Health Wanted

This episode includes an update from Dr. Nowinski sharing new research about the prevalence of CTE published after the episode first went live in February.

Let’s be honest, Americans love to watch a contact sport. We cheer at hockey fights, make highlight reels of the most brutal football tackles, yell, “kill him!” When our favorite wrestlers get their opponent in a headlock. We know massive hits can take a toll on the old noggin', but as it turns out, it might just be the lesser hits that happen over and over and over again that are causing more damage to the most people. 

This week on the show, we’re talking to former college football player and WWE wrestler, Dr. Chris Nowinski, about chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to [email protected],  or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

For more, visit healthwanted.org

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bleeding gums, disability stigma, Polly Lobster, the volleyball scene from Top Gun. What do they all have in common? An inextricable link to the foundation of public health. This week on Health Wanted, we’re setting sail on a course to educate you about the unbreakable bond between public health and those who commit their lives to the high seas.

We also talk with author Kevin Brown about how the British Royal Navy responded to the particular health needs of sailors.

Plus: How hard is it to get off psychiatric medications? A clarification about pronunciation. How the CDC is counting (or rather, not counting) measles deaths. And the Sick of the Week.

For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to [email protected],  or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

For more, visit healthwanted.org

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot can happen in a year: new beginnings, sad endings, a patchwork of controlled substance legislation that varies from state to state and may or may not be influenced by underhanded payments to remove competitors from the market, the changing color of the leaves. This week on Health Wanted, we’re doing a one-year check in on the status of 7-hydroxymitragynine, which some claimed could be the next opioid epidemic.

We also talk with Harvard professor and physician Dr. Pieter Cohen about testing products sold as supplements at gas stations and vape shops to find out if what’s in them matches what’s on the label.

Plus: Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy real or more wellness nonsense? What to know about the news that xylitol increases the risk of cardiovascular problems. Is Amazon stealing Laurel’s voice? An update on New World screwworm, and the Sick of the Week!

For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to [email protected],  or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

For more, visit healthwanted.org

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having a baby is supposed to be a joyous occasion, a time to be surrounded by love and support for your growing family. But for some people, the postpartum period comes with mental health changes that put them in crisis. This week on Health Wanted, we’re talking about what we do, and don’t, know about postpartum psychosis.

We also talk with Dr. Toby Goldsmith of PEACE for Moms about what is lacking when it comes to postpartum mental health.

Plus: What’s the difference between Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder? Can you thaw chicken on your kitchen counter? Is organic really better? And all your flu and COVID vaccine questions answered in the Sick of the Week.

For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

Have a question for Laurel? Click here, email it to [email protected],  or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

For more, visit healthwanted.org

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pre-World War II, it wasn’t the weapons that were the primary reason soldiers died, it was the infections that came after. But what happens when the infection becomes the weapon? This week on Health Wanted we’re testing the limits of both large language models AND your ability to compartmentalize your existential dread, by talking about the future of bioterrorism.

We also talk with Microsoft’s Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Eric Horvitz about how AI companies are working to prevent bad actors.

Plus: Have we found the hangover holy grail? What does Laurel think about direct-to-consumer lab tests? Why don’t Europeans refrigerate their eggs? And the Sick of the Week.

For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

Have a question for Laurel? Send it to [email protected], click here or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

For more, visit healthwanted.org

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how people communicate, learn, and interact. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Daniele Fallin, PhD, talk about ASD and what could be behind its rising prevalence across the world.

Bristow then covers a range of topics in the Q&A: genetic testing and insurance, vaccines before cruises, and trusted resources for menopause information before addressing two recurring co-stars: bird flu and measles.

For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the Show Notes.

Have a question for Laurel? Send it to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

For more, visit healthwanted.org

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You say you can’t sleep? Baby I don’t know. Is it that “me espresso?” Or is it something else? This week on Health Wanted, we’re talking about America’s favorite psychoactive substance: caffeine!

We also talk with UCSF cardiologist Dr. Greg Marcus about the potential cardiovascular benefits and drawbacks to drinking caffeinated coffee.

Plus: Are cold plunges worth the pain? Are there any benefits to “touching grass?” Debunking recent public health headlines. And some highs and lows for vaccine access.

For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

Have a question for Laurel? Send it to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

For more, visit healthwanted.org

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the Beatles said “baby you can drive my car” they may not have realized they’d one day be talking to a robot. This week on Health Wanted…we’re talking about autonomous vehicles impact on health and safety, and looking at the world of tomorrow! Today!

We also talk to Yonah Freemark of the Urban Institute about what policy should be considered to make the technology a net positive.

Plus: Is it bad to mix bananas and berries in your smoothie? How to protect yourself from wildfire smoke. What’s going on with the Ebola outbreak? Did the Supreme Court rule that glyphosate doesn’t cause cancer? And the Sick of the Week.

For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

Have a question for Laurel? Send it to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

For more, visit healthwanted.org

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s no longer just for bodybuilders and diabetics—it feels like everyone in America is self-injecting for aesthetics or health. This week on Health Wanted, the (pep)tide is high, but we’re holding on. We’re gonna be your number one…source for getting up to speed on the science behind the newest injectables craze.

Plus: What’s going on with the low COVID activity? Cyclospora false positives explained. Is canned sparkling water exposing you to microplastics? What’s up with California’s food labels?

For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

Have a question for Laurel? Send it to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

For more, visit healthwanted.org

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether it’s an Ebola outbreak that threatens to cross borders or an explosion of cyclospora cases in our own country, it seems like every tom, dick, and harry has opinions on how outbreaks should be handled. This week on Health Wanted, we’re asking “how DO you to respond to a disease outbreak?”

Plus, what’s going on with pediatric vaccine coverage? How do you stop “old people smell?” Is there lead in your turmeric? West Nile virus in your mosquitos? And the Sick of the Week.

For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes.

Have a question for Laurel? Send it to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630!

For more, visit healthwanted.org

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.