Measles Outbreak Warning, Quest Lab Cholesterol Flagging Problems, EKG Interpretation, Full-Body MRI Scans, and Seed Oil Controversies

Feb 27, 2026

A fast-paced rundown warns about a major measles surge and who should check immunity. Frustration over lab cholesterol alerts that may cause needless anxiety. Clear explanations of how EKGs reveal past heart damage and why CPR/AED skills matter. Taste loss causes from meds and zinc are listed. Debate over full-body MRI screening, and a deep dive into seed oils, extraction methods, and dietary choices.

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ADVICE

Check Measles Immunity Now

Get a measles immune titer if you only had one MMR shot or were vaccinated 40–50 years ago.
Dr. Dawn notes measles' R≈15, South Carolina reported >1,000 cases, and immunity declines decades after one shot.

ADVICE

Don't Panic Over Quest Lab Red Flags

Ignore Quest Labs' alarming red H flags and read their fine print before panicking.
Dr. Dawn shows Quest labels the population average as "moderate risk" and flags values within their own normal range as high.

INSIGHT

How A 12‑Lead EKG Reveals Past Heart Damage

A 12‑lead EKG views cardiac electrical activity from multiple angles to detect damaged muscle.
Smaller-than-expected spikes in specific leads suggest dead or scarred myocardium from past infarction.

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Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 2-26-2026:

Dr. Dawn opens with an urgent measles advisory, noting the virus has an R-value of 15 compared to COVID's peak of 5, with South Carolina reporting over 1,000 cases. She recommends those who received only one MMR shot—particularly people now in their 60s—get an immune titer blood test, as protection declines after 40-50 years. Measles can cause "immune amnesia" destroying immunity to other pathogens, and rarely leads to fatal subacute sclerosing panencephalitis years later.
Dr. Dawn criticizes Quest Labs' cholesterol reporting, which flags average levels as "moderate risk" with alarming red H markers even when values fall within their own stated normal ranges. She explains this creates unnecessary panic and pushes patients toward statins based on outdated 2008-2012 guidelines, when cardiology has since recognized that cholesterol can be too low.
An emailer asks how an EKG can detect a past heart attack from "jagged lines." Dr. Dawn explains that each spike represents electrical signals moving toward or away from electrode pads, and a 12-lead EKG views the heart from multiple angles—smaller-than-expected spikes in specific leads indicate dead or damaged heart muscle. She urges everyone to learn CPR and AED use, which more than doubles survival chances.
An emailer reports that food tastes strong on the first bite but becomes tasteless thereafter. Dr. Dawn identifies numerous medications causing taste changes including calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, statins, diuretics, and even acetaminophen. She also highlights zinc—both deficiency and toxicity above 40mg daily can impair taste, noting a zinc nasal spray was pulled from market after causing smell loss.
An emailer asks about Prenuvo full-body MRI scans costing $499-1,000. Dr. Dawn cautions that while Prenuvo found 22 cancers in 1,000 people scanned, 1 in 20 scans requires follow-up biopsy and more than half are false positives—leading to stress, expense, and potential complications from unnecessary procedures.
An emailer asks about seed oils after reading a Johns Hopkins article defending them. Dr. Dawn distinguishes fruit oils (olive, avocado) from industrially-extracted seed oils requiring hexane solvent, a neurotoxin that may leave residues despite claims of evaporation. She cites a BMJ study showing coconut oil raised HDL (good cholesterol) while matching olive oil's LDL impact, and recommends cold-pressed oils while avoiding hexane-extracted products, especially for infants.