The Doctors TV, Show Feed

Warning: Clues Your Body is Giving You

Bruising Basics

ProduceTheDoctors community member Danielle suggested The Doctors do a segment about bruises. She asks what causes bruising and whether bruises can lead to blood clots.

Cracked Lips
Angular cheilitis, or cuts and cracks on the sides of the mouth, may indicate a deficiency in iron or vitamin B12.

If your lips are chronically cracked or chapped, your physician can test your blood and prescribe necessary supplements.

Skin-Sparing Mastectomy
Bernadette, 45, and her daughter Tina, 29, both tested positive for the BRCA 1 gene, commonly referred to as the breast cancer gene. The positive BRCA result indicated that both mother and daughter have an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer.

The news shocked Bernadette and Tina.

"My doctors all suggested to me that I needed to do a mastectomy, because if I didn't have breast cancer today, I would have breast cancer soon," Bernadette says.

"I think part of me was in denial, but the other part of me just thought it would go away," Bernadette continues. "I was just going to ignore it."

"I see this very often in my practice," OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says. "Women find something, and then they ignore it because they're afraid of what it's going to mean, that it's going to mean the worst. And with breast cancer, early detection is the key, or prevention. We have so few tools."

Both Bernadette and Tina opt to undergo a skin-sparing mastectomy surgery.

Plastic surgeons Dr. Ritu Chopra and Dr. Joel Aronowitz, founder of the Breast Preservation Foundation, explain how the skin-sparing mastectomy is performed. The revolutionary procedure not only treats the cancer, but saves the appearance of the breast as well.

The prospect of undergoing standard mastectomies, which leave breast tissue severely disfigured, often frightens women away from getting tested for breast cancer.

"A lot of women, especially if they have a family member who has gone through breast cancer, will not even consider getting tested because they don't even want to consider this disfiguring type of surgery," Dr. Lisa says.

"It's important that women realize that it's perfectly acceptable to be concerned about the cosmetic appearance, about having a natural appearance of their breasts, despite dealing with breast cancer, or the threat of breast cancer," Dr. Aronowitz adds. "A woman should insist on having a plastic surgeon as part of the team from the very beginning, so the plastic surgeon can have input about the eventual result of the treatment."

Learn more about BRCA 1 gene testing.

Spit-Up 101

As new parents can attest, baby spit-up can come in a variety of colors and consistencies. Pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears is on hand to decipher what each hue of spit-up says about your baby's health.

CVS Minute Clinic
The CVS Minute Clinic is a walk-in clinic geared toward treating patients who are not sick enough to warrant a visit to the emergency room, but need help with common illnesses.

Though not a substitution for your primary care physician, the CVS Minute Clinic can provide basic medical care such as screenings and shots, and the nurse practioners can prescribe medications.

Learn more about the CVS Minute Clinic and find one in your area.

Psoriasis Treatment
Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. Skin cells build up rapidly on the surface of the skin, creating red and scaly patches that are often uncomfortable. Dermatologist Dr. Susan Evans, from Cosmetic Physicians of Beverly Hills, performs a laser treatment for psoriasis on Alina's fingernails.

Fingernail Facts
The tint of your fingernails can indicate whether you have diabetes, emphysema, hepatitis, thyroid problems and more. What do your nails say about you?

• Dry, brittle nails that crack and split easily could indicate thyroid problems
• Pitting or rippling of the nail can indicate psoriasis or inflammatory arthritis

Color	Possible Indications
What Your Fingernails Are Telling You
Clear/pink	normal, healthy
White	• most likely leftover from an old injury or bruise • could indicate a zinc deficiency • could indicate liver disease or hepatitis
White with pink	kidney disease
Yellow	fungus
Yellow & thickened	lung disease, like emphysema
Green	sign of infection, either in the nail bed or the body
Blue	lack of oxygen and possible lung problems
Black	could indicate melanoma

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OAD 11/20/09

Ask Our Doctors: Embarrassing Body Problems

From body hair in all the wrong places, to webbed breasts to what your bowel movements are really telling you, nothing is off limits as The Doctors answer questions about your most embarrassing body problems!

Third Testicle

After going to the emergency room for abdominal pain, Robert, 34, learned that he had a third testicle. He comes to The Doctors for more information and urologist Dr. Aaron Spitz performs an ultrasound, explains a possible cause of Robert's pain and determines if the extra testicle should be removed.

Urinary Incontinence
Carly in Gainesville, Florida is in her early 30s and has two children. She e-mails The Doctors about a urinary problem she suffers from that her husband calls "pee dribble." She asks: What causes it and how can I fix it?

Urologist Dr. Aaron Spitz says that Carly's dribble problem is also known as urinary incontinence and is a common condition that affects both men and women. For women, it often occurs after childbirth, because the pelvis becomes weakened. In men, the most common cause is an enlarged prostate that blocks the flow of urine out of the bladder.

Dr. Spitz explains other causes of urinary incontinence and how to treat it.

All About Poo
It may be embarrassing to talk about, but everyone goes number two. The Doctors discuss your most pressing questions about poo.

The Life Raft
To avoid toilet water backsplash, 23-year-old Heather places a wad of toilet paper in the bowl before sitting down -- a practice also known as the life raft.

"Sometimes I do the life raft," pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears says. "One of my toilets at home has a really low water level, so if [the bowel movement] is a little soft and leaves a little skid mark on the bowl, you do the life raft. That way it all flushes down and you don't have to clean the bowl!"

Is There a Fix?

Graves' Disease

Learn more about hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease and the surgery that can reverse the side effects of protruding eyes.MORE...

TMJ Treatment
Suzanne, 45, has suffered from TMJ, an inflammation of the temporal-mandibular joint in the jaw, for the last several years. She's tried everything to combat the pain, including medication, acupuncture, and wearing a night guard in her mouth while she sleeps.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Alex Rivkin says that Botox may be a solution for those suffering from TMJ.

He explains that Botox injected into the masseter muscles of the jaw can cause the muscles to shrink or atrophy, and as the muscles weaken, they cease to spasm and cause pain.

Dr. Rivkin injects Suzanne's jaw with Botox and she reports that her pain has markedly decreased.

Bionic Eye Technology
Science fiction stories have touted bionic body parts for more than a century. Fiction becomes reality at the U.S. Department of Energy Artificial Retina Project, where ophthalmologist Dr. Mark S. Humayun and his team have developed a bionic eye.

"The research we're doing is using state-of-the-art implantable electronics to restore sight to the blind," Dr. Humayan says.

Go inside the lab to see how the technology works!

Earlobe Rejuvenation
Nancy asks The Doctors if there's a way to rejuvenate her earlobes and make her look younger.

"Earlobes age just like other parts of our face," plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon explains. "All those years of wearing heavy earrings, and the earlobes get a lot of sun, which actually forms wrinkles, too."

Dr. Ordon and fellow plastic surgeon Dr. Chopra inject Nancy's earlobes with Hydrelle, a hyaluronic acid filler. The results are plump and juicy lobes!

Treatment for Intoed Feet
Beverly's daughter, 2-and-a-half-year-old Madison, has intoed feet. Madison started walking when she was 8-months-old, and her mother noticed her legs would bow out, while her feet pointed inward.

Doctors assured Beverly that Madison's legs would likely straighten as her hips rotated as she grew. As time went on, however, Beverly noticed that Madison's toes continued to rotate inward.

Beverly turns to podiatrist Dr. Ali Sadrieh for help.

Are Mercury Fillings Safe?

Health Hearsay: Editor-in-chief of Prevention, Liz Vaccariello, reports on whether mercury fillings are safe.

Learn more about mercury fillings.

"The best thing you can do for your child is early intervention," Dr. Sadrieh says. "The sooner we start, the more conservative the care, and the easier it is to resolve this problem."

Dr. Sadrieh fits Madison with a pair of custom-made orthotics to properly align her feet, knees and hips. "At this point in time, this is the best option for her," the podiatrist notes.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal condition that can cause abdominal pain, gas, cramping, constipation and diarrhea. Although there isn't a cure, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and milk can help lessen the discomfort. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains that are high in fiber can help ease digestion.

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OAD 11/18/09

Building Blocks to a Healthier Family

Brooke's Daddy House Call

Brooke's Busy Morning

See how Brooke, a mother of four, gets her family ready for the day.

• Join The Doctors' Motherhood Survival Club!

• For more mommy information and advice, visit ModernMom.com

Gino, 42, is a stay-at-home dad who takes care of his two daughters, Gwen, 5, and Delaney, 2, while his wife, Lisa, goes to work outside of the home. Co-CEO of ModernMom.com and The Doctors' mommy correspondent Brooke Burke pays Gino a house call to lend a hand with everything from organization and cleaning to play dates and nutrition tips!

"[Being a stay-at-home dad] makes you really appreciate the time you do have [with your kids]," Gino says.

Talking Health with Sesame Street!
The hit children's TV show Sesame Street is celebrating its 40^th anniversary, and characters Zoe and Oscar the Grouch join The Doctors to answer kids' most pressing health questions!

• How can you make medicine taste better?
Pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears, Zoe and Oscar share tips to help your kids to take their medicine without a fuss.

• Why do boogers form?
E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork explains what causes mucus build-up in the nose and tells your kids the proper way to remove it.

Staying Healthy

Oscar the Grouch and Zoe tell The Doctors what staying healthy means to them!

• Are cookies a good snack?
Dr. Jim and Dr. Travis demonstrate how to get kids to eat healthily.

• Does ballet count as exercise?
Zoe explains that dancing is a great exercise for kids and then shows off her moves with the Silly, Willy, Nilly dance. Try it with your kids!

Marcus, 4, is scared to go to the doctor. Dr. Jim and Prairie Dawn show Marcus that visiting the doctor can be fun!

Pet Health
If you are a pet owner, feeding your furry friends the proper foods is essential to maintaining their health, both inside and out.

Just like their owners, pets need nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, grains and some fats. "It's really important to have a variety," veterinarian Dr. Bernadine Cruz says. "These are the building blocks that allow us, the pet owner, to make sure that we allow [pets] to age successfully, because we want them around for a long time."

Dr. Travis and Dr. Cruz explain what prebiotics are and why they are important for your pet.

Dr. Cruz's Signs of a Healthy Pet
• Strong bones
• Shiny coat
• Healthy digestion
• Strong immune system
• Healthy teeth
• Healthy heart
• Strong muscles

The Doctors' Youngest Fan

Breck, 4, is such a big fan of The Doctors, he never misses a show. Watch him sing the theme song!

Spanking Controversy
A new study found that spanking may have detrimental effects on both behavioral and mental development in children. According to the research, children between the ages 2 and 4 who were spanked had a five-point lower IQ score than those who weren't. The study focused mostly on children who were spanked as 1 year olds.

"I think that's way too young," Dr. Jim says. "They don't even know the difference from right from wrong at that age, let alone why they're getting hit.

"I think [overreacting] is a big problem with parents," Dr. Jim continues. "They get angry when their kids are acting up, and they just go off and hit them. And that's not discipline; that's frustration."

The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend spanking as discipline, but rather non-physical forms of punishment.

"We have to learn other disciplinary tactics," Brooke says. "[Kids] need discipline. The more disciplinary tactics we give them, the more we teach them, the more structure [children have], the better they are going to behave. But we have to learn that as parents, as well.

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OAD 11/17/09

Avoid Becoming a Medical Statistic

Learn life-saving information tol help you beat the odds and not become a medical statistic.

Heart Health

Heart Attack Symptoms

Typical:
• Chest pain
• Upper body pain
• Shortness of breath
• Stomach pain
• Dizziness
• Cold sweats

Overlooked:
• Indigestion
• Abdominal pain or nausea
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Neck or jaw pain

Take the Women's Heart Health Quiz!

Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women. Eighty million Americans suffer from cardiovascular disease, and women are two times more likely than men to die from a heart attack. Warning signs are often more difficult to detect in women than in men.

Singer and philanthropist Barbra Streisand and cardiologist Dr. C. Noel Bairey Merz join The Doctors to share vital facts about heart disease. Barbra donated $5 million to the Barbra Streisand Women's Cardiovascular Research and Education Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Bairey Merz, director of the Women's Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, discusses the startling statistics regarding women and heart disease.

To help prevent heart attacks and heart disease, monitor your blood pressure and heart rate numbers and see your doctor at least once a year for a checkup.

• E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork illustrates the difference in size between a normal, healthy heart and a diseased heart that has been enlarged over time due to cardiac strain.

Liver Health
One in 10 Americans will develop liver disease in their lifetime. When a large part of the liver becomes damaged beyond repair and the organ is no longer able to function, it leads to liver failure. This often develops over time, but acute liver failure occurs rapidly and is more difficult to detect initially.

The number one warning sign of acute liver failure is jaundice, which is yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.

A new study shows that acetaminophen, found in over-the-counter pain relievers, is the leading cause of acute liver failure. The drug is safe when taken in moderation, but the American Liver Foundation recommends that you take no more than six extra strength tablets or 3 grams of acetaminophen per day. "As a rule of thumb, you never want to take more than six acetaminophen in one day," plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon says. "That will be toxic to your liver."

"The most common reason for liver disease, in general, is alcoholism," E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork explains.

OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson illustrates what is considered an acceptable amount of alcohol per day to maintain a healthy liver.

Maintain a Healthy Liver

• Limit alcohol consumption
• Never drink alcohol while taking acetaminophen
• Get vaccinations for hepatitis A and B
• Limit your daily intake of fatty or sugary foods and beverages

Another study shows that if you drink two or more sodas per day or too much fruit juice, you increase your chances of developing fatty liver disease by 80 percent. Dr. Jim recommends that children drink only 4 to 6 ounces of 100 percent juice a day.

"The liver is actually a filtering organ," Dr. Travis explains. "When you're drinking beverages with so much sugar, that sugar will literally be deposited in your liver as fatty deposits. Over time, you can get what's called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease."

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can cause an inflammation of the liver that can lead to cirrhosis, where scarring of the liver causes poor liver function and eventual failure.

"Diet sodas can do the same thing because they're changing your insulin metabolism with the added sweeteners," Dr. Ordon adds.

Find out how the liver fights off infection and cleans the blood, and see the difference between a healthy liver and one that has become cirrhotic.

Ovarian Cancer
One in 55 women is diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and once diagnosed, seven out of 10 women die from it. OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson refers to ovarian cancer as "the silent killer," because there are very few screening markers that physicians have to detect the disease early. Ovarian cancer is more common in obese women over the age of 50.

"Cancer is simply cells gone wild," Dr. Travis explains. "Normally, cells have mechanisms by which they know to stop growing. A cancerous cell doesn't recognize these signals, so it starts growing uncontrollably, no matter what the organ is."

Dr. Lisa Masterson explains how ovarian cancer develops.

"A lot of women think that birth control pills are only for contraception," Dr. Lisa adds, "but actually, they have a lot of other health benefits and can cut your risk of ovarian cancer by 60 percent."

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

• Bloating
• Pelvic pain
• Abdominal pain
• Back pain
• Trouble eating, or feeling full early
• Frequent urination
• Upset stomach
• Pain during sex
• Constipation
• Menstrual changes
• Unexplained fatigue

See your doctor if any of the symptoms are prolonged or consistent.

Dr. Lisa recommends women get a rectal exam to test for enlarged ovaries and have a blood test for the early onset breast cancer gene (BRCA1). If the BRCA test is positive, there is up to an 85 percent chance that you will get breast and/or ovarian cancer.

"After you're done having babies", Dr. Lisa adds, "you can remove your ovaries, and this will decrease your risk by 95 percent of developing ovarian cancer and 60 percent for developing breast cancer."

Diabetes
Diabetes is a common disease where the body either does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore and resist the insulin, causing high glucose levels in the blood. Over time, high glucose levels in the body can damage vital organs. An estimated 23 million Americans are affected by diabetes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one out of three people will get diabetes in their lifetime. Of that number, one in 10 will die from it. Diabetes is currently the seventh-leading cause of death in America.

The two types of diabetes

• Type 1: The body does not produce the hormone insulin, which helps the body use glucose as fuel. Type 1 diabetes typically appears during childhood. Symptoms include frequent urination, thirst, weight loss, sores that don't heal, blurry vision and vaginal infections in women.

• Type 2: This is caused by insulin resistance or your body not producing enough insulin to maintain a normal glucose level. It can be hereditary and is often associated with obesity. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes are the same as type 1.

Diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney disease, loss of sensation in the legs, leg amputation, an inability to fight infections and a higher likelihood of dying of a heart attack.

Dr. Travis illustrates what happens in the pancreas of a non-diabetic body and how the cells become resistant to insulin in the body of a person with diabetes.

Dr. Lisa discusses gestational diabetes during pregnancy and the risks it poses.

ABCs of Diabetes Management
A - Hemoglobin A1C is a long-term glucose test that measures your blood sugar over time and determines how well the diabetes is being controlled.
B - Blood pressure should be at or below 120/80
C - Cholesterol: LDL (bad cholesterol) should be kept below 100 if you have diabetes and HDL (good cholesterol) should be above 40 or 50 to help prevent heart disease.

Living a healthy life can help prevent the onset of diabetes in many people. "Just by getting 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day and losing 5 to 10 percent of your body weight if you're overweight, you can reduce your chance of diabetes by 58 percent," Dr. Jim says.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person's weight and height to determine the overall fitness of an individual. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but is used as a diagnostic tool to identify potential obesity problems, which can lead to diabetes. Plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon explains that a healthy body mass index (BMI) is between 19 and 24. Calculate your BMI here.

• More on diabetes

Types of Herpes

Herpes Simplex 1
The herpes simplex 1 virus is typically found on the mouth and is also referred to as a fever blister or cold sore. The type 1 virus is also very contagious and can be transmitted to other parts of the body.

Herpes Simplex 2
The herpes simplex 2 virus is found on and around the genitals. Symptoms are small, fluid-filled blisters that can break and form crusty sores.

Herpes
Genital herpes, also known as herpes simplex virus 2, is the most common sexually transmitted disease. One out of five men and one out of four women have it.

Herpes is caused by a viral infection, but can be an elusive disease as symptoms are not always present. The virus is very contagious and is spread through skin-to-skin contact and sexual fluids. There is no cure, and once the virus is in your system, it hides in the nerve cells. Outbreaks can occur as seldom as once per year or so often that they seem continuous. What triggers these outbreaks is unknown, but stress is often considered a contributing factor. Doctors can prescribe anti-viral medications such as Valtrex to help control the outbreaks.

Dr. Lisa explains that, for women, herpes can cause complications during pregnancy which may lead to delivering via C-section and passing the virus to the baby.

Doctors can screen for herpes with a blood test, but it is not always accurate. Another way to test is through a viral culture performed by a doctor, if an outbreak is visibly present.

If you have an outbreak, do not engage in sexual activities, even if using a condom. You and your partner should always get tested together before starting a sexual relationship.

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OAD 11/16/09

Your Health A to Z

From A to Z, The Doctors tackle your most pressing health concerns!

Back Pain

Seventy to 85 percent of people will experience back pain at some time in their life. Learn simple tips to beat backaches.

Anti-Aging
Ninety million Americans use anti-aging products, and the industry rakes in an estimated $80 billion per year.

"[Using] sunscreen and moisturizing your skin is so important," plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon says. "This is my specialty. I'm not talking about surgery, but anti-aging medicine. There are a lot of things that you can do at home on your own to prevent aging."

Glowing, healthy skin is attained by a healthy diet, exercising daily and getting enough sleep. A new hand-held device, the Tända Regenerate Anti-Aging Light Therapy Treatment, can also help restore skin. The 660 nanometer LED light delivers near-clinical levels of light therapy in the comfort of your own home. The Tända system promises to help improve skin texture, color and tone, while diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Dr. Ordon demonstrates the Tända Regenerate Anti-Aging Light Therapy Treatment.

Cold
Americans suffer from one billion colds every year, with adults averaging between two and four and school-aged children getting as many as 12 annually!

To fight the common cold, The Doctors suggest using a Neti pot for nasal irrigation. The Neti pot uses a warm saline solution to thin out the mucus in the nose. "This is so great for fighting a cold," OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says.

Fat

More than two-thirds of Americans are overweight. To help you get in shape, Dr. Travis offers his fat-burning tips!

She also recommends avoiding alcohol, because it dehydrates you and lowers your immunity. Instead, try shots of wheat grass! "What's good about wheat grass is that it's chock full of vitamin B, C and A, and chlorophyll, which helps to get more oxygen into your body," Dr. Lisa adds.

Diaper Rash
The most common reason babies get diaper rash is because moisture gets trapped in their diapers. "That's why it's so important to change the diaper frequently," pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears says. "Sometimes, instead of wiping down a diaper rash -- because it's going to be very painful to use even a diaper wipe or a washcloth -- [use] a hairdryer set on low, away from the bathtub, once [the baby] is clean. You can dry down the baby's bottom like that."

Using baby powder and a thick diaper cream that contains zinc oxide can help relieve pain from the rash as well.

Earache
If you or your child is suffering from an earache, avoid putting anything, such as your finger or a cotton swab, inside the ear. If the inside of the ear is dry, itchy or has wax buildup, a drop or two of olive oil can help soothe it and loosen excess wax. If you get your ears wet, be sure to dry them.

Hot Flashes

Dr. Lisa explains why hot flashes happen and offers tips for reducing them.

If wax buildup continues, make a solution of four parts water to one part hydrogen peroxide and place one to two drops in the ear. If you experience pain or fever, see your doctor.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Dr. Travis explains what causes gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and how to prevent it.

Impetigo
Impetigo is a skin infection that oftentimes afflicts the faces of infants and children, causing red, itchy sores around the nose and mouth. If the sores rupture, they ooze fluid and form a yellow-brown crust that resembles dried honey.

To help treat your child's impetigo, Dr. Jim advises keeping the skin clean, and using warm, soapy water to wash his or her face. You can also apply a one-to-one solution of hydrogen peroxide and warm water to the infection, which will help blood flow to the affected area.

"Probably the most important thing you can do for impetigo is use Polysporin ointment," Dr. Jim says. "[Put] a triple antibiotic ointment on there a few times a day. Keep it covered with a Band-Aid, because it's very contagious. Once [the sores are] healed, [the child] is all better and not contagious anymore."

Jock Itch
Jock itch can be irritating, especially if you are an athlete. Players from the University of California-Berkeley Golden Bears baseball team ask The Doctors how they can both treat and avoid the problem

Jock itch is a rash of the groin that can cause a painful, burning sensation. The rash is caused by either a fungal or bacterial infection. "Typically, it is common in athletes, and it's all about two things: sweating or moisture, and constrictive clothing," Dr. Ordon says. "The key is, when you're playing any sports, wash your undergarments. Don't use bleach and don't use harsh detergents.

Lips

Dr. Lisa offers tips for softer, more kissable lips:

• To soothe and restore moisture to lips, rub cucumber slices over them
• To seal in hydration, apply milk cream
• Increase your daily water intake
• Eat more fruits and vegetables

"If you do get jock itch, don't put on harsh soaps, antibacterial soaps [to the affected area]," Dr. Ordon adds. "It's going to hurt,and it's going to make it worse."

Jock itch isn't just a problem for athletes, though. "People who have too much weight on them and have extra folds [in the groin area] will get very bad fungal infections down there," Dr. Jim says. "Or if you have a compromised immune system."

Wearing boxers instead of tight briefs will allow the skin to breathe, and anti-fungal creams and powders can help relieve the burning and pain. A word of caution: Avoid baby powder, because it can make the condition worse.

Kidney Stones
Kidney stones affect nearly half a million Americans every year. The stones develop as a result of salts and minerals found in the urine that stick together and form small crystals, which can be as fine as sand or as big as golf balls. The stones get stuck in the kidneys, and if they are too big to pass through the ureter to the bladder, then they must be removed surgically.

To avoid developing kidney stones, urologist Dr. Aaron Spitz recommends staying well hydrated by drinking at least six to eight glasses of water per day. Adding lemon juice to your water can help as well, because the acid in the juice helps to dissolve the kidney stones.

Piercing
Many parents wonder what age is appropriate to pierce their child's ears. Dr. Jim reveals when to know the time is right and what precautions to take.

Quit the Whip

Dr. Lisa's Tips for Women

Dr. Lisa gives you the skinny on common issues women suffer:

• Menstrual problems
• Nipple irritation
• Orgasms

If you are trying to lose weight, try skipping the whipped cream on top of your coffee or hot chocolate. By eliminating the topping from your morning brew, you can cut close to 100 calories per drink. Over the course of a year, that can result in a 10-pound weight loss!

"Everything in moderation," Dr. Travis says. "If this is a daily habit, it's very different than every now and then really enjoying the whipped cream."

Rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition related to acne. Rosacea causes skin to become red and inflamed and typically occurs on the face. The condition is usually exacerbated by stress, alcohol and sun exposure. Treatments for rosacea include using salicylic acid, benzyl peroxide and prescription medication, but one of the best ways to prevent the outbreak is to keep your pores clean. Baby aspirin can also help to constrict the blood vessels in the face and prevent the skin from turning red.

Avoid these foods that can aggravate the problem:
• Brie cheese
• Chocolate
• Soy sauce
• Eggplants
• Dairy products

Warts
Dr. Ordon demonstrates why warts form and how to treat them.

Dr. Jim's Tips for Kids

Dr. Jim explains how to treat common problems your kids may have:

• Eye stye
• Thumb sucking
• Urinary tract infection
• Vomiting

X-Ray
A mammography is an X-ray examination of the breast. Dr. Lisa advises to avoid using powders, deodorants or lotions under your arms or on your breasts on the day of a mammogram, because they can appear on the X-ray as a calcification.

"Another really good tip is don't go when you're right on your period or right before your period, because if you've ever had your breasts smushed like a pancake, it'll hurt," Dr. Lisa adds. "Go right after your period."

Yellow Teeth
Are you bothered by yellow teeth? Watch cosmetic dentist Dr. Bill Dorfman's tips for a brighter smile!

Zits
From babies to adults, acne can be a problem for people of all ages. Sixty million Americans have active acne and 20 million have permanent acne scars. To prevent pesky pimples, it is important to keep your pores clean.

"It is a process of the pores getting clogged, bacteria growing in the pores, [and pores] getting inflamed," Dr. Ordon says. "Things you need to do are deep cleansing, using benzyl peroxide and using salicylic acid. For bad cases, you have to see your dermatologist, who may put you on antibiotics and maybe even Accutane. Laser treatments nowadays are another good option for people who have stubborn acne."

Dr. Ordon offers an additional acne treatment: pumpkin.

Mix 200 grams of pumpkin pulp with 1 tablespoon of non-fat sour cream and apply it to your face. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then rinse with cool water. This will cleanse your face, open up your pores and give your skin a glow!

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OAD 11/13/09

New Solutions to Better Your Body

Flu Facts

Essential links to keep you and your family safe this flu season.

Everything You Need to Know about the Flu

Where to Get the Flu Vaccine at flu.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Smart Phones
The Scan Avert application can be loaded onto a mobile device and used to determine whether certain foods or medications could be dangerous to you. Based on a person's medical history and data, the application can offer suggestions, substitutions and healthy options.

"You know, for somebody who has a lot of allergies or is taking a lot of medications, and potentially there's a lot of room for drug interactions, then it may be a good idea," plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon notes.

Body Tite Procedure
Liposuction, a surgical procedure that removes fat from targeted areas of the body, has been around since the early 1970s. Over the years, surgeons have honed and perfected the treatment, and the latest version of liposuction, Body Tite, heats fat while removing it.

"It's liposuction," plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Davis explains, "but it incorporates radiofrequency energy, causing the fat cells to dissolve, but at the same time, you're also tightening the skin."

Denise, 52, has had five children and has tried everything, from dieting to exercise, to get rid of her back fat. Dr. Davis performs the Body Tite procedure on Denise. and demonstrates how the technology works.

Body Tite is currently performed in the European Union and Canada and is in clinical trials in the United States.

Prostate Exams Explained

Using Pro Uro Care technology, E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork describes how a prostate exam is performed and illustrates the abnormalities doctors look for.

Middle Ear Infections
Ear infections occur more frequently in children because their Eustachian tubes -- the funnels that link the pharynx to the middle ear -- are shorter, narrower and more horizontal than in adults.

This particular alignment can impede the flow of air and fluids through the tubes, and as the fluid pools, bacteria grow and cause infection.

Symptoms of a Middle Ear Infection:
• Pulling or rubbing ears
• Fever
• Fussiness or irritability
• Fluid leaking from the ear
• Changes in appetite or sleeping patterns
• Trouble hearing

If children are plagued by frequent ear infections, physicians can surgically drain the Eustachian tubes to alleviate pressure.

Kayla, 14, has had chronic, painful ear infections for years, which caused partial conductive hearing loss. Otolaryngologist Dr. Bob Owens performed a cutting-edge CO2 laser procedure to repair Kayla's middle ear.

"The problem is that her little bones of hearing were not transmitting sound," Dr. Owens explains. "We can use the laser to free up the little bones so they actually vibrate, and when that happens, sound is transferred in. We actually replaced her third little bone with a little prosthesis."

Dr. Owens demonstrates how the laser procedure is performed.

Kayla reports she's doing great. "My hearing is so much better!" she says with a smile.

SureSmile Technology
Orthodontic braces traditionally take several years to straighten teeth, but using SureSmile technology can cut the time in half.

Orthodontist Dr. Thomas C. Lee demonstrates SureSmile technology, a software program that facilitates the precise positioning of a patient's teeth. Once the model is created by the software program, a robotic arm renders the braces.

Witness the results when 13-year-old Nina gets her braces off after just eight months!

Ready, Set ... Done!
The ROM is a high-tech cross trainer that uses more than 55 percent of the body's muscles, and the result is a 40-minute workout in just four minutes!

Dr. Tom Lobe uses the ROM at his medi-spa, the Beneveda Medical Group. "Most people don't have time to do the exercises that they need every day," Dr. Lobe observes. "They give me all kinds of excuses. In four minutes, they don't have an excuse."

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OAD 11/12/09

Prescription for Danger

Marijuana for Kids?
Medical marijuana has been used to alleviate pain, nausea and other symptoms of serious ailments in adults, but some doctors are now prescribing the drug to children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism.

Updates on Derek and Saul

• Eight months ago, 21-year-old Derek appeared on The Doctors to talk about his struggles with substance abuse. At the time, he was in a treatment center and had vowed to stay clean. But in a tragic turn of events, Derek slipped back into drug use and died of an overdose in September.

• Saul joined The Doctors a year ago as a 17-year-old who used salvia, crack, heroin, ecstasy, acid, meth, alcohol and marijuana. See how he is doing now!

"I would estimate there is probably between 100 and 200 ADD and ADHD children in California who are eating marijuana cookies with great benefit," osteopathic physician Dr. Phil Leveque says. "Comparing this with Ritalin, which has been used for years, Ritalin has killed over 300 children that I know of; it's probably greater than that. But marijuana, cannabis, has never killed anybody, ever. It's one of the safest drugs ever found."

Children with ADHD are four times more likely to develop an addiction to drugs and alcohol later in life, psychiatrist and CEO of Promises Treatment Center, Dr. David Sack, explains.

"The last thing we want to do is to give them drugs as children, which are going to set them up for later addictions" Dr. Sack says. "When kids with ADHD do become addicted [to drugs], they have a much harder time quitting. They use the drugs at a much earlier age and they're much more likely to wind up in jail, in detox centers and medical emergency rooms because they go at it with such fervor.

"When I heard about using marijuana in children, I was shocked," Dr. Sack adds. "There's no safe way to dose a child with marijuana. We don't know anything about the safety [of marijuana] in children.

"I believe this is the worst thing in the world that could possibly happen to these children," Dr. Sack says.

Thirteen-Year-Old Drug User
Marranda, 13, has type-1 diabetes and is abusing drugs. Even though her father died of an overdose, Marranda admits she uses ecstasy, cocaine, marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes, with no regard for the dangers and the damage they are causing to her body.

Teen Drug Use

Could your teen be on drugs? If so, what can you do about it? Cary Quashen, a certified addiction specialist, offers invaluable insight. See a checklist on the characteristics of teen drug use and drug-prevention resources.

• Watch this public service announcement by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

Internist and addiction specialist Dr. J. Keller Wortham shows Marranda how substance abuse affects organs with a mock autopsy, and E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork shows the teen how drugs will affect the outside of her body.

Certified addiction specialist and founder and president of ACTION Family Counseling Cary Quashen stages an intervention for Marranda and takes her to a rehab program.

"You're an amazing person, but you've got to hear all this and believe all this," Cary says to Marranda. "She's such a great kid. Isn't she great? And that commitment, it needs to come from [your head] and [your heart]. You need to feel it.

"But I'll tell you what," Cary adds. "If I'm going to have to move her into my world for the rest of her life, she's going to make it. This kid is going to stay clean, whether she likes it or not. We have a lot of people that are here to support her. And you know what? She really does want it. You know what she told me? [She said] 'When I grow up, I want to be a drug counselor.' Isn't that cool?"

While sitting in the audience, Marranda says goodbye to drugs and hello to life.

Century Club
Binge drinking is a dangerous problem, especially among college-aged students. The Century Club is a popular drinking game that consists of drinking 100 shots of beer in 100 minutes, which comes out to nearly nine beers in less than two hours.

"You're talking about college-aged women who are doing this, and they are only about 140 pounds," OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says. "And if you do this, you're going to be way over [the safe blood-alcohol content level] if you are in the eight-beer range. A woman can only drink about two to three drinks, and then she's even still going to be over the legal [limit] for driving. If you do eight, you are in the danger zone.

"But the other thing for this about women and college drinking is not only what it's going to do to your health down the line," Dr. Lisa adds, "but I can't tell you how many women I see in my office who have blacked out, who have had sex with people they didn't know, who wind up with STDs or an unintended pregnancy from binge drinking."

Find out more about the dangers of binge drinking.

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OAD 11/11/09

Ask Our Doctors: Celebrity Edition

From healthy eating, to the H1N1 vaccine to back pain, your favorite celebrities ask The Doctors about their most pressing medical issues.

Weak in the Knees

Grammy Award-winning singer Mary J. Blige asks why legs may sometimes give out.

Junk Food Dilemma
Kids don't always eat healthily, and actor Chris O'Donnell's son is no exception. The NCIS: Los Angeles and Scent of a Woman star asks The Doctors how he can get his son to eat less junk food.

Pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears explains that to get your children to eat healthy foods, you have to set a good example and eat well too. "There are some things you can do," Dr. Jim adds. "Get the kids involved in the shopping, in the cooking, in the preparing. If they're doing it, they're going to be much more likely to eat it."

By making healthy food look fun, you can encourage your kids to pass on the junk. From sneaky sliders to surprise cheese fries, Dr. Jim shows you healthy alternatives to unhealthy foods. For more recipes for your family, check out The Sneaky Chef to the Rescue by Missy Chase Lapine.

Sleep Time

Samantha Harris, host of Dancing with the Stars, asks Dr. Jim how she can get her 2-year-old daughter to sleep through the night. Dr. Jim shares tips to keep your toddlers fast asleep:

• Keep the same sleeping schedule
• No naps late in the day
• Encourage your child to take a security object, such as a teddy bear or a blanket, to bed with him or her
• Limit the amount of caffeine your child consumes

• More sleep tips!

• More tips for getting your kids to eat healthily.

The Right Vitamins for You
Actress Raven-Symoné, star of That's So Raven and the Disney film series, The Cheetah Girls, asks if vitamins that claim to help hair, nails and skin work as advertised, or if she should take a separate pill for each.

"Basically, you want to get [vitamins] that have magnesium, sulfur, zinc [and] vitamin B," OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says. "You can get those in a multivitamin, or you can get them in separate vitamins, with vitamins C, A, E, K and B. Those are all good."

Eating the right foods can also do the work of vitamins and keep you from having to take so many pills. Eggs, oysters, salmon and carrots all contain the nutrients you need for shiney hair, while blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and plums help to keep your skin healthy. "And also, they are much more fun than eating a vitamin," Dr. Lisa adds.

Know Your Moles
Actress Kate Flannery, best known for her role as Meredith Palmer on the hit comedy, The Office, has a freckle that has changed appearance over time. She asks if she should be worried.

"Most likely, that is a garden-variety, benign mole," plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon says. "She's a freckly person, and she really needs to keep track of her moles."

Dr. Ordon says that to monitor your moles, you should use the A-B-C-D-E rule:

Asymmetry - Normal moles and freckles are symmetrical. If they become irregular, or asymmetrical, you should see a doctor.

Border - The border of a mole or freckle should be even. If the edges are blurry or jagged, it could be a sign of something more serious.

Color - Normal moles and freckles are usually a singular color. If you see a variation of color within a mole, it could be a sign of a problem, and you should see a doctor.

Dr. Ordon's Secret Beauty Tips

How does Dr. Ordon keep his skin appearing clear and youthful? He divulges his secret to great skin:

• Have a weekly facial.
• Begin the facial with a cleanser to unclog your pores. His cleansing system includes hypoallergenic oils and soaps, and a little bit of glycolic acid.
• Steam for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Apply exfoliating mask that contains lactic acid, salicylic acid and vitamin C.
• Apply moisturizer to rejuvenate your skin.
• Protect your skin with sunblock.

Diameter - If you have a mole with a diameter that is greater than a pencil eraser, consult your doctor. He or she may keep an eye on it, perform a biopsy and/or remove it entirely.

Evolving - If a mole or freckle is changing or evolving in shape, color or size, consider having a biopsy and getting it removed.

• More about moles.

H1N1 Vaccine for Kids
Husband and wife actors Clark Gregg and Jennifer Grey have a 7-year-old daughter and want to know whether they should have her vaccinated against the H1N1 flu and what precautions they should take to protect her from the virus.

Children between the ages of 6 months and 24 years are at high risk for complications from the H1N1 virus and should have the vaccination. Children 9 years of age and younger will need two shots, given four weeks apart, while those 10 years of age and older will need just one shot.

"We are all recommending vociferously that children get the vaccine," E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork says. "It's safe, it's effective, it will save lives."

Dr. Jim shares more about the H1N1 virus and vaccine. Read his blog.

To protect yourself from the influenza virus, practice good hygiene. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water and avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose.

Find out more about the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines.

Beating Back Pain

Emmy Award-winning actor Bryan Cranston, star of the hit TV show Breaking Bad, has lower back problems. To reduce the pain, he has tried prolotherapy, which involves injecting ligaments and tendons with sugar solutions to stimulate production of connective tissue. Bryan asks The Doctors what their opinion is about this treatment.

Under-Eye Circles
Actress Taraji P. Henson, from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, is bothered by dark circles under her eyes and wants to know how she can fix them.

Causes of Dark Circles:
• Too much salt
• Not enough sleep
• Sleeping face down

Fading creams, laser treatments and chemical peels are all viable options to eliminate dark circles. A good at-home tip Dr. Ordon offers is soaking chamomile or green tea bags in cold water and placing them on your eyelids for 15 minutes. "I like putting them in my freezer, because they thaw pretty quickly," he adds. "That will help dark circles under your eyes."

Dr. Ordon demonstrates why dark circles occur, and dermatologist Dr. Tess Mauricio shows you more treatments to get rid of them.

Prevention's Health Hearsay: Liz Vaccariello, editor-in-chief of Prevention, explains whether colon cleansing should be used to clear toxins out of your body.

More from Prevention
• Do Colon Detox Products Work?
• Detox Products Debunked
• Colorectal Cancer Treatments on the Horizon

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OAD 11/10/09

Treat it Now or Pay Later

Osteoporosis
Actress Sally Field, two-time Academy Award winner and star of the television show Brothers and Sisters, joins The Doctors to raise awareness about osteoporosis.

Bone is living tissue that is constantly broken down and replaced with new bone. Osteoporosis is a condition that occurs when the bone tissue thins and becomes brittle and porous, causing breaks and fractures. Women are four times more likely than men to develop the disease, and 80 percent of women will develop osteoporosis if they do not take the proper precautions.

"There are no symptoms," says Sally. "It's a very quiet disease, a very dangerous disease. One out of two women will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture, and that fracture can really devastate her life, depending on how old she is and where the fracture is."

Learn more about osteoporosis.

Rally with Sally
The Rally with Sally campaign is aimed at preventing and managing osteoporosis. Some women are genetically predisposed for the disease, but Sally hopes the program can help these women as well.

"We try to teach women about bone health and how to stave off osteoporosis as long as you can, if you're going to get it anyway," Sally says, "with nutrition, calcium-rich meals and weight-bearing exercise."

The Rally with Sally Campaign and the Bone Healthy Workout is sponsored by Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, and GlaxoSmithKline.

Bone Mineral Density Test
The best and most effective evaluation of bone health is a bone mineral density (BMD) test. See how a BMD test is performed.

"There are incredibly effective treatments," Sally says. "You needn't be at risk. You can stay upright and healthy the rest of your life, but you can't do that unless you go get, number one, the bone density test, to know where you stand, because otherwise you don't know."

Bone Healthy Workout

Sally Field teamed up with celebrity fitness trainer and author Kathy Kaehler, to create a customized fitness plan called the Bone Healthy Workout, designed to keep the skeletal system strong. Download more exercises here!

Risk Factors for Osteoporosis
• Women
• Women over the age of 50
• Any type of estrogen deficiency -- menopause, hysterectomy, etc.
• Those on progesterone medications
• Hyperthyroid
• History of bone fractures
• Small frames
• Family history of osteoporosis
• Smokers
• Excessive use of alcohol
• Treated for cancer at any age

Osteoporosis Treatments
• Hormone therapy
• Prescription medications
• Physical therapy programs
• Bone strengthening exercise

Preventing Osteoporosis
Preserve and maintain the health of your bones with these simple tips:

• Get at least 10 minutes of sun every day
• Check your vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to bone loss.
• Eat foods rich in calcium
• Avoid salt
• Avoid excess alcohol and caffeine
• Perform weight-bearing exercises, activities that allow your structure to support your weight.

Add these foods to your diet:
• Salmon
• Fish
• Squash
• Sesame seeds
• Sweet potatoes

"I even talk to kids about bone health," pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears says. "You're making new bone only until about age 30 and then after that it starts to decrease. So you've got to get the good diet and the good exercise in when you're young."

Get Rid of Under Eye Circles

Dark under-eye circles are a common complaint among women. An injection of hyaluronic acid into the area stimulates collagen growth, creating bright, full eyes.

Watch as plastic surgeon Dr. Alex Rivkin performs a non-surgical blepharoplasty on Brooke, 36. The results are immediate, and Dr. Rivkin says they should last approximately a year and a half.

Prostatitis
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland in men. The prostate sits directly below the bladder, and urine and semen flow through the prostate. If the prostate becomes inflamed, men can experience pain and problems with urination and ejaculation. Prostatitis can be caused by dehydration, sex -- either too much or too little -- and stress.

"Young men, in particular," E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork says, "if they come in with prostatitis symptoms, and they're having unprotected sex with multiple partners, it could be a sign of a sexually transmitted disease."

*Note: All men 50 and over should have a prostate exam.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is the collapse of the airways during deep sleep.

"Sleep apnea is a very, very dangerous disease when it is untreated," otolaryngologist Dr. Brian Weeks says. "Patients can be left with severe medical problems, like diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and even heart attack."

Lenea, 42, suffers from sleep apnea, and undergoes a plasma blade surgery to reposition her airway and allow her to breathe freely.

"I call it a face lift of the throat," Dr. Weeks says. "We're basically lifting the throat. The plasma blade allows us to do that without damaging the throat and without burning the tissues."

Health Mistakes You Need to Fix Now

The Truth about Salt

The average American consumes more than twice the recommended daily salt intake each day. Learn the dangers of excess salt.

Eat This, Not That
Editor-in-chief of Men's Health and author of Eat This, Not That, David Zinczenko, says that the biggest problem people face when it comes to food is they often don't know what they're eating.

Big food companies don't tend to tell consumers all the ingredients they put in food, which can radically mislead the customer. David wrote Eat This, Not That to help educate consumers about the food on their plate.

"It is so easy to lose weight when you know what you're eating," David says.

Food Dangers
Food can become contaminated with food-borne illnesses by to the way it's handled either during harvest and preparation in a food establishment. To offset the risk of contaminated leafy greens, buy organic produce and use a salad spinner to wash them.

Eat This, Not That

Read an excerpt from Eat This, Not That, by editor-in-chief of Men's Health, David Zinczenko.

Foods at Greatest Risk for Contamination:
• Leafy greens
• Eggs
• Tuna
• Oysters
• Cheese
• Potatoes

Waiter Confessions
Former waiter Steven DuBlanica spills dirty secrets about the food service industry.

Body Types
In general, people can be categorized into three different body types.

Ectomorphs tend to be thin, sinewy, long-limbed and delicate. They have a difficult time gaining weight and building muscle mass. Low-impact cardio exercises such as long-distance running, walking, biking and rock climbing are best for those with an ectomorph build.

Workouts for Every Body

In general, people can be categorized into three different body types. See which workouts are best for your body type!

Mesomorphs tend to have athletic builds, with high muscle mass and little fat. Endurance training and exercises such as pilates and yoga are recommended for those with a mesomorph build.

Endomorphs tend to store more fat and have pear- or apple-shaped bodies. Low-resistance exercises such as biking, walking or swimming are ideal for endomorphs.

"No matter what body type you have," says E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork, "find an exercise you enjoy."

Hoopilates
New York Pilates instructor Jen Bleier introduced a hula hoop into her practice and Hoopilates was born. Get into the swing of it!

Bags and Backs
It's a known fact that women love their accessories: Shoes, jewelry and ... purses! But experts say that carrying a heavy bag can cause back pain and structural imbalances. Doctors recommend toting a purse that weighs no more than 1 or 2 pounds. Try a Healthy Back bag by Ameribag, which distributes weight evenly across the shoulders.

Presbyopia
As the lens of the eye ages, the lens and the muscles that attach to it, lose flexibility, reducing the eye's ability to focus. This condition, presbyopia, tends to occur after the age of 40 and is often treated with corrective contact lenses. Optometrist Rhonda Robinson, O.D. demonstrates how Bausch and Lomb multi-focal contact lenses work.

TBD

What Women Were Afraid to Ask, Until Now

The Doctors' Motherhood Survival Club
Model, TV personality, Co-CEO of ModernMom.com and mother of four Brooke Burke joins The Doctors to create the The Doctors' Motherhood Survival Club, an online community on TheDoctorsTV.com where moms can connect, vent, ask questions, share tips and more!

• Visit ModernMom.com
• Join The Doctors' Motherhood Survival Club!

Mommy 411
Brooke visits a Mommy and Me group to find out some of the biggest issues moms are struggling with.

"It was really fun," Brooke says. "And as chaotic as that looked, it was nice to get into an environment with moms where nobody was judging anybody. Because we all have that one mommy friend who tells you exactly how to do it and convinces you that her way is the only way. For me, what I always preach to everybody in my business is that you've got to find your own way and figure out what works for you. There are so many things that women want to know and they are too embarrassed to talk about it, or they're too afraid of what the other moms are going to say to them."

Brooke and The Doctors answer some of your most pressing motherhood questions:
• Are bowel movements normal during labor?

Having a bowel movement during labor is a natural and common occurrence.

Car Seat Safety

Pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears and Brooke talk about the importance of correctly installing a car seat.

• More car seat safety tips

"Your [OB/GYN] wants you to poop," OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says. "If you poop, we absolutely know that you are pushing right, because those muscles are in the exact same place. As the baby comes through the [birth] canal, that is pushing right on your rectum, so that's absolutely normal.

"Delivering a baby is not about looking pretty," Dr. Lisa adds. "There's blood, there's amniotic fluid, there's [urine]. That is OK. You are making a miracle, and this miracle comes with other bodily fluids, and that is absolutely alright."

• How do you spice up your sex life after having a baby?

After a long day, new mothers may feel tired and want to just relax and have alone time rather than have sex. However, it is important to keep an intimate relationship alive with your husband after pregnancy. The Doctors and Brooke offer tips for spicing up your sex life.

"First, it's finding time for yourself, so that you have more energy, and that will put you in the mood," plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon says. "And then set specific time aside with your husband."

Dr. Lisa explains that you have to communicate and be honest with your partner. And she emphasizes, it is, "OK to separate yourself from your baby."

"There's this myth sometimes that [sex] is totally different," Brooke says. "I don't agree with that. It can actually get better, because suddenly you have this new bond and this new intimacy."

• Is it OK to let babies cry?

For busy mothers who may need 10 minutes of relaxation after a long day, Brooke suggests placing a crying baby into his or her crib.

Dr. Jim explains that research has shown that if you let a baby cry for less than 15 minutes, "Then you're probably not doing any physiological harm to the baby. There is some research [that says] that if it's prolonged, vigorous crying for longer than 15 minutes, maybe there is some decreased blood flow to the brain.

"But if it's just five to 10 minutes, and the baby is not terribly upset, and is in a safe place [like] a crib, then that's what you've got to do if that's the last resort," Dr. Jim adds.

Masking Melasma
After her 4-year-old daughter, Marissa, was born, Lisa developed melasma, an embarrassing skin problem also known as "the mask of pregnancy." Melasma causes the skin's pigmentation to darken on the cheeks, forehead, chin, upper lip and the bridge of the nose due to an increase in melanin, the primary determinant for skin color. The problem is often triggered by hormones during and after pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy, birth control pills and sun exposure.

Lisa is self-conscious about her melasma and has tried fading creams, but to no avail. Instead, she covers up the discoloration with layers of makeup. "When I do go out, I have that feeling that everybody looks at me," she says. "I don't take care of myself the way that I should, because I don't feel that I'm worthy of that."

Brooke Burke reveals that for nine years, she has been dealing with melasma as well. "This really hit home for me," Brooke says. "This is something that I haven't really addressed publicly.

"I have mastered the art of covering it," she adds.

In an act of solidarity, Brooke removes her makeup to expose her melasma and offers Lisa a chance to treat their problem together!

Bye-Bye Stretch Marks
Kara, 30, developed unsightly stretch marks on her breasts after breastfeeding.

"This is such a common problem," Dr. Ordon says. "Anywhere from 70 to 90 percent of all women have stretch marks."

Dr. Ordon explains what causes stretch marks.

Kara has tried using over-the-counter fading creams to treat her stretch marks, but none have worked. Cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Simon Ourian uses the CoolBeam laser treatment to help rid Kara of her embarrassing problem. "This is the first time that we can actually treat some of these silver and white stretch marks," Dr. Ourian says. "We have had great results."

Dr. Ourian explains that it usually takes two to five treatments to get rid of most stretch marks.

Menstruation Colors: What is Normal?
Elizabeth, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana has noticed that her menstruation blood is not always red like normal blood. Towards the end of her monthly cycle, she says it is often brown and asks The Doctors if this is normal.

Using the menstruation color wheel, Dr. Lisa explains what the colors of your blood mean.

Health Fads: Extreme or Extraordinary?

Pineapple Workout

Vibrate your way to fitness with Nick Morris' Pineapple Workout!

Sexy at Seventy
Seventy-one-year-old Mimi was named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA) Sexiest Vegetarian over the Age of 50.

"We know that eating a plant-based diet is good for your health. It can increase your lifespan and it can also just make you look vibrant," says E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork.

When asked her secret to looking beautiful, Mimi says, "I really feel it's my diet. I think outlook is important, and I'm happy to be here at 71 and feeling so good!"

Mimi is proud to say that aside from dying her hair, she hasn't undergone any cosmetic procedures. "Nothing. No Botox, no nothing," she says.

"The peroxide is the only toxic thing I do to my body. And I do have a boyfriend 19 years younger than myself," Mimi adds with a smile.

Cellupulse Treatment
Dr. Michelle Ware from the Los Feliz Med Spa in Los Angeles, California demonstrates the cellupulse treatment on Ilona.

Dr. Ware explains that the technology was originally used for sports injuries such as tendonitis, muscle tears, strains and pains, but patients noticed a welcome side effect. The machine emits acoustic waves that increase circulation in targeted areas of the skin. In turn, the skin's elasticity is increased, which reduces the appearance of cellulite.

Ear Infection Rescue

Ear infections are common in children and are often caused by fluid build up in the Eustachian tubes. When placed at the back of the ear, the Eardoc device emits vibrations that help open up the Eustachian tube and allows fluid to drain.

"Cellulite is a circulation problem, which will cause fat cells to swell," explains Dr. Ware. "The connective tissue between the fat cells will shrink and harden, and that creates that dimpling effect you see with cellulite."

Placenta Facials
EMK Placental Skin Care uses extract of human placentas in their skin care line. The placenta contains amino acids and stem cells, but plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon cautions that it's unclear how much of these properties actually penetrate the skin.

Shirodhara Massage
Martha and Leila from the Surya Spa in Pacific Palisades, California perform a Shirodhara massage on Sheila.

"This treatment involves organic, warm sesame oil poured slowly over the forehead, primarily focusing on the marma point, also known as the third eye, which is directly linked to the central nervous system," Leila explains. "This treatment is ideal for anxiety, stress; helps to release deep, embedded tension from the tissues."

Resounding Health

Watch how sound can help heal the body when Daniella, a certified sound healer, performs sound therapy on Gina.

Sound Therapy
Daniella, a certified sound healer, performs sound therapy with Tibetan bowls on Gina, 32, who feels her energy is running low. The healer explains that she focuses on her clients' energy centers and attunes to the sound frequencies of their problem areas.

"It's based on quantum physics, how everything in the universe is made of vibration," Daniella explains. "Your body is also in a state of constant vibration. When you're out of whack or you're unwell, your frequencies are imbalanced."

"This is one of those things that if it works for someone," Dr. Travis notes, "there's no down side. It's a neat concept."

Celebrity Look-Alike Sperm Donors
In a town captivated by celebrity, it's no surprise that women in Los Angeles would seek out sperm donors who look like their favorite stars. Scott Brown, communication director at California Cryobank (CCB) in Los Angeles, California, says that women can go to his clinic's Web site for the CCB Donor Look-a-Likes^TM program. The software links sperm donors to photos of the two or three celebrities the donors most closely resemble.

"You get these guys who on paper are great and look the same, but is he a Ben Affleck-type or a Zach Ephron-type?" Scott says. "It helps make the decision easier for people."

Alice, 33, was the first client to take advantage of the CCB Donor Look-a-Likes^TM program. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and told that chemotherapy would likely render her unable to reproduce. Alice chose to freeze her embryos and looked at 300 possible sperm donors.

"Once I got down to a handful of donors, it was a really tough decision," she says. "They were kind of sounding the same at that point; they were all great on paper."

Alice finally settled on a sperm donor who resembled actor Freddie Prinze Jr. Inspired by her experience, Alice started a non-profit organization, My Vision, to educate other breast cancer patients about fertility options.

Reusable Diapers
Reusable diapers are not a new concept, but Smartipants diapers deliver a new, easy and effective solution for diaper care. Pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears demonstrates how the Smartipants reusable diapers work. The best part? Instead of requiring 7,000 disposable diapers, the average baby needs only 24 Smartipants diapers up until the child is potty trained.

Dyson Air Multiplier Fan

Air MultiplierTM technology: An annular jet draws in surrounding air, amplifying it 15 times.
• No choppy air: No blades chopping the air means air flow is smooth with no unpleasant buffeting.
• Safe: No fast-spinning blades.
• Easy to clean: No awkward grilles or blades.
• Touch-tilt: Pivots on its own center of gravity, staying put without clamping.
• Dimmer-switch control: Precisely adjusts airflow power.
• Oscillation: One-touch for 90-degree rotation.

Moustaches vs. Cancer
Moustaches vs. Cancer is a two month moustache-a-thon fundraiser to help fight pediatric cancer.

Each participant solicits donations on behalf of his moustache, and all earnings go to the pediatric department at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

Oral Health
Dentist Dr. Jamie Sands says that people should always brush their teeth for two minutes twice a day, floss twice a day, see their dentist regularly, and make sure to change their toothbrush at least four times a year.

"Get yourself a proper toothbrush," Dr. Sands says. "Investing in [an electrical toothbrush] is to your advantage. It actually removes more plaque than a manual toothbrush; the oscillating, rotating technology is going to do all the work. "

"If you develop gum disease, it can lead to things like heart disease and increased inflammation throughout your body," Dr. Travis adds. "Taking good care of your teeth and gums is essential."

Bone Mineral Density Test
A bone mineral density (BMD) test measures the density of calcium in your bones. Find out how the BMD test is performed and what you can do to keep your bones healthy and strong.

For more information about the products mentioned on this show, please go to Related Resources
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OAD 11/4/09

Ask Our Doctors: 50 Questions from 50 States

The Doctors go coast to coast to answer health questions from all 50 states!

Living Healthily

• A quartet of dancers from the MGM Grand's Crazy Horse Paris ask The Doctors for recommendations on how to stay in great shape.

• Kayla from Crawfordsville, Indiana is 23 years old and weighs more than 250 pounds. She is considering undergoing between getting gastric-bypass surgery or the lap-band surgery in Mexico, because it is less expensive. Is it safe?

Winter Health
• This will be my first winter in the "Last Frontier," and I'm curious about the difference between frostbite and frostnip. When should I worry? -- Colleen from Juneau, Alaska

E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork explains the difference between frostbite and frostnip.

• In a dry climate, can you get as dehydrated during the winter as you can during the summer? -- Carlos from Phoenix, Arizona

Dr. Travis explains why dehydration occurs and why you need to take precautions in the winter.

• What are some good foods to ward off winter health ailments? -- Michigan

Citrus fruits, probiotics, pumpkin, garlic, mushroom, broccoli, green tea, fish and blueberries can help fight winter sicknesses.

• Why does my psoriasis worsen in the winter? -- Rhode Island

Psoriasis, a common skin disorder that causes irritation and redness, can worsen in the winter because of the drier air and lower levels of exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays.

Quick Hits

From Minnesota, to Illinois to Georgia, The Doctors answer questions about snoring, migraines, body odor and more!

Vitamins

Are vitamins safe for children? What's the daily dose for adults? Get your answers here!

Hives
• Last year, right before finals, I got hives. I was on two different histamine blockers. Could it have been stress? -- Shayla from Wichita, Kansas

Dr. Lisa explains what may have caused Shayla's hives.

• Are hives contagious? -- Kentucky

No, hives, which are swollen and often itchy welts on the surface of the skin, are usually an allergic reaction, but even if they are caused by a virusl, they are still not contagious.

Pap Smears
• How often should women get pap smears? -- Arkansas

Women should get a pap smear every one to three years, depending on their age and medical history.

• Is there a male equivalent to a pap smear? -- Comedienne Kathy Griffin, from the red carpet in California

Yes there is, and Dr. Lisa shares the answer.

Breastfeeding
• My second daughter was born four weeks ago and has not gained any weight since she was discharged from the hospital. I'm breastfeeding her. Could my breast milk be deficient? - Stephanie from Cranford, New Jersey

Myth or Reality?

The Doctors play a game of Myth or Reality with questions from Oklahoma, Virginia, Oregon and Tennessee!

True or False?

The Doctors answer true or false questions from Washington, Maryland, Vermont and Iowa.

Most newborns will lose a few ounces right after birth, but it is important that they regain the lost weight within a week or, at longest, two weeks of age, pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears explains.

"Your baby is already four weeks old and hasn't regained [the weight she's lost since birth], and I'm worried about that," he says. "First off, you need to make sure your doctor is checking the baby. Make sure the baby looks OK, and then your doctor and maybe a lactation consultant can check your milk supply by pumping [the breasts] or weighing the baby before and after feeding, to see if you're making enough milk. If you aren't, we may want to supplement with a little formula, just to get the baby back up to birth weight, because it's really important that she does that to stay healthy."

• I have noticed that after breastfeeding my son, I had a dramatic decrease in breast volume. Now, when I finish breastfeeding my daughter, I have a feeling I'll have the same problem. Is there anything I can do to fix that without having breast implants? --Christina from Houston, Texas

Plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon explains Christina's options to restore her breasts.

Flu and Pneumonia
• Can you be a flu carrier and not get sick? -- Diane from Wilmington, Delaware

You can be a carrier of the flu virus without having any symptoms. E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork says that if you are not showing symptoms of the flu, chances are unlikely that you will pass it on to others.

Reduction or Implant?

• For uneven breasts, is reduction better than one implant? -- West Virginia

Choosing between a reduction and an implant depends on the desired size of the breast.
Sexual Health

• Can I have a sexually transmitted disease and not show any symptoms? -- South Dakota

Yes, including genital HPV and Chlamydia, which often show no visible signs, especially in women.
• Can the dog flu migrate to humans like the H1N1 virus? -- New York

H3N8 is an equine flu virus that has recently been found in dogs. It is very contagious -- dogs can catch it at dog parks and boarding kennels. The virus can live in food and water dishes. "The good news is this," Dr. Travis says. "Humans can't get it."

Five to eight percent of dogs will get a severe form of this flu, and older dogs and puppies can potentially die from it. Symptoms in dogs are similar to those of humans who get the seasonal flu: coughing, fever and loss of appetite. Breeds with pushed-in faces, such as pugs and bulldogs, are the most susceptible to the H3N8 virus.

• Is the pneumonia vaccine a one-time event? And, how effective is it? -- Phillip from Bismark, North Dakota

There are multiple versions of the pneumococcal vaccine. The one given to children, known as Prevnar or PCV7, requires a series of four doses be administered before the child is 5 years old. For adults, the vaccine is known as PPSV, and any adult over age 65 should get one dose of it. Additionally, people who have asthma, diabetes, HIV, immune issues or have had their spleen removed should get two doses, five years apart.

Sinuses
• [My 11-year-old son] is always stuffed up, and when he talks, he sounds like he has nose plugs on. Even when he blows his nose, it doesn't help. I am curious as to what causes this and what could be done to help him. -- Terri from Parker, Colorado

"It sounds like your son has rhinitis," Dr. Ordon says, "which is just an inflammation of the inside of the nose. What happens is that it gets congested, it over-stimulates the mucus glands [and causes] too much production of the normal nasal secretions."

Uncommon Cures You Need to Know

Community member Nicole2022 submitted a show idea on ProduceTheDoctors.com asking The Doctors to share home remedies for minor ailments. The Doctors invited editor-in-chief of Prevention, Liz Vaccariello, to share uncommon cures for common problems. But remember, these remedies are no substitute for seeing your doctor.

Win The Big Doctors Book of Home Remedies!

For more home remedies, check out The Big Doctors Book of Home Remedies: Quick Fixes, Clever Techniques, and Uncommon Cures to Get You Feeling Better Fast by the editors of Prevention.

• For a chance to win a copy, click here!

Pink Eye
If your child is suffering from conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, and wakes up with his or her eye crusted shut, try cleaning the affected area with a mixture of baby shampoo and warm water.

"You add one part baby shampoo to 10 parts water," Dr. Jim says. "This is mainly for the crust. You just stir it up [and wipe the crust away with a cotton ball]. The warm water kind of loosens the goop and then the shampoo cleans the eyelashes, because oftentimes the eyelashes themselves get a little infection in the base of them and that kind of helps solve both problems!"

Remember: After cleaning your child's eye, be sure to throw away the cotton ball and wash your hands well.

Beating Blisters
To pop or to not pop, that is the question when it comes to blisters.

Liz recommends leaving small blisters alone. But if it is a large, uncomfortable blister, consider seeing your doctor. If you decide to pop a large one, clean the area with rubbing alcohol and use a sterilized needle to poke a hole. After you puncture the sac, squeeze the fluid out while still leaving the skin over the blister intact.

"That's like nature's Band-Aid," Liz says.

Once the blister is empty of fluid, rub a steroid-free hemorrhoid cream, which is an anti-inflammatory, over the area to sooth the itching, or apply mouthwash to it, which has a cooling effect and helps dry out the blister.

Headache Help

Dr. Travis explains what causes most headaches and gives you easy tips to relieve the pain!

"The caveat I have to make here is that I have seen people opening up their own blisters and coming in with big-time infections," E.R. physician Dr. Travis says. "So, it's one of those things that, if you're going to do this on your own, I have to caution you to make sure it's absolutely sterile, because you're basically opening up an entry for bacteria to get into that blister. So you've just got to be forewarned that infections can occur."

Prevention Home Remedy Lab
Follow Dr. Travis and Liz into the Prevention Home Remedy Lab as they demonstrate simple ways to get rid of common problems.

• All-Natural, Anti-Aging Facial: See how a papaya-oatmeal facial can help exfoliate your skin and make you look younger!
• Cure for Smelly Feet: Find out what liquor can make smelly feet a thing of the past.
• Minimize Sweating: Learn the type of bath that can prevent sweating and keep body odor at bay.

Bye-Bye Acne
Twenty to 30 percent of adults have acne. For women, the condition is often caused by makeup-clogged pores. If a pimple appears, Dr. Ordon recommends soaking a chamomile teabag in warm water, then applying the teabag to the affected area for 15 minutes. The teabag works as a warm compress and contains flavonoids and bisabolol, which have anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe the pimple and reduce redness.

Dr. Ordon's Home Remedies

Join plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon as he whips up some of his favorite home health remedies in his kitchen!

"Women everywhere are going to thank you for that," Liz says with a smile.

Stubborn Splinter
Pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears says that if your little one has a splinter that's too small for tweezers, a piece of duct tape may be the answer. "You just put the tape over the splinter, and it sticks to it a little bit," he says. "Then you carefully peel it off, and the splinter comes right out!"

Vinegar's Health Benefits
Apple cider vinegar can enhance your health in a number of ways:

• Drink a capful to make your hiccups go away.
• Some studies have found that drinking 2 tablespoons before bed can lower blood-glucose levels by up to 6 percent.
• Drink a small amount to soothe heartburn.
• Apply to acne to reduce swelling and clear pores.

Life-Changing Medical Innovations

Is It a Boy or a Girl?

The Doctors executive producer Jay McGraw and his wife, Erica, find out whether they're having a boy or a girl! See the 4-D ultrasound performed live!

Smoking When Pregnant
Despite countless warnings, an estimated 20 percent of women continue to smoke while pregnant. Studies show that if a woman smokes during her pregnancy, her child is 20 percent more likely to develop psychotic episodes later in life.

"We absolutely know that smoking is harmful to the baby," OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says.

Smoking when pregnant can cause:
• Growth retardation
• Preterm birth
• Pre-term delivery
• Low birth weight
• Perinatal mortality

"Smoking restricts blood flow to the uterus," pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears says. "So therefore, the baby is getting less blood and less nutrients."

Smoking cessation pharmaceuticals are available to women before and during pregnancy. "It's an addiction just like alcoholism," Dr. Lisa adds. "The best thing to do is quit before you get pregnant. Or quit, period."

Stem Cell Breast Implants
The latest in stem cell research could add inches to a woman's bust line. The procedure would use a woman's own fat and stem cells to augment her breasts.

"This will be the next, new frontier," says plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon. "You actually can grow breast tissue, or virtually any organ."

Bright Smile
The Icon treatment, a revolutionary new dental system, promises to eliminate unsightly teeth discolorations and restore pearly whites. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Thomas Connelly explains that white spots are actually the beginnings of a cavity.

"What we can do now with these white spots is intervene early," Dr. Connelly says. "And not have to cut away tooth structure later on; and stop these cavities from progressing."

Dr. Connelly performs the drill-free, pain-free Icon treatment on Allison.

Bright Eyes
Ophthalmologist Dr. Brian Boxer-Wachler performs the I-Brite procedure on Daphne to remove unsightly spots in the whites of her eyes.

Dr. Boxer-Wachler, who developed the procedure, explains that he removes the discolored membrane of the eye, which will then regenerate a crystal-clear, bright membrane.

"The I-Brite procedure is revolutionary because it's the first time there's a permanent cure for red eyes, or yellowing or brown spots on the eye," Dr. Boxer-Wachler says.

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a painful, degenerative joint condition. Currently, hylauronic acid can be injected into the affected joints to act as a shock absorber. Scientists are working on future stem cell treatments for osteoarthritis, but in the meantime, doctors recommend low-impact exercises like cycling and swimming to help alleviate discomfort.

Migraines
Dr. Travis explains that migraine headaches are thought to be caused by the dilation of blood vessels in the brain. The dilated vessels pull on nerve receptors located near the blood vessels, causing pain signals to be sent to the brain. The result is a terrible, throbbing headache with a variety of symptoms. Migraines are difficult to treat, as symptoms and triggers vary among individuals.

A new treatment called Levadex, is still in clinical trials and not yet approved by the FDA, but shows a great deal of promise. Levadex is reformulated from a drug called DHE 45 and works similarly to an asthma inhaler. Once inhaled, the drug provides rapid and sustained pain relief.

More on treating migraines.

Breakthrough Back Surgery
A revolutionary back surgery may greatly eliminate pain and radically reduce recovery time for patients. Neurosurgeon Dr. Justin Paquette calls in from the Beverly Hills Institute for Spinal Disorders and Orthopedic Center to describe the AxiaLIF surgery.

Keloid Scar Tissue
A keloid is essentially an overgrowth of scar tissue. "In a nutshell, keloids are scars gone wild," Dr. Ordon says.

Jamee, 22, developed keloid scars on her ear after she had her ears pierced. Plastic surgeon Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian excises the growths as Dr. Ordon explains how keloid scars form.

For more information about the products mentioned on this show, please go to Related Resources
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OAD 10/30/09

Women’s Biggest Body Complaints Solved!

Hair Treatments

Living Proof Hair Labs developed No Frizz, a hair care product that addresses problem hair on a molecular level. See the results!

Measure Up
A new measurement of the female anatomy may mean the difference between "Oh ..." and "OH!"

"Research suggests that the clitoral-vaginal distance, and I'm just reporting what I've read," E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork says, "is that the optimal distance is 2.5 centimeters [apart] to have an orgasm."

If the distance between the hood of the clitoris and the vaginal opening is shorter than 2.5 centimeters, the movement of the penis will create more friction and increase the chance of orgasm.

"So many women think they can have orgasms just by sex alone," OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says. "Seventy-five percent of women, most women, do not have orgasm by [vaginal] sex alone.

"People ask, ‘Which one is better: a clitoral orgasm or a vaginal orgasm?" Dr. Lisa states. "It really doesn't matter. An orgasm is an orgasm is an orgasm. We have to be more sex-positive, because women who are more positive about their bodies are going to have more orgasms.

"Only seven percent of women have orgasm from vaginal penetration, so guess how many people are faking it?" Dr. Lisa continues. "That means women, you need to communicate more, be more sex-positive. And find out what buttons to push, guys!"

Problem Skin
Fifty percent of women suffer from adult acne, a condition that can be physically uncomfortable as well as cause insecurity and self-consciousness. Dermatologist Dr. Tess Mauricio performs the latest skin rejuvenation procedure, photodynamic therapy (PDT), on 36-year-old Cari, a longtime acne sufferer. See the results!

Protect your skin! Dr. Mauricio says that 90 percent of aging is caused by the sun, so be sure to slather on the sunscreen, and wear a hat when out in the sun.

Crow's Feet
Are you concerned about crow's feet around your eyes? Does it look like a few feet have turned into a battalion of boots? Plastic surgeon Dr. Bruce Katz has a fractional CO2 laser treatment that can erase fine lines and restore youthful looking skin.

"What it does is actually tighten the eyelid skin, takes away crow's feet, elevates the eyebrow and gives the eye a more wide-open appearance," Dr. Katz explains.

Dr. Katz performs the non-invasive eyelift procedure on Lori, 39, onstage. The procedure needs to be repeated three to five times every two weeks and promises minimal recovery time.

Read Dr. Ordon's blog about how to treat crow's feet.

Surgical Options for Derrieres

Butt Implants Explained

Columbian Hi-Def Butt Lift Procedure

Read Dr. Ordon's blog about butt implants

Troublesome Thighs
Many women complain of excess fat around the hips, buttocks and thighs, often called thunder thighs or saddlebags. Some women are genetically predisposed to develop a certain leg shape, but doing cardio exercises is the best first step to tone troublesome areas.

"Hormones cause [women] to get fat in certain areas, and that's one of them," Dr. Lisa says. "The fat can be really hard to get rid of, and it just shows up after you've gained a little weight from pregnancy or just not exercising for a little while. It's just a stubborn area!"

Plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon proffers that liposuction is a sound solution for problem thighs, but for those who don't want to go under the knife, Hello! Skinny Jeans.
promises to make their wearer look a size smaller in less than 60 seconds!

Booty Talk
Tone your tush with celebrity trainer David Kirsch, author of The Butt Book.

The trainer demonstrates some of his signature booty sculpting exercises.

According to David, rear ends can be classified into four categories:

Butt Types:
Apple - bigger in the middle, big all over
Pear - small up top, bigger down below
Banana - has hips, but rear is flat as a pancake
String bean - skinny, no hips and no booty

Boost Your Bust
Dr. Ordon explains that breast tissue is comprised primarily of glands and fat. The muscle sits below the bulk of the breast, so no amount of exercising can help lift or shape the bosom. Once breast tissue sags, surgery is the only permanent option to restore fullness.

Dr. Lisa advises that the best way to prevent sagging is to wear a well-fitted bra.

Learn more about finding your best bra.

A quick and easy way to add volume and lift to your bust is to use Bring It Up sticky pads. The pads lift the breast tissue and reposition the nipple for a fuller, more youthful appearance.

For more information about the products mentioned on this show, please go to Related Resources
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OAD 10/29/09

Life-Saving Medicine with Sanjay Gupta

Cheating Death

To purchase a copy of Dr. Sanjay Gupta's new book, Cheating Death, click here!

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent and author of Cheating Death, joins The Doctors to discuss life-saving medicine!

Cheating Death
On September 14, 2002, 60-year-old Bob collapsed while refereeing a high school football game. His heart stopped for two-and-a-half minutes before he was ultimately revived and brought back to life.

Bob recounts his near-death experience. "It was very peaceful. It was very serene," he says. "[It was] extremely bright, and, some folks call it a tunnel, but for me it was more like a halo coming into focus. Did I have an out-of-body experience? I don't know. I was watching the paramedic work on me, and he was very close working on me. I was watching him, yet he didn't acknowledge me, and I was thinking that if I opened my eyes, that was a good sign, but he didn't acknowledge me, so what was going on here?

"And then I remembered our grandson, who was with me at the time, 9-year-old Alex," Bob continues, "I had a choice, that way or this way. And Alex needed me and I started yelling Alex's name, and that's all I remember."

Moment of Death

E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork explains what happens to your body when you die, and The Doctors and Dr. Gupta discuss three of your most vital organs.

• Dr. Gupta goes inside one woman's near-death experience.

Dr. Gupta wrote the book Cheating Death and says that science can explain some of the sensations from near-death experiences. "Some have said that as the blood [flow] starts to diminish to the brain, the retina, the back of the eye is one of the first things that is affected, and that controls your peripheral vision," Dr. Gupta says. "So you start to lose that peripheral vision and people will see a tunnel, the bright light, sort of for the same reason."

But, Dr. Gupta concedes that after talking with Bob and others who have had near-death experiences, some things cannot be explained.

"It's sort of that perfect intersection of science and spirituality that I was just absolutely fascinated by," Dr. Gupta says.

Dr. Travis and Dr. Gupta demonstrate the Invos Oximeter, which measures oxygen saturation in the brain. See how a defibrillator can save your life.

Freezing Time
If you go into cardiac arrest, can hypothermia actually save your life? Dr. Gupta tells the story of how being in a hypothermic state actually kept one woman alive.

CPR

Dr. Travis and Dr. Gupta demonstrate the latest in life-saving CPR techniques.

"She is doing great [now]," Dr. Gupta says. "What is most amazing about her is that she is now a practicing physician in the same hospital where she was once declared dead."

Pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears tries on the CoolBlue body suit, which cools the body by mimicking hypothermia, which decreases the body's demand for oxygen. Cooling the body can delay death and save lives.

"The thing about it that's amazing," Dr. Gupta says, "is that if you simply cool somebody down after a cardiac arrest, and you do it quickly, the chance of survival goes up by almost 500 percent. Cardiac arrest is still the biggest killer of men and women in this country. These things make a huge difference."

H1N1 Virus
President Obama has declared the H1N1 flu outbreak a national emergency, and Dr. Gupta has first-hand experience of what the virus can do. Not only has the medical correspondent been covering the H1N1 flu story for CNN, he also contracted the virus.

"It's interesting, because I don't get sick very often," Dr. Gupta says. "But I remember the cough. That was probably the most memorable thing about this. This is one of those examples where I think doctors are the worst patients, because I thought it was anything but H1N1 when I first got sick. When I had that high fever and I got really lightheaded, that's when I got checked out and got tested."

Getting the H1N1 flu vaccination is important to prevent contracting the virus in the first place. Find out everything you need to know about the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines.

Pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears blogs about the H1N1 vaccine.

The vaccine is recommended for the following people:
• Pregnant women
• Anyone with underlying, chronic illnesses (see list below)
• Caregivers for infants under 6 months
• Healthcare workers
• Children ages 6 months to 24 years old.

Chronic health conditions:
Certain medical conditions place people at greater risk for the flu, so if you have any of the following conditions, consider getting both the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccine:
• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Heart or lung disease
• Kidney disease
• HIV
• Morbid obesity
• Sickle-cell anemia
• Cerebral palsy
• Muscular dystrophy

The Doctors and Dr. Gupta say that the vaccine should be mandatory for healthcare workers. "It's not just about the person getting the shot," Dr. Gupta says. "It's also about all the patients that we see and treat."

Because he has had the disease, Dr. Gupta no longer needs the vaccination, but he advocates that others do get it. "It's a tough way to get vaccinated," he says. "I would much rather have had the shot. That was a couple of miserable days."

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OAD 10/28/09

Ask Our Doctors: Why Does it Smell?

Smelly Burps

Stinky Ears

Jenni says her 11-month-old son, Xavier's, ears give off a foul odor. Dr. Jim gives Xavier an ear exam to determine the cause of the smell.

• Dr. Ordon demonstrates why ear infections cause ears to smell.

If your burps often smell foul and rotten, you may be experiencing sulfur burps, which are caused by hydrogen sulfide, a gas emitted by sulfur-containing proteins in certain foods.

"It's the same thing that happens [with flatulence] when you have one of those bad days where you have that rotten-egg smell," E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork says. "That's hydrogen sulfide doing its damage."

For some people, the breakdown of certain proteins can cause hydrogen sulfide and bacteria buildup in the intestines. Poultry, red meat, dairy, eggs, grains and certain fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, watermelon, avocado, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, garlic and onions all cause hydrogen sulfide buildup. Try removing these foods from your diet for a period of time to reduce the smell of sulfur emitted from both burps and flatulence. Drinking Pepto Bismol or other stomach-soothing products can also help reduce the hydrogen sulfide, but be careful because it can cause changes in your stool.

If your sulfur burps continue, talk with your doctor, because it could be a sign of a gastrointestinal disease.

Sweat Problem
Amber, 32, says she sweats so heavily at night that it gives off a strange odor and stains her sheets and shirts. Her husband complains that the odor is reminiscent of cat urine -- and they don't even have a cat!

Why Sweat Smells

Dr. Travis demonstrates what happens when we sweat and why it often gives off a foul odor.

• Dr. Ordon outlines options available to regulate excessive sweating.

Dr. Travis says that the stench probably is similar to ammonia, which is caused by urea, a byproduct of amino acids and proteins broken down in the body. If urea builds up in your system, it can come out through your sweat pores and cause the ammonia-like smell. Urea is acidic, which is the reason for the stains on Amber's sheets and shirts.

Your kidneys filter toxins and waste. If your kidneys are not functioning properly, urea, the kidneys' waste product, can build up and cause serious complications.

A kidney issue is not the only cause of this problem. "The most common reason is people are eating too much protein," Dr. Travis says. "One of the things you want to do is make sure you are getting enough carbohydrates and drink plenty of fluids."

If changing your diet does not work, see your doctor. He or she may recommend a blood urea nitrogen test to determine the cause of the problem.

Fishy Odor Down Below

Umbilical Cord Smell

Dr. Jim explains why your newborn's cut umbilical cord may give off an odor, and he demonstrates how to keep the area around the nub clean.

Megan is six months pregnant and says that she notices a fishy odor after she has intercourse with her husband. She asks The Doctors if she should be concerned.

"This is pretty common," Dr. Lisa says. "It's called bacterial vaginosis. You should not have a fishy odor down there. What happens is that the magical vaginal ecosystem is imbalanced. This can happen because of pregnancy. This can happen because of having intercourse."

The vagina tends to be acidic, and when semen enters the vaginal cavity, it can change the pH. "That changes [the environment] and releases something called amines, which give off a fishy odor."

One in five women will get bacterial vaginosis at some point during pregnancy. The disorder can cause pre-term labor, miscarriage, low birth weight and a premature rupture of membranes. "So it is essential that it be treated during pregnancy," Dr. Lisa says. "Your doctor will just do a vaginal swab to determine this and treat you with safe antibiotics for pregnancy, and that's the end of it."

Best Ways to Fight the Flu
The onset of fall and winter usually means colder weather and more flu infections.

Good Germs

Dr. Jim explains why some germs can actually be your friends.

"Everyone's justifiably concerned about the flu," says Liz Vaccariello, editor-in-chief of Prevention magazine. "As far as prevention is concerned, doing some of the easiest things you can, like washing your hands often and well, that's the easiest thing that you can do, rather than going out and buying a humidifier for your room, which is going to cost a lot of money."

Liz recommends washing your hands to the tune of the song "Happy Birthday" so you can eliminate as many germs as possible. Plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon suggests coughing and sneezing into your sleeve or handkerchief so you don't get germs on your hands.

"I use creative barriers," Liz says. "I use a paper towel when I'm touching doorknobs in the bathroom. And at ATM machines, I use my ATM card to punch the numbers rather than with my finger."

Another way to prevent the flu is to get the flu vaccination. Find out more about the flu and the H1N1 virus.

Prevention's Health Hearsay: Can standing near a microwave when it's on cause cancer? Liz Vaccariello has the answer!

TBD

Everything You Need to Know about The Flu

Seasonal and H1N1 Flu Overview
President Obama has declared the H1N1 flu outbreak a national emergency.

Dr. Anne Schuchat, Assistant Surgeon General of the United States and director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, joins The Doctors via satellite from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia to provide the most up-to-date information about the seasonal and H1N1 flu virus.

"We're seeing a lot of flu all around the country," Dr. Schuchat reports, "especially for this time of year; unprecedented levels of disease for this time of year. Of course, that's because this is a strain that people haven't seen before, so all of us really are susceptible."

Eighty-six children have died so far from H1N1 flu in America alone. "The numbers, unfortunately, continue to climb," Dr. Schuchat continues. "In most seasons, we only have about 40 or 50 kids who die from flu; we don't know how many more will, and of course, we're doing as much as we can to keep that number down."

H1N1 Myths

Assistant Surgeon General Dr. Anne Schuchat dispels the most rampant myths about the H1N1 flu virus.

Inside the CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the first line of defense against infections and chronic diseases in the United States. E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork goes inside the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia for the latest H1N1 update from the director of the CDC, Dr. Thomas Frieden.

H1N1 Facts
• 88 percent of H1N1 flu deaths have occurred in people under the age of 65
• 53 percent of H1N1 hospitalizations are people under the age of 25
• A disproportionate amount of pregnant women are affected by H1N1
• H1N1 flu can lead to viral or bacterial pneumonia, which can be fatal
• A flu virus can survive on surfaces up to eight hours, which is why it's so important to wash your hands often

"There's no way to predict who is going to get a severe case and who is not," pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears says.

"Don't panic," Dr. Travis says. "The reason we're making this sound so serious is because kids are dying, pregnant women are dying, and that is why we urge you to talk with your doctor about getting the vaccine. We can prevent all these deaths if people get vaccinated."

Flu Vaccine 411

Everything you need to know about seasonal and H1N1 vaccines.

Who's at Risk for the H1N1 Virus?
• Children ages 6 months to 24 years
• Pregnant wome
• Health care workers
• People with chronic health conditions

Chronic Health Conditions:
Certain medical conditions place people at greater risk for the flu, so if you have any of the following conditions, consider getting both the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccine:
• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Heart or lung disease
• Kidney disease
• HIV
• Morbid obesity
• Sickle-cell anemia
• Cerebral palsy
• Muscular dystrophy

Symptoms of Seasonal and H1N1 Flus
Both seasonal influenza and the H1N1 flu can have the following symptoms:
• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue

High-Tech H1N1 Treatments

San Antonio affiliate WOAI reports on the latest treatment for patients with severe H1N1 flu infection.

• Dry cough
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle aches and pains

In addition, the H1N1 flu often has:
• Stomach upset
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Flu Treatments
Tamiflu and Relenza, extremely effective antiviral drugs, can be taken to reduce the duration and severity of the disease. The medications are most successful when taken within 48 hours of the onset of the flu, and symptoms often resolve in 24 hours.

Many people will recover from a flu without treatment, but if you or a loved one seem to be get better and then get worse, be sure to seek immediate medical treatment. This turn of events could indicate a secondary infection such as pneumonia.

Caution: Some unscrupulous characters will try to sell Tamiflu and other medicines purported to treat the H1N1 flu over the Internet. There is no way to verify the safety and validity of these products. Only take medicine prescribed and given to you by your doctor.

If your child has a confirmed case of the H1N1 virus, he or she will not need to get the vaccine, as his or her body will already be producing antibodies to combat the virus.

If you're breastfeeding and get sick, continue nursing, Dr. Jim advises. "You're going to produce antibodies against that illness, and you're going to give those antibodies to your baby, which will help the baby fight the illness too," he adds.

Caution: Never give aspirin to children.

For more information on flu warning signs, visit www.flu.gov.

Pregnant Women and the Flu
"You're at risk [for flu] when you're pregnant because your immune system is supporting two people," OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson explains. "Your cardiovascular system is overloaded, and the blood volume is increased. Pregnant women need to be treated right away with anti-viral medications; they're not going to hurt the baby. We need to be very aggressive with pregnant women and the swine flu."

"It's not a new vaccine," Dr. Schuchat adds. "It's just a different strain being put in the [traditional] vaccine. We think that it should really protect pregnant women, who, unfortunately, have been getting very sick from the virus."

Watch a special report from affiliate station KHOU-TV in Houston, Texas on pregnant women and the H1N1 vaccine.

Learn more about pregnancy and the flu vaccine.

Steps to Prevent Getting the Flu
• Wash your hands often
• Use anti-bacterial wipes and gels with 60 percent alcohol content
• Don't touch your eyes, mouth or nose unless your hands are clean
• Take vitamins
• Eat healthily
• Exercise
• Keep your sugar intake below 100 grams per day (approximately two sodas' worth) and minimize alcohol consumption. Excessive sugar and alcohol intake can suppress and impede your immune system.

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OAD 10/26/09

How to Take Charge of Your Health

Salt: The Silent Killer
Do you know how much salt you are consuming? The recommended daily allowance is less than 2,400mg of sodium, slightly more than one teaspoon. But on average, most Americans consume more than 4,000mg each day. Excess salt in your diet can lead to numerous health problems, such as hypertension, heart disease and stroke.

The Salt We Eat

The amount of sodium contained in some of your favorite foods may just surprise you:

• Small bag of regular potato chips: 180mg
• One cup of regular cottage cheese: up to 851mg
• Two strips of bacon: 146mg
• One cup of regular chocolate pudding: 840mg
• One slice of pepperoni pizza: 2,132mg

"If you get different kinds [of potato chips] that have all the sauce on them and everything, then that's not necessarily going to be quite [as little sodium]," OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says. "But if you get the regular bag of chips, your sodium [intake] will be less. There is a difference between calories, and healthy and sodium content. You have to take all of these different factors together."

"This just goes to show just how much salt is put in these processed foods for taste," plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon says.

If you want a healthy, low-sodium snack, E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork recommends low-sodium cottage cheese.

Lyssie and Tammy Lakatos, also known as The Nutrition Twins, are registered dieticians and authors of The Secret to Skinny. Their work focus on the negative effects of too much sodium in the body. "What is really interesting to us," Lyssie says, "is that all of us in the health field have heard about sodium being so bad for our health, but we, as registered dieticians, started getting bombarded with information that it actually made us fat."

Tammy explains that sodium makes the fat cells more dense and able to hold more fat, causing a person to be hungrier, thirstier and have increased cravings.

"And, it increases insulin resistance," Lyssie adds. "So that combination for someone who is looking to lose weight spells double trouble."

"Salt is absolutely necessary," Dr. Travis says. "Sodium is needed by each and every cell in your body, just like healthy fats are needed, healthy carbohydrates. So you don't need to get rid of sodium altogether, you just need to decrease the amount of it."

Adopt a Dog

These playful pooches are looking for a nice home. If you've thought about adding a dog to your live, consider adopting one of these abandoned dogs.

Cornucopia
Female
Shepherd mix
Estimated date of birth: May 1, 2009

Parsley
Female
Foxhound mix
Estimated date of birth: April 1, 2008

Parker
Male
Catahoula Leopard mix
Estimated date of birth: May 14, 2008

Holly
Female
Basenji mix
Estimated date of birth: Dec. 1, 2005

For more information on adopting these, or other dogs, visit the Helen Woodward Animal Center!

Pet-Healthy Life
Not only are dogs fun to have around, they can also improve your health. The Doctors are dog owners and advocate having a furry friend, not just because they are cute, but for the health benefits as well. Owning a dog has been shown to calm nerves and lower blood pressure.

"Even for kids, pets can have benefits," pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears says. "Kids who have dogs have lower levels of asthma and allergies. And of course, it's great exercise, getting out and walking your dog, running around the yard."

The Helen Woodward Animal Center, the Iams pet food company and 3,500 animal welfare organizations around the world have joined together to help get animals adopted. The groups are attempting to find a home for 1.5 million orphaned pets by January 4 through the Iams Home 4 the Holidays adoption program. Every pet adopted through the program will go home with a starter kit that includes training tips, pet nutrition information and more!

Choking Concerns
Katherine from Lewiston, Maine fed her 9-month-old a raisin and her baby nearly choked. She wrote The Doctors to find out what foods are safe for babies to eat. Dr. Sears explains which foods are choking hazards, which are safe and what to do if your baby begins to choke.

Lumpy-Bumpy Breasts
Candace, 38, has a number of soft, moveable lumps in her breasts that tend to swell and hurt more around her period. She has a history of breast cancer in her family and asks The Doctors if she should be worried.

"Basically, it's fibrocystic changes," Dr. Lisa says. "The lumpy-bumpy breast, that's what we like to call it as gynecologists, they're not definite masses. They're more like ridges. They're more two-dimensional, as opposed to three-dimensional. The key is that they are cyclical. They go with the [menstrual] cyclical changes. You get more tenderness right before the period. So many women are affected by this.

"But you should be concerned because you do have a family history, so you do want to do your breast exam, like you're doing," Dr. Lisa adds. "If you feel something like a pea, grape or M&M - that's three-dimensional -that's something you want to get a mammogram, an ultrasound, maybe a breast biopsy or aspiration, to see if it's benign or not."

Since a fibrocystic breast is more dense and difficult to read on a mammogram than a normal breast, a breast MRI may be needed to check for signs of cancer.

The New Botox?
Jennifer's 35^th birthday is fast approaching, and she is looking for a skin pick-me-up, since sun damage has caused wrinkles to appear around her eyes and forehead. She heard about Dysport, a new alternative to Botox, and wants to know the difference between the two.

"There's a new kid on the block," Dr. Ordon says. "Botox now has a competitor, and I think it's a healthy, friendly competition. Dysport is basically the same product, botulinum toxin A, which blocks the transmission of nerves. It prevents you from being able to contract your muscles, and in turn, stops wrinkles. They claim that [Dysport] is less painful to use, and its onset is quicker."

Jennifer is pleased with the results of her Dysport injections. "I absolutely love it," she says. "I look like I feel. People always tell me that I look young, and all I would see is my grandmother's forehead when I would look at myself. The lines have gone away, I can't even scrunch my forehead, and the crow's feet are gone."

Dr. Ordon says that both Dysport and Botox are efficient products, and people can respond differently to each, so you should consult with your doctor.

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OAD 10/23/09

The Best and Worst for Your Body

Bras for Every Body

Bra fittings are essential, and changing your bra can change your life. See which one is best for you!

Cookie Dough Dangers
When whipping up a delicious batch of cookies, baking tradition dictates licking the batter off the spoon. But a recent spate of E. coli-contaminated cookie dough has people rethinking this culinary custom.

"This is very uncommon," E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork says, "but if you want cookie dough, stick to cookie dough ice cream."

Acetaminophen
Common over-the-counter pain relievers may have toxic and even fatal side effects. Acetaminophen overdose is the leading cause of liver failure in the United States, and health officials are considering lowering recommended dosage amounts of the popular pain reliever.

"You should never have more than 4 grams, or 4000 mg, [of Acetaminophen] a day, but in some cases, that may even be too much," Dr. Travis says. "People are showing signs of liver failure at lower doses."

When used properly, acetaminophen is a safe and effective drug. Acetaminophen overdoses occur because people often don't realize that the substance is in a variety of medications that they take. To avoid problems, check the ingredients of your prescription and over-the-counter medications, and be cognizant of the amounts you consume.

Best Fast-Food Options
Jackie, a busy mother of five, confesses that she and her kids are fast-food junkies. Like many American families, they turn to junk food because it's quick, convenient and readily available. But, most of the meals are packed with calories, fat and sodium. Next time you step up to the counter at your favorite fast-food joint, choose these healthier alternatives!

KFC
Original Recipe Chicken Breast (without skin or breading) with Corn on The Cob and Green Beans
240 calories
2.5 grams of fat

Taco Bell
Fresco Steak Burrito Supreme
330 calories
8 grams of fat

Wendy's
Mandarin Chicken Salad with crispy noodles and oriental sesame dressing
420 calories
14.5 grams of fat

McDonald's
Egg McMuffin
300 calories
12 grams of fat

Best Way to Prevent a Bladder Infection
Blood, water and toxins are filtered through the kidneys and then travel through the ureters to the bladder. If bacteria get into the bladder, they irritate the lining, causing a bladder infection, also known as cystitis.

"A bladder infection is not going to go away on its own," OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says. "If you've had one for 24 hours or more, see your doctor and get some antibiotics."

Tips to Prevent a Bladder Infection:
• Drink lots of water
• Drink cranberry juice, as it can prevent bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall
• Urinate directly after intercourse
• Wear underwear that allows the vagina to breathe
• Wipe from front to back
• Keep the area clean

Best Diet
The best diet is one that includes 50 percent good carbohydrates, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains; 30 percent protein, such as fish or meat; and 20 percent good fat such as olive oil. Stay away from the so-called bad carbohydrates: sugars, refined grains and starches.

Best Treatment for a Scratched Eye
Dust, dirt and debris can get into the eye and scratch the cornea, causing a corneal abrasion.

"Much like cutting your skin, you're literally cutting the membrane of the eye," Dr. Travis says. "It's very painful. And just like your skin, most corneal abrasions will heal."

If you get something in your eye, rinse it with saline solution. Make sure to remove the offending foreign object, and if you suspect your cornea is damaged, be sure to seek medical care. A doctor will prescribe antibiotics to stave off infection and can perform fluorescent staining, a procedure that identifies the location of the cut in order to treat it.

Best Fever Medication
"Never give aspirin to children," says pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears, "especially if they have a fever. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are great, but never aspirin." Naproxen sodium, the active ingredient in Aleve, should only be taken by children over the age of 13. "It's usually used for more serious conditions," Dr. Jim adds.

Best Way to Prevent Getting and Spreading the Flu
• Sneeze or cough into a tissue or your elbow
• Wash your hands frequently
• Eat a healthy diet chock full of fruits and vegetables
• Exercise three to four times a week
• Get at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night
• Get a flu shot

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OAD 10/22/09

Total Body Repair

Iraq Star: A New Life
While on duty in Iraq, Randy, 23, lost his right eye and part of his right leg as a result of a bomb explosion.

"I was driving down a main road in Iraq when our truck got hit by an IED [improvised explosive device], and it sent shrapnel to [my] face and severed my leg," Randy says. "Every day I wake up thinking I'm waking up from a nightmare."

The Dr. Phil Show surprised Randy with the news that the Iraq Star Foundation and oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Michael Groth will give him the reconstructive surgery needed to repair his eye. The Iraq Star Foundation is a non-profit foundation dedicated to providing necessary reconstructive surgeries to assist war veterans recovering from physical and mental injuries.

Dr. Groth describes the intricate surgery, which entails replacing the volume in the eye's orbit and inserting a life-like artificial eye implant. Go inside the operating room with Dr. Groth and plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon to see the amazing procedure.

A New Eye

Doctors constructed an artificial eyeball to match Randy's other eye. See the amazing results of his eye reconstruction and how Randy is doing now.

• Make a $10 donation to Iraq Star and receive an HONOR BACK camouflage wristband.

"Reconstructing a lost eye is one of the greatest challenges we have as plastic surgeons," Dr. Groth says. "Randy was missing most of his upper lid, half of his lower lid, the entire eyeball and most of the muscles around the eye."

"I feel great!" Randy says. "Words can't even really explain how good I feel now. My comfort zone of going out in front of people [is much greater]. Before Dr. Groth and the surgeries, there was no way that I would come up here in front of people, let alone strangers. It's given me strength and courage to finally come out again, and it's just amazing."

Laser Bra Surgery
Meredith, 29, has experienced health problems, such as severe back pain, due to her size E chest.

To help alleviate her pain, plastic surgeon Dr. David Stoker performs a laser bra surgery. The procedure creates an internal brassiere made from excess skin and preserves and maintains the blood supply to the nipple and areola so Meredith will have nipple sensation and be able to breastfeed in the future.

Watch Dr. Stoker perform Meredith's procedure.

Menstrual Cycle

OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson describes a woman's normal menstrual cycle and explains why it can be irregular.

Removing Shrapnel
Rich, the executive in charge of The Doctors, is a Vietnam veteran and has shrapnel embedded in his leg from a grenade attack that occurred in 1968. Even though most of the debris was removed, recently pieces of metal have resurfaced to the top of his skin.

"It's been visible for a couple of years, and then it just kept getting closer to the surface, to the point where it was irritating me if I touched it or slept on my right side," Rich says.

"Most foreign bodies, whether it's a small splinter, a piece of wood, or in Rich's case, shrapnel, and even bullets a lot of times, we'll leave those in the patient," E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork says. "Your body will form inflammation around that foreign body and nothing happens. But in some cases, if something gets under your skin, and you see redness, it's painful, it's irritated or if any sort of puss comes out of it, then you've got to worry that it's infected, and it needs to come out under professional guidance."

Watch Dr. Ordon and fellow plastic surgeon Dr. Ritu Chopra remove the last pieces of shrapnel from Rich's leg.

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OAD 10/21/09

Ask Our Doctors: After Dark

Sleep Solutions

Sleep specialist Dr. Michael J. Breus shares the best treatments for jetlag, insomnia and sleep disorders.

Sex Mistakes
Sex mistakes you didn't know you were making!

1. Racing through sex.
Slow down! Take your time and rediscover your partner's body.

2. Having sex at the same time, in the same place.
Change it up! Try a different location, plan a romantic rendezvous.

3. Having predictable foreplay.
OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says, "It's about getting a woman to the ultimate O. There are a lot of things that lead up to it and a lot of buttons, and what you want to do is find out where all her buttons are!"

4. Not being playful in the bedroom.
"You have to laugh in the bedroom," plastic surgeon Dr. Ordon notes with a smile.

5. Having sex during or after you watch TV.
Quite a few sleep studies indicate that the bedroom should be reserved for sex and sleeping only!

6. Not having enough physical contact.Physical touch and affection are critical for a healthy relationship, so reach out and give your honey a squeeze!

Study Smart
College students are notorious for pulling all-nighters to cram for tests, often turning to stimulants to fuel their study sessions. One such stimulant is caffeine, but is it safe in tablet form?

E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork says that you may retain more information with a little bit of caffeine in your system, but each pill contains 200 mg of caffeine, which is more than a double espresso. Consuming caffeine late at night can disrupt your sleep schedule. A message to college students: all-nighters don't work.

"During sleep, your brain processes all that information you've been studying," Dr. Travis says. Without sleep, you will not retain the information. It's a waste of time to try to stay up."

Dining in the Dark

Can dining in the dark promote weight loss? Alexis and Shane give new meaning to a blind date ... watch their experience in infrared!

Study Tips:
• Have a maximum of 300mg of caffeine per day, preferably in the morning
• Stay hydrated
• Exercise
• Get lots of sleep
• Take breaks -- get up, walk around and get some fresh air
• Eat a light dinner before a night of studying
• Eat healthy protein snacks
• Minimize sugar intake

If you have a loved one in college, surprise them with a Box-O-Box care package!

Hangover Help
There isn't a cure for hangovers, but the best remedy for over-indulging is prevention. Dr. Travis suggests always drinking one glass of water for every alcoholic beverage. Drink slowly, choose your drinks wisely and make sure you have food in your system before a night out.

Dr. Ordon suggests taking a multi-vitamin the morning before a big night out, eating a banana for extra potassium and popping 200 to 400mg of ibuprofen before bedtime.

Oxygen bars are touted as the latest hangover remedy in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Doctors sidle up to an oxygen bar with Lauren, who is heading to Vegas for a bachelorette party, to test it out.

Night Sweats

OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson explains night sweats and how to treat them.

Nighttime Fevers
Body temperature increases at night around dinnertime, regardless of whether you have a fever. When you do have a fever, time in the day can exacerbate the symptoms.

"Kids, especially, have problems at night with croup, ear infections and runny noses, also because they're [lying] horizontally," pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears explains. "It's normal that the fever would go up a little bit at night. Just treat it with the normal fever precautions -- a little Tylenol or Motrin every four to six hours."

Night Blindness
If you're having trouble seeing at night, be sure to book an appointment with a qualified eye doctor as quickly as possible. Ophthalmologist Dr. Roger Steinert says that many conditions can hinder an individual's ability to see at night, ranging from something as benign as needing corrective lenses to something as serious as cataracts or retinal degeneration.

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OAD 10/20/09

What to Know About Self-Diagnosing

Why Am I Tired?
Maryann, 23, is a busy graduate student who reports feeling fatigued, lightheaded and shaky at times. She fears her symptoms may mean that she has anemia or hypoglycemia and turns to The Doctors for help.

Anemia is a condition that occurs when your body lacks enough healthy red blood cells. It can be triggered by iron deficiency, and one of the major symptoms is fatigue.

Online Physicians

The high cost of medical care has made it tempting for some people to consult doctors via the Internet. The Doctors puts online physicians to the test. Do they make the grade?

Hypoglycemia occurs when your blood sugar is too low. According to internist and CBS medical correspondent Dr. Holly Phillips, "As a medical illness, it really has to do with how your body uses insulin and how it controls blood sugar. All of us can experience periods of low blood sugar if you just don't have anything to eat for a period of time. But as a medical illness, hypoglycemia is another issue."

The Doctors sends Maryann to Dr. Phillips, who performs a series of blood tests to see if Maryann's problems are indeed due to anemia and hypoglycemia. The test results reveal that Maryann does not suffer from either illness.

"Maryann, you're just like so many of my patients," Dr. Phillips says. "You're tired. You're a young grad student, working full-time, studying full-time, trying to find the time to spend with your friends and family and be social. And you're really burning the candle at both ends. You're exhausted.

"So I think part of the reason you're feeling tired," she adds, "is because you are tired. You've really got to work on getting that energy level up."

Dr. Phillips suggests that Maryann eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet that includes leafy greens, fruits and protein-rich snacks, and make sure she gets enough sleep.

The Suicide Disease
Sandra, 51, suffers from trigeminal neuralgia, also known as the "suicide disease" because it causes excruciating jolts of pain to shoot through the face and can make people feel like killing themselves. See Sandra's painful story.

"This is the mother of all pinched nerves," neurosurgeon Dr. Neil Martin explains. "This is what happens when the trigeminal nerve, which comes out of the brain stem and goes to your face and provides sensation, gets pinched, usually by a blood vessel."

Dr. Martin details the condition, what Sandra's brain scan revealed and how he surgically treated her.

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
For the last year, Laura's 4-year-old son, Korbin, has been twitching, shaking and clenching his body while he sleeps. Concerned, Laura turned to the Internet for answers. Her research has led her to believe that Korbin is suffering from periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD).

PLMD Symptoms

• Poor sleep and daytime sleepiness
• Leg and limb movements during sleep
• Knee, ankle and big toe joints bend at night

"[PLMD] is not that common, it's a little rare," pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears says. "I can think of some other problems first.

"There's some important things you've got to do to make sure this is the true diagnosis," Dr. Jim adds. "First off, you've got to get a sleep study [done]. Now they can do these at home, too. You used to have to go to a sleep lab. ... You really have to talk to your doctor, because there are also some other causes for these symptoms. Sometimes kids that are anemic, or have poor circulation or kidney problems could have these types of symptoms, too."

Treatments for PLMD include massages, relaxation techniques, and, in serious cases, medication.

Self-Medication
Jannette from Orlando, Florida says that she gets strep throat three to four times a year and is tired of going to the doctor. She has stocked up on antibiotics over the years and self-medicates when she begins showing symptoms. She asks The Doctors if she is doing the right thing.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon explains the dangers of self-medicating and overusing antibiotics.

New Ways to Restore Your Body

Obesity and Contraception
Can obesity impact the efficacy of birth control pills? OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says that extra body weight interferes with a woman's hormones and can make her less fertile. Excess body weight can also lessen the effect of birth control pills.

"As gynecologists, we have known for awhile that obesity may play a part in the efficacy of contraception," Dr. Lisa says. "But there aren't any parameters right now. The idea that you would give a person who is obese a stronger or a higher estrogen-containing birth control pill would only increase her risk of blood clots, heart attacks and strokes."

If you are overweight, be sure to consult your doctor to craft an individualized birth control regimen that is appropriate for you.

New Burn Treatment
Twenty-one-year-old triplets Jordan, Trae and Chandra were severely burned in a house fire when they were young children. See the breakthrough treatment that helps restore their skin and their lives.

The triplets describe themselves as burn survivors, rather than burn victims, and want to help others experience the same transformation that the laser treatments provided them.

"We've been so blessed with great people to help us out, and we've been able to get the treatments," Jordan says, "that we really wanted to pay it forward. So the girls and I started our own foundation called Three for Hope, to empower and inspire other burn survivors and spread the message of hope."

Mary was badly burned in a house fire as an infant. Twenty years later, she lives with the scars of the horrifying event. The triplets surprise Mary onstage with a Lumenis laser treatment, performed by dermatologist Dr. Jill Waibel.

Two-for-One Tummy Tuck
Since giving birth to twins five years ago, Erin, 36, has not been able to regain her pre-pregnancy belly. Plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon says that Erin is a classic case of someone who has diastasis recti, the separation of the left and right rectus abdominis muscle in the abdomen. No amount of exercise can repair the condition and surgical intervention is required.

Dr. Ordon performs his signature two-for-one tummy tuck that promises to restore Erin's muscles and skin. Watch the surgery and see the amazing results!

Diastasis recti cannot always be avoided. However, Dr. Lisa recommends that women exercise their abdominal muscles before they get pregnant and minimize weight gain during pregnancy.

Frequent Nosebleeds
Does your child suffer from frequent nosebleeds? The culprit, says pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears, are the blood vessels in the nasal septum. Due to their proximity to the surface, the vessels are prone to bleeding, as the nasal septum can dry out fairly easily, effectively rupturing the vessels. Environmental factors such as the change in seasons can trigger nosebleeds.

"To stop a nosebleed, hold the nose, and lean the head forward for at least 10 minutes," E.R. physician Dr. Travis adds.

How to Prevent or Minimize Nosebleeds:
• Use a humidifier to keep the bedroom moist
• Use moisturizing nasal sprays
• Spread petroleum jelly into the nasal cavity

If all else fails, doctors can cauterize blood vessels in the nose with silver nitrate. If your child continues to have frequent nosebleeds, be sure to consult your doctor, as certain types may indicate a blood clotting problem.

Migraines
Dr. Travis explains that migraine headaches are thought to be caused by the dilation of blood vessels in the brain. The dilated vessels pull on nerve receptors located near the blood vessels, causing pain signals to be sent to the brain. The result is a terrible, throbbing headache with a variety of symptoms. Migraines are difficult to treat, as symptoms and triggers vary among individuals.

How to Overcome Health Obstacles

Alex's Story

Donate to Alex's Fund

Read more about Alex's story, and see how you can help fund a deep-brain stimulation operation for her through The Dr. Phil Foundation.

Alex, 27, appeared on The Doctors and shared her struggle with dystonia, a neurological movement disorder that causes muscles to contract and spasm involuntarily. The muscle contractions force Alex's body into repetitive and often twisting movements, as well as awkward, irregular postures. Presently, there is no cure for dystonia, but multiple treatment options exist, including physical, speech and voice therapy, medications, Botox and surgery.

Talk-show host and best-selling author Montel Williams visited Alex to give her inspirational advice and helped her garner the courage to walk down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills with her head held high.

Alex returns to The Doctors a more confident woman, but is still searching for medical answers. A video taped segment features Alex and Montel meeting with leading experts about her condition at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"Going to Boston was a complete eye-opener," Alex says. "After going to 20-plus neurologists and doctors, saying I was crazy, that I was making this up in my head, that I was doing this for attention and nothing was wrong with me, Montel [gave me] the sweetest thing anyone has ever given me. We went there, talked to the doctor who made it a point and actually said, 'You do have dystonia. You're not making it up. You're not crazy, you don't have to go see a psychiatrist. There is something wrong with you.'"

Swine Flu Vaccine

Is the swine flu vaccine safe? Should you get it? Former acting Surgeon General of the United States Rear Admiral Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H. joins The Doctors to answer H1N1 vaccine questions.

Alex met with neurosurgeon Dr. Emad Eskandar to find out more about deep-brain stimulation as a treatment option.

Dr. Eskandar says that Alex is a candidate for the procedure and explains what deep-brain stimulation entails. "In her case it's a process, it's not an immediate thing," he says. "It's a two-stage surgery. In one case, we put in the deep-brain stimulators. That part is done with her awake just so we can test her and make sure we're in the right place. Then [there is] a smaller surgery later to put the pulse generator in. And then, we turn it on. [With] dystonia, unlike other things, like Parkinson's disease, it takes time for it to take effect, so we expect gradual improvement over a period of three-to-six months.

"The ideal would be that once it's all in and turned on and adjusted and so on, that a casual observer or someone just walking down the street looking at her would have no idea that there was anything wrong with her," Dr. Eskandar adds. "That would be our goal."

Montel's Food House Call

Montel's Healthy Recipes

Do you want your family to eat healthier? Montel shares his easy-to-make, nutritious recipes!

Like many American families, the Gordon's dinners aren't always well-balanced and healthy. Eating well is essential for any family, and Montel makes a house call to teach Kimberly, 42; Glenn, 41; Tatum, 15; Tanner, 13; Truth, 11; and Timothy, 5 what they are doing wrong and how they can eat more nutritious meals.

Montel says that substituting a grilled or baked fish, instead of a large piece of meat, can make a big difference.

Pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears adds, "Fish is good for just about every part of your body. It's good for your brain. But most importantly, it's good for your heart. It helps improve your cholesterol and your lipids; it helps increase HDL, which is the good cholesterol."

Web Exclusive
Montel uses an animation to show how simple changes to the food you eat can change a meal from bland and unhealthy to colorful and nutritious.

At-Home Colon Test
Colon cancer has a 90 percent cure rate when detected early, and the Colon Health Check, a new at-home fecal occult blood test, may be able to help you detect blood in your stool, which is a symptom of colorectal cancer.

"You take it one time, and it's simple," Montel says. "You do it at home, and it's almost like a home pregnancy test. You take a little tester -- and every now and then, you should look in that toilet before you flush it -- you dip it [into your bowel movement], poke it six times, put it back into a little bottle, shake it up and you put two drops on a little reader. That reader will come up either negative with one stripe or positive with two stripes. If it comes up [positive], then you know that you need to see your doctor because you may have something going on inside of you.

"Colon cancer affects 150,000 people every single year," Montel adds. "Fifty-thousand people die from it [every year in the US]. It's an equal-opportunity killer, male and female. And we know for a fact it is the one cancer that we can eradicate just through early detection."

E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork emphasizes that the Colon Health Check is not a substitute for a colonoscopy. "After age 50, it's recommended that everyone get a colonoscopy," Dr. Travis says. "It's the only way to detect early cancers, because, a lot of times, a polyp won't bleed until it's too late."

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OAD 10/14/09

Ask Our Doctors: Recurring Ailments

Bye-Bye Body Odor
Recurring body odor can be a frustrating and embarrassing problem.

New Treatment for Hemorrhoids

Dr. Ordon explains a new treatment for internal hemorrhoids and offers prevention tips:

• Eat high-fiber foods
• Use laxatives or stool softeners if constipated, and don't strain
• Apply over-the-counter creams and ointments can help with discomfort

"It's a natural phenomenon," plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon says. "We all sweat, and the bacteria that live on our body like that sweat. They consume that sweat and actually form that bad odor. It's not the sweat itself; it's the bacteria feeding on the sweat."

Some people tend to sweat more than others, which can increase odor-causing bacteria. Several medications, treatments and procedures, such as Botox and Vaser, can combat perspiration and reduce body odor.

To curb the offending odor, use a combination of antiperspirant and deodorant. "I actually use two separate products, one and then the other," Dr. Ordon says.

Certain foods and drinks, such as curry and vodka, can cause your body to release odors, as well.

Eliminate Bad Breath
Foul-smelling morning breath is a common issue almost everyone encounters with because of the lack of saliva in your mouth at night. But if your bad breath continues throughout the day, there are ways to eradicate it.

In addition to regular brushing and flossing, eating foods like apples and carrots can eliminate food particles and bacteria in your mouth. Drinking plenty of water and chewing cinnamon-flavored gum can improve your breath. If you eat garlic, beware, because the smell can come out through the lungs for a day or two after consumption.

Makeup Help

Win a Temptu

For a chance to win a Temptu AIRbrush Makeup System, click here!

Is your makeup actually causing you to have acne breakouts? Dr. Ordon explains why this happens, and what to do to avoid it.

Kathy, 21, suffers from acne and blemishes, and wonders if her dirty makeup brushes are to blame, since she rarely cleans them. Airbrush makeup artist Kristina applies makeup using the Temptu AIRbrush Makeup System, a system that reduces contamination from brushes and fingers, and can help prevent acne. See the amazing results!

Chronic Neck Pain
Kristina, 41, suffered a ruptured disk in her neck as a result of a car accident, causing her severe neck pain that has affected her life tremendously.

"The pain is constant, stabbing, pretty much unbearable," she says. "Cleaning the house used to take me 20 to 30 minutes a day, and now I can't do anything."

She has tried ice, salt, physical therapy and cortisone shots to combat the chronic pain, but to no avail.

"I have a 6-year-old and a 20-year-old," she says, "and life shouldn't be this way. I should be enjoying it with them."

Neurosurgical spine specialist Dr. Ian Armstrong performs a new surgery on Kristina, using adult stem cells from cadavers. Dr. Armstrong explains how the procedure helps patients like Kristina feel better just days after surgery.

"It's amazing," Kristina says. "My neck does not hurt. I am ready to go play with my son. I'm ready to have my life back. I'm ready to go back to exercising. And this is [only] four days [after surgery]!"

Dr. Armstrong's Tips for Preventing Neck Pain
• Maintain good posture.
• Keep the muscles around the spine in good shape.

Preventing Allergies

Dr. Ordon's tips to prevent allergies in the bedroom:

• Use dust-proof covers for pillows and the mattress
• Use an air conditioner
• Clean regularly
• Wash curtains, drapes and sheets frequently

• Avoid excessive heavy or strenuous activity, and use proper mechanics when doing heavy lifting.

Allergy Relief
Are allergies preventing you from getting a good night's sleep? JoAnn, 38, suffers from allergies that make it difficult to breathe, especially at night.

Allergens come from dust, dust mites or pollen, and sleeping with the windows open can exacerbate their effects. An air purifier, such as the PureNight Pure Air System, can also help alleviate nighttime allergies. Allergist Dr. Richard Morris explains how the PureNight System works as JoAnn tests it out.

Pinworm Problem
Approximately 40 million cases of pinworm infestations are reported in the United States every year. Pinworms are a big problem caused by small parasites that live in the gut.

"It's really, really common and doesn't have a whole lot to do with hygiene or anything, so don't feel bad about it," pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears says. "They look like little, tiny pieces of string [around the anus,] and they wiggle. They come out at night and lay their eggs on the outside of the anus and cause itching. While you're asleep, you tend to scratch down there if it is itching, and somehow those eggs get on your fingers, find their way into your mouth and get down in your gut again and start their whole life cycle over."

Acid Reflux

Do you notice that you have acid reflux when you eat certain foods? Gastrointestinal surgeon Dr. Kevin Reavis explains why this happens and reveals a new treatment for this problem.

Dr. Jim advises that if your child is complaining of itching, check for pinworms at night by using a flashlight to inspect the anal area for tiny, white, threadlike worms. If you find them, call your doctor in the morning, and he or she will prescribe an anti-worm medication.

If you do not see pinworms when your child is complaining of itching, you can place a piece of clear tape over the anal area for a few seconds in the morning. Take the piece of tape to your doctor to see if he or she can find eggs on it with a microscope.

To keep pinworms from coming back, make sure to keep your child's fingernails short and clean and to wash his or her hands often. Also, the worms can live on clothing and bedding for several weeks, so be sure to launder them regularly.

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OAD 10/14/09

Top "C" Words Everyone Hates

Cold vs. Flu

Learn how to tell the difference between the common cold, the flu and H1N1 virus. MORE...

Rebound After C-Section
Women who have had a C-section may find that chewing gum can help restore digestive function. OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson notes that during a C-section, doctors must move the stomach in order to get to the uterus.

This intrusion can shock the stomach and cause it to stop performing peristalsis, a series of organized muscle contractions required for digestion.

"But when you chew gum," Dr. Lisa explains, "the chewing motion will activate the digestive juices down in the abdomen to get that motion to start back up, and get the bowels to start moving, and get a bowel movement going."

Constipation
Gastroenterologist Dr. Lin Chang from the Division of Digestive Diseases at UCLA says that the first thing she does with a patient who complains of chronic constipation is rule out whether the condition is due to a secondary cause -- an underlying medical condition that causes it - i.e. diabetes, thyroid disease or colon cancer -- or a primary cause - i.e. the colon moves stool slowly, or a pelvic floor problem impedes bowel evacuation.

One test Dr. Chang performs is a SITZ marker test, which determines if constipation iis caused by a slow transit of stool in the colon or if a patient has a pelvic floor problem. The normal transit time of stool is 72 hours.
"The reason you want to determine that [it's problem with the pelvic floor] is the treatment is different," Dr. Chang says. "You don't just give laxatives and medicines. You have to get something called biofeedback. That's the best treatment."

"Most cases of short-term constipation are due to things like your diet," E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork adds. "You're not getting enough fiber and you're not getting enough fluids."

Chronic Cough
If you've had a chronic cough that has lasted more than eight weeks, see your doctor for x-rays and further testing for serious conditions such as lung cancer, tuberculosis and underlying lung disease.

"Most causes of a chronic cough are something intrinsic to the lungs, such as asthma, allergies, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), reflux disease or chronic post-nasal drip," Dr. Travis explains.

Chickenpox
Chickenpox is caused by the highly contagious varicella-zoster virus and is transmitted through the air as well as through skin-to-skin contact. Dr. Travis explains how chickenpox infects the body.

Ninety percent of chickenpox infections occur during childhood, but adult infections have serious ramifications. To prevent contracting the virus, adults can get vaccinated. Some adults may already be immune to chickenpox if they carry the antibodies, which can be determined through a blood test.

"Pregnant women should see if they're immune to it," Dr. Lisa advises. "Because it's really bad if they get it when they're pregnant, and then they should wait three months until after they get the vaccine [to get pregnant]."

Colic
As any parent can attest, a colicky baby is an unhappy baby. Pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears discusses colic and the best ways to prevent and treat the condition.

Calluses
Podiatrist Dr. Philip Radovic, from California Foot and Ankle Associates, explains the difference between corns and calluses and the best way to treat them.

Pain-Free Cavity Prevention
Cosmetic dentist Dr. Bill Dorfman says that people can avoid cavities on the top of their teeth if they have clear resin sealants bonded to their molars at age 6 and then again at age 12. Dr. Bill performs the procedure on his daughter Georgie and explains how it can prevent tooth decay.

Health Hearsay: Lipstick Lore
Contrary to urban myth, lipstick does not cause cancer, assures Liz Vacciarello, editor in chief of Prevention. The magazine reports that lipstick does contain trace amounts of lead, but the levels are so low they are of little concern.

"Here's a way to put it into context," Liz explains. "If you have a dirty, dusty house or find lead in your soil, there are hundreds of parts per million of lead in those areas. Lipstick has about .1 to 3 parts per million. So the amounts in an entire tube of lipstick are next to nothing."

"Children absorb up to 50 percent of lead," Dr. Travis adds, "whereas adults absorb only five to eight percent. So wearing lipstick as a mom? No big deal. But you don't want your kids eating lipstick."

OAD 10/12/09

Ashamed of My Body: New Solutions!

Inside a Nose Reconstruction

AJ, 21, has breathing problems because of his crooked nose. Go inside his nose reconstruction and see the amazing results!

The Doctors enter the "no-shame zone" and present new solutions to your embarrassing body problems.

Pit Problem
Ginger, 35, and her sister Amanda, 33, share a problem that leaves them feeling insecure. Both have over-active sweat glands and perspire profusely, even in cold weather. Not only does their sweat leave stains on their clothing, but it is often accompanied by an unpleasant odor.

"[Amanda] is still brave enough to buy white shirts," Ginger says. "I don't even buy them anymore."

Ginger and Amanda have tried everything from prescription-strength antiperspirants, to medications to lining their armpits with panty liners to stop the sweating, but none of the methods haved worked. Today, the sisters undergo the Vaser prodecure to eliminate their excessive perspiration for good!

Plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon explains the difference between using deodorant and antiperspirant and demonstrates how the Vaser procedure helps to regulate excessive sweating.

Hemorrhoid Relief

If you suffer from hemorrhoids, see a new device that helps relieve the pain!

Labia Bleaching
Sally Twittered The Doctors for their opinion on a very personal topic: she thinks her labia is discolored and she wants to bleach it, and asks if it is safe.

OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson explains the various colors of the labia and what they mean, and presents a product that can safely change the color down there.

Kick "Cankles" to the Curb
Cankles is a slang term for ankles with little or no definition between where the ankle ends and the calf begins.Natalie is so ashamed of her cankles that she wears only pants and long skirts. Dr. Ordon performs 3-D liposuction sculpting to give Natalie's ankles the more shapely look she desires.

See Natalie's legs after the surgery! And, Dr. Ordon explains the procedure.

For more on cankles and treatment options, read Dr. Ordon's blog.

Help for Brittle Nails

Do your brittle nails bother you? The Doctors offer treatments for your nail troubles.

Belly Fat Quick Fix
Ladies, are you embarrassed by your man's beer belly? Jeanine wants to find a quick fix to shrink her boyfriend Justin's stomach.

"There's no such thing as a quick fix," E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork says. "The only thing to truly fix the beer belly is, over time, improving diet and being active."

For years, women have used garments such as girdles and, more recently, Spanx to corset their bellies and create a slimmer waistline. Now there is a product made specifically for men - the Equmen core precision undershirt.

"It's supposed to trim you, it's supposed to support your core," Dr. Ordon says. "It helps your posture and should make you shrink several inches."

"Maybe [wear it] for that special evening," Dr. Lisa says, "and then you have to go back to the exercise and the diet. But if you have to go for an interview or something and you want to look nice, that may be an answer, just like it is for women. It's a good option, but you still have to exercise."

Justin wears the Equmen and sees dramatic results in his pot belly. It even temporarily cut his waist size by two and a half inches.

"It's really, really tight," Justin says. "After wearing it for a couple of hours, now I know what women go through!"

For more about the products mentioned on this show please go to Related Resources
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OAD 10/9/09

Things You Must Tell Your Doctor

When it comes to your health, honesty isn't just the best policy, it's the only policy. The long, sometimes tedious forms doctors have you fill out do serve an important purpose because your doctors need to know what is going on with your health status and history before treating you for any problem. The Doctors reveal the information you must share with your physician.

What To Tell Your Doctor

Check out The Doctors' list of things you must tell your physician!

... Before Surgery
Prior to going under the knife, it is essential that your body is prepared to endure the surgery and heal properly. While many may reach for ibuprofen and aspirin, these over-the-counter treatments for aches and pains actually reduce the blood's ability to clot, which can cause excessive bleeding. Because of this, physicians instruct their patients to avoid these pain relievers before a procedure. Doctors also recommend staying away from fizzing antacids before surgery, which can also put you in danger by reducing the bodies blood-clotting ability. Be sure to avoid these medications before an operation, and if you do take them, your doctor needs to know.

See how ibuprofen, aspirin and antacids affect your blood.

If you are considering rhinoplasty, yet using nasal decongestant sprays to alleviate a stuffy or runny nose, be sure to tell your surgeon.

"[Decongestants] can help you breathe better," plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon says. "But what happens is that the inside of your nose actually gets sensitized to the spray or the drops and you get a rebound phenomenon, which means that when it wears off, all the blood vessels open up. So what happens is you are set up to get more bleeding in surgery and have poor healing. It's something that the doctor really needs to know, and you actually need to be off of these things for three months before undergoing elective nasal surgery."

Did you have a body piercing as a teen, but removed it long ago? Before going under the knife, you need to tell your doctor about any and all body piercings -- even if they have been removed. Dr. Ordon explains why.

Medications and Birth Control

Certain medications can affect how well your birth control works. Here are a few that can reduce the effectiveness of your pill:

• Penicillin
• Amoxicillin
• Tetracycline
• Phenobarbital
• Others

...About Your Sex Life
Suffering from reoccurring yeast infections? The lubricant you use during sex may be to blame. Dr. Lisa Masterson reveals which lubricants can put you at risk for infection, and which ones won't.

And it's not just the ladies who need to disclose information. Men need to open up to their doctors about their sex life as well. Failing to tell your doctor that you're taking erectile dysfunction medication can be fatal. E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork demonstrates why.

...About Your Mouth
If your gums are bleeding, you may be inclined to tell your dentist, but did your know that you also need to tell your primary care physician? The Doctors explain why bleeding gums could be a sign of a bigger problem.

Brushing your teeth is essential to good hygiene and health, and the best way to maintain a healthy mouth is to start young. Actress Jennie Garth volunteers with Smiles Across America, an organization that helps underserved children get the oral hygiene care they need, to teach kids how to take care of their teeth.

See Jennie's favorite brushing tip that she uses with her own children!

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OAD 10/08/09

When Your Health Changes in an Instant

Ask the Triplets!

Have a question or advice for the triplets? Write them HERE!

The Triplets' Surprise!
Identical triplets Erica, Jaclyn and Nicole announce their pregnancies. The sisters have their ultrasounds live onstage to find out the answer to the question everyone wants to know ... are the triplets carrying triplets?

Watch and find out!

Morning Sickness
Executive producer of The Doctors Jay McGraw asks OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson why his wife, Erica, who is four months pregnant, has never experienced morning sickness.

Placenta Previa
Nicole is six months along and has learned she has a condition called placenta previa. Dr. Lisa explains what that means and how that will affect Nicole's delivery options.

I'm Going to Be a Grandpa!

Dr. Phil blogs about becoming a grandparent for the first time!

Abdominal Pain during Pregnancy
Jacyln is five-and-a-half months pregnant and recounts the severe abdominal pain that sent her to the emergency room. Dr. Lisa details reasons for pain, and why it's important to seek medical attention immediately.

What to Eat When You're Expecting
Pregnant women should eat 1,800 to 3,000 calories per day, depending on their pre-pregnancy weight. The triplets whip up preggo-friendly snacks.

"You're not eating for two ... or three, or four! You only need 300 more calories a day," Dr. Lisa advises.

See the complete list of foods you should and shouldn't eat when pregnant.

Varicose Vein Procedure
When the viewers speak out, The Doctors listens! Debbie from Wichita, Kansas wanted The Doctors to produce a show about how to get rid of varicose veins. She submitted her idea to ProduceTheDoctors.com, and it was selected as a topic for the show. Vein specialist Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian demonstrates a way to reverse the unsightly blood vessels using the foam sclerotherapy procedure on Sabrina, 41.

Read more about varicose veins.

Produce the Doctors!

Submit YOUR ideas to www.ProduceTheDoctors.com!

Rotator Cuff Repair
Sharon, 63, tore her rotator cuff several months ago and was in a great deal of pain.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. William Stetson explains what happens when someone tears a rotator cuff and details the arthroscopic surgery that can repair it.

"It's just three small incisions," Dr. Stetson explains. "Sharon just went home the same day. She didn't have the big incisions, so her recovery time will be much faster than an open surgery."

OAD 10/7/09

Body Sounds Explained

The Physician Musician

Why We Sneeze

Dr. Ordon explains what causes a sneeze and why it's dangerous to hold it in.

• See the faces we make and the germs we emit from the beginning of a sneeze to the end. Footage courtesy of a public service announcement from the Department of Health in South Australia.

Physician Dr. John Clarke, also known as the Physician Musician, created a rap to inform people about the H1N1 virus. Watch as Dr. Clarke turns plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon from an M.D. to an MC and busts a rhyme about the swine flu!

• OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson blogs about the H1N1 vaccine for pregnant women.

Gassy Situation
While both are caused by gas, burps and flatulence are brought on in different ways.

Bubbles created by bacteria in the gut cause the average person to pass gas approximately 10 times a day.

"It's actually healthy," OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says. "Like after you have surgery, if you don't pass gas, you can have really painful gas pains. That's why we get you up and have you walk around."

Farting is a natural bodily function, but when smells are emitted, it can be embarrassing. E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork explains that compounds in the gut such as hydrogen sulfide can give off an unpleasant odor.

"These are gasses produced by bacteria that usually live in the colon," Dr. Ordon says.

If you have excessive flatulence, take a look at your diet. Eating foods high in fiber, such as beans and broccoli can cause problems for some people.

Burping, on the other hand, is normal after a meal. Belches result from swallowing air when you eat, drink and chew with your mouth open, or when you drink carbonated beverages.

If you experience chest pains, difficulty swallowing or other symptoms when you burp, it could be a sign of something more serious and you should talk with your doctor.

Tinnitus

Do you have a constant ringing in your ears? It may be tinnitus. Find out what it is, why it happens and what new treatment can help stop the unpleasant sounds.

Baby Sounds During Feeding
Does your baby make gasping sounds while feeding? Dr. Jim explains why this happens and what you can do to prevent it.

Pitch Imperfect
Matthew, 20, says his voice has not matured, and he is often mistaken for a woman on the phone. He asks The Doctors what treatments are available to help his voice change.

"If your voice doesn't deepen as a male as you grow older, it's usually because of some hormone problem," Dr. Jim says.

Dr. Jim and Dr. Ordon demonstrate the difference between a young vocal cord and a mature vocal cord.

The Doctors reassure Matthew that there are both surgical and hormonal treatments to help him.

"First off, you need to be supervised by an endocrinologist, so they can see exactly where the hormone problem is; whether it's in your brain or down in your gonads." Dr. Jim says. "Then they'll figure out which hormone to replace. It's going to be supervised, and it's going to take about a year or so. It's going to be injections regularly at a doctor's office, sometimes a gel or a patch. Usually, there really are no side effects to worry about as long as the endocrinologist is supervising perfectly."

One surgical option makes the vocal cords thicker by includes injecting fat in and around the cords to make them thicker and wider, which will deepen a person's voice. Hear the difference in someone's voice before and after this procedure.

Stomach Sounds
Do you know what your stomach is trying to tell you when it makes a growling sound? The Doctors explain what the noises mean, and how you can keep them at bay.

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OAD 10/06/09

Prevention Tips You Need to Know

Breast Cancer Tips

Learn vital information to help prevent and treat breast cancer. MORE...

When it comes to disease, it's far easier to prevent it than fight it. Editor-in-chief of Prevention, Liz Vaccariello, joins The Doctors to provide prevention tips to keep you healthy.

"Prevention magazine has been inspiring and teaching people how to get and stay healthy for more than 60 years," Liz explains. "Nobody wants to get sick, they want to stay healthy and that's what Prevention's all about!"

Boost Your Metabolism
If you want to rev up your metabolism, snack on watermelon! The fruit contains argenine, an amino acid that enhances oxidation, or metabolism, of fat and glucose, and one slice is only 80 calories.

PMS Relief
Crushed by cramps? Try a little cinnamon! The spice may help ease menstrual cramps by increasing blood circulation in the uterus and decreasing pain.

Ear Infections in Babies
If your baby comes down with an ear infection, it may be due to the way you're holding him or her while bottle-feeding. If your baby is lying too far back, the milk can pool in the eustachian tubes, which can lead to infection. By repositioning the baby to an upright position, you can help prevent future ear infections.

Hot Flash Spray
Evamist is the only FDA-approved estrogen spray that can help ease hot flashes often brought on by menopause. "It does have estrogen in it, so you should talk to your doctor about using it first," advises OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson. Evamist is available by prescription only.

Flat Belly Diet
Extra weight in your mid-section increases your risk of many diseases. Belly fat, also known as visceral fat, endangers vital organs by wrapping around them and becoming metabolically active; stimulating hormones, increasing blood pressure, decreasing sensitivity to insulin and other adverse effects.

Liz Vaccariello is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller The Flat Belly Diet that promises to banish belly fat for good. See why!

Try the 28-Day Flat Belly Plan!

Breast Cancer
Every three minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and the best way to prevent the disease is to have early and frequent screenings.
More about breast cancer.

Flu Shot 411
On the fence about getting the flu shot? It is recommended for pregnant women, kids from ages 6 months to 19 years, health care providers, caretakers of young children and adults over the age of 50 who have chronic medical conditions. E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork explains how the flu shot works.

Cryotherapy
After a hard workout, skip the ice pack and jump into an ice tub! Dr. Travis tries cryotherapy, which promises to reduce swelling, tissue breakdown, and pain ... but it's not for the faint of heart! The water needs to be a cool 50 degrees, and you'll need to stay in the tub for 15 to 20 minutes to get the full effect.

For more information about the products mentioned on this show, please go to Related Resources
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OAD 10/05/09

Medical Mistakes You May Be Making

Self Exams You Must Do Now!

More Self-Exams

OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson demonstrates how to perform a breast self-exam.

Learn easy, life-saving self-exams that you can do in the privacy of your own home, and prevent problems before they begin. Remember, when it comes to your body, you are your best ally. Get to know your body!

Appendicitis Self-Exam
E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork explains what appendicitis is, and outlines the warning signs of the condition.

The Booby Wall
Rethink Breast Cancer is an organization that has a whimsical and lighthearted take on breast screenings. They created the Booby Wall exhibit to help alleviate the stress of breast exams. Remember, when it comes to your breasts, a little TLC (Touch, Look and Check) goes a long way!

Genital Self-Exam
Dr. Lisa demonstrates how to perform a genital exam. "Remember," she says, "vulvas come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Know your body, women. It's really important."

Hearing Self-Exam
In a culture that uses headphones almost as much as cell phones, our auditory senses are at risk. Plastic surgeon and ENT Dr. Drew Ordon demonstrates how to perform a hearing exam at home.

Take the hearing test here!

Eye Self-Exam
Dr. Andrew Pilon from the Sierra Eye and Laser Institute demonstrates EyeSite, a self-service video screening kiosk. "It tests your distance and near vision, and it's highly reliable," Dr. Pilon says. "But it doesn't replace an examination by a doctor."

Skin Self-Exam
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, but most cases are actually brought to the attention of doctors by the patients themselves. Dermatologist Dr. Tess Mauricio demonstrates how to decipher and assess your moles and track potentially dangerous skin changes over a period of time.

Learn more about moles and melanoma.

Oral Self-Exam
Oral surgeon Dr. Fred Monempour demonstrates three quick, simple dental exams that you can perform on your own to determine if your teeth, gums or mouth need immediate attention.

Lymph Self-Exam
The lymphatic system is an essential part of your immune system, with lymph nodes located throughout the body. Dr. Travis details the role of lymph and how to perform a lymph node self-exam.

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OAD 10/01/09

Is There a Cure?

Are Birth Defects Seasonal?
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that birth defects are three percent higher in children conceived between April and June. The studies posit that the amount of pesticides in the water, ground and air could contribute to this phenomenon.

OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson recommends that mothers-to-be decrease the risk of birth defects by taking a folic acid supplement, eating pesticide-free foods and refraining from gardening.

New Treatment for Foot Fungus
A new procedure to eliminate foot fungus is said to be 88 percent more effective than any other treatment on the market. See how the procedure is performed, and learn the preventative measures that will prevent the fungus from forming.

Alternative Allergy Treatment
Allergies affect nearly 20 percent of Americans. Some symptoms are merely unpleasant, while others are so serious they require multiple injections to manage. A new remedy may eliminate the need for shots for good.

Peanut Allergy Breakthrough
Peanut allergies can be life-threatening to some children, but scientists at Duke University may be on the verge of a breakthrough treatment for the condition. Read more about childhood food allergies.

Country music star Trace Atkins on the dangers of childhood allergies.

Breast Cancer Breakthrough
Surgical breast specialist Dr. Kristi Funk demonstrates a cutting-edge technology used in the fight against breast cancer. See how the targeted radiation device with the SAVI applicator attacks the cancer cells.

Liver Cancer Treatment
Radiation oncologist Dr. May Wahab is working with a new radiation therapy, TheraSphere, to treat liver cancer, a notably aggressive cancer. TheraSphere uses the blood supply of the liver to attack the cancer directly.

Diaper Digging Solution
Carla from Florida calls in to ask pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears for help with her 2-year-old daughter who won't stop digging in her dirty diaper. Hear his solution.

Syphilis
After being nearly eradicated in the United States, the rates of syphilis infection have risen for the last seven years. E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork explains how to recognize the often-overlooked symptoms of this dangerous disease.

Learn more about syphilis

Vaginal Infections
Dr. Lisa details bacterial vaginosis, an infection of the vaginal tissue. She demonstrates how the color of vaginal discharge can help identify the type of infection.

Coconut Water
Looking for an alternative to man-made sports drinks? Try Mother Nature's concoction! A single serving of Vita-Coco coconut water is fat-free, has only 60 calories, loaded with vitamin C and potassium and enough to keep you naturally hydrated.

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OAD 9/30/09

Ask Our Doctors: Expiration Dates Exposed

Expiration Terms

“Sell by” is a guide for the store, to know how long they can display a product for sale. “Best before” or “Best if used by” refers to the quality of the flavor. “Use by” is an expiration date, similar to medication and using it after that date is not recommended. “Use by” is the most important date to keep an eye out for.

Towels, Linens and Mattresses

Did you know your own mattress could expire up to a dozen times throughout your life? Mattresses should be changed every five to seven years. Protect-A-Bed mattress and pillow covers can seal out dust mites, bed bugs and pet dander, extending the life of your mattress. Sheets and towels should be washed once a week.

Sabrina and Huck, who differ on matters of hygiene, were surprised with an entire bedroom makeover, including a Simmons Beauty Rest NXG mattress and furniture supplied by Living Spaces.

Household Products

Kristen worries about expired household products, which her husband, Rick, doesn’t want thrown away. Pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears does a house call to lend a hand.

OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson demonstrates a simple test to see if your eggs are still fresh or should be thrown out.

Most leftovers can last three to five days if refrigerated immediately. If the food sits out for two hours or more, throw it out. If it sits outside for more than an hour, toss it. Dr. Jim recommends marking your leftovers with the date you put them in the refrigerator. Click here for a more extensive list on food expiration dates.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen expires after one to three years. If you can’t remember how long you had it, toss it. Are you using enough? E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork demonstrates sunscreen safety.

Contact Lenses

Can you wear two-week disposable contacts for a month, or will that harm your eyes? Ophthalmologist Dr. Rex Hamilton weighs in on the proper care of contact lenses. Never store contact lenses in water, which can cause an eye infection. Only use eye solution specifically made for contact lenses.

Toothbrushes

Should you toss your toothbrush after you’ve had a cold? Dentist Dr. Bill Dorfman says no. A virus cannot live on your toothbrush for long, and your body creates antibodies to fight them. Dr. Jim says the one exception is when you have Strep throat. Start with a new toothbrush while you’re on antibiotics for this illness. In general, replace your toothbrush every two to three months or when bristles start to fray. Never share your toothbrush, particularly when you’re sick.

Teeth Cleanings

How often should you get your teeth cleaned? Dr. Dorfman says it depends on your plaque buildup and what your dentist recommends. Some people get more plaque buildup than others, so they should go more often. A photo comparison shows three scenarios and how often they should get a cleaning.

Shoes

When should you replace your running shoes? Podiatrist Dr. Philip Radovic has the answer to shoe shelf life.

Dr. Radovic recommends getting three pairs of running shoes and rotating their use to make them last longer. You can also get a UV light shoe tree to kill bacteria and sterilize.

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OAD 09/29/09

Get Moving with Jillian Michaels

Personal trainer and star of the hit TV show The Biggest Loser Jillian Michaels joins The Doctors to help get you motivated and on the path to better health!

Better your Body Using your Phone
Your cell phone isn't just for making calls, texting and tweeting on the go. It can also be a great addition to your workout. New applications, such as SixPack App, are available for your cell phone and can help you maintain a healthy life.

"You can even download workouts on there and take it with you to the gym," Jillian says. "I use it constantly when I go out to dinner and I want to know how many calories are in something."

"But it can't do crunches for you!" plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon says.

E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork demonstrates how SixPack App works.

Desperate for a Change
Lonna, 38 and 285 pounds; Dario, 30 and 233 pounds; Madalyne, 13 and 150 pounds; and her mother, Maria, 36 and 182 pounds, are all overweight and in need of a health intervention.

Jillian steps in to help Lonna, Dario, Madalyne and Maria get on the right track to better health. She wastes no time putting the four to work and finds out how they let their bodies go.

Jillian's Action Plan

To help Lonna, Dario, Madalyne and Maria kick-start their weight loss, Jillian gives them -- and you -- an action plan.

Lonna wants to have children, but feels she is too overweight to have a healthy pregnancy. In fact, this can be a problem many women face.

"Fat actually produces estrogen, so it can cause an imbalance in hormones," OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says. "This can cause you not to ovulate. It can also increase your risk for miscarriage, you can get preeclampsia or hypertension. That sounds scary, but you can correct all of this just by losing weight. You can take back your options. You can take back your life."

Dario sabotages his health with frequent trips to fast-food drive-thrus and regularly orders up to 10 tacos on "Taco Tuesday." That many fast-food tacos equates to, at least, 1,300 calories and 70 grams of fat.

"Over the course of a year -- and you've been at this for three years now -- it is 19 pounds of fat!" Dr. Ordon says. "That's what 'Taco Tuesday' does to you."

"We also know it increases your cholesterol and your risk for cardiovascular disease," Dr. Lisa adds.

Jillian explains that Maria and Madalyne's weight problems are very common among families.

"Like many mothers, you are putting the needs of your family in front of your own," Jillian says. "But your kids are picking up on that. That's why it's so important that you are a healthy role model for [Madalyne], because that is going to stay with her for the rest of her life. The best thing you can do for your kids, and for this little girl right here, is to be as happy and healthy as you can possibly be."

Lose Weight the Fun Way
Working out doesn't have to be boring and arduous. It should also be fun!

The Outer Circle Crew and pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears show you how break dancing can provide a great workout!

Getting down on the dance floor doesn't have to stop as you get older. See what three members of the NETSational Seniors hip-hop dance team say is their fountain of youth!

Shed Pounds while Watching The Doctors!
The Doctors put Lisette, Dan and Vanessa to the test to see how many calories they could burn over the duration of the show. Dr. Ordon reveals who burned the most and tells you how you can lose weight while enjoying The Doctors!

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OAD 09/28/09

FAT: Everything You Never Knew

Obesity is the number one health threat to Americans and contributes to many of the most debilitating diseases. More than one third of American adults are medically obese. Learn the truth about fat and how to fight it.

Gaining Weight to Gain Understanding
Australian trainer Paul "PJ" James gained weight to better understand his overweight clients' point of view. He stopped exercising and eating healthily and packed on 88 pounds in six months.

E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork remarks, "What's great about this is that he can give us insight as to how -- if you allow a certain lifestyle to take over your life and your body -- it's hard to say no."

PJ says he's now working on reversing his weight gain by adopting his former lifestyle. He hopes to lose the weight within six months.

"There's no quick fix for losing weight," PJ says. "There has to be a sensible approach for losing weight, and it has to be weight loss that can be maintained.

You Are What You Eat
Twenty-one-year-old twins Celina and Carolyn put the age-old adage "You are what you eat" to the test. See what happens to blood after just one fatty meal.

Teen Obesity
The rate of teenage obesity has recently tripled. Eleven-year-old Italia weighs in at a worrisome 230 pounds. Nutritionist Dr. Phillip Goglia, author of Turn Up the Heat, steps in to help.

Singer Demi Lovato, star of Disney's Camp Rock and Sunny with a Chance is on tour, but calls in to encourage Italia on her journey to get healthy.

See Dr. Goglia's solution.

Read the Labels!
Trans-hydrogenated fats, or trans fats for short, raise LDL (bad cholesterol) levels, lower HDL (good cholesterol) levels and increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes and infertility.

Saturated fats are the biggest dietary cause of LDLs and are typically found in animal products such as butter, cheese, whole milk, ice cream, cream and fatty meats.

"Saturated fat has been proven to ruin your memory," Dr. Travis adds. "There are also thoughts that too much saturated fat can lead to Alzheimer's disease."

Trans fats can be found in snack foods like cookies, donuts, pizza, pies, baked goods and margarine. Read food labels carefully, as trans fats can go by different names such as: hydrogenated oils, partially hydrogenated oils and trans fatty acid. The American Heart Association recommends that less than seven percent of daily caloric intake should come from saturated fat and less than one percent should be from trans fat.

How Extra Weight Affects Your Joints
A little extra weight can cause many different problems, including osteoarthritis, a degenerative arthritis that affects the joints. Audience member Christina volunteers to walk with a 40-pound vest, simulating what it would be like to carry around 40 extra pounds every day.

Watch what happens when she walks!

All Fat Is Not Created Equal
Plastic surgeon Dr. Jim Lyons, author of The Brown Fat Revolution, says, "Brown fat is where it's at!" He explains that all fat is not created equal, and there's a big difference between unhealthy fat and healthy fat.

Learn why brown fat is the secret to looking young and staying thin.

Brown Fat
Plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon blogs about the benefits of brown fat.

Lose Big to Win Big!
Enter to win an American Weigh scale and Perfect Measuring tape! Get 20 percent off an American Weigh scale when you use the discount code: DOCTORS.

Give 10 Percent Your 100 Percent
If you are overweight, losing just 10 percent of your body weight will help you gain in big ways. Join The Doctors challenge to lose 10 percent of your weight!

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OAD 09/25/09

Is it in Your Genes?

Find your Family History
To help families collect their family history, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Office of Public Health Genomics collaborated with the United States surgeon general to develop a Web-based tool called "My Family Health Portrait."

Virtual Colonoscopy
After undergoing gastric-bypass surgery, Holly, 37, began experiencing a number of medical problems.

"I didn't have any major health concerns before the bypass," Holly says, "except for the fact that I weighed 360 pounds."

Holly lost 200 pounds after the surgery, and for the first eight years following the procedure, she felt great. One year ago, however, she began suffering from dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting spells, nausea and fevers. She developed anemia, high blood pressure and hypoglycemia, and suffered from chronic diarrhea that caused her to lose 20 pounds in just five days. As a result, doctors had to remove Holly's gall bladder.

Tour the Colon

Do you know what your colon should look like -- or, more importantly, what it shouldn't look like? Gastroenterologist Dr. Jeffrey Sherman takes you inside the colon like you've never seen before! | Part 2

"I had no idea what was going on," she says. "I just felt like my body was crying out [and saying], 'Somebody do something.'

"Doctors are saying that all of these recent medical issues and health problems are because of the gastric bypass," Holly adds.

Most recently, Holly's doctors recommend she get a colonoscopy because of her family's history of colon cancer. But excess scar tissue from previous procedures makes a traditional colonoscopy a risky undertaking, and Holly decides to undergo the procedure virtually. The virtual colonoscopy is a non-invasive option to the traditional colonoscopy. It uses 3-D imaging to look at the colon.

See Holly undergo a virtual colonoscopy and find out her results.

Gastroenterologist Dr. Jeffrey Sherman explains that if you are at a normal risk for colon cancer, you should have a colonoscopy at age 50. If you have a family history of colon cancer, you are high risk, and should have one between ages 38 and 40.

Colon Cancer Prevention Tips
• Increase physical activity
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Quit smoking
• Get regular screenings
• Eat a balanced diet

Preeclampsia

Read Dr. Lisa's blog about preeclampsia during pregnancy.

• Don't ignore symptoms
• Learn your family history

Heel-Stick Test
The metabolic screening test, also known as the heel-stick test, is a preventative health measure performed on newborns. Prior to leaving the hospital, a few drops of blood are taken from the baby's heel. It is then tested for dozens of rare metabolic, genetic, blood and endocrine diseases. Leticia, 35, asks The Doctors if it is necessary and if it will hurt her newborn.

Pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears discusses the heel-stick test and demonstrates how it is done.

Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease is a progressive, degenerative brain disorder that affects both young and old people. Jeff, 47, helped his father cope with Parkinson's for 14 years. In 2003, his father succumbed to the disease at age 64. A year and a half later, Jeff noticed his fingers shaking, which is an early sign of Parkinson's. He hid the problem from his family until his wife noticed the shaking.

Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

• Tremors and rigidity
• Impaired balance
• Shuffling gait
• Stooped posture
• Painful muscle twitching
• Speech and swallowing difficulties
• Impaired fine motor skills
• Fatigue

"I knew how difficult my father's disease was on my mother, and I was concerned about how it would be for my wife and kids and my mom," Jeff says.

"About five percent [of Parkinson's] is genetic," says Dr. Jeff Bronstein, director of the UCLA Movement Disorders Program. "The other 95 percent is probably influenced strongly by the environment."

Dr. Bronstein uses an animation to explain why Parkinson's occurs.

The disease is a result of a lack of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. Taking dopamine agonists, which Jeff does, can help curb the symptoms, as can exercise.

"[Exercise] is very important," Dr. Bronstein says. "It's been shown in multiple studies to actually alter the progression of the disease, not only improve quality of life."

Preventing Blood Clots
Morgan has a family history of blood clots and asks The Doctors if taking a long plane flight could put her health at risk.

E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork says that Morgan needn't be worried, but that she should take precautions. Learn how to prevent blood clots when you are sitting for a long period of time.

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OAD 09/24/09

Vaccinations Every Adult Should Get

Whooping Cough
Pertussis, better known as whooping cough, is a bacterial infection that affects between 600,000 and 1 million people in the United States every year. However, only 2.1 percent of adults have been vaccinated to protect against the disease.

Pertussis PSA

Watch this new public service announcement about whooping cough featuring performer and mother Jennifer Lopez.

Whooping cough causes uncontrollable deep coughing and is highly contagious. If one person in a family has it, there is a 90 percent chance each person in the house will catch it as well.

"If an adult gets whooping cough, it's an annoyance. You cough for several weeks or even several months," pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears says. "But, if you give it to a baby, it can be very, very serious, even fatal."

See the difference between adult and child whooping cough.

Meningitis
Ten years ago, Amy, 29, was a healthy, active teenager until one day, she began experiencing flu-like symptoms. Within hours, her symptoms worsened, and Amy learned it was something much worse -- bacterial meningitis.

"I was a healthy 19-year-old," Amy says. "I started to feel like I was coming down with something, kind of like a little flu. I had a slight temperature of 101 that night and I was a little bit achy, but overall it just felt like I had the flu. But the next day, everything progressed really fast. And when I stood up, I realized I couldn't feel my feet and I looked down and my feet were purple, my hands were purple. I looked in the mirror and my nose, my cheeks and my ears were purple. And I didn't realize, but at that point I was in septic shock and I was basically dying."

Amy was rushed to the hospital and within hours, her entire body began shutting down, and she fell into a coma. Doctors were forced to amputate both of Amy's legs below the knees, and, at that time, gave her less than a 2 percent chance of survival. Amy defied the odds and later learned that her nightmare could have been avoided.

"We found out that there was a vaccination that could have prevented me from going through this in the first place," Amy says.

"We used to do this vaccine right before college," Dr. Jim says. "But a lot of kids were falling through the cracks. That's why we do it now, starting at age 11."

The vaccine is recommended for any child ages 11-19, as well as anyone who is going to be in close quarters, such as students in dorms, people in the military and camps.

"The crazy thing about bacterial meningitis is that it does start off with flu-like symptoms," E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork says. "But it progresses and you'll get a stiff neck oftentimes, this terrible headache. And if you get symptoms like that, you can't ignore it because there are treatments the sooner you get to the hospital."

Seven months after her meningitis scare and the loss of her legs, Amy began snowboarding competitively, using prosthetics. She also teaches others how to snowboard. Amy is also a model, actress and public speaker.

"I don't focus on what I've lost," she says. "I focus on everything that I've gained. I'm happy, I live a pretty good life."

Explaining Rabies
Rabies is a potentially fatal, yet preventable disease that is contracted by the bite of an infected animal.

Its most common carriers are raccoons, bats, skunks, foxes and wolves. Even if your pet doesn't spend a lot of time unattended outdoors, it's imperative to immunize him or her with the rabies vaccine.

Veterinarian Dr. Alan Schulman explains the signs and symptoms of rabies.

Hear from Jeanna, 20, who is the first person to ever survive a rabies infection without the vaccine, and find out what to do if you are bitten by a rabid animal.

Vaccines During Pregnancy

Dr. Lisa blogs about getting the flu vaccine while pregnant.

Flu Season
The swine flu outbreak has many people are wondering how they can protect themselves against the latest strain of the virus. It's that time of year again. Find out what you need to know about flu shots!

MMR and Pregnancy
It's important for everyone to get the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) but knowing when to get it is key, if you didn't have it as a child.

"For pregnant women, it's different, because they can pass on different antibodies and antigens to the fetus," OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says. "In pregnant women, if there is a live vaccine, it is usually advised that they don't get it in pregnancy, so a pregnant woman cannot get the MMR vaccine. But she should get it three months before she wants to get pregnant if she's never been vaccinated because it's much more severe if she gets one of those illnesses when she's pregnant."

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OAD 09/23/09

Ask Our Doctors with Dr. Ruth

From the bathroom to the bedroom, The Doctors tackle your most outrageous and embarrassing questions yet. And to answer the really tough queries, The Doctors turn to world-renowned psychosexual therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer.

Sex Mistakes

Vote in our poll on the six sex mistakes you may be making!

Can Ice Cream Boost Your Sex Drive?
Sex Pistol ice cream claims its frozen delight contains ingredients guaranteed to trigger blood flow in all the right areas.

Dr. Ruth says, "You don't need an ice cream. You need a good brain and a good partner. You need somebody who really turns you on. You need someone you want to have sex with. Never mind ice cream!"

Intensify Your Orgasm
OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson explains that personal lubricants can be very important for women for sexual intercourse.

Prolong Male Performance
Promescent, a new penis spray that contains the anesthetic lidocaine, numbs the male member and allows a man to keep his erection longer.

See Dr. Ruth's method to treat premature ejaculation.

Sex Toys for Beginners
Looking to explore the realm of personal pleasuring products? The Doctors line up the latest sex toys for beginners.

Dr. Ruth advises, "Maybe we have to take it a little more seriously, and not say 'sex toys.' To say, whoever needs it, there might be things to use for their sexual satisfaction. So, to take it to a level of seriousness."

Dr. Ruth concludes, "Nothing will replace a relationship. Nothing will replace that you look at her with love and caring, and that you really like being with her ... I don't want anybody to think that in order to have good sex, and good sexual satisfaction, that they need any of this."

See the lineup of personal pleasuring products.

Tips for Grooming Down There
If you shave your pubic hair, use lubricated lotion to shave with the growth of the hair. A vaginal shield, such as the Va J-J Visor, can protect the sensitive areas of the groin when waxing, coloring or shaving pubic hair.

Dr. Lisa notes that a trimmed genital area can keep it clean and decrease the risk of infection. "All of it is a personal choice," she adds.

Sexual Recovery Time
Every male goes through a refractory period, or recovery time, after he ejaculates. Dr. Ruth and Dr. Travis give tips on how to improve a man's sexual recovery time.

Piercing Health Risks
Do genital piercings create greater pleasure ... or pain? Blake has been with his girlfriend for two years, and is considering having his penis pierced to "spice things up a bit."

"Don't you dare!" Dr. Ruth exclaims. "What for? First of all, get married. If you want a ring, instead of this," she gestures to the piercing, "get a ring on your finger!"

The Doctors agree that the piercing could damage the walls of a woman's vagina and her clitoris.

E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork adds, "Let's talk about the man a little bit. Putting a barbell through the penis ... that's a long healing time and you may have an infection."

Stress Urinary Incontinence
More than 14 million women suffer from urinary incontinence, the loss of bladder control. Laser medicine specialist Dr. Julie Reil from the Laser Center in Billings, Montana demonstrates Genityte, a new procedure available for the condition.

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OAD 9/22/09

Most Dangerous Accidents Facing Your Family

From car accidents and playground injuries to head trauma and potential home disasters, The Doctors help you prepare for the most dangerous accidents facing your family.

Don't Text and Drive
Sending text messages from your cell phone while driving has become one of the greatest dangers on the road. One out of every four auto fatalities is related to the use of a cell phone or texting, a statistic that tops 10,000 per year. A recent study reveals that driving while texting is just as lethal as driving while under the influence. In fact, you are 23 times more likely to be in an accident if you are texting behind the wheel. Watch the shocking video.

Driving and Texting Demonstration
Erin, a college student, confesses that she texts and drives frequently. She agrees to undertake a Drive Square’s driving simulation test to see how well she fares behind the wheel while she texts.

See how texting impairs driving.

Car Escape

E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork demonstrates how to use two different car escape devices. The Nov8 LifeHammer and ResQMe both allow a person to cut through a seatbelt and break the glass in their car.

Watch how it's done!

Accident Safety Tips:

After an accident, pull out of traffic and turn off your ignition
Call the police
Do a first-aid check on everyone in your car
Call 911, if medical aid is required
If necessary, apply first aid
Unless your car is on fire, do not move injured passengers, as you may aggravate injuries
Turn on your hazard lights and mark the scene with flares or cones
Gather the names of everyone in all vehicles involved in the crash, as well as any witnesses

First-Aid Kits
Learn the essentials for every first-aid kit.

Playground Safety
Nearly 156,000 American children are hurt on playgrounds every year. Follow these simple steps to ensure your kids stay safe!

Dislocated Shoulder
Dr. Travis demonstrates how to restore a dislocated shoulder on actor Taylor Kinney, one of the stars of NBC's upcoming television show Trauma.

See emergency medicine in action.

Home Health Hazards
Plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon and pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears review potential hazards in your home and how to avoid them.

Head Injuries
A head injury is any trauma that injures the scalp, skull or brain. One of the most common head injuries is a concussion.
How do you know when it's a concussion?

Sudden Death in Athletes
Dr. Keith Mankowitz, Director of the Athletes' Screening Program, says the most common cause of sudden deaths in young athletes is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic condition that thickens the walls of the heart.
Learn more about screening athletes.

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OAD 9/21/09

50 Ways to Improve Your Health

Get All 50 Health Tips!

Check out The Doctors' list of 50 ways to improve your health in five minutes or less!

Shopping with Dr. Ordon
Adding certain foods to your diet can help improve your health a great deal. Join plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon in the grocery story as he shows you how to get the most out of your food!

Eat This ... or All of That
You don't have to eat less to lose weight and get healthier, you just have to make smart choices with your meals. The Doctors offer healthier, more fulfilling meals that cut down calories.

Dr. Jim's Options
Eat This: A glass of orange juice (215 calories, 1.5 grams of fat)
Or All of That: Whole wheat English muffin with strawberry jam, 15 grapes and a cup of coffee with nonfat milk (215 calories, 1.5 grams of fat)

"Basically we're talking about drinking your calories or eating your calories," pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears says. "[The meal is] a lot more filling."

Shield From The Sun

Being in the sun can be fun, but prolonged exposure can be dangerous for your kids. Dr. Jim and Dr. Ordon tell you how to protect your little ones from the sun's harmful rays.

Dr. Lisa's Options
Eat this: Broccoli and cheddar cheese soup (337 calories, 24 grams of fat)
Or All of That: Tomato soup, half of a turkey sandwich with hummus and avocado and an apple (337 calories, 6 grams of fat)

"Smaller portions do not necessarily mean fewer calories," OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson says.

Home Health Tips
Cleaning expert Julie Edelman, author of The Ultimate Accidental Housewife: Your Guide to a Clean-Enough House, gives you her top house cleaning tips that won't cost a dime!

Know Your History
Your family's medical history greatly influences your future health, and knowing this history can save your life. E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork demonstrates an easy way to track family ailments and to be more vigilant about potential diseases and conditions.

"This is important because different risks mean different screening strategies," Dr. Jim says.

Workout Help

• Fitness trainer Zen Nguyen gives you some pointers for the next time you head to the gym.

• Zen teaches The Doctors some quick and simple exercises.

How to Get a Good Night's Sleep
Sleep can have a huge impact on everything from your skin to your sex life. But could you be unwittingly sabotaging your health every night before you go to bed? Sleep specialist Dr. Michael Breus shares some of his top tips to help you get a good night's sleep.

Take Care of your Teeth
One of the easiest -- but often overlooked -- ways to improve your health is to take care of your teeth and gums. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Bill Dorfman reveals some of his favorite secrets for a cleaner mouth!

Eight Numbers that Can Save Your Life

More and more Americans are weighing in as obese, creating a health crisis in the country. When it comes to your body, eight critical numbers can save your life:

1. Weight
2. Body Mass Index (BMI)
3. Body Composition
4. Hormone Levels
5. Waist-to-Hip Ratio
6. Cholesterol
7. Bone Density
8. Blood Pressure

Know Your Weight
Plastic surgeon Dr. Drw Ordon and pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears hit the streets of Hollywood to prove that when it comes to weight, what you don't know might hurt you!

Step Right Up!

Body Mass Index
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person's weight and height to determine the overall fitness of an individual. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but is used as a diagnostic tool to identify potential obesity problems.

Calculate Your BMI

Body Composition Index
The basic rule of body composition measurement is that muscle sinks and fat floats. Tarita takes a dunk in the Fitness Wave mobile hydrostatic body fat testing lab and gets her body composition measured.

Take the Plunge!

Hormone Levels
A woman's hormone levels can affect everything from her mood, skin and hair to her menstruation cycle and fertility. When hormone levels are off, the body suffers. OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson explains medical options to remedy female hormone disorders.
Treatments for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Apples vs. Pears
Sports medicine orthopaedist Dr. Vonda Wright says that when it comes to fat, it's all about location, location, location. Fat is metabolically active, so it matters where we accumulate it.

How Your Body Shape Affects Your Health

Bone Density
Bones are filled with minerals that supply our bodies with energy. Bones will replenish themselves up to 10 percent every year, and one way to make them stronger is to engage in weight-bearing activity.

How to Keep Your Bones Healthy

Blood Pressure
E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork explains what the numbers in a blood pressure reading mean, and demonstrates how it's measured.

Must-Know Info about Blood Pressure

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OAD 09/17/09

Health Trends and Controversial Cures

Cool Off for Weight Loss?
New studies claim that cold temperatures can increase the activity of brown fat, which is considered a "good" fat because it is designed to keep you warm in cold environments. Brown fat boosts the metabolism to generate heat, which causes your body to burn calories and use up the white -- or "bad" -- fat.

Fly for Fitness

Pediatrician and resident daredevil, Dr. Jim Sears, flies high when he tries out a trapeze workout!

The studies show that during the cold winter months, brown fat is more active than in the summer months. "The question, though, is, are we telling everyone to go hang out in the freezer to lose weight?" Dr. Travis asks. "No, we're not."

One study suggests that sticking your feet in ice water may be a way to trigger brown fat's beneficial effects. The Doctors take an ice-cold foot bath and discuss the study.

Doctors Orders: The Doctors do not recommend this technique, because ice-water baths could lead to hypothermia, among other health problems.

Eyelash Extensions
Andie, 24, is unhappy with her short eyelashes. She wants longer lashes so she doesn't need to apply coats of mascara before she leaves the house every day. She undergoes an Xtreme eyelash extension procedure, where extension technician Noor attaches new lashes one by one.

"Because the Xtreme Lashes are attached one at a time to the individual, natural hairs, the lash is allowed to completely grow and shed on its own, during its regular growth cycle with no problem," Noor says.

Watch the Xtreme eyelash extension procedure!

Bikes of the Future
It may look like a beefed-up tricycle, but the Trikke is more than child's play. The Trikke offers a full-body workout through a motion called carving, which is similar to skiing, and it can burn up to 500 calories per hour!

Fuller Lips without Surgery

Find out how you can get luscious lips without injections.

Watch Dr. Jim and Dr. Ordon try the Trikke!

3-D Baby
Imagine being able to hold your baby before he or she is even born. Scientists in Brazil have developed a technology that creates a life-size mold of your fetus while still in the womb.

"This is amazing technology," Dr. Lisa says. "This helps mothers and families be more prepared for things that may be going on with the baby."

In addition to being an exciting advancement for the families, the 3-D models also benefits doctors.

"What I can see, from a medical standpoint, is a 3-D image that you can use medically," Dr. Lisa says. "You can see any abnormalities and that really helps."

"We see this in plastic surgery with lips and palates that they've actually corrected in utero," Dr. Ordon adds. "Right now it's [only performed in] animal studies, but I think the time will come where you can actually do surgical procedures in the uterus."

Ward off Germs
Teresa's 3-year-old son, Joshua, is about to start preschool. She asks The Doctors the best ways to prevent Joshua from getting too many germs from the other kids at school.

Dr. Jim gives his best tips to help keep Joshua and your kids germ-free!

Makeup for your Feet
Are you embarrassed by unsightly freckles, scars, blister marks or veins on your feet? Give your feet a makeover with Tintalize, a rub-proof, water-proof and sweat-proof concealer. Tintalize features three times the pigment load of most concealers on the market, making it more effective for the feet. See the before and after!

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OAD 09/16/09

Ask Our Doctors: 100 Questions

Labyrinthitis
Labyrinthitis is the inflammation of the inner ear. Commonly caused by a viral or bacterial inner ear infection or upper respiratory infection, the symptoms of labyrinthitis are similar to those of vertigo.

A Treatment for Vertigo

Flu Season

Flu season is right around the corner, and the CDC predicts that 30 to 50 percent of the country's population will be infected. Learn how to stay out of harm's way!

Read Dr. Lisa's blog about vaccinations for pregnant women

The Runs

It's been called everything from "the runs" to Montezuma's Revenge, but whatever you call it, a case of diarrhea can be more than a nuisance; in extreme cases, it can be life-threatening. Find out when the condition is cause for alarm.

Treating Diarrhea

Infant Acid Reflux

Acid reflux doesn't just happen to adults. Pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears demonstrates how the irksome condition affects infants, tells you how to recognize the signs and symptoms and how to treat it.

More about Infant Acid Reflux

Sperm-Safe Lubricant
Some sexual lubricants can be toxic to sperm, but a sperm-safe lubricant called ConceivEase promises to protect sperm from toxins, pH imbalances and other environmental factors.

Are You at Risk for HPV?
Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease. There are more than 40 strains of HPV, some of which can lead to cervical cancer in women.

Learn More about HPV

HIV Exposure and Prevention
E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork says though not 100-percent effective, there are some post-exposure prophylactic prevention programs available for HIV. Make sure to consult your doctor for more information.

Learn More about Post-Exposure Programs

Post-Partum Tummy
Valerie gave birth five months ago, but says her belly still looks like she's five months pregnant. Dr. Lisa explains that Valerie's condition, diastasis recti, can be caused by pregnancy or excessive weight gain and requires medical treatment.

Understanding Diastasis Rectis

Stretch Marks
Plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon says common treatments for stretch marks range from wheat germ oil, vitamin C, glycolic acid, Relastin, peptides, vitamin A cream and various products that contain retinoids. If the stretch marks are red, laser treatment is an option.
More Treatments for Stretch Marks

Calf Implants
Tony, a personal trainer, says he works out constantly, but can't seem to beef up his calves. Plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon says one way to bulk up the area is to perform a calf implant surgery.

More about Calf Implants

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OAD 09/15/09

The Biggest Makeover Show Ever!

More Transformations

• After gastric-bypass surgery Courtney had a tummy tuck, breast augmentation and an arm lift. See the amazing results!

• Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Nassif explains the difference between an open and closed rhinoplasty.

• Dr. Ordon and Dr. Lisa talk about breast implants and reductions and the options available.

• Campers from Wellspring Weight Loss Camp lost a combined 1,147 pounds!

Ultimate His-and-Her Makeover
Bill and Diane are bikers who have been married for 25 years. Diane, however, is self-conscious about her looks and says that she has saggy cheeks, wrinkles and puffy eyes.

"I'd love to ride into a bike fest and have him be proud of me," she says. "But my self-esteem is bad."

Bill is also unhappy with his appearance. People have told him he resembles Santa Claus because of his long white hair and white beard. "I've had one lady tell me, 'You look like a bulldog,'" he says.

Dr. Ordon explains what procedures he and cosmetic dentist Dr. Bill Dorfman performed on Bill and Diane to give them the ultimate couple makeover.

The have been kept apart for nearly a month as they recovered from their procedures. Watch as Bill and Diane see each other for the first time since their transformations!

See the couple's dental makeover up close.

Bill and Diane before and after their makeovers!

Bye-Bye Billy Bob
Actor Ron Lester may be best known for his part as obese offensive lineman Billy Bob in the hit movie Varsity Blues, but after having gastric bypass surgery and losing 348 pounds, he is now working to help overweight kids get healthy.

"The weight just sort of melted off," Ron says. "It's an amazing new life, I'll tell you that."

Check out Ron in The Fat Boy Chronicles, coming soon.

Ron's amazing transformation!

Stunning Smile
The Doctors searched far and wide for the worst teeth in America, and found them in 41-year-old Mark's mouth. In addition to missing a number of teeth throughout his mouth, Mark has extensive decay and often wakes up with tooth fragments in his mouth, due to grinding them at night.

"The teeth that aren't decayed have so much bone loss that they just have to be extracted," Dr. Bill says. "[He's] just got massive infection all over. He needs heroic dentistry in order to save his mouth."

Dr. Bill reconstructed Mark's entire smile, removing all but five teeth and filling a number of major cavities, while OC Dental Center made upper and lower partial dentures.

See Mark's dental makeover up close.

See Mark's brand-new smile!

Full-Body Makeover
Tina, 53, underwent gastric-bypass surgery and lost 179 pounds! To complete her head-to-toe transformation, plastic surgeon Dr. Dennis Hurwitz performed a total body lift and a face lift. Tina also underwent a full cosmetic dentistry makeover, performed by Dr. S. Rand Werrin. Tina is also receiving life coaching with Neil Griebling.

Tina's total body lift!

Incredible Weight-Loss Makeover
After Kim, 39, got married, she progressively gained weight, peaking at nearly 300 pounds. "It was like I just zipped up a fat suit for 10-plus years, and just wore that," she says.

Through diet and exercise, Kim lost 125 pounds, but was left with excessive saggy skin around her midsection. "It's kind of like finding that deflated balloon behind your couch," she says. "That's what it looks like."

To help Kim lose the extra skin, Dr. Lance Wyatt, director of the Wyatt Center for Plastic Surgery and the Institut d'Esthetique, performed a full tummy tuck, breast lift and implants, and the results are stunning!

"We performed a specialized type of tummy tuck procedure for her," Dr. Wyatt says. "When I do this, I try to keep the incision very low, because we want Kim in a bikini afterwards."

Kim before and after her tummy tuck!

Beautiful Bride
Heather, 29, lost 200 pounds after gastric-bypass surgery. To remove her leftover skin, Dr. Al Aly performed a belt lipectomy and breast reduction and lift.

Heather and her fiancé, Dan, are getting married in just days, and to finish her beauty makeover, The Doctors send her for her first manicure and a Toni & Guy hair makeover! So she can lose her glasses, Dr. Kerry Assil performs LASIK eye surgery and Dr. Bill helps her smile with Zoom! teeth whitening.

The Doctors, with the help of Unforgettable Honeymoons, surprise the couple with a honeymoon to Fiji!

See Heather's brand-new look!

Facial Transformations
Debra, 46, wanted a new, youthful look and underwent the ultimate facial makeover by plastic surgeon Dr. Christine Petti. Dr. Petti injected filler on Debra's frown lines and crow's feet, performed SmartLipo on her neck, added Sculptra to her forehead and cheeks for volume and Juvederm into the lips and performed a rhinoplasty.

Also, see Debra's dental makeover up close.

Debra's youthful face!

Louise, 47, also desired a new look, so plastic surgeon Dr. Brent Moelleken performed a face lift, an eye lift, a chin implant, a wrinkle filler and a Neck-Lace procedure. She also had a tummy tuck for a tighter abdomen! To visit Dr. Moelleken's Web site, click here (Please note that this site may contain graphic medical images. Discretion is advised.).

She also had a dental makeover. See it up close.

Louise's big change!

Watch as Dr. Ordon explains how a face lift transforms a face, and then go inside the operating rooms for Debra and Louise's procedures.

650-Pound Virgin
David, 34, weighed 650 pounds and was on the verge of suicide, until he made a promise to his mother.

"On my mom's deathbed, she told me she wanted me to lose the weight," he says on the TLC documentary The 650-Pound Virgin. "I gave myself three options: have gastric-bypass, kill myself or lose weight the natural way. I picked the natural way."

In just 26 months, David lost an incredible 410 pounds with the help of his personal trainer, Chris Powell.

"The very first thing we did, was I taught him how to prepare all of his food in bulk," Chris says. "But really, one of the most important steps was the lifestyle aspect of rewarding himself, allowing himself a reward pretty much every other day at first, then tapering that off so he was only rewarding himself, basically, once a week. And then from there, just a lot of moving, body-weight exercises and a lot of walking."

David's weight loss left him with a massive amount of extra skin. Follow David into the operating room as Dr. Mehdi K. Mazaheri an amazing skin-tightening procedure.

See David go from morbidly obese to fit and trim!

Weight Loss for a Cause
Daniel, 31, also dropped a large amount of weight through diet and exercise. He went from 525 pounds to 215 in just 14 months! His father's diagnosis with lymphoma inspired him to lose weight, because if he ever needed an organ transplant, Daniel wanted to be healthy enough to donate his. Luckily, he never had to go through that.

"[My dad is] doing really well," Daniel says. "I lost all this weight, and he didn't even need any organs or anything like that. He beat cancer!"

But Daniel's weight loss also left him with an excessive amount of loose skin. To help Daniel get the body he wants, Dr. Wyatt says as long as Daniel is a suitable medical and lifestyle candidate for the skin-tightening procedure, he will help him complete his transformation!

Daniel's weight loss and sagging skin

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OAD 9/14/09

Breast Breakthroughs

Breastlight Screening Device
A new handheld device provides women with an extra dimension in breast self-examinations. The Breastlight works by shining a bright but harmless red light through breast tissue, so you can see changes in your breasts, such as a mass, but it is not a replacement for mammograms.

High-Tech Bra

Nikki demonstrates a new bra by Natori that cuts her bouncing motion in half and cuts the side-to-side motion by 80 percent. Nikki says she can feel the difference.

"Get to know your breasts. It's not meant to take the place of going to see your doctor every year," says plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon.

High-Tech Sports Bra
Nikki, who is naturally well-endowed, asks The Doctors, "My breasts get sore when I exercise. Is there anything I can do?"

The average woman is a 36C. During movement, breasts swing in a figure eight motion. All that movement can stretch out your ligaments and destroy supportive breast tissue. The Natori sports bra is built to eliminate 50 percent of the bounce from traditional sports bras.

Bra-Fitting
Experts estimate that more than 85 percent of women are wearing the wrong size bra. Your breasts change throughout your life, so you should get measured every six months.

Natori Bra fitting specialist Carly Gomez demonstrates a proper bra fitting with audience member Jaimie. See how to find the proper fit for you!

Everyone in the audience receives a Natori sports bra, courtesy of Natori and Nordstrom.

Breastfeeding Techniques
Many women experience difficulty when learning to breastfeed. Sore nipples and improper latching are just a few of the problems. New mom Jenna says breastfeeding her son was painful and frustrating, so she started using nipple shields, which helped, but now she can't wean her son off of them.

Breast specialist Dr. Kristi Funk took Jenna to The Pump Station and Nurtury, a new mother's breastfeeding resource center, to learn the Dos and Don'ts of breastfeeding.

Pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears says there are many benefits of breast milk: It improves IQ, boosts the immune system and even promotes healthy teeth. It lowers the risk of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, asthma, allergies, pneumonia, respiratory infections and ear infections. The benefits to mom are increased bonding with the child and burning up to 500 calories a day.

Dr. Lisa clarifies that breastfeeding doesn't cause breasts to sag; pregnancy does. "And something can be done about that," Dr. Ordon says with a smile.

Dr. Funk gives you more breastfeeding tips.

Medela Gift Basket

Enter to win your own Medela gift basket!

Jenna says after learning tips from The Pump Station, her son was able to latch on right away but weaning him off the shields will probably take some time. The Doctors give Jenna a Medela gift basket to help her along the way. Plus, pregnant mothers in the studio audience receive a Medela nursing camisole!

Breast Breakthrough
The HALO breast pap test is a new lifesaving test that every woman needs to know about. It's a five-minute, non-invasive screening test for breast cancer. It is not a replacement for a mammogram, but it is a good tool, especially for younger women with a family history of breast cancer.

The HALO breast pap test collects nipple aspirate fluid -- if there is any -- and then the cells are tested to see if they are normal or abnormal. Abnormal cells don't mean you have cancer, but that you are a higher risk for cancer, and it's something that your doctor can address.

A Message from Soap Star Crystal Hunt

See Crystal's encouraging message about the HALO test.

Crystal Hunt from ABC's One Life to Live has a family history of breast cancer. Although she's only 24, she doesn't want to wait until she's older to get tested. She tries out the HALO test.

See Crystal's HALO test with OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson and her results!

Dr. Funk's mammogram tip: When you get a mammogram, have it performed one week after your period and take Ibuprofen 30 minutes beforehand.

Breast Reduction
Janine is a 38DD and is considering a breast reduction surgery. She wants to know if she would be a good candidate and what the right size would be for her body.

Dr. Ordon says the size is a personal choice, but he would estimate Janine being comfortable as a C cup. He explains how a breast reduction is performed.

In most cases, women can still breastfeed after breast enlargement and reduction surgeries.

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OAD 09/11/09

Celebrity Medical Tragedies

Understanding Michael Jackson's Death

The Doctors, along with oncologist Dr. Lawrence Piro and anesthesiologist Dr. David Kloth, discuss the medical timeline leading up to Michael Jackson’s death, and stress the importance of treating celebrities responsibly.

What Caused Michael Jackson's Death

Michael Jackson's Plastic Surgeries

Plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon shares his observations of Michael Jackson’s many alleged plastic surgeries.

Behind the Mask

Farrah Fawcett's Fight against Cancer

Farrah Fawcett’s longtime companion, Ryan O’Neal, and best friend, Alana Stewart, share their heartbreaking journey with Farrah in her fight against anal cancer.

Farrah's Story

Caring for Farrah

Ryan O’Neal and Alana Stewart share their experiences with Farrah in her final years. Farrah’s oncologist, Dr. Lawrence Piro, expands on the weighty and often-shifting roles of caregivers for terminally ill patients.

Caring for the Terminally Ill

A Journey of Love

Farrah’s best friend, Alana Stewart, penned the book, My Journey with Farrah: A Story of Life, Love and Friendship. Enter to win an autographed copy!

Read An Excerpt from the Book

What You Need to Know about Anal Cancer

Dr. Piro performs an anal exam on Amy, 31. Learn what to look for, what to ask for at your next doctor’s visit and how to perform an anal exam in the privacy of your own home.

Waiting on a Heart: How to Save a Life

Heartburn or Heart Attack?
Have you ever had chest pains so severe that thought you were having a heart attack, only to find you were suffering from acid reflux? It can be a scary experience, and occurs when "the brain mixes up signals from your stomach and your heart, and sometimes that pain is very similar, and that's a big problem," Dr. Travis says. "Even us doctors sometimes can't tell the difference."

"That has to be one of the toughest differential diagnoses to make," Dr. Ordon adds.

To keep heartburn from creeping up on you, it is important to take precautionary measures. The Doctors demonstrate why heartburn occurs and explain what foods to avoid to keep it from causing you pain.

In Need of a Heart
Every year, approximately 2,200 heart transplants are performed in the United States. Lori, who is waiting for a new heart through Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego; Tim, who is at the top of the transplant list at The Cleveland Clinic; Kristi, a patient at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and Wanda, who is waiting for a heart at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston, Texas are four patients desperately hoping to be among those recipients this year.

Stay tuned to The Doctors and TheDoctorsTV.com for updates as Lori, Tim, Kristi and Wanda wait for new hearts.

Inside a Heart Transplant

• Take an exclusive look at what happens when a heart becomes available to someone in need of a new one.

• Drs. Jon Kobashigawa and Abbas Ardehali of the UCLA Heart Transplant Program explain what happens during a heart transplant.

Cardiologist Dr. Jon Kobashigawa, medical director of UCLA's Heart Transplant Program, explains that there are three main ailments that cause people to end up on a heart transplant list: cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease and congenital heart disease.

"The first one is when a virus attacks a heart," Dr. Kobashigawa says. "Now, viruses are very common, many patients have a cold. But don't worry out there, not everyone is going to have cardiomyopathy due to a virus. It's very rare.

"The second cause is arteriosclerosis," he continues. "Basically cholesterol deposits in the arteries of the heart. They cause heart attacks. If they go undetected, you could have destruction of much of the heart, and that can cause heart failure as well.

"The final cause is valvular heart disease," Dr. Kobashigawa adds. "That's when the heart valves either leak too much or are very stiff, and that can lead to end-stage heart disease as well, and a need for heart transplantation."

While there are more people in need of a heart than there are hearts available, improved technology, such as a ventricular assist device (VAD), helps those waiting for an organ live longer until a donor is found. Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Abbas Ardehali, surgical director of UCLA's Heart Transplant Program, uses an animation to explain how a VAD works. While the VAD does help a failing heart work, it is not a replacement for a much-needed new heart.

A Heart Beats On
Nicole, 35, had her life turned upside down in an instant after her husband, Dan, died from a fatal accident in July, 2008.

An Amazing Transplant Recovery

After enduring four bouts of cancer, Kyle learned he needed a heart transplant. After receiving his new heart, not only is Kyle living a full life, he is even training for an Ironman Triathlon!

• Read more about Kyle's journey

"I got a call from his boss telling me Dan had been in an accident," Nicole says. "He was working on some scaffolding. All we know is that he fell. I never, ever thought he was going to die. Never. Then, he was brain dead."

In the hospital, a representative from the Organ Donor Network approached Nicole and asked if she would donate Dan's organs. Dan, who was 31, had an organ donor sticker on his driver's license. "I figured that that would be the right thing to do," Nicole says.

The loss endured by Nicole and her 28-month-old daughter, Christina, became another family's blessing.

Harry, 64, suffered from an enlarged heart, congestive heart failure and was having increased difficulty breathing was badly in need of a heart.

"My heart problems first began about 13 years ago," Harry says. "I was always tired. I was short of breath. So I went to the doctors and they put me on a treadmill and I lasted about 30 seconds, and they said, 'Sit down, you have a problem.' The doctors had told me, basically, I had two years to live."

He was saved after being told a heart - Dan's heart - was available to him.

"All I [know] about my donor is that he was a male in excellent physical shape and approximately 26 to 30 years old," Harry says. Since I got the heart, I can do anything I really want to do. And that's the best feeling in the world."

"When I was asked if I would be willing to meet Dan's heart recipient, I was like, 'Absolutely,'" Nicole shares. "I think it would be phenomenal just to hug him and put my hand on his chest and feel Dan's heart beating in his body. He's living on. He is helping this man live a life every single day."

Watch as Nicole meets Harry and his wife, Bridget, for the first time.

"Their gift is so much appreciated," Bridget says. "It will never be forgotten. It's just heroic, what this family did for us."

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OAD 09/09/09

Improve Your Health Around The Clock

Win a Waterpik Ultra Dental Water Jet!

For a chance to win a Waterpik Ultra Dental Water Jet, click here!

Morning Breath Blues
Kelly, 27, says that her 25-year-old boyfriend, Pat, consistently wakes up with bad morning breath. She asks The Doctors why it is so foul and how to fix it.

Dr. Ordon uses an animation to explain why morning breath occurs.

Dr. Travis says that some morning breath is normal. A swab of Pat's mouth reveals that it contains a normal amount of bacterial colonies in his mouth when he wakes up.

"In the morning, just give [Kelly] a kiss on the cheek, and then you can go brush your teeth. You can use mouthwash," Dr. Travis says. "Another great thing for people to do, since the bacteria live on your tongue, is scraping your tongue. Scrape bacteria off your tongue so they will create less of these sulfur compounds."

Using products such as the WaterPik Ultra Dental Water Jet, which uses water pressure and pulsations to clean deep between teeth, will help curb morning breath as well. If the problem persists, check with your doctor, because digestive problems or gum disease could be to blame.

Beating Razor Burn

Nap Time Help

Do your little ones resist taking a nap? Dr. Jim shows one mother the essential tips for a successful nap time!

Are you constantly left with frustrating razor bumps after shaving? The Doctors and dermatologist Dr. Tess Mauricio give you the top tips to terminate razor burn!

Under-Eye Circles
Dark circles under your eyes can make you look tired and worn out. Dr. Ordon explains why they occur, and Dr. Mauricio teaches you how to treat them!

Need for Sleep
Briana, 27, wakes up tired every day, regardless of how many hours of sleep she gets at night. Psychologist and sleep specialist Dr. Michael Breus makes a house call to help Briana get some shut-eye.

He monitors her sleep patterns and finds that 73 percent of Briana's sleep is light sleep, while just 6 percent is deep sleep. The average person spends about 50 percent of their night in light sleep and between 20 and 25 percent in deep sleep. The rest of a person's night is spent in other stages of sleep, such as REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and awake. The imbalance is the major reason Briana feels tired and groggy.

More Sleep Tips

Are you having problems getting enough shut-eye? The Sleep Doctor, Dr. Michael Breus, gives you his top tips for a good night's sleep!

The results also show that Briana wakes up a number of times throughout the night. "The good news here," Dr. Breus says, "is this is very typical. This is exactly what we have a tendency to see with people."

Briana also has trouble turning her mind off before she dozes off, which Dr. Breus says also plays a role in her lack of deep sleep. If you suffer from this problem, Dr. Breus recommends counting backwards from 300 by threes. "I didn't tell anybody there was going to be any math involved here," he says. "But the truth of the matter is you can't think about anything else, and it's so doggone boring, you're out like a light."

A good pillow also helps with a good night's sleep, and Dr. Breus shows The Doctors how to pick the perfect pillow.

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OAD 09/08/09

The Premiere Show

Summer with The Doctors

The Doctors kicks off a new season! See how The Doctors spent their summer and find out who hit the surf, who walked the red carpet and who had a bittersweet goodbye.

Check Out the Summer Fun!

Sporty Stork
Emergency room physician Dr. Travis Stork shows off one of his favorite hobbies -- mountain biking!

Go Off Road with Dr.Travis!

Swine Flu Scare
As the CDC races to produce enough swine flu vaccines, fears of another, more widespread epidemic grow. Those at risk – children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions are encouraged to get the vaccine. Bottom line, if you're sick, stay home!
Important Information for Pregnant Women about Vaccines

Tanning Bed Warning
Mustard gas, arsenic and … tanning beds? Experts have elevated tanning beds to one of the deadliest cancer-causing agents, citing that exposure to which can increase a person’s risk of developing skin cancer by 75 percent.

Try a Safer Tanning Alternative

Junk Food Junkie -- BUSTED!
Three of the Fab Four Doctors go undercover to bust one of their own’s bad eating habits. Junk food junkies, beware! Your house might be next. Check out the kitchen ambush and stand by to receive vital ammo in the battle of the bulge.

Watch the Kitchen Raid!

Boy or Girl?
OB/GYN Dr. Lisa Masterson answers the age-old question: Can moms-to-be tell if they’re having a boy or a girl based on whether they’re carrying high or low in the belly. Dr. Lisa says there’s really no way to tell, unless a doctor performs an ultrasound.
Watch and Find Out!

Schoolhouse Rock
School is back in session, so pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears pays a visit to the Hollywood Schoolhouse with tips to help keep kids healthy. But he has his hands full with their questions!

School in Session

Hydrelle
Watch out Botox, there’s a new filler in town. Plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon debuts the latest cosmetic injectable to hit the market, which claims to last longer, be less expensive, and make you look better.

Watch the Procedure

Ask Our Docs
You're never too young to start asking your doctor questions! Nine-year-old Jonah asks pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears why veins are blue if blood is supposed to be red.

The Color of Blood

Sport Chalet gives every audience member a Diamondback bike! Receive 25 percent off your purchase at Sport Chalet. For more Web giveaways, click HERE!

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OAD 09/07/09

Four Ways to Rebuild Your Body

From Eastern Europe, to Asia to South America, The Doctors goes global to bring you four ways to rebuild your body!

Medicinal Mud
A car accident left Hannah with neck, upper back and shoulder pain. The crash whipped Hannah’s head forward and back, tearing muscles on both sides of her neck, which caused misalignment of her spine and swelling in her joints. As a result, Hannah’s range of motion in her neck is significantly limited.

Chiropractor Dr. Mike Maggio reviews Hannah's X-rays and determines she doesn't have severe neck or back injuries. He treats her pain using a remedy that has been around for over 100 years: Hungarian Wellness Mud. The mud has a very specific mineral content from a region in Hungary about 80 miles south of Budapest.

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The mud contains silicon dioxide, which helps repair and replenish damaged tissue, while maintaining its 104-degree temperature. The heat of the mud increases the circulation and blood flow to the treated areas, helping deposit sulfur, iron and aluminum oxide throughout the skin. The minerals also promote healthy blood flow and remove waste products, as well as help oxygenate the blood, which assists in healing.

“I [put] the mud on probably about two-to-three-inches thick, and the weight of the mud and the density of the mud help drive it deeper into the tissues,” Dr. Maggio says. “Then, we had her lie down on top of the mud, which adds even more penetration of the minerals.”

Despite being skeptical at first, Hannah says that her pain subsided after the mud treatment. “It was like a massage or a spa treatment,” she says.

Prior to the treatment, Hannah’s range of motion in her neck was just 25 degrees. Dr. Maggio tests her range of motion after the therapy, and measures it to be 95 degrees.

“I feel like a million dollars,” Hannah adds. “It’s such a relief. I’ve been in pain for six weeks.”

Treating Tender Tendons
Whether you’re a professional athlete, a weekend warrior or an occasional exerciser, you can suffer a stress injury to a tendon -- dense connective tissues that connects the muscle to the bone -- that makes even the simplest tasks difficult. Colette suffers from tennis elbow and has tried to treat it through acupuncture and physical therapy, to no avail.

“With Colette, she’s complaining about tennis elbow, but interestingly, of all the patients with tennis elbow, only five percent of them actually play tennis,” says physiatrist Dr. Steven Sampson. “Most of these injuries are from repetitive [motions] and overuse. [Examples are] lifting the laundry and a hairdresser turning her wrist in the improper position. They’re all repetitive, overuse injuries.”

Dr. Sampson will treat Colette with platelet-rich plasma therapy, the same method used by Pittsburgh Steelers champion wide receiver Hines Ward before this year’s Super Bowl. The non-surgical therapy allowed Ward to recover quickly from an injury and play in the game. Dr. Sampson demonstrates how platelet-rich plasma therapy is performed.

“Through this treatment, we are able to promote healing naturally without any adverse effects of cortisone,” Dr. Sampson says. “Unfortunately, cortisone, when injected into a tendon, while it may give short-term relief, the pain can come back stronger. We found that the tendon can actually rupture and tear from repeated cortisone injections.”

Shake it Up

If you have swelling or pain in your legs, or just want to improve circulation, a little shaking may be all you need. The Chi Machine was created to simulate the motion a goldfish makes when it swims.

“It has that gentle rocking,” acupuncturist and doctor of oriental medicine Dr. Michael Yang says. “If you feel relaxed, I think we can all agree that that has so many positive effects on complex pain syndromes,” Dr. Yang adds.

Sarah Kate suffers from fibromyalgia, and tried the Chi Machine for two weeks. The results were dramatic.

“It’s amazing,” she reports. “I never, ever expected it to work, and I feel incredible. The swelling in my legs has gone down. The pain is so much easier to handle. Even my skin cleared up. I just never expected just shaking my legs to do such incredible things.”

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OAD 9/4/09