The Dirty Truth About Showering and Handwashing

It’s that time of year again when many Americans have to choose a health insurance plan — a decision that will affect, and possibly haunt them throughout the entire year. Worst of all: many are forced to make a choice with imperfect information. To help walk us through open enrollment, Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to Elisabeth Rosenthal, the doctor turned health journalist (and author who wrote An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back), who has made it her mission to demystify the process. This episode was produced by Andrea Kane and Sofía Sanchez Showrunner: Amanda Sealy Senior Producer: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are the straws from our reusable water bottles leaching microplastics or toxic chemicals? We sip to the bottom of that question on this week’s Paging Doctor Gupta. Plus, hypertension is rising among young people. Do we need to start paying attention earlier? This episode was produced by Sofía Sánchez, Andrea Kane, and Nadia Kounang Showrunner: Amanda Sealy Senior Producer: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cancer used to be something you worried about later in life — but not anymore. More and more young adults are being diagnosed, and doctors are trying to figure out why this is happening. Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks with oncologist Dr. Kimmie Ng about what’s behind this rise, why colorectal cancer is leading the trend, and the signs you shouldn’t ignore.  You can find more information and resources at the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.    This episode was produced by Kyra Dahring.    Medical Writer: Andrea Kane Showrunner: Amanda Sealy Senior Producer: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does tiger balm, that intense-smelling ointment that we rub into our muscles to relieve aches and pains, actually do anything? We get to the bottom of that on this week’s Paging Doctor Gupta. Plus, can already being on an antibiotic protect you from someone else’s pneumonia? This episode was produced by Andrea Kane and Jennifer Lai. Showrunner: Amanda Sealy  Senior Producer: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with Dr. Marty Makary, U.S. FDA Commissioner to dig beyond the headlines of this Administration’s latest efforts to “Make America Healthy Again.” This conversation took place on Friday, September 26th, 2025. Our show was produced by Jennifer Lai, with assistance from Leying Tang, Kyra Dahring, Jesse Remedios, and Nadia Kounang. Medical Writer: Andrea KaneShowrunner: Amanda Sealy Senior Producer: Dan BloomTechnical Director: Dan Dzula Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump has linked the use of acetaminophen — brand name: Tylenol — during pregnancy to autism in children. In this episode of Paging Dr Gupta, Dr. Sanjay Gupta answers questions about how strong that association is. Plus, what are the consequences of not treating a fever during pregnancy? Producer: Andrea Kane Showrunner: Amanda Sealy Senior Producer: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is delegating tasks and even thinking to digital devices making us lose our minds, or at least some brain function? Dr. Sanjay Gupta and neuroscientist Baroness Susan Greenfield, Oxford University professor and author of “Mind Change: How Digital Technologies Are Leaving Their Mark on Our Brains,” discuss and debate how screen time might be impacting our human connections and own cognitive abilities. Plus, Greenfield gives us three ways to reclaim our digital independence.  Producer: Sofía Sánchez Medical Writer: Andrea KaneShowrunner: Amanda SealySenior Producer: Dan BloomTechnical Director: Dan Dzula Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The kissing bug disease — aka: Chagas disease — is slowly becoming endemic in certain parts of the United States. Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains what you need to know about detecting it, treating it and avoiding it. You’ll also learn if it can infect your fur babies, too. Producer: Andrea Kane  Showrunner: Amanda Sealy  Senior Producer: Dan Bloom  Technical Director: Dan Dzula Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Public health is, in the words of this week’s guest, “the organized actions of society to make people safer and healthier.” Unfortunately, to some, it feels like the country is waging a war against the very institutions entrusted to carry out that mission. Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with public health expert and former CDC director Dr. Thomas Frieden about the critical and often-invisible role of public health, and what he hopes to accomplish with his new book, The Formula For Better Health. This episode was produced by Andrea Kane  Showrunner: Amanda Sealy   Senior Producer: Dan Bloom  Technical Director: Dan Dzula  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Diffusers, with their different scents, are meant to create a mood and relax you. But is it healthy to breathe in mist enhanced by essential oils? Dr Sanjay Gupta digs into that issue on this episode of Paging Dr Gupta. Also, how do you know if you are bathing frequently enough? What about washing your hands? This episode was produced by Kyra Dahring and Andrea Kane. Medical Writer: Andrea Kane; Showrunner: Amanda Sealy; Senior Producer: Dan Bloom; Technical Director: Dan Dzula Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices