Chasing Life

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, senior contributing editor at KFF Health News, who has made it her...

Since the 1990s, healthcare has been at the heart of America’s political debate and it’s still being contested today. Why is our health system so complicated? And how can we fix it? To help demystify it, Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to Elisabeth Rosenthal, the doctor turned health journalist who wrote, An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back. She's currently...

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 Dire...

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 t...

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 Di...

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: Aman...

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 Dzu...

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 abiliti...

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...

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...

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; S...

You may feel pain in the body, but it really begins in the brain. To explain, Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down at 92nd Street Y in New York to talk about his new book “It Doesn’t Have to Hurt” with his friend and ultra-marathoner Rich Roll. They also discuss how our brains can create pain proactively and protectively. Plus, how memories might have something to do with your chronic pain – and how to move...

An estimated 51 million Americans live with chronic pain. But our understanding of pain has evolved and so has the ways we can treat and reduce pain. Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains how both diet and meditation can affect the way we experience pain. Our show is produced by Eryn Mathewson, Jennifer Lai, Grace Walker, Lori Galarreta, Jesse Remedios, Sofia Sanchez, Kyra Dahring, and Madeleine Thompson.   ...

Voices are powerful. They can signal that we’re feeling sick, show our age, and reveal our secrets. One day, with the help of artificial intelligence, they might even be able to help doctors diagnose us. Dr. Yaël Bensoussan is an assistant professor of otolaryngology at the University of South Florida, and the director of the USF Health Voice Center. She talks to Dr. Sanjay Gupta about what kind o...

Can years teaching in a classroom make you less likely to get sick? Dr. Sanjay Gupta answers a listener’s question about immunity and shares smart strategies for supporting your immune system as cold and flu season kicks off. Plus, how you can get better sleep – and more of it – this fall.   Our show is produced by Eryn Mathewson, Jennifer Lai, Grace Walker, Lori Galaretta, Jesse Remedios, Sofia S...

1,800 lives lost and hundreds of thousands displaced. But the storm left behind more than physical damage. It exposed the lasting psychological toll disasters can take. Nearly 20 years later, catastrophic weather events have only become more common. Dr. Stefan Schulenberg, a leading expert on disaster mental health, explains how trauma lingers, what resilience really looks like, and what Katrina c...

Not all belly fat is created equal. Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains what makes some belly fat “toxic,” how to know if you have it, and what you can do to reduce it. Then, he tackles a follow-up question on the new blood pressure guidelines, including what lifestyle changes really work. Our show is produced by Eryn Mathewson, Jennifer Lai, Grace Walker, Lori Galaretta, Jesse Remedios, Sofia Sanchez, Kyra...

At 10 years old, brainiac 'Sean the Science Kid' Atitsogbe already has plenty in common with Dr. Sanjay Gupta: He loves to learn and explain science to his million-plus Instagram followers. He's an advocate for positivity. And when he grows up, he wants to be a ("neuro-cardio") surgeon. So, Dr. Gupta passes the mic and lets Sean interview him about the things on his heart and brain. Our show is pr...

Nearly half of Americans have high blood pressure — and the guidelines for managing it just changed. Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains the new rules, including surprising advice on alcohol. Plus, he answers a listener’s follow-up: does the recommended daily dose of “morning sunlight” change when it’s cloudy, rainy, or even snowing? New blood pressure guidelines recommend an earlier start to treatment and...

Feeling overwhelmed as a new parent? Sleep-deprived and drowning in advice? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Parenting can have many different approaches and let’s face it, has changed a lot since you were an infant. Dr. David Hill, pediatrician, author, and AAP spokesperson, breaks down the new baby basics on sleep, feeding, car seats—and answers rapid-fire questions about what’s different now.  Ou...

There’s an ad going around on social media claiming Dr. Sanjay Gupta has discovered a natural cure for Alzheimer’s. Spoiler: it’s a deepfake. Sanjay breaks down how to tell when AI is faking it and answers a listener’s question about spotting signs prostate cancer has spread.  Paging Dr Gupta is a production of CNN Podcasts. Our podcast is produced by Eryn Mathewson, Jennifer Lai, Grace Walker, Lo...

One of the most challenging aspects of treating chronic pain is the fact that there’s no objective way to measure it – no number or test like blood pressure or cholesterol. But soon we might have something more specific than the scale of happy face to sad face. Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks with Dr. Prasad Shirvalkar, a physician and researcher who’s implanting electrodes in patients’ brains to better un...

Close to #1 on anyone’s list for healthy aging is avoiding dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. From diabetes to learning a new language, Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains some of the factors that can impact your risk and what you can do about it.    Paging Dr Gupta is a production of CNN Podcasts. Our podcast is produced by Eryn Mathewson, Jennifer Lai, Grace Walker, Lori Galaretta, Jesse Remedios, S...

Three-quarters of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. But Kevin Hall, a former researcher at the National Institutes of Health and one of the world’s top experts in food science, is on a mission to take the shame out of weight gain. He joins Sanjay to talk about his new book, Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us, and why our many misconceptions about metabolism a...

Are you always the one getting eaten alive while everyone else walks away bite-free? Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains why some people attract more mosquitoes and shares tips on how to avoid getting bitten including which repellents actually work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices