Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 6-20-2024

Health tip: Dr. Dawn advises you to shop around for medications, especially cheap generics, as pharmacies may claim unavailability due to corporate contracts and profit margins.
Healthcare industry consolidation: Discussion of how large venture capital firms are acquiring healthcare businesses, leading to potential price increases and reduced competition.
Parkinson's disease and GLP-1 drugs: A study showing potential benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic in early Parkinson's disease.
Bird flu update: Current status of bird flu spread in the US, transmission risks, and safety precautions.
Spinal cord stimulation: New non-invasive technique showing promise for improving function in people with long-term spinal cord injuries.
Peanut allergies: Recent research reversing previous recommendations, suggesting early exposure to peanuts may reduce allergy risk.
Longevity study: Analysis of blood biomarkers in centenarians, highlighting factors like uric acid levels and blood sugar.
Cholesterol-eating gut bacteria: Research on bacteria that break down cholesterol in the gut, potentially lowering heart disease risk.
Alcohol and air travel: Study showing combined effects of alcohol consumption and low air pressure on cardiovascular health during flights.
Energy requirements of pregnancy: Surprising findings on the high caloric needs during pregnancy, mostly for the mother's body rather than the fetus.
HPV vaccine success: Significant reduction in cervical cancer rates due to the vaccine, with a call for increased vaccination rates, especially among boys, to prevent head and neck cancer.

From pharmacy hunts to prenatal power consumption, this week's medical medley serves up a smorgasbord of scientific surprises and healthcare head-scratchers.