We’ve all been there: You’re on your couch watching TV, when suddenly a celebrity appears to try to sell you Ozempic. How does pharmaceutical marketing influence patient behavior, doctor-patient relationships, and public policy? Learn all that and more this week on Health Wanted, when host Laurel Bristow dissects the uniquely American phenomenon that is direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising. Then, she is joined by Steve Woloshin, MD, for a doctor’s perspective.

Bristow addresses questions on topics ranging from rabbits with horns in Colorado to PFAS in contact lenses to a reported link between cancer and COVID, all before Sick of the Week gives a preview of respiratory virus season.

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 wabe.org/healthwanted

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rats—they are often seen as pests or spreaders of disease, but they are also surprising public health heroes. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow explores the role rats play in disease transmission, from the Black Death to modern outbreaks, and uncovers their contributions to science, from sniffing out landmines to serving as human proxies in lab studies. Then, she is joined by Kaylee Byers, PhD, to talk about rats and humans existing together.

In the Q&A, Bristow tackles questions about measles immunity, how to know if you need an additional MMR vaccine, and what factors determine a baby’s sex.

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 wabe.org/healthwanted

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Swimming is an important skill to decrease your risk of drowning, but not everyone has the opportunity to learn how to do it. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Megan Benvenuto dive into the health concerns and benefits of pools and how important they are for people to learn to swim.

In the Q&A, Bristow addresses questions on virus aerosol transmission and mitigation, drinking soda to hydrate, the threat of long bird flu, UTI and hypoglycemia, and vaccine misinformation. 

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 wabe.org/healthwanted

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a reason we spend around a third of our lives asleep: We need sleep to survive. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Dayna Johnson, PhD, talk about why we sleep, the importance of sleep quality, and how to make sure you are getting the most out of your body’s time at rest.

In the Q&A, Bristow SSRIs and pregnancy, vitamin C and bleeding gums, myocarditis and COVID, and some good news about vaccines! A question about a possible universal cancer vaccine sets up "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 wabe.org/healthwanted

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Private equity is not just taking over companies—it’s increasingly gaining control of health care facilities as well. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Megan Greenwell explain private equity and how it can lead to lower-quality care for patients and financial instability for hospitals.

In the Q&A, Bristow addresses questions on plague, Coca-Cola's new cane-sugar-sweetened Coke, and - hold onto your hats - the debut of New World Screwworm is "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 wabe.org/healthwanted

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disability has always existed, but ensuring equal rights for people with disabilities has not. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and filmmaker/disability rights advocate James Lebrecht talk about his documentary, "Crip Camp," review the history of the disability rights movement and the importance of continuing to advocate for equality.

And Laurel answers your questions about C-sections and colon cancer, uncured vs. cured hot dogs, and the FDA's recent moves to phase out animal testing.

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 wabe.org/healthwanted

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gambling is no longer limited to Vegas casinos—today, it is as easy as a few taps on a mobile device. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Rachel Volberg, PhD, discuss the rise in problem gambling and why it is a public health issue.

In the Q&A, Bristow has an update on the number of measles cases in the U.S., if there is a link between brain damage and COVID-19, and whether or not a tech millionaire’s quest to live forever is realistic.

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 wabe.org/healthwanted

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Symbolically and scientifically, snakes have long played a significant role in medicine. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Steve Mackessy, PhD, dig into the history of snakes in health care and recent breakthroughs in venom research.

And, Bristow addresses listener questions covering fire extinguisher disposal, meningitis risk in youths, and thimerosal in the Q&A.

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 wabe.org/healthwanted

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ALA is back once again! The Health Wanted team takes a dive into the listener mailbag for a Special Summer Edition of Ask Laurel Anything. Included are questions on summer faves, Sew Sew, and - of course - the lightning round.

We'll be back next week to break down more science, in the pursuit of better health.

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time for summer fun! But before you head to your Fourth of July barbecue, make sure you know how to keep yourself safe and healthy. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest George McKeehan go over helpful safety tips for Fourth of July activities like swimming, spending time outside, and enjoying firework displays.

And in the Q&A Bristow tackles listener questions about PFAS in dental floss, the dangers of alcohol, and if the full moon encourages parasitic activity. Plus, in the Sick of the Week, a new study from UGA finds that shrimp are spreading resistance to a last-line antibiotic.

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 wabe.org/healthwanted

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.