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Does always having access to a drug, even though it's for medicinal purposes, increase the risk of addiction?Within the past few years, medical marijuana has been made legal in several states. Even though research has shown the many benefits to medical marijuana, some parents worry that if their teens have legal permission to use medical marijuana, it could increase the risk of addiction. Researchers from the University of Michigan looked at 4,400 high school seniors, 48 who had medical marijuana cards, 266 who used someone else's medical marijuana card, and those who bought marijuana from street dealers. Researchers found that the teens who used medical marijuana were more likely to have problems with addiction. What does this tell us about medical marijuana and teens' access to it? Listen in as one of the authors of the study, Dr. Carol Boyd, explains how medical marijuana could increase the risk of addiction in teenagers.

Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans. Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know: If I ride my bike, will that make my enlarged prostate worse? This has been debated back and forth for many years. Some doctors will tell you that it doesn't damage your prostate, while other doctors will tell you it does. Dr. Mike thinks that if your prostate is normal size, there's no issue with riding a bike. However, if you have prostatitis, or an enlarged prostate, you might exacerbate and cause more symptoms. A study on Health Day's website looked into bike riding and men's health. Researchers found that cyclists who ride more may face a higher risk for prostate cancer, but not a greater chance of infertility or erectile dysfunction. Is Hawaiian spirulina the best source, and is it better than chlorella? Yes, Hawaiian spirulina does seem to be the best sourced. Spirulina is a blue-green algae; it doesn't have a cell wall and has more of a complete protein. Chlorella is more like a plant and is better for heavy metals. So, depending on what you're trying to do will determine whether to use spirulina or chlorelia. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.

Listen in as Dr. Mike provides the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions.Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans. Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know: I sometimes feel like a mad scientist in my own personal experiments as I mix several supplements into a drink and toss it back. Currently, before I go out for my hikes I mix L-carnitine, d-ribose, MSM, and natural calm into a drink and it actually tastes okay. I feel like I can actually hike and climb longer with lower heart rates when I take this. The question is this: are there supplements that should never be mixed together? There are two ways to think about this, and one of them is pharmacokinetic. This is how something is digested, distributed, absorbed, and eliminated from your body. So, if you're mixing things together, does this change the kinetics of that compound? On the other hand, there's an pharmacodynamics perspective... is it going to increase or lower the response of the supplement? Dr. Mike is going to answer with a pharmacokinetic response. You need to be cautious when mixing calcium, magnesium, and zinc together, since calcium blocks the absorption of zinc and magnesium. Another bad combination is creatine and glutamine, as they use the same co-transporters and end up competing with one another. If you take them together, you might lose the cellular effect. Vitamin E and iron is another combo that you shouldn't mix, because iron can disrupt vitamin E absorption. From a pharmacodynamics standpoint, Dr. Mike would never start someone on rhodiola and DHEA because it might overstimulate. Everyone is taking probiotics these days. As I understand, the small intestine is supposed to be almost sterile and the colon is supposed to be lined with the desirable probiotic. More is being talked about small intestinal overgrowth, where the normally bacteria-free small intestine becomes overgrown with bacteria. This seems to cause bloating and gas. I am unclear: if we swallow large amounts of bacteria, how is it that most people don't develop small intestinal bacteria overgrowth? You internal digestive system is covered in probiotics, all the way from your throat to your anus. The reason why you don't see intestinal overgrowth when people are taking probiotics is because in the small bowel, there's a layer of bicarbonate that protects any seeping from your stomach acid coming into your small bowel. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.

The Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) study is one of the largest studies done on childhood maltreatment and development of diseases later in life.Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) is one of the largest studies to connect childhood maltreatment and your health later in life. Over 17,000 Kaiser patients who volunteered to be in the ACE study and participate in regular health screenings. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the ACE study suggests that certain experiences are risk factors for leading causes of illnesses, poor quality of life, and death. How else can ACE affect your life as an adult? Donna Jackson Nakazawa discusses what ACE is and how it might cause serious health issues later in your life.

Constantly being emotionally "worked-up" can cause your heart rate to escalate and your body to shut down.Even though research has suggested that some amount of stress might be beneficial to your health, emotional stress is different. Emotional stress involves your sympathetic nervous system, the part of your brain that kicks in during a fight-or-flight situation. Could there be a connection between a psychologically stressful event and physical disease? Public speaker, Donna Jackson Nakazawa, discusses whether or not emotional trauma and stress can cause disease.

Do certain minerals work in combating PMS?Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) occurs in millions of women in the weeks that lead up to their monthly cycle. Even though the symptoms you experience are usually predictable every month (mood swings, bloating, tender breasts, irritability, food cravings, depression), it can still be unpleasant to deal with. If you've ever experienced PMS, you and those around you know the roller coaster it can put you through. What if there was a way to combat your PMS symptoms? Listen in as Dr. Mike shares the dietary and lifestyle changes you might want to consider to ease your PMS symptoms.

News of the week, toxic dangers, and helpful health tips. You don't want to miss this! Straight talk from You Doc, Michael Roizen, MD. Dr. Mike discusses more of the most prevalent health news you need to know from the past week. Plus, find out "What's Toxic & What's Not" from toxicologist and regular contributor, Gary Ginsberg. More from RealAge New Cholesterol Drug: What You Need to Know

Everyone knows exercise is good for the body, but did you know it can also make your mind fit?Everyone knows exercise is good for the body, but did you know it can also make your mind fit? In her book, Healthy Brain, Happy Life, Wendy Suzuki, PhD, takes you on a crash course through the brain, teaching you how to improve memory and thinking skills. The latest research, combined with Suzuki's own experiences (both in life and in the lab), demonstrates what kinds of exercises and activities can super-charge the brain. Tune in to learn more about the simple solutions and daily brain tricks that can clear away the cobwebs for a sharper mind and happier life. Bonus! Busy Woman's Guide: 4 No-Fail Ways to Curb Your Inner Critic

Join Dr. Roizen and his expert guests for the latest health news, wellness advice and most up-to-date research from around the world. World-renowned physician, Dr. Michael Roizen, MD, continues to update your understanding of the meaning of health by providing an in-depth review of the most impactful health headlines. He discusses the health news that matters most to you. Dr. Roizen is later joined by Wendy Suzuki, PhD, and author of the new book, Healthy Brain, Happy Life. Dr. Suzuki takes you on a crash course through the brain, teaching you how to improve memory and thinking skills, keeping your brain in tip-top shape. Bonus! Real Age Tip Is Alcohol Helping -- or Hurting -- Your Health

Lyme disease cases have been on the rise, especially in the Northeast and upper-Midwest parts of the U.S.Lyme disease cases have been growing in the U.S. for the past few years. According to a recent study from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are now 260 counties where the number of Lyme disease cases is at least twice as what was expected. If you're used to spending your time outdoors, especially in wooded areas, you may be at a higher risk of getting bit by the deer tick that carries Lyme disease. What are the symptoms of Lyme disease? The early signs and symptoms include a rash that begins as a small, red bump at the site of the tick bite; over the next few days the redness will expand in a rash form. Next, you might experience fever, chills, fatigue, body aches and a headache. Later, after several weeks and months, you may experience joint pain and neurological problems. Other less common signs and symptoms are heart problems like an irregular heartbeat, eye inflammation, liver inflammation, and severe fatigue. These symptoms can last for months, leaving hope for a cure far fetched. Not only is fighting Lyme disease exhausting, it can also be extremely debilitating. What can you do to help protect yourself? Listen in as Archana Reddy, MD, FACEP, discusses Lyme disease and how it can severely disrupt your life.

Researchers found that women who exercised as teenagers had a lower risk of dying from cancer and other health complications.You may already know the amazing benefits you receive from being physically active as an adult. But, recent research shows that if you were active as a teenager, that exercise has big payoffs for later in your life. Researchers asked 75,000 Chinese women between the ages of 40 and 70 if they exercised between 13-19 years of age, and if so, how much they exercised. The researchers also looked into the participants' lifestyle habits and followed them for 13 years. During the study, 5,282 of the women died; 2,375 from cancer and 1,620 from cardiovascular disease. Researchers found that women who did at least 80 minutes of exercise weekly had a 16 percent lower risk of death from cancer, and a 15 percent lower risk of dying from any other causes over the 13-year period. The study also showed that women who exercised as a teen and an adult lowered their risk of dying by 20 percent over those who didn't exercise at all. How else is exercising at a young age beneficial to your health later in your life? Sarah Nechuta, MPH, PhD, shares the results of the study and why starting exercise as a teenager is extremely beneficial to your health as you age.

The recent outbreak of Legionnaires' disease has killed 10 and has sickened at least 100.The recent outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease in NYC has left 10 people dead, and at least 100 people have been infected. This outbreak has some health officials panicked about the further spread of the disease. Legionnaire's Disease is a type of severe form pneumonia caused by the bacteria legionella, which is found in warm water sources such as hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems, and decorative fountains. Even though most people who are exposed to the bacteria don't become sick, if you're a current or former smoker, have a weak immune system, or have COPD, you have an increased risk of falling ill. What are the symptoms? Symptoms usually develop 2-10 days after exposure to the bacteria. You might experience muscle pain, chills, fever, headache, cough, chest pain, nausea, diarrhea, and confusion. What else do you need to know about Legionnaires' disease? Amesh Adalja, MD, joins Dr. Leigh to discuss everything you need to know about Legionnaires' disease, including symptoms, treatment and prevention methods.

When it comes to your skin health, it's never too early to start taking care of it.When you're in your 20s, proper skin care may fall to the bottom of your list of priorities. However, many things you could be doing now can end up prematurely causing wrinkles and causing your skin to age faster. What are the 15 skin care tips you should know in your 20s? It's never too early to start using anti-aging cream Even though you're using anti-aging cream, you're still aging Never skip sunscreen Always use moisturizer on your neck and hands Avoid drinking from straws Eye cream is worth investing in Eat foods with antioxidants Avoid crossing your legs Don't smoke (and if you already do, try to quit) Make an appointment with a dermatologist Stay active Shower with lukewarm water Start using Retinol creams Avoid heat lamps Come up with an anti-aging routine Debra Jaliman, MD, shares the 15 skin care tips you should start implementing in your 20s.

Did you know that postpartum depression is the most common complication of childbirth?This year, more than 1.3 million expectant and new mothers will experience postpartum depression, which is triggered by hormonal and chemical changes in the new mother's body and brain. Postpartum depression is a major public health problem, which not only adversely affects the well-being of mothers, but also the well-being of their children and families. What's the difference between postpartum and the "baby blues"? The baby blues, which consists of mild mood swings, affect 80 percent of new mothers and occur in the first weeks after birth. They are considered normal and not a mood disorder. What are the symptoms of postpartum depression? Symptoms include feeling sad, worrying or feeling overly anxious, oversleeping or unable to go to sleep, having trouble concentrating, experiencing anger or rage, loss of interest in activities that are usually enjoyable, eating too little or too much, withdrawing from friends and family, having trouble bonding or forming an emotional attachment with your baby, doubting your ability to take care for your baby, and thinking about harming yourself and your baby. How can you encourage someone who has postpartum depression to get help? Listen in as Dr. Shoshana Bennett (Dr. Shosh) shares the symptoms of postpartum depression, how it differs from the baby blues, and the treatment options available.

Does your college-aged child need a separate healthcare plan?If your child is off to college as a freshman, you might have checked off bedding, a laptop, and plenty of Ramen noodles... but what about health care? The Affordable Care Act offers numerous plans for young adults, including college and graduate students. For example, if you have health insurance that extends to family members and your child is under the age of 26, he or she might be able to remain on your plan. What are some ways to help your child negotiate the health care world independently? David Hill, PhD, discusses college health care and how to help your child through the process of health care coverage.