Sunday, June 27, 2010

Monday, June 28th, 2010 on The Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius 114 and XM 119: Doctor Radio!


We have a very gastrointestinal day planned for tomorrow! From diverticulitis to reflux to dealing with cancer of the gastrointestinal tract we have it covered!

Diverticulitis is an extremely common problem. Although diagnosing it has become pretty easy, the decision about what to do if you have it has become more and more complicated over time. Dr. David Crawford, the Chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery at the University of Illinois at Peoria will be coming on to talk about diverticulosis, diverticulitis, how to treat it and how to avoid it. He will also talk about the possible advantages of using robotic assisted surgery as an aid to removing diseased portions of the colon!

Call us with your diverticulosis questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Working our way up the gastrointestinal tract and down the age-ladder, Beth Anderson, the Executive Director of the Pediatric Adolescent Gastrointestinal Reflux Association (PAGER) will be coming on to talk about the problems of reflux in children from the parent's perspective.

If you have a child or grandchild with GERD, you are not going to want to miss what Ms. Anderson has to say! Call us with your questions about GERD at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We have gotten pretty good at screening for colon cancer, but unfortunately, its still not perfect. And we have made little progress in screening for other common gastrointestinal cancer's, such as the stomach, esophagus and pancreas. Dr. Elliott Newman, the Chief of Surgical GI Oncology, will be joining me to talk a little bit about some new screening tests and about what happens, when, unfortunately, cancer is found.

If you or a loved one is faced with a diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancer such as colon, stomach or esophagus, and has a question on what to do next, give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

We will of course, finish the show with Ask Dr. Ira. Give us a call with your questions on any medical topic at 1-877-NYU-DOCS. If you aren't able to call, you can always email me!

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Sunday, June 20, 2010

Monday, June 21st on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirus 114 and XM 119: Doctor Radio


I am back from vacation and we are ready to go! We have a great show planned for you involving celebrity disease, consumer safety and a gastroenterology update!

Lady Gaga is in the news today for being kicked out of the NY Yankees clubhouse. Forever. But a few weeks ago, she layed some hints down that she might have lupus. Although it may have added to her mystique as a performer, it added little to helping people to understand anything about this most complicated of autoimmune disease. Join me and Dr. Anca Askanase, an Assistant Professor of Rheumatology at the NYU School of Medicine and a researcher at the Seligman Center for Advanced Theraputics at the NYU Hospital for Joint Disease as we talk about this disease, how to diagnose it and whether you or a loved one may have it.

Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS with you questions about the diagnosis and treatment of this ill-defined, potentially fatal disease!

I've been working real hard the past year trying to keep my weight down and exercise more. "Bulk" has never been an issue for me....I'm full of the stuff. But many people buy protein shakes and other supplements to help build muscle and stay healthy. Dr Urvashi Rangan, an environmental health scientist and the technical director of policy at the Consumer's Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, will come on the line and tell us about their new study showing what else is in many of these supplements!

If you (or your child) is considering taking protein supplements for exercise, you are not going t want to miss this! Give us a call with your supplement questions to 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

There is a lot going on in the world of digestive health. Dr. Paul Miskovitz, gastroenterologist and author of The Doctor's Guide to Gastrointestinal Health, will come on and tell us about some of the exciting new trends in GI! Food allergies, pain medication and ulcers, and your digestive questions...give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

We will end the show with Ask Dr. Ira, where you can ask me any question on any medical topic at all...give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Monday, June 14th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius 114 and XM 119!

While I am away with the family, we have an excellent "Best of" show planned for tomorrow.


I have never thought of prostate cancer as being affected by climate or geography. But there is more prostate cancer in northern areas. Dr. Sophie St. Hilaire, an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Idaho St. University in Pocatello will be joining us to talk about her new study suggesting that even though it looks like the geography, its actually the pollutants that that cause the prostate cancer and not the cold!


Ulcerative Colitis is a disease that clearly favors some areas in the world over others. Even as a specialist, it always seemed a little rare to see when I got out into practice. I keep seeing more and more cases, however. I just thought it was because I was getting busier and more successful in my practice, but it turns out that, at least in Northern California, the rate of ulcerative colitis has gone up three fold between 1996 (my last year in fellowship, ironically) and 2006. Join me and pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Paul Rufo, the Director of the Harvard Fellowship in Pediatric Gastroenterology, to talk about this study, ulcerative colitis in kids, and childhood digestive problems in general!


Its the Spring, and many of us are getting in shape...some more than others. Marathoners and other long distance runners have a whole series of problems, including...diarrhea? Join me and NYU cardiologist Dr. Stephen Siegel, who is also the President of the Greater New York Chapter of the the American College of Sports Medicine to talk about the medical problems with exercise!

We will of course end the show with Ask Dr. Ira, where you can ask me any medical question at all....anything you forgot to ask your own doctor: ask me! Hear some of the great we questions we receive!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Monday, June 10th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius 114 and XM 119: Doctor Radio!


I am writing this morning recovering from a weekend of joy: weddings, bar mitvah's...there has been a lot for me to do and go to this weekend! And although the person that is me had a great time, the doctor in me is constantly thinking about food safety, overeating and exercise to make up for it. We'll be talking a little bit about all of those topics tomorrow.

First, the bowels. C. difficile is a growing problem both inside and outside the hospital. This bacteria, which usually infects people treated with other antibiotics, has become more prevalent and more resistant to traditional forms of treamtment. Join me and Dr. Bruce Yacyshyn, a gastroenterologist at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, who is involved in a national trial looking into a vaccine that could prevent C. diff!

Dr. Yacyshyn is an expert on colitis and IBS as well. Call us with your digestive questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After a few events, even the most "iron-stomached" of us can get some heartburn. But what if you need take medications for GERD or constant heartburn? A few weeks ago, we interviewed Dr. Michael Howell from Beth Israel about how common heartburn medications are a risk for C. difficile in patients who are hospitalized: today he is coming back to tell us about how the FDA's new warning saying these drugs may cause osteoporosis in patient's using these drugs chronically! Since these are amongst the most commonly used drugs in the Nation, either you or someone you know is on them and you ARE GOING TO WANT TO HEAR THIS!

Call us with your questions about osteoporosis risk and heartburn medication at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Right now, all I am thinking is that I need to get to the gym...or else. and all my body is telling me is that sitting on the couch is a perfectly fine thing to do....is it in my genes? Tuomo Rankinen, PhD., an expert in exercise genetics and an Associate Professor with the Human Genomic Laboratory at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge (affiliated with LSU) will tell us about research looking at how your genes affects your desire to exercise!!!

If you've ever wondered why your spouse can spend hours in the gym and you just want to hit the couch...give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end our show, as usual with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any question on any medical topic at all! Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

You can also email me at irabreite@yahoo.com.
don't forget...the new Doctor Radio Email is docs@siriusxm.com (this goes directly to SiriusXM).

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