Expert Interview

ENCORE: Drug Interactions and Side Effects, Part 1
October 15, 2019
Studies show that 1.5 million Americans are hurt each year by preventable medicine errors. Many people are unaware that over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics can cause potentially serious adverse effects when used in combination with other common medications. Robert Baker realized there was a problem with people obtaining overall drug information after conducting extensive research. As a pharmacist, Robert has had extensive patient interaction for over the last 30 years. This gave him great insight into what patients need to have – useful at hand knowledge of their medications. Some of the more important issues patients stressed were over-the-counter (OTC) interactions with their current medications, as well as interactions among their prescription medications. The result is MyRxProfile, a convenient patient-friendly app that can help consumers be forewarned about potential drug interactions and side effects. Available from Apple and Android app stores, the app draws on a database of over 30,000 common prescription and over-the-counter medications. Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: Drug Interactions and Side Effects, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with pharmacist Robert Baker, developer of MyRxProfile, a convenient patient-friendly app that can help consumers be forewarned about potential drug interactions and side effects. Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: Food Fight, Part 1
October 10, 2019
With the review of red meat research that was published last week, concluding that “low- or very-low certainty” evidence exists to link red meat consumption to any kind of disease, we wanted to reprise this interview with Nina Teicholz, author of “The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet.” She dishes on America’s food fight—the controversy over the optimal diet for the nation. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) enshrine recommendations for at least 1/4 of the populace dependent on some form of government food. They also influence our food choices, guide the food industry, and serve as a role model for the entire world’s population. The DGA are out of step with the latest scientific findings, which largely exonerate saturated fat and meat as health risks. The result is that organizations like the American Heart Association still exhort Americans to avoid red meat, use only low-fat dairy, and substitute refined vegetable oils for butter and lard. This has been catastrophic for American’s health over the last several decades. Nina Teicholz is the author of a highly contentious article that appeared in the BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal). The article critiqued the DGA, calling into question their scientific basis. Teicholz details the firestorm of controversy that her BMJ article generated. She fought back, even in the face of a demand for retraction. Ultimately, the BMJ stood by her article. Teicholz details how the food industry has enlisted the government to distort nutrition facts. Should we continue to look to the government as the arbiter of nutritional truth? Is saturated fat from vegetable sources like coconut and palm oil OK? Could telling Americans to eat more fat backfire? If you exercise does it really mean you can eat whatever you want? Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: Food Fight, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Nina Teicholz, author of “The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet.” Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: Managing Your Memory, Part 1
October 8, 2019
"Seven Steps to Managing Your Memory: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and What to Do About It." "Why did I walk into this room?” “Where did I put my car keys?” “What’s my ATM password?” Memory problems are among the most common complaints seen in primary care. Harvard neurologist Dr. Andrew Budson is co-author of this practical guide to memory problems: Are we really experiencing an epidemic of dementia or are people just living longer? Do we have unrealistic expectations of our aging brains? When is memory loss normal and when is it a harbinger of dementia? Is Alzheimer’s the only type of memory loss? Can certain drugs produce memory loss? Are concerns over statin use warranted? Can proper diet defend against memory loss? What about exercise? Does research support the efficacy of “brain games”? What role for sleep optimization? Why is it so hard to come up with medicines for memory that have more than just slight, temporary benefits? When is it dementia and when is it depression? Should we all get tested for ApoE4, the “Alzheimer’s gene”? Why research shows that pulling an “all-nighter” is not the best way to study for a test; Simple habits that support memory. Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: Managing Your Memory, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Harvard neurologist Dr. Andrew Budson, co-author of "Seven Steps to Managing Your Memory: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and What to Do About It." Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: Toxic Mold Exposure, Part 1
October 3, 2019
Toxic mold exposure in the wake of the recent hurricanes: Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, author of "Surviving Mold," is an expert on illnesses acquired after exposure to the interiors of water-damaged buildings. He details how mold and bacteria can create a witches' brew of systemic medical problems distinct from their ability to trigger allergies. Chief among them is inflammation which leave sufferers with memory deficits, depression, muscular weakness and bodily aches and pains. These symptoms can easily be misdiagnosed as depression or PTSD in the wake of the loss and displacement that hurricane victims experience. Biotoxicity from mold and bacterial agents causes real, but poorly understood, physical changes. When combined with exposure to chemicals released in the environment, this can result in Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Why are some more prone to biotoxicity than others? What should be done to remediate the problem in the immediate aftermath of flooding? How do you test for biotoxicity? Why are anti-fungal medications not the answer? What long-term therapies offer relief to sufferers? Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: Toxic Mold Exposure, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, author of "Surviving Mold," an expert on illnesses acquired after exposure to the interiors of water-damaged buildings. Click HERE for part 1.

CBD and PTSD, Part 1
October 1, 2019
Stuart Tomc, VP of Human Nutrition and National Educator from PlusCBD Oil by CV Sciences, has an update on the latest hemp extract research. He brings very encouraging findings in the areas of Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. And Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep. Click HERE for part 2.

CBD and PTSD, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Stuart Tomc, VP of Human Nutrition and National Educator from PlusCBD Oil by CV Sciences. Click HERE for part 1.