Ask Dr. Mike: Topical Silver Gels, Vitamin D in HIV Patients & More

Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans. Listen in because what you come to know helps ensure healthy choices you can actually live with.

Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know:

How far apart should I take antacids from my medication?

When you take certain medications, you change the pH in your small intestine and stomach, which can cause heartburn. Usually, your doctor might tell you to steer away from antacids altogether, or wait a few hours. However, if you're suffering from heartburn (which some medications can cause), Dr. Mike suggests waiting 30 minutes to take an antacid after you've taken your medication. However, Dr. Mike wants to make a note that you shouldn't be taking antacids like candy. If you're someone who consumes four to five antacids a day, you may have a separate issue going on. You may want to try D-Limonene, a supplement for digestion.

Life Extension published an interesting study on Vitamin D in HIV patients. The conclusion said that it can improve immunological parameters. What are those parameters?

People with HIV often have vitamin D deficiency. In the study, researchers looked at HIV patients taking high doses of Vitamin D and looked at their standard immunology profile. They looked at T-cells, CD4 cells, and noticed three significant changes. First, naive T-cells went up significantly, CD4 cells also increased, and viral low decreased.

Vitamin D was helping these patients' immune systems and providing some kind of inhibition on viral replication.

Do you think it's safe to use topical silver for open wounds?

Silver has been used for centuries as an antimicrobial agent. Silver has many benefits such as acting as an antibacterial and antiviral. Silver is now is available to be taken orally and topically (as a gel). There are some studies done that show positive benefits associated with using silver to help MRSA, a contagious antibiotic-resistant staph infection that can lead to other dangerous, life-threatening infections.

Dr. Mike suggests talking to your primary physician before using silver on yourself or anyone else.

Can you explain the difference between laboratory studies and clinical studies?

A laboratory study is when you use a petri dish, put some cells in there, add in some kind of test material and you see what kind of change happens to the cell.

A clinical study is measuring the safety and effectiveness of a new treatment or medication in people.

If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.