Fatty liver disease: Should you be tested?
Weight-loss drug may lower risk of heart attacks and infections
Testosterone therapy without evidence of deficiency may boost heart risk
Even a little exercise linked with lower stroke risk in people with afib
Antihistamines may not offer meaningful relief from eczema symptoms
What to eat on the DASH diet
Tricep workouts you can do at home
FDA approves first mRNA-based flu vaccine
Migraine: How it's diagnosed and what that means
Mindfulness practices to reduce stress and improve focus
Medications and treatments Archive
Articles
Is my medication causing these side effects, or is it just aging?
Tracking your progress and symptoms can help you discern the difference.
Image: YakobchukOlena/Thinkstock
You probably know that when you take a medication, you need to tell your doctor about any side effects that develop. But being aware of side effects can be challenging when you're older. "In many cases, the signs of aging are similar to side effects of medications," says Joanne Doyle Petrongolo, a pharmacist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.
Similarities
What you should do
To determine if your symptoms are drug side effects or signs of aging, Doyle Petrongolo recommends keeping good records of your health issues and medication changes. "Keep a chart or a log of all medications taken, and record the medication start date. If a side effect is noted within a few days or weeks of starting a medication, then it is more likely that the symptom is medication-related," she explains.
It may be weeks or months before a symptom develops, but don't wait too long to report a symptom, especially if it interferes with your daily activity. "If it lingers for several weeks, then it is a good idea to speak with a doctor or pharmacist to determine the cause," says Doyle Petrongolo.
The fix
Modern acupuncture linked to constipation relief
It appears that electroacupuncture may be a treatment option for people with chronic severe functional constipation.
Does it matter how you lower your cholesterol?
Certain cholesterol-lowering medications—namely, ezetimibe (Zetia) and drugs known as bile acid binders—also appear to be effective at lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of serious cardiovascular events.
Are wristwatch-style heart rate monitors accurate?
Wristwatch-style fitness monitors use a sensor that detects blood flow through the skin to estimate a person’s heart rate. Some brands are more accurate that others, but none are as accurate as chest-strap monitors.
When is it okay to split medication in half?
Splitting a pill into two equal halves is sometimes necessary when needing to adjust dosage, or as a means to save money buy purchasing higher-dose pills. However, splitting is not safe for all pills, so a person should always consult a pharmacist or doctor.
The healing power of touch
Massage therapy can help relieve pain, speed recovery from injury or surgery, and reduce stress.
Image: Jacob Wackerhausen /Thinkstock
Men may think of massage as an occasional treat or a vacation indulgence, but this type of therapy could be a natural way to stay healthy and pain-free.
One of the most common health issues for older men is chronic pain, defined as pain that lasts more than 12 weeks. This includes back pain, headache, cancer pain, and arthritis pain. Then there are the everyday aches from daily living. All of these act as barriers to a healthy lifestyle.
Drugs to prevent heart attacks may also lessen their severity
Medications such as aspirin, statins, ACE inhibitors, and beta blockers are prescribed to certain patients to lower the chance of a first or repeat heart attack. New research shows that they also may reduce the severity of attacks that do occur.
Does cranberry extract prevent UTIs?
Scientific evidence doesn’t support taking cranberry extract to prevent urinary tract infections.
Body scan mindfulness exercise for pain
Stress reduction expert Jon Kabat-Zinn recommends the body scan mindfulness exercise as the best form of mindfulness meditation for pain conditions.
He advises practicing it every day for 45 minutes, even if it seems boring or doesn't seem to be helping. "You don't have to like it, you just have to do it," he explains in his book. "Whether you find the body scan to be very relaxing and interesting or difficult and uncomfortable or exasperating is irrelevant to whether it will serve you well." The goal of the body scan is not to relieve the pain completely, but to get to know it and learn from it so you can manage it.
Ask the doctor: Is placing an IUD immediately after delivery safe?
Fatty liver disease: Should you be tested?
Weight-loss drug may lower risk of heart attacks and infections
Testosterone therapy without evidence of deficiency may boost heart risk
Even a little exercise linked with lower stroke risk in people with afib
Antihistamines may not offer meaningful relief from eczema symptoms
What to eat on the DASH diet
Tricep workouts you can do at home
FDA approves first mRNA-based flu vaccine
Migraine: How it's diagnosed and what that means
Mindfulness practices to reduce stress and improve focus
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