Monday, December 14th 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 110: Doctor Radio!

From the latest in irritable bowel syndrome to women and gastrointestinal disease, we have a great show planned tomorrow.   Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or send me a tweet as we talk about the latest and greatest in gastroenterology and answer your medical questions!

Monday. December 7th, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 110: Doctor Radio

As I mourn the Giants and get ready for the holidays, a brief post on tomorrow's excellent show.

As the holidays approach, everyone starts thinking eating?  But what happens if you have diverticulosis? Diverticulitis? What's the difference.  Join me and NYU colorectal surgeon Dr. Alexis Grucela as we talk about what diverticulosis and diverticulitis are, and common medical and surgical treatments of diverticulitis.

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

After this, we'll expand the conversation with GI Update, where I'll tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and answer your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.  Or send me a tweet.

Listening to the news, you'd think that heart disease started with the invention of prepackaged cookies.  But, come on, its got to be older than that.  Join me as I speak with Dr. Fatima-Zohra Mokrane, a radiologist at Rangueil Hospital in Toulose, France, as we speak about her research looking at 400 year old hearts.

We'll end the show, as usual, 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!

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Monday, November 30th, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Show on SiriusXM 110: Doctor Radio

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving.   I have already started my post holiday/pre holiday diet and am getting ready for tomorrow's show.

Starting with an hour of Gastroenterology Update/Ask Doctor Ira!  From what to do about that holiday heartburn to how to manage your diabetes going into the Holidays, give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.  Or send me a tweet @doctorira.

Then, Star Wars.  No I have not seen the newest movie yet.  But I do have a guest who knows just what those characters are thinking and feeling.  Join me and Dr. Travis Langley as we talk about the psychology of Star Wars!  

Didn't call or tweet for the first part of the show.  Worry not!  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 it to Facebook.

Monday, November 23rd, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

Happy Thanksgiving!  As you get ready for the long drive and the big gathering, think about all the excellent medical facts you can share around the table after listening to the show Monday.

Starting with scurvy.  I know, you're thinking about 17th century sailors.  But scurvy exists in the United States in 2015!  Learn about this from Dr. Eric Churchill from Baystate Medical Center and Dr. Laura Pimentel, Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Upper Chesapeake Health Services in Maryland.

Milk allergies can be a huge problem in children.  Join us as I interview Dr. Hugh Sampson, MD FAAAAI, who is the principal investigator of the first randomized trial looking at Omalizumab as a treatment for patients with severe milk allergy.

Kids with allergies...give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Then its the Thanksgiving edition of Gastroenterology Update and Ask Doctor Ira.  Holiday Heartburn?  No problem! Holiday food stuck?  Problem.  Get your questions answered at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Monday, November 16th, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Gastroenterology and Medicine Show on SiriusXM 110: Doctor Radio!

Which has more bacteria: a man's apartment or a woman's? The answer 9 AM ET Mon. on @nyudocs @siriusXM w/ Dr. Gerba

— Ira Breite (@doctorira) November 16, 2015

Blood pressure is a big problem.  While we know that it leads to heart attacks and strokes, there are two big issues.  The first is we don't know "how low to go." The second is that treatment is difficult with many people requiring multiple medications to lower their pressure even moderately.  Join me and Dr. Kevin Campbell as we talk about blood pressure in light of the new data released by the American Heart Association.

Questions about your blood pressure (or the side effects of your blood pressure medication?)  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

After this we will have digestive disease update, where I will tell you the latest and greatest in the world of digestive disease and answer your questions on all things digestive at 1-877-NYU-DOCS! Or send me a tweet.  

After our excellent talks on the microbiome and antibiotic resistance, I thought it would be great to get some real world germ examples. Join me and Dr. Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona in Tuscon as we talk about where germs lurk.  Some questions to ponder: Which has more bacteria: a man's apartment or a woman's?  Whose desk has more bacteria.  And what is living on toothbrushes, grocery bags and in your kids school desk (this one I don't even want to think about).  

We'll end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any question on any medical topic and I'll be happy to answer.  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Monday, November 9th, 2015 on the Doctor Ira

Yes, we smelled it. Good way to start a diet.

We have a lot of microscopic beings to talk about Monday on +SiriusXM Doctor Radio! Susan Dolan, RN, MS, the President-Elect of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and a hospital epidemiologist at Children's Hospital Colorado will be joining us to talk about Ebola Preparedness, Scarlet Fever and getting vaccinated.

Want to stop the spread of infection during the season? Questions on how?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After that we will have Gastroenterology Update, where I will tell you the latest and and greatest in the world of digestive disease and answer your tweets and questions.

I spent part of my day at the American Museum of Natural History going to the new "Secret World Inside of You" show.  It was pretty awesome, and I am very excited that Susan Perkins and Rob DeSalle, the curators of the exhibition, will be joining us in studio!

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

photo (c) 2015 Ira Breite

Monday, November 2, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

We have a lot to talk about tomorrow, starting with allergies in kids. While sometimes its just a rash, there are a significant number of anaphylaxis cases being seen in kids: many who didn't have a prior episode of this potentially deadly problem  Join me and Dr. Martha White, MD, CPI, the research director at the Institute for Asthma and Allergy in Maryland, as we talk about the Epipen4schools survey funded by Mylan Pharmaceuticals.

Then its time for Gastroenterology Update, where we will talk about E. coli at Chipotle,  as well as answering your questions on all things digestive at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Being a patient is awful.  One thing that can help is better doctor/patient communication.  Although I like to think the +SiriusXM Doctor Radio is one answer, there needs to be a lot more done.  Join me, Dr. Valentin Fuster, Dr. Herschel Sklaroff, and filmmaker Muffie Meyer will be joining me to talk about her new film, Making Rounds.

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira where you canask me a 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, October 26, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

After "Weekend House Calls" its time to get back to our regular show.  A brief update.  I will be talking with Dr. Catarina Oneto about the latest from the American College of Gastroenterology Meeting and answering your questions on all things digestive at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.  

October is Breast Cancer awareness month.  But did you know men get breast cancer too.  Find out more with me and Dr. Julia Smith as we talk about the differences and similarities in breast cancer between men and women.

We'll end the show, as usual, with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any medical question and I'll be happy to answer it.  Anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me!  Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

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Monday, October 19th, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Show on SiriusXM 110: Doctor Radio

I've had surgery several times.  Although it hurts after and leaves a scar, its usually 'over' once it heals.  But bariatric weight loss surgery may be different.  Join me as I speak to Dr. Carol Lindsay-Westphal, PhD at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor as we talk about the psychological benefits and potential risk of weight loss surgery.

Wondering what could make you feel worse about losing weight?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Then its gastroenterology update, where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease. Think probiotics and colonoscopy....really. Give me a call with your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS! or send me a tweet.

I saw a woman with a urinary tract infection last week.  No big deal: until the culture showed that the commonly used antibiotic I gave her wouldn't work.  Join me and Dr. Stuart Levy of the Tufts University School of Medicine as we speak about the new wave of antibiotic resistance.

We'll end the show, as usual, 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 at 1-877-NYU-DOCS! (or by tweet of course!)

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Monday, October 12th, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 100: Doctor Radio.

We keep pushing people to get colonoscopies and tell them its to remove polyps. And, when we find them, we cut those polyps right out.  But what happens after that.  Other than the "we sent it to biopsy" right after the procedure to a phone call telling you what it was and (more importantly) when you need to the next one.  But what happens when a polyp is "biopsied?"  Join me and Dr. Michael Misialek, the Associate Chairman of Pathology at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts as we talk about what happens to that little piece of you when it goes to to pathology.

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

After this, we will expand the conversation to all of Digestive Disease with Gastroenterology Update where I will tell you the latest and greatest news in the world of GI and answer your questions and tweets.

In our second hour I will be continuing to take your calls with Ask Doctor Ira and we will also be talking about health in Native American populations.



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Monday, October 6th, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 110: Doctor Radio!

As a I sit here with not one, but two wearable devices on my wrist telling me that typing is not exercising, I am still excited to talk about tomorrow's show.  Starting with how wearables and mobile health tech are reshaping clinical trials.  Join me as i speak to Mike Capone, MBA, the chief operating officer for Medi-Data, who will speak to us about wearables and clinical trials, and some of the results of a meeting on wearables that just took place at the New York Academy of Sciences.  

After that, 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. Also, ICD10 codes that are silly.  Which they are.

The Fodmap diet has become more popular for people with IBS by the month.  What is it, how does it work, and what's the proof.  Find out from Dr. Peter Gibson, Professor and Director of Gastroenterology at the Alfred Hospital and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, and one of the leading researchers in the world on the Fodmap Diet.

Fodmap/IBS diet questions?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

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

Monday, September 28th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 110: Doctor Radio

Here we are in NYC, having just recovered from the Pope's visit and getting ready for the  UN general assembly to start.  Fortunately, the trains are still running so I'll be able to make it to the studio tomorrow!

Starting with choking (simple advice: don't). Arthur Lih of Lifevac will be coming on to talk about Life-Vac, which is a device for people who are choking and can not have the Heimlich maneuver performed.  

Then its gastroenterology update, where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease. Think probiotics and colonoscopy....really.

Give me a call with your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS! or send me a tweet.

Its flu shot season.  Join me and Doctor Marc Siegel as we find out about the flu shot season, what you can do to prevent and treat flu, and of course, have me get my flu shot right on the air!

Continuing with our Flu time,  Emmy and Tony winning actress Judith Light will be joining us to talk about a new initiative from the National Council on Aging called "The Flu + You."  Find out the National Council's tips for flu prevention this year.

After Judith, we will continue on with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any medical question on any topic at all: anything your forgot to ask you doctor ask me!  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

image from https://www.ncoa.org/healthy-aging/flu-you/flu-facts/

Monday, September 21st on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 110: Doctor Radio!

I'm back! Labor Day and the Jewish New Year have passed, and its time to get back to work on SiriusXM 110.

Starting with Opioids (what did Melanie think I was doing the last few weeks???!).   Join me and Dr. Anita Gupta from the Drexel University College of Medicine as we talk about the opioid overdose epidemic.

Do you or a loved one use opioids.  Call us with your questions and concerns at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

After that we will have gastroenterology update.  We'll go over your tweets and calls and the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease.

Did you know that September 29th is National Coffee Day?  Join me as we welcome back Dr. Patricia Broderick, the editor of the Journal of Caffeine Research, to talk about the latest and greatest scientific information about the worlds most popular psychoactive substance!

We'll end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask 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 or a tweet!

Monday, August 24, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 110: Doctor Radio!

A brief update as I enjoy the relaxation of August. It a hairy and hairless show that we have planned for you!

First, hair.  More specifically lice.  Dr. John Marshall Clark, PhD, a Professor of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry and Director of the Massachusetts Pesticide Analysis Laboratory will be joining us to talk about his research on head lice.  His research shows that many populations of lice are resistant to commonly used treatments.  With school starting should you be freaked out?  Well no, but, find out why.

Lousy questions? Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS

GI Update after this...any digestive question you have give us a call or tweet!

And then, hairless.  Join me and Dr. Marc Dauer, MD as we talk about hair transplants...they're not just for balding middle aged guys anymore (although mine should be soon!).  Find out about transplants for a variety of medical reasons.

Hair 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 question on any topic at all.  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

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Monday, August 17th on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 110: Doctor Radio

Yes, that is a new station number.  Doctor Radio is joining all of the other great SiriusXM talk channels in the 100's, between Sirius Stars and the Wharton Channel.  And with the great show we have, you will be glad you changed your presets! (yes that was a terrible radio joke).

Starting with food safety.  As summer winds down and school starts, its time to gear up for safe eating.  Join me and Sally Feist, the executive director of the Partnership for Food Safety Education, as we talk about handling the picnic, the kids lunches, and yes, the coleslaw.

Worried about that Listeria?  Give us call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After that we will expand the conversation with Gastroenterology Update, where I will tell you the latest and greatest in the world of Digestive Disease (Gastroenterologists work even during the heart of the summer) and answer your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Whether your lifting that kindergartener to get them to school or lifting your own 423 pound backpack full of whatever it is that you desperately need for grad school, back and neck pain can happen.  Join me as I am joined by Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, a board certified orthopedist at the Midwest Spine and Brain Institute.

Back or Neck problems?  Give us call or tweet.

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.

graphic from CDC

Monday, August 10th on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM: Doctor Radio!

 http://www.cdc.gov/legionella/index.html

Its the summer, so a brief pitch for a great show.  Dr. Tod Cooperman of Consumerlab.com will be joining us to talk pre and pro biotics.  What's the difference?  After that we will have Gastroenterology Update, where I will tellyou the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and answer your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.  Or send me a tweet.

Legionnaire's disease has been all over the news in New York recently.  But this disease is not limited to the Bronx: we are going to talk about what this disease is, what causes it, and what you can do to protect you and your family.

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

Monday, August 3, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

Oh, its August.  You're traveling, your avoiding work, your thinking about cool drinks with little umbrellas in them.  But something is nagging you.  In your regular, non-summer life, you're a little perturbed about you niece that just seems a little off.  Or your a school teacher and vividly remember how one particular kid seemed so sad.  Join me and fellow Doctor Radio Host Dr. Jess Shatkin as we talk about his new book, Treating Child & Adolescent Mental Illness: A Practical, All-in-One Guide.

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

After that, we will have a fact and fun filled show with gastroenterology updates, internal medicine questions answered, guests, and, of course, more exposition on my favorite new word: "gastipation."

Question for me?  Send me a tweet!

Monday, July 20th on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

Every week I'm on Doctor Radio I talk about some kind of study or another. Studies are important: without them medicine would still rely on leeches and humors.  But what actually happens during a medical study?  Join me and Dr. Marc Siegel, the Medical Director of Doctor Radio and Fox News correspondent, as we talk about the medical study!

Thinking about joining a study...give us call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Can targeting gut bacteria change more than just poop?  Maybe.  Join me as a I speak to Professor Mashkoor Choudhry, PhD from Loyola University as we speak about his study which shows that targeting gut bacteria may help burn and trauma patients.

Despite all the fancy advances in medical technology, a lot of health remains little more than not smoking, eating reasonably well, and exercising.  A big problem: its not sexy and its hard to get the message out.  Join me and Ms. Monique Hedmann as we talk about the Hip Hop Public Health Initiative, which helps bring health messages to children.  

We will end the show 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 us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

source of image (which is Direct Observation of Enterobacteriaceae in the Small Intestine)

Monday, July 13th, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 8: Doctor Radio

We know what you want on Doctor Radio...your medical questions answered.  So, whether your about to drive up to the Cape to that cottage you rented and wondering about that babesiosis, or getting ready to camp at Yellowstone and thinking to yourself "what do I do if I get bit by a bear," or even if you are just sitting in your house worried that your six year old keeps coughing on you we have the answer!  Our first hour is going to be  (drumroll please)

"Summer of Questions with Doctor Ira."

So whether its sunburn, tick bites, infections and vaccines or even controlling your blood pressure, give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or send us a tweet.  Speaking of which, our tweet of the week is

@doctorira @NYUDocs Dr Ira I would love to hear l about taking long term PPIs and what care is needed for the long term side effects #topic

— Ellen Sturgill (@ellels3) July 8, 2015

Dr. Caterina Oneto is coming on at the top of our second hour to talk about the latest and greatest in IBS!

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

Monday, July 6th 2015 on the Dr. Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM: Doctor Radio

Happy 4th of July weekend.  I hope you are having a good one.  Regardless of whether you are sneaking off Monday or heading back to work, we have a great show to listen too.

Starting with the kidney.  Dr. Jeffrey Berns, the President of the  of the National Kidney Foundation, will be coming on to talk about the latest and greatest information concerning chronic kidney disease, a disease that affects millions of Americans and Canadians.

Told the BUN was bad.  Creatinine looks like you've taken too much creatine?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or send me a tweet!

As a gastroenterologist, I believe that the function of the kidneys is to filter blood for the intestines (and to help the liver).  So join me after Dr. Berns for "Digestive Disease Update," where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and answer your calls and tweets!

I spent the 4th hanging out, barbecuing, watching fireworks and pretending to exercise.  Many of my friends though, have become fans of Mud races, where they swing through obstacle courses in an effort to prove how macho they are.  But can you get sick from this?  Join me and veterinarian Mariah Giardina as we talk about the dangers of the mud.

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, June 29th on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM and SiriusXM On Demand: Doctor Radio

We have some heavyweight guests for this first Doctor Ira Show of the Summer.  Starting with talking about the dangers of dehydration.  Join me and Dr. Kevin Campbell as we talk about the dangers of heat stroke and heat related illness.

After that, we will have Digestive Disease Update, where I will tell you the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and answer your questions on all things gastroenterology at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Speaking of gastroenterology, do women feel their GI symptoms differently than men?  Join me and Dr. Roshini Raj as we talk about what, if any, differences there are in the digestive tracts of men and women.

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

Tweet of the week:

@doctorira my mother in law had an adenoma removed from her colon last August. What is the interval/protocol for follow up colonoscopy?

— john borrelli (@johnbpiano) June 22, 2015

Monday June 15th on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio (and ON DEMAND)

Brief summer update...cause, well its summer!

Dr. Marc Siegel will be joining me to talk about the summer outbreaks, and there seem to be many of them!  Bird Flu, MERS and TB; we're going to try to cover it all!

Worried about the bird flu? Freaked out about the price of eggs?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After this we will have Digestive Disease Update, where I will tell you the latest and greatest news in Gastroenterology and answer your questions and tweets at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

I spent the weekend at the beach...reminding me that friskiness happens during the summer.  Join me and Mr. William Smith, the executive Director of the National Coalition of STD directors and Dr. Heidi Bauer, MD, MS, MPH, the Chief of the STD Control Branch for the California Department of Public Health, as we talk about new STD treatment guidelines.

A little curious? Send us a tweet or give us a call!

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

Monday, June 8th on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81:Doctor Radio!

Supplements and twins.  What do they have in common.  This show.  Starting with supplements. What (if any) supplements should you give your kids? For that matter, what's really in them?  Join Sarah Erush, PharmD, BCPS, the Pharmacy Clinical Manager and Residency Director of the Pharmacy Residency Program at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia as we talk about dietary supplements in kids.  

Wondering about supplements and your kids?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

After this we will have Digestive Disease Update, where I will tell you the latest and greatest news in Gastroenterology and answer your questions and tweets at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Have you ever seen a set of twins, swore they were identical, and then be told by the parents that they weren't.  Well, it turns out you may have been right.  Join me and Dr. Jeffrey Craig, PhD of the University of Melbourne's Australian Twin Registry as we talk about a new study showing that, if the sex is the same, identical twins should be considered.  Conversely, just because twins look alike doesn't mean that they are.

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

image source:

Monday, June 1st, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM Doctor Radio

A brief update on tomorrow's show as the rain pounds us here in New York City.
Dr. Gerry Mullin of Johns Hopkins will be joining us to talk about his new book, "The Gut Balance Revolution: Boost Your Metabolism, Restore Your Energy, and Lose the Weight for Good!"  From Fodmaps to Super Foods, learn it all!

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

Doctors often tell patients life altering news, and, well, then we go home.  Learn about someone who overcame some tough news.  Join me and Rebecca Zamolo as we talk about her new documentary, Inside/Out, My Battle with IBD.

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

Monday, May 18th, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show

Its Digestive Disease Week!  Yes, thousands of gastroenterologists have come down to Washington, DC to talk about the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive health, and we are going to talk about it!  Starting with updates in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease.  Dr. Philip Stein, a gastroenterologist at St. Christopher's Hospital For Children in Philadelphia, will be joining us to talk about what's going on in the world of pediatric Crohn's and Colitis.

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

After that we will have digestive disease update, featuring your questions and some of the interesting stories from Digestive Disease Week....emulsifiers?  Give us call or tweet!

Gut Microbiota is a theme of this years gastroenterology meetings.  Join me, and Drs. Erica and Justin Sonnenburg of Stanford University, as we talk about the microbiome and their new book, The Good Gut: Taking Control of Your Weight, Your Mood, and Your Long-term Health.

We will end the show, as always, with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any medical question on any medical topic at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Monday, May 11th on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

A brief Mother's day version of tomorrow's show.  Keri Gans, R.D. will be joining us to talk about why diet is a four letter word.  This is important, because I am now recovering from massive Mother's Day Chinese Food extravaganza.

After that, we will have Gastroenterology Update, where I will tell you the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and answer your questions on all things digestive.  Give me a call or tweet at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

We will continue the GI conversation at the top of our next hour with Dr. Caterina Oneto, a gastroenterologist affiliated with NYU Langone Medical Center.

The show will end, as usual, 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 or send me a tweet.

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

Loving the good weather.  But the change of seasons always seems to bring a change of diseases.  Allergies and respiratory complaints abound.  Could there be a seasonal relationship between other kinds of diseases?  Join me and Ms. Jacqueline Argamany of the University of Texas Austin as we talk about seasonal variation in C. difficile infection. 

After this we will have Gastroenterology Update, where I will tell you the latest and greatest in the world of digestive disease.  We will take your calls at 1-877-NYU-DOCS and your tweets as well.  

It turns out May is National Celiac Awareness Month.  Join me and Beth Hillson, the author of The Complete Guide to Living Well Gluten Free as we talk about getting your pantry gluten free for summer! 

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

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

The weather is getting better.  If you're me, this brings to mind travel and heartburn.  Yeah, well, I am a gastroenterologist who does travel medicine.

We will start with the heartburn.  For some people, medication isn't enough.  There are a variety of surgical options available to treat heartburn and GERD.  Join me and University of Chicago Surgeon Dr. Marco Patti as we talk about various surgical interventions for GERD.

Bad reflux?  Thinking surgery?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After this, we will expand the conversation to include all of Digestive Disease.  During Gastroenterology update I will answer your questions and tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease.

Its sunny outside.  The weather is getting better and its time to start thinking about summer travel.  Join me and Dr. David Freedman of the University of Alabama, Birmingham as we talk about travel vaccines and camp shots.

We will end the show, as usual, with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any questions on any medical topic at all and I will be happy to answer: anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me!

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

Monday, April 20th, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

When I was a second year medical student, my biggest fear was a brain aneurysm.  Every headache (and believe me, second year med students get a lot of those) portended disaster.  And while I was just nervous, aneurysm is a real problem and treatments are not great.  Join me as I speak to Dr. Ali Aziz-Sultan of Brigham and Women's Hospital as we speak about a new clinical trial that looks to treat brain aneurysm.

Neurosurgery questions?  Worried about aneurysm?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

At 8:30 AM ET we will have Gastroenterology update, where I will tell you the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease.  Give us a call or tweet with your digestive questions!

We continue our brain show in a different sort of way.  Join me and Dr. Joseph Palamar, PhD, MPH as we talk about high school students and marijuana, hashish and synthetic marijuana use.  As the parent of two teenagers, I want to know what's going on with this.  You should too.

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.

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Monday, April 13th on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

New technology and old constipation.  We have a great show planned for Monday.  Starting with constipation.  We talk about constipation and we talk about Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.  Is it different?  Is it the same?  More importantly, how you should you and your doctor approach these two problems?  Join me and University of Michigan Gastroenterologist Dr. William Chey as we talk about his new study looking at the two.

Constipated?  IBS?  Both?  What can you do about it...Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

After that we will expand the conversation with GI Update, where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and answer your questions and tweets!

Sometimes we have to get the basic science to understand more about the medicine.  Take infections for example.  If you think you have a urinary tract infection, your doctor needs to send a sample of your urine to a lab for culture and sensitivity testing.  What if there was an easier way?  Join me and Dr. Waseem Asghar of Florida Atlantic University as we talk about how they are "developing point-of-care (POC) and microfluidic biosensors for rapid detection of various diseases including Cancer, Candidiasis, and HIV." Really.  On a smart phone.  Wow.

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

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Monday, April 6th, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

We are going to be spending a lot of time inside the colon on today's show.  Starting with a capsule.  While there have been many "pill-cams" developed over the years, most of them are only capable of looking at the upper intestine and small bowel.  But a new one may be able to accurately detect polyps in the colon.  Join me and NYU Gastroenterologist Dr. Seth Gross as we talk about this new Check Cap technology.

Wondering about colon cancer prevention alternatives to colonoscopy?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After that 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!

One of the interesting things about the gut is not only how it affects your poop, but how it may effect you!  Join me and UCSD Professor Dr. Rob Knight as we talk about his new book, "Follow Your Gut: The Enormous Impact of Tiny Microbes."  From allergy to your emotions, gut bacteria may be part of the equation!

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, March 30th on the Internal Medicine Show with Doctor Ira Breite on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

Monday's show could pretty much be called the "Sum of All Fears...:" at least my fears.  Starting with sudden death in young athletes.  Now, while I'm not young, I do have young, athletic children.  And although I know its rare, it does sort of freak me out a bit when I hear about some kid in high school or college collapsing on the field.  Join me and Dr. Kevin Campbell as we talk about this rare, but scary issue.

Then onto flying.  Now, I fly a decent amount, but the whole process is something I could live without.  From getting to the plane anxiety, to getting through security anxiety, to did they give my seat away anxiety, to what if all that physics stuff is wrong anxiety, to did they lose my luggage anxiety (well this one is usually true), I find flying an anxiety provoking experience.  Join me and Dr. Reid Wilson, PhD of the University of North Carolina as we talk about fear of flying.

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


Next anxiety: cancer.  We always talk about alcohol and heart health.  But what about cancer? Join me and Dr. Mitchell Gaynor as we talk about how much alcohol it takes to turn you from pleasantly toasted to cancer victim.  Is red wine better?  How about quitting?

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 or send me a tweet.

Monday, March 16th, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

Does that cranberry juice really help a UTI? How about aloe for GERD? Keri Gans, RD will be coming on tomorrow to talk about health benefits of proper foods?

Ever wonder if what you are eating is healthy...give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

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

Twins. Twins.  Yes, it sounds so nice I had to say it twice.  But what can twins tell us about health?  Join me as we discuss a new study looking at pairs of physically active versus physically inactive twins.  Even with the same genes, exercise really matters!

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 or send me a tweet.

image source: (and yes they are identical, but the weight difference is due to a lap band!)

Monday, March 9th on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

A quick rundown of tomorrow's show.  First taxes.  Join me and Wolter Kluwer Tax Accountant Mark Luscombe, JD, LLM, CPA as we talk about how it may be possible to deduct a gluten free diet for medical reasons. (please do not use this blog for tax advice...the doctor stuff I know but taxes? no).  If this works, maybe we can do an hour of "Accountant Radio...real accountants helping real people."

After that 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.

Am I old enough to complain that all those musicians and other creative types are just plain crazy?  Should I tell them to stay off my lawn?  This is a topic for another day.  For Monday, we will be talking with Scott Barry Kaufman, PhD, the author of Ungifted, Intelligence Redefined, as we talk about how maybe Eminem wasn't so off when he sang about keeping up with the voices inside his head (wasn't that Rhianna's part though?)

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

Monday, March 2nd on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

As a parent, I am constantly amazed at the vastly different advice that my friends receive from various health care professionals when their kids have a concussion.  From even agreeing on what the symptoms of concussion are to figuring out when its ok to return to sports, there seems to be four opinions for every three professionals.  I am happy that Dr. Steven Broglio of the University of Michigan will be coming on to talk about the new National Athletic Trainers Association guidelines for sports related concussions.  Dr. Broglio is the lead author of the guidelines.

After that we will have Gastroenterology Update, where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of Gastroenterology and answer your questions on all things digestive at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

We will continue the gastroenterology conversation when Dr. Caterina Oneto joins us to talk about her research and answer your questions and tweets.

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

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Monday, February 23rd, 2015 on The Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

Its Oscar night, so a brief update on tomorrow' show.  Tod Copperman, MD of Consumerlab.com will be joining us to talk about the latest on supplements...what you need to know both medically as well as some recent legal updates.

Then 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!

What to eat?  Join me and Samantha Heller, MS, RDN as we talk about everything from artificial colors to getting ready to lose some weight for spring.  Samantha, my fellow Doctor Radio Host is the author of GET SMART: Samantha Heller’s Nutrition Prescription for Boosting Brain Power & Optimizing Total Body Health.   Give us a call or tweet!

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.

Monday, February 9th on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM: Doctor Radio

There has been a lot of legitimate hullabaloo about vaccines recently.  I will leave the screaming to others (although I am happy to scream as well if necessary).  I thought it would be interesting to talk about the history of vaccines themselves.  Join me, Karrie Youngdahl, the Director of the History of Vaccines Project at the College of Physicians of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Thomas Fekete, the section chief of infecious diseases at Temple University, as we talk about the over 1000 year history of vaccinations.

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

After that 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 and tweets.

Speaking of controversial, bariatric surgery for weight loss remains popular and controversial.  Join me and Dr. Violeta Popov, now of NYU-Langone Medical Center, as we talk about what to do when the bariatric surgery just isn't cutting it.  Please forgive the last joke as I couldn't help myself.

Obese.  Post surgery? Questions?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira....anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me!  Give us a call or tweet.

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Monday, February 2nd 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

Super Bowled out?  Not football wise, but foodwise?  Why is it that so many of us seem to gain a few pounds every winter?  Join me and Keri Gans, RD. the author of "The Small Change Diet: 10 Steps to a Thinner Healthier You" as we talk about winter eating.  And yes, I plan on making it into the studio tomorrow no matter what the weather is!

Winter diet questions....give us call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After this, we will have Digestive Disease Update and Ask Doctor Ira.  One hour of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and your questions and tweets answered.

Why do I route for the New York Giants? They are a bunch of professional athletes who play for a team owned by someone else.  Other than the fact that I am a New Yorker and my Dad is a huge fan, there is no connection between me and what is in effect a corporate entity.  Yet root for them I do.  Find out why when I speak with Eric Simons, the author of "The Secret Lives of Sports Fans: The Science of Sports Obsession."  Find out why those sports guys and gals act like they do.

Call us with your tales of sports zaniness at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Monday, January 26th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81, Doctor Radio

Back from a little holiday and ready to go!  Starting with heart disease and women.  Dr. Kevin Campbell, a cardiologist in private practice and at UNC, will be coming on to talk about his new book, "Women and Cardiovascular Disease."  There are differences between how men and women are affected by this most common cause of death in the United States: learn what you need to know!

Heart questions: 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 stories in the world of digestive disease and answer your questions and tweets!

Kidney disease.  We don't talk it about that much and it is important.  Join me and UPenn Nephrologist Dr. Jeffrey Berns, who is also the President of the National Kidney Foundation as we talk about how common kidney disease is  and how it may affect you!

Worried about your kidneys?  Give us a call 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 us a call or tweet!

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

Did you ever see that episode of Seinfeld where the doctor marks something in Elaine's chart and for the rest of the show she is a pariah to any other physician?  Well, we don't really have that mark. But it turns out that Seinfeld, the TV show, can be used for the good when it come to medical education.  Join me and Dr. Anthony Tobia,  from Rutgers-RWJ Medical School as we talk about how Seinfeld can be used to teach delusional disorder subtypes.

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

Speaking of Gastroenterology, there has been a lot of talk about the use of fecal microbial transplant for everything from C. diff infection to colitis to IBS.  And then there is the poop-sickle.  Find out with me and Dr. Caterina Oneto, a gastroenterologist at Concorde Medical here in NYC.

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

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Monday, January 5th, 2015 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio

We are back!  New Year.  Great Show.  I don't know if any of you follow hockey, but if you do, then you know that there have been a ton of players who have come down with the mumps.  Didn't they get vaccinated for that? And what about this years flu shot: didn't we all get vaccinated for that?  Join me and Dr. William Atkinson of the Immunization Action Coalition as we talk about mumps in hockey players, the flu in all of us and specific vaccine recommendations for those with liver disease.

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

After that we will have Gastroenterology Update, where I will tell you the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and answer your questions and tweets.

So many cholesterol questions, so few answers.  Join me and Dr. Neica Goldberg as we talk about new cholesterol guidelines and what you should do.

Cholesterol 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 question on any medical topic at all...anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me!  Give us a call or tweet.