RadioMD (All Shows)

Starting Oct 1st, there will be many changes and options, and you need to know how to proceed.Do you know how the Affordable Care Act ( ACA) will affect you and your family? Starting Oct 1st, there will be many changes happening that will take place and you need to know how to proceed. Since it took effect in 2010, the health reform law, otherwise known as the Affordable Care Act or ACA, has made important changes to the way health care coverage works for children and families. Now you can compare insurance options to find the right plan for you and your family. As of January 1, 2014, almost all Americans will be required to have health insurance or pay a penalty. If you have access to affordable insurance through your employer: You do not need to change insurance coverage if you don't want to. If you do not have access to affordable coverage: You can get health insurance through your state's marketplace. Enrollment for new coverage begins October 1, 2013. Listen as Marianne Eterno, Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company Assistant Vice President of Government Relations joins Melanie Cole, MS to guide you through the new Health insurance laws and simplify the act for you.

If you or a family member is genetically at risk for heart disease, your student athlete could be at even greater risk for sudden cardiac death from whatever sport they play. This devastating information can also help save your child's life. Do not miss this show.Do you or a family member have a genetic risk for heart disease? Has your child been checked for their risk for heart problems? Most parents would not think to get their child checked for heart issues at such a young age. However, now with the information about sudden cardiac death in sports, your young athlete can be at risk for a devastating heart incident while playing. In this segment of Train Your Body, Sports Cardiologist, Dr. John Higgins, MD, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to fill you in on the dangers of sudden cardiac death in your young athlete and how this can be caught early and prevented. This show could save the life of your child!

Do you feel sluggish during the day? Then you go buy a five hour energy shot or a Monster and it revs you up for the rest of your day? Well you might be risking your life doing that.Do you feel sluggish during the day? Then you go buy a five hour energy shot or a Monster and it revs you up for the rest of your day? Well you might be risking your life doing that. You might be putting your heart at risk. In this segment of Train Your Body, Sports Cardiologist, Dr. John Higgins, MD, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to fill you in on the dangers of energy drinks and their effect on your heart.

Playing while hurt conveys a warrior mentality to sports. But doing so could lead to a life-changing injury.You see athletes - professional, college or high school - playing their sport while hurt. How often have you watched the team physician run out on the field and then the athlete gets up and continues play? Probably more times than you can count. But is this a good idea? What if that athlete was your child? Or you? Would you play through the pain? Playing while hurt conveys a real warrior mentality to sports. Unfortunately, doing so could lead to a life-changing injury. In this segment of Train Your Body, Melanie Cole, MS, and Dr. Mike Bergeron, PhD, dispel the myth of this "hero" attitude and explain the dangers of sucking it up and playing through the pain.

Even if your child is focused on only one sport, there can be benefits of cross-training as well.If you have a child who plays sports, and is very good at one specific sport, he or she (and you) may have dreams of a future career involving athletics. Wouldn't that be nice? The problem is that truly superior athletes tend to train a little too much for their one specific sport. This can not only hurt their ability to play their sport, but it can also cause real injury that could derail those dreams of a future career. Melanie Cole, MS, and Dr. Mike Bergeron, PhD, guide you and your student athlete to great heights of training with the best expert advice on cross training... even for a specific sport.

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. Plastic surgeon, Dr. Arthur Perry,  joins Dr. Mike in the second half hour, and you won't want to miss what they have to say. More from RealAge Get Smarter With This Workout Plus! Dr. Perry's Flap of the Week What's Dr. Perry all fired up about this week? Tune in to find out.

UCLA Operation Mend is a groundbreaking program that serves military men and women who have severe facial and other medical injuries.UCLA Operation Mend is a groundbreaking program that serves military men and women who have severe facial and other medical injuries. Started in 2007, the program provides injured soldiers with access to top plastic and reconstructive surgeons, plus medical and mental health support for the soldiers and their families. In 2007, the program's goal was to provide facial reconstruction. Since then, it has expanded to help soldiers heal not only their bodies, but also their minds and spirits. To date, the organization has helped 82 brave men and women recover from injuries sustained while serving our nation. Program manager, Melanie Gideon, and Army captain and patient, James Barclay, share stories of lives changed by Operation Mend. Bonus! RealAge Tip 5 Foods for Better Sleep

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 Program manager, Melanie Gideon, and Army captain and patient, James Barclay, share stories of lives changed by Operation Mend, the groundbreaking program that serves military men and women who have severe facial and other medical injuries. Bonus! RealAge Tip 5 Foods for Better Sleep

Notebooks and pens aren't the only things your kids need before they head off to school. Learn which health-related items are required as well.Many schools send out a school supply checklist for kids before they had back to school, which includes things like how many notebooks they need, the kind of pencils they should bring, whether or not they need pens, etc. But not often enough do schools send out a health-related checklist. In this segment of ER 101, Dr. Juan Fitz joins Dr. Leigh to discuss all of the things your kids need before they hop on the bus again for one more year of the books. For instance, you should make sure that their medical records are up to date, including things like any allergies they suffer from, any medications they are currently taking, who their pediatrician is, and contact info should the school need to get in touch with you. Additionally, they should have all their vaccinations, dental check-ups and eye exams out of the way. If you child rides the bus, you may want to do a practice run once or twice so he or she becomes familiar with that morning and afternoon routine. Or, if your child is of driving age, make sure you go over all the safety concerns that accompany getting behind the wheel... including NO texting and driving. Kids of all ages have cellphones these days, so take the time to input emergency contact information into their phones so that they have them for easy access should an emergency arise. And, don't forget those "consent to treat" forms. Whether your kids are in pre-school or heading into their senior year, you don't want to miss the important information shared by Dr. Fitz.

Kids putting things in their mouths is a fairly regular occurrence. Unfortunately, it's also a very dangerous occurrence.Does your young child put everything in his or her mouth? Chances are, that's a regular occurrence. Unfortunately, it's also an extremely dangerous occurrence. Magnets are found in many household products... some which you may not even realize. These magnets are small yet powerful, and potentially hazardous. Your child could easily get his or her hands on these and swallow them. This is becoming a very serious problem, as swallowing them could cause holes burned into your child's bowels and many more serious health concerns. Dr. Julie Brown teams up with Dr. Leigh to share why children swallowing these magnets can be so worrisome.

Bell's Palsy looks close to a stroke in symptoms, but is very different. Know the symptoms so you can get appropriate care.Bell's Palsy is an inflammatory condition that affects a specific facial nerve, and causes partial or complete paralysis of the face. The causes are often unknown, but could be due to a virus or even complications from Lyme disease. The symptoms of Bell's Palsy actually look very close to that of stroke. But, in fact, they are very different health concerns. These differences are important to know, so that when you experience either one or the other, you can obtain appropriate care. One significant difference is that while Bell's affects primarily the face, a stroke usually shows weakness in other areas of the body - even if the stroke is realized in facial paralysis. Also, while most stroke victims are aged 45 and over, Bell's Palsy can affect you at any age. Special guest, Dr. Jahan Fahimi, joins Dr. Leigh to explain all of the differences between the two conditions, as well as share information as to what you should do if you are experiencing symptoms.

Lyme disease cases are on the rise. What do you need to do to protect yourself?Lyme disease cases are at least 10 times higher than originally thought – with as many as 300,000 cases being reported according to the CDC. If you like to camp or spend time outdoors or if you own a pet, you should be concerned about ticks and tick bites. Dr. Gabe Wilson joins Dr. Leigh to discuss why Lyme disease cases are on the rise and what you should be doing to protect yourself and your family...including the family pet.

If you thought it was safer to live in the country compared to the city – think again.If you are considering moving yourself or your family someday soon, you may want to consider moving to a city. Obviously, there is a lot to consider; from travel times, to schools and more. But safety should be a big factor as well. Believe it or not, it may actually be safer to live in a city. In this segment of ER 101, Dr. Sage Myers joins Dr. Leigh to discuss the new study by the Annals of Emergency Medicine, which suggests the country may not be as safe as living in a city.

Even though it contradicts conventional thinking, the facts are undeniable: cancer surgery can increase the risk of metastasis.The surgical removal of a tumor has been the cornerstone of treatment for most types of cancer. The rationale for this approach is straightforward - if you can get rid of the cancer by removing it from the body, then a cure can likely be achieved. Unfortunately, this approach does not take into account that following surgery, the cancer will frequently metastasize. Dr. Mike discusses how to protect yourself before and after surgery.

Dogs that chew on plastic toys may be exposed to hormone-altering chemicals. Is your furry friend at risk?If you have a dog, you probably also have several toys or training tools that your furry friend regularly plays with. Unfortunately, those toys may be doing extreme harm to your pet. In a recent study, researchers found that bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates – ingredients of hard plastics and vinyl – readily leach from bumper toys, which are used to train retrieving dogs. The new study is one of the first to examine dog products as a potential source of exposure for pets. Dr. Kimberly Wooten joins Dr. Mike to discuss the latest findings and offer safer alternatives for man’s best friend.