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People's Pharmacy (Health)

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Next available on WPGS 840 in 3 hours 13 minutes
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Host: Joe Graedon, Terry Graedon
In 1976, when The People's Pharmacy was originally published, it was one of the first books providing drug and health information to consumers. It went on to become a number one best-seller. Since then, Joe and Terry Graedon have written many more books in the People's Pharmacy series. In addition, Joe and Terry write The People's Pharmacy syndicated newspaper column, which is widely distributed in the United States and abroad, and they also co-host an award-winning health talk show that airs weekly on over 500 stations through public radio, the InTouch Radio Reading Service, and the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.
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Genres: Health
Location: Austin, TX
Language: English

Last updated 92 days ago Update show info

Recent Topics

709 Alzheimer's Action Plan

Mon, Jan 5 Listen

Five million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and as the baby boom generation ages, many more will develop dementia. Not all confusion and forgetfulness is due to Alzheimer’s disease, however. Sometimes the cause is treatable. How can a family get the correct diagnosis for a beloved elder? What treatments can be helpful? Learn how families cope with Alzheimer’s disease. Guests: Murali Doraiswamy, MD, is Chief of Biological Psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center...

708 Anti-Cancer

Mon, Dec 29 Listen

David Servan-Schreiber was a young doctor and neuroscientist when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. After it recurred and he had gone through the standard treatment, he combed the medical literature to find ways to strengthen his defenses against its return. The evidence-based approaches he uncovered can benefit all of us as we attempt to reduce our risk of developing cancer. Guest: David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD, is a neuroscientist and clinical professor of psychiatry at the University...

707 Unexpected Blessings

Mon, Dec 22 Listen

Roxanne Black was diagnosed with lupus at the age of 15. She had been an athletic teenager, a rower on her high school crew, and suddenly she had to shun the sun and face a life of chronic illness. Instead of moping, she formed a support group for people with lupus. Then she started Friends Health Connection, an organization that matches people around the world with others who are going through similar illness experiences. Many people have benefited from Roxanne’s energy and dedication. We...

706 Side Effects

Mon, Dec 15 Listen

Before 2000, the FDA rarely highlighted suicide as a possible side effect. But in 2004, after years of controversy, the agency reversed course and issued warnings to doctors and patients that some popular antidepressants are linked to suicidal thoughts and behavior in adolescents. It was a long hard battle by a number of dedicated individuals to bring this problem to the agency’s attention and get it to be taken seriously. Science writer Alison Bass has talked with many of them. We talk with...

705 Health News Update

Mon, Dec 8 Listen

Generic medicines have been hailed as the best way to economize without sacrificing quality. A new analysis in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that heart drugs work equally well if they are generic or brand-name. But most of the studies included in the analysis are older, and many were carried out overseas. How can you use generic drugs safely? Budgets are tighter than ever this year, and prices at the drugstore have been rising. Pharmacists have hints on how to save...

704 Healthy Eating

Mon, Dec 1 Listen

The science of nutrition seems to lead to a lot of contradictory advice. Vitamin E is a great example. At one time, it was supposed to prevent cancer and heart disease and help people stay healthy into their later years. Now, though, the vitamin is in the doghouse. We find out why scientists have reversed their stance. Dr. Christopher Gardner talks with us about how to evaluate the changing news on nutrition and design a healthy diet. Guest: Christopher Gardner, PhD, Director of Nutrition...

703 Health News Update

Mon, Nov 24 Listen

A large trial of Crestor was stopped early because it reduced inflammation and the risk of a heart attack. How should we interpret the JUPITER trial, and what does it mean for you? Explore the stories behind the health headlines. Guests: Paul Ridker, MD, Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School and Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. He led the JUPITER trial of Crestor against CRP. The photo is of Dr....

702 Surviving Cancer: Evan Handler

Mon, Nov 17 Listen

Twelve years ago, we spoke with actor Evan Handler about his fascinating book Time on Fire: My Comedy of Terrors. It described his battle with acute myeloid leukemia in his early 20s. Since that time, Evan Handler has won acclaim as an actor both in movies and on television. He may be best-known for his portrayal of Harry Goldenblatt in the popular TV series, Sex and the City, and he is currently starring in Californication. But he should be just as well-known as an author. His book, It’s...

701 Stroke of Insight

Mon, Nov 10 Listen

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in America, killing 150,000 people a year. The survivors can face a difficult challenge, as they may need to relearn simple activities such as talking, reading or dressing themselves. For one neuroscientist, experiencing a massive stroke and recovering from it resulted in a completely different understanding of how the brain works. Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor stars in a popular YouTube videoclip. Now she shares her unique perspective on how the two halves...

700 Stroke

Mon, Nov 3 Listen

Stroke is a leading cause of death in America, right behind heart disease and cancer. In fact, some neurologists call stroke a “brain attack,” analogous to a heart attack. Strokes can be disabling, but neuroscientists have been learning that the brain is more flexible than once thought. Given time, support and the appropriate training, many stroke survivors can recover at least some of the skills they lost. What do you need to know about preventing and treating stroke? Guests: Larry B....

699 Worried Sick

Tue, Oct 28 Listen

We expect our pricey prescription pills to be as reliable as our toasters—that they will work every time. But when it comes to medications, the success rate is much lower. Just how effective are medications for lowering cholesterol or treating osteoporosis? Screening programs like mammograms for breast cancer or PSA for prostate cancer are considered the foundation of the fight against cancer. But how well do they work, and are there any downsides? Guest: Nortin Hadler, MD, is Professor of...

663 Dealing with ADD (Archive)

Mon, Oct 20 Listen

Millions of American kids have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without hyperactivity. This can make for challenges in the classroom, and even at home or with friends. People with ADD are often prescribed stimulant medications to help them focus better. What are the benefits and risks of such drugs? What other approaches can help? How does ADD affect relationships such as marriage? Dr. Ned Hallowell is one of the country’s leading experts on ADD and ADHD. His books,...

698 Bonk: Sex Research

Mon, Oct 13 Listen

Despite our seeming obsession with sex on television, in movies and on the Web, Americans might know less about sex than they think. A puritanical streak in our culture tends to discourage discussion of the topic. But scientists have been studying sex for decades, even before Kinsey or Masters & Johnson. Science writer Mary Roach looked into the history of the experiments and talked with modern day investigators to summarize for us what the researchers have learned. Guest: Mary Roach is a...

697 Health News Update

Mon, Oct 6 Listen

Inhaled medicines used to treat a respiratory condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may increase the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes. Who is at risk? Homocysteine is thought to be a bad actor, increasing the chances of heart disease. Folic acid and other B vitamins can lower homocysteine. How well do they work to protect the heart? Explore the stories behind the health headlines. Guests: Sonal Singh, MD, MPH, assistant professor of internal medicine, Wake...

696 Doubt Is Their Product

Thu, Oct 2 Listen

When the hazards of smoking first started to surface, a clever public relations firm figured out that by casting doubt on the emerging science, the tobacco companies would be able to fend off regulation for years. This tactic worked so very well that other industries have taken note. Environmental groups may worry about endocrine disruptors like bisphenol A and phthalates, but the chemical industry insists that the science is no good. This leaves consumers in a quandary. How do you determine...

695 Health News Update

Mon, Sep 22 Listen

Bisphenol A (BPA) is used in many plastic beverage and food containers, not to mention baby bottles. The FDA says it’s safe, although a recent study shows an association between BPA levels in adults and problems such as heart disease or diabetes. BPA is not the only potential endocrine disruptor in the American diet, though. We’ll talk with a scientist about her research on a component of soy. Generic drugs are supposed to be identical to their brand name equivalents. Is quality control good...

694 Diabetes Update

Tue, Sep 16 Listen

Diabetes research has generated a certain amount of confusion in the past several months. Avandia lowers blood sugar, but it may increase the risk of heart attack, heart failure and broken bones. Byetta, one of the newest diabetes drugs, is suspected of causing pancreatitis, a rare but potentially lethal reaction. People with diabetes have been urged to keep their blood sugar under control, as close to the ideal values as possible. New research throws that advice into question, though. Find...

693 Sports Medicine

Wed, Sep 10 Listen

Watching the Olympics was certainly inspiring. Perhaps many more of us will revive old interests in sports and become more active. But what kinds of risks does the weekend warrior run? Children are being encouraged to specialize in just one or two sports at increasingly early ages. Does this concentration on early athletic achievement pose hazards of injury? Guest: Dean C. Taylor, MD, Professor of Surgery (Orthopaedics); Director of the Duke Sports Medicine Fellowship; and Head Team Physician...

692 The War on Cancer

Tue, Sep 2 Listen

Cancer is a major cause of illness and death in this country and around the world and has been for decades. Back in the 1970s, the United States declared war on cancer. Are we winning or losing this war? Researchers have made amazing progress when it comes to diagnosing cancer early. But cancer prevention has not received the same research attention. We speak with one of the country’s foremost cancer epidemiologists about the secret history of the war on cancer. Why has it placed so little...

668 Men's Health (Archive)

Mon, Aug 25 Listen

As men get older, they become more likely to experience symptoms of prostate enlargement. This is a common phenomenon that isn’t necessarily dangerous, but it can be inconvenient to have urine flow slow or to be unable to empty the bladder completely. There are medications for enlarged prostate. Are there natural alternatives as well? Most men will develop prostate cancer if they live long enough. In many cases, it is very slow growing and has no impact on the quality of life. In other cases,...

655 Overtreated (Archive)

Mon, Aug 18 Listen

We usually assume that the primary problem with health care in the U.S. is that so many people don’t have good access to it. But while many Americans suffer because of lack of medical care, others undergo unnecessary procedures or take potentially dangerous drugs they don’t really need. How does the health care system lead to overtreatment and what are the consequences? Guest: Shannon Brownlee, essayist and writer, has written for The Atlantic Monthly, the New York Times, The New Republic,...

691 Sleep & Snoring

Sat, Aug 9 Listen

Before industrialization made it easy to light city streets and homes late into the night, people had very different sleep patterns. When these patterns resurface today, they get labeled as pathology, but they might not be as dangerous as we think. Sleep deprivation has become a way of life for many Americans. Can you tell the difference between simple snoring and sleep apnea? Sleep apnea may have even more dire health results than keeping your bed partner awake. One condition characterized...

690 Health News Update

Mon, Aug 4

Losing weight is hard work, as anyone who has tried it knows. Diet experts have been debating the pros and cons of counting calories, reducing fat or cutting carbs. A new Israeli study compares the health effects of the Mediterranean diet to a low-fat (Dr. Ornish-type) diet and a low-carb (Dr. Atkins-type) diet. You may be surprised by the outcome. Statin-type drugs are effective at lowering cholesterol and helping prevent heart disease. But some people report severe muscle pain and weakness...

664 Dietary Supplements-Archive

Mon, Jul 28 Listen

Vitamin and mineral supplements are popular, but do they make sense? Many people have been told that taking vitamins just results in expensive urine. Find out which vitamins really make a difference—you may be surprised. Dr. Tieraona Low Dog is one of the country’s leading experts on the evidence base behind herbs and dietary supplements. She knows how to overcome insomnia and anxiety without medications. Are there supplements that can boost the immune system against colds and flu? Is there...

689 Bacteriophage vs Antibiotic Resistance

Thu, Jul 17 Listen

The problem of antibiotic resistance is increasing. Superbugs like MRSA (methicillin-resistant staph aureus) are becoming harder and harder to treat as they evolve resistance to the most powerful antibiotics used against them. Back before the development of antibiotics, scientists were working on a different way to fight bacterial infections. They enlisted viruses that attack only those particular bacteria. Should we go back to this old bacteriophage technology for the future of fighting...

688 Superfoods

Mon, Jul 14 Listen

There’s a lot of hype about superfoods that are said to have near-mystical properties to promote health. Should we be chowing down on blueberries, Swiss chard, pomegranates and pumpkin? Or do we need to concentrate on goji and acai berries and galangal? Get the straight and skinny on superfoods from one of the world's leading nutrition researchers. Guest: Walter C. Willett, MD, DrPH, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition and Chairman of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of...

687 Genetic Medicine - Obesogens

Mon, Jul 7 Listen

The field of genetic medicine has been evolving rapidly. We all know our DNA determines certain characteristics such as our eye color, hair texture and height. It is also important in considering our risk for certain conditions such as Huntington’s disease or cystic fibrosis. Now that the genome can be analyzed, how will that affect medicine in the 21st century? One area in which genes and the environment interact is weight. The rates of obesity are increasing worldwide. What factors may be...

686 Hearing

Sun, Jun 29 Listen

If you find it hard to converse in a busy restaurant, the problem could be your hearing. Nearly 10 percent of Americans have trouble with their hearing, but a surprising number aren't doing anything about it. What are the latest developments in treating hearing difficulties and tinnitus? Guest: Charles Limb, MD, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology in the Department of Head & Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD; Staff Physician and Research Fellow at the National Institute...