Health Watchers' News and Views

Wash Your Mouth Out – It Prevents Heart Disease

Dear Pharmacist, Heart disease runs in my family so naturally, I’m worried. A friend told me that brushing your teeth can prevent heart disease. I was polite, but I don’t believe him. Can this be true? –K.M., Sanibel, Florida Answer:  You’re friend is right so how important is oral hygiene? In a word, very. In [...]

Suzy’s Top Tips To Protect Against Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages, and most common cause of death from cancer in men over 75. You are smart to think ahead and so I’ve researched and prepared this list of 8 ways to help you and other proactive men protect against prostate cancer.

Pain Killers May Be Banned

I am stressed out that I may not be able to get my pain medication, Vicodin. I’ve taken it for years, following a work accident. I’m not addicted. I really have pain but the pharmacist told me that it’s going off the market. Please tell me he’s wrong. I can’t live without it. …

Many Medicines Spark Nasty Sunburns

Photosensitive reactions are very unpredictable. Some people get severe sunburns and brown splotches in their skin, some get redness, tenderness, a rash, hives, or other types of inflammation (such as swelling or generalized pain), while others, experience no reaction whatsoever. Some skin reactions are permanent. Also, just because you do not have a problem with medication now, doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing every time you take it.

Top Ten List to Protect Your Kidneys

Dear Pharmacist,

I’ve had diabetes for 12 years and now I have kidney disease. My doctor just prescribed lisinopril, but after talking to the pharmacist I’m concerned that there is more I should be doing to protect my kidneys. What else should I consider?

Answer: The kidneys continuously filter your blood to strain out waste products. Without functional kidneys we would die within minutes. Many people, including non-diabetics, have the beginnings of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and don’t even realize it….