Written by Stacia Woodcock, PharmD | Reviewed by Christina Aungst, PharmD Key takeaways: If you’re feeling tired, it’s possible your medication is to blame. Common culprits include antihistamines, muscle relaxers, and benzodiazepines. Opioid pain medications commonly cause drowsiness, too. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and antibiotics aren’t known to make you drowsy. But they both treat conditions (pain,...
Category: <span>Patient Education</span>
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Q&A: Exercise gain without pain—well, maybe some soreness
September 20, 2024 by Pennsylvania State University Credit: CC0 Public DomainDid the simple act of clicking on this article make your arm ache? Maybe you overdid it at the gym. Almost half of the adult U.S. population engages regularly in some sort of fitness activity, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....
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Statins: So Misunderstood
Douglas S. Paauw, MD DISCLOSURES | August 08, 2024 Recently, a patient of mine was hospitalized with chest pain. She was diagnosed with an acute coronary syndrome and started on a statin in addition to a beta-blocker, aspirin, and clopidogrel. After discharge, she had symptoms of dizziness and recurrent chest pain and her first thought...
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A New Study Finds Weight Loss Drugs Like Ozempic Could Cause Bone Loss. Doctors Share How To Protect Yourself
These “are the biggest concerns” for doctors. By Korin MillerPublished: Sep 19, 2024 3:42 PM EDT Getty ImagesResearch has shown there are plenty of perks of using a medication like Ozempic for weight loss. But, given that this is a drug, there are some potential downsides to consider, too. New research published in JAMA Network...
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Arthritis can flare up in colder weather: Tips to easing the pain
September 20, 2024 by Dennis Thompson An arthritis sufferer’s joints start to get ornery when the weather turns colder, getting stiff and achy as the mercury drops. Cold weather doesn’t cause arthritis, but it can make it worse, experts say. “Our joints operate best in temperate weather,” said Dr. Mariko Ishimori, interim director at the...
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The viruses that can give you cancer. Experts now say one in five cancer-related deaths could be triggered by an illness
By Pat Hagan Published: 07:00 EDT, 19 September 2024 | Updated: 08:09 EDT, 19 September 2024 Quit smoking, go easy on the alcohol and stick to a healthy diet. For years, this has been the mantra for reducing our risk of cancer, a disease that now affects one in two of us at some point...
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Keeping your good mood while taking GLP-1s could take some intentionality, experts say
By Madeline Holcombe, CNN Updated 6:08 PM EDT, Thu September 19, 2024 Research has not shown a definitive connection between GLP-1s and mental health concerns. Jens Kalaene/picture alliance/Getty ImagesEditor’s note: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing...
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Can Apple Cider Vinegar Help With Hemorrhoids?
Written by Tracy Norfleet, MD, MBA, FACP, ABOM | Reviewed by Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPHPublished on July 8, 2024 Key takeaways: Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, probiotics, and polyphenols. These compounds promote a healthy gut and act as a mild astringent. There’s no evidence that drinking apple cider vinegar can help relieve or prevent...
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The 5 Best Drinks If You Have Bad Kidneys (and a Few to Avoid)
Written by Cherilyn Davis, MD | Reviewed by Katie E. Golden, MDUpdated on June 3, 2024 Key takeaways: If you have kidney disease, what you drink and how much you drink can affect your kidney function. There’s research to show that some drinks and juices can slow the decline of kidney function. Drinks like water,...
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New COVID vaccines arrive in Washington as respiratory virus season approaches
by Elise Takahama, The Seattle Times Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public DomainWashington state’s summer surge of COVID-19 is showing early signs of waning after a particularly infectious couple of months—but don’t relax just yet, public health experts say. Respiratory virus season is right around the corner. Although rates are still nowhere close to where they were during...