Health, Wellness & Medical Care
Manage medication side effects, prevent seasonal allergy misery, and practice fireworks safety. Protect your health, prepare for seasonal risks, and avoid preventable injuries.
Certain Allergy Medications Can Seriously Impact Your Ability to Drive or Operate Machinery
Seasonal allergies are once again starting to take off. Before you start taking allergy medications, it's important to know that some of them, even when taken properly, can have unexpected side effects that leave you slow to react or unexpectedly drowsy. These effects can be worsened when combined with other medications or alcohol. So you need to be careful if you plan to drive or operate machinery.
Spring Allergy Season is Here, So Taking Action Now Will Help Avoid Misery All Season Long
Warmer temperatures are starting to stick around. But don't rejoice just yet since it's also the time of year when you can write your name in yellow pollen everywhere. If you're one of those unfortunate people who suffer from seasonal allergies, you're probably already barricading the doors and windows for the oncoming siege. But there are things you can do to treat and prevent seasonal allergies.
Fourth of July Fireworks Safety Tips: How to Enjoy This Holiday Free of Burns and Injuries
Ask any kid what the Fourth of July means and you'll probably hear some excitement about fireworks. While adults know that Independence Day means more than fireworks, they have become synonymous with celebrating this special day. Whether you are breaking out the fireworks yourself or watching a show, get to know basic fireworks safety so you can enjoy the day without severe or even fatal injuries.
What is a Health Savings Account and Do the Potential Drawbacks Outweigh the Tax Advantages
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a type of savings account that lets you set aside money on a pre-tax basis in order to pay for qualified medical expenses. When you use pre-taxed dollars to pay for your deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and some other expenses, you are able to lower your overall health care costs by lowering your taxable income. It's a good way to save, but not for everyone.
Beware of Medical Advice From Daytime Talk Shows That Can Cost Money and Give Zero Benefit
If you've ever flipped through the channels, you've seen daytime talk shows with doctors or other professionals giving medical advice to the audience. Have you ever thought about the accuracy of the health claims they make? Should you be skeptical or should you make changes to your health and lifestyle? The bottom line is that you should be cautious before putting their recommendations into action.
Safety Tips for Keeping Your Food Safe Both During and After a Hurricane or Tropical Storm
Hurricane season is here. With any storm comes the risk of high winds and heavy rain that can lead to flooding and power outages. All of these risks can compromise the safety of stored food. So what can you do to help keep your food safe and ensure that it is safe to consume both during and after a storm? Here are some steps that you can take to reduce food waste and the risk of foodborne illness.
Remember That Antibiotics Should Not Always Be the First Answer During Cold and Flu Season
No one really likes cold and flu season. When it hits, it usually hits hard and brings with them the stuffy noses, coughs and general yuckiness that knock us off our feet. When someone we love feels bad, we want to help them get better as soon as possible. Many of us might reach for leftover antibiotics or rush to the family doctor to get some. But doing this will often do much more harm than good.
Mesothelioma Info: Here's What You Need to Know About This Deadly Cancer Linked to Asbestos
You may have heard of mesothelioma from a lawyer's ad on television, which likely promised huge financial settlements for victims of this disease. Or you may know of this deadly cancer because a family member was recently diagnosed. If you or someone you know is affected by mesothelioma, you may want to file a claim now in order to secure any rights to financial compensation that you might be owed.
Saving Money at the Pharmacy Counter: Here's How You Can Lower Your Prescription Drug Costs
If you're a budget-conscious consumer, you are always on the lookout for new and better ways to reduce your monthly expenses. But for many of us, prescription medications make up an ever-increasing portion of our monthly expenses. Did you know that you can save money by lowering the amount of money you pay for prescription drugs? Here are five tips to help you save money on prescription drug costs.
How to Head Off Head Lice at the Start as Kids Go Back to School
As parents around the country send their kids back to school for another year, few think about the problems they may soon face as a result, including one widespread bug that is the bane of parents everywhere: head lice.
Medical-Related Savings Plans: You Can Save Money on Taxes With Flexible Spending Accounts
If you have a health plan through a job, you may be able to use a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for copayments, deductibles, some drugs, and some other health care costs. Depending upon the extent of your health costs, participating in an FSA can help you save money by reducing your taxes at each paycheck. But be careful. If you contribute more than you spend, your unused funds disappear.
Here's What You Need to Know in Order to Dispose of Old and Unused Medications Properly
If you look in your medicine cabinet, you will probably find some old medications you don't need anymore. Whether it's a prescription painkiller or something over-the-counter, you should properly dispose of old and unused medications to prevent them falling into the wrong hands where they can have potentially harmful effects. But how exactly do you do that? Some medications require proper disposal.
Tip-Offs to Rip-Offs: Don't Fall for Health Care Product Fraud Scams
It's a shame that you don't see scam warnings on health products. Then you wouldn't need to be on your toes to spot scams. To keep yourself from being scammed, stay on the lookout for the false claims touting revolutionary scientific breakthroughs, miracle cures, or alternatives to drugs or surgery. This language is used by scammers trying to prey on people who want easy fixes for health problems.
FDA to Parents: Avoid Putting Sunscreen on Infants if Possible, Instead Opting for Shade
You probably don't think twice about applying sunscreen when you head out to the pool or to the beach. But do you ever think about whether you should apply sunscreen to your baby's skin? You may think that it's perfectly safe to do this, but shade is often a better idea. Sunscreens are recommended for use by adults and its use on infants, especially those under six months of age, can be harmful.
Before Heading Out Into the Summer Sun, Protect Your Skin With the Right Kind of Sunscreen
We all know that sunscreen helps to protect against skin cancer. But did you know that some sunscreens protect against only the sun's ultraviolet B (UVB) rays and not its ultraviolet A (UVA) rays? Did you also know that sunscreen doesn't block all UV radiation and isn't truly waterproof? Before you head into the summer sun, make sure you know how to protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays.
Grapefruit and Other Citrus Fruits Can Cause Serious Health Problems With Some Medications
While part of a balanced diet, grapefruit and some other citrus fruits can have serious interactions with certain medications. In fact, there are dozens of drugs known to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that interact with grapefruit alone, including many over-the-counter drugs. If you are taking any medications, check the drug safety information carefully for any food interactions.
Here Are Some Things You Should Know if a Gym Membership is Part of Your New Fitness Goals
Becoming healthier and getting in shape are probably on your mind right now. To reach those goals, a gym membership is probably part of your plan. Did you decide to join a gym to lose weight, get buffed, or to feel better? Unfortunately, many people end up unhappy with both the physical and financial results of that decision. Here are some things you should know before getting that gym membership.
Tips for the Safe Purchase, Preparation, and Consumption of Fresh Produce to Prevent Illness
Fresh produce is often grown in uncontrolled environments, so there's always a risk of contamination. Fruits and vegetables can come into contact with harmful bacteria in the soil and irrigation water. They can also be tainted during harvesting, storage, transport, or while on display. Since contaminated produce can lead to foodborne illnesses, follow these tips to protect yourself and your family.
Colder Weather Means That It's Time to Add Some Moisture to Your Home
With the oppressive summer humidity behind us, North Carolinians are bracing for the cold and dry air of winter. This dry air, which can quickly drop from an ideal humidity range of 50 percent to around as low as 10 percent, often leads to sore throats, itchy skin, dry eyes and other ailments. A humidifier can help bring up these humidity levels and ease some of the problems low humidity can cause.
Neti Pots Can Bring Relief but Also Serious Sinus Infections if Not Used and Cleaned Properly
Whether it's the dry winter air that irritates your sinuses or the seasonal allergies that wreak havoc on your breathing, nasal irrigation can bring you some soothing relief. Among the popular devices on the market is the neti pot, which looks like a small tea pot and allows water to flow through your sinuses, rinsing them. But these devices, when not used properly, can cause some nasty infections.
Check Out These Plants Instead of Expensive Equipment if You Want Better Indoor Air Quality
It's a fact that indoor air quality can very quickly go from good to poor, especially during those times of the year when doors and windows are closed around the clock. Unfortunately, many of us overlook the importance of indoor air quality and its effects on our health and our allergies. Rather than rush out to buy expensive air purifiers, consider some plants that work as natural air purifiers.
What is Radon and Why is Testing for This Deadly Element Often Need for a Home Closing?
Anyone who has purchased a home has probably been offered or been required to have a radon test performed before closing can proceed. But you may have wondered what radon is and why the test is even necessary. Radon is a naturally-occurring chemical element and the second-leading cause of lung cancer. Testing for it is very simple and mitigation methods can prevent it from becoming a health issue.
Most Online Pharmacies Are Really Fake Sites Selling Illegal, Tainted or Counterfeit Drugs
Thanks to the Internet, you can buy practically anything online today from the ordinary to the truly exotic. Buying medications is no exception. You can find nearly any medication you want with a quick web search. Unfortunately, nearly all online web pharmacies are illegal, selling not only controlled substances that can't be purchased online but also dangerous counterfeit and tainted medications.
Following These Simple Safety Tips Can Help You Get the Most Benefit From Your Medications
Everyone has taken a medication at one time or another, whether to dull a pounding headache or to eradicate a bacterial infection. As more Americans are taking multiple medications at once, medication safety is more important than ever. We should be mindful of potential interactions between drugs and the other things we put into our bodies, as well as the basics of taking medications the right way.
Reusable Grocery Bags Are Great for the Environment but Can Make You Sick if Contaminated
If you're like many grocery shoppers, you use reusable grocery bags to lessen your impact on the environment. Taking advantage of these heavy duty bags makes it easier to move your groceries from cart to car and then into your home. But there's a hidden danger many people don't know about when it comes to these bags. Depending upon what you carry in them, you might be putting your health at risk.
It's Probably Not Cancer: Self-diagnosis With Online Medical Information Isn't a Good Idea
Modern technology has put all types of information at our fingertips, so it's little wonder that we turn to Google when we need answers for our questions. Unfortunately, when we self-diagnose our medical concerns with the help of online resources, such as search engines and WebMD, we are often inaccurate. The result is a sense of panic about a medical condition that in all likelihood doesn't apply.
How You Can Prevent Swimmer's Ear and Other Ear Infections That Peak During Warmer Weather
Warm weather is here and the kids might be off swimming somewhere. But when water gets in the ear from any source, we run the risk of developing a painful infection known as swimmer's ear. This condition is relatively easy to treat, but preventing it is the best course of action. Take some precautions to keep swimmer's ear and other ear infections from causing pain and ruining a summer vacation.