Some cold remedies can make you sicker
It’s handy to walk into a drugstore for an over-the-counter cold remedy, but some of the ingredients may cause adverse reactions.“I think people underestimate these medications because you can get them without a prescription. But they are still medications that can interact with other drugs and interfere with existing health problems,” said Laura Carr, a pharmacist at... READ MORE
Botox has many uses beyond cosmetic
“Botox is a first-line treatment only for dystonia, or uncontrolled muscle contractions. But for other conditions, it can be quite effective for patients who have exhausted other possibilities,” said Dr. Bonnie Hersh, clinical instructor in neurology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Hersh uses Botox to treat patients with chronic migraine, upper limb spasticity, and excessive... READ MORE
FDA new drug approvals soared last year
The Food and Drug Administration approved 41 first-of-a-kind drugs in 2014, including a record number of medicines for rare diseases, pushing the agency’s annual tally of drug approvals to its highest level in 18 years.FDA drug approvals are considered a barometer of industry innovation and the federal government’s efficiency in reviewing new therapies. Last year’s total... READ MORE
Your bones need more than just calcium
When you think about bone nutrition, you probably think of calcium first. And rightly so: A solid body of research suggests that you should meet your daily calcium needs (1,000 - 1,200 milligrams) for optimal bone health.With 54 million Americans suffering from osteoporosis, it’s important to do all you can to feed your bones to prevent this debilitating condition.Get these nutrients, ... READ MORE
Physical fitness essential for healthy back
With changes in the spine that come with aging, occasional backaches may grow more frequent and blossom into a chronic and disabling pain condition.But this doesn’t have to happen to you. To maintain the best back health possible, you have to address both the body and the mind, said Dr. Zacharia Isaac, a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and... READ MORE
Medicare pays to coordinate chronic care
Adjusting medications before someone gets sick enough to visit the doctor. Updating outside specialists so one doctor’s prescription doesn’t interfere with another’s.Starting in January, Medicare pays primary care doctors a monthly fee to better coordinate care for the most vulnerable seniors — those with multiple chronic illnesses — even if they... READ MORE
Cancer patients try drugs out on mice first
Scientists often test drugs in mice. Now some cancer patients are doing the same — with the hope of curing their own disease.They are paying a private lab to breed mice that carry bits of their own tumors so treatments can be tried first on the customized rodents. The idea is to see which drugs might work best on a particular person’s specific cancer.The mice may help patients... READ MORE
How to preserve the nutrients in produce
Food preparation techniques such as peeling, chopping and cooking make an impact on the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables.Follow these tips to preserve more nutrients in your produce:1. Fresh is best, frozen is next.Fresh, ripe produce in-season — with virtually no cooking required — will usually be highest in nutrients. But what about produce in the middle of winter?... READ MORE
How to get indoor allergens under control
Watery eyes, runny nose, congestion — allergy sufferers are all too familiar with the symptoms. Most know enough to stay inside when the outdoor air is full of pollen. But what if the great indoors is causing the problem? There’s nowhere to hide if that’s the case.Fortunately indoor allergens are a little easier to control. No one can very well strip the land of grass and... READ MORE
Soaring generic drug prices draw scrutiny
Some low-cost generic drugs that have helped restrain healthcare costs for decades are seeing unexpected price spikes of up to 8,000 percent, prompting a backlash from patients, pharmacists and now Washington lawmakers.A Senate panel met in November to scrutinize the recent, unexpected trend among generic medicines, which usually cost 30 to 80 percent less than their branded... READ MORE
