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Community • continued from page 5
out to those people in my culture to say, ‘Hey, look, you can come to me when you want that old-fashioned yellow cake with chocolate icing, or that coconut cake or that peach cobbler – the things that our mothers used to make,’ Thornton said. “One of the things that we’re not good at is passing along things that are in our family that we really value. I’m trying to do that, and I know through the chamber I can continue to reach some of my peers in my culture.” Bleu Kind, 33, opened her coffee and tea house, Franny Lou’s Porch, in 2015. Named after Frances E. W. Harper, who helped enslaved people escape through
Medications • continued from page 13
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prescription meds, these pills can cause a potentially serious bleeding issue called gastric ulceration (commonly known as a stomach ulcer). Common drugs for heart failure and blood pressure, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, can also interact with NSAIDs and affect kidney hydration. Someone who is taking the ACE inhibitor lisinopril and is not feeling well or not eating may decide to take Motrin. This combination can block the kidney from functioning optimally or even cause acute kidney failure, McDonnell said. “This is a case where Motrin is the straw that broke the camel’s back,” he said. “Sometimes the anti-inflammatory drugs can cause more harm than good. It’s really the fine balance of drug therapy – risk versus comfort.”
Vitamins and supplements
Dietary supplements and herbal medicines can be very beneficial for reducing symptoms or treating conditions, but they
FEBRUARY 2022
the Underground Railroad and who is considered the founder of Black journalism, and Civil Rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, Kind calls her shop a window and catalyst for the Black community, as well as other marginalized peoples. “There are not a lot of places that are openly Black spaces,” Kind said. With its African-inspired textiles, the names she gives her lattes and the music she plays, Kind creates a space of representation. “It is a place for the other, as well as a joyful place and a place of acceptance,” she said. “People are here to be happy.” Jay Nachman is a freelance writer in Philadelphia who tells stories for a variety of clients.
can also be problematic when taken with certain prescription medications. “For example, many older people take glucosamine and chondroitin to help with osteoporosis pain,” McDonnell said. “Glucosamine is actually derived from shellfish. Patients with severe allergy to shellfish, such as shrimp, may unknowingly be predisposed to an allergic reaction. St. John’s Wort, another common supplement, which can be contraindicated with certain drugs, including those used after an organ transplant.” Some prescription medications can cause cross-reactive allergies to the dyes in supplements and herbal remedies, so patients should be careful, read the label and consult with a pharmacist if they notice an adverse reaction. Medication management can be very overwhelming, but knowledge is key. “Polypharmacy is clearly a reason to communicate with the pharmacist,” McDonnell said. “And, in some cases, to have a family member serve as an advocate, especially if (the patient’s) cognitive function is compromised.” Kathleen Harte Simone is a Philadelphia-based journalist.