Safety/injury prevention Archive

Pain

Are home pain relief gadgets safe for use?

Published July 1, 2021

It’s best to talk to one’s doctor before buying a pain relief gadget. The product may not work, it may cost a lot of money, it might be dangerous, or it might encourage the user to delay medical treatment. Some high-tech pain relief devices may be effective for some people, such as a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) machine. And some low-tech devices may also help relieve pain, such as foam rollers, handheld massagers, and heat or cold packs.

Healthy aging and longevity

Do-it-yourself assisted living

Updated June 1, 2021

It may be possible to set up a version of assisted living in one’s current home by hiring various services and adapting the environment to health needs. Services that might be needed include help with basic care (eating, bathing, brushing teeth, and using the bathroom), meals, medication management, housekeeping, transportation, and yard maintenance. To create a safer environment, it’s best to have a single-floor living space with a sleeping area, bathroom, and kitchen or kitchenette; well-lighted rooms and hallways; smooth, even floors; grab bars and a shower bench or chair in the bathroom; and railings anywhere support is needed while walking.

Heart Health

Have a safe trip!

Updated June 1, 2021

People with heart-related conditions or risks should take simple precautions when travelling by airplane. These include taking steps to ease stress, such as listening to music or reading a good book; bringing medications in their original containers in carry-on luggage; and not worrying too much about blood clots, which are uncommon during air travel even in people with a history of clots.

Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Are you taking too much anti-inflammatory medication?

Updated October 27, 2020

Healthy aging and longevity

Cough and cold season is arriving: Choose medicines safely

Updated September 22, 2020

Millions of Americans get coughs and colds during the winter, and many head to the drugstore to pick up one of the hundreds of common medicines available without a prescription. But those products often contain multiple active ingredients that are potentially unsafe if combined. Here's how to safely choose the right over-the-counter medication for your symptoms.

Healthy aging and longevity

Think your child has a penicillin allergy? Maybe not.

Updated August 16, 2020

Healthy aging and longevity

3 reasons to leave earwax alone

Updated August 16, 2020

Healthy aging and longevity

Understanding head injuries

Updated August 10, 2020

Pain

Too many pain pills after surgery: When good intentions go awry

Updated August 5, 2020

A reasonable and well-intentioned effort to reduce and relieve pain can inadvertently lead to a potentially life-threatening addiction, but there are some surprisingly simple ways to avoid such scenarios.

Claire McCarthy, MD

Young children are swallowing objects twice as often as before

Published May 14, 2019

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