RadioMD (All Shows)

Using antibiotics for every ear infection, sore throat and cold could cause another nasty infection... with diarrhea.C. difficile, which causes at least 250,000 infections in hospitalized patients and 14,000 deaths every year among children and adults, remains at all-time high levels. It is a bacterial infection that can cause severe diarrhea and is potentially life-threatening, According to preliminary CDC data, an estimated 17,000 children aged one through 17 years get C. difficile infections every year.  According to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control, this infection can occur among children in the general community who recently took antibiotics prescribed in doctor's offices for other conditions. Taking antibiotics is the most important risk factor for developing C. difficile infections for both adults and children. When a person takes antibiotics, beneficial bacteria that protect against infection can be altered or even eliminated for several weeks to months. During this time, patients can get sick from C. difficile picked up from contaminated surfaces or spread from a health care provider's hands. Although there have been significant improvements in prescribing antibiotics for certain acute respiratory infections in children, further improvement is greatly needed. In addition, it is critical that parents avoid asking doctors to prescribe antibiotics for their children and that doctors follow prescribing guidelines. The CDC's Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work program says that "antibiotics aren't always the answer." They urge parents to work with their child's doctor to find the best treatment for the illness, which may just be providing symptom relief. Dr. Cliff McDonald shares more information about this potentially dangerous infection, and how you can protect yourself and your little ones. For more information about the Get Smart program and improving antibiotic prescribing practices in doctor's offices, visit    http//www.cdc.gov/getsmart

Can devices that soothe infants to sleep be so loud that they damage their hearing?Infant sleep machines can be used to mask environmental noises in busy households or to provide ambient noise to soothe an infant during sleep, but they can also contribute to babies' hearing loss. In an April 2014 Pediatrics study, "Infant Sleep Machines and Hazardous Sound Pressure Levels," the maximum noise levels of 65 sounds in 14 different infant sleep machines were tested at three distances. All 14 machines exceeded 50 dBA, the current recommended noise limit for infants in hospital nurseries, and all but one exceeded the recommended noise limit even from 200 centimeters away. The findings also determined that regular exposure to white noise through an infant sleep machine on a nightly basis can affect hearing, speech, and language development. This news should encourage parents to move infant sleep machines farther away than 200 centimeters and to lower the volume to protect infants' hearing. Special guest, Dr. Blake Papsin, shares more information from the results of the study, as well as the varying dangers associated with these sleep machines.

Retail-based medical clinics don't have your child's medical history, so can they truly help?Families may decide to use a retail-based health clinic because they believe it is convenient and less expensive; but according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, these clinics do not provide children with the high-quality, regular preventive health care children need. In an updated policy statement published in the March 2014 Pediatrics, the AAP emphasizes that retail-based clinics are an inappropriate source of primary care for children because they fragment children's health care and do not support the medical home. The policy statement, "AAP Principles Concerning Retail-Based Clinics," updates the Academy's 2006 policy statement, which expressed strong opposition to the use of retail-based clinics. The AAP acknowledges that the number of retail-based clinics has grown to more than 6,000 as of 2012. Surveys indicate 15 percent of children are likely to use a retail-based clinic in the future, although the majority of patients are adults. "The AAP recognizes that convenience and access to care will continue to be important drivers of how health care is delivered," said James Laughlin, MD, FAAP, lead author of the policy statement. "However, the expertise of the pediatrician and the medical home should continue to be recognized as the standard for care of children, and we encourage all AAP members to provide accessible hours and locations as part of a medical home." Pediatricians are specifically trained in child health issues. They know each child's health history, and are best equipped to take care of both simple and complicated problems comprehensively within the medical home. As young patients and their health issues become more complex, the possibility arises that even a simple complaint may be related to a more serious, underlying condition that could be overlooked by someone who is less familiar with the patient. While the AAP believes the medical home is the optimal standard of care for pediatric patients, and does not recommend that parents use retail-based health clinics, it is understood that the services of these clinics may be used for acute care outside of the medical home. If parents choose to use a retail-based clinic for their child's illness, they should ask if the clinic has a formal relationship with their pediatrician, if the clinic will communicate with the pediatrician about the visit, and what the protocol is for following up if the illness does not resolve or the clinic is closed. Parents should consider only using retail-based clinics that have a formal relationship with their child's pediatrician. Join Dr. Laughlin as he shares more information about the report, as well as advice in regards to retail-based medical clinics.

Fitness apps for mobile devices are a major trend right now. But how do you choose the right ones for you?Fitness apps for mobile devices are a major trend right now. But choosing the right ones for you and your exercise goals can be time-consuming... and all those 99 cent app purchases can start to add up. Why are fitness apps such a trend? Are the best fitness apps ones that let you track your progress or mileage? What should you look for in a fitness app? What are the top picks for fitness apps on the market, and why? Fitness writer and blogger, Amanda Vogel, shares her picks for the best fitness apps available today. Here are some of her favorites: Charitymiles Walk/Jog/Run PopSugarActive TabataPro

Can your time on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social sites really help you get in shape?Are you on Facebook? Do you Tweet? Post photos on Instagram? It seems that everyone is on social media these days, and we've all had a Facebook friend who is constantly posting about going to the gym. But can your time on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social sites really help you get and stay in shape? Can posting on social media about going to the gym really help you become more fit? What is the best social media platform for motivating people to get and stay in shape? And where can you follow fitness experts who can help motivate you and who offer useful workout ideas and tips? Social media consultant and fitness writer, Amanda Vogel, answers all of these questions and more.

You get home for spring break, weigh yourself and oh no... you have put on 15 pounds! How can you lose it at school when the choices are so crappy?College food seems to be all pizza, burgers, and lots of snacks and junk food. It's easy to get used to this way of eating, especially when all your newly-made friends are doing it to. But then you go home for spring break, weigh yourself and oh nooooo... you have put on 15 pounds! How can you lose it at school when the choices are so crappy? Now is when the real hard work begins. You have to choose the right foods at the cafeteria and learn to buy and make your own diet foods. Dieting at college is the worst, yes. But so is being heavy. You can get the weight off... and look in the mirror and be happy with what you see.  It's not as hard as you think. Join special guest, Dr.Felicia Stoler, as she shares the best ways to lose the dreaded college weight, despite the temptations all around you.

The best way to stop freshman weight gain is to understand how to prevent it.Going to college is a milestone. Family and friends may joke around with you about the dreaded "Freshman 15" right before you leave for school. It can become a painful memory down the road, with you trying to avoid photos of the unflattering weight gain. The cause of this phenomenon is not unfounded. Learning how to cope with the separation and transition from home to independence requires a lot of adjustments. Alcohol, late-night and binge eating, and processed foods and stress are all associated with the "college experience," and are considered to be catalysts for the excessive weight gain. It's easy to get used to the pizza, burgers and late-night junk food that this experience offers. However, not everyone gains the legendary freshman 15; some gain less, or in some cases, even more. Studies show that an average freshman college student will gain anywhere from five to nine pounds during his or her first year. These habits and pounds can add up, making it challenging to lose the weight once school has ceased. The best way to stop freshman weight gain is to understand how to prevent it. Join special guest, Dr. Felicia Stoler, as she shares healthy tips and advice on how to avoid the freshman 15.

You're woken up every single day by your man's erection. Does this mean that he is more aroused in the morning?Sharing a bed with your man can be great... that is until your daily wake-up call comes from between your sheets and not the alarm on your nightstand. You may think your guy just had a very intimate sexual fantasy in his sleep and is looking for a way to have it satisfied. This is not always the case. Did you know that morning wood has nothing to do with sexual desire? Actually, it happens when your man is in his REM (rapid eye movement) sleep cycle. During REM, your body turns off some neurotransmitters that regulate body functions. One of these neurotransmitters is in charge of stopping erections. REM decreases norepinephrine levels, and testosterone is free to pump as much blood into the penis, causing an erection. This doesn't mean that men aren't aroused immediately when they wake up. Each person is different; some men and women may be aroused in the morning while others get randy later in the day. Director of San Diego Sexual Medicine, Irwin Goldstein, MD, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to explain why morning wood happens and if it means men are more sexually aroused than women.

Oral sex can be just as intimate, if not more intimate than sex. Are you missing out?Oral sex is just as intimate -- if not more intimate -- than sex. In fact, a recent survey in Woman's Day indicates that couples will spend at least 20 minutes on foreplay before intercourse. A reported 41 percent of women enjoy giving and receiving oral sex and feel empowered while doing so. However, 17 percent don't like it and feel that it can be demeaning. Is there anything you and your partner can do to help you enjoy the benefits of oral? The first step to help you and your partner get intimate is to communicate your fears, desires and fantasies to each other. When you're open and honest, it helps you both feel connected and more intimate with one another. Are you missing out on not participating in oral sex with your partner? Sexologist Ava Cadell, PhD, shares why oral sex is beneficial, as well as ways to help you and your partner reach satisfaction when you're intimate.

You know the Big O feels great, but you aren't always reaching it. Are there ways to increase the chances during intercourse?It's no surprise that orgasms make sex amazing; but what if you can't climax every time you and your partner are intimate? You're not alone. According to several surveys, only about 25 percent of women always climax with their partner. The female orgasm is much more complex than a male's. Many women aren't getting the right stimulation during intercourse because the majority of typical positions are not focusing on the right areas. Placing a pillow underneath your pelvis during the missionary position helps reach the g-spot, an erogenous zone located inside your vagina. Also, making sure you're in the right state of mind is crucial to helping you reach an orgasm. If you focus on what you and your partner are doing during foreplay, each kiss and touch will increase your chances of climaxing during intercourse. What are some other ways to reach an orgasm every time you and your partner have sex? Sexologist Ava Cadell, PhD, explains why orgasms are tricky, as well as ways you and your partner can achieve orgasm every single time you have sex.

How you argue and resolve conflict with your partner can determine a happy and successful OR doomed relationship.No matter if you've been dating for five years, or married for two, you are bound to have fights with your significant other. Some may seem silly and are easily resolved and forgotten within 10 minutes. But what about those other stubborn and never-ending fights? Depending on how you argue and resolve conflict with your partner can make all the difference in determining a happy, successful relationship or a doomed one. During any fight, it's important to ask yourself what you are truly upset about and why this fight is taking place. Are you looking to resolve the conflict or to just get even with your partner? Or does it all come down to winning an argument and the subject of the fight is irrelevant? If your go-to move is to insult character and hit below the belt, bring up past issues and refuse to back down, you're not fighting fair and you need to take a breath. What are some tips for fighting fair? Always remember the good in your partner and the love you both share. And, be nice. Keep your fight relevant, private and get to the point of your frustration. Relationship and marriage blogger, Angela Pope, shares why it's important to fight fair in a relationship, as well as some tips to help you stay balanced during an argument.

Adoption can be an expensive and a prolonged process. Learn how to be fully prepared for the road ahead.Did you know that hundreds of thousands of couples are looking to adopt each year? According to the U.S. Department of State, from 1999-2012 there was a total of 242,602 adoptions. More than half of these were female and under the age of one year. Adoption can be an expensive and a prolonged process depending on the services that you decide to enlist. For example, at The Cradle, an adoption agency in Illinois, the average waiting time is one year after you complete your home study. How do you know which adoption agency to choose? There are two equally important questions you should ask when considering adoption. First, what post-adoption services are available to you, your child and birth parent? And second, it's important to ask exactly what services you are going to get with the specific adoption agency that you choose. President of The Cradle, Julie Tye, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss everything you need to know about adoption.

News of the week, toxic dangers, and plastic surgery secrets. You don't want to miss this!Straight talk from the docs!  Dr. Mike and co-host Joe Galuski discuss more of the most prevalent health news you need to know from the past week. Plus, find out "What's Toxic & What's Not" from toxicologist and regular contributor, Gary Ginsberg. More from RealAge 7 Skin Care Mistakes

Using food as medicine can transform the way you think about your health; and if you suffer from a chronic disease, you can truly get your life back.If you're suffering from an autoimmune condition or chronic disease like obesity or diabetes, you know how challenging daily life can be. But what if you could dramatically turn your health and life around, simply by choosing certain foods? That's exactly what Dr. Terry Wahls did. In 2000, the marathon-running, mountain climbing Dr. Wahls was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Within three years, this very active doctor needed a wheelchair. But she didn't give up. After studying the latest research, she embraced food as medicine. Within a year, she was able to bike 18 miles in one day, and the following year she completed a trail ride in the Canadian Rockies. Sounds like quite the amazing transformation, don't you think? Dr. Wahls joins Dr. Roizen to discuss her new book, The Wahls Protocol: How I Beat Progressive MS Using Paleo Principles and Functional Medicine. The principles of the book are based on the Paleo way of eating... however, it isn't just another Paleo diet. It can transform the way you think about your health, and it can show you exactly how to get your life back. Bonus! More from RealAge 4 Steps to Better Eye Health

Join Dr. Roizen and his expert guests for the latest health news, wellness advice and most up-to-date research from around the world.World-renowned physician, Dr. Michael Roizen, MD, continues to update your understanding of the meaning of health by providing an in-depth review of the most impactful health headlines.  Joined by his co-host, Joe Galuski, they discuss the health news that matters most to you. The duo is later joined by the inspiring Terry Wahls, MD. In 2000, Dr. Wahls was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), and within three years she needed a wheelchair. But she didn't give up. After studying the latest research, she embraced food as medicine. Within a year, she was able to bike 18 miles in one day! She discusses her new book, The Wahls Protocol: How I Beat Progressive MS Using Paleo Principles and Functional Medicine. Bonus! RealAge Tip What 'Smart' Hobbies Help with MS?