Show 1419: Restless Legs, Muscle Cramps and Sleepless Nights
Release Date: 02/22/2025
Show 1444: The Food Fight Over Fat: Keto and Carnivore Diets
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
For the last several decades, nutrition scientists have been debating the pros and cons of various dietary approaches. The Mediterranean diet has a lot of proponents, and we have interviewed some of them on The People’s Pharmacy. Dr. Barry Popkin and Dr. Walter Willett endorse olive oil, whole grains, fruits and vegetables with only small amounts of animal-sourced food. Listen to for more information. Dr. Will Bulsiewicz is a fiber evangelist. You can hear him on . Plant-based diets can fall along a spectrum from mostly plants with some meat, fish and eggs to completely...
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Show 1443: Rethinking Medications: Uncovering the Truth About Common Drugs
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
Americans take a lot of medications. Luckily, the Food and Drug Administration only approves those that are safe and effective. However, the agency’s definition of “safe” includes medicines that can harm or kill some people, and the definition of “effective” covers some drugs that only work a little better than placebo. Has the FDA changed its standards? Maybe we should be rethinking medications. Rethinking Medications: If you watch television or streaming video, you probably see a lot of commercials for prescription pharmaceuticals. Decades ago, prescription drugs...
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Show 1397: The Surprising Secrets of Sunlight’s Health Benefits (Archive)
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
In this episode, our guest is a dermatologist who wants us to consider sunlight’s health benefits. That is a minority opinion among dermatologists. Dr. Richard Weller tells us why vitamin D is overrated and not the most important aspect of sun exposure. The Secrets of Sunlight’s Health Benefits: Dermatologists generally advise us to stay out of the sun as much as possible. After all, excessive sun exposure causes skin aging and skin cancer, conditions for which people frequently consult them. However, even if we could all live inside, wear protective clothing and high SPF sunscreen...
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Show 1442: The Healing Power of Exercise Prescriptions
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
Exercise physiologist Claudio Battaglini, PhD, describes how exercise prescriptions can improve cancer patients' lives and life expectancy. A randomized controlled trial published in the confirmed what some cancer specialists have long hoped: physical activity can prolong cancer patients’ lives. we heard from the senior author of that study, medical oncologist Christopher Booth. In this episode, we hear from an exercise physiologist who has been helping cancer patients with exercise prescriptions. The goal was for them to feel better. Many also lived...
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Show 1441: How Exercise Can Help Cancer Patients Survive & Thrive
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
Physical activity, aka “exercise,” is a cornerstone of good health, just like adequate sleep and a balanced diet. No one questions the benefits for people who are already healthy. But doctors may assume that cancer patients are too debilitated and demoralized to exercise. They may think physical activity wouldn’t be much help to patients who have just suffered through radiation or chemotherapy. Such assumptions are wrong and could be harmful, as a recent study shows. In actuality, structured exercise can help cancer patients survive and even thrive. Does Exercise Belong in...
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Show 1440: Protecting Your Immune System from Everyday Toxins
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
We may not often stop to think about it, but our water, food, furniture and other ordinary items are frequently contaminated with toxic chemicals. In this episode, Dr. Aly Cohen describes these threats to our health. You may have heard of compounds that can disrupt hormonal balance (endocrine disruptors). Everyday toxins like these can also interfere with the ability of the immune system to function properly. What can you do to reduce your exposure? Doing an Environmental Assessment: As a rheumatologist, Dr. Cohen frequently treats patients whose immune systems have turned...
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Show 1439: What Men Need to Know to Overcome Prostate Cancer
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
New advances mean that more men than ever before can overcome prostate cancer. Treatments can extend life and improve quality of life. In this episode, our guest, Dr. Andrew Armstrong of Duke University, discusses recent advances that men should know to overcome prostate cancer. We ask about former President Joe Biden’s diagnosis. What does it mean to have Stage IV prostate cancer and a Gleason score of 9? News outlets have reported that Mr. Biden’s previous prostate screening test was in 2014. How often should men be tested for this common cancer? What does the PSA...
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Show 1380: Avoiding Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Diseases (Archive)
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
Half a million people may suffer symptoms of Lyme disease this year. Learn about avoiding Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. In this episode, two experts draw on the latest research about avoiding Lyme disease and other infections that may be transmitted through tick bites. Why are these conditions so difficult to diagnose? Most importantly, how can people with lingering symptoms from Lyme get help and start to feel better? We consider both conventional and alternative approaches. The Basics of Lyme Disease: We begin with a quick review of the history of Lyme...
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Show 1438: Bites, Burns, and Blisters? Solving Summer Skin Problems!
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
This week, we asked dermatologist Dr. Chris Adigun into our studio to answer your questions about summer skin problems. The Link Between Sun Exposure and Skin Cancer: Intense summer sunshine can cause sunburn and skin damage. The most worrisome consequences are skin cancers that may show up on cheeks, ears, noses, lips or other unexpected places. How can you recognize a potential skin cancer? What will the dermatologist do about it? Even more important, can you reduce your risk for basal or squamous cell carcinoma? (Those are technical terms to describe skin cancers that are not melanoma.) ...
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Show 1437: Why Modern Life Breaks Our Brains and What We Can Do About It
The People's Pharmacy Podcast
We sometimes may feel that we are in a circumstance that breaks our brains and undermines our mental health. What skills provide resilience? In this episode, we acknowledge the many reasons that people may be feeling anxious or depressed. It often seems that current conditions are designed to break our brains. Perhaps that’s why 60 million Americans suffer from depression or anxiety. Not everyone who might be feeling nervous or down in the dumps deserves a diagnosis. However, they can benefit from the practices we discuss in this hour. Pharmaceutical approaches such as...
info_outlineThis week, Terry and Joe welcome Dr. Andrew Spector to the studio to share his expertise with listeners. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a relatively common problem that can really wreak havoc on a good night’s sleep. Have you experienced this problem? How do you manage it?
Restless legs are not usually painful, so pain that keeps a person awake might be due to neuropathy. Another condition that often bothers a bed partner more than the patient is periodic limb movements of sleep. The name is descriptive, and because the person doesn’t wake up and isn’t troubled by unpleasant sensations, it is different from restless legs.
We'll discuss RLS, muscle cramps, and their treatments—including prescription options and some favorite home remedies from our listeners.