Do you worry about things you can’t see, smell or taste? Most of us don’t. Yet particles we can’t detect with our five senses are often present in the air we breathe. They have the power to make us sick. How can we achieve cleaner indoor air so that we have less chance of coming […]
This week our guest is gastroenterologist Robynne Chutkan. She explains how keeping our digestive microbiota in good health can help our immune systems fight off pathogens from the inside out. 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 […]
Diabetes is a serious metabolic disorder that affects close to 40 million Americans. Most of them have type 2 diabetes, which means their bodies produce insulin, but their cells are not very responsive to it. As a result, blood sugar builds up and people run the risk of cardiovascular complications like heart attacks or strokes, […]
When the thyroid gland stops working efficiently, the effects resound throughout the entire body. That’s because this little gland controls metabolism in all our tissues. Before there was a treatment, thyroid disease was sometimes deadly. Doctors started prescribing natural desiccated thyroid derived from animals 130 years ago. This worked well. Synthetic levothyroxine (a thyroid hormone) […]
For decades, neurologists and pharmaceutical firms have been focused on amyloid plaque building up in the brains as the cause of Alzheimer disease. Drug companies have developed compounds to remove that plaque, and they have been successful. There are medicines, notably lecanemab and donanemab, that reduce the amount of amyloid plaque visible on a scan. […]
Heart disease is still our number one killer, even though 50 million Americans have been prescribed a cholesterol-lowering statin. Cardiologists pay a lot of attention to cholesterol in all its variety: total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, VLDL. Even blood fats like triglycerides and lipoprotein a [Lp(a)] are getting some attention. What else do you need to […]
The guest for this episode is sleep expert and medical communicator par excellence, Dr. Roger Seheult. With his certification in sleep medicine, he will tell you why you need to get enough sleep, along with how much is enough. If you find you have trouble sleeping, what can you do about it? Dr. Seheult has […]
Losing weight is hard. That’s probably why almost three-fourths of American adults are overweight or obese. On this episode, we speak with a distinguished doctor and former FDA commissioner who has personal experience struggling with the scale. In this discussion of popular weight-loss drugs like Wegovy, we tackle the biology of weight. We also interview […]
Do you love your hair the way it is? Many of us wish our hair were different–curlier, straighter, darker or lighter. But what people worry about most with their hair is when they lose it. Can you keep your hair from falling out? Why does hair loss affect some people, including women as well as […]
If you have ever suffered with sinusitis, you know how terrible it can make you feel. Breathing is difficult; smelling and tasting anything is impossible. What are the causes of sinusitis and what can you do about it? Joe and Terry talk with a leading physician who does research on how to treat sinusitis to […]
This week, we start the show with an interview with epidemiologist Thomas Farley, MD, MPH. His essay in JAMA Health Forum (Aug. 8, 2025) describes why older Americans are dying of falls at an alarming rate. Once you have a chance to hear why this problem is worse in the US than in comparable countries, […]
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 […]
The statistics are shocking. At any given time, nearly one fourth of American adults are experiencing low back pain. Even worse, roughly one-third of the population will have to deal with chronic pain at some point in their lives. How does the brain react to pain? What can people with chronic pain do to alleviate […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. At The People’s Pharmacy, we bring you the latest research-backed insights on health, […]
A randomized controlled trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine confirmed what some cancer specialists have long hoped: physical activity can prolong cancer patients’ lives. Last week, 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
This week, we welcome dermatologist Dr. Chris Adigun to our studio to answer your questions about summer skin problems. You can call in your stories and questions about bites, burns and blisters between 7 and 8 am EDT on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 888-472-3366. Or you can send us your question or story ahead […]
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, […]
In this week’s episode, our guest explains why treating hypothyroidism isn’t always as simple as it seems. He is a leading researcher on questions relating to thyroid hormones. What Is Hypothyroidism? Hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone, is one of the most common hormonal disorders. It was first […]
In this episode, Joe & Terry speak with two scientists studying mosquito preferences. Why are some people mosquito magnets while others barely get bitten? A range of factors influences mosquito behavior and may explain why mosquitoes bite you and leave your neighbor alone. Learn how to outsmart them. You could listen through your local public […]
This week, our guest in the studio is veterinarian Dr. Chuck Miller. You can call in your stories and questions about the animals in your life between 7 and 8 am EDT on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 888-472-3366. Or you can send us email: radio@peoplespharmacy.com. We’ll be focusing on transforming relationships between humans and […]
In this episode, Joe & Terry speak with two physicians who have examined ways that artificial intelligence might contribute to patient care. Can AI help with better diagnoses? Is robotic surgery better? Could AI save lives or is it more likely to cause trouble? You could listen through your local public radio station or get […]
In this episode, our guest, award-winning science journalist Carl Zimmer, describes the hidden dangers in the air we breathe. He begins with the concept of the aerobiome–the collection of living things from ground level to the stratosphere. While that includes eagles and dragonflies, the most insidious inhabitants are those we can’t see. Often, we are […]
This week, the topic is lead. A hundred years ago, chemists discovered that adding lead to gasoline decreased engine knock and gave the cars of the day more power. It remained a popular additive for decades. At the same time, companies were adding lead to house paint to help it last longer. We know now […]
This week, two scientists discuss the evidence on using vitamin C to treat colds and as part of the treatment for cancer. For years, the medical establishment has maintained that such claims could not be considered seriously. But new studies vindicate Linus Pauling, the Nobel Prize winner who postulated that vitamin C would help. You […]
