Family Health Radio
Family Health Radio
A daily series of 2 1/2 radio programs heard on over 250 radio stations.Providing practical, easy-to-understand, honest
health information on common health problems and the latest health care developments. A production of The WOUB Center For Public Media. And
supported by the Osteopathic Community
Communicating with your doctor
What makes for a good doctor visit? The key to a good doctor's visit is good communication. I, too, am a patient on
occasion, and I find that it helps facilitate communication if I write down my questions before I go to see my doctor. Script Number: ...
Commonly misdiagnosed conditions
What are some commonly misdiagnosed conditions? On our last program I told you how both doctors and patients can
contribute to the misdiagnosis of a medical condition. On that program I said you as the patient have a responsibility to communicate ...
Preventing a misdiagnosis
What can you do to prevent misdiagnosis of your medical condition? Every doctor that has ever practiced has made an
occasional misdiagnosis. We are all human and subject to error. However, there are things that you can do to lessen the chances of
a ...
Treating a cold
What's the best way to treat a cold? On our last program, I talked about how colds are spread. I said colds are caused
by viruses, and are spread by direct contact and through the air. Today, I'll talk about how to treat the symptoms of a cold.
There ...
Catching a cold, preventing a cold
How does a person catch cold, and is there a way to prevent it? Despite what you may have heard, you won't get a
cold by standing in a draft, by going outside without a coat or by walking around with wet feet. Colds are spread by a certain type of ...
Age's Effect on Muscles
How are muscles affected by aging? It seems clear that as we grow older, it becomes more difficult to build and
maintain muscle. The ebbing of musculature has been a known consequence of aging for some time. However, as new research
comes to light, ...
Running Gait
Can your running gait cause injury? "Pronation" is the medical term for what many runners call the "running gait." It
describes the motion of the foot as it touches the ground, and it contrasts the term supination. Both words refer to the foot's ...
Sleeping With the Lights On
Is it unhealthy for children to sleep with the lights on? At some point, most people have been woken up by sunlight
streaming into their rooms. Bright lights have a stimulating effect, sometimes to a fault, which is why most people opt for dark ...
Natural Fiber
Are all fibers created equal? Dietary fiber, also known as indigestible plant roughage, serves to clear out the digestive
tract. As it passes through, fiber absorbs water and eases defecation. It also seems to lower both cholesterol and blood sugar ...
Too Much Protein
Can too much protein be bad for you? Protein is essential for healthy muscles, bones, and cartilage. Unlike fats and
sugars, our body is unable to store away proteins for future use, se we must continually replenish our protein supply. If you were to ...
Eating light for life
How can you make healthier substitutes for the foods you eat? Whether eating out or staying in, you should strive to
control calorie, saturated fat, trans fat and sugar levels. Though all of these are important, the most crucial is probably calories. ...
Panic attacks
What should you do if you have a panic attack? A person having a panic attack experiences the sudden onset of
feelings of intense fear. This overwhelming fear can trigger a variety of physical symptoms -- including chest pain, sweating,
shortness of ...
Tonsillectomy
Is it a good idea to have your tonsils removed? Tonsillectomy, having the tonsils surgically removed, used to be one of
the most common childhood surgeries in the United States. It is still done, but much less often. Records show that tonsillectomies ...
A traveling blood clot
What is a traveling blood clot? A traveling blood clot, as its name implies, is a clot that originates in one part of your body
but ends up in another part. Clots often can develop in the legs, then travel through your veins to the heart and then the ...
Self-diagnosing anorexia
How can you tell if you're anorexic? A listener wrote and said that she was wondering if she might be anorexic. She
said that she's just not interested in food. She told us: (quote) "Many people think I am too thin, but I think I am just about the ...
Soy and Natural Protein
Is soy a complete protein? Soy protein, which contains antioxidants and essential amino acids required in a healthy diet,
is also one of the few natural protein sources for vegetarians and vegans. Script Number: 30075 For archived Family Health ...
Charley Horses
What are charley horses, and what causes them? Although the origin of the phrase "charley horse" is unknown, some
link it to nineteenth century major-league pitcher Charley Radbourne, nicknamed "Old Hoss", who suffered a leg cramp during a
homerun. ...
High-fructose Corn Syrup
What is high-fructose corn syrup, and is it dangerous? To produce high-fructose corn syrup, manufacturers first mill
corn into corn starch then process it further to yield a clear liquid consisting almost entirely of the simple sugar glucose. After ...
Age-related Macular Degeneration
What's the connection between diet and age-related macular degeneration? Macular degeneration, an uncurable eye
disease, is the leading cause of blindness in older adults. It damages the macula, the part of the retina that controls the center of the ...