Even better, don’t use them at all unless your doctor tells you to.
You’ll save money, and you’ll probably be healthier.
I posted a few years ago that Healthy adults don’t need multivitamins. Earlier this month a new study was published that showed not only do we (healthy adults) not need supplemental vitamins and minerals, some may actually cause harm.
The study was funded by … read on
I just read an article explaining how climate change is giving us longer, more intense allergy seasons.
That’s good news for bees, but not for an allergy sufferer like me.
As I said in a previous post, I prefer to use a neti pot over taking medication. It works great for me, but I know a neti pot won’t be everyone’s first choice.
Over-the-counter allergy medications can be … read on
I’ve described myself as a poor sleeper for years, thanks to Restless Legs Syndrome.
Several nights a week, I’ll feel as if I haven’t slept at all. Then I’ll be cranky all day, and torn between looking forward to going to bed or dreading another night of tossing and turning.
Naturally, I’ve read a lot of sleep self-help books 🙂
Spring and allergy eyesI love the sunny days of early spring when the trees, flowers and grasses are in bloom…but then my allergies kick in.
I don’t mind the runny nose and sneezing so much. I can use my neti pot to keep the pollen out of my nose.
But I’ve had a harder time treating the allergy eyes—the itchy, red, watery, ugly eyes that are the by-product of … read on
Most of us don’t need supplementsSave your money.
I spent some time this weekend researching vitamin B12 deficiency and the need for supplements. An elderly relative has been experiencing months of fatigue and wonders if a B12 supplement might help her.
Despite all the products you can buy that contain vitamin B12 to “boost” energy levels or “support” memory, most of us aren’t low in vitamin B12 and won’t … read on
Getting to know each otherI went to see my new primary care physician last week.
She’s my fifth PCP in eight years because of ever-changing provider networks, or doctors leaving primary care.
I asked friends for recommendations, read online bios and Yelp reviews, and looked for any history of malpractice suits.
Related post: Need a new doctor?
I went to the visit prepared with a short, organized list of … read on
Two deadly diseasesMeasles and the flu have been two popular topics in our local news.
Oddly enough, my husband has a connection to both these viral epidemics!
Since January, our state (Washington) has been dealing with a measles outbreak. It began when an unvaccinated adult returned from overseas, unknowingly infected with the measles. This person went to many public places and exposed countless individuals to the virus.
One … read on
Talk to your doctor first!The American Heart Association (AHA) recently updated its guidelines about daily baby aspirin.
They no longer recommend it to prevent heart attacks in healthy adults over 50. So if you are taking it, talk to your doctor about whether you should continue.
The AHA made this change based on a study published last fall in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that showed the … read on
Even OTC Nexium has risksA new study published last week ties the common heartburn drug, Nexium, to an increased risk of kidney damage.
Nexium (esomeprazole) belongs to a class of drugs called Proton Pump Inhibitors, or PPIs. It was approved by the FDA to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in 2001.
… read onUse of proton pump inhibitors (PPI), a group of drugs that reduce the production of stomach acid,
Bladder infections = miseryIf you’re a female over the age of 20 chances are good that you’ve experienced at least one bladder infection in your life.
Women are overwhelmingly more likely to get a bladder infection than men because we have very short urethras—the tube that connects our bladder to the outside world.
That means bacteria have a shorter distance to travel to get into our bladders, make themselves … read on