KUSP's Ask Doctor Dawn

Survey of drugs that suppress malaria; Auto accidents are more a major cause of death for travelers; How to avoid traveler's diarrhea; Which vaccines to get before traveling depends on where you are going; Go to CDC.gov and Promedmail.org data for localized information about various diseases; Mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue, Yellow Fever and Chikungunya are discussed; More about the complicated life cycle of of malaria and why one strain is fatal; Other tips for travel safety on airplanes and beaches

The politics of new anti-abortions laws in Texas and other states; Affordable Care Act delays — comments on structures of health insurance models; Omega 3 fatty acids increase prostate cancer? Listen for more next week; Combating jet lag with melatonin and other natural remedies; Comments on the health insurance mandate and implementation in the Affordable Care Act; A preventative approach to health care would reduce Medicare spending — raising Medicare age is not a good idea; Stories about opiate pain medications abuse from a pharmacist; Migrating pain only at night is probably vitamin D deficiency or an inflammatory process; Caller is worried that he might have a parasite from drinking water; Mandatory mental status tests, now included in Medicare wellness exam, are a good idea to detect early dementia; Follow up supplements to thin the blood and reduce fibrous scars post deep vein thrombosis and Coumadin treatment; A concise summary of how to use testosterone and DHEA to reduce muscle loss with age

More details about the study of probiotics reducing severity of heart attacks; FDA drug recall reveals flaw in FDA approval process; How to get enough potassium and how much is enough? Deaths from opiate drug overdoses has increased in the past decade and how to prevent over prescribing; Popping blood vessels, a symptom of vascular fragility syndrome, should be checked out; Check thyroid and other hormones to figure out why sleep time is reducing; Quality control of dosing caused the recall of Levoxyl thyroid medication; Be careful with anti-immune drugs to combat autoimmune diseases since they do have side effects and increased cancer risk; Chinese herbal approach may help a young woman with premature gray hair; Why infections after cancer surgery increase chances of metastasis later; CoQ10 may help the memory loss side effects of using statins; Testosterone supplement will probably help muscle mass loss in someone who exercises regularly; Update on Affordable Care act implementation delays and support for contraceptives

Swings in attitudes for appropriate use of opiates for pain vs. risks of addiction; Vaginal soreness needs to be checked for herpes simplex virus; In the news again: claims of the dangers of L-carnitine in red meat — but L-carnitine is prescribed for fibromyalgia; Experiences with drug withdrawals and inappropriate use of pain medications; Taking the appropriate dose of opiates avoids addiction with long term use; Hydration, fiber and magnesium solves constipation; Residual pain in the arm after getting a flu shot may be nerve irritation; Chronic use of Tylenol and Acetaminophen is very bad for asthma and bronchitis sufferers; Data mining the users who play online cognitive games on the Lumosity website yields interesting results; Probiotics reducing heart attack severity makes sense because it lowers inflammation in the body; A male who feels like he's having hot flashes in the afternoon — check various hormone levels; Benecol alternative to margarine does have stanols that reduce cholesterol, but the trans fats in it are bad for you; The benefits of wheat grass for your detoxification is supported by Functional Medicine research that is often omitted from conventional medicine websites

US Supreme Court rules that genes can?t be patented; The Five Wishes website helps communicate one's wishes near end of life; Environmental sensitivities such as reactions to fragrances is due to detoxification defects; Amino acid supplements to treat cardiomyopathy — and the multiple benefits of taurine; Treatments for dry eyes and rosacea; Struggling with effects of a brain bleed, including Jacksonian seizures; Dr Dawn criticizes a doctor who claims you shouldn't take vitamins! Get 2nd opinion to help decide between amputation and reconstruction; A complex case of balancing B vitamin levels in someone with Lyme disease and probably detoxification genetic issues

Warning about Townsend farms frozen berries contaminated with hepatitis A; MRI reveals that breast feeding speeds up brain cell development and other brain skills later; DHEA works to reduce vaginal dryness for a regular listener to the show; Regulations about medical-related patents differs widely in different countries; Suggestions for treating clothing to inhibit mosquito bites when traveling; Getting off antidepressants such as Effexor must be done very slowly to avoid strange side effects; Should a healthy post-menopausal woman who hasn't had a heart attack take a statin? More about DHEA and the complex pathways that produce estrogen, testosterone and other hormones; Post menopause hormone changes can cause thickening of the skin on hands and feet; Botox can help a slow blinking disorder, benign blepharospasm; News of the weird: Toxoplasmosis in cats and trapping malaria-carrying mosquitoes with human foot order! Freezing sperm and eggs when you are young will reduce the risks of genetic defects when having children later in life; Advice for a caller dealing with a friend dying of cancer

Survey of drugs that suppress malaria; Auto accidents are more a major cause of death for travelers; How to avoid traveler's diarrhea; Which vaccines to get before traveling depends on where you are going; Go to CDC.gov and Promedmail.org data for localized information about various diseases; Mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue, Yellow Fever and Chikungunya are discussed; More about the complicated life cycle of of malaria and why one strain is fatal; Other tips for travel safety on airplanes and beaches

The origins of an environmental activist: Don Hoernschemeyer visits Dr Dawn and answer questions about toxic chemicals in our environment; Pesticides and BPA top the list of the most important chemical problems today; Heating food in BPA-containing polycarbonate plastic is not a good idea, even after many uses; What are toxic risks with root canals? Unfortunately, protecting against fire in furniture, mattresses, pillows and clothing often involves in toxic chemicals! What to do about the dust in homes that absorbs all kinds of bad chemicals; Lead and mercury really don't have have safe levels, especially if found together; Acrylics, like plexiglass, are not a toxic problem; How does one identify furniture without toxic chemicals such as flame retardants? Vinyl clothing storage bags don't have BPA, but they do have phthalates, another important hormone disruptor; Caller talks about publicity around the BRCA1 breast cancer gene — patents for genes are discussed; More about lead in paint, toys, etc. and their effect on children; Brita water filter containers and other things made from polystyrene aCalifornia reveals list of insurers for the insurance exchanges created by the Affordable Care Actnd polypropylene are considered safe from toxic chemicals; Small, flexible water bottles do not have BPA, but some 5-gallon water bottles do; Don Hoernschemeyer wraps up with comments on how environmental toxins cause most cancers; California reveals list of insurers for the insurance exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act; What are the consequences of removing a cecal mass and part of my intestine? What is difference between a stool softener and a laxative? Ear acupuncture is recommended to treat the pain from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome

Dr. Dawn reviews recent studies blaming red meat for atherosclerosis; Poorly designed study tries to discredit use of fish oil — other research disagrees; Cancer risks after having radioactive iodine for Grave's disease — and vocal chord nodule question; The tricky problem of stopping osteoporosis pain in a 94 year old woman; Followup from a man with numb leg sees other doctors and eventually one agrees with Dr. Dawn's original conclusions; Chelation therapy and supplements to treat a baby with high blood lead level — home lead testing also discussed; China cancer study and whether one should become vegan are discussed; More dialogue about the problems and detection of lead in paint and toys; Are there supplements to counter the purported dangers of carnitine in meat? What does the Functional Medicine say about coffee? Does a component in brown rice bran inhibit cancer? A listener asks about the many "cancer centers" that market direct to consumers

Senator Barbara Boxer introduces a bill in the US Senate for GMO food labeling; "Morning after pill" is now available for women 15 and older; Gamma tocopherol helps people heal endothelial damage caused by smoking; Water quality, purification and storage issues are discussed; Managing pain from bulging lumbar discs; Complex nanoparticle system can deliver insulin in response to blood glucose for many days; Probiotics discussion including dosing, the role of the appendix, diverticulitis and help with weight loss and diabetes; A caller comments on new research criticizing red mThe different forms of vitamin B12 and which to take as a supplementeat, water quality issues and strengthening your back; Vitamin D cured leg cramps for this caller — did it improve muscle calcium? Vitamin K and estrogen cream may prevent recurrent nose bleeds noses in and elder; The different forms of vitamin B12 and which to take as a supplement; Discussion about previous topics of morning after pill, the appendix; Myhealthresource.org helps Californians find low cost and free medical and dental services; Probiotics potency if not refrigerated and try liquid magnesium if you don't tolerate big pills; Does ingested fiber inhibit probiotics and absorbing medications? People with sleep apnea have more side effects to anesthesia — spinal is better than inhalation

Genetically modifying T cells provides a miraculous cure for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children; New techniques to study the behavior of cancer cells in order to reverse their development; Genetic defects in detoxification processes can lead to acute chemical sensitivities; The liver produces glucose overnight, leading to higher blood sugar levels in the morning; More about the issue of metal toxicity from metal on metal hip replacements; Dose of vitamin K to help with osteoporosis — use the MK7 variety; Reaction to sleep medication is a probable cause of chronic sleepiness in an elder in a nursing home; Doctors criticize 'big pharma' for extremely high prices of an important cancer drug; A woman on a variety of blood pressure drugs is worried about effects on her kidneys; Protein folding mistakes are behind many diseases — research explores how to fix it; Antibiotics in the first year of life or multiple courses later doubles the probability of developing food allergies; Oral and topical Vitamin K can help with bruises from skin damage

Comments on a bad consent form and the ethics of human experimentation — a case with premature babies; A middle school science project shows benefits of organic food; Why did my doctor want a PET scan for my pneumonia? More discussion on achieving correct oxygen levels in premature babies; The incompatibilities among medical data systems thwarts doing useful "data mining" research; Dr Dawn likes the old anti-depressant drug Trazodone for sleeping problems in elders; More about blood pressure medications and the benefits of weight loss and exercise in reducing hypertension; Physical therapy and other advice for addressing knee arthritis and muscle loss in legs; Finding the right dose of magnesium to counter leg spasms and pain; More about how herpes transmission requires mucous membranes or breaks in skin; Nausea in the morning may be from acid reflux, not a side effect of a pain medication; How some interesting proteins move in response to a hormone to allow water uptake in kidney cells; Careful stretching is the key to treating plantar plantar fasciitis; Comparing surgery vs. radiation treatment for prostate cancer

Federal court blocks fracking oil and gas in Monterey Bay area; A commonly-used antibiotic may cause heart rhythm problems; New cat allergy vaccine requires fewer shots; Widely diverse variations in medical tests and procedure prices in the broken US health care system; Genetic variations are often the cause of loose or tight muscles and joints — what to do about it; Detecting a dangerous arrhythmia needs a doctor's examination; Zantac for a baby with coli is not a great idea — try probiotics instead; Stop over-using a toxic gel for a benign viral skin condition called molluscum contagiosum; Caller's story exposes the insane game of over-billing insurance for hospital fees because they get highly-discounted payments; More discussion on health insurance pricing craziness and the advantages of Medicare; Don't take iron supplement if you have arthritis; An emergency a appendectomy gets expensive because anesthesiologist didn't accept my insurance! Research does support vegetarian diets to reduce many health problems; Could thyroid medication raise my blood pressure?

Walking briskly reduced heart disease more than running; Metal hip problems because of immune reactions to the metal; Poor circulation problem in my hand — blood vessel damage caused by psoriatic arthritis; Fish oil can reduce cardiovascular events as well as statins; Comparing drugs for hypertension treatment and other alternative treatments; The benefits of mushrooms in possibly reducing cancer cell growth; What is aortic stenosis and research supporting chelation therapy for treating cardiovascular disease; Supplements that boost the immune system are not good for those with autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis; A woman on birth control pills gets migraines when she stops taking them; A caller asks for resources for doctors of gay men; High levels of probiotics and other suggestions for a woman with cellulitis and fibromyalgia; Does the cleanse done before a colonoscopy remove beneficial bacteria?

Vitamin D deficiency before and during pregnancy raises the rate of gestational diabetes; New drug for diabetes inhibits reabsorption of glucose in the kidney; Genetic profile helps decide who needs more monitoring for breast and prostate cancer; The difference between Vitamin D2 and D3 — which should I get as a supplement? Chances of getting herpes or other diseases from a toilet seat is slim! Strategies to fight repeated urinary tract infections in an elder; What is the cause of swelling in my legs? Review of the Affordable Care Act — it has decreased rate of insurance premium increases; Loosing weight decreases amount of fat per cell, but not the number of them; Why even sugary fruits don't raise blood sugar levels as much as other sugar sources; Colloidal silver spray is useful for chronic sinus infections; Are there interactions among my supplements and are some redundant? Various questions about taking and testing for vitamin D; Is burning feeling on my leg caused by a spinal anesthetic injection many years ago?