776 Health News Update

The Food and Drug Administration has been a lightning rod for consumer complaints. The agency has taken these seriously. We talk with Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Principal Deputy Commissioner, about transparency, food safety, and foreign drug imports. The photo is of Dr. Sharfstein.
Overactive bladder has a negative impact on a person’s quality of life, but the drugs used to treat it are not innocuous. Many have been linked to cognitive decline or dizziness in older patients. A new technology offers relief from overactive bladder by drawing on age-old ideas. How does it work?
What if you could e-mail your doctor? Would it make a difference? Diabetes patients at Kaiser Permanente did better on blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol control if they used e-mail to communicate with their health care providers.
Explore the stories behind the health headlines.
Guests: Joshua Sharfstein, MD, is Principal Deputy Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.
Scott MacDiarmid, MD, FRCPSC, is Director of Alliance Urology Specialists, a bladder control and pelvic pain center in Greensboro, NC.
The podcast of this program will be available the Monday after the broadcast date. Podcasts can be downloaded for free for six weeks after the date of broadcast. After that time has passed, digital downloads are available for $2.99. CDs may be purchased at any time after broadcast for $9.99.