The Science of Health Podcast

How You Can Eliminate a Food Allergy

It’s not completely clear how, but scientists think a combination of factors, from genetics to the environment, play a role in children developing allergies to food such as peanuts, milk or shellfish. Many children will outgrow their food allergies. But for those who don’t, physicians have figured out a way to harness the body’s immune response to eliminate allergic reactions to food. Eli Silver, MD, a pediatric allergy and immunology specialist at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, explains.

The Science Behind Kindness and How It Benefits Your Health

The simple human act of kindness has numerous health benefits. It can help you experience fewer aches and pain and lower your blood pressure. It can protect your overall health twice as much as aspirin protects against heart disease. It’s free, widely available and has no side effects. UH Rainbow psychiatrist Marcie Hall, MD, explains the research-backed benefits of kindness – and how you can develop this powerful habit.

How Radiology Helps Diagnose and Treat Disease

X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasound …. for many people, using technology to see inside the body or treat disease might evoke fears of being exposed to harmful radiation. Donna Plecha, MD, chair of Radiology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, discusses improvements made in recent years to ease those fears, as well as how radiology plays a vital role in the overall treatment process.

Easing Early Arthritis With Stem Cells

Stem cell therapy is used to treat many different medical conditions, from heart repair to neurological disorders. One exciting new area under study in a clinical trial at University Hospitals is treating cartilage injuries or early arthritis with stem cells. UH orthopedic specialist James Voos, MD, describes the clinical trial -- and how some stem cell treatments outside a hospital setting may not offer a comparable level of quality.

Understanding Clinical Trials: What You Need To Know

Keeping up on the latest medical research can be a benefit, but the sheer amount of information – and the sometimes contradictory results – can be wearying. How do you know which data  to trust? Afshin Dowlati, MD, Director of UH's Phase I clinical trials program, describes how to separate good-quality, trustworthy information from data that is less reliable.

Back Pain Remedies: What Works, What Doesn’t

Chances are, you or someone you know suffers from back pain. Back pain can affect people who are active and those who are sedentary, though for different reasons. So what should you do when back pain strikes? Get a softer – or firmer – mattress? Stand at your computer rather than sit? Hang upside down? Research shows that some of these solutions work while others are a waste of time and money. UH physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist A. Paul Gazzillo, MD, sorts through popular back pain remedies and identifies the symptoms that signal it’s time to see a spine specialist.

The Evidence for Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a 5,000-year-old healing practice used to treat such diverse conditions as pain, digestive problems, respiratory disorders, anxiety, depression, headaches and migraines. Is there a place for this ancient approach in modern medicine? Acupuncturist Christine Kaiser, MS, LAc, LCH, FABORM, of the UH Connor Integrative Health Institute, describes two recent studies – one comparing acupuncture to intravenous morphine in the ER, the other on whether acupuncture is more than just a placebo effect – that provide some compelling evidence of the therapy’s effectiveness.

Feeling the Need to Detox? Here’s the Real Truth

Detox diets, regimens and supplements are supposed to rid your body of toxins acquired from food, your lifestyle or the environment. Proponents also say detoxing – or cleansing – can improve your health and promote weight loss. But what does the research say about detoxes and cleanses? And are these methods and supplements safe? UH physician and toxicologist Ryan Marino, MD, provides a science-based perspective.

Vaping: Safe Alternative to Smoking or Hazardous to Your Health?

Not so long ago, vaping – or inhaling vapor from an electronic cigarette – was seen as a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes made with tobacco. After all, solid research showed that smoking tobacco causes lung disease and cancer. But recent reports have linked serious lung injury – and even deaths – to vaping. UH emergency room physician Benjamin Boswell, DO, explains how e-cigarettes cause illness and why people are coming to the ER after vaping.

Kids and Screen Time: Don’t Let It Be a Battleground

Many parents try to limit the time their children spend online gaming or watching videos, especially before bedtime, in the belief that too much screen time is bad for their kids’ mental and physical health.

A recent study, however, turns that belief on its head, saying researchers could find no evidence that time on electronic devices has any negative effect on teens’ well-being.

Carolyn Ievers-Landis, PhD, a clinical psychologist at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s, discusses why parents should pay attention to the study’s results and how to keep screen time from becoming a parent-child battleground.