Your Hearing Now: The Revolutionary Program That Can Prevent and May Even Reverse Hearing Loss (with Marie Moneysmith).

Music plays an important role in the healing rituals of many cultures. But does it have any place in modern medical care?

Music has an impact on human physiology, which may be why it is so powerful at affecting our moods. How can it be applied in clinical situations for people with Parkinson's disease or children with autism?

Guests: Dorita Berger is a Board Certified Music Therapist, Licensed Creative Arts Therapist in the State of New York, and a concert pianist. She is the Founder and Director of The Music Therapy Clinic in Norwalk, CT, and is on the Music Therapy Faculty of Montclair State University in New Jersey. Her most recent book, written with Daniel Schneck, is The Music Effect.

Daniel Schneck is distinguished Professor Emeritus of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and former Head of the Biomedical Engineering Program there. He is currently a court-qualified consulting scientist in Forensic Biomechanics and does extensive research in the structure and function of the human body, including its response to sensory stimulation in the form of music.

Dr. Schneck actively pursues a parallel career as an accomplished violinist and music teacher at the Blacksburg New School. He is the author of nearly 300 published works, including 20 books, the most recent being The Music Effect: Music Physiology and Clinical Applications, with Dori Berger.

Chronic pain affects millions of Americans. Migraine sufferers, arthritis victims, people with bad backs and those with cancer pain all have to cope with pain over the course of many months or years.

Doctors often feel helpless in the battle against chronic pain. They may fear that if they prescribe potent narcotics, they will be prosecuted by the Drug Enforcement Agency.

But there are ways to cope with severe pain. Acupuncture, massage therapy, biofeedback, hypnosis and many different kinds of medications can all contribute to quality of life.

Guests: Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., is Medical Director of the Annapolis Center for Effective Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Therapies. He is the author of Pain Free 1-2-3: A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain. His Web site is www.Vitality101.com

Gwendolyn Stritter, M.D., is a pain specialist and a member of the American Society for Clinical Oncology, the American Association for Cancer Research, and the American Pain Society. Her practice is based in Portola Valley, California. She can be reached at 650-851-0377 or at the following email address: asst@strittermed.org

DEA (diethanolamine) is an ingredient found in many shampoos, sunscreens and other cosmetics. When it is applied to the skin of pregnant mice it affects the brains of developing embryos. What should humans do about this information?

Many people take herbs and drugs at the same time. Such combinations can cause unexpected complications. We'll talk to an expert about this serious problem.

The People's Pharmacy pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, will tell us why chocolate can help control childhood diarrhea. And we will open our lines for live calls from listeners at 888-472-3366!

Guests: Steven Zeisel, MD, PhD, is Kenan Distinguished University Professor of nutrition in UNC's schools of public health and medicine and associate dean for research in the School of Public Health.

Eric Cannon, PharmD, is Director of Pharmacy Services of SelectHealth, a division of Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, UT

Alan Greene, MD, is founder and CEO of drgreene.com and Stanford University Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. His book is From First Kicks to First Steps: Nurturing Your Baby’s Development from Pregnancy Through the First Year of Life. www.drgreene.com

Testosterone has made headlines lately in the sports news, with Tour de France winner Floyd Landis and sprinter Justin Gatlin accused of boosting their performance with this male hormone. But doctors may be prescribing testosterone for women with an entirely different goal in mind—improving libido. How well does it work? We explore the biological, emotional and spiritual aspects of female sexuality. Guests: Irwin Goldstein, MD, the President and Medical Director of The Institute for Sexual Medicine, Inc., and Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Sexual Medicine Gina Ogden, Ph.D., is a marriage and family therapist, sex therapist, researcher and author in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her newest book is The Heart and Soul of Sex; Making the ISIS Connection. Her website is www.ginaogden.com

In 2000, the Institute of Medicine came out with a devastating report on health care errors. Last week, a new panel of the Institute of Medicine issued its report on medication mistakes, which is a huge problem. We speak with the co-chair, Dean Linda Cronenwett, about the committee’s conclusions. More at http://www.iom.edu/Object.File/Master/35/943/medication%20errors%20new.pdf

When it comes to safety, acetaminophen is usually considered the top pain reliever. But a recent study has shown that some people taking the maximum recommended dose of this analgesic develop elevated liver enzymes. This is usually considered a sign of liver toxicity. We talk with one of the scientists who conducted the study.

Swimmers’ ear is a common complaint for kids, especially in the summertime when they are in and out of the pool all day long. Pediatricians have been given new guidelines on treating this condition, and Dr. Alan Greene explains them.

We take calls about prescription drugs, healthy eating, home remedies, and dietary supplements.

Guests: Linda Cronenwett, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She co-chaired the Institute of Medicine Committee on Identifying and Preventing Medication Errors. Paul Watkins, MD, is professor of medicine and director of the General Clinical Research Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Alan Greene, MD, is founder and CEO of drgreene.com and Stanford University Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. His book is From First Kicks to First Steps: Nurturing Your Baby’s Development from Pregnancy Through the First Year of Life.www.drgreene.com

When it comes to weight loss, there’s no shortage of advice. One fad diet after another grabs the spotlight—maybe even the bestseller spot on the bookstore lists. But most of these diet books are scorned by knowledgeable health professionals.

Now, one of the country’s leading nutrition researchers has teamed with a top cookbook author to develop a diet plan that makes sense for health and for the taste buds.

Guest: Walter Willett, Md, DrPH, is professor of epidemiology and chair of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, a recipient of many international awards for his research, and the most cited nutrition scientist worldwide. He is the author of Eat, Drink and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating, and most recently Eat, Drink and Weigh Less; A Flexible and Delicious Way to Shrink Your Waist Without Going Hungry, with Mollie Katzen (listed by the New York Times as one of the bestselling cookbook authors of all times).

With 30 feet of digestive tract coiled up inside us, it’s no wonder we experience trouble with it sometimes. But for some people, the issues are particularly serious. Inflammatory bowel disease can be life threatening. What causes it, and how is it controlled? What is the difference between this disease called IBD and the common, uncomfortable, but much less serious problem called IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Many people suffer from acid reflux, which used to be called heartburn. We’ll find out about the best treatment, and the disadvantages of the most popular drugs, like Nexium or Protonix. We also learn how to cope with ulcers or other sources of bellyaches.

Guests: Mark Pochapin, MD, is the Director of the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Jane Onken, MD, MHS, is the Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic at the Duke University Medical Center.

Most doctors learned in medical school that celiac disease is a rare condition causing diarrhea in babies. But worldwide, one person in 100 risks severe health consequences just by eating foods the rest of us enjoy every day: pizza, pasta, bagels or bread. The great majority of adults with celiac disease are undiagnosed; the average length of time it takes a sufferer to get the correct diagnosis is 9 years. We’ll learn about the consequences of celiac disease and the development of new treatments for this chronic and underappreciated condition.

Guest: Peter Green, MD, director of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University. He is a professor of clinical medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, and attending physician at the New York Presbyterian Hospital. His book is: Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic, co-written with Rory Jones. His Web site, with information on the celiac disease symposium, is www.celiacdiseasecenter.org

The FDA has come under heavy criticism for its handling of Vioxx, the popular arthritis drug that was taken off the market in 2004 because it increased the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Can the agency protect Americans from another Vioxx-type scandal?

Guests: David Graham, MD, associate director of medicine and safety in the FDA's Office of Drug Safety.

Peter Rost, MD, a former Vice President of Pfizer. His blog is at: http://peterrost.blogspot.com/

Susan Okie, MD, Contributing Editor for the New England Journal of Medicine. She was formerly a medical reporter and science editor for the Washington Post.

Dr. David Peden

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the air inside the average American home is more polluted than that in even the most industrialized city. What toxins are found inside our homes? How can we minimize the negative health effects they may cause?

Guests: David Peden, MD, MS, is Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Immunology and Infectious Disease. He is also Director of the Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology as well as Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill .

Arnie Katz

Arnie Katz is Director of Training and a Senior Building Science Consultant for Advanced Energy. He provides training programs for builders, insulators and HVAC contractors on techniques, products and practices that are cost-effective.

Leonardo da Vinci, an expert on human anatomy as well as an incomparable artist, considered the foot “a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.� The human foot contains 26 bones, more than 150 ligaments and an intricate network of muscles, nerves and blood vessels. When your feet hurt, it affects your day-to-day life profoundly. What can we do to keep our feet healthy and pain-free?

Guests: Walter Pedowitz, MD, is Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Columbia University School Of Medicine in New York City, and Chairman of the managerial board of Foot and Ankle International Journal. He is in private practice in Union County Orthopedic Group, Linden New Jersey, specializing in feet and ankles.

Burton Schuler, DPM, is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management, a Diplomate of the National Board of Podiatric Examiners, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Ambulatory Foot Surgery. His professional memberships include the American Diabetes Association, and both the American and Florida Podiatric Medical Associations. His web site is www.footcare4u.com

Cholesterol lowering drugs like Lipitor, Zocor and Crestor are the most successful drugs in the world. They bring down bad LDL cholesterol almost like magic and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Some physicians believe these statin drugs can reduce the risk of dementia, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, depression, glaucoma and prostate cancer. The enthusiasm is such that some doctors have suggested the drugs should be in the water supply. But is there a darker side to statins? Some people report debilitating muscle pain and weakness, even though their laboratory results are within the normal range. Others complain about frightening memory problems. How can people balance benefits against risks? Guests: Duane Graveline, MD, flight surgeon, former astronaut and author of "Lipitor: Thief of Memory"; Beatrice Golomb, MD, PhD, Director of the UCSD Statin Study; Stephen Sinatra, MD, cardiologist and author of "The Sinatra Health Report".

African American women have different risks for breast cancer. They are less likely to get it but more likely to die of it if they do. More about intriguing new research on this issue, and an update on new advances for treating cancer.

Moderate alcohol consumption is helpful for the heart. How does it affect the brain?

Soy sauce and garlic may have surprising health benefits that are just coming to light.

In addition to these stories we take your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366.

Guests: Lisa Carey, MD, Medical Director of the UNC Breast Center and Associate Professor of Hematology & Oncology, UNC School of Medicine. Her research is published in JAMA, June 7, 2006.

H. Kim Lyerly, MD, Director, Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Alan Greene, MD, Founder and CEO of drgreene.com and Stanford University Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. His book is From First Kicks to First Steps: Nurturing Your Baby’s Development from Pregnancy Through the First Year of Life.

As many as 320,000 food products crowd the shelves of American supermarkets. No wonder the seemingly simple act of doing the grocery shopping has become so complex. The conflicting advice we get on what constitutes a healthful diet doesn’t help at all. So join us as Dr. Marion Nestle, noted nutrition scientist, leads us on a guided tour through the supermarket. Should you pay for organic produce? What kind of eggs are best? Is wild-caught fish healthier than farm-raised? Get the answers from Dr. Nestle, with added perspective from noted food writer Marian Burros.

Guests: Marion Nestle, PhD, is the Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University. She is the author of Nutrition in Clinical Practice; Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health; Safe Food: Bacteria, Biotechnology, and Bioterrorism;and her latest book, What to Eat: An Aisle-by-Aisle Guide to Savvy Food Choices and Good Eating. Her Web site is www.foodpolitics.com

Marian Burros is a food writer and columnist for The New York Times and the author of noted cookbooks such as Cooking for Comfort; The New Elegant but Easy Cookbook; Eating Well is the Best Revenge; 20 Minute Menus, The Best of Degustibus, and You've Got It Made.

Grapefruit interacts with dozens of drugs. Now we know what the secret ingredients are that cause this unusual effect.

Is soy a miracle food or a menace? We talk with an expert about the benefits and risks of soy.

Are you getting enough sleep? We’ll find out how sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain.

In addition to these stories we take your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366.

Guests: Paul Watkins, MD, is the Verne S. Caviness Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Professor of Pharmacotherapy at the University of North Carolina. He also directs the General Clinical Research Center at UNC. The article on grapefruit is published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, May 2006.http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/83/5/1097

Jay Caplan, PhD, is Professor of Medicine and Director of the Comparative Medicine Program at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Alan Greene, MD, Founder and CEO of drgreene.com and Stanford University Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. His book is From First Kicks to First Steps: Nurturing Your Baby’s Development from Pregnancy Through the First Year of Life.

Why is hair so important to our sense of well being? Almost everyone has had a bad hair day. It makes you feel self conscious and undermines your confidence. Some people have to deal with hair loss at an early age. What can be done to reverse male pattern baldness? Men and women suffer from this common condition. We’ll find out the latest strategies from a leading expert.

Guests: Sara Romweber, Ph.D. is a registered nurse and a psychotherapist. She is author of Hair: Surviving the Fall. Robert Bernstein, M.D., is Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Columbia University in New York. His private practice in Manhattan is solely devoted to surgical hair restoration. He pioneered Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation, the procedure that has changed modern hair restoration surgery. His web site is: www.bernsteinmedical.com

Celiac disease is a condition in which exposure to gluten from certain grains triggers an autoimmune reaction. Although American doctors have been taught that it is extremely rare, research over the past decade has shown it is actually far more common, with an incidence similar to that in Europe. Left untreated, celiac disease can cause serious health problems, including infertility, osteoporosis and cancer. But diagnosis sometimes takes years because the symptoms are not recognized. Find out how to recognize this dangerous disease and how it can be treated.

Guest:Peter Green, M.D., is Professor of Clinical Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the Director of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University.

It seems as if you can't turn on television these days without seeing an ad for erectile dysfunction drugs. Levitra, Cialis and Viagra have been highly promoted. How good are these medications and are there any risks? What else can men do to restore erectile function?

What about women's sexual health? For years, drug companies have focused their research on male sexual issues. But now the pharmaceutical industry is discovering that many women suffer from low libido or lack of sexual pleasure. What's in the pharmaceutical pipeline for female sexual dysfunction?

Guest: Irwin Goldstein, MD, is Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Sexual Medicine. He is Secretary of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health and past president of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America. Dr. Goldstein is a member of the executive board of the International Society of Sexual Medicine.

Diet research has been in the news lately, with headlines like: LOW FAT DIET DOES NOT CUT HEALTH RISKS, STUDY FINDS (New York Times) or REDUCING FAT MAY NOT CURB DISEASE (Atlanta Journal-Constitution). But these stories are often confusing and contradictory. They may make you want to throw up your hands in defeat.

Don’t despair. We’ll find out about research into the keys to weight control. We’ll hear what it is like to live life as a fat person. And we’ll learn how each of us can personalize scientific findings to achieve a healthy weight.

Guests: Mark Hyman, MD is editor-in-chief of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. His is co-author of the New York Times bestseller Ultraprevention. His latest book is Ultrametabolism. His Web sites are www.drhyman.com and www.ultrametabolism.com

Michael Berman is an attorney, lobbyist and political activist. He is president of the Duberstein Group, a leading Washington, DC, consulting firm, and author, with Laurence Shames, of Living Large: A Big Man’s Ideas on Weight, Success and Acceptance.

Americans are told that that they have the safest drugs in the world. Many people assume that the FDA is protecting them from sub-standard and counterfeit medications. In reality, though, the FDA is virtually helpless against an onslaught of pricey counterfeit prescription slipping into the drug supply.

One of the best kept secrets of our drug distribution system is how easily criminals can penetrate the supply chain. We will talk with an investigative journalist about her extraordinary experience tracking criminals in Florida. We also talk with the pharmacist who helped crack the case and with the Health Care Bureau Chief of the New York Attorney General.

Guests: Katherine Eban, investigative journalist and author of Dangerous Doses: How Counterfeiters Are Contaminating America's Drug Supply;

Cesar Arias, Pharmacist, former drug inspector for the Florida Department of Health;

Joseph Baker, Health Care Bureau Chief of the New York Attorney General.

Old drugs can sometimes be taught nifty new tricks. A drug that was originally introduced for osteoporosis turns out to be good at preventing breast cancer. What should you know about Evista?

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world. The American Academy of Dermatology is holding a free screening on May 6, 2006. Dr. Stanley Levy tells us why this is so important.

Infectious disease specialists keep urging health care professionals to wash their hands between patients so that they won’t spread infection from one person to another. But a computer keyboard used to enter patient information might carry germs as well. How can doctors and patients clean their keyboards?

In addition to these stories we take your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366.

Guests: William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H, Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine (Chapel Hill)

Stanley Levy, MD, Director of Medical Affairs for the Revlon Research Center, Adjunct Clinical Professor of Dermatology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine (Chapel Hill). Dr. Levy is one of the country’s leading experts on photoprotection and has written extensively on sunscreens. For more information on the free skin cancer screening on 5/6/2006, visit the Web site www.aad.org

Kelly Marcom, MD, Clinical Director of Breast Medical Oncology Program, Duke University Health System, Assistant Professor, Duke University Medical School.

Alan Greene, MD, Founder and CEO of www.drgreene.com and Stanford University Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. His book is From First Kicks to First Steps: Nurturing Your Baby’s Development from Pregnancy Through the First Year of Life.

Commentator: Bernie Siegel, MD, a well-known proponent of alternative approaches for healing the mind, body and soul. His books include Love, Medicine and Miracles and his most recent: 101 Exercises for the Soul – A Divine Workout Plan for Body, Mind and Spirit.

Do the frustrations you encounter every day add up until you feel like you might explode? What can you do if your boss is unreasonable or your teenagers are unruly? If you’ve ever lost your temper over something fairly trivial, you may be hurting yourself more than anyone else.

The health dangers of anger are well documented. Carrying around a grudge can increase your risk of heart disease and other health problems. How can you manage adversity without losing your cool? Our guests will reveal how to handle anything, from stress at work to traffic jams.

Guests: Redford Williams, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine and Psychology and Director of the Behavioral Medicine Research Center at Duke University Medical Center.

Virginia Williams, PhD, president of Williams Life Skills. Together they have written Anger Kills and Life Skills. Their latest book is In Control. The Web site is www.williamslifeskills.com

For years, medical researchers have assumed that medical research on men could just be applied to women as well. But gradually, data have emerged to suggest that women are not just smaller men with breasts and ovaries. There may be other significant differences as well. Now science is beginning to discover just how those differences are reflected in our brains and social interactions. Why is it that men never remember, and women never forget?

Guest: Marianne J. Legato, MD, FACP, is a professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University, where she founded and heads the Partnership for Gender-Specific Medicine. One of the world’s foremost experts on gender medicine and winner of many awards for her work, she is the author of The Female Heart: What Women Need to Know, Eve’s Rib, and most recently, with Laura Tucker, Why Men Never Remember and Women Never Forget.

4/1/2006 Nobody claims that soft drinks are health food, but could they be contributing to America’s national obesity problem? A top nutrition scientist suggests a new approach to beverages for better health.

We’ll also discuss diets, vitamins and weight loss. Losing weight is hard work; is there any way to make it easier?

Some people act as though they are addicted to tanning. We’ll talk about the research that confirms their predicament.

In addition to these stories we take your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366.

Guests: Walter Willett, MD, DrPH, Chairman of the Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Harvard University. His new book, written with Mollie Katzen of Moosewood fame, is Eat, Drink, & Weigh Less.

Steven Feldman, MD, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Pathology and Public Health Sciences at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Alan Greene, MD, Founder and CEO of drgreene.com and Stanford University Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. His book is From First Kicks to First Steps: Nurturing Your Baby’s Development from Pregnancy Through the First Year of Life.

Commentator: Bernie Siegel, MD, a well-known proponent of alternative approaches for healing the mind, body and soul. His books include Love, Medicine and Miracles and his most recent: 101 Exercises for the Soul – A Divine Workout Plan for Body, Mind and Spirit.

What does the “D� in Medicare Part D stand for? It could stand for Drugs, since this is the part of Medicare that pays for prescription medications for seniors. But at this point in time, it also could stand for Deadline or Debacle. Medicare recipients must sign up for a plan to participate in Part D by May 15. Choosing a plan has proven far more Difficult than most experts predicted, and many older people are confused. So are their adult children who are trying to help them Decide. We’ll clear away confusion over Part D to help listeners avert Disaster.

Guests: William Vaughan, Senior Policy Analyst, Consumers Union, www.consumersunion.org

Jonathan Oberlander, PhD, Associate Professor of Social Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He teaches health policy in the School of Medicine and the Department of Political Science. He is author of The Political Life of Medicare.

Arthritis has plagued mankind for millennia, and the search for relief is ongoing. One popular arthritis drug, Vioxx, was taken off the market because it increases the risk of heart attacks. There are lingering questions about the safety of Celebrex. What options are there for the 43 million Americans who are afflicted? Are there effective ways to prevent arthritis?

Guests: Joan Bathon, M.D., is Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Director of the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.

Joanne Jordan, M.D., is Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology and Associate Professor of Orthopaedics. She is also Adjunct Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Associate Director of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and School of Public Health.

Soybeans are high in protein and rich in isoflavones that are said to have health benefits. Soy foods certainly provide alternatives to high-fat, high-cholesterol products like sausage, hamburger and half-and-half. But will soy actually control cholesterol? Is it safe for growing children to drink soy milk instead of cow’s milk? Or is there a dark side to this dietary darling? Guest: Kaayla Daniel, PhD, CCN, is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist in private practice in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is the author of The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America’s Favorite Health Food (2005). Her Web site is www.wholesoystory.com

An expert panel for the FDA has recommended stronger warnings for the stimulant drugs used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADHD). Will cautions about heart attacks and strokes scare parents away from Adderall, Concerta and Ritalin for hyperactive kids? Ancient healing traditions like acupuncture, meditation and massage are beginning to show up in modern hospitals. Find out how the new medicine is incorporating these old modalities. For more information on the PBS documentary hosted by Dana Reeve, link to: http://www.thenewmedicine.org/ Everyone seems to have an iPod or other mp3 player. How can you listen without endangering your hearing? Melatonin may offer relief for some people with tinnitus. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&listuids=16455366&queryhl=1&itool=pubmeddocsum Cytotec is another experimental treatment for tinnitus. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&listuids=15138428&queryhl=5&itool=pubmeddocsum A new study suggests that men who eat chocolate are only half as likely to die of a heart attack. Here is the abstract from the Zutphen study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&listuids=16505260&queryhl=3&itool=pubmed_docsum In addition to these stories we take your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366. Guests: Rose Bongiovanni, Au.D., President Elect of the California Academy of Audiology. Steven Nissen, MD, Vice-Chairman of Cardiology at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Douglas Mann, MD, Clinical Services Director of the Program on Integrative Medicine and Professor of Neurology at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tracy Gaudet, MD, Director of the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine and Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Duke University Medical Center. Commentator: Liz Dreesen, MD, Surgeon. Dr. Dreesen can be reached by email: dreelnc@bellsouth.net

Chronic pain affects millions of Americans. Migraine sufferers, arthritis victims, people with bad backs and those with cancer pain all have to cope with pain over the course of many months or years.

Doctors often feel helpless in the battle against chronic pain. They may fear that if they prescribe potent narcotics, they will be prosecuted by the Drug Enforcement Agency.

But there are ways to cope with severe pain. Acupuncture, massage therapy, biofeedback, hypnosis and many different kinds of medications can all contribute to quality of life.

Guests: Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., is Medical Director of the Annapolis Center for Effective Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Therapies. He is the author of Pain Free 1-2-3: A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain. His Web site is www.Vitality101.com

Gwendolyn Stritter, M.D., is a pain specialist and a member of the American Society for Clinical Oncology, the American Association for Cancer Research, and the American Pain Society. Her practice is based in Portola Valley, California. She can be reached at 650-851-0377 or at the following email address: asst@strittermed.org

A little gland in your neck can control your sex life, your weight, your energy and even your mood. But surprisingly, this gland (the thyroid) frequently gets out of whack. Of the 20 million Americans who have thyroid disorders, more than half don't realize it, according to the American Medical Women's Association.

Does diet affect the thyroid gland? Do prescription drugs or chemicals in our environment interfere with proper thyroid functioning? And how do we know when our thyroid is not working adequately? Find out why it is important to look beyond the lab tests to the patient's symptoms to understand the story behind thyroid insufficiency.

Guests: Kenneth Blanchard, M.D., Ph.D., is a board certified endocrinologist and the co-author of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About HYPOTHYROIDISM: A Simple Plan for Extraordinary Results.

Mary Shomon is a patient advocate and author. Her books include Living Well with Hypothyroidism and The Thyroid Diet; Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss. Her Web site is an important source of thyroid information: http://www.thyroid-info.com/

Prostate cancer is extremely common, affecting one man in every six. Is it possible to prevent prostate cancer?

Not everyone with prostate cancer will develop disease. How can men decide what treatment will be most effective without causing undue complications?

Erectile dysfunction is a common consequence of prostate surgery. Is there any way to reduce this risk?

Guest: Culley C. Carson, III, M.D., is the Rhodes Distinguished Professor and Chief of the Division of Urology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is Past President of the Sexual Medicine Society and President of the Southeast Section of the American Urologic Association.

Aspirin is the cheapest wonder drug around. New research shows that it has different benefits in men and in women. What are the risks of daily aspirin?

Birth control pills have provided reliable contraception for millions of women over the decades. A recent study suggests, though, that they may have long-lasting effects on women’s hormones. What is the impact on sexual desire?

In addition to these stories we take your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366.

Guests: Jeffrey Berger, MD, is a cardiology fellow at Duke University Medical Center.

Irwin Goldstein, MD, is a urologist and Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Alan Greene, MD, is a pediatrician and founder of http://www.drgreene.org/. He is author of From First Kicks to First Steps: Nurturing Your Baby's Development from Pregnancy Through the First Year of Life.

Everyone talks about cancer screening, but it doesn’t always catch cancers early enough to make a difference in survival. Researchers are looking for early markers that will let us know something is going haywire long before there are symptoms or spots on an X-Ray or CT Scan.

Really early detection might change the nature of cancer treatment. Will this dreaded condition become more of a chronic disease like diabetes, to be managed for years or even decades?

Guests: Dr. Mark Kieran is the Director of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Salvatore Pizzo is Professor and Chairman, Department of Pathology, and Director, Medical Scientist Training Program, Duke University Medical Center.

Michael Retsky, Ph.D., is Lecturer in Surgery on Judah Folkman’s staff at Harvard Medical School.

Headaches affect almost everyone at some point. 45 million Americans get chronic, recurrent headaches. Even children can suffer.

Find out why over-reliance on over-the-counter medications can be counterproductive. What are the best new treatments? Can acupuncture be helpful?

Guests: Joel Saper, MD, Founder and Director of the Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor. He is also clinical professor of neurology at The University of Michigan.

Remy Coeytaux, MD, PhD, is assistant professor in the department of family medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

To find out more about the migraine-prevention diet you can go to the Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute Web site at: www.mhni.com

You will have to request the diet information and you can also do this by going directly to the contact page for MHNI : http://www.mhni.com/contact_form.html

Request the headache diet information in the message box.

or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute; Migraine Diet Information; 3120 Professional Drive; Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Dark chocolate may have a beneficial effect for smokers. Find out why this sweet treat could be good for their health.

Erectile dysfunction is out of the closet, thanks to ads for drugs like Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. Something you won’t see on TV, though, is a warning that ED might signal a risk for future heart disease.

Pain relievers like Vioxx and Celebrex used to be big best sellers. Now Vioxx is off the market and sales of Celebrex are lagging. A leading cardiologist will give us an update on the cardiovascular safety of arthritis medicine.

In addition to these stories we take your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366.

Guests: Irwin Goldstein, MD, Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Sexual Medicine

Steven Nissen, MD, vice-chairman of cardiology at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Board-certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular medicine, he is a professor of medicine at The Ohio State University.

Today's culture has an insatiable thirst for perfection and status.

Why are so many of us compulsive achievers? Such people live with the deep and debilitating belief that perfecting their appearance and continually striving for more accomplishments will secure the love and respect of others. This constant pursuit for approval and success constitutes Performance Addiction.

Guest: Arthur Ciaramicoli, Ed.D., Ph.D. clinical psychologist, instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School and author of: Performance Addiction: The Dangerous New Syndrome and How to Stop It from Ruining Your Life.

To order a copy of this or any radio show you can visit The People's Pharmacy® Online Store or call (800) 732-2334. Shows are available on CD for maximum sound quality. The cost, including shipping and handling, is $16. Visa, MasterCard and Discover are accepted, or you can send a check for $16 to: Graedons' The People's Pharmacy® (Show #, date or topic); PO Box 52027; Durham, NC 27717-2027

Sometimes the anticipation of Santa and all the toys he might bring is just too much for a tot. Instead of nestling snug in her bed, she may be bouncing off the walls. With luck she won’t try to taste the mistletoe.

Holiday travel to see relatives and holiday parties and the disruption of routine—not to mention diet—can create challenges for families with young children or even the grandparents they may be visiting. Find out how to keep the kids healthy and happy (and the grown-ups somewhat sane) even at this time of year.

Guest: Alan Greene, M.D., is the Chief Medical Officer of A.D.A.M., the Founder and CEO of http://www.DrGreene.com, and the Pediatric Expert for AmericanBaby.com. He is on the Clinical Faculty at Stanford University School of Medicine where he sees patients and teaches residents. Dr. Greene is the author of From First Kicks to First Steps: Nurturing Your Baby’s Development from Pregnancy through the First Year of Life. He was named Intel’s Internet Hero for children’s health.

Dr. Greene mentioned a delightful board game at the end of the show that he and his family enjoy. It is called

QUELF from Wiggity Bang

You can go to Dr. Greene's Web site (above) to link to Amazon if you wish to purchase or search Google.

Check out this Quelf review on Upbeat Online:

http://www.2upbeatmag.com/TOY-QUEST/toy_quest-quelf.html

The artificial sweetener aspartame is consumed by millions of people every day. But how safe is it? A new study in animals re-opens this controversial issue:

http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2005/8711/abstract.html

or www.ramazzini.it

With all the controversy surrounding hormone replacement therapy and even bio-identical hormones, women going through menopause are desperate for relief from hot flashes. What can they use to cope with this symptom?

In addition to these stories we take your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366.

Doctors often overlook patients’ feelings of anger and hostility. Some experts now believe, however, that these emotions play an important role in causing many diseases. The antidote to anger is often forgiveness, but our society does not reward forgiving. If anything, holding a grudge and getting revenge are admired. Can we learn how to forgive? Our guest will share what he has learned from research on the playgrounds of Northern Ireland, and explain why forgiveness is crucial to good health.

Guests: Robert D. Enright, Ph.D, professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Founder of the International Forgiveness Institute. Author of Forgiveness is a Choice – A Step-by-Step Process for Resolving Anger and Restoring Hope, and the children’s book Rising Above the Storm Clouds – What It’s Like to Forgive.

Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., instructor at Harvard Medical School and director of The Hallowell Center for Cognitive and Emotional Health. Author of Dare to Forgive.

Walt Larrimore, M.D., author of The 10 Essentials of Highly Healthy People.

Millions of chickens and other birds have succumbed to the H5N1 Avian flu. This week there were new cases of humans that have been affected by this virus and people are worried that it could become a pandemic. A veterinary epidemiologist will tell us how serious the threat really is.

Diet may make a difference for people with arthritis. A mineral found in certain foods might reduce the risk of osteoarthritis of the knee. We’ll find out which foods are good sources for this trace element.

In addition to these stories we take your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366.

Guests:

Simon Shane, FRCVS, PhD, MBL, ACPV, emeritus professor in epidemiology and community health in the School of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University. Adjunct professor in the Department of Poultry Science at North Carolina State University. Dr. Shane has consulted extensively on broiler and egg production in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Joanne Jordan, MD, MPH, UNC Health Care; UNC School of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology. Dr. Jordan led the study on arthritis and selenium presented at the meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.

Do you get eight hours of sleep a night? It turns out that most Americans don't. The NIH has declared chronic insomnia a major public health problem. Teenagers and young children are especially likely to be sleep deprived. How does chronic sleep loss affect overall health?

There are new sleeping pills being advertised. How well do Sonata, Lunesta and Rozerem work? Are there any side effects and are these pills safe for long-term use?

Guest: Martin Scharf, PhD, is a leader in clinical research technologies for sleep and its disorders. He founded the Tri-State Sleep Disorders Center in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1985.

Medical research shows that many chronic conditions are caused or aggravated by inflammation. Not all inflammation causes obvious swelling and reddening, though. How can we overcome the silent inflammation that may be affecting blood vessels and other organs?

Dr. Barry Sears, known as the creator of the Zone diet, has developed a lifestyle approach to master inflammation. Find out how diet, supplements, exercise and stress reduction may lower the risk of heart disease, cancer or dementia.

Guest: Barry Sears, Ph.D., is a research scientist who holds 13 patents in drug delivery and hormone control technology. His books include The Zone, The Anti-Aging Zone, the Omega Rx Zone, and most recently, The Anti-Inflammation Zone.

Cold season is here and our best defense is appropriate hand washing. But can we become obsessive about germs?

Is it safer to wash your vegetables in the toilet than in the kitchen sink? What are the germiest places at work, at school and at home?

Our guests will give us practical information on how to outwit colds and flu and avoid other disease-causing organisms.

Guests: Charles Gerba, PhD, environmental microbiologist and professor at the University of Arizona. Allison Janse, trade book editor and co-author with Dr. Gerba of "The Germ Freak's Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu."

Our eyes are second only to the brain as the most complex organs in our bodies. There are more than two million working parts to the eye, and a lot can go wrong.

As we age, we have more and more trouble reading small print. Can eye exercises help?

Was mom right, reading in low dight damages our eyesight? What about carrots? Can they really help us see better?

We will answer those questions and find out about LASIK surgery, cataracts, glaucoma, dry eyes and macular degeneration.

Guest: Carmen A. Puliafito, MD, Professor and Chairman, Department of Opthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Medical Director, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

Alcohol has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer. Is there any way to mitigate this risk? New research suggests that diet can make a difference. Experts are concerned about the possibility of a pandemic if bird flu jumps to humans. But what about ordinary influenza? Just how effective are standard flu vaccines, especially for the most vulnerable? In addition to these stories we will open our lines for your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366.

It seems as if you can't turn on television these days without seeing an ad for erectile dysfunction drugs. Levitra, Cialis and Viagra have been highly promoted. How good are these medications and are there any risks? What else can men do to restore erectile function? What about women's sexual health? For years, drug companies have focused their research on male sexual issues. But now the pharmaceutical industry is discovering that many women suffer from low libido or lack of sexual pleasure. What's in the pharmaceutical pipeline for female sexual dysfunction? Guest: Irwin Goldstein, MD, is Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Sexual Medicine. He is Secretary of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health and past president of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America. Dr. Goldstein is a member of the executive board of the International Society of Sexual Medicine.

Treatments for mental illness have ranged from flogging to frontal lobotomies. In the 1950s researchers developed drugs like Thorazine to treat schizophrenia. But serious side effects limited their usefulness. Newer medications have been heralded as breakthroughs against hallucinations and delusions. How much better are they than old-fashioned medicines? Can we justify their high price? Estrogen-like compounds found naturally in plants like beans and rye are often recommended for menopause symptoms. But now a plant-based diet rich in these phytoestrogens may help reduce the risk of lung cancer. We'll learn why. Pomegranate juice has certainly gotten a lot of buzz lately. In the latest study, mice with prostate cancer play a starring role. In addition to these stories we will open our lines for your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366. GUEST: Jeffrey Lieberman, MD, Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; Director, New York State Psychiatric Institute; Director, Lieber Center for Schizophrenia Research; Psychiatrist-in-Chief @ New York Presbyterian Hospital & Columbia University Medical Center

Americans are told that that they have the safest drugs in the world. Many people assume that the FDA is protecting them from sub-standard and counterfeit medications. In reality, though, the FDA is virtually helpless against an onslaught of pricey counterfeit prescription slipping into the drug supply.

One of the best kept secrets of our drug distribution system is how easily criminals can penetrate the supply chain. We will talk with an investigative journalist about her extraordinary experience tracking criminals in Florida. We also talk with the pharmacist who helped crack the case and with the Health Care Bureau Chief of the New York Attorney General.

Guests: Katherine Eban, investigative journalist and author of Dangerous Doses: How Counterfeiters Are Contaminating America's Drug Supply; Cesar Arias, Pharmacist, former drug inspector for the Florida Department of Health; Joseph Baker, Health Care Bureau Chief of the New York Attorney General.

Although pomegranates are mentioned in Greek myths and the Bible, researchers are rediscovering the healing power of this ancient fruit. New research suggests that something in pomegranates may improve circulation and ease joint pain. Vioxx, Bextra and other COX-2 pain relievers have been linked to heart attacks and strokes. Could aspirin counteract such cardiovascular problems?

iPods and other portable music players are so popular they have almost become fashion statements. New research shows, though, that young people using headphones are making their ears age faster. A whole generation may need hearing aids much younger than their grandparents.

In addition to these stories we will open our lines for your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366.

The beverage of choice for hundreds of millions of people is coffee. We've been told that it causes insomnia, raises blood pressure and may even increase the risk of heart disease. But new research also shows that it has more antioxidants than anything else. We'll talk to the researcher who did the study about antioxidants and coffee and find out about the health benefits of a cuppa Joe.

Eating disorders can affect men and well as women. We'll hear a poignant story of a man who only ate three poached eggs over three weeks and what he needs to do to prevent anorexia from taking over his life.

In addition to these stories we will open our lines for your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366.

Shame is a universal emotion that fuels fears and wreaks havoc on our capacity to act, speak, create, or even just show up! Why is something that's been studied since Adam and Eve talked about so infrequently? Some see shame as a beneficial teacher, others as a destructive tyrant. The seventeenth century philosopher and physicist Blaise Pascal said "The only shame is to have none."

Shame can be insidious, resulting in destructive thoughts and behavior before it's realized. How can we untangle the roots of shame and learn to control its effects?

Guests: Ronald T. Potter-Efron, M.S.W., Ph.D, and Patricia S. Potter- Efron, M.S., clinical psychotherapists at First Things First Counseling and Consulting in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. They are the co- authors of Letting Go of Shame - Understanding How Shame Affects Your Life, and The Secret Message of Shame - Pathways to Hope and Healing. Dr. Ron Potter-Efron is also the author of Shame, Guilt and Alcoholism - Treatment Issues in Clinical Practice.

The pharmaceutical industry is issuing new guidelines for prescription drug advertising to consumers. We talk with Ken Johnson, Senior Vice President of PhRMA, to find out what they are.

New research shows that compounds in dark chocolate can lower blood pressure and cholesterol. We talk with a key investigator, Dr. Jeffrey Blumberg of Tufts University, about these intriguing findings.

In addition to these stories we will open our lines for your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366.

What do Albert Einstein, Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Lance Armstrong have in common? Rather than letting hardship, trauma or physical illness destroy their lives, their resilient natures allowed them to shape their lives, getting through adversity and coming out stronger.

Longevity researchers have found that adults with psychological resiliency cope better with stress, age more slowly, live longer and enjoy better health. We'll find out how people can learn to be resilient.

Guest: Al Siebert, Ph.D., Director of The Resiliency Center in Portland, Oregon. He is internationally recognized for his research into the inner nature of highly resilient survivors. He is the author of The Survivor Personality, and his latest book, The Resiliency Advantage: Master Change, Thrive Under Pressure, and Bounce Back from Setbacks.

With scary headlines and late breaking news, it's hardly any wonder so many people are staying up past their bed times. Even under the best of conditions, Americans are severely sleep deprived. There can be serious consequences for physical as well as mental health. On this show we explore the latest information on sleep research to find out how you can get to sleep when you need to and stay awake when you must. Guest: Martin Scharf, PhD, Director of the Tri-State Sleep Disorder Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the American Heart Association, more than one million people will have a heart attack this year. Over half of them will die. We will learn about some unusual supplements such as Co-enzyme Q-10 and l-carnitine that may help protect the heart.

Guest: Stephen Sinatra, MD, FACC, FACN, is a board-certified cardiologist and certified psychotherapist. Author of The Sinatra Solution: New Hope for Preventing and Treating Heart Disease (Basic Health).

Last year the pharmaceutical industry spent over $4 billion advertising drugs to consumers. Drug companies maintain that this educates people about serious health problems like acid reflux, overactive bladder or erectile dysfunction. Is this effort turning us into a nation of patients, popping a pill for every ill? We'll talk with Australian journalist Ray Moynihan about how this issue plays out around the world. We will explore the new field of "evidence-based medicine" as an alternative to advertising-driven prescribing. Guest: Ray Moynihan, journalist, visiting editor and contributor, British Medical Journal. Co-author, with Alan Cassels: Selling Sickness: How the World's Biggest Pharmaceutical Companies Are Turning Us All into Patients (Nation Books).

Many religious Americans pray for the recovery of sick friends and family. A new scientific study casts doubt on whether prayer makes any difference in recovery time or complications, however. The same study showed that music, imagery and healing touch before a cardiac procedure helped patients feel less anxious. We'll find out more about this study conducted at Duke. Grapefruit seed extract is not well known in conventional medicine. But a study from Poland suggests it may help heal stomach ulcers. We'll also discuss the troubles caused by a couple of different drugs delivered by patch: Duragesic and Ortho-Evra. In addition to these stories we will open our lines for your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366.

The old Food Guide Pyramid from the USDA was misleading, perhaps because the Department of Agriculture was looking out for the interests of agricultural businesses as well as the health of consumers. Have the multiple new Food Pyramids that have replaced it corrected its shortcomings? We'll find out what to believe--and what to eat--from one of the country's foremost nutrition researchers. Guests: Walter Willett, MD, DSc, Chairman of the Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health; Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School. Author: Eat, Drink & Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating. Rebecca Wood, cookbook writer and winner of the James Beard and IACP/ Julia Child Cookbook Awards. Author: The Splendid Grain and The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia.

Because one woman in nine will be diagnosed with breast cancer sometime during her life, many women worry about getting it. They are often told there is nothing they can do to prevent it. Our guest, Dr. Christine Horner, has rounded up the research on exercise, nutrition, herbs and other lifestyle factors so women can learn what measures lower the risk of breast cancer and which approaches may be combined with conventional cancer therapy. Guest: Christine Horner, MD, FACS, author: Waking the Warrior Goddess: Harnessing the Power of Nature & Natural Medicines to Achieve Extraordinary Health (Basic Health, 2005) Product Details:

For years, chocolate lovers were warned not to indulge too much in their favorite confection. Now, though, the evidence is growing that chocolate can have health benefits. We'll discuss the latest study from Greece on how chocolate compounds affect blood vessels. About 38 men have become blind after taking Viagra. The manufacturer has now reviewed all the reports, and it says the drug is not to blame. What issues should men consider before deciding to take an erection drug? We'll also discuss the data presented to the FDA this week on stimulant medicines like Concerta and Ritalin used to treat ADD. In addition to these stories we will open our lines for your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366.

The gastrointestinal tract, the "inner tube" of the body, winds a long way from start to finish. Its health is essential to good nutrition, but a lot can go wrong along the way. Our eat-on-the-run diets cause heartburn, pain relievers can trigger bleeding ulcers, and low-fiber food can bring on constipation. We'll find out how to cope with common digestive woes. Guest: Nicholas J. Shaheen, M.D., M.P.H. Associate Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, and Director of the Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

Millions of Americans lower their cholesterol with statin-type medications such as Lipitor, Lescol, Pravachol and Zocor. The most recent statin, Crestor, has stirred up controversy because of reports that it causes more side effects than other statins. Dr. Jay Cohen, author of "What You Must Know About Statin Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives," has some provocative thoughts about this class of medicines and how to use them safely. He shares them on this open show. We'll also discuss the latest research on vitamin E and Aricept against Alzheimer's disease. In addition to these stories we will open our lines for your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366.

Long before condoms came in rainbow colors, legendary lover Casanova was sewing together strips of fine linen. Centuries before nonoxynol 9, young women in Constantinople shook the gritty sand from sea sponges and dipped them in lemon juice before insertion. Today, Americans have more choices available for birth control than ever before. Yet despite the widespread availability of contraceptives and contraceptive techniques, it's estimated that at least 50% of all U.S. pregnancies are unintended. How can you select the most suitable contraceptive method? Guests: Cris Munoz, MD, is Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Pouru Bhiwandi, MD, FACOG, is in private practice in gynecology (Gynecology Center for Woman in Raleigh, North Carolina), an adjunct Professor in the Department of Maternal Health at the University of North Carolina, and an international consultant in women's health. She was formerly Medical Director of Family Health International, which has projects in 50 countries. She has published extensively, co-authored three books, and lectured all over the United States and the world. DISCLOSURE: Consultant and Speaker's Bureau - Ortho Pharmaceuticals.

Americans have been urged to stay out of the sun...or slather on sunscreen. But research is accumulating to suggest that we all need some sunshine to reduce our risk of common cancers. The dangers of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have left many women wondering what to do about menopausal symptoms. A new study in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology offers hope for an herbal solution. The connection between hair dye and cancer has been debated for decades. Research published in JAMA provides the latest analysis on this controversy. In addition to these stories we will open our lines for your questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Join the conversation at (888) 472-3366.

Depression is linked to an increased risk of dying from heart disease, cancer or other chronic conditions. Does happiness provide protection against these same hazards? New studies suggest that optimism and laughter can have positive health benefits. We'll find out how emotions can now be measured in the brain and what skills and behaviors can help us create positive feelings. Guest: Richard J. Davidson, Ph.D., is the William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry and Director of the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior at the University of Wisconsin/Madison. Meggan Morehead, Ph.D., is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and Clinical Associate at the Duke University Medical Center; co-founder of the North Carolina Center for Positive Psychology. Paul McGhee, Ph.D., is President of The Laughter Remedy in Wilmington, DE.; author of 12 books on humor, including Health, Humor & the Amuse System.

Summertime is nearly here, and that means more fun outdoors. Unfortunately, it also means more exposure to certain health hazards, like bee stings, sunburns and scrapes. We'll talk to The People's Pharmacy pediatric expert Dr. Alan Greene about how to keep kids healthy this summer. Guest: Alan Greene, M.D., is the Chief Medical Officer of A.D.A.M., the Founder and CEO of DrGreene.com, and the Pediatric Expert for AmericanBaby.com. He is on the Clinical Faculty at Stanford University School of Medicine where he sees patients and teaches Residents. Dr. Greene is the author of First Kicks to First Steps, and was named Intel's Internet Hero for children's health.

Short attention spans seem to be pervasive, in every classroom and every occupation. Having trouble focusing can cause trouble at school and at work, but there are ways for people to cope with attention deficit disorders. Dr. Ned Hallowell tells us how both children and adults with ADD can get the most out of life. Guest: Edward M. Hallowell, MD, director of the Hallowell Center for Cognitive and Emotional Health and author of Driven to Distraction and his new book: Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most Out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder (Ballantine,2005).

Phototherapy has been touted as a non-drug approach to treating depression. But how good is the evidence? We talk with an expert who has reviewed it. There's also a report based on animal research that the yellow spice turmeric, used in curry powder and mustard, may fight the formation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain linked to Alzheimer's disease. It's too early to extrapolate from mice to humans, but adding some curry to your diet might be a pleasant way to get a bit more turmeric. Recent research published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that some marathon runners can load up on too much water. This reduces sodium levels in the body to the danger zone. We'll hear from a woman who experienced the frightening effects of hyponatremia. (Her story is in the LA Times.) Guest: Dr. Robert Golden, professor and chair of Psychiatry, and vice-dean of the School of Medicine, the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dr. Gregory Cole, Associate Director of UCLA Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, and professor of Medicine and Neurology, UCLA. Carol Krucoff, science and fitness writer

About this time of year, lots of people do a little spring cleaning. Not only does that mean washing windows and mopping floors, it usually includes cleaning out the clutter from closets, garages, and maybe even attics. But some folks can't stand the idea of throwing things out. Do you know someone who saves rubber bands, plastic containers, aluminum foil or old newspapers? Mental health professionals now believe that hoarding is a manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Find out how to overcome this problem. Guest: Dr. Randy Frost is the Israel Professor of Psychology at Smith College, and an internationally recognized expert on obsessive-compulsive disorder including compulsive hoarding. He conducted some of the first scientific studies on this topic. He is currently principal investigator on a grant from NIMH studying the basic phenomenology of compulsive hoarding and co-investigator on a second grant from NIMH to develop a treatment program for compulsive hoarding.

There is a little gland in your neck that can control your sex life, your weight, your energy and even your mood. But surprisingly, this gland (the thyroid) frequently gets out of whack. Of the 20 million Americans who have thyroid disorders, more than half don't realize it, according to the American Medical Women's Association. Does our diet affect the thyroid gland. Do prescription drugs or chemicals in our environment interfere with proper thyroid functioning? And how do we know when our thyroid is not working adequately? You will find out why it is important to look beyond the lab tests to the patient's symptoms to understand the story behind thyroid insufficiency. Guests: Kenneth Blanchard, M.D., Ph.D., is a board certified endocrinologist. Along with his private practice in Newton-Wellesley, Massachusetts, he also addresses many types of groups on the topic of hypothyroidism, and is considered an authority on the subject. He is the co-author of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About HYPOTHYROIDISM: A Simple Plan for Extraordinary Results. Mary Shomon is a patient advocate and author. Her books include Living Well with Hypothyroidism and The Thyroid Diet; Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss

Peanut allergy can be lethal. Is there a way to desensitize people with

an oral medication? An allergy doctor from Duke thinks there may be.

It's well known that sleep deprivation can interfere with productivity,

alertness and even immune function. But did you know many Americans are

so tired that it interferes with their love lives?

High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. A

wide range of medications have been developed to treat it, but some

people have to take several pills to try to get their blood pressure

under control. Animal research suggests that acupuncture may make blood

pressure medicines more effective.

Pediatrician Alan Greene, MD, from www.drgreene.com will make a

housecall on The People's Pharmacy and answer a question about

children's health.

We'll also answer listeners' questions about prescription drugs,

over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements and home remedies. To

participate, call 888-472-3366

Guest: Wesley Burks, MD, Chief of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology,

Duke University Medical Center.

The National Institute of Mental Health has launched a campaign: "Real Men, Real Depression." For far too long this issue has been ignored or swept under the rug. And many men say, "I Don't Want to talk About It." That's the title of the best selling book by Terrence Real, subtitled "Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression." Terry will share his insights and help us understand how to recognize the sometimes subtle signs of depression in men. He will also explain why men often feel bewildered, unappreciated, and betrayed in their marriages and what couples can do to address this issue. In addition, Dr. Dennis Charney joins us. Dr. Charney is Chief of the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program at the National Institute of Mental Health.

The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for making sure that the drugs we take are safe and effective. But these terms are not as absolute as many people think. We talk with Dr. Alastair Wood, professor of pharmacology and medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He chaired the expert panel that considered the safety issues surrounding Bextra, Celebrex and Vioxx. The committee recommended that Vioxx be returned to the market. We also talk with Dr. Jerry Avorn. He is a pharmacoepidemiologist at Harvard Medical School. His new book is Powerful Medicines:Benefits, Risks and Costs of Prescription Drugs.

Medical research shows that many chronic conditions are caused or aggravated by inflammation. Not all inflammation causes obvious swelling and reddening, though. How can we overcome the silent inflammation that may be affecting blood vessels and other organs? Dr. Barry Sears, known as the creator of the Zone diet, has developed a lifestyle approach to master inflammation. Find out how diet, supplements, exercise and stress reduction may lower the risk of heart disease, cancer or dementia. Guests: Barry Sears, Ph.D., is a research scientist who holds 13 patents in drug delivery and hormone control technology. His books, include The Zone, The Anti-Aging Zone, theOmega Rx Zone, and most recently The Anti-Inflammation Zone.

It is estimated that 40 million Americans suffer chronic sleep problems...from insomnia and sleep apnea to narcolepsy and sleep walking. The consequences are devastating: impaired judgement, slower reflexes, fatigue, reduced immunity, etc. During this show we will try to find out why we need sleep and why we dream. We will talk with two of the country's leading sleep researchers about insomnia, narcolepsy, fibromyalgia, nightmares, sleep apnea, night terrors and sleepwalking. There is a new sleeping pill called Lunesta. We will find out how effective it is and how long you can you use it. Guests: Martin Scharf, Ph.D. is a leader in clinic and research technologies for sleep and it's disorders . He founded the Tri-State Sleep Disorders Center, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Andrew Krystal, MD, is the Director of the Sleep Research Laboratory and Insomnia Program, and an Associate Professor at the Duke University Medical Center.

A recent analysis of clinical trials published in the British Medical Journal shows that some people may attempt suicide or harm themselves while taking antidepressant medications. How can family and friends recognize the warning signs of drug-induced complications before tragedy strikes? Many patients are faced with a distressing dilemma when they try to stop such drugs, though. Withdrawal symptoms can be very unpleasant and may be misconstrued as a recurrence of the original depression. Dr. Joe Glenmullen gives advice on how to phase off gradually. Guests: Dr. Joseph Glenmullen, clinical instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and author of The Antidepressant Solution: A Step-by-Step Guide to Safely Overcoming Antidepressant Withdrawal, Dependence, and "Addiction" (Free Press) His Web site is www.antidepressantsolution.org

A bad headache can ruin your day. What are the best remedies available? Recurrent headaches can have a serious impact on quality of life. There are new approaches to migraine prevention and treatment. Almost everyone suffers from head pain at some time, but there is tremendous confusion about the most appropriate treatment. Many people actually get into a vicious cycle because the very medicines they use to ease their pain may cause rebound headaches as the medicine wears off. This show will be broadcast live from the studio of South Carolina Educational Radio in Columbia, SC. Guests: Dr. Joel Saper, Founder and Director of the world renowned Michigan Head.Pain & Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor. Dr. Elvira Kisteneff, Internal Medicine, Columbia, SC.

Fish has been called brain food. New research shows that regular consumption can actually lower the risk for strokes. But what kind of fish works best? Can some fish meals actually increase the risk? Aspirin and other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) have been linked to stomach ulcers. Now scientists have discovered that such drugs can also damage the small intestine. Is enteric-coated aspirin safer or more hazardous? Pediatrician Alan Greene, MD, from www.drgreene.com will make a housecall on The People's Pharmacy and answer an important child's health question. We'll also answer listeners' questions about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements and home remedies. To participate, call 888-472-3366 Guests: Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School; Waqar Qureshi, MD, associate professor of medicine and chief of endoscopy at Baylor College of Medicine and the Houston Veterans Administration Hospital.

Ever since the first World War, people have coined terms like "shell shock" or "battle fatigue" to describe the difficulties some veterans face in returning to normal life after experiencing horrific battles. The syndrome was finally given a name in the aftermath of the Vietnam War: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Tens of thousands of veterans of the Iraq war may also be vulnerable. But you don't need to be in the military to suffer PTSD. Victims of rape or other trauma can also be affected. We will find out how post-traumatic stress disorder can be treated, and how families can support a member with this condition. Guests: Harold Kudler, MD, Co-Chair of the VA Undersecretary for Health's Special Committee on PTSD; Coordinator of the Mental Health Service Line, Veterans Integrated Service Network; Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Duke University Medical Center; Staff Psychiatrist, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Death and taxes are inevitable. While we cannot ignore the Internal Revenue Service, most people have a hard time contemplating disability or death. When a crisis occurs, people are frequently unprepared. What issues should families address before someone gets sick? Many of us have difficulty communicating our wishes to our family. But no matter what your age, it is essential that friends and family know what you want if your situation changes. We will find out how to ask the hard questions and get practical answers. Guests: Susan Piver, founder and director of Padma Media and author of "The Hard Questions for Children and Their Aging Parents." Martha Henderson, MSN, Mdiv, DrMin, Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and retired faculty from UNC School of Nursing, Medicine and Program on Aging; co-author of "Improving Nursing Home Care of the Dying: A Training Manual for Nursing Home Staff."

Anorexia and bulimia were once problems associated almost exclusively with teenage girls and young women. Now, women in midlife and older and even men are also experiencing severe eating problems. We'll find out how eating can get out of control and what we can do to regain a normal approach to nourishment. Guest: Cynthia M. Bulik, PhD, the William R. & Jeanne H. Jordan Distinguished Professor of Eating Disorders, Dept. of Psychiatry, UNC School of Medicine; Professor of Nutrition, UNC School of Public Health; Director of the UNC Eating Disorders Program; co-author of Runaway Eating: the 8-Point Plan to Conquer Adult Food and Weight Obsessions.

Diabetes is one of the fastest growing epidemics in America! More than 18 million people have the disease, but another 41 million may be pre-diabetic. We'll find out why so many people are candidates for this serious condition and what can be to done to prevent it. We will also get the latest updates on new treatments and dietary guidelines. Guests: Richard K. Bernstein, MD, FACE, FACN, Director of The New York Diabetes Center in Mamaroneck, NY and author of The Diabetes Solution and The Diabetes Diet; John B. Buse, MD, Chief of the division of General Medicine and Director,Diabetes Care Center, UNC School of Medicine; Richard S. Bedlack, MD, PhD, Chief, Durham VA Neurology Section and Director of Clinical Neuroscience Grand Rounds

Inflammation is emerging as one of the most important factors influencing a person's risk of heart attack. We find out about new research on how statin cholesterol-lowering drugs affect an inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein, and the risk of heart attack. We also discuss the FDA's difficulties with Vioxx and other drugs, and learn why grape juice is good for you. Guests: Paul Ridker, MD, Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School and Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at the Brigham & Women's Hospital; Jerry Avorn, MD, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and chief of the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics at Brigham and Women's Hospital; Jane Freedman, MD, associate professor of medicine

Some children report extraordinary experiences from what they believe were prior lives. Are they just fantasizing or is there a way to study such reports scientifically? More than half the world believes in reincarnation, but Western science dismisses such belief as mere superstition. We'll hear some amazing stories about the research of Ian Stevenson, MD. This distinguished psychiatrist tracked down families whose children reported astonishing knowledge of other places and families. Guest: Tom Shroeder, author of Old Souls: The Scientific Evidence for Past Lives, shares talks about his travels with psychiatrist, Ian Stevenson, MD.

Carrying around anger and resentment can certainly poison our relationships. But it may also harm our health. How can we address this problem? As difficult as it may be, forgiving those who have harmed us may be the best medicine. We find out why and how to forgive others and ourselves. Guest: Edward Hallowell, MD, director of The Hallowell Center for Cognitive and Emotional Health and author, Dare to Forgive.

Reynolds Price describes his interaction with readers after writing the memoir of his life-threatening illness in A Whole New Life. One person in particular asked him if God exists and does He care? Reynolds responded with a book titled: Letter to a Man in the Fire. We discuss with Reynolds Price the theological and philosophical issues raised by serious illness. Guest: Reynolds Price, novelist, poet, thinker. Author of Letter to a Man in the Fire.

The health benefits of alcohol have been documented in many studies over the last few decades. We will explore the research behind the health claims. Are there differences in effect among wine, beer, and spirits? We will also find out about the dangers of alcohol consumption. For those who can't drink moderately, how can alcohol addiction be addressed? Guests: Fulton Crews, PhD, Director of the Skipper Bowles Center on Alcohol Studies; David Gastfriend, MD, Director of the Addiction Research Program in the Dept of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital & Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School; Scott Swartzwelder, PhD, Neurobiology Research Laboratory, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.

Today's culture has an insatiable thirst for perfection and status. How is it that so many of us are compulsive achievers, living with the deep and debilitating belief that perfecting appearance and continuous achievements will secure the love and respect of others? This constant pursuit for approval and success constitutes Performance Addiction. Guest: Arthur Ciaramicoli, Ed.D., Ph.D. clinical psychologist, instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School and author of: Performance Addiction: The Dangerous New Syndrome and How to Stop it from Ruining Your Life

FDA has come under scrutiny lately. Not only did Dr. David Graham testify before Congress about shortcomings in the agency's safety record, the Journal of the American Medical Association published an editorial calling for an independent drug safety board to evaluate drugs following approval and marketing. The diet controversy continues. Is a low-fat diet really best for the heart? Harvard scientists have found that the best diet for diabetics may be a diet that doesn't raise blood sugar. Other researchers have found that a diet rich in saturated fat contributes less to atherosclerosis than a low-fat diet. The FDA has put testosterone to rev up women's sex drive on the fast track. And chocolate may hold the key to calming coughs...and hiccups? Guests: Phil Fontanarosa, MD, Deputy Executive of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Co-author: "Postmarketing Surveillance--Lack of Vigilance, Lack of Trust." David Ludwig, MD, Director of the Optimal Weight for Life Program at Children's Hospital Boston and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.

The pharmaceutical industry has come under scrutiny of late. We will be talking with Dr. Marcia Angell, former editor-in-chief of The New England Journal of Medicine. She maintains that the drug companies place profits before public health in their research and marketing practices. We will also hear from the Chief Medical Officer of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Guests: Marcia Angell, MD, former editor in chief at The New England Journal of Medicine and author of The Truth About the Drug Companies: How They Deceive Us and What to Do About It (Random House, 2004). Paul Antony, MD, Chief Medical Officer of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

A lot of people struggle with clutter, but some people are overpowered by it. You may not know someone with more than twenty years' worth of old newspapers stacked up in the living room but you may know someone whose garage is so full of junk there is no room for a car. The accumulated clutter can create a lot of friction in relationships and make people miserable. What drives compulsive hoarders, and how can they be helped? Guests: Randy Frost, PhD, Harold Edward and Elsa Siipola Israel Professor of Psychology at Smith College Fugen Neziroglu, PhD, Professor Psychology at Hofstra University, Long Island, New York, and Professor of Psychiatry at New York University. She is the co-author of Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding.

Antidepressants like Zoloft, Paxil or Prozac have become extremely popular because they work well to ease many kinds of psychological distress, from premenstrual dysphoria to extreme shyness to depression. These medicines can be life-savers, and many people do well and suffer few side effects. But the FDA has just asked manufacturers to warn physicians and patients that thoughts of suicide or even suicide attempts may be a serious problem for some individuals taking these SSRIs. Guests: Joe Glenmullen, MD, Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry at Harvard University and author of the book, Prozac Backlash. His Web site is www.prozacbacklash.com David Healy, MD, Director of the North Wales Department of Psychological Medicine, UK Thomas Laughren, MD, Team Leader of Neuropharmacological Drug Products at the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Nanette Gartrell, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco

The health effects of cell phones have been controversial, with most studies showing no serious problems. Swedish researchers have found, however, that long-term cell-phone users have a higher risk for a rare problem affecting the auditory nerve. Research has shown many benefits to the Mediterranean diet. How can you try this at home? Another controversial topic is whether moderate alcohol consumption can improve health. Italian researchers say yes--but only when the alcohol is part of a meal. Between meal drinking doesn't help and may be harmful. We also take listener calls on prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements and home remedies. Guests: David Savitz, PhD, professor and Chair of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is an editor of Epidemiology and is a member of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Marian Burros, food columnist for the New York Times and best-selling cookbook author.

Anger can be one of the most damaging emotions...both to our relationships and to our health. But we don't have to be at its mercy. While anger is sometimes appropriate, we can learn better ways to solve problems and cope with frustrations. Guests: Matthew McKay, PhD, Clinical Director of Haight-Ashbury Psychological Services in San Francisco and author of When Anger Hurts and The Anger Control Workbook. Ronald T. Potter-Efron, PhD, anger management specialist at "First Things First Counseling Center" and author of Angry All the Time and Letting Go of Anger. "First Things First Counseling Center" is in Eau Claire, WI.

There's no question that parenting is one of the most important--and most challenging--jobs most of us face. We'll sort through the hype with a modern-day Dr. Spock to find out what really matters for your children's health...and how you can relax and enjoy their childhoods. Guest: Alan Greene, MD, Founder and CEO of drgreene.com, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University, and author of The Parents' Complete Guide to Ear Infections and his new book, From First Kicks to First Steps (McGraw Hill, 2004).

Viagra is a household name. Now there are other drugs for erectile dysfunction. How well do Levitra and Cialis work? What other options are available? Testosterone replacement therapy is becoming increasingly popular. Is it safe for men? What about women? Guests: Irwin Goldstein, MD, Director, Institute for Sexual Medicine;Director, Center for Sexual Medicine; Professor of Urology and Gynecology at Boston University School of Medicine Culley C. Carson, MD, Rhodes Distinguished Professor and Chief of Urology at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Medicine; President, Sexual Medicine Society of North America

Reality shows featuring makeovers have become extremely popular on TV. Do these appeal mainly to people's fantasies, or are Americans becoming obsessed with perfection? We'll find out what risks are entailed in cosmetic surgery, and when it really makes sense. Guests: Rod Rohrich, MD, President of the American Society of Plastic Surgery; Charles Finn, MD, otolaryngologist practicing facial reconstructive surgery; Virginia Blum, PhD, author of Flesh Wounds. Product Details:

Are you really taking as good care of your health as you think? Many chronic diseases start with inflammation you may not even know you have. Our guests will tell you how to combat inflammation and make other changes in your life to reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, cancer and other serious illnesses. Guests: Mark Liponis, MD, and Mark Hyman, MD. Co-medical directors of Canyon Ranch Berkshires, and co-authors of UltraPrevention.

The skin is the largest, and the most visible, organ in the body. And from time to time, nearly everyone has an issue about skin, from acne to athlete's foot. Some wrinkle creams are well worth the investment, while others are just hope in a bottle. Find out which to choose. Guest: Laurie Polis, MD, dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon practicing in New York City. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and serves on the teaching faculties of Beth Israel Medical Center, Mount Sinai Hospital & Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

The cholesterol-lowering drug Zocor is very effective at lowering cholesterol, especially at high doses. But in a new study higher doses did not prevent heart attacks as well as had been hoped. We'll discuss the significance of this surprising finding with two of the country's leading cardiologists. Increasing consumption of soft drinks has paralleled the rise in obesity and diabetes. The link is controversial, but a new study of thousands of nurses shows that those who drink sugary beverages more often are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes. Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, may have health benefits. The latest research shows it increases the flexibility of blood vessels. We also take listener calls on prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements and home remedies. Guests: Steven Nissen, MD, Medical Director of the Cleveland Clinic Cardiovascular Coordinating Center (C5. Dr. Nissen is currently the Principal Investigator for several large studies of atherosclerosis regression and progression. He presently serves as Vice President of American College of Cardiology(ACC). Peter Salgo, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine and Anesthesiology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is the Director of the Cardio-Thoracic Intensive Care Unit, NY Presbyterian Hospital, NYC. He's also an Emmy award winning medical journalist and author of THE HEART OF THE MATTER. Walter Willett, MD, DrPH, Frederick John Stare Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition and Chairman of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. Joe Vinson, PhD, is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Scranton and has both an industrial and academic background. He is a leading antioxidant and nutrition researcher.

Eating disorders like bulimia are on the rise. What is bulimia and how can it be treated? Anorexia has been associated primarily with young women. But middle-aged women or even men may also be susceptible. How is this difficult condition treated most successfully? Guest: Cindy Bulik, PhD, William R. and Jeanne H. Jordan Distinguished Professor of Eating Disorders, Professor of Nutrition and Director of the University of North Carolina Eating Disorders Program.

A new study suggests that as many as 200,000 people die each year in hospitals because of medical errors. How can you protect yourself or a loved one from such a catastrophe? Our guests will provide practical tips on how to get appropriate health care and reduce the risks of harm. Guests: Alan Ettinger, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and co-author of "The Essential Patient Handbook." Margaret Fitzpatrick, RN, trauma nurse specialist and co-author of the the book, "What to Ask the Doc: The Questions to Ask to Get the Answers You Need."

For many months, there has been controversy over the safety and effectiveness of popular antidepressants for children and teenagers. A study in this week's JAMA (August 18, 2004) shows that Prozac works for adolescents, especially in combination with cognitive-behavior therapy. Dr. John March discusses the study with us. When the heart suddenly stops, a shock delivered with a defibrillator can get it going again. Volunteers with minimal medical training can use defibrillators in public places to save thousands of lives. Dr. Joseph Ornato tells us about the Public Access Defibrillation Trial. We also take listener calls on prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements and home remedies. Guests: John March, MD, Dept. of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center; Joseph Ornato, MD, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center

Bipolar disorder, which used to be called manic depression, can be extremely disruptive. We all know what it is like to experience ups and downs once in a while, but with bipolar disorder mood swings may seem like a roller coaster. Symptoms can be so severe that relationships suffer, along with school or job performance. 2 million Americans have bipolar disorder. Research is leading to new treatments for this problem. Find out about them and call in your questions. Guest: Jeffrey Lieberman, MD, Vice Chair Department of Psychiatry, UNC School of Medicine Thad and Alice Eure Distinguished Professor of Research Psychiatry, Professor of Pharmacology and Radiology

Many people have difficulties with stuttering and other speech problems. What approaches are most successful to help overcome these impediments? Find out what's behind stuttering and what can be done about it. Guest: Martin F. Schwartz, Ph.D., Director of the National Center for Stuttering.

Older people are most likely to suffer side effects from certain medicines, yet new research shows one in five seniors is being prescribed at least one drug that may be inappropriate. We talk with the experts about the research and take your calls on how to protect elderly relatives from drug dangers. A new study demonstrates that volunteers can successfully use defibrillators like the ones in many airports. How many lives could be saved through a program that makes training and technology available in public areas? We also take listener calls on prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements and home remedies.

Out feet take a beating! We run on them and cram them into shoes that are too tight or too stylish and then complain when we develop corns, bunions and other uncomfortable problems. On this show you will learn what to do for ingrown toenails, calluses, athlete's foot, smelly feet, nail fungus, plantar fasciitis, running injuries and a whole lot more. GUESTS: Walter J. Pedowitz, M.D., Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Columbia University Private Practice, Union County Orthopedic Group, Linden, N.J. and James A. Nunley, M.D., J. Leonard Goldner Professor and Chief of Orthopedics at Duke University Medical Center. Product Details:

With 80,000 people awaiting transplants each year, it is no wonder some of them weary of waiting and decide to take action. We talk with a medical anthropologist who has found a thriving traffic in organs from living donors in a number of poor countries. This raises questions about health and ethics: should people be allowed to sell a kidney? What are the consequences for the donor and for the recipient? We discuss these matters with a transplant surgeon and take your questions. Guests: Nancy Scheper-Hughes, PhD, University of California, Berkeley Thomas Diflo, MD, Director of kidney transplantation, NYU Medical Center in New York of renal transplantation at the NYU Medical Center in New York

Despite dermatologists' dire warnings about the dangers of sun exposure, millions of folks soak up the rays pool side, at the beach and in tanning parlors. Dermatologist Steve Feldman will tell us why tanning might be psychologically "addictive." We will also learn why dextromethorphan (the DM in so many OTC cough medicines) is not very effective for children and what the dangers can be. We will find out why the FDA just approved Botox for underarm sweating and get an update on the latest research about Alzheimer's disease. The lines will also be open for questions about prescription drugs, OTC medicines, dietary supplements and home remedies.

Have you ever tried to quit smoking only to slip back into the habit? Or, do you stand by feeling helpless as you watch a friend or family member light up? On this show we will find out why nagging doesn't help. And we will learn about the latest research showing what does. Guests: Tom Ferguson, MD, Editor and publisher of The Ferguson Report, the industry newsletter of online health. He has been a pioneering advocate of self-help and self-care for more then twenty years. Dr. Ferguson is Adjunct Associate Professor of Health Informatics at the University of Texas Medical Sciences Center in Houston. He is a senior associate at Boston's Center for Clinical Computing, a medical computing think-tank associated with Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital. Author of: The No-Nag, No-Guilt, Do-It-Your-Own-Way Guide to Quitting Smoking: How to Quit Smoking for Life and Eric C. Westman, M.D, Associate Professor of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center Medical director of Duke's new Center for Nicotine and Smoking Cessation Research.

Dr. Irwin Goldstein is one of the country's leading experts on human sexuality. He has been involved in testing many drugs like Viagra that are now household words for treating erectile dysfunction. Dr. Goldstein is also a leading expert in the field of female sexual dysfunction. On this show Dr. Goldstein will share his insights on how women can overcome sexual problems such as low libido, diminished arousal and inability to achieve orgasm. GUESTS: Gloria Bachmann, MD, Chief, Obstetrics/Gynecology Services at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital; Irwin Goldstein, MD, Professor of Urology and Gynecology & Director of the Institute for Sexual Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine.

There is a bewildering array of medications available to treat heartburn, acid reflux and GERD. How do these conditions differ from each other, and what are the best ways to treat them? Learn about medications, diet and lifestyle issues. Guest:Mark Pochapin, MD, Director of the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. He is author of: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Colorectal Cancer.

Fibromyalgia means misery for millions of Americans. The extreme fatigue and chronic pain associated with this condition may be linked to the sleep difficulties sufferers experience. Many have been frustrated by physicians who don't understand fibromyalgia. Some even doubt its existence, but it can be alleviated. Guests:Daniel Wallace, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA School of Medicine; author of: Fibromyalgia: A Guide for Patients & Their Families. Martin Scharf, PhD, Director of Tri-State Sleep Disorders Center in Cincinnati, OH Charles Lapp, MD, Director of the Hunter Hopkins Center in Charlotte, NC.

For many of us, both men and women, life is so busy that we rush from one day to the next with little awareness of how we feel. Can conscious awareness help women deal better with common issues like pregnancy, PMS or menopause, as well as stressful life events like cancer or bereavement? Guest:Tracy Gaudet, MD, OB/GYN and Director of the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine. Her new book is: Consciously Female: How to Listen to Your Body and Your Soul for a Lifetime of Healthier Living (Bantam 2004).

We all have stress in our lives, but how do we handle it? Sometimes, fear or anxiety and the shame that underlies those emotions can interfere with our ability to function and achieve our goals. But we don't have to accept being paralyzed by fear. Guest: Harriet Lerner, PhD, clinical psychologist and best-selling author of The Dance of Anger, The Dance of Intimacy, The Dance of Connection, etc. Her new book is: Fear and Other Uninvited Guests: Tackling the Anxiety, Fear, and Shame That Keep Us from Optimal Living and Loving (Harper Collins 2004)

Most people know that Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, is crucial for calcium metabolism. But it is also involved in many health functions that seem to have nothing to do with strong bones. Without adequate vitamin D, people may be more susceptible to cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and depression. But how many of us are getting enough? Guest: Michael Holick, PhD, MD, Professor of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics, Boston University Medical Center

Two of the country's leading clinicians and researchers will join us to discuss the latest advances in preventing, diagnosis and treating cancer. We'll discuss the latest finding about aspirin vs. breast cancer as well as the controversial findings that the PSA test may not be as good a predictor of prostate cancer as people had hoped. We will also find out about new drugs such as Gleevec, Iressa, Avastin and Velcade. Guests: Kim Lyerly,MD, Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center Sheldon Earp, MD, UNC Comprehensive Cancer Center

Farm families could be seen as the canaries in the coal mines: they are exposed to higher levels of pesticides and herbicides than the rest of us. How do these compounds affect their health? What are the risks of cancer or Parkinsons disease associated with agriculture? And what does it mean for the rest of us? Guests: Michael Alavanja, DrPH, Senior Cancer Epidemiologist, National Cancer Institute; Principal Investigator and Project Officer, Agricultural Health Study Chuck Lynch, MD, PhD, Medical Director, Iowa Cancer Registry; Professor of Epidemiology and Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Iowa

We've all heard that chocolate is the ultimate in decadent desserts. But increasingly, research shows that chocolate has health effects. Are we just rationalizing a sweet tooth, or could there actually be benefits in enjoying chocolate? We'll talk with the experts to find out. Guest: Joe Vinson, PhD, Professor of Chemistry, University of Scranton, Scranton, PA

Dr. Peter Salgo is the Director of the Cardio-Thoracic ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at New York Presbyterian Hospital. In his new book, The Heart of the Matter, Dr. Salgo reveals the latest insights on heart disease. You will find out why he thinks cholesterol-lowering drugs should be made available without prescription and why everyone should be tested for a certain bacterial infection. This is a new way of thinking about preventing and treating our number one killer. Guest: Peter Salgo, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine and Anesthesiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Back in the 1930s, 40s and 50s, polio epidemics were a regular and frightening feature of summertime in the U.S. The invention of the polio vaccine drastically reduced the number of people afflicted with this virus, but those who survived may have consequences decades after recovery. What do we know about the delayed effects of polio? Can our knowledge of polio shed any light on other infections such as West Nile virus? Guest: Richard Bruno, HD, PhD, Director of the Post-Polio Institute and author, The Polio Paradox

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in this country, affecting more than 700,000 people a year. But although most people know when to call 911 for the symptoms of a heart attack, too many people ignore the early warning signs of a stroke. New advances can greatly reduce the impact of a stroke, but only if treatment is undertaken within the first few hours. Guests: Ana Felix, MD, Director, Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Brad Worrall, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology and Health Evaluation Sciences at the University of Virginia Stroke Center

The FDA is asking for a stronger warning on antidepressant drugs like Prozac and Paxil. What's behind this caution? FDA has also issued new guidelines about mercury in Fish. To help us understand this issue we will turn to Walter Willett, MD, DrPH, Chairman of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health. We will also find out why a little alcohol may be helpful against heart disease and why you don't need to drink lots of fluids when you have a fever. The lines are open for questions about prescription drugs, OTC medicines, dietary supplements and home remedies.

Recent reports show that obesity is closing in on tobacco as our nation's #1 preventable killer. Over the last two decades obesity has increased substantially. Studies show that between 1999 and 2000 an estimated 31% of U.S. adults aged 20 and older - nearly 59 million people - were obese. What can be done to reverse this epidemic? Guests: Dr. Eric Finkelstein is a health economist in the Health Economics and Financing Program in the Research Triangle Institute's Division of Health Economics Research. Dr. Barbara Corkey is Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry and Director of Research at the Obesity Research Center at Boston University School of Medicine, President of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity. Dr. Joyce Harp is Associate Professor of Nutrition and Medicine at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

It is estimated that four million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's. Once we reach 85 years of age one fifth us will have dementia. How can you prevent this disastrous outcome? Can ridding the brain of zinc or copper ease symptoms or slow decline? Are there nutrients that will help? Guests: Ashley Bush, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Director of the Laboratory for Oxidation Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Donald Schmechel, MD, Director and Principal Investigator of the Joseph and Kathleen Bryan Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Duke University Medical Center.

Although most of us take breathing for granted, paying attention to breathing can affect our energy level, our blood pressure and even help control asthma. On this show we will find out how the simple act of breathing can profoundly affect our health. GUESTS: Yashna Maya Padamsee, yoga instructor; Eina Fishman, MD, Chief of Staff, Samuel Stratton VA Medical Center, Albany, NY; Susan Neves, Buteyko Asthma Education Co., (877-278-4623) at www.buteyko-usa.com Yashna Maya Padamsee - Yoga Instructor www.yogamayaonline.com yashna@yogamayaonline.com

Scientists in Seattle are exploring the connection between antibiotics and the risk of breast cancer. We'll also talk with a researcher who has investigated how infection and fever in infancy might provide unexpected benefits later in life. Can aspirin offer any protection from cancer? The lines are open for questions about prescription drugs, OTC medicines, dietary supplements and home remedies.

Our genes may predispose us to some health problems, and others are triggered by environmental toxins. But how do our genes affect our reactions to compounds in the air, water or food? Asthma is one example of a common disease in which both genes and toxins play a critical role. How do they interact? Guests: William A. Suk, PhD, MPH, Director of the Center for Risk and Integrated Sciences; and Director of the Superfund Basic Research Program at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences David Schwartz, MD, Professor of Medicine and Geriatrics; Director of the Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Division; Director of the Program in Environmental Genomics in the Institute for Genome Science and Policy, Duke University

Diabetes has become a worldwide epidemic. What are the latest treatments and dietary guidelines? How does stress affect blood sugar and how can it be overcome? These are just some of the issues we will address with two outstanding guests. Guests: John Buse, MD, PhD, is a diabetologist and directs the UNC Diabetes Care Center. Richard Surwitt, PhD, is professor and vice chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Duke University Medical Center. He is author of "The Mind Body Diabetes Revolution."

Our society seems obsessed with sex, but intimacy has become a lost art. Too many couples are focused on having sex instead of making love. They may find their relationship eventually loses its sizzle and starts to fizzle. If sex is starting to seem routine, how can they revive romance and rekindle passion? Guest: Lana Holstein, MD, Managing Director of Medical Programs at Miraval Health Resort. She is co-author of "Your Long Erotic Weekend."

How do people prevail in the face of serious illness? Hope, or despair, can make a huge difference in survival. For some patients, hope and tenacity can result in a medical miracle. According to Dr. Jerome Groopman, "If you speak to physicians who've been treating patients over decades, each one will be able to tell you about medical miracles. They happen; they're not common, but they occur." Tune in for our conversation with Dr. Groopman about the anatomy of hope. Guest: Jerome Groopman, MD, who holds the Dina and Raphael Recanati Chair of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and is Chief of Experimental Medicine at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He is author of The Anatomy of Hope: How People Prevail in the Face of Illness.

Over 25 million Americans currently suffer from some form of anxiety. If you or someone you know is easily upset, fearful or anxious, this show will offer options to alleviate that distress. Mindfulness is an ancient practice that has had great success as a modern stress reduction technique. Find out more about the benefits of mindfulness in daily life. Guests: Jeff Brantley, M.D. - is a counseling associate in the Duke Department of Psychiatry, founder and director of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program in the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine, and author of the recently released Calming Your Anxious Mind. Doug Mann, M.D. Professor in the Department of Neurology and Medical Director of the multi-disciplinary pain program at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

Can you take too much acetaminophen (Tylenol)? People assume that this over-the-counter pain reliever is perfectly safe. But it is estimated that more than 50,000 emergencies occur every year because of this compound. Find out why and what to look out for. Melatonin is a natural sleep-inducing hormone. Can it also help control blood pressure? Speaking of dietary supplements: Is it possible that vitamin C and E supplements can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease? If so, what's the right dose? Plus, the lines are open for your calls and questions: (888-472-3366).

When the enormous experiment called the Women's Health Initiative determined that postmenopausal women taking Prempro were at higher risk of heart disease, stroke and dementia, many doctors were astonished and shaken. They shouldn't have been, according to Barbara Seaman. The "Helen Thomas of Hormones" has been writing about the Pill and menopause "hormone replacement therapy" for decades. Her new book offers an account of how estrogen became the most popular prescription in the pharmacy--and has now fallen from grace. Guests: Barbara Seaman, journalist and author of"The Greatest Experiment Ever Performed on Women: Exploding the Estrogen Myth." (Hyperion, 2003) Philip Corfman, MD, Consultant in Reproductive Health. Formerly Medical Officer at FDA and prior to that, Director of the Center for Population Research at NIH.

Dr. Dean Edell is called America's Doctor because he makes house call to millions of people over the radio every day. Dr. Edell is heard on more than 400 radio stations across the country. His new book is called "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Healthiness." Tune in to get Dr. Dean's commonsense advice for what ails you. The lines are open for your questions at 888-472-3366.

More and more children are being diagnosed with autism or a related disorder. They have difficulty relating to family or friends. This is a mysterious condition with no clear cause and no cure. But there are a variety of treatment approaches that can be helpful. Guests: Dave Weldon, MD, U.S. Congressman, 15th District Florida; Cindy Peters, Founder and Director, Mariposa School in Raleigh, NC; Eric Schopler, PhD, Founder and Co-Director, Division TEACCH, Professor of psychology and psychiatry UNC; Jaquelyn McCandless, MD, author of Children with Starving Brains.

Ephedra will soon be taken off the market. What took the FDA so long? Also, we will discuss the implications of mad cow disease. A new study shows that an anti-viral drug called valacyclovir can prevent herpes outbreaks and transmission. We will provide the details. And a fascinating report in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that the omega-3 fish oils can reduce the risk of atherosclerosis in some genetically susceptible people. Plus, the lines are open for your calls and questions: (888-472-3366).

Highly healthy people have certain things in common. You might be surprised to learn that one of the most important is forgiveness. For optimal health, you need to look beyond your cholesterol and blood pressure numbers to the state of your relationships and your outlook on life. Self-assessment and planning for a healthy balance are indispensable, but many of us spend more time planning for financial security than for good health to enjoy it. Managing your health prospectively might be the next step to take. Guests: Walt Larimore, MD, Vice President of Focus on the Family, author of 10 Essentials of Highly Healthy People Ralph Snyderman, MD, Chancellor for Health Affairs at Duke University, President and CEO of Duke University Health System and James B. Duke Professor of Medicine. He is the first recipient of the Bravewell Leadership Award, which recognizes innovators in integrated medicine. Dr. Tracy Gaudet, Director of the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine.

What role does spirituality play in healing? When we face a health crisis it often challenges us to examine our most profound beliefs. We will examine the importance of trust and connection with our health professionals. We will also explore how spirituality, in its broadest sense, may help us move forward in our quest for meaning and joy as we deal with complex health problems. Guests: Christina Puchalski, MD, MS, is the Founder and Director of The George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health (GWish). She is also an Assistant Professor, Departments of Medicine and Health Care Sciences at The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C. Harold Koenig, MD, is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Director, Center for the Study of Religion/Spirituality and Health at Duke University.

How bad is this year's flu epidemic? Now that the vaccine is almost gone, what else can you do? Can echinacea do anything for the common cold? How will the new Medicare legislation change seniors' health coverage? Guest: Walter Orenstein, MD, CDC; William Schaffner, MD, Vanderbilt University; James Taylor, MD, University of Washington; and Jonathan Oberlander, PhD, University of North Carolina.

How careful are you when it comes to saving your sight? Do you take the right vitamins and minerals? Researchers have demonstrated that certain nutrients can protect your eyes from damage. Do sunglasses provide benefit against ultra-violet radiation from the sun? We will find out about the latest research on glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration. Guests: Rand Allingham, MD, Director of the Glaucoma Service at Duke University Eye Center. Carmen Puliafito, MD, Professor and Chairman, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL.

Herbs and dietary supplements are immensely popular, but there is minimal oversight to make sure consumers are really getting what they think they are buying. Studies have shown that there are sometimes big gaps between the information on the label and the product in the bottle. In some cases, there may be very little active ingredient. In others, the pills may be adulterated or contaminated. One company tests such products and posts the results on the Web. It has now published a book with these findings to guide consumers to make wise purchasing decisions. Guests: Todd Cooperman, MD, President of Consumerlab.com and Editor of "Guide to Buying Vitamins & Supplements: What's Really in the Bottle?" David Kroll, PhD, pharmacologist and research scientist at Research Triangle Institute.

Which diets work best--low fat, high carb--or low-carb high protein? The data is in and we will fill you in. The lines are open for your calls and questions: (888-472-3366).

What makes a mosquito bite itch? Why are some people plagued by dry, itchy skin? Are they are solutions? We will talk to two renowned dermatologists about itching, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff and all sorts of other skin problems. Guests: Alan Fleischer, MD, Professor and Chair of Dermatology at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Lowell Goldsmith, MD, is a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill. He is the Dean Emeritus at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, and is Editor of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, based in Chapel Hill, NC

We've all seen sports greats like Michael Jordan make extraordinary feats look easy. How does an Olympic athlete get ready to make that perfect dive? Can we learn anything from sports psychology to help us in our everyday lives? Whether we are weekend golfers, tennis players or just want to make a coherent presentation to the PTA, mental preparation can be invaluable. Guest: Richard Keefe, PhD. Director of Sport Psychology at Duke University and Author of "On the Sweet Spot: Stalking the Effortless Present"

Do you walk around ladders instead of under them? Does Friday the 13th make you nervous? What about black cats, spiders, snakes or other creepy, crawly creatures? Today on People's Pharmacy Friday we will find out about phobias and how to tame them. Guests: Cathy Forneris, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, UNC Chapel Hill and Cynthia Jones, M.S., L.P.C., Clilnical Coordinator and Counselor in the Virtual Reality Program at Duke University Medical Center.

Heartburn, acid reflux, indigestion, sour stomach...whatever you call it, it's not nice! We will discuss the best approaches to heartburn, gas, constipation and other common digestive disorders. Now that Prilosec OTC has become available without a prescription, will it take over the heartburn market? Guests: David A. Peura, M.D. is a professor of internal medicine and Director of the Endoscopy Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine, in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Lucinda A. Harris, M.D. is a board certified gastroenterologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Do you change CDs or fiddle with the radio while driving? What about talking on your cell phone? How dangerous is it to drive and do other things? Multi-tasking behind the wheel can contribute to accidents. Should states ban cell phones? What about teenagers in the back seat? If we open Pandora's box, where do we stop? Guests: Jane Stutts, PhD, Associate Director for Social and Behavioral Research and Manager of Epidemiological Studies at the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center and Donald Reinfurt, PhD, Former Deputy Director of the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center.

Plastic is essential to our way of life. It protects football players and bike riders by providing safe head gear. We depend on plastic in computers, telephones and all manner of food and beverage containers. But do elements in plastic get into the food chain? If so, what, if any, biological effect do they have? Guests: Pat Hunt, PhD and Frederick Vom Saal, PhD.

If you get a headache when you are under stress, on deadline or staring at a computer for hours on end, find out how to alleviate the pain. What's the difference between a tension headache and a migraine? How can they be treated effectively? Over the counter pain meds can sometimes cause the very pain they are supposed to alleviate.

What is the future of Medicare? For 38 years it has provided access to hospitals and doctors for older people. Now politicians want to add a prescription drug benefit, but they don't seem to know how to pay for it. We will examine the politics of Medicare and health insurance. Guests: Jonathan Oberlander, PhD, Associate Professor of Social Medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill. Author of The Political Life of Medicare. Diane Archer, attorney and founder of the Medicare Rights Center, a national consumer service organization.

We like to believe our home is our castle, but how safe is the air inside our houses? Although we spend 65 percent of time at home, we may be exposed there to unseen dangers. Mold, mildew and other pollutants can build up in crawl spaces or heating ducts and endanger health. How can we prevent indoor air pollution? Guests: Michael Osborne, Chief of the Indoor Environment Management Branch in the Division of Air Pollution, Prevention and Control at the U.S. EPA. Mary Jane Selgrade, PhD, Chief of the Immunotoxicology Branch in the Experimental Toxicology Division of the National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory at the U.S. EPA. Arnie Katz, Director Healthy Buildings Resource Center at Advanced Energy, Raleigh, NC.

Should you be taking vitamins? Will your supplements interact with your medicines? When is the best age for a baby to start eating cereal and mashed bananas? We explore the health news and take your calls about prescriptions, vitamins, minerals and other dietary supplements as well as share some fascinating home remedies.

Could everyday products be affecting our hormonal balance? With PCBs showing up in farmed fish and pesticides in fresh produce, some people wonder how to find food that's fit to eat. Many chemicals in our environment can mimic estrogen. Others may interfere with thyroid. Breast milk is contaminated with fire retardant chemicals. What effect will this have on babies? Guest: Lindsey Berkson is author of Hormone Deception: How Everyday Foods and Products Are Disrupting Your Hormones--and How to Protect Yourself and Your Family.

How should you dispose of old medicines? Experts are debating the proper methods. There are now two treatments for baldness, Propecia and Rogaine. A new study shows which works better. We explore the health benefits of a high-fiber diet and take your calls about prescriptions, dietary supplements and share some fascinating home remedies.

Staying fit is one of the most important health promoting activities, but all the advice can get confusing. How can you exercise safely? How much is enough and how much might be harmful? Do you need a personal trainer and if so, how would you know if that person is qualified? What about equipment vs good old-fashioned walking? Guest: Gina Kolata, Science writer for the New York Times and author of "Ultimate Fitness."

Half of all heart attack victims have normal cholesterol levels. Researchers are looking into many other risk factors that often go undetected and untreated. For example, inflammation is now considered a key step in heart disease. How do you know if you suffer silent inflammation that puts you at risk? Our guest is one of the world's foremost authorities on inflammation in cardiology. He will discuss the significance of a marker called C-reactive protein (CRP) in detecting risk for heart disease. Dr. Paul Ridker is Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston Massachusetts.

Millions of children are being diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD). The inability to focus in the classroom leads to frustration for children, teachers and parents. Drugs like Ritalin, Adderal, and newer compounds such as Concerta and Strattera have become staples of treatment for ADD. This show will explore a wide variety of approaches for attention problems and offer guidance on how to focus on a child's strengths instead of weaknesses. Our goal is to help families cope and raise children who can become functioning, happy adults. Guest: Edward Hallowell, MD. Author of "The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness" and "Driven to Distraction."

New research on HRT is more discouraging than ever. We will bring you up-to-date on the latest studies. You will also learn about disappointing data about a natural approach to lowering cholesterol. We also take your calls about prescriptions, dietary supplements and share some fascinating home remedies.

This mysterious disease is on the rise. As coronary heart disease declines, heart failure is becoming ever more common. Do you know what causes heart failure and how to prevent it? We will find out what drugs are most effective and which ones don't really help very much. Surprisingly, many patients are not getting the best treatment. Guests: Carla Sueta, MD, PhD is Associate Professor of Medicine at the UNC School of Medicine and Director of Cardiology Clinics. Rob Califf, MD, is Associate Vice Chancellor for Clinical Research and Director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute.

When a person starts talking to someone you can't see or answering voices you can't hear, it can be very scary. Visual and auditory hallucinations could be a sign of schizophrenia, a mental disorder that most often strikes young adults. What can be done to help them? Guest: Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman, Thad and Alice Eure Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry at the UNC School of Medicine. He's also Director of the Mental Health Research Center.

Why are young children developing adult onset diabetes? Are there important advances in the treatment of this common and dangerous disease that will help diabetics live healthier lives? We will explore the latest research and discuss the optimal diet for diabetics. GUESTS: John Buse, MD, PhD, CDE, FACE; Associate Professor of Medicine and Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Director, Diabetes Care Center at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and Richard Bernstein, MD, author of Diabetes Solution.

What's the latest information on herbal remedies? Ephedra remains on the market...but more and more pharmacies and health food stores are say NO to diet pills and energy boosters containing ephedra. Our guests will discuss the science behind herbs like bilbery, black cohosh, echinacea, ginseng St. John's wort and valerian. To get the straight story on herbal remedies be sure to tune in. GUESTS: David Kroll, PhD, pharmacologist and cancer researcher at Research Triangle Institute and Mark Blumenthal, Senior Editor of "The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs." Mark is the founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council.

The topic is men and testosterone. Women were shocked to learn that hormone replacement therapy has so many unexpected downsides. More and more men are taking hormones--from testosterone to human growth hormone. They want to build muscle, fight aging and enhance sexuality. Are they putting themselves at risk? Andropause--the male equivalent of menopause--is a controversial topic. Some doctors don't believe it even exists. Find out the latest on men, hormones and male sexualtiy. GUESTS: Culley Carson, MD, Professor of Surgery, Chief of the Division of Urology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Irwin Goldstein, Professor of Urology and Gynecology and Director of the Institute for Sexual Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine.

What problems do we need to think about when a loved one faces terminal illness? Medical and legal issues become intertwined at the end of life. Do you need health care power of attorney? Who decides whether a patient should be intubated, respirated or resuscitated? Some familires have huge fights over these questions. Can they be avoided with advanced planning? We will consider how we can help a loved one face death with dignity on this show.

Heart bypass surgery can be associated with cognitive decline in some patients. Even five years later more than 40 percent of patients can be affected. What causes this mental deterioration and can it be prevented? Other kinds of major surgery may also be associated with memory loss and cognitive impairment. What about prescription drugs? Some common medicines may affect memory and mental functioning. What can patients do to detect problems and stay mentally sharp in the face of needed surgery or prescription medications? GUESTS: Hilary Grocott, MD, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Murali Doraiswamy, MD, Associate Professor, Division of Biological Psychiatry Duke University Medical Center.

Now that ephedra has come under such scrutiny as a weight loss product, bitter orange is being substituted in some natural products. But this ingredient may interact with medications just the way grapefruit can. Find out about this fascinating interaction as well as other potential incompatibilities between foods and drugs. We also take your calls about prescriptions, dietary supplements and we share home remedies.

Heart disease is an equal opportunity slayer. Although men tend to suffer heart attacks at earlier ages, women also die from America's number one killer. They often don't realize they're at risk and may not recognize the symptoms of a heart attack which can be different for women. Find out if you or the woman you love could be a candidate for heart disease. Now that hormone replacement therapy has been shown to actually increase the risk of heart trouble, learn what can be done to prevent it. GUEST: Nieca Goldberg, MD, cardiologist and author of "Women are Not Small Men."

Are you confused about the best diet for losing weight? Should you be eating less fat, less carbohydrate, or just plain less? And what about exercise? How much do you need to maintain cardiovascular fitness and shed pounds? How do you motivate yourself to keep moving when the temperatures soar?

The cost of prescription medicine has been skyrocketing. Politicians have been promising a Medicare drug benefit for years. Now, there is a glimmer of possibility that it could become reality. How will it work? Will people actually save money? And what about those who don't have insurance and are not old enough to quality for Medicare? What can they do? Is shopping for medicines in Canada or Mexico a viable option or is it an illegal activity? GUESTS: Bill Hubbard, FDA Associate Commissioner for Policy and Planning; Billy Shawn, Founder of Canda Drug Store, an online pharmacy service, AARP will present the senior citizen perspective.

One of the world's leading experts recently produced research showing that celiac disease is much more common in America than most doctors recognize. Symptoms can be subtle, ranging from anemia and fatigue to osteoporosis or forgetfulness. Do you or someone you love suffer from celiac disease? Find out what food to avoid and how to stay healthy. GUESTS: Alessio Fasano, MD, is Professor & Director of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Maryland Medical School. Ivor Hill, MD, Wake Forest University School of Medicine Cynthia Kupper is Executive Director of the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America.

Can special infant formula make babies smarter or improve their vision? Nutritional research is being used to promote everything from chewing gum and potato chips to margarine and vegetable juice. Can these claims be substantiated?

45 million Americans are now classified as pre-hypertensive. If you thought 120/80 was normal, think again! To find out how to control blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes, tune in.

Plastic is everywhere...from soft drink containers to water pipes. Do any chemicals in the plastic get into our food and beverages? Do they pose a threat to our health? We will discuss these issues with experts in genetics, toxicology and plastic chemistry.

The very low-carbohydrate diet championed by the late Dr. Atkins has come in for a lot of criticism from the nutrition establishment over the years. But new studies suggest the objections may not hold up. Do low-carb diets work? And what are the risks? GUESTS: Gary Foster, PhD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Eric Westman, MD, Duke University Medical Center.

Do you or your children suffer from allergies? Find out why allergy can make asthma worse. What can you do to prevent sensitivity in the first place or control asthma if it develops. GUEST: David Peden, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Environmental Medicine. Deputry Director of the Center for Environmental Medicine and Lung Biology at the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Do you or your children suffer from allergies? Find out why allergy can make asthma worse. What can you do to prevent sensitivity in the first place or control asthma if it develops. GUEST: David Peden, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Environmental Medicine. Deputry Director of the Center for Environmental Medicine and Lung Biology at the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Susan Love, MD is one of the country's most knowledgeable physicians on women's health issues. She will discuss the pros and cons of HRT and mammograms and help us understand why the Women's Health Initiative findings (that the risks of HRT outweigh the benefits) were not really so surprising. She'll describe her current project developing a technique to detect breast cancer before it starts, and share her guidelines for healthy living. Find out about alternatives to HRT for menopausal symptoms.

Dr. Mitch Gaynor's newest book is titled "The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice, and Music." We will explore how healing sounds can lower blood pressure, relieve anxiety, modify heart rate, improve immune responses and affect our well being. Healers from ancient times recognized the power of sound to affect the body. Now we rediscover their wisdom and learn how to apply it to our daily lives.

Marian Burros is a food writer for the New York Times. She has also written numerous cook books. Her latest work provides recipes for old-fashioned comfort foods. In uncertain times people often turn to the foods of their childhood to give themselves a sense of security. Cooking and sharing such food is a way of strengthening social bonds.

Do you really need to take vitamins or are you just wasting your money? A new study suggest that there are measurable effects from a daily multi-vitamin. But should you be taking more? Can you overdose on certain nutrients? Our guests will bring you up-to-date on the latest research.

Open Lines. Topics include: Can an aspirin a day prevent common cancers? How good is it and how does aspirin work this miracle? We'll talk with the scientist who has done the research. In addition, the FDA appears to be taking action to label ephedra-containing products with a warning. Is that adequate? And of course we will field calls from all over the country on herbs, home remedies and prescription drugs. Call in your questions to this live, pharmacy free-for-all.

Are you ready for spring allergies? Or are you still suffering complications of your last winter cold? Unless you have suffered sinusitis or a sinus headache you cannot imagine the discomfort. But it is possible to overcome allergies and sinus problems. Our guests are: Harold Pillsbury, MD, Past President of the American College of Otolaryngology and of the American Laryngological Association, Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology & Head & Neck Surgery and Thomas J. Dark Professor of Surgery at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and Ronald Gerbe, MD, otolaryngologist in private practice in Chapel Hill, NC.

Half of all heart attack victims have normal cholesterol levels. Researchers are looking into many other risk factors that often go undetected and untreated. For example, inflammation is now considered a key step in heart disease. How do you know if you suffer silent inflammation that puts you at risk? Our guest is one of the world's foremost authorities on inflammation in cardiology. He will discuss the significance of a marker called C-reactive protein (CRP) in detecting risk for heart disease. Dr. Paul Ridker is Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston Massachusetts.

Wild animals have no doctors and no medicines. So how do they keep themselves healthy? Cindy Engel, Ph.D., describes the actions taken by animals from rats and birds to rhinos and elephants to recover from illness and injury. Research indicates that many animals, including our close cousins, chimpanzees and other primates, seek out special plants when they are under the weather. Many of these plants contain compounds that attack parasites or bacteria that may cause illness. How do monkeys learn what to do? We'll find out what we can learn from the animals.

Open Lines. Topics include: Thyroid function and new research on thyroid testing. Addiction to anti-anxiety drugs. How can patients phase off drugs like Ativan or Xanax? Are there any alternatives to ephedra for weight loss and energy? And of course we will field calls from all over the country on herbs, home remedies and prescription drugs. Call in your questions to this live, pharmacy free-for-all.

Open Lines. Topics include: Thyroid function and new research on thyroid testing. Addiction to anti-anxiety drugs. How can patients phase off drugs like Ativan or Xanax? Are there any alternatives to ephedra for weight loss and energy? And of course we will field calls from all over the country on herbs, home remedies and prescription drugs. Call in your questions to this live, pharmacy free-for-all.

If you think you are in love, you probably are...but have you picked the right person to love? Today's show will help you determine if that special person will make a great partner for the long term or lead you to disappointment. Half of all marriages end in divorce. Making the right decision can increase your odds for a wonderful, lasting relationship. Our guest is: Sol Gordon, PhD. He is professor emeritus of child and family studies at Syracuse University and former director of the Institute for Family Research and Education. His book is called "How Can You Tell if You're Really In Love?"

More than 41 million Americans have no health insurance. What impact does that have on the health care system? Hospitals are absorbing huge costs in caring for the uninsured. How does that affect everyone else's expenses? Small businesses have difficulty paying ever-increasing premiums for their employees' health care. More and more companies are cutting back on coverage. As people lose health care benefits they may cut back on preventive visits to health professionals. What is the significance for the long term? Our guest, Marcia Angell, MD, has been observing American medicine first hand for decades. She was formerly editor-in-chief of the most prestigious medical journal in the world, The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Angell will help us explore possible ways out of the current health care mess.

Have you become totally confused about making healthy food choices? The government has created the USDA Food Pyramid to "simplify" our decision making. But our guest, Walter Willett, MD, PhD, says the pyramid should be turned upside down. Dr. Willett is Chairman of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. He is also one of the country's leading epidemiologists. That means he has reviewed data from tens of thousands of subjects so he can make informed recommendations about what we should and should NOT be eating. You will learn about essential fatty acids, the best "complex" carbohydrates and why protein is important to prevent surges in glucose and insulin levels. Dr. Willett is also author of "Eat, Drink and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating."

Is your child flunking lunch? A lot of schools now provide fast food in the cafeteria along with vending machines that sell sodas and candy. One principal is bucking that trend. We will discuss her decision to throw the junk food venders out and explore the importance of good nutrition for children at a time when more kids than ever are overweight. Our guests are: Alice Ammerman, PhD, Assistant Professor of Nutrition at UNC School of Public Health; Dorothy Caldwell, MS, RD, LDN, Coordinator, NC Healthy Weight Initiative at the Department of Health and Human Services; and Dr. Susan Chase, Principal, Belmont Middle School, Gastonia, NC.

Open Lines. Topics include: How much vitamin A is enough and how much is too much? We'll discuss the consequences of consuming high doses of this nutrient, which is found in cold liver oil and some fortified foods. Do diet pills containing ephedra pose a risk of stroke? We'll discuss a new study on this issue. And of course we will field calls from all over the country on herbs, home remedies and prescription drugs. Call in your questions to this live, pharmacy free-for-all.

Viagra became a household word almost overnight. Now Levitra will soon offer competition. How do they compare and what other drugs are in the pipeline for erectile dysfunction? How do hormones affect libido? And what is available for women? Our guest is Culley Carson, MD, Professor and Chief of Urology at University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He will share the latest information on erectile dysfunction, lack of libido and other sexual issues.

What do you do when you come down with a cold? Is Nyquil your preferred treatment...or do you reach for the vitamin C? On this show you will learn about the benefits and risks of cold and flu remedies. We will focus on new research about Echinacea and learn what other natural approaches may or may not be effective. Bruce Barrett, MD, from the University of Wisconsin at Madison will share his most recent research on Echinacea and will talk about other ways to cope with upper respiratory tract infections.

Did you gain a few pounds over the holidays? Are you continuing to overeat because you are feeling stressed out and overwhelmed? Is the cold weather making it hard to get mobilized to exercise? What can you do to keep from gaining more weight over the next couple of months? Today's guests will help you figure out how to lose weight sensibly and stay in shape. Carol Krucoff is a science writer, health columnist, yoga instructor and author of "Healing Moves: How to Cure, Relieve, and Prevent Common Ailments with Exercise." Penny Gordon-Larsen is Assistant Professor of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Public Health.

There are uncertain times and people are feeling a great deal of stress. This in turn can have many negative effects on health from anxiety and depression to hypertension and headaches. How can we learn to cope with the stresses in our lives? Emmett Miller, MD, is one of the country's foremost authorities on stress management and relaxation. He will provide practical information on letting go of tension and utilizing stress to overcome challenges. You can find Dr. Miller's relaxation tapes and CDs at www.drmiller.com.

A large government-sponsored study has shown that old-fashioned inexpensive diuretics work at least as well as the newer medications drug companies promote so aggressively. Even more shocking, the cholesterol-lowering drug Pravachol did not demonstrate superiority over "usual care" when it comes to saving lives. Can we trust drug company research? This year the government funded Women's Health Initiative overturned decades of pharmaceutical research suggestive that HRT could protect women from heart disease. We delve into the best approaches for hypertension treatment and the ethics of research with two distinguished guests. Curt Furberg, MD, PhD, is an internationally respected expert in the field of epidemiology and public health. He chaired the steering committee for the ALLHAT trial on hypertension. He is Professor of Public Health Sciences at Wake Forest University. Robert Califf, MD, is Professor of Medicine and Director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute.