Depression is a real illness. Treatment can help you live to the fullest extent possible, even when you have another sickness. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, it’s common to feel sad or discouraged after a heart attack, a cancer diagnosis, or if you are trying to manage a chronic condition like pain.… Continue reading Chronic Illness and Mental Health
Tag: medications
Understanding Adverse Drug Reactions
For most treatable health conditions, patients expect to take at least one prescription drug if not multiple depending on the condition or the severity of the health issue being treated. Most people, however, don’t anticipate experiencing any sort of adverse drug event (ADE). It is difficult to imagine a drug injuring someone in the process… Continue reading Understanding Adverse Drug Reactions
The 5 Biggest Disruptors Wreaking Havoc on Your Hormones
As 2019 dawned, some people were taking a “new year-new you” approach. They were determined to make self-improvements that provide a fresh, positive outlook and strong sense of well-being. But sometimes health factors undermine those good intentions, such as depression and its link to hormone imbalances. There are myriad ways both men and women suffer adverse effects… Continue reading The 5 Biggest Disruptors Wreaking Havoc on Your Hormones
Discussing Financial and Life Changes with Your Doctor
Planning for your care in the event of a long-term or serious illness can involve more than giving a loved one a health care directive, a living will or health care proxy, and a power of attorney. If you have questions about what choices you have, you can ask your doctor as well. One way… Continue reading Discussing Financial and Life Changes with Your Doctor
The Truth About Genetic Testing and Medications
Wouldn’t it be great if you could find a link between your genetic makeup and which medicine is good for you? In some cases, you can; in other cases, it’s best not to take a test at all if the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t looked at it. There’s no doubt that genetic… Continue reading The Truth About Genetic Testing and Medications
Do You Have a Disaster Plan?
As the devastating flood Florence shows, extreme weather costs dozens of lives and billions of dollars in damage. What would you do if you were in the midst of a disaster? Are you ready to leave your home at a moment’s notice? Would you have all that you need? You can reduce your anxiety about… Continue reading Do You Have a Disaster Plan?
The Dangers of Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving is a major problem in the United States. The risk, danger, and sometimes tragic results of drowsy driving are alarming. Drowsy driving is the dangerous combination of driving and sleepiness or fatigue. This usually happens when a driver has not slept enough, but it can also happen due to untreated sleep disorders, medications,… Continue reading The Dangers of Drowsy Driving
Two Diabetes Medications Don’t Slow Progress of Diabetes in Youth
Researchers have found that in youth age 10-19, neither initial treatment with long-acting insulin followed by metformin, nor metformin alone, preserved the body’s ability to make insulin. The results of their investigation were published in the journal Diabetes Care. The publication was concurrent in June 2018 to a presentation of the results at the American… Continue reading Two Diabetes Medications Don’t Slow Progress of Diabetes in Youth
What Should I Ask My Doctor During My Checkup?
Editor’s note: A visit to the doctor can be an intimidating and at times overwhelming experience, so it might be difficult to remember everything you’d like to ask your physician. Here, the experts from the National Institute on Aging share what questions you should ask, and how to ask them. You might want to read… Continue reading What Should I Ask My Doctor During My Checkup?
7 Things to Check Before You Leave The Pharmacy
Did you know that your pharmacist can work with you to help you take medications safely and reliably? Here are a few things to check when you fill a prescription, especially for a new medication: Make sure the label has your name on it and the directions from your doctor. If it doesn’t have directions,… Continue reading 7 Things to Check Before You Leave The Pharmacy
How to Safely Use Nail Care Products
Manicures and pedicures can be pretty. The cosmetic products used, such as nail polishes and nail polish removers, also must be safe—and are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA also regulates devices used to dry (or “cure”) artificial nails or gel nail polish as electronic products because they emit radiation. You… Continue reading How to Safely Use Nail Care Products
When Medications Work against Weight Loss
While diet, exercise and behavior modification are essential components of obesity management, a successful long-term weight loss strategy should also include avoiding or minimizing medication-related weight gain, according to researchers. In a paper published in Gastroenterology, investigators from the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine underscore the necessity for physicians to evaluate the… Continue reading When Medications Work against Weight Loss
Managing the ER Visit
Most visits to the emergency room are unexpected and frightening. In circumstances like these, it’s important to keep your focus on what will help you or your loved one most. Health care workers, often overwhelmed by the number of patients they need to treat, may not ask every question they should. Here, from the experts… Continue reading Managing the ER Visit
The Latest in Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
You—or a loved one—feel depressed. Then very excited, or even “hyper.” Then depressed again. These ups and downs can be a sign of bipolar disorder, a brain disorder. Though there is no cure for this disorder, medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can treat symptoms and help you feel better. Symptoms Bipolar… Continue reading The Latest in Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
Managing Medication Expenses
Here, some tips from the experts at SeniorHealth, a division of the National Institutes of Health, on how to save some money on medication: Medicines can cost a lot. If you have a drug plan through your insurance, you can probably save money by ordering yours from them rather than at your neighborhood pharmacy. Medicare… Continue reading Managing Medication Expenses
Your Medications and Your Driving
If you’ve ever worried about the effect your medications might have on your driving skill, the experts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( http://www.nhtsa.gov/) tell you what you need to know: For most people, driving represents freedom, control and independence. Driving enables most people to get to the places they want or need… Continue reading Your Medications and Your Driving
Five Tips for Getting Smarter With Medications in 2016
With 4 in 10 Americans regularly taking a prescription medication and nearly $260 billion spent by consumers on prescriptions in 2014, expert pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein, a spokesperson for FamilyWize, is offering the following tips to help consumers get healthier with their medications in 2016: Know what medicine you are taking and why you are taking it:You should know at… Continue reading Five Tips for Getting Smarter With Medications in 2016
More Medicine May Not Be Better Medicine for Older Patients
Seniors being treated with medicine for levels of blood sugar and hypertension may be able to take less medicine without losing any benefits, new research shows. A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests doctors and patients should work together to backpedal such treatment more often. The reason: In people in their 70s and… Continue reading More Medicine May Not Be Better Medicine for Older Patients