Health Wanted

Pre-World War II, it wasn’t the weapons that were the primary reason soldiers died, it was the infections that came after. But what happens when the infection becomes the weapon? This week on Health Wanted we’re testing the limits of both large language models AND your ability to compartmentalize your existential dread, by talking about the future of bioterrorism. We also talk with Microsoft’s Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Eric Horvitz about how AI companies are working to prevent bad actors. Plus: Have we found the hangover holy grail? What does Laurel think about direct-to-consumer lab tests? Why don’t Europeans refrigerate their eggs? And the Sick of the Week. For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes . Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org , click here or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how people communicate, learn, and interact. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow and guest Daniele Fallin, PhD, talk about ASD and what could be behind its rising prevalence across the world. Bristow then covers a range of topics in the Q&A: genetic testing and insurance, vaccines before cruises, and trusted resources for menopause information before addressing two recurring co-stars: bird flu and measles. For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the Show Notes. Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630 ! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You say you can’t sleep? Baby I don’t know. Is it that “me espresso?” Or is it something else? This week on Health Wanted, we’re talking about America’s favorite psychoactive substance: caffeine! We also talk with UCSF cardiologist Dr. Greg Marcus about the potential cardiovascular benefits and drawbacks to drinking caffeinated coffee. Plus: Are cold plunges worth the pain? Are there any benefits to “touching grass?” Debunking recent public health headlines. And some highs and lows for vaccine access. For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes . Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the Beatles said “baby you can drive my car” they may not have realized they’d one day be talking to a robot. This week on Health Wanted…we’re talking about autonomous vehicles impact on health and safety, and looking at the world of tomorrow! Today! We also talk to Yonah Freemark of the Urban Institute about what policy should be considered to make the technology a net positive. Plus: Is it bad to mix bananas and berries in your smoothie? How to protect yourself from wildfire smoke. What’s going on with the Ebola outbreak? Did the Supreme Court rule that glyphosate doesn’t cause cancer? And the Sick of the Week. For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes. Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s no longer just for bodybuilders and diabetics—it feels like everyone in America is self-injecting for aesthetics or health. This week on Health Wanted, the (pep)tide is high, but we’re holding on. We’re gonna be your number one…source for getting up to speed on the science behind the newest injectables craze. Plus: What’s going on with the low COVID activity? Cyclospora false positives explained. Is canned sparkling water exposing you to microplastics? What’s up with California’s food labels? For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes . Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether it’s an Ebola outbreak that threatens to cross borders or an explosion of cyclospora cases in our own country, it seems like every tom, dick, and harry has opinions on how outbreaks should be handled. This week on Health Wanted, we’re asking “how DO you to respond to a disease outbreak?” Plus, what’s going on with pediatric vaccine coverage? How do you stop “old people smell?” Is there lead in your turmeric? West Nile virus in your mosquitos? And the Sick of the Week. For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes . Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a war raging. No, not that one—a smaller one, inside your body. It’s your immune system vs your immune system. This week on Health Wanted, we’re talking about the wellness industry’s hottest new catch-all: inflammation. Plus - Cyclospora drama. Medicaid work requirements explained. And what direction are disability rights moving in? (Hint: it’s not forward). For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes . Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure the thousands of new data centers cropping up around the country are expensive eye sores that seem to be for the sole purpose of destroying creativity and independent thought in the pursuit of capitalism. But they’re also probably a threat to your health. This week on Health Wanted we ask the chat (GPT) if data centers have us cooked. Plus - Who’s afraid of a little explosive diarrhea? What’s the deal with oil pulling? And an update on COVID vaccines for the fall. For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes . Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been 250 years of being the best! The best national parks, the best novelty food containers at sports arenas, the best fireworks displays! America is the best at everything!...Or are we? This week on Health Wanted, we’re asking the question, when it comes to health, is U.S.A. number one? Plus - Flu shots are back on the menu for basic training. Is fancy genetic testing worth it? How much lead is in your toothpaste? Why does it take so long to get new sunscreen ingredients? Whatever happened to Zika babies? And the Sick of the Week. For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes. Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While every holiday comes with the risk of dinner devolving into arguments about politics, the fourth of July comes with physical health risks as well. This week on Health Wanted, from hot dogs and heat to fireworks and alcohol: how to safely get the most out of your summer parties. Plus - Can you get ringworm from your pets? What causes the “asian glow” when drinking alcohol? Does viral load mean someone who’s sicker than you can make you sicker? Could a case of mono cause scarlet fever? Are people who say cilantro tastes like soap lying for attention? Can a little bit of butter before bed prevent panic attacks? For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes. Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Itchy, itchy, scratchy, scratchy, ooh I got one down my back-y. Nothing takes the fun out of a lovely day outside like being eaten alive. This week on the Health Wanted, we’ve got the buzz on summer’s greatest pest: mosquitos. Plus - A new baby formula recall. Is orofacial myofunctional therapy real? Why don’t we give the shingles vaccine to people under 50? Is the barbell flu real? And New World screwworm is back! For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes . Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re off for some much needed vacation, but fear not! We’re bringing you answers to some of our favorite questions you’ve asked and Laurel has answered, including: How scientific are personality tests? How dangerous is raw chicken? Is it safe to pee in an unflushed toilet? Does the Shingrix vaccine protect against cancer? How long can pathogens live on surfaces? Does taking melatonin lead to heart failure? And, should we all be testing our VO2 max? Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630. For more, visit healthwanted.org . To support Health Wanted and other public media programming, visit wabe.org/give . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The smell of salty air, the sun on your skin, the wind in your hair, the…gastrointestinal distress and lax criminal justice system. No, we’re not talking about a pirate’s life. This week on Health Wanted, we’re cruising for a bruising by laying out the potential hazards on one of America's favorite recreational activities: cruises. Plus - Does magnesium cure all? And why are there so many kinds? Do 1 in 6 people actually have long COVID? How much iron can you get from cooking with cast iron? And the Sick of the Week. For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes . Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pride month might be the perfect excuse to practice a glitter makeup look or dust off your rainbow colored shorts, but it’s also an important time to remember the trailblazers that contributed to health and science before there was a parade to attend.This week on Health Wanted, we’re checking off the next item on the gay agenda: celebrating the resiliency of the queer community. Plus - Hantavirus and Ebola updates. Did someone make a mistake when calculating how many microplastics are in our bodies? What’s going on with mifepristone? For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes . Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes it may feel like the world is metaphorically on fire, but it’s important to remember that it’s also often literally on fire. This week on Health Wanted, we’re taking a look at the increasing impact of wildfires on both the environment and your personal health. Plus - Is Parkinson’s more genetic or environmental? How often should you change your car’s HVAC filter? Is MAHA bringing back cancer? And what is going on with psychedelics as treatment? For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes . Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We had a phenomenal episode prepared for you today but sadly, circumstances beyond our control have had to delay it at the last minute. But don’t worry! There’s a lot of infectious disease business going on right now and you know Laurel would never leave you hanging, so here’s a bit of an update and overview on hantavirus and Ebola. Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everybody put on your party hats and grab a slice of cake. It’s a birthday party for the births that never were. This week on Health Wanted, we’re celebrating a very merry un-birthday in the truest sense, because May 9 was the 66th anniversary of the FDA approving the first oral birth control pill, a divisive medication people still love to hate. Plus - Is mushroom tea worth the hype? Can you get enough fiber from supplements alone? And a whole lot of hantavirus. For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes . Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moms! They do so much for their children, but somehow, according to everyone else's opinion, all of it is terrible and wrong. As Mother’s Day approaches, we wanted to say thank you to all our moms for doing their best by presenting data to silence the haters. This week on Health Wanted…we’re defending moms. Plus - Do GLPs have anything to do with why people are drinking less? What exactly is a “gut biofilm?” What’s the deal with hantavirus? And the tick (opps I mean “sick”) of the week! For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes . Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While celebs and their stylists prepare to make an impression at the Met Gala, we’re preparing for what I like to call the “Code Met” Gala. This week on Health Wanted…we have a passion for surgical fashion. Plus - Are roundabouts bad for pedestrian safety? Are “whole grain” foods just as bad as refined flour? Should we be rethinking cremation? For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes . Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey men! Are you feeling as manly as you could be? Do you have enough man juice flowing through your veins? Did you know hormones aren’t just for girls anymore? They’re manly! This week on Health Wanted…Are you man enough to learn about testosterone therapy?!? Plus - Is ivermectin effective against head lice? What should you look for in electrolytes? Does the phrase “GLP-1 Like” mean anything? Why is there so much pollen? And the Sick of the Week. For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the show notes . Have a question for Laurel? Send it to healthwanted@wabe.org or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit healthwanted.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.