Stress, gut maladies and cognitive issues and answers to a variety of medical questions

Summary: More about fracking for oil and gas in Monterey CA — Fracking regulations are a joke; Niacin study stopped because it doesn't reduce heart attacks — comments on drug company advertising; Is a replaced knee out of alignment causing crepitus? A caller doesn't like the beta blocker prescribed for her a trial fibrillation - the chaos model for afib; How long am I contagious with my cold that has moved into my throat? A New York Times editorial promotes using pharmacists to do primary care activities; A circulatory problem is probably the cause of a woman's hand turning blue; Stress reduction should be tried instead of more drugs for a teenager with depression, ADHD etc; Do needle biopsies possibly cause the spread of cancer cells? New test to detect lymphedema, a bad side effect of impaired lymph drainage from cancer; Peritoneal dialysis is a more comfortable treatment for kidney failure; A woman describes how treating leaky gut and food allergies cured her cognitive problems; Factors such as humidity and temperature affect the transmission of the common cold