Sunday, August 29, 2010

Monday, August 30th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius 114 and XM 119: Doctor Radio


The summer is almost over, and school is about to begin. But that doesn't mean that we don't have a great NEW show planned for tomorrow, where we will be answering all of your questions and have some great guests scheduled!

I know we've been accused of being too interested as a society in celebrity gossip recently, but the fascination for the famous extends far longer than wanting to know about the latest exploits of Paris Hilton. Although Mozart died in 1791, scholars are still debating how he died. Join me and Emeritus Professor of Orthopedics at Northwestern University and bibliographer of the Performing Arts Musical Association Dr. William Dawson as we discuss his latest article which reviews the well over 100 papers trying to figure out how Mozart died.

Join us in discussing this medical mystery at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Have you ever wondered if staring at your computer screen was doing more than making you flabby? I certainly have. And one of the things that I worry about are my eyes. Join me and Dr. Rachel Bishop of the National Eye Institute as we talk about Computer Vision Syndrome. Find out about this problem, which affects more and more of us as we rely on computers more and more to get through our day.

If you have any questions about your vision and computer use, give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will also be discussing a topic of great importance to many of us: post surgical pain. Having been there, I am well aware that surgeon's love to say "oh its nothing" about pretty much any operation: and yet it hurts like heck for up to months afterwoods. Join me and physiatrist Dr. Alpana Gowda, author of "The Complete® Idiot's Guide to Pain Relief" as we talk about practical things you can do when it hurts.

If you are suffering from pain days, weeks, months or years after surgery, and want some relief, give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will of course, have a session of Ask Doctor Ira, where you can ask me pretty much any medical question on any topic at all and I will be glad to help! Give me call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Monday, August 16th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius 114 and XM 119: Doctor Radio


Happy Summer. I have been enjoying the relatively good weather that we have been having in August here in New York City (as compared to our hotter than heck July) and I have been taking the time to get in shape. Our first guest, Sheri Colberg, PhD, has written a book to help diabetic athlete's get and stay in shape. Its called the Diabetic Athlete's Handbook, and we will be talking about ways that diabetics of all types (1, 1.5 and 2) can get and stay in shape.

If you or a loved one is a diabetic and wants to stay (or become) athletic give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

In our next segment, Keri Gans is back. Keri, registered dietician is coming out with a new book called the "Small Change Diet." Today we will be talking about what appears to be a new fad: eating a gluten free diet if you do not have celiac disease. We will talk about if this makes sense and answer any questions you may have on diagnosing celiac disease, and the medical and dietary management of this problem.

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

A special programming note: we will have Ask Dr. Ira during our third segment today: from 9 to 9:30 Eastern time. This is because we have a very special guest at 9:30 EDT: Dr. George Nichopoulos was Elvis Presley's personal physician, and August 16th is the 33rd anniversary of Elvis' death. Although many of us have our own opinions on what happened to Elvis and who enabled him, Dr. Nick has his own story to tell: he just published a book about what happened. Even though I was 11 when Elvis died, I know where I was when I found out and I know who told me and my family. This was big stuff. You are going to want to hear Dr. Nick's side of the story!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Monday, August 9th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius 114 and XM 119: Doctor Radio


Hello from Portland, Oregon! We have been on a short hiking vacation in the Columbia River Gorge but will be back in NYC on Monday morning for my show.

I give a lot of vaccines in the office for travel. Flu shot season is coming up, and we have already pre-ordered over 500 of them for the season. One thing I can tell you is that no one really likes shots. Imagine if there were another way of getting that vaccine into your body.

Join me and Mark Prausnitz, PhD, a professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology as we talk about different ways to get medication into the human body. Dr. Prausnitz will be speaking to us about new technology that allows medication to be injected via laser activated microneedles! I need to find out what that means too, but it sounds very cool.

Crohn's disease is on the rise, and it can be devastating for those diagnosed with it and their families. Join me and Crohn's disease patient Janice Chavkin and UCLA pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. David Ziring as we talk about Crohn's disease, Janice's personal story, and the Crohn's and Colitis Foundations's new endurance training program, the "CCFA Team Challenge."

Our second hour promises to be great. I have been enamored with probiotics for some time now: I regularly tell people with digestive problems to use them and I believe in their efficacy. But what's the real deal with bacteria and digestion. Hear me and have your questions answered about probiotics at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

Of course, its not all about the probiotics...there are so many other things that people have questions about in medicine. Ask me anything medical at all during our last half hour...Ask Dr. Ira. Give me a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Monday August 2 on the Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius 114 and XM 119: Doctor Radio!


August already! I am heading out to beautiful Oregon tomorrow, but before that we have a great, live show planned with a wide variety of topics and interesting guests.

First, some interesting late summer reading. Malaria has been a scourge since the dawn of human We still see some of it during the summer vacation season in my office right here in New York City and it causes nearly one million deaths a year worldwide. This despite the fact that we know what causes it and how to kill it. Join me and author Sonia Shah as we discuss her new book: "The Fever: How Malaria Has Ruled Humankind for 500,000 Years." Learn about this fascinating and scary disease, which still has potential to affect US travelers and has the ability to return to the Southern US, as Dengue fever has in the Florida Keys.

Call us with any questions you may have on malaria at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

Hepatitis C has been a recent problem here in the United States: baby boomers in particular have been hard hit by this disease and it continues to be a major cause of liver transplantation and death. Treatments to date have not been particularly effective and have significant side effects. But there is new hope around the corner! Join me and Dr. Melissa Palmer, clinical professor of medicine at NYU and author of "Dr. Melissa Palmer's Guide To Hepatitis and Liver Disease" as we talk about this disease and what you can do about it now and in the future!

If you or a loved one has suffered with hepatitis C, give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

The fall is around the corner, and that means that the sinus is back! Sinusitis, one of the great causes of misery (and occasionally worse) will soon be with us. If you are continually affected by this problem, you are going to want to hear what my next guest, Dr. Joseph Jacobs, has to say. Dr. Jacobs is an expert on the nasal cavity and sinuses here at NYU.

If you have any questions about what to do about your sinuses, this is a great time to call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

We will of course end the show with Ask Dr. Ira, where you can ask me any medical question you want...anything that you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me. I also appreciate all of the great questions we have been getting to both sirius (docs@siriusxm.com) and to irabreite@yahoo.com!

Call me with your medical questions at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Monday, July 26th on The Doctor Ira Breite Show on Sirius 114 and XM 119: Doctor Radio!


I am writing this in the beautiful state of Maine, where I am visiting my children at camp. If you think I'm far away from NYU, wait till you hear where our first guest is from.

The origins of Celiac Disease are quite a mystery, as is its increase in the population worldwide. Dr. Robert Anderson, of The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Victoria, Australia will be joining us on the line to talk about his research showing that just fragments of gluten triggers the celiac disease response. This research could lead to an actual cure for celiac disease, rather than our current effective, but miserable, treatment of avoiding all gluten containing products.

If you have any questions about celiac disease give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

As I write this, I am enjoying my morning cup of coffee. I will admit that its hard for me to miss it. But is it good for you? Dr. Peter Martin, of the Vanderbilt University Institute for Coffee Studies will be coming on to talk about new research showing that coffee may reduce the risk for prostate cancer. He will be also talking about his institute's research, and answering your coffee questions!

Wondering if you should give up that cup a day...or add it back? Give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS

I was going to say that our theme today revolved around food, but its clear that our third guest makes that impossible. Louis Sorkin, entomologist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, will be joining us to talk about all things bug: bedbugs in particular.

If you have a questions about bedbugs or other household problems, give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

We will end the show, as always, with Ask Dr. Ira, where you can ask me a question about any medical topic at all and I will be happy to answer you. Anything you forgot to ask your doctor, ask me!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Monday, July 19th on the Doctor Ira Breite Show, Sirius 114 and XM 119: Doctor Radio


Happy Summer! We have a great show planned for tomorrow, with an emphasis on the environment.

We are going to start off with a new study showing a relationship between inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, and air pollution. We have been exploring the relationship between environmental factors and a variety of disease, including inflammatory bowel diseases, on the show, for a while. I am really excited that my colleague, Dr. Ian Lustbader, will be joining me to discuss this fascinating issue.

If you have any questions at all about Crohn's disease or colitis give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

Speaking of diseases whose incidence has been increasing in recent years our next segment will be about peanut allergy. Peanut allergy is a miserable thing not only for the person who has it, but also for their family, friends and classmates as well. Join me and Dr. Julie Wang of the Mount Sinai Medical Center here in New York City as we discuss her research on using Chinese herbs to help treat peanut allergies.

If you or a loved one is plagued by food allergies, now would be a great time to give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS!

There is an environment of sex that surrounds teenagers. And if you, like me, have a teenage son, it can be a little confusing (and embarrassing) to have the "discussion" with him. Because nowadays its more than the birds and the bees. Joining me in studio is Dr. Jill Grimes, the author of the book "Seductive Delusions: How Everyday people catch STDs." We'll be talking about her book, and about how to talk to your teenager about sex.

If you have any questions about how to approach your son or daughter about sex, or any questions about STD's in general, give us a call at 1-877-NYU-DOCS.

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

Monday, July 12, 2010



This is surgery through the mouth, as we discussed on show today. If you are interested, you can go to "Noscar.org"