It’s been 250 years of being the best! The best national parks, the best novelty food containers at sports arenas, the best fireworks displays! America is the best at everything!...Or are we? This week on Health Wanted, we’re asking the question, when it comes to health, is U.S.A. number one?

Plus - Flu shots are back on the menu for basic training. Is fancy genetic testing worth it? How much lead is in your toothpaste? Why does it take so long to get new sunscreen ingredients? Whatever happened to Zika babies? 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.

While every holiday comes with the risk of dinner devolving into arguments about politics, the fourth of July comes with physical health risks as well. This week on Health Wanted, from hot dogs and heat to fireworks and alcohol: how to safely get the most out of your summer parties.

Plus - Can you get ringworm from your pets? What causes the “asian glow” when drinking alcohol? Does viral load mean someone who’s sicker than you can make you sicker? Could a case of mono cause scarlet fever? Are people who say cilantro tastes like soap lying for attention? Can a little bit of butter before bed prevent panic attacks?

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.

Itchy, itchy, scratchy, scratchy, ooh I got one down my back-y. Nothing takes the fun out of a lovely day outside like being eaten alive. This week on the Health Wanted, we’ve got the buzz on summer’s greatest pest: mosquitos.

Plus - A new baby formula recall. Is orofacial myofunctional therapy real? Why don’t we give the shingles vaccine to people under 50? Is the barbell flu real? And New World screwworm is back!

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.

We’re off for some much needed vacation, but fear not! We’re bringing you answers to some of our favorite questions you’ve asked and Laurel has answered, including: How scientific are personality tests? How dangerous is raw chicken? Is it safe to pee in an unflushed toilet? Does the Shingrix vaccine protect against cancer? How long can pathogens live on surfaces? Does taking melatonin lead to heart failure? And, should we all be testing our VO2 max?

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

For more, visit healthwanted.org. To support Health Wanted and other public media programming, visit wabe.org/give.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The smell of salty air, the sun on your skin, the wind in your hair, the…gastrointestinal distress and lax criminal justice system. No, we’re not talking about a pirate’s life. This week on Health Wanted, we’re cruising for a bruising by laying out the potential hazards on one of America's favorite recreational activities: cruises.

Plus - Does magnesium cure all? And why are there so many kinds? Do 1 in 6 people actually have long COVID? How much iron can you get from cooking with cast iron? 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.

Pride month might be the perfect excuse to practice a glitter makeup look or dust off your rainbow colored shorts, but it’s also an important time to remember the trailblazers that contributed to health and science before there was a parade to attend.This week on Health Wanted, we’re checking off the next item on the gay agenda: celebrating the resiliency of the queer community.

Plus - Hantavirus and Ebola updates. Did someone make a mistake when calculating how many microplastics are in our bodies? What’s going on with mifepristone?

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.

Sometimes it may feel like the world is metaphorically on fire, but it’s important to remember that it’s also often literally on fire. This week on Health Wanted, we’re taking a look at the increasing impact of wildfires on both the environment and your personal health.

Plus - Is Parkinson’s more genetic or environmental? How often should you change your car’s HVAC filter? Is MAHA bringing back cancer? And what is going on with psychedelics as treatment?

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.

We had a phenomenal episode prepared for you today but sadly, circumstances beyond our control have had to delay it at the last minute. But don’t worry! There’s a lot of infectious disease business going on right now and you know Laurel would never leave you hanging, so here’s a bit of an update and overview on hantavirus and Ebola.

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.

Everybody put on your party hats and grab a slice of cake. It’s a birthday party for the births that never were. This week on Health Wanted, we’re celebrating a very merry un-birthday in the truest sense, because May 9 was the 66th anniversary of the FDA approving the first oral birth control pill, a divisive medication people still love to hate.

Plus - Is mushroom tea worth the hype? Can you get enough fiber from supplements alone? And a whole lot of hantavirus.

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.

Moms! They do so much for their children, but somehow, according to everyone else's opinion, all of it is terrible and wrong. As Mother’s Day approaches, we wanted to say thank you to all our moms for doing their best by presenting data to silence the haters.

This week on Health Wanted…we’re defending moms.

Plus - Do GLPs have anything to do with why people are drinking less? What exactly is a “gut biofilm?” What’s the deal with hantavirus? And the tick (opps I mean “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.