We are only about a month into fall, but flu season is already underway. Today we are considering the best actions to take against winter infections. First, however, we asked our guest expert about measles. There have been large outbreaks in so many places this year. Why is measles such a big deal?

Do you run out of go-power in the middle of the morning? Maybe you find it hard to focus and your ability to call on your memory is strained. Or perhaps you suffer from an after-lunch slump. Some people find that their brain fog is troublesome most of the time. While there are some medical condition

Neurological conditions have been increasing over the past several decades, but none more quickly than Parkinson disease. What is this disorder, and what is driving the increase? We’ll discuss symptoms people often miss and find out about treatments. At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you

Birth rates have been dropping for years. This is happening in many parts of the world, not just the US. Demographers estimate that women need to have 2.1 children, on average, to replace the population. (The US is currently at about 1.7 or 1.8 children per woman.) Where the average number of babies

After years of dementia, many people have reduced their communication to minimal levels. Sometimes, they don’t say anything at all, and family members may be tempted to assume that memories have disappeared along with cognitive function. Occasionally, such a person will become surprisingly coherent

Do you worry that your hair is thinning? You may wonder what treatments could make a real difference. After all, you wouldn’t want to spend money on something that has no chance of helping. Many people also have concerns about their nails. Perhaps they are ridged, or loose, or too thick. Could that

For years, anyone who sprained an ankle or twisted a knee got some standard advice: ice it, rest it, wrap it with compression tape and keep it elevated. The acronym for Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate is RICE. New research shows that following this advice alleviates the pain from the injury in the s

This week, we get in-depth information on Lp(a), the heart risk no one talks about. You have heard of cholesterol, and you may even know what your cholesterol level is. The compound lipoprotein a may be equally dangerous when it is elevated, but you have probably heard very little about it. At The P

A new school year is about to start in many parts of the country. Going back to school can be exciting, but some students may dread it. Perhaps they are struggling with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, abbreviated ADHD. How can you recognize the symptoms of this problem? What are the most c

Do you suffer with anxiety, depression, or another mental illness? Millions of people do. The usual treatment is a prescription medication. If that doesn’t work, the healthcare provider may offer a different one. Diet is certainly not the first topic on the provider’s mind. But what if, in addition

When you decide to grab a bite to eat, do you think about how to feed your gut microbes? Most of us don’t. Even if we did, their only means of stating their preferences is somewhat after the fact. Do you end up feeling less than well? Perhaps the denizens of your gut aren’t happy. […]

You 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, in 2008. But in less than two decades this dangerous f

Our kidneys do an incredible job filtering our blood every hour of every day. Most of us have two kidneys, and each one has about a million microscopic filters called glomeruli. Unlike the filters in our HVAC system, though, these filters cannot be replaced. But they do their work so well and unobtr

Millions of people suffer with foot trouble. Some have heel pain when they first get out of bed. Others complain of flat feet or bunions. Athlete’s foot is very common, though it doesn’t always respond as expected to antifungal medications. Speaking of fungus, toenail fungus can be extremely stubbor

One of the most basic pillars of health is good nutrition. A range of eating patterns might all be considered balanced diets, but in general people do better when they eat less processed foods and more whole foods. Vegetables and fruits play a starring role in at least two diets that have been studi

Are you concerned about your bone health? Do you worry about osteoporosis? According to the CDC, more than 10 million Americans have low bone density that makes them more vulnerable to fractures. For many older people, a fracture can be devastating, reducing mobility and possibly even leading to dea

Do you have trouble sleeping? An occasional late night or early morning is probably not dangerous, but too many people get too little sleep on a regular basis. How does that affect their health? Even more importantly, what can they do to change the situation? You’ll want to listen to find out if you

When sunny summer days come around, it makes some dermatologists shudder. They would prefer we behave like bats and hide in caves until nightfall. Failing that, they stress the importance of always applying (and re-applying) high SPF sunscreen, wearing sun-blocking clothing with long sleeves and kee

This week, we look at the new pharmaceuticals that the FDA has approved for treating Alzheimer disease. Although they are effective at removing amyloid plaques from the brain, they don’t seem to help patients function better. Is it time to turn away from an exclusive focus on amyloid to consider oth

Too many of us are spending our days staring at screens. Little screens on our phones, big screens on the television, medium-size screens on our computers at work. Our modern lifestyles mean that we spend the vast majority of our time indoors–93%, on average. What is the time inside doing to our hea

Humans have five senses, but for most of us, sight dominates. That’s why vision problems are so distressing. Have you been dealing with difficulties with your eyes? During this broadcast episode, our guest expert is ready to answer your questions about vision problems. At The People’s Pharmacy, we s

Pain is an important warning signal, helping you protect your body from damage. That’s why we can view acute pain as an asset. Chronic pain, though, can be debilitating. In this episode, a pain psychologist offers a roadmap for managing chronic pain. At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you

You may think of allergies as causing sniffly noses and congestion in the spring or fall. But allergies can go far beyond that. As Dr. Kari Nadeau points out in this episode, allergies can affect us from head to toe, including eyes, nose, throat, lungs, sinuses, skin and gut. In the most dangerous i

Over the years, we have spoken with scores of healthcare experts about chronic illness. Many of them attribute the problems to inflammation, which is after all a natural response to infection or injury. But not everyone has a system for locating and addressing the source of the inflammation. If you