Surgical Insights, Herbal Truths, and Anger's Cardiovascular Impact: Navigating Modern Medicine's Complexities

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 8-22-2024:

• Dr. Dawn discusses the overuse of cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) for gallstones and abdominal pain, emphasizing the need for more careful patient selection.
• A caller seeks advice about her breastfeeding infant's digestive issues.
• The show explores a new ultrafast genetic sequencing technology for brain tumors that can provide crucial information during surgery.
• Dr. Dawn explains how early primary care follow-up after surgery can significantly reduce hospital readmissions, suggesting improvements in scheduling systems.
• The potential hepatotoxicity of certain herbs is discussed, with Dr. Dawn providing context and questioning the validity of some negative claims about turmeric and green tea.
• Information about Gymnema, an ayurvedic compound for glucose control, is shared, including dosage and potential effects.
• Dr. Dawn addresses a listener question about compounded semaglutide as an alternative to brand-name medications like Ozempic.
• The show concludes with recent research on how anger impairs blood vessel dilation, potentially explaining its link to heart attacks and strokes.