Healthy Talk

NSAIDs are the most common medication used to ease pain, but are they safe?Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are the most common pain relief medications used around the world to help ease inflammation, fever, and pain. The most recognized NSAIDs are aspirin, Ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, and Aleve. However, with the increase of hospital visits and deaths due to frequent use of NSAIDs, there has been a growing concern about the side effects. Side effects include high blood pressure, kidney damage, gastrointestinal problems, shortness of breath, nausea, diarrhea, and fainting. Is there a way you can take NSAIDs safely? Add up how many NSAIDs you're taking daily Know your medicines that fall under NSAIDs Dr. Byron Cryer joins Dr. Mike to discuss the uses of NSAIDs, the side effects, and how to take them safely.

Doctors used to suggest zinc to help shorten the length of your cold, but does it really help?Zinc is an essential mineral that is needed by your body's cells. Zinc has numerous benefits for your health, like boosting your immune system, preventing respiratory infections and eye diseases, and aiding in cell reproduction. Researchers and doctors used to suggest using zinc to help treat your common cold, but not all clinical trials using zinc lozenges have been successful. Some researchers suggest that by taking zinc (as a syrup or lozenge) would shorten the length of your cold, as well as prevent you from catching a cold. On the other hand, more research conducted has found no difference in cold symptoms between individuals who took zinc or a placebo. So what are three reasons your zinc lozenges fail? Timing of your cold Type of cold  Dose you're using  Dr. Mike discusses the importance of zinc, and the medical debate on whether zinc lozenges can help or hinder your cold.

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've had asthma most my life and it's not getting better as I've gotten older as my doctor said it would. Are there any natural ways I can treat it? Asthma occurs when you have inflammation in your air passages that results in the narrowing of the airways that transport oxygen from your nose and mouth to your lungs. There are natural ways to help ease asthma symptoms, but this doesn't mean you should gear away from inhalers or steroids. You might want to talk to your doctor about taking suplatast, which inhibits TH2, causing TH1 to come up, which decreases asthma symptoms. However, if you try to treat the immune system, it might clear up some of the inflammation. Here are some natural ways to ease asthma symptoms: Grape seed extract Probiotics Magnesium Selenium I have read a report published by Mayo Clinic that Juicing is not any better for you than eating the fruit or vegetable. What's your take? By juicing fruits, you are stripping away essential fiber and concentrating the sugars which wouldn't be good for anyone who has diabetes, or if you're watching your sugar intake. Some say that vitamins and minerals from veggies are absorbed quicker in your body through juicing than by eating them. However, there isn't any solid scientific research done on whether or not juicing is better than eating fruits and veggies. Dr. Mike suggests that for every one fruit, you need to eat three vegetables. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com 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: Can you remineralize your teeth? Your teeth are on one of the most important parts of your body. In order to function properly, they need to be taken care of. If you've lost minerals or enamel, your teeth are more susceptible to infections, diseases and decay. If you're not taking care of them, for instance not brushing or flossing, your teeth can slowly start to decay and cause a handful of health problems. In order to keep a healthy mouth, you need to reestablish a balance between tooth breakdown and build up. Some researchers suggest minerals like calcium, magnesium, manganese, and biotin can help. However, make sure you have adequate amounts of vitamin D & K2. These vitamins are crucial in helping the minerals get to the teeth. Studies have also shown that maintaining a low acid diet can help remineralize your teeth. My gums are receding, is there anything I can use to stop it? Receding gums occurs when the lower part of your teeth becomes exposed, which can be a sign of gum disease. However, if you cut open the soft gel CoQ10 and rub the oil from the inside right on your gum, it can help. What's the difference between organic and natural? Organic refers to how things are grown, raised and cultivated. Natural refers to how it is processed. Food that's labeled organic means the food is without pesticides, chemicals, hormones, or antibiotics. When food is labeled as natural, it has to do with how it's packaged. For example, if you add preservatives in the packaging process, it's not natural. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com so he can provide you with support and helpful advice

What does it mean to be healthy?In today's world, being healthy can mean a variety of things. The traditional definition of healthy is the state of well-being, and being free from physical or psychological diseases. Staying in a constant state of wellness can be difficult, especially when your lifestyle and daily habits factor into the equation. Not only is physical health important, but your mental, emotional and spiritual health are also important. Most health starts from the inside, which includes consuming the proper nutrition your body needs for energy. Taking care of yourself as a whole can be extremely beneficial in the long run. What exactly is a good recipe for health? Creator of Get America Moving, Jim Kirwin, joins Dr. Mike to discuss the four key drivers of health.

What are four things that can boost your health?Health can mean a variety of things, depending on who you're asking. What you view as healthy may be different to what your friends, co-workers, and family members think. You may think you don't need to exercise anymore once you reach a certain age and you just need to focus solely on your nutrition. Or, you may think the other way around, focusing all your attention on exercising and not considering nutrition as an important role in your health. However, research has confirmed that any great length of inactivity as well as a diet full of fatty, sugary, processed foods can increase your risk of diabetes, heart disease, obesity and many other health issues. You may be interested in knowing your health is based off of four simple principles of health. What are the four key drivers of health? Exercise Nutrition Knowledge "eXercise Factor" Creator of Get America Moving, Jim Kirwin, joins Dr. Mike to discuss what the four key drivers of health.

A 20 minute daily walk can reduce the risk of premature death.The lack of exercise, lifestyle habits, and a healthy diet are the main contributors to many health issues such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. If you're someone who doesn't like to run or use the gym, you can still reduce your risk of an early death by walking for 20 minutes a day. A recent study conducted rom Cambridge's Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit used recent data of 9.2 million European deaths among men and women. Approximately 337,000 deaths were caused by obesity, but 676,000 were from physical inactivity. Researchers also wanted to measure the link between physical inactivity and premature death from data of 334,161 men and women in Europe. Only a quarter men and women from the data were categorized as inactive. Over a 12-year period, in those men and women who moved from the inactive category to moderate activity, the risk of premature death decreased. Walking has numerous health benefits such as boosting your mood, strengthening your bones, maintaining a healthy weight, improving your balance, and shedding your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. How else can walking improve your heath? Dr. Mike discusses the recent study that shows walking daily for 20 minutes can reduce your risk of an early death, and the numerous health benefits associated with walking.

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: You mention on a past show the trinity of nutrients for blood pressure. What were those again? Dr. Mike previously discussed three nutrients -- pomegranate, grape seed extract and milk peptides -- that are proven to safely and effectively lower blood pressure (if you missed the segment, you can listen here). However, Dr. Mike recently has been following the research on oil leaf extract. It's not part of the trinity, but can drop your systolic (top number) pressure. What are your thoughts on mega cleanses? Dr. Mike believes that you can overdo cleanses, especially colon cleanses, which can disrupt your body's digestion and ability to absorb nutrients. Since this can happen, Dr. Mike doesn't think you need to be doing cleanses all the time. Dr. Mike does do a liver cleanse about twice a year by using milk thistle, passion fruit extract, and artichoke extract. On occasion, Dr. Mike will use a month's supply of modified citrus pectin, or since that can be costly, oral EDTA. My sister is obsessed with gluten. She avoids it and tries to get me to do the same. Do I really need to run from wheat and gluten? Unless you suffer from celiac disease, gluten-intolerance, or show  any symptoms after eating gluten or wheat, NO. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com 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: Should I be concerned about measles for my child? Measles (also called Rubeola) is a very serious and often fatal disease that is highly contagious (airborne) that can occur in childhood. Symptoms of measles often include red spots on the skin, high fever, spots on your mouth and tongue, muscle pain, loss of appetite, watery eyes, and runny nose. These symptoms will develop between seven to 14 days after exposure. You might have been hearing and reading about the huge outbreak of measles that happened in January at Disneyland in California. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from January 1 to January 30, 14 states were reported to have a measles outbreak, and a total of 102 cases. Dr. Mike believes that depending on the circumstances, you should be concerned. For example, if your child is in the same vicinity as someone who has measles and your child is NOT vaccinated, then yes, you should be very concerned. However, there's a growing movement between parents who are not vaccinating their children (and don't want to). In Dr. Mike's opinion, you should be vaccinating your child. According to the World Health Organization, between the years 2000-2013, measles vaccination prevented an estimated 15.6 million deaths. Global measles deaths have decreased by 75 percent from an estimated 544,200 in 2000 to 145,000 in 2013. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.

Keeping your hormones balanced can make your weight loss progress more successful.Weight loss can be a lot more complicated than you may think. With all the new diet trends, books, and weight loss methods, you may find yourself overwhelmed and unsure where to start. It's important to note that what works for one person, lets say your friend Deb, may not necessarily work for you. Deb may have lost 15 pounds already by counting calories and making it a habit to visit the gym. But, YOU have tried this method already and you ended up gaining a few pounds. Did you know your hormones play a major role in weight loss? Hormones are located throughout your body and work as chemical messengers by traveling through your organs and tissue. Hormones control numerous things within your body, including stress, metabolism, reproductive health, sexual health, and your hunger. When your belly is full or empty, your hunger hormones will let you know in the form of stomach growls, headache, irritability, and loss of energy. But, if you're trying several new diets, this yo-yo effect can unbalance your hormones and make your weight loss journey much more difficult. What are three hormones you need to keep in check while trying to lose weight? Cortisol Leptin Ghrelin Dr. Mike shares the three hormones to keep in control for your best weight loss success.

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, you wanted to know: Are there natural ways to kill bed bugs? You might have seen the list of the worst cities for bed bugs. Bed bugs are a nuisance and a huge nightmare to deal with. When you're traveling, it's always important to check the mattress in your hotel room to see if you have any unwanted pests. If you live in one of the major cities like Chicago or New York that seem to have a major problem with keeping bed bugs under control, your chances of getting bed bugs might be high. But, if you're one of the unlucky and end up toting those buggers home, you may be hesitant to use an exterminator due to the large amounts of chemicals used. Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a nontoxic powder that you can dust throughout your home (cracks, bed, doorway, etc.) to prevent them from invading your space. You may also use lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and silica gel. I heard on Fox News Health that hand sanitizers don't work. Is that true? No, it's not true. In fact, they actually work in the opposite way and they work too good. There's a term in medicine called hormesis, which is a study on subclinical stressors that are good for the body. Using hand sanitizer builds up immune responses, memory cells and antibodies in your body and can actually harm you later when exposed to larger viruses. Your immune system needs to be challenged. Studies have shown that children who don't challenge their immune system might be at risk for developing allergies. Can I take more vitamin C & D during the flu season? During the cold and flu season, it's okay to increase your dosage of vitamin C to help boost your immune system. However, you have to be more careful with vitamin D since it is fat soluble. You may first want to check your blood levels before increasing your vitamin D intake. What do you do when you know you have a family member that has a predisposition to heart disease? If you have a family member and are concerned with heart disease, you may want to have a doctor look at the subtypes of cholesterol levels. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com 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'd like to hear Dr. Mike's opinion on Omega-3's. Notable doctors state that omega-3 fish oils can be detrimental to heart disease. Their main points are its ability to go rancid even in the body and its instability due to it being an polyunsaturated oil. Omega-3 is a fatty acid so it does have the potential to become rancid. Rancid means it's capable of becoming oxidized. It can also raise oxidative stress, but there are tons of studies that have been conducted over a span of a decade that use omega-3 oils and show how beneficial they are to your heart. Dr. Mike suggests certain preserves with the polyunsaturated omega-3 soft gel such as lignin, and olive oil. Water and lemon seems like a new health trend. I know it's detoxifying, but what are the specific benefits of water with lemon and does it need to be freshly squeezed lemon or can it be lemon juice in a bottle? Dr. Mike always suggests using fresh lemon juice instead of the lemon juice sold on the grocery shelf to add into your water. There is little research actually conducted on whether or not lemon water is good for you. However, many have said it helps with detoxing, can boost your energy levels, can boost your immune system, and can help clear your skin. Dr. Mike suggests looking into further research before giving this a try. I've been having some soreness in my hip and I've been told to take glucosamine. Should I be taking it and how much? Glucosamine is naturally found in your body but can also be taken in pill form to ease soreness or arthritic pain. Dr. Mike suggests you take 250-500 mg a day. If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.

How can you reduce chronic pain with exercise?Depending on which spot of your body you injure, your nervous system will send pain signals to your brain, quickly followed by your reaction to address that pain. However, if you've ever experienced chronic pain, you know the stinging, sharp and persistent pain you feel can be miserable and get in the way of your everyday life. According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, roughly 100 million Americans are suffering from chronic pain. The most common forms of chronic pain are headaches and joint pain like arthritis. Chronic pain is usually the result of an injury or trauma, but it can also be from an autoimmune disease or infection. How can you reduce chronic pain with Tai Chi Kung exercises? Creator of Healing Movement Systems, Joe Pinella, joins Dr. Mike and shares what exercises you can be doing to reduce your chronic pain.

How can you learn to regain your strength after an injury?Whether you've been injured due to a car accident, work, or sports, the most frustrating process can be learning to live with your pain. Whatever your injury may be, you may seek a handful of treatment options including physical therapy or pain medication. However, depending on the severity of your injury, the healing process can take months, or even years. This is what happened to Joe Pinella. After a car accident, Pinella was "diagnosed" as a quadriplegic and told he would never walk again. Refusing to believe this assessment, Pinella used ancient Chinese healing techniques to regain his strength and reduce his pain. Pinella is able to walk again and has set out to make sure others like him can have the same results. Pinella, Creator of Healing Movement Systems, joins Dr. Mike to discuss what the Healing Movement System is and how it can help you overcome your injury and heal at home.

A recent study published in Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that turmeric may enhance memory in adults.Turmeric, is a powerful super food mainly found in the spice curry. Turmeric has been used to naturally treat inflammation, heartburn, intestinal issues, depression, and pain. A recent study published in Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that turmeric can also enhance memory in adults. Researchers looked at people 60 years and older with a recent diagnosis of untreatable pre-diabetes. The subjects were given either a placebo, two grams of cinnamon, one gram of turmeric, or both cinnamon and turmeric during breakfast. Researchers also performed a series of memory tests before they were given breakfast and after. Researchers found turmeric improved working memory over a span of six hours in the older test subjects with pre-diabetes. What does this mean for the future treatment of brain diseases? Dr. Mike discusses this new study, why turmeric is beneficial to your health, and what this means for the future treatment of Alzheimer's.