Shows
The People's PharmacyShow 1439: What Men Need to Know to Overcome Prostate CancerIn this episode, our guest, Dr. Andrew Armstrong of Duke University, discusses recent advances that men should know to overcome prostate cancer. We ask about former President Joe Biden’s diagnosis. What does it mean to have Stage IV prostate cancer and a Gleason score of 9?
News outlets have reported that Mr. Biden’s previous prostate screening test was in 2014. How often should men be tested for this common cancer? What does the PSA (prostate specific antigen) test really tell us?
How You Can Listen:
You could listen through your local public radio stat...2025-08-011h 02The People's PharmacyShow 1436: Why Mosquitoes Bite You and How to Outsmart ThemIn this episode, Joe & Terry speak with two scientists studying mosquito preferences. Why are some people mosquito magnets while others barely get bitten? A range of factors influences mosquito behavior and may explain why mosquitoes bite you and leave your neighbor alone. Learn how to outsmart them.
You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 7 am EDT on your computer or smart phone (wunc.org). Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may...2025-06-261h 12The People's PharmacyShow 1434: Digital Doctoring: Will AI Save Lives or Cause Medical Mayhem?In this episode, Joe & Terry speak with two physicians who have examined ways that artificial intelligence might contribute to patient care. Can AI help with better diagnoses? Is robotic surgery better? Could AI save lives or is it more likely to cause trouble?
You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 7 am EDT on your computer or smart phone (wunc.org). Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the...2025-06-121h 10The People's PharmacyShow 1429: How to Love Your Liver and Protect its SuperpowersThis week, Joe and Terry discuss liver health with two specialists. You may not have spent much time thinking about your liver. It is, however, an absolutely essential organ. When the liver is working properly, every part of the body gets the nutrients it needs and no parts are exposed to damaging toxins. These are […]2025-05-021h 07The People's PharmacyShow 1188: The Healing Potential of Psychedelic Drugs-LSD Without Hallucinations??Many indigenous peoples around the world have developed traditional uses for psychedelic compounds. In Western medicine, these were mostly unknown until Albert Hoffmann synthesized LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) in 1938. He later tried to figure out how it might be used after having an extraordinary personal experience. By the mid to late 1960s, psychedelic drugs […]2025-04-1757 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1423: How to Fix Your Foot PainThis week, Dr. Jane Andersen joins Joe and Terry in the studio to answer listeners’ questions about foot problems. Do you have bunions or plantar fasciitis? Dr. Andersen has tips on how to fix your foot pain. We invite you to call and tell us about it. You can call 888-472-3366 between 7 and 8 […]2025-03-2057 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1419: Restless Legs, Muscle Cramps and Sleepless NightsThis week, Terry and Joe welcome Dr. Andrew Spector to the studio to share his expertise with listeners. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a relatively common problem that can really wreak havoc on a good night’s sleep. Have you experienced this problem? How do you manage it? We invite you to call and tell us […]2025-02-2059 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1415: Can Home Remedies Help Overcome Cold Symptoms?This week, Joe & Terry invite listeners to share their favorite home remedies for colds. No one expects a remedy to shorten the duration of a cold–although perhaps one or two could! But many may help people feel better for a few hours if they alleviate symptoms. You can call in your suggestions to 888-472-3366 […]2025-01-241h 02The People's PharmacyShow 1402: How You Can Protect Your Precious Eyesight and Keep Your Eyes HealthyThis week, Joe and Terry Graedon welcome your calls about how you can protect your precious eyesight. Have you been struggling with dry eyes or diagnosed with glaucoma? You can share your experience or ask your questions at 888-472-3366 between 7 and 8 am EDT on Saturday, October 5, 2024. We also invite you to […]2024-10-031h 00The People's PharmacyShow 1396: Home Remedies That WorkThis week, Joe and Terry Graedon welcome your calls about your favorite home remedies. Which ones really work to solve common health problems? You can share your experience at 888-472-3366 between 7 and 8 am EDT. We also invite you to send your comments in beforehand to radio@peoplespharmacy.com. You could listen through your local public […]2024-08-1559 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1394: Viruses, Vaccines and Alzheimer DiseaseThis week, we explore the role viruses may play in the development of dementia. That certainly sounds like a downer, but here is the brighter side: vaccines can significantly lower the risk! Joe and Terry talk to two leading researchers about their findings and the implications of antivirals or vaccines and Alzheimer Disease. You could […]2024-08-021h 03The People's PharmacyShow 1393: How to Get the Sleep You NeedThis week, Joe and Terry talk with sleep expert and medical communicator par excellence, Dr. Roger Seheult. With his certification in sleep medicine, he will tell you why you need to get enough sleep along with how much is enough. If you find you have trouble sleeping, what can you do about it? Dr. Seheult […]2024-07-251h 05The People's PharmacyShow 1391: Key Steps for Healthy FeetThis week, Joe and Terry Graedon welcome your questions about keeping your feet healthy. Dr. Jane Andersen is a foot and ankle specialist who will take your calls about a range of podiatric problems. Have you had trouble with plantar fasciitis? You can ask your questions about foot health and share your experience at 888-472-3366 […]2024-07-111h 00The People's PharmacyShow 1389: Getting Off the Medication TreadmillThis week, Joe and Terry Graedon welcome your questions and stories about difficulties in stopping medicines, whether prescription or OTC. Dr. Richard Friedman, an expert on drugs to treat anxiety and mood disorders, describes the symptoms of discontinuing such an agent too suddenly. Have you had trouble getting off the medication treadmill? You can ask […]2024-06-131h 00The People's PharmacyShow 1385: The Dangers of Overdosing on OTC MedsThis week, Joe and Terry Graedon welcome your questions and stories about the dangers of overdosing on OTC meds. Dr. Lisa Sanders, an acknowledged expert on medical diagnosis, starts us off with a story about a patient’s mysterious illness. How was it linked to the medicine he was taking? You can ask your questions about […]2024-05-171h 00The People's PharmacyShow 1382: What You Need to Know About Prostate CancerWhat do you want to know about prostate cancer? This week, Joe and Terry Graedon welcome your questions about the latest screening tools and treatments for prostate cancer. Almost 300,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, but stigma keeps many from discussing it. As a result, they may not learn about the latest […]2024-04-191h 00The People's PharmacyShow 1379: The Healing Power of PetsThis week, Joe and Terry Graedon welcome your stories and questions about living with animals. Does a cat purring on your lap help you calm down after a hectic day? Has walking the dog become a part of your exercise routine? Tell us about your pets at 888-472-3366 between 7 and 8 am EST. Or […]2024-03-211h 01The People's PharmacyShow 1375: The Science Supporting Home RemediesThis week, Joe and Terry Graedon entertain your questions and stories about home remedies. What do you do for leg cramps or heartburn? Call in your favorites at 888-472-3366 between 7 and 8 am EST, or send us an email beforehand: radio@peoplespharmacy.com. We’ll explore whether there is science supporting home remedies. You could listen through […]2024-02-221h 00The People's PharmacyShow 1360: The Pros & Perils of OTC DrugsIn this broadcast, we answer listeners’ questions about over-the-counter drugs. If you have bought a medicine without a prescription, how do you use it wisely? Dr. Stefanie Ferreri, Distinguished Professor in Pharmacy Practice at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy is standing by, along with Joe and Terry, to answer your questions about the pros […]2023-10-2059 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1181: How to Keep Your Hair from Falling OutDo you love your hair the way it is? Many of us wish our hair were different–curlier, straighter, darker or lighter. But what people worry about most with their hair is when they lose it. Can you keep your hair from falling out? Why does hair loss affect some people, including women as well as […]2023-04-241h 00The People's PharmacyShow 1212: Should You Worry About Forever Chemicals?Virtually everyone in the US has been exposed to PFAS chemicals. That stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances found in fire-fighting foam, nonstick coatings, food packaging and waterproofing or stain resistant chemicals used on clothing, furniture and carpets. Pesticides are also an important source. These are also referred to as “forever chemicals” because they persist […]2022-12-2955 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1193: How a Doctor Faced Down His Rare Disease (Archive)This week, an exciting interview from our archive airs on Oct. 8, 2022. A healthy young medical student, David Fajgenbaum, had been a student athlete in college and maintained his extraordinary level of fitness through much of medical school. Because of his enthusiasm and athleticism, his friends called him The Beast. When he suddenly found […]2022-10-0659 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1156: How the Microbiota in the Good Gut Takes Care of You (Archive)Research over the past few decades has revealed that we humans host a bewildering variety of invisible creatures, our microbiota. We can almost envision the collective genome of all these microbes, the microbiome, as a sort of second genome for human individuals. Unlike our human genome, the microbiome can be altered based on our diet […]2022-02-0357 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1199: The Life-Saving Science of Spontaneous Healing (Archive)Doctors rarely study spontaneous remissions from serious diseases. Why not? They are unpredictable, for one thing. For another, they are said to be exceedingly rare. Despite this, Dr. Jeffrey Rediger has found that most of his colleagues are aware of at least one case that defies explanation by conventional science. He set out to learn […]2021-11-2559 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1190: The Best Way to Deal With Anger (Archive)At a time when opinions about nearly everything are highly polarized, how can you have a civil discussion? What do we do when we encounter a person who is extremely angry? For that matter, how do we handle our own emotions? What works to defuse anger and what sorts of responses just make it worse? […]2021-09-0259 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1224: What Is the Best Way to Manage Your Heartburn? (Archive)Bellyaches and heartburn are among the most common problems driving people to the pharmacy to seek relief. Heartburn, a burning sensation behind the sternum, happens when acid escapes from the stomach up into the esophagus where it doesn’t belong. People used to chew antacids like Tums or Rolaids to neutralize the acid. Do you know […]2021-07-081h 04The People's PharmacyShow 1178: Do We Need a Revolution in Managing Pain? (Archive)Pain is a difficult topic. To begin with, the experience of pain is completely subjective. There are no independent objective measures that doctors can use to assess a patient’s pain. They have to take her word for it. Second, pain has a very significant emotional component that must be addressed along with any physical causes. […]2021-07-0259 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1223: How to Care for Summer-Stressed Skin (Archive)During the pandemic, fewer people by far have been making ordinary appointments with the dermatologist to have their skin checked. However, some skin conditions can become much worse if they are neglected. Summer-stressed skin may also need attention. In general, people should consult a dermatologist if there is a persistent change in a spot on […]2021-05-1459 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1179: What Should You Do About Digestive Distress? (Archive)Have you ever had horrible heartburn or a really bad bellyache? Most of us have experienced digestive distress at one time or another. When do you need to seek medical attention for your problem? What Causes Digestive Distress? When the gastrointestinal tract is working as it should, you chew your food and swallow it. Then […]2021-04-0158 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1198: How You Can Age Better (Archive)Whoever said growing old isn’t for sissies really got it right. But not everyone has the same experience with aging. Why do some people do well up to and into their 90s, while others are over the hill in their 70s? Genetics certainly plays a role, but it is not the whole story by any […]2021-01-081h 11The People's PharmacyShow 1194: How You Can Discover the Joy of Movement (Archive)Do your New Year’s resolutions include getting more exercise? By now, everybody knows exercise is good for us. But a lot of people view it as a chore or a bore instead of a delight. How can you experience the joy of movement? Humans are built to move, and anthropologists have offered a hypothesis that […]2020-12-3155 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1226: The Coronavirus Hunter Gives You an UpdateBack in May, 2020, we spoke with a scientist known internationally as the coronavirus hunter. Dr. Ralph Baric has been studying coronaviruses for more than three decades. He was involved in the early research on some possible drugs to treat people with COVID-19. Five months is a short time under normal circumstances, but the pandemic […]2020-09-041h 08The People's PharmacyShow 1170: What Makes Your Immune System an Elegant Defense? (Archive)This show first aired in June, 2019, before anyone had heard of SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19. Today, understanding how your immune system works to overcome an infection is more important than ever. Just how does your immune system manage to ward off unwanted bacteria or viruses? This “elegant defense” is sometimes described as though it were […]2020-08-2759 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1225: What Is the Evidence on Vaccines and Masks?We have had eight months of COVID-19 pandemic, and there is nobody anywhere who isn’t ready for it to be over. That is why there is quite a bit of excitement about the potential for vaccines. Several have started phase 3 trials already. What does that mean and what can we expect? Where Will We […]2020-08-2159 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1222: How Can You Optimize Your Microbiome?The microbiome–the genome of our collective microbiota–has become a trendy topic in medicine lately. With more microbial than human cells in our bodies, it’s becoming clear we should think of ourselves as collectives. Citizen scientists have been contributing to the understanding of microbiota biodiversity through the American Gut Project. Yet most of us don’t really […]2020-07-301h 09The People's PharmacyShow 1221: What Explains the Recent Increase in Celiac Disease?A couple of decades ago, most people had never heard of celiac disease. Many doctors had never diagnosed a case, and they had often learned it was an extremely rare condition. Following a gluten-free diet, the only treatment, was really difficult. Today, millions of people avoid gluten in their diets. Not all of them have […]2020-07-241h 00The People's PharmacyShow 1220: How We Can Learn Faster and Better and Remember MoreWhen Jim Kwik was a little boy, he had a bad fall that resulted in a concussion. He struggled with learning problems throughout elementary school and even later. But he eventually learned to stop thinking of himself as the boy with the broken brain. In fact, he now has mastered accelerated learning and teaches the […]2020-07-171h 00The People's PharmacyShow 1219: How to Achieve Maximum Memory FitnessIn these challenging times, keeping our brains healthy and working well is important. Social isolation can be debilitating, but there are approaches that can help counteract these difficulties. Research on Maintaining Memory: What does new research tell us about achieving maximum memory fitness? How important is it for us to take care of conditions like […]2020-07-101h 00The People's PharmacyShow 1155: Can Bacteriophages Save Your Life? (Archive)Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have been cropping up around the world. These superbugs cause serious problems, especially when they fail to respond to increasingly potent medications. One approach may be to put a very old, natural treatment to work. The theory is that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Enlist viruses that infect these bacteria. […]2020-07-0359 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1218: How Industry Manipulates Science to Downplay RisksFor decades, the tobacco industry was able to ward off anti-smoking policy by claiming that science did not support it. In hindsight, it is clear that most epidemiologists came to the conclusion that smoking is bad for health without much delay. But tobacco companies were able to exploit disagreements over a few facts to sow […]2020-06-261h 08The People's PharmacyShow 1217: Natural Ways to Keep Your Immune System StrongThe COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of having a healthy immune system. It appears that more than three-fourths of the people who contract the infection recover without hospitalization or obvious lingering effects. The others, however, get really sick. We can assume that our immune systems mediate our response to the virus. We want it […]2020-06-191h 09The People's PharmacyShow 1216: How Sugar Interferes With Healthy DecisionsThe telomeres that cap our chromosomes are a good way to gauge biological aging. Dr. Elissa Epel, who studies aging and metabolism at UCSF, has found a link between soda consumption and cellular aging, even in young children (Childhood Obesity, April 2018). She and her colleagues took advantage of a natural experiment at the University […]2020-06-121h 01The People's PharmacyShow 1215: Chasing a Cure for the Cytokine Storm of COVID-19Dr. David Fajgenbaum was a medical student in excellent health when he was struck with a mysterious disease. He nearly died before his doctors finally diagnosed him with a rare condition known as idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease. They hardly knew anything about it, and the few treatments that were available didn’t work for him. So […]2020-06-081h 01The People's PharmacyShow 1214: How to Defend Your Brain During the Pandemic and BeyondFor decades, neurologists have been telling us that Alzheimer disease is driven largely by the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaque in the brain. They have suspected that this is determined in large measure by genetics, and they’ve been searching for medications that can clear beta-amyloid out of the brain. But what if beta-amyloid is actually an […]2020-05-291h 21The People's PharmacyShow 1213: How Does COVID-19 Affect Your Heart?What comes to mind when you think of COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus? Chances are, you think of the lungs. There’s been a tremendous amount of attention to the breathing difficulties the disease can cause. Hospitals in northern Italy and New York City have been overwhelmed because they didn’t have enough ventilators. […]2020-05-221h 00The People's PharmacyShow 1211: A Conversation With the Coronavirus HunterDr. Ralph Baric has been studying coronaviruses for 35 years and is one of the world’s leading experts on these pathogens. In this interview, you will learn how the virus jumped from bats to people and how it replicates. Moreover, Dr. Baric was already studying remdesivir, a medication being utilized against this infection. He will […]2020-05-081h 05The People's PharmacyShow 1210: What Are the Health Benefits of Tea, Coffee and Chocolate?Are you drinking too much coffee? Is coffee actually bad for you anyway, or might a few cups have health benefits? Have you heard about the health benefits of tea? Dr. Tieraona Low Dog delves into the plant compounds contained in our favorite beverages. How do they affect our physiology? Green, Black and White Tea: […]2020-05-0155 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1209: How a Doctor Confronts Medical ErrorWhen hospitals are overstressed and understaffed, as they have been during the COVID-19 pandemic, medical errors are hardly surprising. Back in 2016, a group of doctors published an analysis in the BMJ claiming that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the US. Could this really be true? Learn how a thoughtful […]2020-04-2459 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1208: Keeping Kids Healthy in the Age of CoronavirusSchools are closed and kids are home so that they don’t catch COVID-19 and spread it to family members. Of course, parents don’t want their children to get sick, either. How are we keeping kids healthy in the age of coronavirus? Why Are Children Less Likely to Become Very Ill? Most infectious diseases, especially respiratory […]2020-04-1754 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1132: Are Infections to Blame for Alzheimer Disease? (Archive)With nearly six million Americans living with Alzheimer disease, this condition is a serious public health problem. It robs people of their memories, their ability to function independently and even their very identities. When Alois Alzheimer published the first report on the brain disease that was later named for him, he described distinctive plaques and […]2020-04-1055 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1207: Can You Use Your Patient Portal for Better Health?Staying at home and maintaining safe physical distance means that some primary care practices are not functioning normally during the pandemic. However, you may still want to connect with your doctor. In fact, you may have urgent questions about how to stay healthy or what to do if you become ill. Do you have a […]2020-04-0255 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1206: Live Coronavirus Update to Answer Your QuestionsInformation on the coronavirus pandemic is changing hourly. The US now has more COVID-19 cases than any other country. For this live coronavirus update on March 28, 2020, we have asked infectious disease expert and epidemiologist Dr. David Weber to answer your questions about COVID-19. Learn how you can protect yourself and your family. To […]2020-03-271h 05The People's PharmacyShow 1205: How Do Patients’ Stories Shape Their Care?How do doctors figure out what is wrong with a person and how they can be treated effectively? Traditionally, medicine has put great emphasis on the patient’s history, which usually means the patient has to tell a story. What hurts? When did it start? What happened next? One drawback of the way medicine is currently […]2020-03-2055 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1204: How Brain Function Affects Mental IllnessMental health problems cause widespread disability in today’s world. Large numbers of people suffer with depression or severe anxiety. While these ailments are real, we may not be considering their causes carefully enough. Our guest, Dr. Daniel Amen, suggests that the trouble underlying most mental illness is disrupted brain function–poor brain health. SPECT Scans of […]2020-03-131h 00The People's PharmacyShow 1203: How Yoga Can Help You Age GracefullyStress is nearly ubiquitous in modern life. We all know it isn’t healthy, but we may not have a lot of tools for escaping or alleviating it. People under stress may feel they don’t have enough time for yoga. Just trying to meditate may send their minds spinning into overdrive about everything waiting to be […]2020-03-0655 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1202: How Can We Fix Our Broken Food System?In our modern world, many people have become disconnected from the source of their food. Unlike our distant ancestors, who hunted and foraged for their meals, or even our great-grandparents who raised their food on farms, most folks now eat out of the supermarket. Following a diet full of highly processed foods can result poor […]2020-02-2755 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1201: Hard-to-Diagnose Conditions Can Be DeadlyDiagnosis is a crucial first step for medical treatment. In some situations, recognizing the condition as soon as possible makes a big difference in the outcome. However, doctors may have difficulty with certain diagnoses. If patients can help recognize when they are in trouble and ask questions, certain hard-to-diagnose conditions may be identified more quickly. […]2020-02-2055 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1200: Making Sense of Changing Nutritional GuidelinesWhy is nutrition advice so controversial? Often, it seems as if food fights are the fiercest disagreements in medicine. Have you had trouble making sense of changing nutritional guidelines? Changing Nutritional Guidelines: For years, nutrition scientists have been telling us that people who eat red meat are putting their health in danger. Then a few […]2020-02-1455 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1197: How You Can Save Money on MedicinesHave your pharmacy bills been going up? When Consumer Reports surveyed its readers, 30 percent of them reported that their cost for a drug they take on a regular basis rose during 2019. About 12 percent of readers said their costs had soared by at least $100. What is going on here, and how can […]2020-01-2455 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1196: What to Do If Thyroid Treatment Doesn’t Work for YouLow thyroid function is a very common problem, affecting an estimated 20 million Americans. That is nearly 12 percent of the population. Most doctors are convinced that all they need is one lab test–TSH–and one medication–levothyroxine–to treat hypothyroidism. Why don’t all patients agree? The Problem with Thyroid Treatment: The thyroid gland produces at least two […]2020-01-1757 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1195: Do You Need Spine Surgery?People who have suffered with back pain for a long time may be told that spine surgery is their last resort. But far too often, spine surgery does not relieve back pain. Sometimes, people even feel worse afterwards. How can you tell if spine surgery would be right for you? Mark Owens’s Story: Mark Owens […]2020-01-091h 00The People's PharmacyShow 1161: What Is the Evidence for Food as Medicine? (Archive)Angiogenesis–the growth and development of blood vessels in the body–may seem like an obscure topic. However, angiogenesis is a critical phase in the development of tumors. If it can be blocked when it is inappropriate, we don’t get cancer. If not, we may need all the resources of modern oncology to help us recover. Is […]2019-12-2755 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1192: How a Scary Fungus Is Threatening the WorldYou may have heard about antibiotic-resistant bacteria. They can greatly complicate the treatment of infections. But have you ever heard of antifungal-resistant fungus? Infectious disease experts knew nothing about a scary fungus, Candida auris, less than two decades ago. It has acquired resistance to a number of potent antifungal medications. Consequently, it now poses threats […]2019-12-1356 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1191: What Are Your Favorite Home Remedies?For centuries, people have been using home remedies as their first treatment for common ailments. With easy access to over-the-counter drugs, though, people have turned away from home remedies in the last several decades. There are still plenty of inexpensive options that work well, however. Which are your favorite home remedies? Apple Cider Vinegar: One […]2019-12-0656 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1154: How to Take Good Care of Your Eyesight (Archive)A national survey just a few years ago showed that Americans fear losing their vision more than they fear losing a limb, their hearing, their ability to speak or even their memory (Scott et al, JAMA Ophthalmology, October 2016). What do you know about how to take good care of your eyesight? What Can You […]2019-11-291h 07The People's PharmacyShow 1189: What the Heck Should We Be Eating?If you like to cook, you are no doubt aware that favorite recipes change with the times, just like fashions in clothing. But a lot of Americans don’t like to cook. They may not have tried acquiring the skills or even more likely, they don’t have the time to do anything very complicated in the […]2019-11-1556 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1187: Are Supplements Really a Waste of Time?Last summer, a major review of research on supplements to improve heart health concluded that most do nothing to prevent heart attacks, strokes or premature death from cardiovascular causes (Annals of Internal Medicine, Aug. 6, 2019). In other words, they are a waste of time and money. (The possible exceptions include omega-3 fats and folate.) […]2019-11-0159 minThe People's PharmacyAll About KayaBioticsThe People’s Pharmacy radio show and podcast appreciates support from its sponsors. One of our sponsors is KayaBiotics, a German company that makes high-quality probiotics from all-organic ingredients. Germany exercises rigorous oversight of supplement manufacturing, and we are pleased that our listeners can purchase such products. The pandemic interrupted supply chains and manufacturing for numerous […]2019-10-3113 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1186: What Happens When Doctors Make Diagnostic Errors?When you get sick, you need a diagnosis. If the diagnosis is wrong, the treatment won’t be appropriate. What happens when doctors make diagnostic errors? We talk with a leader in the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine about his recent research. What Diagnostic Errors Are Most Serious? Clinicians make an estimated 12 million diagnostic […]2019-10-2456 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1185: What Are the Risks of Too Many Meds?Every day, an average of 750 senior Americans are hospitalized as a result of medication reactions and interactions. Part of the problem is that as we grow older and accumulate more health conditions, we also end up with longer lists of prescription drugs for them. In addition, many of us also take medicines to prevent […]2019-10-1856 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1184: How Technology Could Make Medicine More HumaneMarvelous technology like CT and MRI imaging, genotyping and microbiome analysis have given health professionals more power than ever to learn what is going wrong with an individual. Special tools like robotic surgery can help doctors treat complex problems. Highly advanced prosthetics can help people recover from devastating accidents or radical operations. Problems with Technology: […]2019-10-1056 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1183: How to Manage Your Foot ProblemsDo your feet hurt? Foot problems can interfere with both work and leisure time activities. You won’t want to walk the dog or go dancing, not to mention stand at a cash register or move about a clinic with foot pain. What can you do about it? How Dangerous Could a Pedicure Be? A pedicure […]2019-10-0357 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1182: How You Can Use Exercise as MedicineDoes medicine mean “drugs and surgery” to you? That is certainly how a lot of people see it. However, physical activity–exercise–has powerful abilities to help us heal. How can we use exercise as medicine? What does it mean to use exercise as medicine? The concept may seem a bit strange unless you have encountered cardiovascular […]2019-09-261h 00The People's PharmacyShow 1180: How to Eat to Nourish Your BrainYou know your body needs food to fuel it. You’ve probably thought about whether you should be eating more fat or less, how much protein you might need and if you are getting enough vegetables and fruits. But have you thought about how you should eat to nourish your brain? Managing Your Mood: Millions of […]2019-09-131h 00The People's PharmacyShow 1177: How You Can Avoid Toxins in Your HomeAre there toxins in your home? As it turns out, many houses hold furniture, electronics and other products that have been treated with toxic chemicals such as stain repellents and flame retardants. Some of these are there because of misguided legislation requiring them in the past. What are the consequences of chronic exposure to compounds […]2019-08-2254 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1176: The Health Benefits of Our Relationships with AnimalsCan you tell what your dog is thinking? Chances are, you have a good idea much of the time. And likewise, your dog pays close attention to your expressions and behaviors to decipher your mood. What are the health implications of our relationships with animals? Empathy Cements Our Relationships with Animals: The capacity for empathy […]2019-08-1654 min
The People's PharmacyYou Can Order Your Own Lab Tests from VerisanaWe invite you to learn more about our sponsor, Verisana Lab. We have long been advocates of home testing to monitor your health. This German-based clinical laboratory makes it easy for you to learn about many hitherto hidden aspects of your health. You can listen to our interview with the CEO, Christian Ziegert. He will […]2019-08-1521 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1175: How to Mix Conventional and Ayurvedic Medicine for CancerWhen a doctor is diagnosed with cancer, you can bet he will try to find the best possible treatments for the disease. Dr. Timothy McCall has long added yoga and Ayurvedic medicine to his standard medical toolkit. So when he was diagnosed with neck cancer and couldn’t schedule the first allopathic (Western medicine) treatment right […]2019-08-0854 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1174: What to Do About Skeeter SyndromeHave your summer evenings outside been spoiled by the whine of a mosquito coming in for a bite? How do you deal with the resulting itch? Mosquito bites usually itch for a while and then go away, but some people suffer excessively. Do you have skeeter syndrome? Although it sounds fanciful, we actually found this […]2019-08-0259 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1173: How Is Diabetes Diagnosed and Treated?Diabetes has nearly become an epidemic, both in the US and around the world. This metabolic disorder interferes with the way the body processes energy and affects more than 30 million Americans. That’s approximately one person out of every ten. Type 1 and Type 2: Do you know the difference between type 1 diabetes (once […]2019-07-2454 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1145: Are Big Corporations Hacking the American Mind? (Archive)The distinction between pleasure and happiness might seem like a philosopher’s quibble. Fat Chance author Dr. Robert Lustig tells us why this difference is vitally important to our national wellbeing. Corporations are hacking the American mind because of our ignorance about the difference between them. Pleasure vs. Happiness: Dr. Lustig describes the neurochemical foundations behind […]2019-07-1857 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1172: How Can Antibiotics Affect Your Brain?Antibiotics are crucial for treating serious infections, but the specter of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is scary. Many public health experts have called for more diligent antibiotic stewardship to protect the usefulness of these medication. How Might Antibiotics Affect Your Brain? Some physicians point to other, equally compelling reasons to use antibiotics more judiciously. They […]2019-07-1254 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1114: How Health Care Became Big Business (Archive)The American health care system is a $3 trillion mess. Although it has significant technological sophistication, this big business doesn’t seem consistently able to get appropriate treatments to the patients who need them. Millions of people have no insurance, or the insurance they have doesn’t cover the care they need. Increasing premiums and unexpected bills […]2019-07-0558 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1171: How Can You Avoid the Pain of Diverticulitis?Diverticulitis can cause excruciating pain. What causes this problem, and how can you prevent it? As we grow older, many of us acquire little pouches, pockets or potholes in the large intestine. Doctors have a term for the presence of these diverticula: they call the condition diverticulosis. However, if food or feces get trapped in […]2019-06-2859 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1169: What Are the Problems with Generic Drugs?You may not be aware that the vast majority of medications Americans take are generic drugs. This helps hold down the costs that patients have to pay, especially if you are taking one of the medicines offered for an extra-low rate, like $4 a month, at a big-box store. That certainly sounds great, unless you […]2019-06-1359 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1168: What Should You Know About Women’s Heart Health?When you think about heart health, you may not think about any gender differences in symptoms or treatment. Most doctors don’t, so why would patients? However, women don’t always experience the classic symptoms of crushing chest pain that we expect from tales of men’s heart attacks. Sometimes, they may be bothered with back or jaw […]2019-06-0759 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1167: Will a Tick Bite Make You Allergic to Meat?For some years, emergency doctors and allergists were puzzled by people who started having extremely serious allergic reactions in the middle of the night, a long time after they had eaten or drunk anything or had any contact with obvious allergens. Smart sleuthing from our guest and his colleagues determined that a tick bite can […]2019-05-3059 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1166: How Can You Manage the Misery of Seasonal Allergies?Do you sniffle through spring or feel crummy in the fall? Many people suffer with seasonal allergies, and trying to figure out which medicines make sense is no easy task. To start with, how do you know if you are sneezing from a cold or from hay fever? Why does the answer change the kind […]2019-05-2459 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1165: Can Your Doctor’s Positive Attitude Improve Your Health?We all prefer to interact with people who are friendly, supportive and helpful. But when it comes to health care providers, does “bedside manner” really make a difference? Or is a doctor’s positive attitude irrelevant to the medical outcome? Does Your Doctor’s Positive Attitude Affect Your Health? We talk with a scientist who has looked […]2019-05-1759 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1164: Will We Win the Race Against Emerging Superbugs?Dr. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, after observing horrific lethal infections on the battlefields of the first World War. It was the first antibiotic to defeat a wide range of terrifying diseases. Today, however, there are frequently shortages of this critical medication. In addition, penicillin and related antibiotics may not kill emerging superbugs. Less […]2019-05-0959 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1163: Should You Trust Your Prescription Drugs?Do you use mail order for your prescription drugs to get a better price? Many insurance companies strongly encourage people to order online from preferred sources so they can control how much they have to pay. Most of us like to save money. However, are there any downsides to getting your medicines mailed instead of […]2019-05-0359 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1162: How to Treat Common Thyroid ProblemsThe thyroid gland on your neck is not very big, but it is super important. It secretes hormones that control the activity of every cell in your body. Consequently, the thyroid regulates your metabolism, your heart beats, your bowels and even your thinking. What happens when the thyroid doesn’t work as it should? How do […]2019-04-2659 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1160: How Good Is the Evidence for Cutting Salt?For decades, public health experts have been admonishing Americans to cut the salt in our diets. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends that we limit ourselves to 2,300 mg of sodium daily. That’s about one teaspoon. Ideally, the AHA says, we would get less than 1,500 mg of this crucial mineral every day. Should […]2019-04-121h 00The People's PharmacyShow 1125: How Can You Find Your Sleep Solution? (Archive)You may have read or heard that adequate sleep is a pillar of good health, like exercise and a healthy diet. Sleep affects blood pressure and heart disease, metabolism and obesity, the immune system, cognitive function and mood. But if you can’t get enough sleep, that information is more frustrating than helpful. What is interfering […]2019-04-0559 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1159: Do Cold Sores Boost Your Risk for Dementia?The past few months have produced some fascinating science stories from international sources. We interviewed two scientists in far-flung places to learn more about unexpected ways that microbes interact with us and affect our health. One researcher has developed some unique ways to study the microbiome of our digestive tract. Another is examining whether the […]2019-03-2958 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1158: Will Hormone Disruptors Affect Your Children’s Health?Over the last several decades, our environment has changed enormously. Comparing a playground in 1962 to the same playground in 2019 gives some sense of how thoroughly we have surrounded ourselves and our children with chemicals that may have profound impacts on the hormones in our bodies. As just one example, bisphenol A found in […]2019-03-2158 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1157: Why Are You Never Home Alone?You may think your home is sparkling clean. But even a clean house harbors a host of small creatures that have a fascinating web of interactions with each other and with the humans who live there. What do you know about the ecology of your home? How does the dust that accumulates in the corners […]2019-03-1558 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1153: How to Listen to TV Drug CommercialsIf you watch television, you can’t avoid TV drug commercials for maladies from type 2 diabetes to auto-immune diseases like psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis to refractory cancers. Do you see these ads as providing the information you need about your medicines? Or do you perceive them as pushing viewers to request drugs that they may […]2019-02-1559 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1152: Can You Conquer Your Cravings with Mindfulness?Have you ever thought about how a bad habit gets started? You can blame the neural wiring and chemistry we share with all animals. When we do something that feels good in the moment, we remember it and are likely to repeat that action. But “feels good” doesn’t always translate into “good for you.” How […]2019-02-0858 minThe People's PharmacyShow 1151: What Was the First Immunotherapy for Cancer?Back at the turn of the 20th century, the only treatment for most types of cancer was surgery. When a young New York doctor lost his first patient to sarcoma despite treating her by the book, he began to look for other approaches. What he came up with was actually the first immunotherapy for cancer. […]2019-02-011h 16