Hot chili peppers could help with chronic pain
Many people like a little kick to their dish, whether that’s through hot sauce or some other type of spicy ingredient. But can a fiery sensation help treat chronic pain? A possible method for understanding chronic pain better could be through capsaicin, an irritant from hot chili peppers that produces a burning sensation, according to Dr. Claudia Campbell, Ph.D., associate professor of ... READ MORE
Hearing is essential to health, well-being
For many years, it was clear that my father was becoming hard of hearing. Normally gregarious and the life of the party, he became increasingly withdrawn because he couldn’t hear well enough to partake in conversations around the table. He began to walk with a shuffling gait. He was declining in front of my eyes. And yet, when we communicated by email, his intellectual curiosity and... READ MORE
Your smartphone can help with meds
Q: It’s hard for me to keep up with my daily medication routine, and I sometimes forget a dose. Are there any tools or technology out there that I can use to help? A: If you have trouble remembering to take the right medicine at the right time, you’re not alone. Taking medications as prescribed, also known as medication adherence, is a common problem for many people. According to ... READ MORE
How cooking helped me cope with Mom
The following is excerpted from the new book, The Lost Kitchen, by Miriam Green. In it, the author shares family recipes and discusses her mother’s Alzheimer’s and how it affected her family. Those early months were difficult. I didn’t want to believe the diagnosis. If I was being honest with myself, though, I knew with certainty that Mom had Alzheimer’s. I was not prepared... READ MORE
Drugmakers must reveal prices in TV ads
Correction: Several days after this story was posted, three pharmaceutical companies sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and a federal judge blocked the rule that would have required drugmakers to list the prices of their products in television ads. Those ever-present TV ads for prescription drugs will soon carry prices, too, the nation’s top health official said... READ MORE
On meds for RA? Volunteer for this study
Enbrel, Humira and Remicade can successfully treat painful, swollen joints due to rheumatoid arthritis, but the medications carry risky — and potentially fatal — side effects. “The biggest side effect we worry about is infection because these drugs are immunosuppressants,” said Dr. Michael Ward of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.... READ MORE
New drugs are improving cancer survival
Newer drugs are substantially improving the chances of survival for some people with hard-to-treat forms of lung, breast and prostate cancer, doctors reported recently at the world’s largest cancer conference. Among those who have benefited is Roszell Mack Jr., who at age 87 is still able to work at a horse farm in Lexington, Kentucky, nine years after being diagnosed with lung cancer... READ MORE
Obtaining prescriptions online a concern
How do you get men excited about decades-old pills for hair loss and other potentially embarrassing health conditions? Online prescription startups including Hims and Roman are banking on a mix of convenience, viral marketing and glossy packaging to turn generic prescription drugs and other pharmacy staples into a profitable new business model. But some in the medical establishment... READ MORE
Delirium and dementia differ, but overlap
Dear Mayo Clinic: My mother is 78, and over the past two weeks, she has become really confused off and on. Before this, she seemed fine, other than having some problems with short-term memory loss. Could this be delirium? How is delirium different from the beginnings of dementia? A: It is possible that your mother has delirium, which is a common condition that occurs when people become ... READ MORE
Scientists studying marijuana’s potential
Marijuana has been shown to help ease pain and a few other health problems. Yet two-thirds of U.S. states have decided pot should be legal to treat many other conditions with little scientific backing. At least 1.4 million Americans are using marijuana for their health, according to an Associated Press analysis of states that track medical marijuana patients. The analysis is based on... READ MORE
