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Liz O. Baylen/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Nearly quarter of people on long-acting opioids develop addiction

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

More than one in five people prescribed extended-release painkillers such as OxyContin developed an addiction within a year, according to a newly released study mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The study, repeatedly delayed by more than a decade and released Monday, revealed a far higher percentage of pain patients addicted ...Read more

Avoiding age-related brain diseases

If you're not controlling your blood pressure, weight, blood sugar and/or cholesterol levels, and don't get enough sleep, exercise, or have time with your posse and a sense of purpose, you've come up with a formula for some serious age-related brain diseases. Other habits that contribute to brain-dimming diseases include excess alcohol and ...Read more

Using Supplements To Lower Heart Risk Isn't Backed By Evidence

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently had a CT scan, and my score was 184. My cardiologist put me on 40 mg of Lipitor, which I reluctantly took for three weeks until I developed severe pain in my feet and hands. I stopped taking it, and the pain went away. I'm a 64-year-old male in excellent shape. I'm currently taking a chelation supplement, vitamin K2 ...Read more

David Cabrera Navarro/Dreamstime.com/TNS

On Nutrition: What is the Mediterranean diet, really?

Health Advice / Nutrition /

My husband and I traveled to Italy in 2019. Everything was wonderful, even the “house” wine in restaurants. We were surprised, however, that much of food we were served did not exactly match what we expected in this Mediterranean country.

In particular was the abundance of meat products, especially cold cuts, in the meals provided by our ...Read more

Doctors Give Conflicting Advice On Measles Immunity

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband and I recently welcomed our new granddaughter. She is 2 months old and therefore several months away from receiving her first MMR vaccine. We live in Texas, and while there are currently no known measles cases in our area, we are aware that it could happen due to the highly contagious nature of the virus.

I am 65, ...Read more

Tough to swallow

We've all run into situations or statements that we find hard to swallow -- but for up to 700,000 folks every year, its food and drink that cause the problem. The condition, called dysphagia, can trigger coughing while eating and force liquid and food to come back into the throat or out of your nose or mouth.

We each swallow (when we can) 600 ...Read more

Cholesterol Medication Isn't Indicated For 63-Year-Old Female

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm a female who is 63 years old. My blood pressure is 110/70 mmHg. I'm 98 pounds, and my heart doctor believes that I might be one of those people who produces cholesterol. My total cholesterol is 241 mg/dL, my LDL is 168 mg/dL, and my HDL is 65 mg/dL. My doctor did a calcium score, and the result was 31. Should I take ...Read more

Coffee, decaf and digestion

Your morning cup of coffee may help you mentally kickstart the day. But it can also help you get moving internally. For about a third of folks, drinking coffee, even decaf, promotes a bowel movement. (Caffeinated coffee is 23% more effective at that than decaf). And for folks who respond to coffee's gastro-effects, it starts happening about 4 ...Read more

Homeopathy for Fatigue-Related Mood Swings: Natural Remedies for Emotional Balance

• Ignatia: Ignatia, derived from the seeds of the Ignatia amara tree, is a homeopathic remedy that may help alleviate mood swings caused by fatigue and emotional stress. It can be beneficial for individuals experiencing sudden changes in mood, such as sadness, anger, or irritability.

• Nux Vomica: Nux Vomica, prepared from the seeds...Read more

Cut Friday as an Option

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

People who get a common surgery on a Friday have a significantly higher risk of complications, readmission to the hospital and death as compared to people who got the same types of operation on a Monday, say researchers in a new study.

It's colloquially known as the "weekend effect," alluding to everybody's -- even surgeons' -- distraction ...Read more

Two Doctors In A Row Switch To A Concierge Practice

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: Two years ago, my doctor (whose patient I had been for many years) decided to switch to a concierge practice. He charged $2,000 annually per patient. Neither my husband nor I chose to participate. We found a new doctor who we have been very happy with for the past two years. Now he has decided to go concierge as well.

He is ...Read more

Subtracting additives to reduce your Type 2 diabetes risk

The average American woman reads almost 16 books a year; men just under 10! And according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey, nearly 80% of U.S. adults read food labels before deciding whether to buy a packaged product or not.

That's a lot of information to digest -- but label reading is important because it helps you avoid ...Read more

Homeopathy for Anxiety and Stress: Natural Supplements to Find Inner Calm

• Aconite: Aconite, derived from the plant Aconitum napellus, is a homeopathic remedy that may help alleviate sudden and intense anxiety. It can be beneficial for individuals experiencing panic attacks or anxiety triggered by specific events or situations.

• Argentum Nitricum: Argentum Nitricum, prepared from silver nitrate, is a ...Read more

Are you misusing your ADHD meds?

Around 16 to 20 million U.S. adults are taking prescription stimulants for ADHD -- and about 4 million of them are either misusing their Rx or have what's called prescription stimulant use disorder (PSUD), according to a new study in JAMA Psychiatry.

About three-quarters of the folks who are struggling with serious abuse of ADHD medication are ...Read more

'Reasonable' A1C Levels Might Differ Based On The Patient

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 71-year-old male with Type 2 diabetes. My last A1C test showed a value of 7.8%. I have been taking Mounjaro weekly, which lowered my weight by about 20 pounds and my A1C level by about 0.5%. I also take diltiazem for hypertension, a statin, and one metformin pill per day. I read an article in the newspaper stating that ...Read more

Homeopathy for Creativity: Natural Supplements to Boost Your Artistic Flow

• Anacardium: Anacardium, derived from the marking nut, is a homeopathic remedy that may help stimulate creativity and enhance concentration. It can be beneficial for individuals experiencing mental blocks or self-doubt that hinder their creative expression.

• Kali Bromatum: Kali Bromatum, prepared from potassium bromide, is a ...Read more

Older and stronger

Wouldn't it be great if as you got older your muscles got more and more resistant to damage? Well, listen up.

Research published in the Journal Aging and Physical Activity found that older adults don't experience greater muscle damage, soreness or function loss after exercise than younger exercisers do -- and in some instances, they have less ...Read more

Homeopathy for Test Anxiety: Natural Supplements to Promote Calmness and Focus

• Argentum Nitricum: Argentum Nitricum, derived from silver nitrate, is a homeopathic remedy that may help alleviate test anxiety. It can be beneficial for individuals who experience nervousness, anticipatory anxiety, and fear of failure before exams.

• Gelsemium: Gelsemium, prepared from the yellow jasmine plant, is a homeopathic ...Read more

Homeopathy for Memory Enhancement: Natural Supplements to Boost Cognitive Function

• Bacopa Monnieri: Bacopa Monnieri, also known as Brahmi, is a herb commonly used in homeopathy to enhance memory and cognitive function. It may help improve learning abilities, concentration, and retention of information.

• Phosphorus: Phosphorus is a homeopathic remedy derived from the chemical element phosphorus. It is believed ...Read more

Homeopathy for Public Speaking Anxiety: Natural Supplements to Boost Confidence

• Gelsemium: Gelsemium, derived from the yellow jasmine plant, is a homeopathic remedy that may help reduce nervousness and stage fright associated with public speaking. It can be beneficial for individuals who experience trembling, weakness, and anticipatory anxiety before speaking in front of an audience.

• Argentum Nitricum: ...Read more

 

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