Listen to Ask Doctor Dawn online

Ask Doctor Dawn - Nov. 29, 2008

Sun, Nov 30 Listen

Life style change and some supplements do just as well as a statin drug in lowering cholesterol; New study helps explain how resveratrol works to combat the aging process in DNA; Depression in a post-menopausal woman who has to get up very early in the morning is explained by both Western and Chinese medicine; An elimination diet is suggested to detect food allergy for a woman with congestion in lungs; What is the cause of my sore feet? How to get the minerals you need if you use reverse...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Nov. 22, 2008

Sun, Nov 23 Listen

Dr. Dawn's economic stimulus plan: Pay for all employer and employee health insurance costs for a year; New studies support importance of intestinal bacteria for health as evidenced by autoimmune diseases; Is my child's diaper rash a yeast infection? A caller asks about Quercitin, an antioxidant and gets a good explanation of how mitochondria work; A caller with a healthy diet and lifestyle wonders if he can skip a pneumonia vaccine booster; Could the recent study discrediting use of Ginkgo...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Nov. 15, 2008

Mon, Nov 17 Listen

Measurements of artery wall thickness indicate that obese children have 45-year old arteries; An important new study supports the inflammation source of cardiac disease but Dr. Dawn still prefers more natural anti-inflammatories such as fish oil over mega-use of statins; Natural remedies for Shingles pain; Chronic tendinitis in the forearm and foot; A second occurrence of Bell's Palsy may be caused by a herpes virus or Lyme disease; A woman with a pace maker inquires about how it works;...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Nov. 08, 2008

Mon, Nov 10 Listen

Advice for a caller's friend with severe asthma and allergies; Research reveals how we get colds from common objects such as salt and pepper shakers and door handles; A man with various kidney problems doesn't have to worry about a couple of cysts in his kidney; Dealing with severe peripheral artery disease; Saw Palmetto, though controversial, is still considered beneficial by Dr. Dawn for prostate enlargement issues — other drugs are also discussed; My primary care doc isn't interested in...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Nov. 01, 2008

Mon, Nov 3 Listen

A new study shows that most people with MRI evidence of meniscal tears in knee tendon do not have any knee pain, and another study shows that arthroscopic knee surgery doesn't improve outcomes over non-surgical therapies; Review of the Environmental Working Group report on the quality of bottled water — it's time to stop using bottled water that wastes oil, is a major pollutant, is too expensive and delivers water that is worse than tap water! Arsenic in drinking water raises the risk of...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Oct. 25, 2008

Mon, Oct 27 Listen

What are the possible causes for a lung mass that doesn't seem to be cancer? Primary care health clinics are popping up in drug and grocery stores and attract the uninsured patient; Dealing with hair loss side effect when taking Topamax for migraine headaches; The HPV virus is very common an should not cause undue concern; The wide range of symptoms with Cerebral Palsy; Dr. Dawn's suggestion of using Magnesium for sore muscles works for this caller and today we get the explanation of muscle...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Oct. 18, 2008

Mon, Oct 20 Listen

A woman with damaged knee needs to strengthen muscles and be more careful! Advice to help a friend who apparently has restless leg syndrome; All about herpes viruses, with advice for genital herpes; The question "Why are there so many advertisements from drug companies in magazines?" stimulates a more general response about the dire need for health care reform in the U.S. Light massage is ok, but avoid deep tissue therapy in people getting chemotherapy for cancer; McCain and Obama health...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Oct. 11, 2008

Sun, Oct 12 Listen

Cure for dry eyes is a solution made from one's own blood serum; A caller wanting info about the safety of soy products is referred to a discussion in the 8/26/06 show at www.askdrdawn.com/archives.php; A fan to circulate air lowers risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) A large bruise all over this woman's foot will heal itself and she should not worry too much; How to reduce pain and inflammation of a recurring repetitive motion injury; A caller with foot and mouth infections may...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Oct. 04, 2008

Mon, Oct 6 Listen

A school in a community near Santa Cruz has uncomfortable levels of a carcinogen, Chromium VI; An editorial about psychology, why someone would want to contaminate food, like the current Melamine problems in China, and the need for government regulations; What is the prognosis for an elder with 2 torn rotator cuffs? CA Gov. Schwarzenegger again fails to show leadership by vetoing the California health care reform plan SB 840; A caller claims water with rare minerals is curative for cancers —...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Sept. 27, 2008

Mon, Sep 29 Listen

Epidemiologic study supports healthy benefits of dark chocolate; Various symptoms (edema, blood in urine etc) serves as an interesting test case of multiple possible diagnoses; Severe shoulder pain stems from an car accident needs attention but lack of health insurance is a problem; Is it safe to not take my progesterone for awhile while I'm taking estrogen (Hormone Replacement Therapy)? And what about the issue of cycling the progesterone to mimic the natural hormone cycle? A sick caller...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Sept. 20, 2008

Sun, Sep 21 Listen

More research supports Dr. Dawn's fears that plastic food and water containers really do affect our health; A caller thinks her HRT is related to her low white blood count, but it is more probably her sinusitis; Basic arthritis supplement advice: glucosamine sulphate and fish oil; A caller describes a Qigong program, including tapping on bones, for helping osteoarthritis; Safe selenium supplement doses; A caller's comments leads to a discussion of the problems of big corporations; A seasonal...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Sept. 13, 2008

Sun, Sep 14 Listen

All about Raynaud's syndrome; Exploring herbal antiinflammatories for hip bursitis; How useful are direct-marketed ultrasound-based testing for evaluating cardiac system health? Blood pressure levels for good health and how to treat hypertension first with diet, exercise and supplements to avoid pharmaceuticals; Basic information about arthritis: definition, genetics, risk factors and therapies; Recommended amounts of Tums to take as a calcium supplement, but also include Vitamin D and...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Sept. 06, 2008

Sat, Sep 6 Listen

New research supports Dr. Dawn's advice to NOT use plastic bottles for daily drinking water; After travel to India, a woman ironically complains of constipation; A small cut seemed to heal fine, but skin dying around it may be an infection; Brief summary of Dr. Dawn's suggestions for insomnia; Does the time-honored concept of "colon cleansing" remove existing mucoid plaques or actually generate them? Dr. Dawn reiterates her criticism of these programs and especially warns of the dangers of...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Aug. 30, 2008

Sat, Aug 30 Listen

Drowsiness after a late breakfast may be addressed by eating more protein and less carbohydrates earlier; What is a visual or ocular migraine? How can coconut oil, which is mostly saturated fat, be good for you? How do I tell if my glucose tests indicate Type 1 vs. Type 2 diabetes? Overdose levels of Vitamin A depends on the the type you eat: Beta Carotene vs. the Retinol form; Vitamin D deficiency is fairly common in infants because of insufficient levels in mother's milk — supplements are...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Aug. 23, 2008

Sun, Aug 24 Listen

Cinnamon and other spices reduce the formation of Advanced Glycosylated End Products, which is especially important in diabetics; A report at a hacker/security conference reveals how to control a cardiac pacemaker! A very interesting case of chronic headaches: Conventional and alternative treatments are explored; A virus detectable by DNA testing may be responsible for a subset of prostate cancers; Survivors of the 1918 influenza epidemic have antibodies that may help treat future virus...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Aug. 16, 2008

Sun, Aug 17 Listen

Responses to emails concerning cinnamon: it's use to help type 2 diabetes, and coumarin fears in cinnamon; Is there an upper limit when using calcium in antacids? A classic case of multi-symptom and system failures centered around the immune system that are best addressed by principles of Functional Medicine; Should bruising in an elder change her use of Plavix for stroke prevention? A women with insomnia and anxiety as side effects of antibiotic treatment should restore her gut health; More...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Aug. 09, 2008

Sun, Aug 10 Listen

New evidence supports benefits of cinnamon and cloves to counter the effects of high blood sugar; New recommendations for who should be screened for prostate cancer; Hypnotism might help a friend has problems taking liquid medications; A caller who supports screening for prostate cancer in elders leads to an interesting discussion of the ethics of health care for "non productive old people"; Vitamin and dietary advice for peripheral neuropathy; A man whose PSA test led to surgery is now happy...

Ask Doctor Dawn - Aug. 02, 2008

Sun, Aug 3 Listen

Be aware of lame duck regulations concerning federal funding of doctors who don't tow the conservative line about birth control and abortion; A classic case of Metabolic Syndrome — He gets the full explanation of thyroid hormones; A candidate for hip replacement seeks alternative anti-inflammatory and pain remedies; Unfortunate "urban legends" abound concerning side effects of the Gardasil HPV vaccine; Are Zinc oxide and Titanium oxide sunscreens really effective to block all UV light? A...

Ask Doctor Dawn - July 26, 2008

Sun, Jul 27 Listen

Another cutting-edge interview by Dr. Dawn: Dr. Paul Chenney explains the biology behind Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), it's causes and promising new ways to treat it; CFS is probably caused by a long-term Herpes virus infection; The triad of symptoms are: I have no energy, my brain doesn't work, and I hurt all over; How to differentiate between CFS and fatigue due to "normal" stresses of life; How to diagnose CFS with immune testing; Details of the biochemical problems causing CFS are...

Ask Doctor Dawn - July 19, 2008

Sat, Jul 19 Listen

Can I open my large capsules of vitamins and probiotics and eat the powder? What nutritional supplements are necessary for vegans? A short recap on the dangers of overusing proton pump inhibitors such as Prilosec and Nexium; Can a statin drug be causing hamstring muscle pain? Monitoring variations in estrogen levels along with physical symptoms may help to differentiate between perimenopause and depression; How can I determine the quality of geriatric doctors in an HMO system? An email from a...

Ask Doctor Dawn - July 12, 2008

Sat, Jul 12 Listen

A talk with Dr. Jimmy Chung about Medicare payment cuts and the problems of Medicare reimbursements for doctors vs.hospitals; An expert in Medicare law points out why we must figure out how to control health care costs and reduce unnecessary procedures; A caller with disc disease is currently pain-free, but still worries about numbness in hands and legs, and future problems; The NIH should fund research to test alternative therapies such as chelation therapy to treat Autism; Dr. Dawn is...

Ask Doctor Dawn - July 05, 2008

Sun, Jul 6 Listen

A new test for drug-resistant Tuberculosis is surprisingly cheap! The popular toenail fungus question; Is there a test for Parkinson's disease? The complex spectrum of mouth sores, such as herpes; Movement and electrical stimulation promotes bone growth and healing; The effects of drinking alcohol on your metabolism explains a caller's leg cramps during the night; Another case of mouth sores is probably complicated by a bacterial skin infection; Why can't I take aspirin instead of Coumadin to...

Ask Doctor Dawn - June 28, 2008

Sun, Jun 29 Listen

Important news: Radio Frequency Identification devices are everywhere and are shown to interfere with emergency room equipment! Discussion of a problem with stomach emptying called Gastroparesis leads to comments on over-specialization of US medicine and the importance of diet in treating illnesses; How to fix bad healing in a cut on thumb; Could successful treatment of allergies with acupuncture have side effects? A woman with chest pain can't find the cause; Dealing with a blood coagulation...

Ask Doctor Dawn - June 21, 2008

Sun, Jun 22 Listen

Pain caused by a disc problem; "Double blind placebo study" isn't the ONLY way to scientifically test a useful medical procedure; Excellent questions about "whole grains," and the subtleties of eating a low glycemic index diet; Two studies examining the effect of "tight control" of diabetes on cardiac disease risk again require careful analysis to derive the proper conclusions; How to manage side effects of Ibuprofen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories; A raw food diet is healthy if you...

Ask Doctor Dawn - June 14, 2008

Sun, Jun 15 Listen

Dr. Dawn reveals her "against the party line" strategy for treating diabetes 1.5; The importance of Vitamin D for the immune system and general health is supported by a new study; New study reveals the role of carbohydrates in the strength of bone structure and supports use of glucosamine as a supplement; A study discrediting St. John's Wort for ADHD has a flawed design; A caller with Psoriasis leads to a discussion of inflammation, the immune system and how Psoriasis is associated with heart...

Ask Doctor Dawn - June 07, 2008

Sun, Jun 8 Listen

Many email requests about the "elimination diet" are addressed; Can I take SAM-E and 5-HTP supplements together? Questions about the health benefits of red wine and Resveratrol; Taking cortisol to treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a very complicated issue; Dr. Dawn agrees with a caller's recommendation for a good book of exercises to help back pain; The problem of mercury exposure during childhood or leaking from dental fillings; A caller recommends results.org website to learn about health...

Ask Doctor Dawn - May 31, 2008

Sun, Jun 1 Listen

A follicular cyst in a 53-yr old woman who's still ovulating; Aloe vera is a great natural treatment for skin ailments; Thyroid support supplements may or may not contain thyroid hormones; Thyroid support supplements may or may not contain thyroid hormones; Study supports the positive effects of plants in your work environment; New suggestion for disposing of old pills; Tai Chi class once a week is shown to reduce falls in elderly by at least 50%; Dr Dawn helps a caller differentiate between...

Ask Doctor Dawn - May 24, 2008

Sat, May 24 Listen

Replay of interviews with speakers at the Institute for Functional Medicine annual meetings. Topics: Many important health problems, such as cardiac disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, hypertension, and Alzheimer's are linked by the central condition of inflammation. The paradigm of Functional Medicine approaches these problems through scientifically-supported strategies based on nutrition, individual genetics, and understanding the complex interrelationships of our biological...

Ask Doctor Dawn - May 17, 2008

Sun, May 18 Listen

What is the intended role of the FDA and why we need other resources to assure quality of our pharmaceuticals and their ingredients; A follow-up call from a man with a recurring hand joint problem wants to avoid surgery; What are the options for my husband with an enlarged prostate that is obstructing his urethra; Our local Lyme disease awareness advocate expands on Dr. Dawn's recent tick season comments; A healthy 50 year old male wonders if he can avoid the recommended colonoscopy; An...

Ask Doctor Dawn - May 10, 2008

Sun, May 11 Listen

A special ALL EMAIL show: Many questions about HPV — Dr. Dawn discusses the virus, the Gardasil vaccine and new techniques for PAP smear testing; Acupuncture may be the best treatment for post operative adhesions; Hopefully, this caller's scoliosis is treatable with exercise and pain control, and not surgery; Antiinfammatory supplement suggests for this caller with osteoarthritis; Should this overweight diabetic get a gastric bypass? Is a 5-gram dose of Vitamin C as a regular supplement safe...

Ask Doctor Dawn (Health)