Ask Doctor Dawn Medicare's $2 Drug List, Prostate Cancer Screening Advancements, and Health Insights: From TB Tests to Vitamin A in Vegans
Oct 11, 2024
51:45
Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 10-10-2024:
- Dr. Dawn announces Medicare's new list of over 200 drugs available for $2 per 30-day supply, covering a wide range of medications.
- She discusses a new urine test called ExoDx for prostate cancer screening, which can help avoid unnecessary biopsies in the "gray zone" of elevated PSA levels.
- The doctor addresses a listener's question about Klebsiella pneumoniae found in a nasal swab, explaining colonization versus infection and the risks of unnecessary antibiotic use.
- Dr. Dawn explores the reliability of QuantiFERON TB tests, suggesting potential false positives and the importance of retesting with different antigen tubes.
- She discusses orthostatic hypotension in older adults, offering practical tips like squeezing a firm ball before standing up and proper standing techniques to prevent falls.
- The doctor explains the importance of vitamin A for vegans, highlighting potential BCMO1 genetic variations that may affect beta-carotene conversion and recommending blood tests.
- Dr. Dawn addresses a question about elevated bilirubin levels post-gallbladder removal, discussing possible causes and diagnostic procedures like MRI and ERCP.