Monday, December 19th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius XM 81: Doctor Radio

Holidays coming. Feel the pinch financially? And you need to have a special diet, such as gluten free. Did you notice how expensive quinoa is? Join me and author Nicole Hunn as we talk about gluten free on a shoestring. Its more than a phrase, its her new book! Learn how to save money while still enjoying what you eat!

Questions? Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After this we have a full half hour of Gastroenterology Update! Call me with your questions on gastroenterology and digestive disease. You can also tweet me directly at @doctorira

We are really excited that NY Times Bestselling Author Dr. Robin Cook will be joining us to talk about his latest book "Death Benefit." The book involves brilliant medical students, stem cell research, Wall Street Guys, and a potential plot to make money off of "The Death Benefit."

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me about any medical question on any topic at all. (Don't ask me about structured life insurance policies, please!). Anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me! Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Monday, December 12th On the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius XM 81: Doctor Radio!

Monday's show starts with a combination of two of my favorite things: hard to diagnose medical conditions and funky new technology. Join me a University of Chicago Gastroenterologist Dr. David Rubin as we talk about Crohn's disease and the use of the "Pill-Cam" in diagnosing this condition.

After this, we will have Gastroenterology Update, where I'll tell you some of the latest news in Gastroenterology and answer your questions on digestive disease. Whether its your stomach, your colon, or even your liver, give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

Did you ever notice those President's getting grayer as they stay in office? Ditto the wrinkles and worry lines. That's why I'm happy I'm not the President! But it turns out that, despite these outward signs of aging, US President's live longer than their peers. Join me and study author Dr. Jay Olshansky as we talk about this interesting phenomenon.

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any questions on any medical topic at all: anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me! Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

image courtesy of Given Imaging.

Monday, December 5th on The Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius XM 81: Doctor Radio!

We have quite the Gastrointestinal show lined up for Monday. The stress and eating of the holidays clearly can hit people in the gut and we want to talk about it.

Abdominal discomfort in adults is often difficult to diagnose and treat. Teens and tweens, not a group known for their excellent communication skills, are even more difficult. Join me and Dr. Joseph Levy, Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Gastroenterologist at the NYU-Langone Medical Center, as we talk about abdominal pain in adolescents.

Questions about abdominal pain and your teen or child...give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Gastroenterology Update follow this. I will be reviewing some of the latest news in Digestive Disease and answering any questions you have on digestive disease at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We always talk about the H. pylori bacteria, but does killing it help with anything besides ulcer disease. If you have pain and no ulcer, will treatment help? Its a tough question, and experts disagree. Join me and Gastroenterologist Dr. Paul Moayyedi of McMaster University in Hamilton, ON as we talk about the role of treating H. pylori.

Any questions on H. pylori...give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end the show, as always, with Ask Dr. Ira, where you can ask me any questions on any medical topic at all...anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me! Give me a call at 1-877-NYU DOCS. And it doesn't have to be gastroenterology...it can be anything!

Monday, November 28th, 2011 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Weekend. I am currently on call, so tomorrow is a "Post-Call" Doctor Ira Breite Show! Nothing like a bit of exhaustion to make the show more entertaining!

Abby Ellin is joining us first. She recently wrote an article on trucker and exercise for the New York Times. She is also the author of "Teenage Waistland: A Former Fat Kid Weighs in on Living Large, Losing Weight, and how Parents Can (And Can't) Help. Whether you are a trucker or a parent of a kid with a weight problem you are not going to want to miss what she has to say.

Weight loss questions? Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Gastroenterology Update is back! Call me with any questions on digestive disease at 1-877-NYU-DOCS from 8:30 to 9 EST Monday. We will also talk about some new interesting studies, including

1. Statin drugs & NSAIDS (ie lipitor & advil) may slow the progression to cancer in those with #Barrett's esophagus.
2. Precancerous changes such as Barrett's may stay hidden after "ablation" therapy

Vitamins and supplements are big: figuring out which ones (if any) work is bigger. Still harder is trying to figure out which brands are honest and which ones less so: supplements are not FDA monitored! Join me and Dr. Tod Coperman of Consumerlab.com, the leading provider of independent test results and information on health, wellness and nutrition products, as we talk about what's out there and what to look for.

Supplement questions? Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any medical questions on any topic at all. Anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me! Call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

image source:

Monday, November 21, 2011 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius XM 81: Doctor Radio!

Thanksgiving is in the air here in New York City. The crowds are back and the kids are smelling a four day weekend. I am getting my gravy recipe ready for the big day.

Which brings us to the first topic of our show. How do you do Thanksgiving right if you or one of your guests have allergies, celiac disease, or gluten sensitivity? Join me and Rachel Begun, MS, RD as we talk about just that! We will also be talking about any digestive issues you may have in light of the excessive amounts of food most of us (including me) tend to eat.

Call us with your holiday cooking tips for those with health problems at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

I heard on TV this weekend that the original Thanksgiving consisted of three days of gluttonous eating by a bunch of mostly men. What really happened? Join me and Mary Gunderson, who brings her practice of paleocuisineology(R) with a Thanksgiving twist to the beginning of our second hour. Mary will highlight the meats and veggies at our Thanksgiving table that are modern as well as ancient traditions in North America.
Mary writes about food history and culture, health and wellbeing at historycooks.com and marygunderson.com and is the author of The Food Journal of Lewis & Clark: Recipes for an Expedition (History Cooks(R) 2003) and other food and history books.

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any questions on any medical topic at all: anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

image source:

Monday, November 14, 2011 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius XM 81: Doctor Radio!

I am so far beyond potty training as a parent that its just a blip on my memory. Having said that, the memories are vaguely uncomfortable at best. Join me and Dr. Sandy Lee Chung, pediatrician in private practice if Fairfax, VA, and the the author of the blog Doctor Sandy: Mom First, Pediatrician Second, as we talk about potty training: what to do and when to worry.

Potty training questions: give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

I remember when contact lenses that allowed you to change your eyes came out: I was both impressed and a bit mystefied by the whole concept. But what if you could change your eye color entirely. A surgeon in California is working on this concept. Join me and ophthalmologist Dr. Robert Cykiert as we talk about how this procedure works, what it means, and whether taking a risk with your eyes is worth it just to "turn my brown eyes blue."

Dr. Cykiert is a laser eye specialist: call him with your questions about this or other eye procedures such as LASIK, give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Thanksgiving is coming! Twenty years ago this year, I spent my first Thanksgiving with the woman who became my wife's family. And survived! But they're lovely, and I had to work in the hospital that night so the event was somewhat time limited. What do you do at Thanksgiving when your new boy or girlfriend wants to "take you home?" Join me and Gregg Stebben, editor at Men's Health Magazine, as we talk about this little dilemma and how to make the most of a "hot-button" situation.

Relationship advice for us? Bad Thanksgiving stories? We want to hear them at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any questions on any medical topic at all: anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me....give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Follow me on twitter (@doctorira)

Monday, November 7th,2011 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

I hope everyone is having a good day. The American College of Gastroenterology Meetings are over. We have lots of new GI news to talk about from these meetings. This is also my first post on my new computer, with its new (improved?) keyboard and trackpad instead of a mouse. I'm not sure I like it better, but it does bring to mind how various workplace issues that seem minor can have a profound effect. And some of the topics we are talking about show the same thing in caring for patients with digestive disease.

Starting with music. When I do procedures such as colonoscopies, we often have music playing in the background. I often ask patients what they want to hear: their inevitable response is "whatever makes you work better!" But what if what made me work better was not something I particularly wanted to hear: what if it was, well, Mozart? Join me and Dr. David Wolf, a Gastroenterologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and Dr. Noelle O'Shea, A GI Fellow there, as we talk about their new study on the "Mozart Effect" and colonoscopy polyp detection.

What was going on in the room right before you had your colonoscopy? Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a vexing problem for doctors and patient's alike. Its cause is unclear and it can be difficult to treat. Join me and Dr. Yuri Saito-Loftus of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, as we talk about her new study looking at the link between psychological issues, trauma and the development of IBS that she just presented at the ACG meeting. Dr. Saito-Loftus is a member of the Clinical Enteric Neuroscience Translational and Epidemiological Research (CENTER) Program at Mayo as well.

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

I don't "do" my nails. Heck, I have so little hair I hardly get it cut anymore. But are you at risk for infectious diseases from getting your nails done? Can you get hepatitis? Join me and former ACG President Dr. David Johnson as we talk about studies presented at the ACG talking about just that!

Call us with any questions about personal safety and beautification at 1-877-NYU-DOCS

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any questions on any medical topic at all give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS! Anything you forgot to ask your doctor: ask me!

Follow me on twitter at @doctorira

Monday, October 31st, 2011 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius XM Doctor Radio: Channel 81

Happy Halloween! We have a show that should entertain, educate, and scare you a bit planned for tomorrow.

Starting with your kids. As a parent of teenagers, I'm probably more scared of them then they are of anything, but I do remember them being a bit creeped out by the "haunted apartment building" we went to when they were smaller. Join me and Dr. Stephen Garber, PhD of The Behavioral Institute of Atlanta and the author of Is Your Child Hyperactive?, Monsters Under The Bed and Other Childhood Fears as we talk about things that go bump in your children's minds during the night!

Kids with fears or phobias? Funny scared kid Halloween Story? ...let us know at 1-877-NYU-DOCS

After this we have Gastroenterology Update with a touch of Ask Doctor Ira thrown in for good measure. Anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

And what about chance Halloween exposures to snakes? Or Spiders? Join me and Dr. Sean Bush of the Loma Linda School of Medicine: ER doctor and herpephile. As is he really likes snakes. And lizards. You are not going to want to miss this.

Questions about the health issues in our cold blooded friends? Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Halloween usually brings a lull in Lyme Disease to New York City...we stop going to all those places with actual trees or brush so near our homes. But not today! Find out what Lyme disease may have had to do with the Salem Witch Trials with my guest, author MM Drymon.

Spooky.

Follow me on Twitter!

Monday, October 24th on The Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81

I am writing this at a hockey rink in Freeport, NY, where I am being tempted, in the stress before my son's game by the snack bar. And if the relatively minor stress of midget hockey makes me want to eat, imagine a real stressful event such as a loved one in the hospital. Keri Gans, RD, and author of "The Small Change Diet," will be joining me to talk about healthy eating in times of stress. Its not only the patient: caregivers need to take care of themselves as well!

Problems with stressful eating: give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Then its time for Gastroenterology Update: post call edition! where I will you some of the latest and greatest news in digestive disease and you can call me with your digestion questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Some topics we will be discussing include new treatment possibilities in hepatitis C, and the emergence of crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis as growing worldwide problems.

Speaking of digestive disease, Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, Dr. David Fleisher of the University of Missouri will be back to talk about this difficult to manage condition.

Vomiting issues? Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any questions on any medical topic at all...anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me. Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Follow me on twitter at @DoctorIra

image source (a hospital cafeteria)

Monday, October 17th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius XM 81: Doctor Radio

One of the funny (not funny ha ha, funny sad) sort of things about medicine is that people will often present to a doctor with abdominal pain, get an ultrasound, find out they have gallstones, get their gallbladder removed, and then (ha ha) still have pain. As I said, funny sad, not funny ha ha. Join me and Dr. Dr. Johnson L. Thistle of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN who just wrote an article about it in "Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology."

Gallstone questions? Give us a call at 1-877-NYU DOCS!

And the digestive diseases don't end after the break! Join me for "Gastroenterology Update," where we'll talk about some of the latest news in Gastroenterology and digestive disease. Call for any questions: from polyps to heartburn to worse!

In our second hour, we are going to begin with a medical mystery. Imagine having severe symptoms, going to an emergency room, getting admitted to the hospital, having a ton of tests, and then being discharged...with no clear diagnosis. Hear Brian's Story. We will be joined by co-host on the Dr. Billy Goldberg Show Howard Greller, MD.

We'll end the show with "Ask Doctor Ira," where you can ask me any question on any medical topic at all: anything you forgot to ask your doctor (or that was a mystery to him or her) ask me!

Call us at 1`-877-NYU-DOCS

Follow me on Twitter at @DoctorIra
image source:

Monday, October 10th, 2011 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius XM 81: Doctor Radio!

Happy Columbus Day! A holiday for many, but not here at Doctor Radio...there is too much to talk about! Starting with a medical mystery: what killed Christopher Columbus? Join me and Dr. Philip.Mackowiak, the author of "POST MORTEM: Solving History’s Great Medical Mysteries" as we try to figure out how Columbus died.

While Columbus may not have had gastrointestinal disease per se, it is possible that one of the maladies he did suffer from is related to Ulcerative Colitis. If you have any gastrointestinal questions, give us a buzz on GI update: call me at 1-877-NYU DOCS. We also will go over (time permitting)

• Barrett's esophagus and "low grade" dysplasia
• More biopsies may (or may not) be necessary to diagnose celiac disease
• Eosinophillic Esophagitis incidence (#EOE) does not seem to be related to race or gender

Speaking of gastroenterology and celiac disease...Craig Pinto, celiac patient and field goal kicker extraordinaire will be joining us to talk about his attempt (TODAY...go to @celiackicker to find out and donate) to kick the most field goals in a 24 hour period!

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any question on any medical topic at all...anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me...give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Follow me on twitter at @doctorira

Monday, October 4th on The Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius XM 81: Doctor Radio

How do you treat reflux?  There are several standard therapies for long term therapy, including the use of a proton pump inhibitor (an acid blocking drug such as Prilosec) and surgery.  There are also non-surgical procedures in use as well.  What works best?  Join me and Dr. Denish Moorthy as we talk about his new study from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) on GERD!

Reflux questions...give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After this, we expand our GERD discussion to all of Gastroenterology!  During Gastroenterology Update, We'll update you on the latest GI news, and answer your questions about all things digestive!  From reflux, to ulcers to constipation give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS

Doctor's aren't perfect (insert your bad doctor and God joke here).  Join me and Joe and Terry Graedon, the authors of "Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them," as we talk abou, well, just that.  I'll try not to be too defensive.

Screw up questions?  Doctor missed something?  Let us know at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any questions on any medical topic at all and I will be glad to answer...give us call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Monday, September 26th, 2011 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius XM 81: Doctor Radio

We have a great show planned for tomorrow. Vonda Wright, MD, the author of Fitness After 40, will be joining us to talk about her new book "Dr. Vonda Wright's Guide to Thrive, Four Steps to Body, Brains and Bliss." Learn how to create a vision for your future, take action by doing the right things, have a great attitude and achieve your goals!

Call us with your fitness or diet questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

you can tweet me directly at @doctorira as well!

After this, we have Gastroenterology Update, where I will let you know some of the big headlines in the world of Digestive Disease and answer your questions as well.

Some topics include proton pump inhibitors and the risk of hip fracture (!), the relationship between anxiety and Crohn's disease in young people, and easier medication dosing in Ulcerative Colitis.

This is not something that people like to mention publicly, but it is doubtless true that many people come to the doctor to ask why they smell bad. Join me and Dr. George Preti, PhD. of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia as we talk about the genetic link in Fish Odor Syndrome.

Give us a call about any odor related question you may have at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end the show, as usual, with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any question on any medical problem at all and I will be happy to answer. I believe Dr. Marc Siegel will also be giving me my flu shot to end the show! Can't miss that!

Anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me. Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Monday, September 19th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius XM 81: Doctor Radio!

Medicine has a long history of trying and failing. Things that sound good on paper, or in a small research trial, often fail when exposed to the real world. Post menopausal hormone replacement therapy is a classic example. Join me and NYU neurologist Dr. Keith Siller as we discuss stroke and the “Brain Stent Trial.” What’s the story behind this study, and why do people seem to do better with medications versus the latest in medical technology?

Call us with your stroke, stroke prevention and TIA questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS

The fall is here. And yes, if you are a middle-aged guy its time to winterize yourself: by getting in shape and not getting hurt. Join me and National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board member Paul Ullucci, Jr. as we speak about getting in shape, staying healthy and not getting hurt!

I remember patients who had been exposed to the dust from the World Trade Center start to come in to the office complaining of GERD. They swore there was a relationship. At first, while I was sympathetic, I didn’t believe them. Asthma and cough I understood. But heartburn? It turns out that my initial thoughts were wrong, there is a relationship between 9/11 Toxic Dust and GERD. Join me and Dr. William Chey, the co-editor of the American Journal of Gastroenterology, as we discuss the relationship between GERD symptoms, asthma and post-traumatic stress disorder with exposure to World Trade Center Dust.

Questions about GERD and exposures: give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end the show, as always, with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any questions on any medical topics at all and I will be glad to answer them. Anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me! Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS

Monday, September 12th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirium XM 81: Doctor Radio

Although I've enjoyed the break, I am roaring to get back to the radio! We have a great show scheduled for tomorrow.

We are starting off with inflammatory bowel disease. David Rubin, MD, a gastroenterologist at the University of Chicago, will be joining me to talk about new advances in the screening, genetics and new treatments for inflammatory bowel disease!

Call us with your questions about inflammatory bowel disease at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After this, we will have Gastroenterology Update, where I will review some of the leading headlines in gastroenterology, talk about some of the patients I have see, and answer your questions! Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Some topics we may discuss include folate and the risk of colon cancer and aspirin and the risk of GI bleeding...follow me on twitter at @doctorira to find out all of the latest headlines and tweet me any topic you think we should be talking about!

He was so great we had to have him back. Celiac expert Dr. Daniel Leffler will be joining us at 9:00 AM EDT to talk about getting back to school and college for Celiac Kids...call with your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We are going to end the show with "Ask Doctor Ira," where you can ask me any question on any medical question at all...anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me!

Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS
or tweet me at @doctorira

Monday, August 22, 2011 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius XM 81: Doctor Radio

Constipation. Its a problem for a lot of people. Although there are a lot of great treatments out there, the problem is so widespread that there may be room for a few more. Joining me at 8 AM tomorrow when we are joined by Dr. Anthony Lembo of Harvard University Medical School who is the lead author of a paper just published in the New England Journal of Medicine on the drug Linactolide. We'll also be joined by Doctor Radio Show Regular, gastroenterologist and the author of "Cure Constipation Now," Dr. Wes Jones.

If you're having problems with constipation this is a great time to talk to a roundtable of the world's experts: give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After this, we have another edition of Gastroenterology Update: where I will tell you some of the new and interesting issues in digestive diseases and you can call me with any questions you may have. Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

Follow me on Twitter (@doctorira) to find out about some of the stories we will be discussing!

Even though I am an adult doctor, I spend a lot of time in August doing School Forms. In New York, teachers and people going back to graduate school need to show they have been vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella. Other vaccines are optional, including meningitis, which is expensive and not often covered by insurance. Now Texas (Texas!) has introduced a law that all students under 30 need this vaccine, whether they live on campus or not. There are ethical and practical implications involved with this. Join me and Ms. Cheryl Rich, the Associate Director of Admissions at the Texas A&M University, as we talk about this new law and what it means to parent's and students.

Have a kid going to school and wondering about vaccinations: give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We are going to end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any question on any medical topic at all: anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me! Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Image is linactolide molecule: image source

Monday, August 15, 2011 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius XM 81: Doctor Radio

I am happy to be back from Seattle and the San Juan Islands, although it is incredibly beautiful there. And the food rocks. Speaking of which, we have a whole hour and a half dedicated to various digestive topics on the show.

Starting with Celiac Disease (and vacation). Rachel Begun, MS RD (and @rachelbegunRD on Twitter) will be joining me to talk about celiac disease, healthy vacation eating and much more.

Wondering about traveling with Celiac Disease or other Digestive Disorders? Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS! Or tweet me at @doctorira.

After this we have Gastroenterology Update, where I will tell you news of the world of Gastroenterology and also answer your digestive disease questions. Some of the topics we will talk about include fiber and colon cancer, and the increasing number of liver transplants for fatty liver disease.

Call us with your Digestive Disease Questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We are heading to the Great White North for our next segment: Ms. Karen Frost, NP in the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program at The Hospital for Sick-Children in Toronto Canada, will be joining us to talk about Sick-Kids' (yes, that is what they call the hospital) new Crohn's, Colitis and IBD App for the iPhone!

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

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any question on any medical topics at all...anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me! Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

photo: South Beach, San Juan Island, WA

Monday, August 1st on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius XM 81: Doctor Radio!

Yes, I did push us into August a little early last week. I apologize for that, and have corrected the blog.

A quick rundown of tomorrow's show. Former Doctor Radio Host Kimberly Deore, MD will be calling in from Germany. We will be talking about a variety of general medical topics, including the possibilty of a "universal" flu vaccine. We just received notice that we will be getting our standard run of the mill not universal vaccine soon, which made my whole office wince at the idea of another flu shot season. So it can't come to fast.

We will be having another "Gastroenterology Update," where we review some of the latest findings in gastroenterology and answer your questions on a variety of digestive issues.

Call us with your questions about digestion, constipation, gas, and abdominal pain at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Tweet me @doctorira (follow me, too!)
Send me a message on Facebook!

Our third segment is very exciting. Earlier, I interviewed Natalie Cole and Gregg Allman about their struggle with Hepatitis C! We are playing that interview, and after that I will be talking about hepatitis C and answering your questions about this deadly and common disease. There are new treatments available.

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any questions on any medical topic at all, and I will be glad to answer...anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me...
give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

image credit (1)
image credit (2)

Monday, July 25th on The Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius XM 81: Doctor Radio

Hopefully, you are doing well enough in the heat. We have just returned from Maine, where it was over 100 degrees (Maine!?). We have a hot summer show planned for you tomorrow.

Summer means bugs. And bugs means ticks. And ticks may mean Lyme disease. Every year I see it as my New York City patients return from their vacations. What do you do about it? How do you know if you have it? And what are your treatment options. Join me and Lyme Disease Doctor Dr. Daniel Cameron as we talk about this persistent problem.

Worried about Lyme Disease: Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

In our second half hour we will have gastroenterology update: where you can ask me any digestive disease problems that you have and I will tell you about some of the exciting new discoveries in digestive and liver disease! Some points we man cover:

• Folate supplementation does not increase the risk for colon cancer.
• Celiac disease and its relationship to IBS symptoms.
• The use of Plavix and Proton Pump inhibitors together.

Call us with your Gastroenterology, Liver and Digestive Disease Questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Continuing on with our Gastroenterology theme, we are going to explore Celiac Disease next. Dr. Daniel Leffler, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the author of "Real Life with Celiac Disease: Trouble Shooting and Surviving Gluten Free," will be joining us to talk about what to do when you have celiac disease.

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

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any question on any medical topic at all. Anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me!

Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

image source:

Monday, July 18th on The Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius XM 81: Doctor Radio

I hope everyone is doing well. We have a great show planned for this Monday, as the summer continues to heat up!

Allergies! Now that we have survived hayfever season, its food and insect allergy season! And it doesn't have to be spicy peanut shrimp basted in glutenous batter and covered by honey and bee stingers: even a small amount of an allergen can lead to a severe reaction. Join me and Gwen Smith, the editor of Allergic Living Magazine, as we talk about safe ways for those with food and insect allergies to enjoy summer living!

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

Then, its time for gastroenterology update. I'm not sure why (maybe its all that outdoor living), but the summer always brings with it a fare share of reflux and ulcer disease. We will be discussing (amongst other things):

MtnMD Dr Kelly Sennholz
by doctorira
No evidence supports the common advice to avoid nuts and seeds to prevent diverticulitis, but do eat high fiber diet JFP 2009

doctorira Ira Breite
Lifestyle Changes work in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: its another reason to watch weight and exercise (sigh)

doctorira Ira Breite
RT @reuters: Do tea, coffee drinkers have lower superbug risk? reut.rs/q3Ejvu More excellent #coffeeisgreat news!

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

Tweet me @doctorira with any other questions or tips you may have

Have you ever wondered about artificial sweeteners. I have. Like, why do I always seem to gain weight when I drink them? Join me and Dr. Diane Stadler of the Oregon Health Sciences University as we talk about this interesting problem. Dr. Stadler also studies diets such as Atkins.

Call us with your diet and artificial sugar questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Then its time for Ask Dr. Ira, Where you can ask me anything you like about any medical topic at all! Anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

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Monday, June 27th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

Happy Summer! My kids are off to camp, and I am ready for warm weather, good barbecue, and unfortunately, a bit of heartburn.

Which brings us to our show today. Dr. Ryan Madanick, a gastroenterologist specializing in diseases of the esophagus at the University of North Carolina will be joining us. In addition to heartburn, he is also an expert in "stool transplants," or Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) -- also known as fecal bacteriotherapy as we like to call it not to gross out our mom's as to what we GI's actually do for a living.

Call us with your heartburn questions (and stool transplant questions) at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Then, its time for Gastroenterology Update, where I will review some of the latest headlines in GI and answer your stomach, colon and liver questions...

You can see some of the headlines by following me on Twitter! Having said that, coffee drinkers will rejoice with this segment!

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

Summer is grilling time, but if your a middle aged guy, its hard to grill and stay fit at the same time. Join me and Holistic Dietitian Rachel Lerner as we learn how to get your grill on while staying healthy!

Grilling questions! Diet Questions! Can you have the first tasty while not looking like you should be prime fatty beef yourself? Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any questions on any medical topic at all...anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me...at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter...you can also send me messages or links there for future show topics or to talk about on the air!

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Monday, June 20th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

I am back from vacation and ready for tomorrow's show! The show is about coming back and leaving.

First, the coming back. Dr. Kimberly Deore, the former host of Doctor Radio's Tuesday Morning Show, moved to Germany last year. But she is back (at least for the day). She will join me for a full hour as we talk about parenting and doctoring, general medical issues, whether you can be a good mom (or dad) and a doctor, and more.

Call us with any questions you have at 1-877-NYU-DOCS. Or tweet me @doctorira or doctor radio at @nyudocs.

Its the end of the school year! Graduations for some, and for some of us, CAMP! Yes, its that time of year when my children go away for seven weeks, leaving me and my wife as temporary empty nesters. Join me and psychologist and marriage expert Dr. Charles Schmitz as we talk about keeping your marriage strong throughout the years!

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

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any questions on any medical topic at all and I will be glad to answer. Give us a call with your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Monday, June 6th on The Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

Welcome Back! I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day Weekend! Summer is coming, and its time to get in shape and stay healthy.

Fellow middle aged men, do we have an opening segment for you (and your loved ones, too). Dr. Alex Hutchinson, a physicist and author of "Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights? Fitness Myths, Training Truths and Other Surprising Discoveries From the Science of Exercise". Learn about what science has shown us about exercise. Help yourself get and stay in shape safely!

Exercise questions? Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!
Tweet any questions about exercise you may have to @doctorira or @nyudocs

We are going to continue GI Update in our second half hour. This week, we're going to go over some of your questions, as well as review the latest in that E. coli outbreak in Germany.

Call me with any GI questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

Speaking of food safety, its the start of cookout season. Registered Dietitian and author of "The Small Change Diet" Keri Gans will be joining us to talk about staying healthy and hydrated this summer season.

Call us with tips, tricks and questions about summer food safety at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

This week, really, mummies and heart disease. Join me and Dr. Gregory Thomas as we talk about heart disease in ancient Egyptians!


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Monday, May 23, 2011 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

We have a show that is historical and timely planned for this Monday. Our first hour is timely: new discoveries for a rare disease and new discoveries in digestive diseases. Our second hour is historical as we try to unravel some medical mysteries.

Hereditary angioedema. This rare genetic disease has historically had a fatality rate approaching 30%. People with the disease can literally choke themselves to death. And traditional therapies for throat swelling, such as antihistamines, just won't work. Join me and Dr. Donald McNeil, an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Ohio State University and in private practice at Midwest Allergy Associates, as we discuss this interesting medical problem. We will also be joined by a person who is suffering from the disease. Dr. McNeil is also the founder of Optimed Research.

If you have ever wondered about sudden shortness of breath, give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Gastroenterology update continues. News of digestive disease and your questions answered! Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

If you have any GI news to send me, please let me know on twitter at @doctorira and send me a message!

The scientist and explorer Charles Darwin lived until he was seventy one years old. For many years, he suffered from recurring bouts of severe abdominal pain. Although many people have speculated on the cause of his death. Dr. Sidney Cohen, Gastroenterology Professor at the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia thinks he may have the answers...find out!

Call us with your mystery abdominal pain questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We are going to keep working backwards, history-wise! If you think the 19th Century was a long time ago, what about ancient Egypt? More importantly, in those non-polluting, non-smoking, not much red disease days, was there any heart disease. Dr. Gregory Thomas, MD, MPH, FACC knows the answer. In addition to his practice at Mission Internal Medicine Group in California, he has been studying mummies housed at the National Museum of Antiquities in Cairo, Egypt to see if they have heart disease. Do they? Listen and find out!

You are not going to want to miss this segment. Call us with your heart disease questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Follow me on Twitter for interesting medical news and practice updates.

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Monday, May 16th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

I'm still getting used to our call numbers, and remind everyone to change the presets on their radios so you can easily get to Doctor Radio.

This has been one heck of an allergy year. Despite the fact that many fine allergy medicines are available "over the counter," we have been inundated with watery eyes, itchy noses, asthma and worse. Join me and allergist Dr. Leonard Bielory, a specialist in allergy and immunology. He has a particular interest in eye allergies. He also runs a website that gives up to the moment pollen counts as part of the National Allergy Bureau.

Questions about allergies? Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Gastroenterology Update continues to be a great success on Doctor Radio. In our second half hour, I will discuss some of the latest studies in gastroenterology. I will also answer any digestive questions you may have at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

I will be posting some of the topics we will discuss on Twitter throughout the day. If there is any news report that you've seen that you want to hear about, send me a message to @doctorira or use the #doctorira hashtag!

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

Last week, one of my friend's kids had her appendix out...not an infrequent event. Although everyone is fine, the question remains that in an age of antibiotics and CT scans, why do we still "need" to remove the appendix? Join me and NYU surgeon Mary Ann Hopkins as we talk about a new study showing that surgery may be better. Having said that, the accompanying editorial in the same journal disagrees with the study and says that not removing the appendix is better! Now this is talk radio!

Call us with you appendix questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end the show, as usual, with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any question on medical topic at all! Anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me!

Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Follow me on Twitter!

Monday May 9th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81

Boy, it is much easier with one set of call numbers: thank you SiriusXM management!

Salt. Not just a bad movie, but something that Americans, including me, love. A recent study showed that salt may not affect blood pressure as much as previously thought. Should we break out the shakers? According to NYU hypertension expert Dr. Henry Black, the answer is no. Find out what he has to say, and call in with your own questions on hypertension, medication and diet.

Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

At 8:30 Eastern Time we are going to have our "Gastroenterology Update" segment, which is proving to be extremely popular! Topics tomorrow include everything from beer and the risk for gastric cancer, the need to perform a biopsy before starting a gluten free diet, and new news on colonoscopy preps! Call us with your GI questions during the show at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or...

Email me at irabreite@yahoo.com or tweet me at @doctorira with any studies or news articles you have seen and we'll try to discuss them. (before airtime would help :) ).

Continuing on the GI and allergy theme, we are going to start our second hour talking about eosinophillic esophagitis and other eosinophil disorders. Join me and University of California at San Diego Allergist Dr. Seema Aceves as we talk about eosinophillic esophagitis in children: everything from what it is, how it is diagnosed and what you can do about it!

Calls us with your digestive allergy and eosinophilia questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We are going to end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any medical questions at all and I will be happy to answer them. Anything that you forgot to ask your own doctor ask me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Monday, May 2nd on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius 114 and XM 119

SiriusXM is changing its channel lineup. So this is the last time we'll be on Sirius 114 and XM 119. Starting May 4th, Doctor Radio will be on channel 81 for everyone: stay tuned!

Speaking of changes, did you know that gold was once a mainstay of treatment in medicine! Join me and rheumatologist Dr. Bert Agus as we talk about the use of gold in medicine. Its a good combo, because many of the diseases were rheumatological and many of the bad side effects were gastrointestinal!

Gold as a medicine?! Questions! Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

Some kids just vomit. So do some adults. And despite extensive workups, no blockage, ulcer or other anatomical problem is found. Join me and University of Missouri Pediatric Gastroenterologist Dr. David Fleisher as we talk about the Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome.

Vomiting in you or a family member. Is your doctor not able to give you a clear answer? Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

A bit of a programming change. Ask Dr. Ira will be at the 9 AM Eastern hour tomorrow. Call me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS with any questions that you forgot to ask your own doctor. Also, exciting news for me...I now have the "Doctorira.com" website, which currently links back to here, but you never know!

As a physician, I have gotten pretty good at diagnosing celiac disease...helping people live with it is another matter entirely. Join me and author Danna Korn as we talk about how to live a gluten free lifestyle. She wrote "Living Gluten Free for Dummies," amongst other books.

Call us with your celiac and gluten free questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Monday, April 25th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius 114 and XM 119: Doctor Radio!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. I am, except for the fact that the NY Rangers just got eliminated from the playoffs (sigh). The Knicks are playing this afternoon...not looking good. Watching the game yesterday almost gave me a heart attack...which brings us to the first topic on Monday's show.

Aspirin. Its a headache cure. It is heart protective. It also causes bleeding, sometimes in the brain. Should you take it? Alfred A. Bartolucci, Ph.D. may have some of the answers. He just completed an analysis of 9 clinical trials looking at whether aspirin prevents heart attacks and death. Find out about the study, and find out if taking aspirin is right for you!

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

I've been told by my wife that men do not think with their brains. Now it turns out that the brains of men and women may be guided by what lives in your digestive tract! Dr. Sven Pettersson, Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology at the Karolinska Institute will be joining us to talk about his new research showing that brain development is guided by the bacteria in your gut! Yes!

Questions about the mind gut interaction? I know I have them! Ask your at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We are going to continue our gut conversation at the top of our second hour! Bert Agus, MD, rheumatologist at NYU Langone and Doctor Radio Regular, will be joining us to talk about the relationship between diseases of the gut, such as Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis, and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. I wonder if bacteria has been implicated in those diseases as well? Find out and call us with your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any questions on any medical questions at all and I will be glad to answer...anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me! Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

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Monday, April 18th on The Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius 114 and XM 119

On Monday, we will be hearing about people who never get sick, people who live with allergies, and of course, people who battle constipation during the Passover Holiday and year round!

Gene Stone followed the advice that every doctor gave him...and still found himself getting sick 3 to 4 times a year. So he started following the advice of people he knew who never got sick...from "prayer to exercise, from hot soup to a cold shower." He will talk with me about his new book, "The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick" and answer your questions.

If you have any questions about avoiding getting sick, give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Our next segment is for people who are, unfortunately, sick with allergies. Gwen Smith is the Editor and Co-Founder of "Allergic Living Magazine," which is based in Toronto. Now, like curling and fries with gravy, "Allergic Living" is coming south to the United States! From Recipes to health tips, find out about how this magazine can help you and your loved ones thrive!

Allergy questions: Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

This is the time of year that the Jewish People celebrate Passover...The Seder, The Matzoh, The Constipation. Yes, eating a food that is effectively library paste can have some negative effects on your colon. But you don't have to be Jewish to have constipation, it is an equal opportunity problem. Join me and Dr. Wes Jones, the author of "Cure Constipation Now: A Doctor's Fiber Therapy to Cleanse and Heal" as we talk about constipation from food and other problems: and what you can do about it!

Constipation problems? Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end the show with "Ask Doctor Ira," where you can ask me any questions on any medical topic at all. Call me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

Want to hear about a topic? Tweet me! @doctorira.

Monday, April 11th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius 114 and XM 119: Doctor Radio!

I am writing this on Sunday morning while drinking coffee. I really like coffee. Even after I had surgery, the first thing I wanted in the haze of post op was a cup of coffee (which they gave me, although it was watered down so I wouldn't burn myself). So I am extremely excited that Dr. Jack James, the editor of the new Journal of Caffeine Research will be joining us on the phone from the National University of Ireland in Galway.

If there is anything you wanted to know about caffeine give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

For many people, even the thought of caffeine leads to thoughts of reflux: so after our segment on caffeine Dr. Jamie Koufman, the author of "Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook and Cure," will be joining us in the studio to talk to us about the growing problems of esophageal reflux in the United States. We'll talk about her extensive research on the subject, as well as going over some new, and odd facts. Such as "freeze dried strawberries may help reduce the risk of esophageal cancer." Really.

Call us with your questions about GERD, NERD, LPR, and anything else heartburn related at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Hepatitis C is a common problem, and, because of its association with drug use, a problem people don't like to talk about. Treatment exists, but it is difficult and not completely effective. But hope is on the way. Join me and hepatologist Dr. Melissa Palmer as we talk about what's going on in the world of hep C.

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

We're going to finish the show with "Ask Doctor Ira," where you can ask me any questions on any medical topic at all...anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS! You can also tweet me any show ideas or questions you may have!

The use of activated charcoal for gas and bloating.

A listener called today and asked if there was a cancer risk to the use of activated charcoal. I wasn't sure, but thought not. When we grill, the risk (if any!) is in the complicated organic compounds that occur when high heat and meat are exposed to each other. Having said that, I looked it up. In general: Charcoal may or may not be helpful for gas and bloat, such as that caused by IBS. Studies are all conflicting and old

No where did I see anything about a long term cancer risk from the use of activated charcoal. Having said that, there appears to be no studes.

There are enough scary side effects, such as black stools...that I would and do not routinely recommend charcoal use for gas and bloat.

Monday, April 4th, 2011 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius 114 and XM 119: Doctor Radio!

If you had celiac disease or were living gluten free, how would you feel if somebody dismissed your dietary and health issues outright? That's what one New York City chef recently did. Join me and registered dietitian Rachel Begun, MS, as we talk about the dangers of eating gluten if you do have celiac disease. We will also talk about how to avoid gluten in stores and restaurants, and what you can do if someone with gluten sensitivity is coming to your house!

Call us with you celiac questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Although we may wonder what is in our food, its also a good idea to wonder where our food comes from. The journalist David Kirby has written a new book called "Animal Factory," which documents the medical problems of living near a farm producing meat. Meat is cheap in the United States, but is there a price beyond that which we pay in the supermarket?

Call us with your questions on this fascinating topic at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

Next, a topic near and dear to my cranky middle aged male heart: Jed Diamond, PhD, the author of the new book "Mr. Mean," will be coming on the show to discuss male menopause, irritable male syndrome and male type depression. Men, find out whats happening to you. Ladies, find out how to make that man do what he should do?

Cranky middle aged man? Married to one? Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end the show with ask doctor ira, where you can ask me any questions that you forgot to ask your own doctor...give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

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I am back from Argentina this morning and raring to go for tomorrow's show. Not necessarily a medical fact, but sort of true: a 10 hour flight with a one hour time zone change leads to little or no jet lag. So here we go!

First GERD: Did you know that tourists in Argentina seem to subsist on a diet of 1) grilled cheese, 2) pizza, 3) steak, 4) dessert featuring flan, chocolate and dulce de leche? Well, at least we did. Join me and Dr. David Johnson, MD, a professor of medicine and Chief of Gastroenterology at the Eastern University School of Medicine in Norfolk, VA as we discuss the latest in GERD, ranging from new warnings about magnesium and hip fracture to news of Regis Philbin.

Call us with your questions about GERD and GERD medications at 1-877-NYU-DOCS

Adding to my hour of jet lag is a change in the time for Ask Dr. Ira...I will be answering any questions on any medical topic at all at the 8:30 EDT hour tomorrow.

Anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Our friend, registered dietician Keri Gans, has just written a new book called "The Small Change Diet." Join her as we talk about her book, and how it can help you. I will find out if there are any small changes that can help me after my Argentinian trip!

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

Monday, March 14. 2011 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Doctor Radio: Sirius 114 and XM 119 (8AM EDT)

We are going to start off tomorrow's show with a medical report on the situation in Northern Japan. Dr. Marc Siegel, the Medical Director of Doctor Radio, will be joining me to talk about what's going on there.

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Join me and gastroenterologist Dr. Patricia Raymond as we speak about this problem. Dr. Raymond also speaks as her alter-ego, Ms. Butt Meddler. Who knew you could have a colonoscopy while wearing sequins!

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

I can tell you as a gastroenterologist that people do not like talking about their gas or heartburn. They like speaking about fecal incontinence even less. A recent study suggested that up to 20% of women may suffer from this problem. Join me and Mount Sinai colo-rectal surgeon Dr. Alex Ky-Miyasaka as we talk about this problem, and the various non-surgical and surgical options to help it.

If you or a loved one has had a problem with fecal incontinence give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS...you do not have to give your real name.

Hypertension? prehypertension? If your pressure is "on the borderline," do the side effects of the medications outweigh the benefits. Find out when I interview NYU Hypertension expert Dr. Henry Black.

Confused about hypertension and prehypertension. Wondering about the medication you are on? Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any medical question at all. Call me with questions you forgot toask your own doctor at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

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Monday, March 7th on The Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius 114 and XM 119: Doctor Radio!

Happy Monday! We have a pretty amazing show scheduled for this Monday:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Like many gastroenterologists, I spend a lot of time dealing with this difficult condition that leads to so much misery, work loss, and social discomfort. Treatment is difficult, and physicians really don't have an effective "toolbox" of remedies. Join me and Dr. Christine Frissora of Weill-Cornell University School of Medicine as we talk about IBS. Find out about clinical trials that are going on to treat this common problem.

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

The Playboy Mansion is not something that we usually talk about on Doctor Radio: few physicians (besides plastic surgeons, I guess) end up there. But this next story is just too good, and too important, to pass up. Legionella! At the Playboy Mansion! But its also places where the rest of us go, too. Find out about this disease, how it spreads, and how to know if you have it! Join me and NYU Microbiologist Dr. Phillip Tierno, the author of the Secret Life of Germs, to talk about this disease.

Call us with questions about Legionella (not how to date playmates!) at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We start our second hour with a talk about another famous ladies man: King Henry the VIIIth. Six wives, two executions, and no living sons. Also, Henry became not only fat, but had difficulty moving and perhaps became psychotic as he got older. Could he have had the genetic disease McLeod's syndrome? Or the Kell Antigen? What is McLeod's syndrome? Heck, what is the Kell antigen? Find out with one of the authors of the study, Dr. Catrina Banks Whitley, PhD. Dr. Banks did this work at SMU and is now a research associate in the Office of Archaeological Studies at the Museum of New Mexico. Also joining us is Dr. David Araten of NYU Medical Center's Division of Hematology, and Mount Sinai Neurologist Dr. Ruth Walker as we talk about this medical mystery.

Motion disorders? Weird blood stuff? Too many wives and too much to eat and drink? Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any medical questions on any medical topics at all...anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me! Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

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Monday, February 28th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius 114 and XM 119: Doctor Radio!

The end of February. You can almost smell the spring coming (through the cold, ice and wind that still blankets our area). New beginnings are a theme of the show today.

Craig Pinto was a Division I athlete who was sidelined after being diagnosed with Crohn's disese and Celiac left school. After resolving his dietary and health issues he returned to the Arena Football League, where he signed with the New Jersey Revolution. He is now a high school coach and has started a new non-profit group called Kicking 4 Celiac. His kicking has gotten him into the Guiness Book of World Records...find out why!

Call us with any questions you may have about Celiac or Crohn's disease to 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

The end of winter is also a time to think about, well, the beginning of allergy season. Join me and Dr. Paul Ehrlich as we talk about whether being too clean may lead to allergies! Dr. Ehrlich is also the author of "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Your Child’s Allergies and Asthma."

Allergies? Worried about the hygiene hypothesis? Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Its also time to think about the future. Lots of people have been asking me about personalized medicine...but what is it and where is t going. Join me, Paul Livingstone, the senior editor of R&D Magazine, and Boonsri Dickinson, who had her DNA tested by three different companies, to find out what's going on in the world of Personal Genomics.

Questions about YOUR DNA? Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

We will end the show with "Ask Doctor Ira," where you can ask me question on any medical topic at all. Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS with any question you forgot to ask your doctor!

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Monday, February 14, 2011 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius 114 and XM 119: Doctor Radio!

Happy Valentines day everybody! We have a special show Monday, where I will broadcast from Sirius Central!

How can you have Valentine's day without candy? Join me and Beth Kimmerle, a chocolate and candy expert and the author of two books on the history of candy, as we talk about the history of candy. Did you know that research from 1928 showed that 1) candy was a food and that 2) you could lose weight with it?

If you have any questions about the history candy (I want to find out who created those little hearts with sayings on them) call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

We are continuing are candy theme for our second half hour as well! I will be joined by The Medicine Hunter, Chris Kilham, who hunts the world looking for traditional, plant based medicines. He is the author of 14 books and the host of the TV show "Medicine Trails." Chris will be talking to us about the new science of cocoa therapy. Is eating chocolate good for you? If so, how much? Listen and find out!

If you have any questions at all about staying healthy with chocolate...or any other natural compounds...give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

What happens when someone decides to leave medicine? Dr. Maggie Kozel the author of “The Color of Atmosphere: One Doctor’s Journey In and Out of Medicine," will be joining us to tell about her journey from Georgetown Medical School, to a Naval Pediatrics practice, to private practice, and then to being a high school chemistry teacher. Find out what she enjoyed about being a practicing physician, what she didn't like, and why she chose to leave.

If you've ever wondered about what your doctor is "really thinking" give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

We will end the show with "Ask Doctor Ira," where you can ask me any medical questions on any topic at all: anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me!"

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


The chocolate heart pictured above is actually for sale here!