Empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options. 921997
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A new school year is about to start in many parts of the country. Going back to school can be exciting, but some students may dread it. Perhaps they are struggling with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, abbreviated ADHD. How can you recognize the symptoms of this problem? What are the most common misconceptions? In short, what are we still getting wrong about ADHD? When we talk about distractibility, trouble missing deadlines, forgetting where you left your keys, it is easy to relate. Likewise, when we look at kids with wiggles and short attention spans, do we see a child with ADHD or
Do you suffer with anxiety, depression, or another mental illness? Millions of people do. The usual treatment is a prescription medication. If that doesn’t work, the healthcare provider may offer a different one. Diet is certainly not the first topic on the provider’s mind. But what if, in addition to appropriate pharmacological treatment, you were able to nourish, protect and energize your brain with your diet? Our guest offers evidence that you can heal your mind with a ketogenic approach to eating. We need to acknowledge that this approach is quite different from the plant-rich eating patte
When you decide to grab a bite to eat, do you think about how to feed your gut microbes? Most of us don’t. Even if we did, their only means of stating their preferences is somewhat after the fact. Do you end up feeling less than well? Perhaps the denizens of your gut aren’t happy. In this episode, we consider how to support your microbiota and whether that can reduce the inflammation that seems to accompany modern life. At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up‑to‑date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health sy
You may have heard about antibiotic-resistant bacteria. They can greatly complicate the treatment of infections. But have you ever heard of antifungal-resistant fungus? Infectious disease experts knew nothing about a scary fungus, Candida auris, in 2008. But in less than two decades this dangerous fungal infection is making waves around the world. It has acquired resistance to a number of potent antifungal medications. Consequently, it now poses threats of hard-to-treat infections in many corners of the globe. At last count, 27 states in the US have reported cases. We first reported on this se
Our kidneys do an incredible job filtering our blood every hour of every day. Most of us have two kidneys, and each one has about a million microscopic filters called glomeruli. Unlike the filters in our HVAC system, though, these filters cannot be replaced. But they do their work so well and unobtrusively that most of us don’t even think about our kidney function. Although 37 million Americans have kidney trouble, the majority are unaware of their situation. Two tests could reveal how well the kidneys are working. What are they, and how often should you ask about them? At The People’s Pharmac
Millions of people suffer with foot trouble. Some have heel pain when they first get out of bed. Others complain of flat feet or bunions. Athlete’s foot is very common, though it doesn’t always respond as expected to antifungal medications. Speaking of fungus, toenail fungus can be extremely stubborn. What are your feet trying to tell you about what they need? How can you keep them healthy, especially in the summertime? At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up to date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health sy
One of the most basic pillars of health is good nutrition. A range of eating patterns might all be considered balanced diets, but in general people do better when they eat less processed foods and more whole foods. Vegetables and fruits play a starring role in at least two diets that have been studied extensively, the DASH diet and the Mediterranean diet. Americans might be healthier if we followed these eating plans, but fresh veggies can be pricey. If your doctor were prescribing produce, would your insurance plan cover it? Might this make healthful eating more of a practical possibility? At
Are you concerned about your bone health? Do you worry about osteoporosis? According to the CDC, more than 10 million Americans have low bone density that makes them more vulnerable to fractures. For many older people, a fracture can be devastating, reducing mobility and possibly even leading to death. What does the latest medical science tell us about how you can maintain strong bones? At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up‑to‑date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations i
Do you have trouble sleeping? An occasional late night or early morning is probably not dangerous, but too many people get too little sleep on a regular basis. How does that affect their health? Even more importantly, what can they do to change the situation? You’ll want to listen to find out if you need a sleep reset. At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up to date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solel
When sunny summer days come around, it makes some dermatologists shudder. They would prefer we behave like bats and hide in caves until nightfall. Failing that, they stress the importance of always applying (and re-applying) high SPF sunscreen, wearing sun-blocking clothing with long sleeves and keeping a big-brimmed hat firmly on the head. A beekeeper’s outfit might be perfect. But must you really shun the sun completely to save your skin? Our guest describes how to practice moderation safely. He also explains why some people are addicted to sunshine, while others are allergic to it. At The P
This week, we look at the new pharmaceuticals that the FDA has approved for treating Alzheimer disease. Although they are effective at removing amyloid plaques from the brain, they don’t seem to help patients function better. Is it time to turn away from an exclusive focus on amyloid to consider other factors that might affect […]
Too many of us are spending our days staring at screens. Little screens on our phones, big screens on the television, medium-size screens on our computers at work. Our modern lifestyles mean that we spend the vast majority of our time indoors–93%, on average. What is the time inside doing to our health? Is there […]
Humans have five senses, but for most of us, sight dominates. That’s why vision problems are so distressing. Have you been dealing with difficulties with your eyes? During this broadcast episode, our guest expert is ready to answer your questions about vision problems. At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up to date, […]
Pain is an important warning signal, helping you protect your body from damage. That’s why we can view acute pain as an asset. Chronic pain, though, can be debilitating. In this episode, a pain psychologist offers a roadmap for managing chronic pain. At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up to date, rigorously […]
You may think of allergies as causing sniffly noses and congestion in the spring or fall. But allergies can go far beyond that. As Dr. Kari Nadeau points out in this episode, allergies can affect us from head to toe, including eyes, nose, throat, lungs, sinuses, skin and gut. In the most dangerous instances, the […]
Over the years, we have spoken with scores of healthcare experts about chronic illness. Many of them attribute the problems to inflammation, which is after all a natural response to infection or injury. But not everyone has a system for locating and addressing the source of the inflammation. If you want to treat the cause, […]
What do you conjure up when you think of music? Perhaps you imagine a singer-songwriter telling her story. On the other hand, you might imagine a parade with a marching band, an orchestra playing an outdoor concert or a mother singing her baby to sleep with a lullaby. Regardless of the format, music acts on […]
In this episode, a renowned neurosurgeon shares what he has learned in decades of working to restore ailing brains. His new book covers a vast range of neuroscience. Our dilemma was what to pay attention to in all those options. In a sense, that is always the human situation. We are capable of conscious processing […]
Tick season is well underway in many parts of the country. It seems that a mild winter and a warm spring have brought the nymphs out seeking blood. If that blood is yours, you may be exposed to a range of pathogens. What’s more, ticks are not the only creatures ready to bite you. Fleas […]
Americans often boast of having the best health care in the world. It is certainly the most expensive health care. We pay twice as much as people in many other industrialized nations. Are we getting our money’s worth? Some population statistics, such as life expectancy, suggest we could be doing much better. How can we […]
If you had to name one thing that could contribute to better health throughout the lifespan, what would it be? We think exercise, or at least physical activity deserves the top spot. Yet in 2025, fewer than half of adults met the guidelines for aerobic physical activity. And less than one-quarter were doing both aerobic […]
Many indigenous peoples around the world have developed traditional uses for psychedelic compounds. In Western medicine, these were mostly unknown until Albert Hoffmann synthesized LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) in 1938. He later tried to figure out how it might be used after having an extraordinary personal experience. By the mid to late 1960s, psychedelic drugs […]
Hospitals can be pretty overwhelming. Sometimes you may feel like you need a map to find your way around the maze, not to mention a trusty guide to get you to the department or health professional that could actually help you overcome illness. In addition, being hospitalized often means being deprived of fresh air & […]
Millions of Americans are in pain. Arthritic joints make exercise difficult, even though moving is one of the best things we can do for joint pain. Pinched nerves can cause excruciating, long-lasting pain. The usual treatments, such as NSAIDs, may help ease the pain momentarily, but do nothing to help heal the underlying condition. What […]
This week, Joe and Terry discuss liver health with two specialists. You may not have spent much time thinking about your liver. It is, however, an absolutely essential organ. When the liver is working properly, every part of the body gets the nutrients it needs and no parts are exposed to damaging toxins. These are […]
