Monday, December 16th on The Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

Its the holidays. Too much eating. Too much drinking. And therefore a perfect time to start our show with Digestive Disease Update.  Find out about a new, controversial review on diverticulosis and have your questions answered at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or tweet me at Doctorira.

Women's health.  Women, you know.  Men, well, we are sort of confused.  Join me and Dr. Jessica Shepard as we find out 10 things that men need to know about women's health!  And, as I sit here at my sons Junior hockey tournament (a chippy hormone fest of teenage boys), find out what your SONS need to know as well!

The microbiome: we know its important.  Is it important enough to protect you from (or cause) cancer?  Join me and NYU scientist Dr. Jiyoung Ahn as we speak about her new research showing a relationship between colon cancer and the species in your microbiome.

We are going to end the show, as usual, with Ask Doctor Ira, whre you can ask me any question on any medical topic at all: it does not matter what it is...anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me!  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Monday, December 9th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

Happy Holidays! Happy Monday.  I hope everyone is getting ready to be together with friends and family.  But what happens if someone has food allergies?  Join me as we talk to allergist Dr. Erin McGintee  about food allergies during the holidays.

Entertaining and worried about that relative with food allergies?  Have food allergies and want to gently tell your hosts what to do?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After that we will have Gastroenterology Update. Check out my twitter feed for some interesting articles (new perspectives in diverticulosis) and call me with you digestive disease questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Speaking of food: what about food poisoning?  We will be talking about the need for public health by talking about one of its most important offenders: Typhoid Mary.  Never look at peach ice cream the same way again.

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

Monday, December 2, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio.

Fresh off my excellent experience with the wonderful folks at the American Museum of Natural History, too much Thanksgiving Turkey and Latkes, and an abundance of football, I am ready to get going with the excellent show that we have planned for tomorrow.

Starting with Hepatitis C.  We have talked a lot about this vexing problem and the difficulties that many people have with current treatments (even though those are way more effective than they were a few years ago).  We will talk with Dr. Lisa Ganjhu of NYU-Langone Medical Center who will be talking to us about new treatments for hepatitis C.

Hep C questions?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

We will expand the conversation to all of gastroenterology in our second half hour.  Give me a tweet or call with any digestive issues you may have.

We will continue the digestive conversation after this. I have been talking a lot about probiotics on the gut.  We will talk a bit about probiotics and the mind (really).

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 me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

Monday, November 25th, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

Thanksgiving is in the air here in New York City. The crowds are back, its cold, and the kids are smelling a four day weekend.  I am putting the final touches on my poison lecture for the American Museum of Natural History Monday night.

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!

 

We will expand the GI conversation after this with GI update, where I will answer any question on digestive disease...find out how to beat that stomach ache before eating all that Turkey.  Tweet me, or give a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

What! No jellied tube of cranberries at the original Thanksgiving.  What did they eat? How long did it last?  Did they create touch football? 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 well-being 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!

Monday, November 18th, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

via Squatty Potty 

As I've been preparing for my Food Poisoning talk at the American Museum of Natural History I've been thinking about some weird medical problems: hot feeling cold, seizure causing pork, and cannibalism related dementia (don't eat other peoples brains).  So I am very excited that  Dr. Clifton K. Meador will be joining us to talk about his latest book: "Fascinomas: Fascinating Medical Mysteries." Find out what a fascinoma is and call us about your own strange medical symptoms!

After this, we will have Gastroenterology Update: where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and answer your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Ok, we talk about bowel movements all the time on my show.  It is, as they say, the safe place where you can do it.  We spend a lot of time talking about fiber, about fluids, and about medications.  But what about your toilet itself?  Despite its ubiquity in the US, the "squat" toilet is standard in parts of the world.  Given that, we decided to reach out to Bobby Edwards, the creator of the "Squatty Potty," an ergonomic way of going to the bathroom.  He will be joined my his medical advisor, gastroenterologist Dr. Roger Siddoway, MD FACG.

We will end the show, as usual, with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any medical question on any topic at all: it does not matter what it is: anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me!

Call me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or tweet me!

Monday, November 11, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

Happy Veteran's Day everyone.  I would like to say thank you to all of the men and women who serve our great nation and help keep us safe and secure. 

So of course, our first segment is about, well, poison.  The American Museum of Natural History is having a new exhibition about "The Power of Poison."  In addition, they have invited me to be part of the associated lecture series and talk about "Microbes, Toxins and You."  Join me and exhibition curator Dr. Mark Siddall as we talk about poison in the natural world and at the hands of humans.  We will even talk about some of the good of poison (and its not just Botox!)

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

After this, we will have Gastroenterology Upate, where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news from the world of digestive disease (the hot news is clearly in hepatitis C this week) as well as answering your questions on all things GI related.  Give us a tweet or a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

HBO has long had a series of fascinating documentaries.  Join me, as we speak to Ric Esther Bienstock, an Emmy award winning investigative journalist and Canadian Filmmaker, who is here to tell us about her latest investigative project and new documentary film, "Tales From the Organ Trade."  The documentary is currently airing on HBO.  Find out about the black market for organs such as kidneys, corneas and more.  Don't judge until you see this. 

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

Monday, November 4th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

I had a great time doing "Weekend Housecalls" Saturday:  I would like to thank my producer Melanie Kron, Dr. Marc Siegel and everyone who called in and helped make it such a great show. 

But onto the future.  And the future is scary.  Or at least the horror movies coming out are. Why do we like them?  Join me and English Professor Paul Patterson of St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia as we talk about how horror helps us face our fears.  Dr. Patterson is teaching a graduate course on the subject and I'm still getting flashbacks from "The Shining." 

Join us by calling in with your favorite horror movie moments at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After this we are going to have Gastroenterology Update, where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease, and answer your tweets and calls at 1-877-NYU-DOCS. 

We're going to continue the digestive disease conversation after this.  We all talk about the H. pylori bacteria, but, in fact, despite all the guidelines we physicians have, there has been a poor sense of whether treating people without ulcers is really a good idea.  Join me as I talk with one of the world's leading experts on this bacteria and we try to get to the bottom of "To treat or not to treat (that is the question).

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any question on any medical topic at all: it does not matter what it is.  Anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me!  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Monday, October 28, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio.

Its Halloween.  Apparently its been Halloween in NYC all weekend, with parties costumes, and very large quantities of candy for kids and more adult oriented snacks for everyone else.  Which brings us to our show tomorrow.

For the snacks: GERD.  But while reflux is always a trick and never a treat, for those people with Barrett's esophagus and dysplasia it is especially so.  Join me and Dr. Nicholas Shaheen of UNC as we talk about RFA ablation for Barrett's and how ablating the bad cells appears to keep working.  Call us with your Barrett's questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After this we will expand the conversation to not just GERD and Barrett's but to all of gastroenterology.  Join me for Gastroenterology Update, where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and answer your tweets and questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Now more the more adult oriented.  As I was getting around NYC, I saw hundreds of ghosts, ghouls, zombies and some costumes that clearly shouldn't be described in oriented health blog. But what I didn't see was costume contact lenses.  Honestly, I didn't think anyone besides actors ever wore them.  It took me long enough to realize people wore contacts to change their eye color.  Join me and NYU Ophthalmologist and Doctor Radio Show Host Dr. Elisabeth J. Cohen as we talk about costume contact lenses: who knew anyone would stick something like that in their eyes?  How safe are they?  We'll find out!

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

Monday, October 21, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

I'm watching the Denver Broncos play the Indianapolis Colts as I write this.  Looks painful.  Particularly, at this moment, if you are an Indy fan.  Speaking of pain, Dr. Sanjay Bakshi of the CRPS Institute in NY will be joining me to talk about chronic regional pain syndrome.  Find out about this poorly understood syndrome which may affect millions of Americans.

Pain syndrome in your extremities that no one can figure out?  Want to avoid narcotics?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

GI Update follows.  Find out the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease, and ask me your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.  You can tweet me as well!  We will get to all of that at 8:30 AM ET.

I won't lie.  I am eating barbecue as I watch the football game and get this together.  I'm trying to lose weight, but, well, sometimes I get a little weak.  So I am very excited to hear from Dr. Deborah Levine, a medical historian at Providence College in Rhode Island.  She will tell us about her work on President William Howard Taft, who I will forever think of after this as "Modern Dieter Zero."

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 you doctor, ask me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

Image Source.

Monday, October 13th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

Greetings from Foxboro, MA.  I am writing this in the Snack Bar of a Hockey Rink, where one of my sons is participating in a tournament and I am working on my food poison talk at the American Museum of Natural History this November.  Which brings us to our first topic: GERD, and how diet can effect it.  Join me and reflux expert and otolaryngologist Dr. Jamie Koufman as we talk about all things reflux and I point out to my friend the ENT how our Radiofrequency Ablation Procedure really seems to work in patients with Barrett's esophagus and dysplasia!

After this, we will expand the topic to GI update, where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease.

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

Tomorrow is Columbus Day.  And what would Doctor Radio be without an in depth discussion of how whomever's holiday it was either got sick or died?  Joining us to talk about Christopher Columbus is Dr. Phillip Mackowiac, Professor of Medicine, Medical Historian and Author!

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

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

Its Flu Shot Season.  And yes, Doctor Marc K. Siegel, the Medical Director of Doctor Radio, will be coming on the air to give me mine.  High dose?  Tetravalent?  Quadravalent?  Find out with us tomorrow (and feel my pain) during our second hour.

As a physician, I recommend and am often asked about obesity surgery options.  One step before getting the surgery is a "psychological evaluation."  Patients and physicians often think of it as just a hoop to jump through to make the insurance company happy: but is it?  Join me and Psychologist Dr. Leslie Heinberg of the Cleveland Clinic as we talk about eating disorders before and after Bariatric Surgery.

We have a solid hour of Ask Doctor Ira and Gastroenterology Update as well.  Find out some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease, and have your questions answered on any medical topic at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Monday, September 30th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

New week.  New fear of Contagion.  (Ironic Doctor Radio Fact: I have not seen the movie Contagion because I don't like scary movies).  We have talked a lot about C. difficile, the bacteria that is not easily killed by normal antibiotics.  The assumption has always been that transmission of C. diff occurred because the normal gut flora was depleted due to antibiotic use.  But a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that transmission can occur in a variety of ways.  Join me and Mayo Clinic C. diff expert Dr. Sahil Khanna as we talk about this latest study and learn what you can do to avoid to this growing pathogenic pest and new ways to treat it if you do get it.

C diff questions: 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will expand the digestive disease conversation after this with Gastroenterology Update.  Find out some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and call me with your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.  You can also tweet me a short question (or picture) to @doctorira.

Exercise.  Exercise.  Exercise.  Its like a mantra out my mouth.  But, if you're pregnant, is there too much of a good thing?  How much is too little and how much is too much.  Join me and NYU OB/GYN Dr. Daniel Roshan as we about about exercise in pregnancy.

Pregnant?  Pregnant relative?  Want to know how much they should (or shouldn't) do.  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 topic at all....anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me!  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.  If you can't reach me live, tweet me or send an email (with my name in the subject heading) to docs@siriusxm.com!


photo via "Crossfit" Facebook page via the NY Times

Monday, September 23rd, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

Ticks cause all kinds of misery.  But allergies? To meat? Well, maybe.  Join me and allergist Dr. Erin McGintee as we talk about the potential relationship between lone star tick bites and meat allergy!

Having hives?  Not sure why? (I never seem to know why people have hives)  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After that we will have Gastroenterology Update.  As you all know I've been reviewing for my board recertification recently and have discovered my new favorite GI disease: Cannabanoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (really).  But it doesn't have to be about that. Call me with any of your digestive disease questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

I hate the look on a patients face when I tell them I think its not worth it to start antibiotics.  I get it: everyone wants a magic pill that just makes them better.  But most infections are viral and just need time, fever reducers, and a small dose of day time television.  Join me and Tufts Microbiologist Dr. Stuart Levy as we talk about a new CDC "Threat Report" talking about the growing dangers of antibiotic resistance.

We're 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 me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

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

A brief post on tomorrow's show.  We are going to start with stories of the odd, and medical mysteries in general.  I am reviewing for my board recertification (every 10 years!) and trying to learn all the various "zebra" diagnosis to be ready for the test.  We'll start by talking about Naegleria, the almost uniformly fatal parasite that people get in fresh water.  There is an outbreak in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, and we will be talking about this, and other "weird" and occasionally scary medical topics.  If you have a medical mystery this is a great time to call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Then, onto something a little bit more mundane.  But common.  Kidney stones.  Mayo Clinic nephrologist Dr. John Lieske will be joining us to talk about those small pellets of misery.  Find out what causes them, what you can do to prevent them, and what to do if the stones get out of hand.

We are going to spend the final hour recreating my office...A combination of Ask Doctor Ira and GI Update.  Call me with your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Monday, September 9th, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

West Nile Virus

School is back. Children are sad.  Parents are not.  And, if you are a doctor, the sick season starts.

Dr. Alexandra Levitt, PhD is the author of "Deadly Outbreaks: How Medical Detectives Save Lives Threatened by Killer Pandemics, Exotic Viruses, and Drug Resistant Parasites" will be joining us to talk about her new book.  Learn how medical detectives help to figure out where epidemics come from, and what they do when the mainstays of modern medicine, vaccines and antibiotics, are unable to protect us from rapidly evolving infectious diseases.

Gastroenterology update follows this.  Call me with Digestive disease questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS, tweet me, and find out about the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive diseases.

Kid going back to school?  College bound?  Gluten sensitive or Celiac.  Then Join me and Rachel Begun, MS, RD as we talk about living gluten free in college.  Big question: Do they make gluten free ramen?

Gluten and Celiac Questions?  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.  Give me a call at 1-877-NYU DOCS!


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Monday, August 26th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

Almost September already?  Where does the time go.  But there is still a little summer left, and we are going to be talking about a summery topic to start the show.  Of course, only on Doctor Radio is Lyme disease considered a 'summery topic!'

Dr. Daniel Cameron will be joining us to talk about Lyme Disease and a new report that says that Lyme may be about 10 times as prevalent as previously thought.  And its not just we North-easterners that are affected...find out about how tick born disease affects the whole country.

Nails. No, not Lenny Dykstra and not the metal kind: the ones at the end of your digits (in my next career I would like to have a home repair show, however).  What can cause them to become diseased?  Join me and fellow Doctor Radio Show host and dermatologist Dr. Doris Day as we talk about the nail.  So simple, and yet so much stuff can go wrong?

Nail questions...give me a buzz at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will have a whole hour of Digestive Disease Update and Ask Doctor Ira following this.  Our phones, just like my regular office, have been crazy throughout the summer and we want everyone to get a chance to ask me any questions on any medical topic at all...give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.  Or tweet me 140 characters of medical goodness to @doctorira.

Monday, August 19, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

We are getting into the heart of the summer.  Which, of course, means, that we are getting ready to get back to real life pretty soon.   For adults, that means taking your blood pressure seriously.  For kids (and their parents), it means dealing with those 'back to school' stomach aches.  And for everyone, it means questions about the health issues they have been 'benignly neglecting' since Memorial Day.  We are ready for it all.

Starting with high blood pressure. Join me and hypertension expert Dr. Henry Black as we talk about why its important to control your blood pressure and what you need to do to keep it where it should be.

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

Then it will be time for Gastroenterology Update.  Find out some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and ask me your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.  Short question...tweet me!

Why do kids always complain about going back to school?  Let me rephrase that...why do kids always seem to get belly aches when its time to go back to school?  Join me and Pediatric Gastroenterologist Dr.  Joseph Levy as we help you figure out whether that stomach ache is just the back to school blah's or whether its something more serious.  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 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!

Monday, August 12th, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

Here I am, at the beach.  Very nice, but full of bugs, bees and other creepy, crawly things.  Join me and Dr. David Golden, a faculty member at  Johns Hopkins University and the head of the insect hypersensitivity section of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology as we talk about the (???) rise in insect bites and stings and severe reactions to them.

Worried about bug bites and bee stings?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

After this, we will have Gastroenterology Update, where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and answer your quesitons at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!  You can tweet me as well!

Whenever I travel abroad I tend to go supermarkets (greatest discovery: triple decker Oreos in Argentina well before they were available here).  While it may not be museums, it is interesting.  One thing I've noticed is that most countries have very official looking "Gluten Free" labeling.  The United States doesn't.  Or didn't.  Join me and Joslin Diabetes Center Dietician Laurie Higgins as we review new FDA guidelines on gluten free labeling.

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

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Monday, August 5th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

We spend a lot of time during the show talking about bacteria and the gut.  Heck, I spend a lot of time in the office talking about the gut-bacteria connection.  But, despite this new interest in bacteria, one of the most interesting thing about our intestines is this: they have their own nervous system.  Join me as we welcome back Dr. Gary Mawe of the University of Vermont as we talk about this.

Find out about how the nervous system of your intestine may affect everything from bowel movements to gallbladder function.  Give us a call with your questions to 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After that we will expand the conversation with Gastroenterology Update.  Not just the nervous system...the whole GI tract.  Call or tweet me your questions on all things digestive to 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Summer.  Sports. Pain.  Back Pain.  I've been seeing people with lower back pain all summer and the epidemic sees no signs of abating.  Although most people get better with some rest and an anti-inflammatory, for some it can be a big deal.   Join me and Dr. David Kloth of Connecticut Pain Care as we talk about what you can do for this problem.

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




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Monday, July 29th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

Drinking. Eating.  The summer.  Makes me think of good times, and, well, the pancreas!  This mysterious organ, the maker of insulin and digestive juice, a bad place to get cancer, and sensitive (maybe) to alcohol and spider bites, is the topic of conversation during our first hour of the show.   Let's get further acquainted with it.  Join me and Dr. Christopher DiMaio of the Mount Sinai Medical Center as we talk about the one thing that seems to scare general surgeons!

Fun Pancreas Fact: the pancreas is full of digestive juices, that, if leaked, would literally digest your other organs!

Pancreas (or gallbladder) problems...give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.  Or tweet me @doctorira.

Speaking of digestive juices: Last week I confessed that I stopped at McDonald's for the first time in quite a while.  Its not that I'm morally opposed to fast food (I own a deep frier) but I do try to avoid it as a regular thing and Melanie called me on it.  So much so that she is having me speak with epidemiologist Dr. Mark Pereira on "Fast Food and Your Body."  Dr. Pereira is an expert on dietary patterns and the origins of obesity, type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

We will end the show, as usual, with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me anything on any medical topic and I will be happy to answer you...give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!  Anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me!  Tweet me at @doctorira as well!

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Monday, July 22, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

A brief note on Monday's Show: it will be awesome!  Why?  Well, poison for one.  Not that I recommend it, but, having read my share of mystery novels I am always fascinated by it.  Joining me to talk about the poisons of Agatha Christie is Doctor Radio's own Dr. Howard Greller.  We'll also talk about antidotes and how you can get caught so, please, don't try anything!

Fun Agatha Christie fact of the day: more than thirty deaths in her books were the result of poisons!

After this we will have GI update, where you can ask me any questions on any digestive disease topic at all at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.  Heartburn, constipation, even the liver or pancreas...give me a call!

We are getting to the heart of traveling season (I am writing this from Massachusetts on my way to Maine).  If you are traveling, what do you need to do?  Going exotic?  Find out about exotic vaccines.  Going local? you still need to prepare.  We'll get you ready.

We will end the show, as usual, with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any questions on any medical topic at all: it does not matter what it is...anything you forgot to ask your doctor as me.  Call me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or send me a tweet to @doctorira.

Monday, July 15th, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

We have a great show planned for Monday.  Starting with colon cancer. Dr. Thomas Weber, a colorectal surgeon and the President of the Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation will be talking to us about the rise in the diagnosis of this disease in young people and Treatment for this disease.

Colon Cancer questions...call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS

After that we'll expand the digestive disease conversation to anything at all: liver, pancreas, the gallbladder..anything at all on Digestive Disease Update.

You can call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or tweet me at @doctorira.

We have been a little fascinated by stool on this show: given my specialty its not surprising.  But how about using stool as a treatment.  Join me at author Marie Myung-Ok Lee, who teaches writing at Columbia, as we discuss her recent NY Times essay "Why I donated My Stool."  Find out about stool transplants for ulcerative colitis and a variety of other intestinal diseases.

We will end the show, as usual, with "Ask Doctor Ira," where you can ask me any question on any medical topic at all...it does not matter what it is: anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me!  Give me a call or a tweet.

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Monday, July 8th, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

It. is. so. hot.  Even my sentences are melting into seperate words.  But fortunately the air conditioning in our SiriusXM studio at NYUL Medical Center is working just fine and we will be on the air tomorrow.  Join me as I talk with Dr. Jamie Koufman of the Voice Institute of New York and the author of the bestselling book "Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook and Cure."  We'll be speaking about reflux in general, and, in light of the season, going over barbecue without the burn!

Reflux.  There is no better time to call than when you have a gastroenterologist and an otolaryngologist on the air at the same time at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

I admit it.  I can watch do David Blaine and other magicians do card tricks and other "little" illusions all day.  You know its a trick but...well, you get fooled.  Why? Join me and author Alex R. Stone as we talk about his book "FOOLING HOUDINI: Magicians, Mentalists, Math Geeks, And The Hidden Powers Of The Mind."  Find out what why we're fooled, and how the same tricks used by illusionists can be used by hucksters, con-artists and others. 

We'll end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any question on any medical topic at all and I will be glad to answer: anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me!  Call me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or tweet me at @doctorira.  

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Monday, July 1, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio.

Its July already? Hot weather brings out the plants, and can also make us a little bit wild and strange. We are going to be covering both topics as well as digestive and medical questions. First the plants. The power of plants to heal is being celebrated by the New York Botanical Garden, which has opened a new exhibition: Wild Medicine: Healing Plants Around the World, Featuring The Italian Renaissance Garden (through September 8, 2013)Join me and Dr Michael Balick, the Vice President for Botanical Science and the curator of the exhibit as we talk about the relationship between plants and people.

Plants? Questions?  Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

After this, we'll have Gastroenterology Update, where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and answer your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

First the wild,  now the strange.  Join me and author Nathan Belofsky, as we talk about his book "Strange Medicine: A shocking history of Real Medical Practices Throughout the Ages."  The next time your doctor gets a little bit puffy, tell him or her about the perfectly acceptable practices that Mr. Belofsky describes in this book.

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me anything you want on any medical topic at all: it doesn't matter what it is.  Anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me at 1-877-NYUDOCS or tweet me @doctorira.   

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Monday, June 17th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

We have quite a digestive show planned for tomorrow.  In brief, Dr. William Chey, the co-editor of the American Journal of Gastroenterology, will be joining me to talk about irritable bowel syndrome and their May supplement on food (you'd be surprised how little we gastroenterologists sometimes think about food).  We will then expand the conversation with gastroenterology update.  Call us with your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

We receive so many pediatric questions during Gastroenterology Update that we thought it would be a great idea to have Dr. Joseph Levy, the Director of Pediatric GI here at NYULMC, to come in and speak about childhood abdominal pain and so many other digestive issues that affect kids.  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 me a call or tweet me @doctorira!  

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Monday, June 10th, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

Father's day is coming.  Graduations are here.  And its time to talk about men and allergies (not that we're allergic to men here at Doctor Radio).

Starting with men.  Father's day is coming.  And, while I will surely appreciate the tie or cufflinks that I will likely receive, what about health? Why does almost every father who walks into my office come because his wife made him?  What is is about us men? Joining me to talk about this  is Dr. Rani Whitfield, 'Tha Hip Hop Doc.'

Dads and other guys: let us know your secret doctor fears.  Ladies, let us know your tricks for getting your man to go to the doctor @ 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will follow this with Gastroenterology Update...call me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS with your questions about anything digestive!  or your can tweet me short questions to doctorira. 

Here in NYC, its been alternating between wet and allergy, with both seemingly winning over just nice spring weather.  How do you enjoy graduations, proms, and the desire to spend the day outside when allergies are getting to you?  Join me and allergist Dr. Arthur Lubitz as we talk about surviving the spring summer blitz.  Call or tweet us your allergy questions.

We'll end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any question on any topic at all...it does not matter what it is.  Anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me.

Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS, or follow and tweet me on Twitter!

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Monday, June 3rd, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

I enjoyed the day off on Memorial Day, but I am glad to be getting back on the radio.  During Gastroenterology Update, one of the little lines I use is "any digestive question...even the pancreas!"  After enough pancreas questions, I figure its time we get back to pancreas basics.  Join me and Mount Sinai Chief of Endoscopy Dr. Christopher Dimaio as we talk about this long misunderstood organ!  Or at least the exocrine part of it (yes, a little doctor joke right there)

Pancreatitis? Gallstones? Pancreas Cancer?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After that we will expand the conversation with Gastroenterology Update.  Call me with all of your questions on anything digestive at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We've all heard horror stories about patient's who have had, for lack of a better work, stuff left in them. Sponges, forceps and even scalpels.  Despite sponge and instrument counts, x-rays, checklists, nervous circulating nurses and worried surgeons, the problem persists.  Join me a New York Hospital Surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Port as we talk about this problem and some new high tech ways that are being developed to help stop it!

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

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Monday, May 13th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

Sex?  STDs?  On the Doctor Ira Show?  Yup.  Gonorrhea, which our grandfather's in the service conveniently treated with a shot of penicillin, is still here.  And, unfortunately, its getting more and more resistant to the antibiotics we have available.  Join me and Mr William Smith, the executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, as we talk about this and what you need to know about sexual health.  Find out how a simple STD has become a major headache, and what it means to you and your family.

After this we will have gastroenterology update where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive diseases and answer your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.  You can also tweet me your questions if you can't call in!

After this, dietician Rachel Begun will be joining us to talk about new facts in the the diagnosis of celiac disease.  I will give you one: that being fat may be a sign of celiac disease! 

Celiac questions?  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 a question on any medical topic at all: whatever you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me!  Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

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Monday, May 6th, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

From a tweet comes a show (and maybe more.) So tweet me!  Last week, we received a tweet asking about rashes and Celiac disease.  I gave the short answer right on the air and tomorrow we get the full story.  Dr. Vesna Petronic-Rosic, and dermatologist and dermatologist at the University of Chicago will be joining us to talk about the wide variety of skin conditions that can occur in celiac disease.

Weird rash? Stomach Problems?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

Then onto more stomach problems.  Its time for Gastroenterology Update.  Call me with your digestive problems at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or give me a tweet!

We do a lot of historical stuff on this show...particularly on the Presidents of The United States.  It is a well known fact that John F. Kennedy suffered from a variety of ailments, including Addison's Disease. There is a lot on JFKs illness's documented on the "Doctor Zebra" webpage (he has been a guest of ours).  Today we will be talking with authors Richard Lertzman and William J. Birnes on their new book "Dr. Feelgood: The Shocking Story of the Doctor Who May Have Changed History by Treating and Drugging JFK, Marilyn, Elvis, and Other Prominent Figures."  Learn about Doctor Max Jacobson, whom he treated and what he treated them with.  Should be interesting!

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

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Monday, April 29th, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

Spring? Allergies.  And so it goes.  But its not just pollen.  And its not just sneezing.  Oral and food allergies are on the rise.  Julie Wang, MD of the Jaffee Food Allergy Institute at Mount Sinai will be joining us to talk about oral allergies and the rise in food allergies!  We will talk about what the symptoms are, what testing can be done, and what you can do to treat it!

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

After that, we'll have Gastroenterology Update, where I will answer your questions on any gastroenterology related topic.  Liver, pancreas, heartburn and even the gallbladder....give us call! or tweet me at @doctorira.

General Surgery!  No, its not a rank, it a specialty.  And it encompasses both common procedures such as colon cancer and gallbladder removal as well as antireflux surgery, solid organ removal and achalasia (acha what??? find out!) .  Join me and Mount Sinai Surgeon Dr. Edward Chin as we talk about all kinds of minimally invasive abdominal procedures.

Do you or a loved one need surgery.  Find out your best options by callin 1-877-NYU-DOCS from 9-9:30 AM Monday!

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

Please follow me on Twitter!

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Monday, April 22nd, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

I have been enjoying my birthday gifts tremendously.  First amongst them is the pasta maker I received from my children.  The good news is I have gotten pretty darn good at making fresh pasta (thank you Mario Batali!).  The bad news is that heartburn abounds and I may be coughing a bit.  Join me and Dr. Jamie Koufman, the author of "Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook and Cure" as we talk about silent reflux, laryngeal reflux, and all of those other non-heartburn related reflux symptoms!

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

We will then expand the conversation to all of digestive disease.  During Gastroenterology Update I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news from the world of digestive disease and answer your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!  Tweet me as well.

As much as I love treating digestive disease, I can not lie: treating irritable bowel syndrome can be difficult.  Alternative therapy is just that: but for IBS it may be a reasonable option if more routine measures don't work.  Join me as I speak with Dr. Mark Weisberg and Dr. Gregory Plotnkioff as we speak about their new book Trust Your Gut: Get Lasting Healing from IBS and Other Chronic Digestive Problems Without Drugs.  Find out what they have to say about trusting your gut, and give us a call with your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end the show, as usual, with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can call me with any medical questions you may have.  Anything your forgot to ask your doctor ask me!  Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

image source (microbiome in kids with and without IBS)

Monday, April 15th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

April 15th.  Tax day.  But, also the day after my birthday!  Between my roller derby birthday party, taxes, preparing for this show and maybe a wee bit too much to eat I have a bit of heartburn this morning.  Although I'll probably just take a histamine blocker and call it a day, may people suffer from more than occasional stress/overindulgence reflux.  And not everyone wants to take pills.  Joining me and talk about some of the non-medication options for reflux!

Reflux:  wondering about non-medication treatments?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After this it will my birthday edition of Gastroenterology Update.  Give us a call with you digestive disease problems: not just reflux but any digestive issue you may have: constipation, IBS and even the gallbladder or liver. 1-877-NYU-DOCS or tweet me!

What would a birthday be without a bit of overindulgence?  Join me, registered dietician and author Keri Gans and Heather Lauer, the author of "Bacon A Love Story - A Salty Survey of Everybody's Favorite Meat" and the blog "Bacon Unwrapped," will join us.  Did you know there was a bacon diet?  I can't even begin with this segment...just listen.

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

follow me on Twitter.
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Monday, April 8th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

I hope everybody is well.  I am still recovering from last weeks "roller derby and the microbiome show last week."  Two results.  First, I am planning on seeing the Manhattan Mayhem play next week.  Second, I have become even more fascinated with the human microbiome.  To that end, we are going to talk about some of the ways it can be passed from one person to the other.  If you've gone to the dentist recently, it sort of feels like you've entered a biohazard area.  Gloves, masks, gowns and sterilizers abound: my dentist's office feels more like an operating room than many operating rooms I've been in...but is it clean?  Join me and Dr. Bruce Paster of the Forsyth Institute as we talk about bacteria on the dental bib....

Then down the mouth to Gastroenterology Update where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of gastroenterology and answer your digestive disease questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

While I am going to the Roller Derby this weekend, it is not uncommon to find me at a variety of sporting events, and baseball season has just started.  Its a long game, and there is an ever growing list of menu items available (yes, I have had the sushi at a game.  But I've also had the fried cheese curds in gravy).    Join me and registered dietician Rachel Berman as we talk about Baseball Season and Serious Stadium Eats: Counting the Calories!

Give us a call with your favorite stadium eats 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...it does not matter what it is.  Anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me!  Give us a call at 1-877NYU-DOCS.  And, a brief swine flu update!

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PNC Park has introduced the Brunch Burger this season. The recipe calls for sprinkled-donut (sorry, sprinkled-glazed-donut) buns along with beef, maple bacon, cheddar cheese and a fried egg in the middle. Orders have exceeded expectations and customers seem pretty satisfied, according to the video.

Monday, April 1st, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

There will be no April Fool on tomorrow's show: only excellent Doctor Radio Goodness. 

Starting with atrial fibrillation.  I've been reviewing all of internal medicine in preparation to re-certify my Board exams and realized just how much things have changed in the world of this most common arrhythmia.  Join me and Mount Sinai Cardiologist and Professor Dr. Vivek Reddy as we talk about what YOU need to know about atrial fibrillation!

Call us with any questions at 1-8777-NYU-DOCS!

Going from the heart to the reason the heart exists: taking care of the GI tract!  Its time for Gastroenterology Update where I will tell you the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease.  Call us with your questions on anything involving the liver, pancreas, colon or even the gallbladder at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

I am not even sure how we got this one.  The title is...and I will just say it...is "Roller Derby and the Microbiome."  Dr James Meadow from the University of Oregon in Eugene, will talk about his latest study published in PEER-J looking at how the skin microbiome is transmitted between players in a contact sport, specifically roller derby.   You will just have to listen.

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


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Monday, March 25, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

Greetings from Rome.  I am about to get on the plane back to New York (in the Uecker seats) but wanted a quick post on tomorrow's show.   In addition to  Gastroenterology Update at 8:30 and Ask Doctor Ira at 9:00 AM (note different time) we are planning to discuss:

1) childhood constipation: how to take care of it.
2) Mummies and heart disease.  Yes, the ancients suffered from heart disease as well!

Call or tweet us during the show with any questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

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Monday, March 10, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Doctor Radio: SiriusXM 81!

Many middle aged men have ignored their skin for, well, their whole lives.  It wasn't until I was a practicing physician in New York City that I could even use the word "product" with a straight face!  But skin damage is a real thing in men and women, and helping to keep the largest organ in your body healthy and happy is an important part of staying healthy.  Join me and Dr. Adam Schaffner, MD, a board certified plastic surgeon and reconstructive surgeon and ENT and a director of the Juva Plastic Surgery Clinic in NYC as we talk about the harsh effects of sun, smoking, tattoos, piercings and who knows what else?

If you (or your man) has a skin problem you'd like to talk about, give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After that we will go a little internally: to GI Update!  I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and answer your questions on anything related to the liver, pancreas, constipation, reflux and more!  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Hepatitis C and HIV are unfortunately both common diseases, and they often occur together.  Join me and Johns Hopkins Professor Dr. Greg Kirk as we talk about his new study showing what happens when people have both of these disease and how this may affect treatment of them both.

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

The picture above is rhino skin, but given how most men treat their skin, its not totally inaccurate!

Monday, March 4th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

Happy March. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.  Its also (as per Wikipedia) National Dietician Month, National Social Worker Month, American Red Cross Month, International Francophone Month and, of course, Fire Prevention Month in the Philippines.  But here at Doctor Radio, its all about Colon Cancer Prevention (Although I can say I am for good nutrition and against fires).  Join me, NYUL Director of Gastroenterology Dr. Mark Pochapin and Director of Endoscopy Dr. Seth Gross as we talk about colon cancer, colon cancer prevention, colonoscopy, and, well, all things colon.

In our second half hour, we are going to continue the conversation and extend our conversation to all things Gastroenterological!  Anything digestive you want to ask: give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

One of the things I love about SiriusXM is how I can speak to people throughout the United States and Canada.  But every now and them, you just need to have a little State by State Feud.  Join me and Dr. James Pope, the Senior Vice President and Chief Science Officer of Healthways, Inc, which along with Gallup Polls, just put out its "Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Incidence."  Find out why I am trying to convince my wife to move to Hawaii! (no, not really).

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


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Monday, February 25, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

Its been 5 years since I started doing this show on Doctor Radio, which didn't even officially "exist" when we started broadcasting...that would come several months later.  So how best to celebrate this anniversary than with coffee: a coffee enema?  I won't lie: even though I am a gastroenterologist I am not familiar (yet) with this practice.  So when Melanie was able to get ahold of Mike and his wife, who were recently on The Learning Channel's "My Strange Addiction," I was intrigued.  Learn what made them start this controversial therapy and what medical science knows about this procedure.

Questions about alternative GI therapies? Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After this we will expand the conversation with "Gastroenterology Update," where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news from the world of gastroenterology and answer your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Colon Cancer Prevention Month is upon us.  And we are going to be talking about it!  Joining us will be NYU gastroenterologist Sophie Balzora, MD.  We'll be talking about colonoscopy and colon cancer screening in general and also about screening in specific populations, such as certain minority groups.  Colon Cancer Prevention Questions?  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 medical question on any medical topic at all: anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me!  Give us a call at 1-8777-NYU-DOCS or follow and send me a message on Twitter.

Monday, February 11th, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

While we dodged a lot of snow here in New York City, many people in New England were severely hampered by Friday's snowstorm.  But compared to what happens in Alaska, we here in the Northeast are still a bit amateurish in the winter department.  Join me and Erin McLarnon, the Spokesperson for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and the Norman Vaughn Serum Run as we talk about how those sledding rapidly through Alaska started as Serum Runners, who delivered diphtheria serum. 

Valentines Day is coming and we are ready for it here on Doctor Radio!  Jared Brown and Anistatia Miller, the co-directors of Mixellany Limited will be joining us again to talk about combining wine, liquor and chocolate.  Although I'm not totally sure what this has to do with health, I'm willing to give it a go.  And, if nothing else, I will be making my wife happy this Thursday!

Speaking of Valentines Day, what do you do when you don't want your chocolate dark?  And you have "problems" with milk?  Dr. Julie Wang, an allergist at Mount Sinai and a member of the Jaffee Food Allergy Institute will be talking to us about lactose allergies, lactose intolerance and what it all means. 

Worried about lactose or milk: 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 about any medical question on any medical topic at all...give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or tweet me!

Monday, February 4, 2013 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

The Super Bowl is upon us, so this will be brief...we have a great show tomorrow.

We had so much fun talking about Neanderthals last week, we decided to expand the conversation.  Chip Walter of allthingshuman.net will be joining us to talk about why Homo Sapiens survived, and those other human like species didn't.  His latest book is titled 'Last Ape Standing: the Seven-Million Year Story of How and Why We Survived."

After this we will have gastroenterology update, where I will answer your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS and tell you some of the latest and greatest news from the world of gastroenterology. 

Downton Abbey.  I won't lie: I've never watched it.  But apparently every woman in my life has.  Join me and Eleni Tsigas, the director of the Preeclampsia Foundation,  as we talk about preeclampsia then and now.

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!

Monday, January 28th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

So many Monday holidays!  But they are over for the moment, and we are back on the air with a new, live, show tomorrow at 8 AM ET!  Starting with a Neanderthal moment.  No, not my attempts at dating back in my early twenties, but an actual Neanderthal moment.  George Church, a genetics professor at Harvard, has stated that its possible to clone a neanderthal from available DNA and all he needs is an "extremely adventurous female human" to carry it.  And you thought your brother in law was a bit primitive!  Join me and Dr. Arthur Caplan, the Director of Medical Ethics at NYU Langone School of Medicine and the author  of more than 550 papers, including "Smart Mice, Not So Smart People," as we talk about neanderthal babies, and, more importantly, the ethics of genetic modification as scientists get better at manipulating the genome.

From genetic manipulation to body modification: in recent years, tattoos, body piercings and more have gone mainstream.  But, besides middle aged regret, are there any lasting health concerns?  Dr. Fritz Francois, a gastroenterologist here at NYUL joins us as we talk about his new study showing an increased rate of hepatitis C in those with body ink.  What does it mean for that nephew of yours?  Find out.

Ask Doctor Ira follows this.  Its cold and flu season, and we've been seeing everything in the office.  So, of course, anything goes.  Anything that you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me!  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS,

Doctor David Watts is a gastroenterologist, the inventor of the "Third Eye Retroscope" colonoscopy device and the author of "The Orange Wire Problem and other Tales from the Doctor's Office" and  "One Doctor's Reflections on the Oddly Intimate Encounters Between Patient and Healer"  will be joining us to talk about his books.  He too, has seen everything in the office, and will tell us about some of the more interesting patient encounters he has had over the years.

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Monday, January 14th on the The Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

Welcome.  Here in New York we have Flu A, Flu B (2 different kinds), norovirus, and whooping cough.  Fortunately, its all clean and good on the radio...and we have a lot to talk about!

First Norovirus.  Dr. Wes Anderson, gastroenterologist and the author of "Cure Constipation Now" will be coming on talk about quite the opposite...stomach issues if you have the flu or norovirus.

We will be expanding the conversation to all issues digestive after this.  Gastroenterology Update is on, and I will be happy to answer any of your questions on your gallbladder, liver, that heartburn, and even the pancreas.  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After the break, we are going to continue the open phones.  We will further expand the conversation with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any medical questions aon any medical topic at all....it does not matter what it is, anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me!  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Dr. Marc Siegel,the medical director of Doctor Radio, where will joining me during the last segment.  The flu has been tough this year....find out why and what you can do about it!  Oh, and was that flu shot he gave me on the air worth it?

Follow me on Twitter!

image via ADAM.