My frugal home pharmacy

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

frugal home pharmacyStick to the basics and buy generic

Everyone has a home pharmacy or medicine cabinet: a drawer or cupboard or box where they stash all their over-the-counter (OTC) products and prescription medications.

Bathrooms are the worst place to store medicine. The above-average temperatures and moisture cause drugs to break down faster.

My home pharmacy is a small basin in a kitchen cupboard. I purposefully chose a small container so I … read on

Safely remove earwax at home

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

remove earwax at homeBut only if it’s necessary

I’m one of those people whose ears make a lot of earwax, and it builds up and causes problems if I don’t remove it two or three times a year.

I’ve had it done by nurses and doctors and medical assistants in the past. Now I have a simple, inexpensive and safe routine to remove earwax at home.

HOWEVER, it’s important to say that most … read on

Risks v benefits of screening mammograms

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

screening mammogramsTo screen or not to screen

That is the question women are asking (well, I’m asking). But there is no clear answer.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, aka Pinktober. The news and social media are already broadcasting the message “Mammograms save lives.”

That simplistic platitude isn’t enough. Do screening mammograms really save lives? What do the numbers tell us?

Cancer screening has become a huge business in our … read on

Home remedies for chapped lips

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

home remedies for chapped lipsProtect your lips

Did you ever stop to wonder how the skin of our lips differs from the skin on the rest of the face?

The skin over our lips is very thin and highly vascular, hence their typical “vermilion” or red color. Our lips also have more nerve endings, making them very tactile and sensitive.

These anatomical differences make our lips attractive and nice for kissing, but they also … read on

Protect yourself from medical identity theft

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

medical identity theftA growing problem

Financial identity theft is when someone steals your credit card or debit card, or uses your personal information to take out a loan in your name.

Medical identity theft is when someone uses your personal information to fraudulently receive medical care and have it paid for by you or your insurance.

If that person is treated under your name, your finances, your medical history and your health … read on

Over-the-counter topical pain relievers

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

topical pain relieversWhat do topical pain relievers do?

A few weeks ago I posted about how to save money on oral over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

Then I decided to look into topical pain relievers. This post provides an overview of what’s available, and how to choose the right one and save money.

I was totally surprised at the scope of products available online and at the drugstore! … read on

Alternatives to traditional health insurance

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

alternatives to traditional health insuranceTraditional and expensive

Over the next few weeks many families, mine included, will receive the dreaded letter from their health insurance company that tells them how much their premiums will be for 2019.

Last spring my insurance company applied for a 29% rate hike. They settled for 19%. That still hurts. Especially because the deductible and out-of-pocket maximum are going up, too.

I really feel for other families receiving … read on

The most effective products for head lice

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

most effective treatments for head liceHead lice: a back-to-school nuisance

Head lice and their eggs (nits) are a frequent irritation for school children and their parents.

Because they spread through person-to-person contact and by sharing personal items like hats and hair brushes, head lice are especially widespread in the fall and winter months.

And super lice, or head lice that are resistant to conventional treatments permethrin and pyrethrum, are now common in at least … read on

Daily baby aspirin is not safe for everyone

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

daily baby aspirinTalk to your doctor first!

The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published a study last week that shows the risks of a daily baby aspirin may outweigh the benefits, at least in patients older than 65.

I’ve known a lot of people, however, who started taking a daily baby aspirin on their own, without checking with their health care providers first.

Over the last few years there have been … read on

It’s time for the seasonal flu shot 2018

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

seasonal flu shot 2018Get ready for flu season

Last year’s flu season was nasty.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) labeled it a “high severity season” because the circulating strains of influenza virus were especially virulent and the season lasted longer than usual.

It’s impossible to predict when flu season will start, but it could be as early as October. The CDC recommends getting your flu shot by the end of October, but … read on