Sunday, December 21, 2014

Monday, December 22nd on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!


Our holiday special is here.  A little bit of holiday cheer and a lot of holiday medicine.  Starting off with the Cheer!  Dr. Raymond Scalettar, MD, DSc, a master of the American College of Rheumatology and the Medical Advisor to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and Tim Federle, the author of 'Tequila Mockinbird: Cocktails With a Literary Twist' will be joining us to talk holiday cheer: the good, the bad, and the really, really tasty and fun.

Favorite Holiday Cheer recipes?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Even if your doctor has disappeared for the holidays we are open!  We have extended office hours!  Send us a tweet or give us call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!  And find out about some toxic christmas plants, too!

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Sunday, December 14, 2014

Monday, December 15, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!



A brief rundown on tomorrow's show.  Dr. Wes Jones, the author of "Cure Constipation Now" will be joining us at 8 AM to talk about, well, you know.  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 as well as answering your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.  After that, it will be time for Small Medicine.  Small Medicine?  You know, bunions, knee sprains, ear wax: all that stuff that won't kill you but you want gone.  Give us a call with your small medical issues!  We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can call me with any medical topic: anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me.  Give us a call or a tweet!

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Sunday, December 7, 2014

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



More GERD and more technology. That pretty much sums up our first hour on Monday.  Now that the President has GERD, find out about the latest potential ways to treat this problem.  Join me and Dr. Mark Noar, the Director Of Endoscopic Microsurgery Associates in Towson, Maryland, as we talk about the President, reflux, medications and their dangers, and the Stretta procedure as a possible treatment for chronic GERD.

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

After this, Corey Powell, an editor at large at Discover Magazine will be talking to us about the biggest medical stories of the year: whether its Ebola, medical marijuana or contact lenses that help manage your diabetes, we will be talking about it!

We then have an hour in the office.  A combined Gastroenterology Update and Ask Doctor Ira...just like my real office...give me a call or a tweet at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Monday, December 1st, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio



Did you eat too much this weekend?  I did.  And, as I am still at a hockey tournament in Delaware and Pennsylvania, it looks like the eating is not stopping anytime soon.  No wonder I can't get any sleep. Dr. Ronnie Fass of Case Western Reserve University will be joining us to talk about those particularly difficult to manage cases of GERD and the problems of sleeping with GERD.

Reflux?  Not just from too much turkey?  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 from the world of digestive disease and answer your questions and tweets.

Tha Hip Hop Doc is back!  Dr. Rani Whitfield joins me to talk about getting the gift for the holidays that he really needs: health!

Can't even get your guy to get a flu shot?  Give us a call.

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

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Monday, November 24th, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio


Happy Thanksgiving.  I'm dieting as we speak getting ready for the day.  But what did the Pilgrims and Native Americans eat at the first Thanksgiving?  Join me and Sandy Oliver, Food Historian and the co-author of "Giving Thanks: Thanksgiving Recipes and History, From Pilgrims to Pumpkin Pie," as we talk about the first holiday menu, health in the 17th Century, and of course, your holiday favorites!

After all that talking about food it will be time for what else: gastroenterology update, where I will tell you the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and answer your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS! You can also send me a tweet.

One of the things that I give thanks for is that I am a member of Homo sapiens.  Sure beats being a Neanderthal.  Why?  Find out from Drs. Anthony Pagano, Samuel Márquez and Dr. Jeffrey Laitman as we talk about their new research on whether Neanderthals were a sub-species of modern humans.

We end the show with a special holiday Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any medical question on any topic at all. You can also ask me food safety tips!  Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Monday, November 17th on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!


Yes, it flu shot season.  But, with new vaccines introduced all the time and mumps devastating the NHL, there is a lot more to talk about in the world of vaccines.  Join me as I speak with Dr. William Atkinson, who, after 25 years at the CDC is now the Associate Director for Immunization Education at the Immunization Action Coalition. Find out about Prevnar 13, hepatitis B and A, and all those other vaccines that you thought you were done with when you were 15.

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 at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Thanksgiving is coming.  Everyone says they like to cook but I live in New York City, where ovens are used for more storage than baking.  So I was really excited to find out that Shira Berk of Goodie Girl Cookies (gluten free cookies) will be joining me, with samples, at 9AM.  What the heck, lets indulge!

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


Sunday, November 9, 2014

Monday, November 10th on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio


The Flu has arrived in New York City.  Not loving this, but at least you can vaccinate against the Flu.  What about hepatitis C?   Join me and Dr. Lisa Ganjhu as we talk about some exciting (and complicated) research describing a successful early trial in a vaccine against this deadly scourge.  We'll talk about all kinds of prevention of liver disease as well!

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

After that, we will expand the conversation to all thinks gastroenterological.  Give me a call or tweet with your questions!

My hair. I love it.  Well, what's left of it.  Every now and then, Melanie has to remind me that there's something I can do about my balding pate.  Join me and Dr. Marc Dauer as we talk about hair replacement: and not just for the head.  And check out his website, if only to see the impressive head of hair Dr. Dauer himself has!

We will end the show, as usual, 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!

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Monday, November 3rd on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!


We've been talking about the gut for a long time on the show, and the possible positive implications of the human microbiome. Join me tomorrow as Dr. Raphael Kellman joins me.  Dr. Kellman is the author of Gut Reactions and the The Microbiome Diet: The Scientifically Proven Way to Restore Your Gut Health and Achieve Permanent Weight Loss.

We'll go from talking about the gut to answering questions about your gut at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.  Its Digestive Disease Update!

We will start our next hour by talking medical history: specifically Booker T. Washington and Eleanor Roosevelt.   Joining us is unofficial Doctor Radio Presidential Historian, University of Maryland Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Medical Care Clinical Center at the VA Maryland Health Care System Dr. Philip Mackowiak, MD, MBA., who has just written a new book called Diagnosing Giants: Solving the Medical Mysteries of Thirteen Patients Who Changed the World.  It's an official Doctor Ira Book Club selection of the month!

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

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Monday, October 26th on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio


We have a pretty incredible show planned for tomorrow.  Dr. Anish Sheth, gastroenterologist and the author of several books on poo and pee, has a new book out: What's Your Baby's Poo Telling You? I'll be honest, I don't remember it telling me much more than "I stink" and "Change me.  Change me NOW!" but apparently there is a lot more to it.  We'll find out.

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

After that we will have Digestive Disease 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.

Halloween is coming! Candy for everyone!  But what happens if you are gluten free.  What can you have?  Can you have candy corn, my favorite?  Find out with me and dietician Rachel Begun, RD.    

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


Sunday, October 19, 2014

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


We have a very digestive day planned for Monday.

Yogurt to detect colon cancer?  Maybe.  Join me and Dr. Sangeeta Bhatia of MIT as we talk about her research on how yogurt and a simple urine test may provide a low cost way to screen for colon cancer.

We will have gastroenterology update, where in addition to answering your questions on all things digestive I will tell you some of the latest and greatest stories in the world of digestive disease.

Dr. David Rubin of the University of Chicago will be joining us at the top of our second hour to talk about the latest and greatest in the world of digestive disease from the American College of Gastroenterology Meetings.

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


Sunday, October 12, 2014

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



The World is a scary place.  Sometimes, you just wish you could leave.  Which brings us to our show Monday.  Dr. John Bradford, the President of Spaceworks Enterprises, and Dr. Douglas Talk, MD, a staff physician and Departmental Director of Surgical Services at the Naval Air Station at Lemoore in California and the medical team liaison for the Torpor Project.  Find out how we might finally get some human beings to Mars!

And Mars is where you might want to be going given all of the Ebola news we've been having.  Marc Siegel, MD, the Medical Director of Doctor Radio, will talk to us about what's going on in Texas and what to do about Ebola going forward.  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS

We have a complete hour of open phones coming up at 9 AM.  Its a combined Ask Doctor Ira and Gastroenterology Update...just like my real office.  Give us call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!


This photo is available on Ebay.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Monday, October 6th on the Internal Medicine Show with Doctor Ira Breite on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio


High tech decision tools and your questions.  We are continuing our longer question and answer periods during the show.  

Starting with blood thinners.  Many people have been told to take aspirin by their doctors, and many people need to be placed on stronger blood thinners because of blood clots, heart arrhythmia, and surgery.  It used to be easy: there was only one strong blood thinner available for oral use.  But now there are many.  Join me and Dr. Marc Carrier of the University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and his patient Jamie Dossett-Mercer as we talk about picking the right blood thinner for the right patient.

On a blood thinner?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

We will continue with Gastroenterology Update after this.  Find out about the latest and greatest news in the world of gastroenterology and have your questions and tweets answered.

Banks and retailers are being hacked all the time.  Doctor's are being asked to enter data into confusing EHR's.  Will Apple save the day?  Find out a little bit about HealthKit and some of the things it can do.   Hear about the apps and decide if its something you would want.  And give me a call

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any medical questions you want and have your questions answered at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.


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Sunday, September 28, 2014

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



The fall has begun and its time to talk medicine!  We have a show devoted to your problems.  Joining us in our first hour is Dr. Seth Gross, the head of Endoscopy and Gastroenterology at Tisch Hospital of the NYU-Langone Medical Center.  Whether its difficult gallstones, weird pancreatic stuff, or draining stuff.   Give us call with your GI questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will continue the GI conversation after that with Gastroenterology update, where I will update you on the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and answer your questions.  Give us a call or send us a tweet.

At the top of our second hour we'll have one of my favorite segments: Small Medicine, where I'll answer your questions on all of the small things you might be embarrassed to ask your doctor.  Hemorrhoids, balding, hangnails: you name it, give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

We'll end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any question on any medical topic at all: anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me!  Give us a call!


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Sunday, September 21, 2014

Monday, September 22, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiirusXM 81: Doctor Radio.


Yes, its the Fall already.  Back to work and school.  Getting the house together. Flu shots and Check ups.  Fall is the time when we stop relaxing and start planning.  For those people with End Stage Liver Disease, its never too early to plan.  Join me and Dr. Lisa Ganjhu as we talk about what end stage liver disease means, what to do to avoid complications and how to treat this difficult to manage disease.

Anyone in your family with cirrhosis.  A liver transplant pending?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After that we will expand the discussion with Gastroenterology Update:  call me with any questions you may have on any digestive disease topic: from the liver, gall bladder and pancreas to the small intestine and colon!  If you have a short question send me a short Tweet to @doctorira

We'll continue the open phones and expand them even further with Ask Doctor Ira at the top of the hour.  Anything you forgot your doctor as me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

The LifeVac guys are back.  Some months ago, we featured a segment of LifeVac, a device created to help choking victims who are alone.  I thought it was a cool idea, but was worried that clinical trials had not been done to establish its effectiveness.  Many of our listeners were intrigued by the device.  We have some pretty interesting follow up to our initial story.  Find out what happened!







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Sunday, September 14, 2014

Monday, September, 15th on the Doctor Ira Breite Internal Medicine Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio


I just returned from the wonderful city of Providence, so a brief review of tomorrow's excellent show.  Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz, award winning writer of "Words in Your Face: A guided Tour Through Twenty Years of the New York City Poetry Slam" will be joining us to talk about her new book titled "Dr. Mutter's Marvels: A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine."

We will then 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!

Asthma, allergies and gut bacteria.  No way!  Well, it turns out, way.  Join me as I talk to Dr. Dan Littman of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Hlen L and Martin S. Kimmel Professor of Molecular Immunology at the NYU Langone School of Medicine about his research on how the intestinal micobiota influences the body's inflammatory response, particularly related to the development of asthma.

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 a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or send me a tweet.


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Sunday, September 7, 2014

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


Never thought I'd have to remember Shakespeare.  But, here we are, on Doctor Radio, where I seem destined to repeat high school past.  Join me and Dr. Jane Evans of the University of Hertforshire as we talk about how new studies she conducted with her colleagues at the University of Leicester, looking at the bones and teeth of Richard III, uncovered some fascinating new details about the life and diet of Britain's last Plantagenet King (probably also find out what a Plantagenet is too!)

Then we'll have gastroenterology update.  Find out the latest and greatest in the world of digestive disease and have your questions answered at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.  Or send me a tweet for a short question (which sometimes needs a long answer!).

Remember when we had Boonsri Dickerson on the air to talk about her experience as a user of 23AndMe? Well, Emily Drabant of 23andMe will be coming on to talk about their new study (with Pfizer) looking at the Genetics of Inflammatory Bowel Disease!  Have IBD or know someone who does?  Find out how to participate!

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'll be glad to answer.  Anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me! Give us a call at 1-877-NYU DOCS.


Sunday, August 24, 2014

Monday, August 25th, 2014, on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!


Although you would think August is the time of year when everyone goes away, apparently the place they're going is to my show.  We have an excellent lineup of guests.

Douglas Drossman, MD will be joining us to talk about Doctor-Patient Communication and Skills training.  Ever wonder if your doctor is really listening to you? Find out what they can do to do better.  And call us with your 'doctor didn't listen to me' tales at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Digestive Disease Update follow this.  Learn about some of the latest and greatest news in the world of gastroenterology and have your questions on all things digestive answered at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We talk a lot about poop on the Doctor Ira Show: its what I do.  But in gastroenterology, the talk has gone from "why do I have problems with my poop" to "what can I actually do with the poop to make people healthier?"  Join me and Dr. David Rubin of the University of Chicago as we talk about the latest in fecal microbial transplant.

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 happy to answer it.  Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!


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Sunday, August 10, 2014

Monday, August 11 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor R


Is it to early to start thinking about allergies.  No.  At 8 AM, Dr. Erin McGintee will be joining us (from the Hamptons, no less) to talk about meat allergies, pollen allergies, and heck, allergies all around.  Its a question and answer kind of show and we will start with Dr. McGintee.

After this, we will have extensive office time!  Ask Doctor Ira and Gastroenterology Update for the rest of the show.  Anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me.  We will also go over some of the latest and greatest news in the world of Digestive Disease and medicine.  Some topics:

1) New genetic markers for pancreatic cancer
2) a little bit on excessive belching (yes, we really study that)
3) the role of carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide in colonic function (it turns out you need a little of both)

Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or send me a tweet!

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Monday, August 4th, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!


Need your coffee in the morning?  I won't lie: I need mine.  Its the caffeine.  Did you know that there is a whole journal devoted to caffeine research.  Join me and Patricia Broderick, PhD, the editor of the Journal of Caffeine Research, as we put up a cup of joe and talk about the latest research in the world of caffeine.

After that, we will have gastroenterology update, where I will tell you the latest and greatest in the world of digestive disease. Find out about the latest research and have your questions answered at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

Is having a cup of chocolate milk really that good for you after a workout.  What happened to a glass of water and some celery?  Join me and Keri Gans, RD as we talk about the science and reality of nutrition before, during and after a workout.

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira.  Anything you forgot to ask you doctor ask me! Give a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or tweet me!



Sunday, July 27, 2014

Monday, July 28, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!



A quick rundown of Monday's show.  Dermatologist Doris Day, MD, will be joining me to talk about skin care in men.  Yes, you, men.  We know you really do care.  Call us with your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Gastroenterology update will follow.  Learn about Rugby players and their microbiomes and have your digestive disease questions answered at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

There has been a lot of news in the diet front recently.  As more people are concerned about what they eat, there is a lot of excitement about Gluten Free labeling going into effect on August 5th, 2014.  Join me and dietician Rachel Begun, MS as we talk about this.

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

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Sunday, July 20, 2014

Monday, July 21, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!


Although summer often means picnics, barbecues and interesting cocktails, there are a lot of digestive issues that can come up.  Joining me to talk about summer digestive issues, particularly in those with Crohn's and Colitis, is gastroenterologist Dr. Sophie Balzora.  We will be talking about symptoms and treatment, and answering all of your calls at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

We are going to expand the conversation after that to include all of digestive disease: it Gastroenterology Update at 8:30 AM ET.  Find out about the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and have your questions answered at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or on Twitter.

Even more expansion on the calls after this.  Ask Doctor Ira comes on at 9 AM ET.  Anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me!  Give me a call.

What is Food Protein Induced Enteroclysis Syndrome?  Find out at 9:30AM with me and Dr. Julie Wang, an allergist at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.


Sunday, July 13, 2014

Monday, July 14th 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio


Despite Argentina's defeat, we have an excellent show planned for tomorrow.

Dr. Lisa Ganjhu will be joining me Monday to talk about summer related liver problems at 8 AM Eastern Time.  We will be talk about liver disease in the summer.  Its not just about drinking too much beer on a hot day: many people with chronic liver disease can get worse in the summer because of dehydration, salt and potassium intake and more.  In addition, summer seems to be prime hepatitis A season.

Liver disease questions?  Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After that we will have 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 at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Tod Copperman, MD, the President of Consumerlab.Com, will be joining me to talk about some of the latest testing they have been doing.  One thing we will talk about is whether the supplements you are taking contain such things as hidden caffeine and diuretics!

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

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Monday, July 6th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!


I hope everyone had (is having) a great Fourth of July. We have a pretty incredible showed planned for this Monday.

Starting with IBS.  I am every excited to be joined by Douglas Drossman, MD, a renowned expert in the field of gastroenterology and irritable bowel syndrome.  We will talk about those difficult to manage "functional" GI disorders and answer your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

After this we will be expanding the conversation with Digestive Disease Update, where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease.  Almost keep up with Joey Chestnut this weekend and feeling the pain?  Give me a call or a tweet and I'm ready to help!

Every summer it seems that we here in the United States and Canada are worried about some emerging virus such as West Nile.  But what about the incredibly scary epidemics of Ebola virus causing Lassa fever that are going around?  Do we need to be worried here.  Join me as I speak with Dr. Bob Garry, Jr. PhD, Professor at Tulane University and Dr. Erica Ollman Saphire, PhD, a professor at Scripps Research Institute, as we talk about what going on in Africa and what it might mean to you.

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

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Monday, June 30th on The Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM81: Doctor Radio!


I am back from the Canadian Rockies and ready to get back to work.  We have a pretty incredible show planned for Monday.

First, to the plagues.  Dr. Francesco Tiradritti, PhD, a an Egyptologist and assistant professor at the Unikore University of Enna in Italy, will be joining us to talk about the Plague of the Cyprian.  Plague of the what? Find out how a plague in the third century led to many deaths throughout the Roman Empire and led one saint to declare that the world was ending.

After this, gastroenterology update.  While we will hopefully avoid the gastroenterology fates of the ancient Egyptians there are certainly plenty we have to worry about for ourselves.  Ask me about yours at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or tweet me.

Outbreaks didn't only occur in the ancient world: they still happen.  Join me and Dr. Toni Pollin from the University of Maryland as we talk about the Measles outbreak in the Amish Community in Ohio.

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!



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Sunday, June 15, 2014

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


Summer is finally here!  I am looking out at a beautiful Connecticut morning and thinking about the trip I will be taking later this week to Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies.  Of course, being a doctor, I then started thinking about all the bad medical thing that could happen, which leads me to my first guest.  Dr. David O. Freedman, a Professor of Medicine at the University of Alabama and travel medicine expert will be joining me to talk about what you need to do to stay safe when you travel this summer.

Travelling?  Questions?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or send me a tweet!

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

Speaking of digestive, sometimes it is in your head.  A professor once told me that the differences between the analyst and the analist were quite small, and we will find out why.  Join me and Dr. Barbara Bolen as we talk about IBS, diet and mental health.

IBS?  We have both ends covered.  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 call.

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Sunday, June 8, 2014

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


Getting ready for summer?  So are we.  And what makes summer more summery than diet? We are talking diets medical and lifestyle all show.

Starting with the medical.  Dr. Gina Sam of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai will be joining us to talk about Celiac disease, gluten intolerance and the Fodmap diet.  What's the big deal and what should you do?

Gas, bloat, diet?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or send me a tweet.

After that, we will expand the conversation to all of gastroenterology.  Call or tweet me with any questions on anything digestive: stomach, liver, pancreas, colon and even the gallbladder.

I am still not sure what a superfood is.  I somehow imagine broccoli wearing spandex and a cape, but I have a feeling that is not quite correct.  Also, while I don't mind broccoli, is there really any advantage to eating it (or anything else) raw.  Join me and Keri Gans, RDN as we talk about the raw food diet: who benefits and who should avoid it. And the evils of white bread.  Come on, you know there is a comic book in there somewhere.

We will end the show, as usual, 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.




You can buy Superbroccoli as a tee shirt (at least in Canada).

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Monday, June 2nd on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!


I am back from Memorial Day and my adventures as a Soylent taster and ready to get back to work on Doctor Radio.  Sophie Balzora, MD will be joining me at the top of the show.  We will be talking about colon cancer prevention and prevention guidelines.  Dr Balzora is an expert at reaching out to minority communities.

Colon cancer prevention questions?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After that, we will open up the conversation with digestive disease update.  I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news from the world of digestive disease and answer your gastroenterology questions and tweets.  Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

In the movies,  suspended animation is often used as a gimmick.  Where would we all be if Austin Powers had not been frozen in the swinging sixties and come back to save us from the equally frozen Dr. Evil?  But what if freezing really helps people who have suffered grievous traumatic injury?  Join me and Dr. Samuel Tisherman, a professor of surgery and critical care at the University of Pittsburgh, as we talk about the new study being done on cooling severe trauma patients down to help them survive!

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

See me in the New York Times Talking About Soylent.



I think its a pretty good segment.

The Soylent Revolution Will Not Be Pleasurable

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Monday, May 19th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio


Fodmaps!  Heimlich!  Yes we have both on the air on my show Monday.

Starting with Fodmaps.  We've been talking about them and we've been confused by them.  And sometimes, we're not even sure, as doctors, why we put people on them. What's the evidence and what's the diet?  Find out!  Join me and Doctor Peter Gibson, Professor and Director of Gastroeneterology at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia as we talk about the research he has conducted on IBS, the Fodmap and gluten free diets.  Find out what it means to you!

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

After this we will continue our discussion of IBS and all of Gastroenterology with Digestive Disease Update.  Hear some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and call or tweet me your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

If you've ever eaten at a restaurant in New York, its hard to avoid looking directly at  the "Choking" poster that is prominently posted on the wall.  And while the poster does detract from the fine dining experience, choking to death on a dinner roll is definitely worse.  Join me as I talk to Dr. Henry Heimlich, the 94 year old father of the procedure (and lots more).  He has just written a memoir entitled "Heimlich's Manueuvers: My Seventy Years of Lifesaving Innovation."  Find out about his life and career.  Later in the show, Arthur Lih will join us to talk about a new device, "Life-Vac," that can help people who are choking and cannot have the Heimlich or other maneuvers performed on them.

At the end of the show, it will be time for "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!


Sunday, May 11, 2014

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



I am back from Digestive Disease Week refreshed, educated and ready to go!  Dr. Lisa Ganjhu will be joining us at 8 AM to talk about autoimmune hepatitis. Autoimmune hepatitis?  Find out!

Odd liver enzyme tests.  No clue as to why?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will expand the conversation after this with Digestive Disease Update.  This week featuring some of the nifty stuff that I saw at Digestive Disease Week in Chicago last week.  Call me with your questions on all things digestive at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or send me a tweet.

Speaking of Digestive Disease Week, one of the big things we saw was a swallowable, vibrating capsule which might help patients with chronic constipation from irritable bowel syndrome.  We will be speaking with Dr. Yishai Ron, of The Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, about his report from DDW on this very topic.

We will 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!


Sunday, April 27, 2014

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

A somewhat brief review on tomorrow's show (there is just too much playoff action between the NBA and the NHL).  First, family history.  Dr. David Mittleman, PhD, a geneticist, professor and Chief Scientific Officer for Family Tree DNA, will be joining us.  Find out about all those genetic tests being offered, and why family history is important.  Also, find out who you're related too...maybe we're cousins!

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

After this we will have digestive disease update.  I am headed off to Digestive Disease Week at the end of the week and am psyched about some of the new research and discoveries in Gastroenterology!  You can tweet me any questions you may have.

Fecal transplants have become an important part of the treatment of C. difficile colitis and there is ongoing research on its usefulness for a variety of other GI diseases.  The question has been raised (by the FDA) as to whether the stool is a drug or not.  If it is, then all kinds of regulations apply to it.  If it is thought of as a "transplant organ," think a gross version of bone marrow, then a totally different set of regulations apply.  And what do you or a loved one do while everyones trying to figure this out?  Join me as I speak with Mark Smith of MIT about Openbiome, an organization devoted to making fecal microbiota transplant more available to everyone.

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

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Sunday, April 20, 2014

Monday, April 21st on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio


Emerging infection and extinction.  Yup, a super happy show on Monday!

Starting with extinction.  Elizabeth Kolbert,  a New Yorker staff writer, will be joining us to talk about her book The Sixth Extinction.  Find out about how there have been five mass extinctions and how a sixth one may be looming.

After this 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.  Topic of the day: the normal human microbiome!

A few weeks ago, my office became abnormally busy with the Flu.  Usually, by the time spring rolls around, we are done with the flu and ready to start check up season.  This flu seems to nasty as well, with lots of people requiring antibiotics after being "superinfected" with bacteria.  Join me and NYU Professor and Doctor Radio Medical Director Doctor Marc Siegel as we talk about the Flu B epidemic!

We will end the show, as usual, 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!

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Sunday, April 13, 2014

Monday, April 14th, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio


Obscure deceased presidents and the power of the human genome: we have a wide ranging series of topics on my birthday show tomorrow.

Starting with the obscure deceased president.  William Henry Harrison spent only 34 days as president before dying (leaving us the equally memorable John Tyler).  But how did he die?  Joining us is unofficial Doctor Radio Presidential Historian, University of Maryland Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Medical Care Clinical Center at the VA Maryland Health Care System  Dr. Philip Mackowiak, MD, MBA.

We will have Gastroenterology Update after this.  Did you know April was IBS awareness month?  Now you do!

Call us at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or tweet me at @doctorira for all of your digestive disease related questions!

Five minutes with your own children is enough to convince anyone of the importance of genetics in establishing who we are.  Dr. Sharon Maolam, MD, PhD, physician, researcher and New York Times bestselling author will be joining us to talk about his new book "Inheritance: How Our Genes Change Our Lives and Our Lives Change Our Genes."  So maybe there is hope for my high school age children.

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 medial questions on any topic at all...anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me!  Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!


Sunday, April 6, 2014

Monday, April 7th 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!


We have a serious show planned for Monday.  Our two guests will be speaking on important topics that affect the members of our Military as well as all of us.

Mike Magner, the managing editor at National Journal, will be joining us to discuss his new book, A Trust Betrayed: The Untold Story of Camp Lejeune and the Poisoning of Generations of Marines and Their Families.  This book tells the story of how clusters of illness around Camp Lejeune may be related to toxic waste in the drinking water.

After this we will have Digestive Disease Update, where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news in the world of digestive disease and will be answering your questions on all things digestive.  Call me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or tweet me any questions you may have!

Unfortunately, the news out of Fort Hood has not been good. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a common issue in our veterans' and in many of the rest of us exposed to traumatic events.  Join me and Psychiatrist Dr. Norman Sussman of the NYU School of Medicine as we talk about PTSD.

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any question on any medical topic at all: it doesn't matter where it is: anything that you forgot to ask your doctor ask me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Monday, March 31, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio


A brief rundown of tomorrow's show.  We are starting with kidney disease and dialysis.  Dr. Dugan Wiess Maddux, a nephrologist and Vice President of Chronic Kidney Disease Initiatives at Fresenius Medical Care North America will be joining us.  If you have any questions at all about dialysis or kidney failure, give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After this, we will have GI update for all of your digestive disease questions and information on some of the latest and greatest problems in digestive disease.  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

I have two teenage boys.  Teenage boys who play hockey.  So sometimes I wish I couldn't smell anything.  But I can.  And a new study suggests that human can distinguish up to one trillion smells.  I can't even count that high.  Join me as I speak to Dr. Marcelo Magnasco, PhD, Professor and Head of the Mathematical Physics Lab at Rockefeller University about their recently published study on the human sense of smell.

Olfactory 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...anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me!  Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or send me a tweet to @doctorira.






What Should I Do When My Man Tells Me Cholesterol is Borderline: Part 2 of a Women's Guide To Men's Health




Executive Summary




  • An LDL cholesterol over 190 is considered a reason to take medications regardless of any other medical factors
  • Dietary intake  has a small effect on cholesterol but
    • Weight control using any available method can really lower the number
  • Smokers, diabetics, men with hypertension are much more likely to need medication when they have a "borderline" number
    • Stopping smoking is more important than any cholesterol treatment in terms of heart attack risk reduction.
  • African American men have a higher risk of heart disease and may be more likely need to need medication at a given amount of cholesterol.

Between Obamacare and insurance discounts for having a "check up," more and more men are having some kind of preventative physical examination and blood tests done.  Although severe problems are occasionally found, most adverse findings are more of the "you need to watch that buddy" variety.   Borderline blood pressures, liver enzymes and cholesterol readings are common findings during a check up.  Appropriate follow up on all of these issues is important, the evidence of how to proceed weak, and the official guidelines a bit fuzzy.  Trying to figure out how to appropriately manage the "not quite bad enough bit of bad medical news" is an major part of my practice and an significant part of men's health.  I want to start talking about cholesterol first because the new guidelines have generated an inordinate amount of confusion among patients and doctors.

Before starting, its important to note that the men with 'borderline cholesterol' I am talking about here are men who are at "average" risk for heart disease.  If your man is diabetic, a smoker, or has known coronary artery disease might need treatment even for with what may appear to be pretty good cholesterol numbers.  African American men are also at higher risk for cardiac disease at any given cholesterol level.  Even those who are not at increased risk have a lot to think about: new guidelines may add up to 13 million new people to the ranks of those taking cholesterol medications.  Many of those added would be men in late middle age and older.  Healthy men, particularly as they round 50, need to understand their individual cholesterol risks and try to figure out the right way to manage it.

What is it? So let's start with cholesterol itself.  When you see the "total cholesterol" number what you are really seeing is a combination of the good cholesterol (HDL), the bad cholesterol (LDL) and fat in the blood (triglycerides).  Ultimately, the only number that really counts for heart disease and stroke risk is the LDL, or bad cholesterol.  And this number only counts when it is a "fasting" number: not eating for at least 12 hours prior to the test.  Eating causes a brief surge in the cholesterol that makes interoperation of the number difficult.  

There is a drop dead number (literally) for LDL cholesterol.  That number is 190.  The latest guidelines pretty much say that if your LDL is 190 or more, you need medication therapy: no ifs, ands, or buts. Having said that, if your 35 year significant other has an  LDL of 195 and is 30 pounds overweight, I am often willing to give him a chance to lose some weight first.  The important thing is not to keep dragging out the decision to treat forever: if he doesn't lose the weight and the cholesterol doesn't come down in a reasonable amount of time, then the drug trigger must be pulled.

What causes it? Most cholesterol is made in the liver.  About a quarter of cholesterol comes from diet. Just eating cholesterol rich foods, such as shrimp or eggs, will not give you high cholesterol.  And eating fatty (but not cholesterol rich) food will raise cholesterol.  As a matter of fact, if you lose weight by substituting low calorie, high cholesterol shrimp for trans-fat/cholesterol free chocolate cake, the  cholesterol will most likely fall.  Weight loss lowers cholesterol: even men who eat nothing but eggs, bacon and steak on a low carb diet will watch their cholesterol numbers drop.  Other factors besides genetics that make LDL cholesterol rise include a lack of exercise.   

When is it dangerous? The problem of course, is that "borderline" is a slippery slope.  The new cholesterol guidelines generally recommend medical treatment when the risk for a cardiac event in the next 10 years is more than 7.5%  The number is based on sex, age, smoking status, race, blood pressure and whether the person has diabetes or not.  And while you can't change your sex or your race, some preventable risk factors are way more important than cholesterol.  Qutting smoking is a lowers your risk for a future heart attack way more than controlling your cholesterol.  Its worth losing the war on french fries if it means no smoking.   As a general rule, younger, non-hypertensive, non-diabetic, non-smokers can worry about "borderline" cholesterol numbers less.

When should I be concerned? As men age, the chances of getting a heart attack increase and the importance of "borderline" cholesterol numbers becomes more important.   Anyone who is a smoker, has hypertension, or is a diabetic needs to take a good look at medication before going on the "I'll lose a few pounds" route.  Controlling these factors often means not needed cholesterol medication.  Try not to have the man in your life be the "next year" guy: if the cholesterol isn't improving and he's failed at the exercise/weight loss: increases the risk:  draw a "medication" treatment line in the sand.

What are the possible treatments? At some point in the future, I will have a giant discussion on all of the various cholesterol reducing meds out there and why they may (or may not) work.  Medical therapy primarily consists of statin medications such as Lipitor or Crestor.  Although traditionally diet therapy consists of low fat-low cholesterol foods, I encourage weight loss using any diet to lower cholesterol.  The less you are, the less your cholesterol is!

Many men with what is thought of as "borderline cholesterol" do not need treatment with medication, but they should be carefully monitored and need to watch their weights.




Sunday, March 23, 2014

Monday, March 24th, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!



Happy Spring! We continue with our theme of colon cancer prevention as we exit the harshness of March and head towards Spring.  Dr. Chris Dimaio, the head of therapeutic endoscopy at Mount Sinai Medical Center, will be joining us to talk about colon cancer prevention and specifically a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine  showing improved results for a "combined" DNA testing of stool as a screening method for colorectal cancer.  Find out what it means and have your questions on colon cancer prevention answered at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will expand the conversation with Gastroenterology update after this.  Join me as we talk about the latest and greatest advances in digestive disease and answer your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS on all things digestive.  Or tweet me at  @doctorira.

TB.  When I was a resident at Bellevue Hospital in the nineties it was a big deal.  Now, in my private practice I rarely think about it.  But TB hasn't gone away, and in the developing world it remains as a difficult, hard to treat problem affecting millions each year.  Join me as I speak with Jezza Neumann, who made "TB: The Silent Killer," which will air on PBS Frontline on March 25th.

We will end the show with Ask Doctor Ira, where I will tell you tales from my own office (the tale of the week is definitely Flu B) and answer your questions on all things medical...anything that you forgot to ask your doctor ask me at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

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Sunday, March 16, 2014

Should I worry if My Man is Snoring? Part 1 of a Women's Guide to Men's Health.


I have been talking about health in men for most of my career.  And although many men take care of themselves by eating reasonably well, not smoking and exercising, they are less than perfect at seeing doctors and following up on symptoms they may be having.  With that in mind, I am introducing a new section to the Ira Breite Blog: A Women's Guide to Men's Health (a.k.a. making the fight worthwhile). My experience has been that men, dragged to the doctor, get overwhelmed by the questions that their significant others have and the plethora of advice given to them by their physicians.  As a man, I am often overwhelmed as well!
In "a Women's Guide to Men's Health",  I am going to attempt to go through a series of common symptoms and general health concerns to help women make an informed decision as to whether its worth having an prolonged discussion (which your spouse will interpret as an argument no matter what you think is happening) about something or whether its better to pick a more important battle later.

The inner lawyer living in my ear says this is general advice and should not be interpreted as an actual medical opinion.  Thank you, inner ear lawyer.

And the inaugural topic is....snoring.  Annoying, yes.  But dangerous?  Potentially.

What is it: snoring is the sound the soft tissues of the airway make when you sleep.  Almost 50% of men snore regularly and almost everybody does it occasionally.  As long as air is moving in and out of the lungs, snoring is more annoying than dangerous.  But if there is too much resistance in the upper airways to the movement of air, serious problems can ensue.

What causes it: Common causes of snoring include obesity, congestion, and large tonsils. Smoking and alcohol both increase the risk for snoring.  People who sleep on their sides tend to snore less.   Of course, sometimes snoring happens for no clear reason at all. .  In my practice, weight gain is the most common cause of increased snoring in men.  Allergies and sinus congestion are second.

When is it dangerous:  When airway resistance increases, the amount of air reaching the lungs decreases.  If it gets bad enough, men will wake up briefly to breath.  This is the basis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  Despite the association between snoring and sleep apnea, there is no evidence that simply snoring means that a man is at greater risk in the future.  Sleep apnea can lead to a variety of health problems including atherosclerosis, hypertension, and heart disease.

When should I be concerned?   Although being a loud snorer is annoying to you, your partner might be fine.  I will have a bit more on treating benign snoring in a future post.  In general, if it looks like he is not breathing at times (waking up choking, gasping and restless sleeping are also to be watched for), its probably worth dragging him to the doctor.  Daytime clues include weight gain and fatigue.

What will be done when he finally goes to the doctor?  If there are none of the danger symptoms listed above, I often try to treat sinus and allergy issues first.  This sometimes helps.  If there is concern about sleep apnea its best to go for a sleep study and possibly see an ENT doctor.

What are the possible treatments: True sleep apnea (not just snoring) is treated with either a CPAP mask (that Darth Vader like mask that pushes air into your loved ones lungs) or, occasionally, surgery to fix the soft palate in some way.  I am a big fan of using the mask as a reason to lose weight, which often helps as well.  More on sleep apnea is available on the NIH Medline Plus website.

Regular snoring is often helped most by simple weight loss, being careful with booze, and not smoking. Men with allergies should be treated.  My opinion is that a CPAP mask for simple snoring is replacing one noisy annoyance for another.

Monday, March 17, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!


What do running, colon cancer and beer have to do with each other?  We will find out.  Its St. Patrick's Day, its colon cancer prevention month, and, if the weather ever improves, its not a bad to run a little bit.  The beer we'll talk about...

We will start with colon cancer prevention.  Join me and Danielle Burgess, the spokesperson for Fight Colorectal Cancer, as we talk about her story and what you can do to prevent colon cancer in you and your loved ones.

Colon Cancer Questions...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 some of the latest and greatest news in the world of gastroenterology and answer your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or by tweeting me.

And now, the beer.  Its spring, and yes, its St. Patrick's Day. The question: "Does beer affect your training?"  The answer will be provided by chiropractor and  ultra-marathoner Dr. Victor Runco.  Come on, you know you want to know.

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.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Monday, March 10, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio


Spring coming.  Check up season is beginning (and yes there is a season).  One health issue that remains hidden, particularly in baby boomers, is hepatitis C.  Join me and Dr. Lisa Ganjhu as we talk about new treatments for hepatitis C and liver disease in general!  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After this, we will expand the conversation to all thinks digestive...yes its time for Gastroenterology Update!  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.

Food allergies have been a growing problem here in the United States.  Join me and Dr. Corinne Keet as we talk about food allergies and how severe allergies have doubled amongst African American children over the past 23 years!

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

We will end the show, as we normally do, 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 us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

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Sunday, March 2, 2014

Monday, March 3rd, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio


Can't sleep?  Well, then you are going to want to hear our first guest on Monday.  Dr. Ana Krieger of New York Hospital will be joining us to talk about the relationship between sleeping disorders and gastrointestinal reflux disease.

Can't sleep?  Heartburn? Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS

After that, we'll have GI update.  I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news from the world of Gastroenterology and answer your questions on all things digestive at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.  Or tweet me!

Continuing our sleep week show, we will be talking about caffeine.  Most of know that that 9 PM cup of coffee may not be the best idea if you want to get to sleep: but what about all of those supplements that people take.  Join me and Dr. Tod Cooperman of Consumerlab.com  as we talk about caffeine in all kinds of supplements.

Caffeine/supplement questions?  Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS

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

image source:

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Monday, February 24th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!


Medicine.  Science. Professionalism.  And rules and guidelines... so many of them that there appear to be an veritable army of people making sure we are on the straight and narrow.  And two things happen sometimes.  First of all, sometimes regulations seem to make no sense from a clinical point of view.  And sometimes, clinical guidelines seem more confusing than guiding.  We are going to talk about this today.

Starting with fecal transplants.  These have become an important part of the treatment of C. difficile colitis and there is ongoing research on its usefulness for a variety of other GI diseases.  The question has been raised (by the FDA) as to whether the stool is a drug or not.  If it is, then all kinds of regulations apply to it.  If it is thought of as a "transplant organ," think a gross version of bone marrow, then a totally different set of regulations apply.  And what do you or a loved one do while everyones trying to figure this out?  Join me as I speak with Mark Smith of MIT about Openbiome, an organization devoted to making fecal microbiota transplant more available to everyone.

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

We will then expand the conversation with GI 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!  Or tweet me at @doctorira.twitter.com/doctorira.

Cholesterol.  We've been told its the devil's product (except for the good kind of course) for many years.  And then new guidelines came out and it became even more confusing.  For younger people, cholesterol may not be so bad.  For older people, apparently bad even if its perfect.  So confusing.  Join me and cardiologist Dr. Seth Baum as we talk about cholesterol.

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

We will end the show, as usual, with Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me any question you want on any medical topic at all...anything you forgot to ask your doctor ask me!  Give me a call or tweet.


Sunday, February 9, 2014

Monday, February 10th, 201 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

Red Quinoa

Today we are going to talk about high science and basic health.  Improving our health requires both.

First, high science.  Dr. Daniel Leffler, MD MS of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School will be joining us to talk about celiac disease and about a new study that is investigating how effective a new investigational  drug is at improving damage to the lining of the colon and reducing celiac symptoms.

Give us a call with your Celiac Questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

After that we are going to expand the digestive disease discussion with Gastroenterolgy Update, where 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.  You can also tweet me a question at @doctorira

Physicians should represent a broad swath of who we are as Americans.  Join me as I speak with Dr. Kameron Matthews, MD, JD, as we talk about the 5th 'Tour for Diversity in Medicine,' an initiative that brings pre-med enrichment activities to minority high school and undergraduates across the United States. 

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

Image source

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Monday, February 3, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show On SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!


Superbowl mania has hit New York City.  Ok, not really; more like fear of Superbowl traffic.  I have been particularly inconvienenced  by the "Bud Light Hotel," a large cruise ship docked on the Westside Highway.  Which got me thinking about Norovirus, which is NOT on the Bud Light boat but is on several cruise ships at the moment.  Norovirus in particularly contagious, and you don't need to be on a cruise ship to get it.  Find out more with me and Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News Channel medical correspondent and the Medical Director of Doctor Radio.

After this we will have gastroenterology update, where I will tell your some of the latest and greatest innovations in the world of digestive disease and answer your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Or, tweet me at @doctorira!

Lobotomy.  The word is now mostly hurled by teenagers to each other as an insult, but at one time it was a standard part of medical practice.  Find out about "The Lobotomy Files: the story of the VA lobotomies of veterans during and after World War II," from Michael Phillips, a staff reporter at the Wall Street Journal.

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

image source: CDC

Sunday, January 26, 2014

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


Teenagers and the evolution of modern medicine.  What do these two topics have in common?  They are interesting, hard to understand (especially teenagers) and featured on this Monday's show.

Jill Grimes, MD will be joining us first to talk about those teenagers.  We will talk about current teenagers and also about teenagers past: in other words, us.  Find out about how some of the things we did then can come and haunt us now.  And find out how you can try to help the next generation from being as dumb as some of us were.

Teenagers?  Were a teenager?  Stupidity?  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 from the world of digestive disease and answer your questions and tweets on all things digestive.  Whether its heartburn, constipation, abdominal pain, or even the pancreas, give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Medicine.  We like to think of ourselves as physician-scientists and as a profession honor the memories of our greatest predecessors.  We like to forget the hydropaths, phrenologists, blisterers, and vertebrae knockers.  But some of these nineteenth century physicians practices laid the groundwork for some of the things we now recognize as extremely important to health: exercise, hygiene, and women's health.  Join me and author Erica Janik as we talk about her new book: "Marketplace of the Marvelous: The Strange Origins of Modern Medicine."

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

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Sunday, January 12, 2014

Monday, January 13th, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!

 
 Let us talk Digestive Disease.  Having finally finished recertifying in Internal Medicine, I am now off to re-up in Gastroenterology.  One of the more interesting questions that many gastroenterologists and their patients have to ask is whether pain in the pelvis and lower abdomen is digestive or gynecologic.  Joining me to help discuss this is NYU Gastroenterologist Dr. Lisa Ganjhu.  Call us with your questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

After this we will expand the problems to the upper abdomen (and to men).  I will host Gastroenterology Update, where I will tell you some of the latest and greatest news from the world of digestive disease and answer your questions.  Call or tweet me!

DNA.  The human genome.  Lots of cool science, but what can you learn about yourself by looking at yours.  Join me and journalist and DIY videographer and scientist Boonsri Dickinson as we talk about her own experience getting her DNA tested.  Is it a good idea to do so?  Find out and call us 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 at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Monday, January 6th, 2014 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on SiriusXM 81: Doctor Radio!


We are back!  New Year, new show, and good times.  We have a very gluten free show planned for you on Monday.

Nicole Hunn, the author of Gluten-Free On a Shoe String Blog, will be joining us to talk about what to eat, pack and make for the New Year (gluten-free of course).  She is also the author of the book "Gluten Free on a Shoestring: 125 Easy Recipes for Eating Well On the Cheap."

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.  New Year, New medicines, new treatments!  Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS or tweet me at @doctorira!

More Gluten Free to Follow.  Many of us have made resolutions to lose weight (I won't even start with how I have resolved to lose the 10 pounds I need to get rid of).  Join me and Rachel Begun, MS, RDN, CDN as we speak about the difference between gluten intolerance, gluten sensitivity and Celiac Disease.  We are also going to talk about using a gluten free diet to lose weight?!

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

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

Follow me on Twitter.

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