by Rodney Sinclair, The Conversation Have you ever wondered who buys those huge boxes of antihistamines prominently displayed all year round in your local pharmacy? If antihistamines were just used for hay fever, you’d think sales would be good in spring, but pretty mediocre for the rest of the year. Many of the antihistamines sold in Australia are actually for hives,...
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Does Drinking Alcohol Cause Joint Pain in Arthritis?
By Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta, Ph.D.Reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Logan, MD, MPH Arthritis is a disease of joints, characterized most commonly by joint swelling, stiffness, and pain. Although several studies suggest that drinking alcohol is associated with a lower chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis, there are also numerous studies showing that drinking alcohol is detrimental to...
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Does Exercise Help or Worsen Migraines?
By Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta, Ph.D.Reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Logan, MD, MPH Migraine is a form of severe, recurrent headache which is associated with changes in blood circulation as well as brain network related to pain sensation. Although a high-intensity strenuous exercise sometimes triggers migraine attacks, there is good evidence suggesting that regular moderate exercise can decrease...
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Pain relief: When to use cold, when to use heat
by Len Canter, Healthday Reporter (HealthDay)—Sore from a workout? You don’t have to reach for pain relief medicine when ice or heat will help. But when should you go cold and when should you go warm? Ice is the go-to therapy when an injury first happens. It can stop the swelling of a sprained ankle, for instance,...
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Mediterranean style diet found to relieve symptoms of depression
By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MD A new study has added to the existing evidence that a healthy and balanced diet could help reduce the symptoms of depression. The study titled, “A brief diet intervention can reduce symptoms of depression in young adults – A randomized controlled trial”, was published this week in the latest issue of the...
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Green tea compound could help in the battle against super bugs
By Lisa Templeton Fact checked by Paula Field Antibiotic resistant bacteria are one of the biggest threats to global health. As researchers scramble to find solutions, a recent study concludes that a compound found in green tea might boost existing drugs. A recent study investigated epigallocatechin, which is a compound in green tea. Antibiotics have proven essential for...
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How to talk to your teenagers about drugs
by Emma Maynard, The Conversation Credit: Vlachaslau Govorkov/Shutterstock.com The UK has seen a sharp increase in teenage drug use in the last few years: the NHS reports that 37% of 15-year-olds have used drugs, and that deaths resulting from drug use are at their highest since records began in 1993. Meanwhile, thousands of children are being drawn into drug dealing...
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What is the difference between sea salt and table salt?
By Jessica Caporuscio, Pharm.D. Reviewed by Miho Hatanaka, RDN, LD Table salt and sea salt are both useful when preparing food. Manufacturers mine table salt from salt deposits and process it into a fine crystal, whereas sea salt comes from evaporating seawater. Many people believe that sea salt is healthier than table salt because it...
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Best medications to reduce drooling for those with developmental disability
A new study has revealed the most effective medications to reduce drooling in young people with a developmental disability MURDOCH CHILDRENS RESEARCH INSTITUTE A new study has revealed the most effective medications to reduce drooling in young people with a developmental disability, which can affect their socialisation, relationships and community life. The research, led by...
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In tiny doses, an addiction medication moonlights as treatment for chronic pain
by Alex Smith, Kcur Lori Pinkley, a 50-year-old from Kansas City, Mo., has struggled with puzzling chronic pain since she was 15. She has had countless disappointing visits with doctors. Some said they couldn’t help her. Others diagnosed her with everything from fibromyalgia to lipedema to the rare Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Pinkley has taken opioids a...