Ask Doctor Dawn

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 1-15-2026: An emailer from Switzerland asks about fluorescein angiography requested before her first retina appointment. Dr. Dawn suspects protocol-based medicine screening for macular degeneration and suggests negotiating to see the doctor first given her different reason for seeing a retinal specialist. She encourages patients to maintain agency in medical settings. An emailer asks about creatine supplements. Dr. Dawn notes it helps muscle development in people doing weight training at 3-5 grams daily, but does nothing for aerobic-only exercisers. Claims about cognition and mood lack solid research. She advises against high-dose "loading," and cautions that creatine causes fluid retention problematic for congestive heart failure and should be avoided with stage 3 or higher kidney disease. Dr. Dawn reminds listeners it's not too late for flu shots, noting this season's H3N2 strain emerged after vaccine formulation was finalized. She laments mRNA vaccine research defunding, as that technology allows rapid reformulation. She describes organoids—tissues grown from stem cells that self-organize into primitive organ structures, enabling rapid drug screening without animal testing. Stanford researchers created assembloids by placing four neurological organoids together that spontaneously connected and built the ascending sensory pain pathway, offering new approaches to studying chronic pain. Dr. Dawn explains research showing satellite glial cells transfer healthy mitochondria to spinal sensory neurons through tunneling nanotubules. When this transfer fails, neurons fire erratically causing pain. Infusing healthy mitochondria into mouse spinal columns cured peripheral neuropathy—suggesting future periodic infusion treatments for humans. She reports Texas A&M researchers created "nanoflowers" from molybdenum disulfate that double stem cell's mitochondrial production, potentially supercharging regenerative medicine for conditions including Alzheimer's and muscular dystrophy. A caller asks about flu vaccines with egg allergy. Dr. Dawn explains that his gastrointestinal reactions to eggs differ from dangerous IgE allergies causing hives or anaphylaxis—GI intolerance doesn't preclude vaccination. Dr. Dawn reveals that 20 years of Parkinson's research followed a false lead. MRI showed increased iron in patients' brains, prompting iron chelation trials—which worsened symptoms. The problem: MRI detects paramagnetic ferric iron (stored, inert) not ferrous iron (biologically active). Patients accumulate useless ferric iron but are deficient in usable ferrous iron. Earlier 1980s studies showing that iron supplementation helped were ignored and abandoned prematurely. She suggests Parkinson's patients discuss iron supplementation with neurologists. She will post the link in the resources page on her website. A caller concerned about early Parkinson's describes tremors and balance problems in darkness. Dr. Dawn suggests darkness-related symptoms sound more like peripheral neuropathy than Parkinson's, recommending neurological examination and screening for diabetes, B vitamin deficiency, or heavy metal exposure. She confirms that sedentary lifestyle reduces mitochondrial production while progressive exercise builds both muscle and mitochondria.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 1-08-2026: Dr. Dawn concludes her 2025 medical advances recap, noting that while GLP-1 weight loss drugs showed unexpected benefits for addiction, schizophrenia, and dementia risk, Novo Nordisk recently reported semaglutide had no effect on cognition in people with existing dementia or mild cognitive impairment. She describes the first successful human bladder transplant performed on May 4th. The 41-year-old recipient received both kidney and bladder due to the bladder's complex blood vessel network. Surgeons practiced on cadavers with active circulation before achieving success, opening pathways for future bladder-only transplants for the 84,000 Americans diagnosed with bladder cancer annually. An emailer follows up about purslane for cognitive health. Dr. Dawn reviewed the referenced studies and found neither actually supported claims about purslane and cognition—one discussed the Lyon Heart Study's Mediterranean diet, the other described antioxidant properties. She cautions listeners that websites citing "scientifically proven" claims often reference articles that don't support their assertions. An emailer asks about statin alternatives after developing severe muscle pain on both atorvastatin and rosuvastatin. Dr. Dawn suggests he shouldn't be on statins given his classic adverse reaction. She recommends ezetimibe plus oat bran for cholesterol, metformin for his elevated triglycerides indicating insulin resistance, and checking LDL particle size and inflammation markers. She emphasizes that cholesterol is a risk factor, not a disease, and treating 50 low-risk people for 10 years prevents only one heart attack. A caller discusses plaque formation theory, comparing it to calluses. Dr. Dawn explains Linus Pauling's similar hypothesis that plaque forms at vessel bifurcations to protect against turbulent blood flow damage. She warns against driving total cholesterol below 130, as it disrupts steroid hormone production. The caller shares his mother's near-fatal rhabdomyolysis from statins—muscle breakdown releasing myoglobin that clogs kidneys—and criticizes data transfer failures between hospital systems. An emailer reports four UTIs in two months at age 79. Dr. Dawn questions whether all were true infections, since vaginal contamination causes false positives on dipstick tests. For confirmed UTIs, she recommends D-mannose and cranberry to prevent bacterial adhesion, post-void residual ultrasound to check for incomplete emptying, lactobacillus probiotics, and vaginal DHEA (Intrarosa) to restore mucosal thickness and disease resistance. Dr. Dawn describes Stanford's Phase III trial for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, where defective collagen-7 causes skin layers to separate at the slightest touch. Researchers take patient skin biopsies, use retroviruses to insert corrected genes, grow credit-card-sized skin grafts over 25 days, then suture them onto wounds. At 48 weeks, 65% of treated wounds fully healed versus 7% of controls. She reports a Stanford study showing premature babies who heard recordings of their mothers reading for 2 hours 40 minutes daily developed more mature white matter in language pathways. The left arcuate fasciculus showed greater development than controls, demonstrating how early auditory stimulation shapes brain circuitry even in NICU settings. Dr. Dawn concludes with tattoo safety concerns. Modern vivid inks contain compounds developed for car paint and printer toner, including azo dyes that break down into carcinogenic aromatic amines—especially during laser removal. Pigment particles migrate to lymph nodes and persist in macrophages, causing prolonged inflammation. She advises those with tattoos to avoid laser removal, wear sunscreen, practice lymphatic hygiene, and reconsider extensive new tattoos.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 1-01-2025: An emailer asks about omega-3 supplementation for memory at age 72. Dr. Dawn advises checking that fish oil capsules contain adequate DHA—at least 1,000 mg—since many omega-3 products have low DHA levels. She notes Medicare covers the same testing at standard labs as proprietary labs like OmegaQuant that charge patients directly. Beyond omega-3s, she emphasizes glucose control (hemoglobin A1c below 5.6) since the enzyme that breaks down insulin also clears beta-amyloid, and weight training to raise brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which promotes new synapse formation essential for memory. Dr. Dawn reviews Popular Science's top 2025 health innovation: eye drops from Lens Therapeutics containing aceclidine that correct age-related farsightedness for 10 hours. The drops shrink the pupil to increase depth of field, improving near vision by three or more lines on eye charts within 30 minutes without affecting distance vision. Side effects include eye irritation, dimmed night vision, and headache. She describes Duke University's breakthrough allowing heart transplants from circulatory death donors using an on-table reanimation technique. This could expand the pediatric donor pool by 20%—critical since up to 20% of children die waiting for transplants. Dr. Dawn celebrates CAR-T immunotherapy for multiple myeloma, which saved her husband's life. Of 97 heavily pretreated patients, 38% achieved complete remission still present at five years, with over 50% total survival. The therapy removes T-cells, uses CRISPR to add receptors targeting cancer cell antigens, then reinfuses the modified cells. She highlights a UC Davis study showing remote blood pressure monitoring with home technology, education, and coaching dropped patients' average blood pressure from 150/80 to 125/74 in months—low-tech with high impact. Dr. Dawn explains the Nano Knife for prostate cancer, which uses localized electrical pulses delivered through thin wires to destroy tumors while sparing surrounding nerves. This minimally invasive approach could reduce erectile dysfunction and incontinence common with traditional surgery. She describes Gilead's Sunlenca, a twice-yearly injection for HIV prevention that's 99% effective. At $14,000 per injection in the US, proceeds help fund access in resource-limited countries where it can be distributed like a vaccination. Dr. Dawn discusses Journavx (suzetrigine), a new non-opioid pain medication working on sodium channels to block pain signals before reaching the brain. At $30 for 50 pills on GoodRx, it offers an alternative for surgical pain in patients with addiction history or genetic vulnerability to opioid dependence. She details the landmark case of Baby KJ, the first person to receive personalized CRISPR gene therapy. Born with a CPS1 enzyme deficiency causing toxic ammonia buildup, KJ was too small for liver transplant. Scientists identified his specific mutation and used CRISPR base editing delivered via lipid nanoparticles to correct a single DNA letter—changing an A to G—in his liver cells which restored enough function to be discharged home. Dr. Dawn reports surprising findings that COVID mRNA vaccines amplify cancer immunotherapy. Lung cancer patients who received COVID vaccination within 100 days of checkpoint inhibitor treatment had 56% three-year survival versus 31% for unvaccinated patients. The mechanism is unknown but may involve mRNA generally alerting the immune system. She revisits research showing Zostavax shingles vaccination reduced dementia risk by 20% over seven years. A natural experiment in Wales—where an age cutoff created comparable vaccinated and unvaccinated groups—provided strong evidence that preventing herpes zoster inflammation protects brain health. Dr. Dawn concludes with Huntington's disease breakthrough: microRNA therapy delivered by virus directly into the brain slowed disease progression by 75% over three years. The microRNA binds to Huntington protein mRNA, preventing ribosome translation and toxic protein production. Some patients returned to work; others expected to need wheelchairs are still walking.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 12-18-2025: Dr. Dawn opens by examining how market competition is actually working in the weight loss drug sector. Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy compete against Eli Lilly's Monjaro and ZepBound, with prices dropping nearly 50% as companies launch direct-to-consumer websites. The main barriers remain needles and refrigeration, driving development of oral versions. Novo's Wegovy pill awaits FDA approval for early 2026 launch at $150 monthly. Next-generation drugs show remarkable results: Eli's retatrutide causes 24% weight loss in 48 weeks, while Novo's Cagrisema combines semaglutide with amylin to reduce muscle loss. Pfizer paid $10 billion for Metsera's once-monthly drug despite significant side effects. A quick fiber tip suggests adding plain psyllium to morning coffee for cardiovascular and microbiome benefits. Start with half a teaspoon and work up to two teaspoons (10 grams) over several weeks to avoid gas. The prebiotic fiber improves glucose tolerance and may reduce cancer risk. UC San Diego scientists discovered why cancers mutate so rapidly despite being eukaryotic cells with protected chromosomes. The answer is chromothripsis, a catastrophic event where the enzyme N4BP2 literally explodes chromosomes into fragments. These reassemble incorrectly, generating dozens to hundreds of mutations simultaneously and creating circular DNA fragments carrying cancer-promoting genes. One in four cancers show evidence of this mechanism, with all osteosarcomas and many brain cancers displaying it. This explains why the most aggressive cancers resist treatment. Research from 2013 shows any glucocorticoid use significantly increases venous thromboembolism risk, with threefold increases during the first month of use. The risk applies to new and recurrent clots, affecting both oral and inhaled steroids, though IV poses highest risk and topical the lowest. Joint injections fall somewhere between inhaled and oral. Anyone with prior blood clots should avoid steroids except for life-threatening situations like severe asthma attacks requiring ventilation. A meta-analysis of 20 randomized controlled trials shows creatine supplementation helps older adults (48-84) maintain muscle mass when combined with weight training two to three times weekly. The supplement provides no benefit without exercise. Recommended dosing starts at 2 grams and works up to 5 grams daily. Vegans benefit most since they consume little meat or fish. Important caveat: creatine throws off standard kidney function tests (creatinine), so users should request cystatin C testing instead for accurate renal health assessment. A new JAMA study suggesting risk-based mammogram screening is fatally flawed. First, researchers offered chemopreventative drugs like tamoxifen only to the high-risk group, contaminating the study design. Second, the demographics skewed heavily toward white college-educated women, missing the reality that Black women face twice the risk of aggressive breast cancer with 40% higher mortality. Third, wild-type humans failed to follow instructions—low-risk women continued getting annual mammograms anyway while high-risk women skipped recommended extra screenings. The conclusion of "non-inferior" outcomes is meaningless given poor adherence. Stick with annual mammograms, and consider alternating with MRIs for high-risk women. The EAT-Lancet report condemns red meat based purely on observational data showing correlations with heart disease, cancer, and mortality. But people who eat lots of red meat differ dramatically from low consumers: they weigh more, smoke more, exercise less, and eat less fiber. Studies can't control for sleep quality, depression, or screen time. Notably, heavy meat eaters also die more in accidents, suggesting a risk-taking lifestyle phenotype. The inflammatory marker TMAO is higher in meat eaters, but starch is also pro-inflammatory. Eating red meat instead of instant ramen might improve health. A balanced diet with limited amounts beats epidemiology-based blanket statements. Dr. Dawn grades Dr. Oz's performance as CMS administrator. Starting at minus one for zero relevant experience, he earns plus two for promoting diet, exercise, and gut health on his show. He studied intensively after nomination, calling all four previous CMS directors repeatedly and surrounding himself with experienced staff (plus one). He finalized Medicare rules favoring prevention over surgery and earned bipartisan praise as "a real scientist, not radical" (plus one). He divested healthcare holdings but kept some blind trust interests (minus 0.5). He's developing a CMS app and partnering with Google on a digital health ecosystem (plus one), but supports ending ACA subsidies that will raise premiums for millions (minus one). He correctly promoted COVID vaccines and contradicted Trump's Tylenol-autism claims (plus one). Final score: 3.5 out of 5 possible points, the only positive score for any Trump health administrator.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 12-11-2025: Dr. Dawn presents colleague Dr. Paul Godin's essay on why US healthcare fails as a market system . She explains that healthcare violates every assumption of functional markets: patients can't compare options during emergencies, information asymmetry prevents informed decisions, demand is inelastic when one has an urgent medical issue, and trust is essential to medicine and in direct conflict with profit incentives. Since 1988's Knox-Keen Act allowed for-profit healthcare, private equity has acquired and stripped hospitals, while administrative costs consume enormous resources fighting over payments rather than providing care. She contrasts this with European models like Switzerland and Germany where everyone must participate, insurers must accept all patients, and profit on basic coverage is limited. She celebrates a vaccination success story: HPV vaccines have reduced cervical cancer by 50% over 30 years. The American Cancer Society now endorses self-collected vaginal samples for HPV screening, with an FDA-approved at-home kit from Teal Health allowing women to skip speculums and traditional Pap smears. Current guidelines recommend screening starting at age 25, with testing every five years after a negative result. Dr. Dawn issues a health alert about multiple hospitalizations in Santa Cruz County from foraged wild mushrooms identified incorrectly by phone apps. She describes cholinergic toxicity symptoms: sweating, excessive salivation, pinpoint pupils, and abdominal cramping—signs requiring immediate emergency care rather than waiting it out. She offers follow-up vaccine advice: "go in wet, then sweat." Hydrate before vaccination, then take a hot Epsom salt bath until sweat runs off your face. This helps eliminate adjuvants that cause post-vaccine fatigue and aches, which are often misinterpreted as catching illness from the vaccine itself. Dr. Dawn expresses alarm that Kennedy's reconstituted ACIP nearly voted to eliminate hepatitis B vaccination at birth. She notes infants exposed to infected mothers have 99% infection rates, with half becoming chronically infected and half of those developing terminal cirrhosis or cancer. Testing pregnant women misses infections acquired during pregnancy, and 12-16% of delivering women have no test records. Major insurers have committed to covering birth vaccination through 2026 despite the panel's actions. She offers holiday microbiome advice from researcher Karen Corbin: increase fiber intake through steel-cut oats, whole grain breads like Dave's Killer Bread, beans, apples, and alternative pastas made from lentils or garbanzo beans. Cooking potatoes ahead and reheating creates resistant starch that feeds beneficial gut bacteria, reduces inflammation, and even stimulates natural GLP-1 production. Dr. Dawn reviews research proving health insurance saves lives. When the ACA's Medicaid expansion became optional by state, researchers could compare outcomes, finding 8% lower mortality and 19,000 fewer deaths in expansion states over four years. An accidental IRS experiment—sending insurance enrollment letters to only 85% of penalty payers—showed significantly lower mortality among those who subsequently got insured. Studies of gunshot and auto accident victims found uninsured patients died more often despite receiving identical emergency treatment. She concludes with surprising cancer symptoms: chest pain specifically triggered by alcohol consumption may indicate Hodgkin's lymphoma, as vasodilation activates inflammatory chemicals in affected lymph nodes. Fractures from minimal trauma in people without osteoporosis warrant investigation, as 5% of cancers involve bone. Elevated calcium levels double cancer diagnosis risk in the following year and should prompt follow-up testing.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 12-04-2025: Dr. Dawn opens with an experimental vaccine that prevents severe allergic reactions by targeting IgE antibodies. The vaccine could eventually replace current monoclonal antibody treatments like omalizumab that require injections every two weeks. She explains how adjuvants work in vaccines as additives that irritate the immune system enough to notice the vaccine target. Aluminum hydroxide is s common adjuvant. Modern vaccines use small pathogen fragments rather than whole organisms, requiring adjuvants to trigger adequate immune response. Dr. Dawn expresses concern about the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reviewing aluminum adjuvants this week. A Danish study of over one million children finding no connection between aluminum with autism and ADHA contradicts RFK,Jr's public claims.She worries that removing aluminum could devastate vaccine effectiveness and children's health, noting that whenever vaccination rates drop, diseases like measles return to native circulation. She recounts pertussis vaccine history—when Japan stopped vaccination due to rare adverse reactions (approximately one death per million doses), they lost about 5,000 children to whooping cough in the first year. The newer acellular vaccine using pathogen fragments plus adjuvants is safer but only lasts 4-5 years versus lifetime immunity from the older whole-cell version, necessitating "cocooning" strategies where everyone contacting newborns must be recently vaccinated. Dr. Dawn describes a vaccine to prevent fentanyl from reaching the brain now starting clinical trials in the Netherlands. It pairs a fentanyl-like molecule with a carrier protein large enough to trigger antibody production. Once primed, the immune system attacks any fentanyl entering the blood, preventing highs and overdoses—potentially helping people in addiction recovery and those accidentally exposed through contaminated drugs. She reports the first documented death from alpha-gal syndrome. Alpha-gal is a meat allergy triggered by Lone Star tick bites; the tick essentially vaccinates humans against the alpha-galactosidase protein found on beef and pork. Cases have increased since 2010 as climate change expands the tick's range northward, yet a 2023 survey found 42% of doctors had never heard of the condition. Dr. Dawn highlights research from Edith Cowan University showing that blood drawn after exercise suppresses cancer cell growth when added to tumor cultures. In breast cancer survivors, plasma from high-intensity interval training or weight lifting caused cancer cells to stop growing or die; blood drawn before exercise had no effect. The key mechanism involves myokines, particularly IL-6, released by contracting muscles. A Stanford study found colon cancer survivors who exercised were 37% less likely to experience recurrence. A caller asks about pig-to-human heart transplants and mask recommendations. Dr. Dawn clarifies that newer xenotransplant pigs have more genes edited to reduce rejection compared to the 2022 case. For masking, she recommends context-dependent use—especially in public restrooms where toilet flushing aerosolizes COVID-containing particles, transportation hubs, and hospitals, noting that COVID vaccination prevents death but not infection or long COVID. She advises the same caller about spacing vaccines because adjuvant loads stack. Most vaccines can be combined safely, but she recommends against pairing COVID and Shingrix vaccines due to their heavy adjuvant content—wait at least ten days between them. She suggests inducing a sweat the night of vaccination through hot baths, saunas, or exercise to reduce adjuvant-related discomfort without diminishing antibody response. Dr. Dawn discusses seasonal affective disorder. She recommends 5,000 units of vitamin D3 and morning light exposure. She suggests that sun avoidance advice may have gone too far. A UK study of 3.36 million people found 12-15% lower mortality with greater UV exposure even accounting for skin cancer risk. A Swedish study following 30,000 women for 20 years found sun-seekers had half the mortality risk. Benefits may involve nitric oxide production lowering blood pressure, with each 1,000 km from the equator correlating with 5 mmHg higher blood pressure. Lack of bright outdoor light also contributes to childhood myopia, with rates exceeding 80% in some Asian cities. Dr. Dawn concludes with Danish microbiologists at Copenhagen's Alchemist restaurant reviving an old Bulgarian practice of fermenting milk with live red wood ants. The resulting yogurt, cheese, and ice cream contain far more beneficial microbes than commercial products, with a complex lemony acidity. Only live ants work, and wild ants may carry parasites dangerous to humans.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 11-20-2025: Dr. Dawn discusses GLP-1 inhibitors like Zepbound and semaglutide showing unexpected benefits for addiction treatment beyond diabetes and weight loss. Patients in rehab report these drugs mute cravings for alcohol, cocaine, and cigarettes. Multiple studies show reduced substance abuse rates in users, with VA and NIH conducting trials examining brain activity and responses to triggers. With 80,000 annual drug overdose deaths and 48 million Americans having substance abuse disorders, these medications may revolutionize addiction treatment by dampening brain reward circuitry, though costs threaten healthcare budgets. A Stanford twin study found those twins assigned a vegan diet had substantially lower cholesterol, insulin, and body weight compared to their omnivore twins after several months, with LDL dropping 15mg, four pounds more weight loss, and 20% lower insulin. Dr. Dawn explains how a fungal disease decimating Central American frog populations caused 500% malaria increases in some areas. The fungus kills frogs by blocking skin electrolytes until hearts stop, eliminating tadpoles that eat mosquito larvae. Ecosystem collapses followed with algae blooms and snake population drops. She provides other examples showing how species losses affect human health, emphasizing the "one health" movement recognizing ecosystem health as fundamental to human wellbeing. An Australian study found people aged 70+ who listen to or play music regularly had 39% lower dementia rates, though causation remains uncertain. Princeton research shows music activates multiple brain regions simultaneously. Learning instruments increases gray matter, and musical memory remains intact in advanced dementia since it's stored separately from other memories. A caller discusses how modern screen-based activities provide less multisensory engagement than past social experiences like dances. Another caller describes Grover's disease causing persistent itchy skin with no known cause. Dr. Dawn recommends an elimination diet removing common allergens for one month, then reintroducing individually to identify food sensitivities triggering immune responses. Dr. Dawn explains xenotransplantation advances with genetically edited pigs beginning full-scale kidney transplant trials. Companies use CRISPR to disable genes causing immune rejection and insert human genes promoting immune tolerance. With only 10% of global kidney patients receiving organs, these could provide unlimited supply. Other innovations include kidneys with thymus tissue to teach immune tolerance and external pig liver systems as transplant bridges. She concludes noting research showing female dogs remember and prefer humans who demonstrate competence at tasks, while male dogs show no preference.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 11-13-2025: Dr. Dawn discusses a New England Journal of Medicine study examining radiation exposure from medical imaging in over 4 million children showing increased hematological cancer risk. Head and brain CTs deliver highest bone marrow doses, with under-1-year-olds receiving 20 milligrays compared to background radiation of 1 milligray yearly. The study found 3,000 cancers in 4 million children over roughly 10 years, with relative risk increasing 1.6-fold per CT scan. However, methodological flaws include combining US and Canadian cohorts with different data quality, potential reverse causation where imaging detected pre-existing cancers, and arbitrary 6-month latency assumptions are significant flaws in this study.. Despite small absolute risk increases given low baseline cancer rates, she encourages parents to question necessity of repeat scans and request alternatives like MRI when appropriate. She reports on cutting-edge CRISPR therapy using lipid nanoparticles to deliver molecular scissors targeting the ANGPTL3 gene controlling LDL cholesterol production. Recent setbacks in several other CRISPR trials raise issues for unexplained liver toxicity. Concerns include off-target gene editing effects and partially repaired DNA creating mutated proteins triggering autoimmune reactions. Dr. Dawn emphasizes restricting gene therapy to life-threatening genetic diseases with no alternatives until safety improves. Stanford scientists used AI model Evo trained on 9 trillion gene samples to design 300 new bacteriophages from scratch, with 16 phages successfully killing E. coli bacteria. AI tools now predict protein structures, design custom drugs, create antivenoms, invent antibiotics, and break down PFAS forever chemicals. The research represents evolution through computation and requires guardrails on AI's ability to manipulate biological structures. An emailer shares the Rosencare model where hotel chain owner Harris Rosen created self-insured health coverage featuring direct provider contracting, imaging facilities charging one-third to one-half traditional costs, transparent pharmacy benefit management, and zero or $5 primary care copays. Employees receive proactive screening for colonoscopies, mammograms, cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension during clinic visits. Ninety percent of medicines including insulin cost nothing, with remaining drugs $0-25, and hospital admissions cost flat $750. The model saved $600 million while providing superior preventive care by eliminating insurance middlemen and focusing on early chronic disease detection when 75-85% of costs originate. Dr. Dawn explains abdominophrenic dyssynergia causing bloating unrelated to gas or food. The diaphragm descends and abdominal wall muscles relax, pushing organs forward after meals. CT scans showed lettuce-related bloating involved no intestinal gas changes but demonstrated this abnormal muscle reflex. Randomized trials showed biofeedback training with chest-lifting and abdominal wall contracting exercises before and after eating for four weeks improved symptoms 66%. She warns that constant bloating in postmenopausal women unrelated to eating requires ovarian cancer screening. She discusses how genes drive personality using dopamine receptor gene DRD4 polymorphisms as an example. The 7-repeat variant present in 48% of Americans creates receptors binding dopamine poorly, associating with ADHD, pathological gambling, alcoholism, drug dependence, and bulimia, plus personality traits of novelty-seeking, impulsiveness, and optimism. The 2-repeat DRD4 variant common in Asia correlates with lower anger and higher forgiveness. DRD2 variations enhance the memory of negative outcomes, creating pessimistic bias and avoidance behavior. She presents the KETO trial showing "lean mass hyper-responder phenotype" where very low-carbohydrate dieters averaging age 55 maintained LDL cholesterol of 272 for five years but showed identical coronary artery calcium scores and plaque burden as matched controls with LDL under 150. Despite extreme LDL elevation, the very low insulin levels from carbohydrate restriction prevent LDL oxidation, the inflammatory "loading" process enabling arterial damage. She concludes with unusual cancer symptom where recurrent pain in specific body locations after alcohol consumption, lasting 1-2 days, occurs in 5% of Hodgkin lymphoma patients and in other cancers when alcohol induced blood vessel dilation and inflammatory chemical release in cancer-containing lymph nodes causes pain after drinking.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 11-06-2025:>/p> Dr. Dawn interviews Cindy Jackonette and Dr. Michael Alexander about a fundraiser for pancreatic cancer awareness on November 15th at Bargetto Winery from 2-5pm, supporting the Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group. Dr. Alexander explains pancreatic cancer has only 10-15% five-year survival rates and is difficult to screen for. Screening involves complex endoscopy procedures examining pancreatic ducts, CT scans and biomarker scans. The disease represents 3% of cancer cases but 8% of deaths. Immune checkpoint inhibitors show limited success except in Lynch syndrome patients with DNA repair defects. The Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group donates annually to local cancer organizations and is all volunteer-run with minimal overhead. An emailer asks when her 56-year-old half-African American son should get colon cancer screening given his father and uncle both had the disease. Dr. Dawn explains African Americans have increased risk and recommends immediate colonoscopy despite the ideal screening window being 10 years ago. She emphasizes identifying whether he produces polyps, which would require surveillance every 3-5 years. Unlike pancreatic cancer, colon cancer is highly curable when detected early, with death rates dropping 30-40% since colonoscopies became standard in the mid-1990s. She recommends preventive measures including daily 200mg ibuprofen (if no ulcer history) and a high-fiber diet rich in colorful vegetables containing antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress and DNA damage from free radicals. An emailer from Israel asks about supporting his 38-year-old son's rectal adenocarcinoma treatment. Dr. Dawn recommends nutritional strategies including juicing 10 different fruits and vegetables daily, 20mg melatonin for synergy with chemotherapy, vitamin D supplementation, and L-glutamine as primary food for bowel healing and lymphocyte function. She suggests DHA fish oil to enhance chemotherapy effectiveness, green tea for oncogene inhibition, astragalus herb to increase phagocytic activity and natural killer cells, and rotating water-extracted mushroom formulas with beta-glucans, particularly maitake and shitake. Glutamine also protects mucous membranes from radiation burns. Dr. Dawn discusses alarming cancer rate increases among young adults in Corn Belt states including Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, and Kansas. Since 2015, these states show 5% higher cancer rates for ages 15-49 compared to national averages, with particularly elevated kidney and skin cancer rates. Young women face 66% higher skin cancer risk than peers in other states. . Governor Kim Reynolds invested $1 million for research while Bayer's attempt to shield Roundup from lawsuits failed. Dr. Dawn notes Roundup now contains diquat after removing glyphosate. It has taken decades to accumulate evidence of glyphosates harms, She warns that absence of evidence of Diquats being harmful isn't evidence of safety and that Ames testing suggests high mutation potential. An emailer shares a JAMA article on lithium for Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Dawn explains that calcium dysregulation through NMDA receptors plays an upstream role in Alzheimer's pathology. Lithium, a bipolar disorder treatment, can reset deranged calcium gates, inhibiting mitochondrial damage and tau protein production. She emphasizes tau protein as the true culprit in Alzheimer's while amyloid beta is more symptomatic. Correcting calcium homeostasis allows neuronal autophagy systems to clear waste more efficiently rather than being overwhelmed. She reports dramatic peanut allergy declines following 2017 pediatric recommendations for introducing peanuts at 4-6 months based on the LEAP study showing 81% reduction. Between 2017-2020, peanut allergies dropped from 0.79% to 0.45% of all children under 3, with overall food allergies declining 36%. Studies also show pregnant mothers eating peanuts reduces offspring allergy risk by promoting immune tolerance. We conclude with breakthrough wireless retinal implants for macular degeneration, where cameras on glasses convert images to near-infrared signals to retinal implants which stimulate surviving retinal neurons. The prototype allowed patients to improve by two lines on eye charts and perceive facial expressions and read smaller print.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 10-30-2025: Dr. Dawn opens with Halloween-themed scary medical stories, beginning with food toxins lurking in refrigerators and pantries. She explains how molds on grains and nuts, particularly Aspergillus species, produce aflatoxins that bind to DNA and cause liver cancer, making peanuts especially risky. Fusarium on wheat produces trichothecenes and fumonisins damaging cell membranes. Penicillium molds on fruits like apples produce patulin creating reactive oxygen species that harm organs. She advises discarding soft moldy foods entirely since fungal hyphae penetrate deeply, while hard cheeses can have moldy portions cut away. Meat spoilage involves bacteria producing cadaverine and putrescine, with E. coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Clostridium causing severe illness through heat-stable toxins. A caller asks about yogurt-covered peanuts tasting rancid and confirms Botox contains botulinum toxin A in different salt forms, used medically for migraines, hyperhidrosis, and strabismus. The caller also describes paper-thin skin on sun-exposed forearms that bleeds easily. Dr. Dawn explains UV radiation damages collagen and elastin, making blood vessels vulnerable to shear forces. She recommends topical vitamin K products like Dermal K and protective lycra sleeves or gardening gauntlets to prevent injuries, emphasizing the need for annual dermatologic exams after extensive sun exposure. An emailer asks about RSV vaccine recommendations before overseas travel. Dr. Dawn disagreed with the couple's physician, citing US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines recommending RSV vaccination for all adults 60 and older, plus those 50+ with chronic conditions. She discusses FDA-approved home testing options including the PIXEL by LabCorp test for COVID, flu, and RSV, and iHealth rapid tests. She notes RSV point-of-care tests are available to medical practitioners and recommends thorough vaccination before international trips. Dr. Dawn presents a frightening investigation into private equity hospital bankruptcies, focusing on Steward Healthcare's 31 hospitals and Prospect's 16 facilities. Private equity firm Cerberus earned $700 million while Steward 650 documented incidents of deficient care including deaths. One woman died from hemorrhage after vendors repossessed equipment due to unpaid bills. She explains the shell game where companies sell hospital land to Medical Properties Trust, forcing new operators to pay rent while private equity extracts profits. The Brookings Institution study reveals systematic prioritization of investor returns over patient care, with courts failing to prevent these practices despite some states passing protective legislation. She discusses stillbirth rates being significantly underreported, with Harvard research showing actual rates of 1 in 147 pregnancies versus CDC's 1 in 175, worsening to 1 in 95 for black families. Over 70% involved known risks like obesity or diabetes, but 30% had no identifiable factors. Dr. Dawn emphasizes unconscious bias in medicine where women's complaints are dismissed, particularly affecting women of color and non-English speakers, noting both patient and provider biases require training to address. Dr. Dawn warns about HPV-related oral squamous cell carcinoma in young men, explaining that changing sexual practices over 30 years have created new transmission routes from genitals to mouth. Major risk factors include smokeless tobacco and hard alcohol which damage DNA. She mentions newly available saliva tests for persistent HPV detection, recommending risk factor reduction for positive cases. She concludes optimistically with a breakthrough Huntington's disease treatment using microRNA molecule AMT-130 delivered via virus to brain striatum. The treatment mirrors toxic Huntington protein's RNA, creating double-stranded structures cells destroy, preventing toxic protein accumulation. The three-year trial of 29 patients showed 75% slowing of disease progression with few side effects, offering hope for 100,000 Americans carrying the mutation, including 40,000 with current symptoms.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 10-23-2025: Dr. Dawn opens with a passionate plea about E-bike safety after observing riders ignoring stop signs and wearing inadequate helmets in Santa Cruz. She explains the physics of collisions, noting that force equals mass times acceleration, and a car hitting an E-bike rider at 20 mph delivers impact equivalent to falling from a two-story building. She emphasizes that 97% of bike fatalities in New York involved helmetless riders, and brain injuries result from the brain striking the skull twice during impact - once on the impact side and again on the opposite side during deceleration. She urges drivers to honk at helmetless riders and calls for stricter helmet law enforcement. An emailer asks about hydroxyapatite in toothpaste. Dr. Dawn traces its origins to NASA research in the 1960s by Dr. Bernard Rubin studying crystal growth for preventing bone and tooth mineral loss in astronauts. Japanese company Sangi acquired the patent and created the first hydroxyapatite toothpaste by 1980, receiving official anti-cavity recognition in 1993. Studies show it matches fluoride's cavity prevention effectiveness by filling microscopic cracks where bacteria take root. It also relieves temperature sensitivity by sealing micro-fractures in enamel that expose the dentin layer, making it especially helpful for people who clench their jaws. Researchers from UC Berkeley and the Allen Institute used electrodes and lasers to study how mouse brains process optical illusions like the Kanizsa triangle. They discovered specialized IC encoder neurons in the visual cortex that fill in missing information, creating complete shapes from partial cues. When these pattern-completing circuits activate inappropriately, they may trigger hallucinations in conditions like schizophrenia. Dr. Dawn explains that illusions occur when the brain perceives something different from actual visual input, while hallucinations create perceptions with no external stimulus. She discusses frontotemporal dementia where visual hallucinations result from protein deposits in the occipital cortex, and notes that a 2021 British Journal of Psychiatry study found hallucination rates varying from 7% in young people to 3% in those over 70. An emailer describes unbearable chronic lumbar pain with degenerative disc disease shown on MRI. Dr. Dawn emphasizes that MRI findings don't necessarily correlate with pain levels, citing shopping mall studies showing equal degenerative changes in people with and without back pain. She stresses checking for sciatica symptoms including leg pain below the knee, sensory differences between sides, calf size asymmetry, and ability to walk on tiptoes and heels. Without these red flags, the degenerative disease likely isn't causing the pain. She warns against unnecessary surgery citing frequent "failed back" syndrome when surgery for a disk image doesn't "fix" the pain. She recommends water jogging with a ski vest, McKenzie exercises, abdominal strengthening, ergonomics, removing wallets from back pockets, and alternating heat and ice therapy. She discusses mindfulness meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy for pain management. A caller references Daniel Levitin's book "Your Brain on Music," discussing research using functional MRIs showing distinct brain activation patterns in musicians versus non-musicians due to integrated auditory, visual, and kinesthetic training. Dr. Dawn describes how infant brains develop from three to six layers with increasingly complex synaptic connections resembling circuit boards. She highlights a blindfold study where college students' visual cortices began responding to sound within two weeks as the auditory cortex expanded. She shares her husband's remarkable recovery demonstrating adult brain plasticity through intensive rehabilitation. Learning new musical instruments helps dementia patients by activating multiple brain regions simultaneously and improving standard cognitive test performance. A caller describes an eight-day chest cold with thick white phlegm. Dr. Dawn recommends guaifenesin as a mucus-thinning expectorant to prevent bacterial growth in respiratory secretions that serve as "bacteria chow." She emphasizes the importance of current flu, COVID, and RSV vaccinations. Secondary bacterial infections develop when bacteria colonize viral-induced mucus in the lungs and invade tissues. She advises aggressive hydration and chicken soup, which research shows helps clear mucus. Another caller provides additional information about Daniel Levitin as a musicologist, neurologist, and musician who runs the Music Perception, Cognition and Expertise laboratory at McGill University.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 10-16-2025: Dr. Dawn explains the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology awarded to Shimon Sakaguchi, Mary Brunkow, and Fred Ramsdell for discovering T regulatory cells. Previously, medical teaching held that the thymus only eliminated self-attacking T cells, but Sakaguchi found that removing the thymus from newborn mice caused autoimmune disease, suggesting protective regulatory cells existed. He identified CD4+CD25+ cells that suppress inflammation and can convert other T cells. Brunkow and Ramsdell discovered the FOXP3 gene that controls these cells, linking mutations to severe autoimmune diseases like IPEX syndrome. Tissue-specific Tregs regulate metabolism in fat, maintain gut microbiome tolerance, promote wound healing in skin, and control muscle regeneration. Therapeutic applications include stopping type 1 diabetes, preventing organ rejection, and treating multiple sclerosis. An emailer asks about a study linking soft drinks to depression through gut bacteria changes. Dr. Dawn critiques the cohort association study for establishing only correlation, not causation, with a weak risk ratio of 1.1 representing just 10% increased association. She explains that bacteria can influence food cravings, making it unclear whether sodas change bacteria levels or bacteria drive soda consumption. Without Koch's postulates—isolating bacteria, growing them, and reproducing disease—the causal direction remains uncertain despite statistical significance. Dr. Dawn reads David Whyte's essay on injury as invitation to transformation, exploring how pain reveals vulnerability, changes identity, requires patience, and teaches compassion. She notes this perspective may come easier to men who reach midlife believing they control their bodies, while menstruation disabuses women of that illusion earlier. As a physician, she emphasizes the ego crisis when people transition from healthy to "person with disease," requiring identity restructuring that can shake foundations but also mature and strengthen individuals. A caller responds enthusiastically to the injury essay, citing quotes from André Gide, James Hillman, and Norman O. Brown about how illness opens doors to reality closed to healthy mindedness, how the soul sees through affliction, and how vulnerability is inherent to being human. Dr. Dawn agrees that many religions embrace wounds as paths to spiritual enlightenment and commits to deeper reflection on suffering's role in the human condition. Dr. Dawn discusses cognitive functional therapy for chronic back pain, describing firefighter Joe Lawrence who believed his spine was irreparably damaged until physical therapist Peter O'Sullivan challenged those beliefs. The therapy addresses psychological aspects by teaching that backs need movement, not protection, and that tensing muscles worsens pain. The three-step approach examines pain origins including emotional context, gradually reintroduces avoided activities while learning relaxation, and establishes healthy sleep and exercise routines. GLP-1 drug prices have dropped dramatically to $499 monthly at Costco due to compounding pharmacy competition. Dr. Dawn urges immunizations, noting studies show shingles vaccination reduces dementia risk by 20% over seven years, possibly by generating T regulatory cells that reduce brain inflammation. Natural experiments in England where vaccine rollout occurred at different times in different regions provided strong evidence. She explains that chickenpox vaccination in childhood prevents both chickenpox and future shingles. Even tetanus shots appear to lower dementia risk, suggesting vaccines activate immune responses that reduce chronic inflammation. She concludes with practical advice to reduce microplastic exposure by avoiding plastic cups and containers, especially with heat. Eight-year-old coffee makers contain twice the microplastics of six-month-old machines due to deterioration. She recommends ceramic cups, glass or metal kettles, removing food from plastic before cooking, and washing polyester clothing on low heat to minimize microplastic generation.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 10-09-2025: Dr. Dawn opens by addressing an emailer's question about safety of low-dose lithium for dementia prevention. She reports finding a two-year double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 61 patients with mild cognitive impairment that showed no kidney damage from therapeutic lithium doses. While low-dose lithium at 2-3 milligrams daily appears safe compared to therapeutic doses of 50-100 milligrams, she notes its calming effects may improve cognition. She discusses over-the-counter hearing aids now available without prescription, ranging from $98 to $999, representing significant savings compared to prescription models costing four times as much. An emailer asks about long-term methotrexate use for psoriasis, reporting declining white blood cell counts and slower healing. Dr. Dawn reviews studies showing that in 13-year rheumatoid arthritis trials, severe side effects occurred in only 3% of patients. She recommends monthly blood monitoring including comprehensive metabolic panels to check liver and kidney function. As an alternative, she suggests apremilast, which showed excellent long-term safety in pooled data from half a million patient years with virtually no liver, kidney, or blood count problems. She also recommends trying phototherapy with tuned red light frequencies and topical treatments before considering drugs like etanercept that carry leukemia and lymphoma risks. Dr. Dawn expands on ultra-processed food dangers, explaining how mechanical processing of carbohydrates accelerates digestion and causes blood sugar spikes that lead to insulin resistance. Steel-cut oatmeal and wheat berries digest slowly and accelerate glucose at a low rate, while instant oatmeal and white bread hit like loud spikes. She emphasizes that processing primarily affects carbohydrates, not proteins or fats. Whole fruits are vastly superior to juices because juicing makes fruit sugars unnaturally available to metabolism. She also warns about hidden microplastics entering food through processing equipment, transport tanks, and packaging, with longer processing and travel distances increasing contamination. Dr.Dawn discusses the health dangers of sedentary behavior, noting that simply walking 20 minutes daily can lower blood pressure without requiring intense exertion. Dr. Dawn offers creative exercise solutions including bouncing on inflatable exercise balls during screen time, keeping weights in bathrooms for tooth-brushing workouts or in other frequently used spaces, doing resistance band exercises while waiting in cars, and practicing single-leg squats for balance. She describes the geriatric "get up and go" test where inability to stand, walk 10 feet, return, and sit within 10 seconds predicts five-year mortality. A caller discusses motivation challenges with his unused NordicTrack equipment. Dr. Dawn suggests making exercise rewarding by listening to engaging podcasts exclusively during workouts, creating positive associations that build sustainable habits. She explains that five minutes daily for six days weekly, maintained for a month, typically becomes permanent. The caller correctly notes that exercise increases mitochondrial production, and Dr. Dawn expands on this, explaining how oxygen debt triggers DNA signals to build new muscle fibers and mitochondria, raising metabolic rate, improving glucose metabolism, and increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor that promotes new neural connections, making exercise crucial for preventing cognitive decline.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 10-02-2025: Dr. Dawn opens by explaining how blood pressure treatment guidelines have been corrected back to 140/90 after the problematic 2015 SPRINT study temporarily changed recommendations to 120/80. That study used ideal measurement conditions - five minutes of quiet sitting, perfect cuff sizes, compliant patients - creating unrealistic targets that caused elderly patients to faint and break hips. The Veterans Administration and major cardiology organizations now recommend treating to 140/90, with statins only for LDL above 190 or 12% ten-year cardiovascular risk. An emailer asks about claims linking Tylenol to autism. Dr. Dawn thoroughly debunks this, explaining that Swedish studies of 2.5 million children found no association when controlling for sibling comparisons. She notes autism rates remained flat from 1960-1990 despite widespread Tylenol use, then spiked after DSM-4 in 1994 and DSM-5 in 2013 broadened diagnostic criteria. Recall bias skews studies since mothers of autistic children are asked leading questions about past Tylenol use during pregnancy when fever treatment was medically necessary. She discusses RFK Jr.'s mixed positions, comparing him to Isaac Newton who excelled at physics but believed in astrology. While criticizing vaccine misinformation, Dr. Dawn strongly supports RFK's stance on ultra-processed foods. She describes NIH researcher Kevin Hall's studies showing people consume 500 extra calories daily on ultra-processed diets versus whole foods, even when nutrients are matched. The US produces 15,000 calories per person daily, with the food industry engineered to promote overconsumption through hyper-palatable fat-sugar-salt combinations. A caller asks about Healthcare 4.0 plans for biometric tracking bracelets and digital twins. Dr. Dawn discusses privacy concerns around constant health monitoring and data collection, noting that while early disease detection could be valuable, mandatory participation raises serious civil liberties issues. She acknowledges voluntary research projects like the Million Man Study but emphasizes the importance of consent and protection against unauthorized data access by advertisers or government agencies. An emailer shares research on ultrasound brain stimulation helmets as alternatives to surgical electrode implants. Dr. Dawn explains how 256-element phased ultrasonic arrays can target brain regions like the visual cortex with high precision mechanical perturbation, potentially treating Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and depression without surgery. The technology remains experimental, requiring MRI guidance, but could become portable and dramatically improve quality of life for neurological conditions currently requiring invasive deep brain stimulation. A caller with adrenal cancer asks about fasting-mimicking diets. Dr. Dawn explains that 14-hour fasting before chemotherapy improves outcomes because healthy cells can downshift metabolism while cancer cells cannot. Cancer cells rely only on glycolysis without mitochondrial function, making them vulnerable during fasting states. She recommends chronotherapy - scheduling treatments during fasting periods - and expresses optimism about new cancer therapies like CAR-T cells and CRISPR technologies. An emailer asks about inulin fiber for fatty liver disease. Dr. Dawn explains how this fiber found in chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, and root vegetables stimulates gut bacteria to break down fructose before it reaches the liver, preventing fructose-induced hepatic lipogenesis. Inulin supplementation protects against fatty liver disease, increases antioxidant production, and helps with obesity by reshaping the gut microbiome to better process dietary sugars.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 9-25-2025: Dr. Dawn opens with disturbing whistleblower allegations from Patrick Chase about organ transplant corruption. He claims poor patients at Parkland Hospital were systematically denied kidneys that were redirected to wealthier patients at UT Southwestern Medical Center. In 36 documented cases, doctors rejected kidneys as unsuitable for Parkland patients, then transplanted those same organs at the prestigious academic hospital. Chase alleges financial incentives corrupt the entire system, from procurement organizations to waiting list management. She discusses widespread scientific fraud in medical journals, citing research about PLOS journal showing 45 editors facilitated acceptance of fraudulent papers at rates far exceeding chance. These editors represented only 1.3% of reviewers but were responsible for 30% of retracted articles. Paper mills now use AI to generate fake studies with fabricated data, selling authorship to academics seeking publication credits. This undermines evidence-based medicine when treatment guidelines rely on potentially fraudulent research. Dr. Dawn introduces holy basil as a sleep aid beyond melatonin, explaining how its active compound ocimum lowers cortisol and inhibits orexin pathways that promote wakefulness. Unlike melatonin which signals sleep onset, holy basil helps maintain deep sleep by preventing middle-of-night stress spikes. She recommends 500 milligrams of aqueous leaf extract, noting this Ayurvedic herb may be particularly helpful for menopausal women experiencing sleep disruption. She warns about medication-induced osteoporosis, revealing that proton pump inhibitors increase hip fracture risk by 217% after four years of use by impairing calcium absorption and triggering parathyroid hormone release. Antidepressants pose similar risks, with SSRIs increasing fracture risk by 68% and causing women to lose bone 1.6 times faster than non-users. Cancer treatments like androgen deprivation therapy cause severe bone loss, with 81% of long-term users developing osteoporosis. Dr. Dawn challenges cholesterol treatment guidelines, explaining that Quest Labs' recommendation for LDL under 100 contradicts actual medical standards. The Veterans Administration only recommends statins for LDL above 190 plus high cardiovascular risk, or 12% ten-year risk calculated using multiple factors. She criticizes the focus on cosmetic cholesterol numbers while ignoring that high-dose statins increase diabetes risk, which is a greater health threat than elevated LDL alone. A caller describes experiencing severe ear itching followed by facial puffiness after a haircut. Dr. Dawn explains this likely represents a histamine-mediated allergic reaction, possibly triggered by salon products rather than the haircut itself. She advises getting ingredient lists from the salon to identify potential allergens and notes that bilateral symptoms suggest systemic rather than contact allergy. The oral antihistamines the caller took were appropriate treatment. Another caller asks about statin use with LDL of 155, expressing concern about adverse effects. Dr. Dawn recommends calculating ten-year cardiovascular risk rather than focusing solely on LDL numbers. She explains serious statin risks including muscle breakdown and diabetes development, particularly in women. For patients with muscle pain from statins, she suggests CoQ10 supplementation, but discontinuation if symptoms persist to prevent kidney damage from rhabdomyolysis.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 9-18-2025: Dr. Dawn opens by establishing her psychobiology background and introducing the neurohormonal axis connecting mind and body. She describes revolutionary research published in Nature Neuroscience showing that simply seeing sick people in virtual reality triggers actual immune responses. The study used VR avatars displaying infection symptoms approaching participants, measuring brain activity with EEG and fMRI while analyzing blood samples for immune cell changes. The research demonstrates that infectious avatars approaching in virtual reality activate the same immune pathways as actual flu vaccination. Brain areas including the salience network and peripersonal space system detect potential threats and communicate with the hypothalamus to trigger white blood cell activation. Proximity matters - threats 20 feet away don't trigger responses, but approaching threats do. Dr. Dawn explains the sophisticated methodology, including 128-channel EEG monitoring and flow cytometry analysis of immune markers. Participants showed faster reaction times when infectious avatars approached compared to neutral ones, demonstrating subconscious threat assessment. The study reveals built-in disgust responses that evolved to protect against pathogens. She comments on how her medical training rewire the protective disgust reaction through repeated exposure.. She transitions to discussing stress effects on gastrointestinal function, explaining how the gut-brain axis operates through the vagus nerve and neurohormonal pathways. The adrenal glands produce both immediate epinephrine responses and longer-term cortisol release, with chronic stress leading to digestive disruption, increased intestinal permeability, and microbiome changes that can trigger food sensitivities and autoimmune conditions. Dr. Dawn details the difference between acute and chronic stress responses in the gut. Acute stress redirects energy from digestion for fight-or-flight responses, while chronic stress causes mast cell activation, histamine release, mucus layer thinning, and bacterial overgrowth. These changes can lead to irritable bowel syndrome, increased food allergies, and even celiac disease in genetically susceptible individuals. The discussion covers various brain networks including the default mode network active during rest, the central executive network for problem-solving, and the salience network that switches between them when detecting important stimuli like threats, food, or reproductive opportunities. Functional MRI studies show these networks' activity patterns and their connections to immune system regulation through the hypothalamus. Dr. Dawn emphasizes practical implications for modern life, warning that constant screen exposure and doom-scrolling activate chronic stress responses unnecessarily. She recommends avoiding phones upon waking, spending time outdoors, wearing amber glasses for evening screen use, and practicing specific breathing techniques - inhaling for 5 counts, holding for 5, exhaling for 5, holding for 5 - to regulate nervous system activation and reduce inflammatory responses.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 9-11-2025: Dr. Dawn announces COVID-25/26 vaccines are now available at Safeway with same-day appointments, urging listeners to schedule quickly due to potential supply shortages amid uncertain federal vaccine policies. She discusses promising research on metformin for knee osteoarthritis in obese patients. Studies show metformin users lost half as much cartilage (0.75% vs 1.5%) over four years and had reduced knee replacement risk. The mechanism involves AMPK protein kinase pathways that reduce inflammation and cellular energy storage, with benefits independent of weight loss effects. Dr. Dawn warns hunters about blue pig meat from wild boars that consume rodenticide, which acts like warfarin to prevent blood clotting. The anticoagulant creates blue-tinted tissue that cooking cannot eliminate, making such meat dangerous for consumption during hunting season from September through November. She criticizes the elimination of women's health research funding, highlighting how the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Institute has advanced medical knowledge benefiting everyone. Dr. Dawn notes that $2.5 billion in research was rescinded for containing terms like "women" and "female," creating dangerous knowledge gaps when women experience different disease symptoms and medication responses than men. The brown rice versus white rice debate centers on arsenic content, with brown rice containing about 138 parts per billion compared to 93 in white rice. While both remain below WHO safety limits, children are especially vulnerable. Dr. Dawn recommends diverse grain options and specific cooking methods like soaking, rinsing, and using excess water to reduce arsenic levels. A caller asks about glutathione supplementation, specifically gamma-glutamyl cysteine products. Dr. Dawn explains how these precursors bypass liver metabolism to deliver glutathione to cells, while discussing the balance between oxidative and reductive stress. She notes individual genetic variations can affect supplement responses and emphasizes measuring markers rather than expecting immediate symptomatic improvements. Another caller inquires about histamine intolerance causing puffy eyes and food reactions. Dr. Dawn explains histamine's role as a neurotransmitter, sources in fermented foods and gut bacteria, and genetic enzyme deficiencies in DAO and histamine transferase. She recommends cromolyn sodium eye drops and systematic food elimination, particularly targeting recently increased consumption of chai tea and smoked brisket. Dr. Dawn concludes with news about an AI tool called FaceAge that predicts biological age and survival rates from facial photographs. Trained on 60,000 photos of people over 60, the system achieved 80% accuracy in predicting six-month survival for terminal cancer patients compared to 61% accuracy for human doctors, potentially offering a non-invasive health assessment tool.

Broadcast from KSQD on 9-04-2025: Dr. Dawn opens by criticizing new FDA restrictions on simultaneous COVID and flu vaccinations, calling out vaccine regulator Vinay Prasad for creating artificial shortages. She explains that while no formal studies test multiple vaccines together, decades of safe practice demonstrate effectiveness. The FDA's requirement for separate testing ignores practical evidence and threatens vaccine supply chains during critical flu season. She discusses Oregon research suggesting adults may not need tetanus boosters every 10 years, but warns this misses the pertussis component. Dr. Dawn explains that acellular pertussis vaccines only provide 4-year immunity, making adult boosters essential to prevent whooping cough transmission to vulnerable infants. The focus should remain on pertussis prevention rather than tetanus economics. California, Oregon, and Washington announced a West Coast Health Alliance to maintain scientific integrity in public health policy amid federal changes. Dr. Dawn supports this states' rights approach to vaccination recommendations based on trusted medical organizations, expressing concern about potential vaccine shortages if manufacturers reduce production due to uncertain federal demand. An emailer shares an AI-generated analysis comparing tuberculosis and Lyme disease. Dr. Dawn critiques the AI's inaccuracies, noting that while tuberculosis may be present in 25% of people globally s the AI reports (she did not fact check this), the distribution is very uneven and cases in the US are low which we know since accurate latent TB testing is readily available in the US. She warns against AI's tendency to incorporate conspiracy theories due to a bias which favors frequency vs accuracy and emphasizes the importance of fact-checking AI-generated medical content. Dr. Dawn addresses FDA concerns about unregulated GLP-1 drugs, warning about counterfeit semaglutide and tirzepatide from questionable sources. She discusses dosing errors, non-FDA-approved compounds appearing in gray markets, and the rare but serious cancer risk for people with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes - affecting 1 in 30,000 people who could develop hormone-producing cancers. A caller asks about genetic testing for GLP-1 cancer risk. Dr. Dawn explains that complete genome testing costs around $1,000 and requires professional interpretation. She discusses the economic challenges of testing 30,000 people to prevent one cancer case, while acknowledging that obesity's health risks generally outweigh the small cancer risk for most patients. She examines FDA challenges in approving MDMA for PTSD treatment, explaining the "Catch-22" of blinding studies when drugs cause obvious consciousness changes. Dr. Dawn describes how psychedelic research faces unique obstacles requiring 8-10 hour supervised sessions with therapists, making traditional double-blind studies nearly impossible to conduct properly. An emailer asks about B vitamin effects on brain and heart health. Dr. Dawn warns about high-dose biotin interfering with thyroid tests and troponin levels used to diagnose heart attacks. She explains how B12 deficiency affects 40% of people over 80, recommending methylmalonic acid testing for accurate assessment rather than standard blood levels. She discusses research showing coastal living extends life expectancy by over a year compared to inland areas, attributed to cleaner air and better recreational opportunities. However, living near inland waterways may slightly decrease lifespan due to flood risks and environmental factors, suggesting ocean proximity specifically provides health benefits.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 8-28-2025: Dr. Dawn opens with concerning research about PFAS (forever chemicals) found in feminine hygiene products. Chinese and American studies reveal significant concentrations in paper diapers, sanitary pads, and especially period underwear, with some products containing up to 77,000 parts per million. These compounds can absorb through skin and never break down in the environment, raising health concerns for products used in intimate contact. She shares research on vitamin K (MK7) for nocturnal leg cramps in older adults. A study of people 65 and older showed that 180 micrograms of menaquinone-7 reduced cramp episodes by half over two months while placebo group episodes doubled. This form of vitamin K also helps direct calcium to bones rather than arteries when taking calcium and vitamin D supplements. Dr. Dawn explains how gut bacteria are evolving to digest food thickeners like guar gum found in ketchup, salad dressing, and toothpaste. Previously considered non-digestible, these cellulose-based compounds are now being broken down by bacterial enzymes that develop when people eat high-fiber diets, potentially adding hidden calories to processed foods beyond what labels indicate. An emailer asks about Botox brain effects after reading a study in Advanced Science. Dr. Dawn critiques the research methodology, explaining that the organoid model using fetal cells doesn't replicate real-world conditions. She argues the cosmetic doses used are orders of magnitude smaller than the doses used in the study. The study concentrations are much higher than doses used in even the most aggressive therapeutic applications and concludes the study doesn't provide compelling evidence for brain toxicity concerns. Another emailer inquires about myalgia encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome genome research. Dr. Dawn explains that while GWAS studies identifying eight genetic loci are scientifically interesting, they don't provide practical diagnostic tools or treatment insights. She notes the resemblance of ME/CFS to long COVID and describes the hallmark symptom of post-exertional malaise lasting days after activity. Dr. Dawn presents encouraging dementia prevention research showing Mediterranean diet benefits. The study found 13% reduced dementia risk overall, with 25% reduction for those improving adherence. Most significantly, people with the high-risk APOE4 gene variant showed the greatest protective effect from eating leafy vegetables, fish, whole grains, and limiting processed foods. She provides an extensive discussion of hormone therapy for mental health, criticizing the medical field's neglect of hormonal causes of depression and anxiety. Dr. Dawn explains how 35% of men over 45 are testosterone deficient and describes perimenopause effects on women's mental health, including 30% increased depression risk and 112% increased bipolar disorder risk during hormonal transitions. Dr. Dawn criticizes Gameday men's health clinics for exploitative practices, describing their "man cave" marketing approach and expensive injection protocols. She explains how normal testosterone production involves daily mini-spikes rather than weekly injections, and discusses clomiphene citrate as an alternative that can improve both testosterone levels and fertility without suppressing sperm production. She concludes with a cautionary tale about imaging studies, describing a patient whose X-ray showing arthritis led to activity restrictions that may have worsened her condition. Dr. Dawn emphasizes that movement and weight-bearing exercise are crucial for joint health, even when imaging shows degenerative changes. She warns against letting scans dictate treatment over clinical symptoms and urges a "physical therapy first" approach.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 8-21-2025: Dr. Dawn opens with disturbing research linking respiratory infections to breast cancer reactivation. Studies show increased breast cancer deaths during COVID beyond screening delays, suggesting viral infections may awaken dormant cancer cells through inflammatory signals. Mouse models demonstrate that influenza infection can increase metastatic burden up to 1000-fold by triggering neutrophil extracellular traps that act as growth signals for sleeping cancer cells. She covers neuroimmune crosstalk in lung fibrosis research, where mice lacking pain receptors developed worse scarring when exposed to lung injury. The absence of pain signals failed to trigger natural inflammation suppressors, leading to increased neutrophil activity and inflammatory nets that contributed to tissue damage. New food spoilage detection technology uses pH-sensitive dyes in packaging that fluoresce or change color when bacterial metabolism produces acids. This could prevent foodborne illness from contaminated deli meats and dairy products by providing visual warnings before consumption, particularly important for high-risk foods like lunch meats and mayonnaise. Dr. Dawn warns about diquat replacing glyphosate in Roundup products, potentially creating 200 times more toxicity. The new compound suppresses gut lining proteins, creating leaky gut and allowing bacterial toxins into the bloodstream, while causing permanent kidney, liver, and lung damage. Most countries have banned diquat, but it remains available in American stores. Research reveals that lactose intolerance can cause intense nightmares through gut-brain connections. Montreal studies found that people with dairy sensitivity experience more frequent, distressing dreams that improve significantly when dairy is eliminated from their diet. The mechanism likely involves gastrointestinal discomfort causing microarousals that make dreams more vivid and memorable. She describes revolutionary remote-controlled probiotics combining genetically modified E. coli with pill cameras. These bacterial robots can detect inflammation, produce therapeutic compounds on command, and communicate through bioluminescence. Applications include targeted inflammatory bowel disease treatment where bacteria manufacture anti-TNF nanobodies when activated by LED signals from swallowed capsules. An emailer with recurring diverticulitis asks about surgical options versus dietary management. Dr. Dawn explains the structural causes of diverticular disease and the vicious cycle created by repeated antibiotic treatments that damage gut microbiomes. She emphasizes the importance of dramatically increasing fiber intake and addressing underlying leaky gut issues that may contribute to the condition. A caller asks about foods for better bowel movements while managing diabetes and taking Wegovy. Dr. Dawn recommends ground flaxseed mixed into various foods and weekly preparation of roasted root vegetables for someone with limited cooking skills. The conversation becomes personal as the caller expresses concerns about housing security and healthcare access during uncertain political times. New microplastic research reveals how these particles accumulate bacteria, viruses, and toxins in biofilm "coronas" that enhance their harmful effects. Different plastic types carry varying electric charges affecting where they travel in the body. Breakthrough laser detection methods now allow precise identification and tracking of specific plastic polymers in tissues, enabling better research on health impacts. Dr. Dawn discusses advances in CAR-T cell therapy for multiple myeloma, sharing positive results from her husband's recent treatment. New research suggests injecting lipid nanoparticles containing CAR DNA instead of removing T-cells for laboratory modification, potentially making this therapy much cheaper and more accessible while maintaining effectiveness for blood cancers.