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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The use of activated charcoal for gas and bloating.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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