STAY Healthyweekly Issue: APR/MAY 2022
15 Things That Can Affect Your Medication Medically Reviewed by Minesh Khatri
Some Things Don’t Mix Well You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from. Chocolate
Grapefruit This citrus fruit changes the way certain cells in your gut take in and move medication through your body -- it can affect more than 50 drugs. It can make some, like fexofenadine (Allegra) for allergies, less effective and make others too strong, including ones that lower your cholesterol like atorvastatin (Lipitor). Milk This dairy product can make it harder for your body to process certain antibiotics. Minerals in milk like calcium and magnesium are part of the reason, along with the protein casein. If you’re taking antibiotics, make sure to find out about the foods or beverages you should stay away from. Licorice Some people use this as an herbal remedy to help with digestion, and others use it to flavor foods. But glycyrrhizin, a chemical in licorice, can weaken the effect of some drugs, including cyclosporine, used to keep people who’ve had transplants from rejecting their new organs.
Dark chocolate in particular can weaken the effects of drugs meant to calm you down or make you sleep, like zolpidem tartrate (Ambien). It also can boost the power of some stimulant drugs, like methylphenidate (Ritalin). And if you take an MAO inhibitor, used to treat depression, it can make your blood pressure dangerously high. Iron Supplement This can lower the effects of levothyroxine (Synthroid), a medicine that gives you thyroid hormone when your body doesn’t make enough (a condition called hypothyroidism). If you take this medication and a multivitamin, check to see if the vitamin has iron in it. If you need an iron supplement, ask your doctor about taking it and your medication at different times.
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Alcohol This makes certain drugs less effective or even useless, including some blood pressure and heart medicines. It also can make others stronger than they should be or cause dangerous side
Stay Healthy Weekly Coffee It can weaken antipsychotic drugs like lithium and clozapine, but boost the effects -- and side effects -- of others. Those include aspirin, epinephrine (used to treat serious allergic reactions), and albuterol (taken by inhaler for breathing problems). It can also make it harder for your body to take in and use iron.
Antihistamines These help with the sneezing and runny nose caused by allergies, but some of them can make medication for high blood pressure less effective and raise your heart rate. Talk to your doctor about other ways to manage your allergies if you take blood pressure medicine.
Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AEDs) These control seizures in people who have epilepsy. But AEDs can make birth control pills less able to prevent pregnancy, and early research shows they may make other drugs stronger and cause potentially serious side effects.
Ginseng This can lower the effects of warfarin, too. And it can make you more likely to have internal bleeding if you take the blood thinners heparin or aspirin, as well as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen. If you take MAO inhibitors, ginseng can cause headaches, sleep problems, hyperactivity, and nervousness.
St. John's Wort Sometimes used to help people with depression, this herbal remedy isn’t a proven treatment for that or any other health condition. It can make your liver release enzymes (things that boost certain chemical reactions in your body) that can weaken some medications. Those include cholesterol drugs like lovastatin (Altoprev and Mevacor), the erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil (Viagra), and digoxin (Lanoxin), used to treat certain heart conditions.
Ginkgo Biloba
Some people use this herb to help with or prevent high blood pressure, dementia, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and other conditions, but there’s no research that shows it does any of that. It Vitamin K can weaken the effect of drugs used to control seizures, includIf you take the drug warfarin ing carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, and Tegretol), and -- used to treat and prevent valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote, and Stavzor). blood clots -- be aware of how much vitamin K you take in. It can make the Take as Directed blood thinner less effective Only about 50% of medication is taken as it’s and put you at higher risk of prescribed. People often take less than they a dangerous blood clot. need, take it at random times, or leave big gaps Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, parsley, and spinach are some between doses -- all of which can weaken the of the most common foods high in vitamin K. Try to eat the effects. Make sure you understand your treatment plan and same amount of these foods every day so the level of warfarin follow your doctor’s instructions. in your blood stays the same.
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Acetaminophen and Your Liver: What’s Safe? By Tony Rehagen
strength pills at 325 milligrams per pill, or 8 extra-strength pills at 500 milligrams per pill. For children, the daily limit depends on their weight and age. Check how many milligrams are in your child’s doses, and follow the directions on the label exactly.
Medically Reviewed by Minesh Khatri, MD
You may need to switch your child’s weight from pounds to kilograms -- you can use an online calculator to do that. If you're not sure how much is OK, ask your doctor or pharmacist. To help you keep track, write down all the medicines you give your child Chances are, acetaminophen is a mainstay in your medicine cabeach day. inet. You use it to ease aches and pains or bring down a fever. Common reasons people mistakenly pass the daily limit include: When you follow the instructions on those pill-bottle labels, it's helpful and safe, and it generally doesn't upset the stomach like • They take too much at once. other pain relievers. • They don’t wait long enough between doses. But if you take too much, it can hurt your liver. In extreme cases, Talk to Your Doctor it can even cause liver failure. If you have more than three alcoholic drinks a day or It’s still fine to use acetaminophen. You just need to know how have liver disease, ask your doctor before you take anything that to do that safely. has acetaminophen in it. In these cases, even the recommended What’s It In? dose could make liver damage more likely. More than 50 million Americans use acetaminophen each week. It's the most widely used drug ingredient in the U.S., found in more than 600 prescription and over-the-counter (“OTC”) medications, including allergy pills, cold medicines, cough syrups, headache pills, and sleep aids.
5 Overdose Warning Signs If you think you may have accidentally taken too much acetaminophen, you may have: •
• Never take more than one product at a time that’s made with acetaminophen. For instance, if it’s in your headache pill and • your cold medicine, and you take them both, you could get more • than you should. Check the “Active Ingredients” section of the “Drug Facts” box on your OTC medication, or the label on your prescription, where it may be called “APAP” or “acetam.”
Follow the Directions Read the label on your medication. Don’t take more than directed, even if you’re still in pain or don't feel well. Even when you stick to the recommended dose, you shouldn’t take acetaminophen for more than 10 days for pain, or 3 days for fever. If you still feel like you need relief, call your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
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Nausea Loss of appetite Vomiting Sweating Diarrhea
These symptoms may not start until hours after you've taken the drug. By the time you notice something’s wrong, your liver may already be severely damaged. If you have questions about whether you took the right amount, call your local poison control center, which will tell you if you need to go to the ER. If you think someone may have overdosed, call 911.
Adults should not get more than 4,000 milligrams of acetaminophen per day from all sources. That’s no more than 12 regularStayHealthyWeekly.com
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How to Keep Your Eyes Healthy Medically Reviewed by Whitney Seltman, 2022
Choose a pair that blocks 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Wraparound lenses help protect your eyes from the side. Polarized lenses reduce glare while you drive, but don’t necessarily offer added protection.
If you wear contact lenses, some offer UV protection. It's still a good idea to wear sunglasses for an extra layer. 4. Use Safety Eyewear If you use hazardous or airborne materials on the job or at home, wear safety glasses or protective goggles. Sports like ice hockey, racquetball, and lacrosse can also lead to eye injury. Wear eye protection. Helmets with protective face Don't take your eyes for granted. Take these easy steps to keep masks or sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses will shield your eyes. your peepers healthy. 1. Eat Well
5. Look Away From the Computer Screen
Good eye health starts with the food on your plate. Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E might help ward off agerelated vision problems like macular degeneration and cataracts. To get them, fill your plate with:
Staring at a computer or phone screen for too long can cause:
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Eyestrain
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Blurry vision
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Trouble focusing at a distance
Green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and collards
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Dry eyes
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Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish
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Headaches
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Eggs, nuts, beans, and other nonmeat protein sources
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Neck, back, and shoulder pain
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Oranges and other citrus fruits or juices
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To protect your eyes:
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Oysters and pork
Make sure your glasses or contacts prescription is up to date and good for looking at a computer screen.
A well-balanced diet also helps you stay at a healthy weight. That lowers your odds of obesity and related diseases like type 2 If your eye strain won’t go away, talk to your doctor about comdiabetes, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults. puter glasses. 2. Quit Smoking
Move the screen so your eyes are level with the top of the monitor. That lets you look slightly down at the screen.
It makes you more likely to get cataracts, damage to your optic nerve, and macular degeneration, among many other medical Try to avoid glare from windows and lights. Use an anti-glare problems. If you've tried to kick the habit before only to screen if needed. start again, keep at it. The more times you try to quit, the more Choose a comfortable, supportive chair. Position it so that your likely you are to succeed. Ask your doctor for help. feet are flat on the floor. 3. Wear Sunglasses If your eyes are dry, blink more or try using artificial tears. The right pair of shades will help protect your eyes from the Rest your eyes every 20 minutes. Look 20 feet away for 20 secsun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Too much UV exposure boosts your onds. Get up at least every 2 hours and take a 15-minute break. chances of cataracts and macular degeneration.
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6. Visit Your Eye Doctor Regularly Everyone needs a regular eye exam, even young children. It helps protect your sight and lets you see your best. Eye exams can also find diseases, like glaucoma, that have no symptoms. It's important to spot them early on, when they're easier to treat. Depending on your eye health needs, you can see one of two types of doctors:
byopia (age-related vision changes)
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye • care. They can provide general eye care, treat eye diseases, and • perform eye surgery. Optometrists have had 4 years of specialized training after college. They provide general eye care and can diagnose treat most eye diseases. They don't do eye surgery. A comprehensive eye exam might include: •
Talking about your personal and family medical history
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Vision tests to see if you’re nearsighted, farsighted, have an astigmatism (a curved cornea that blurs vision), or pres-
Tests to see how well your eyes work together Eye pressure and optic nerve tests to check for glaucoma
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External and microscopic examination of your eyes before and after dilation
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You might also need other tests.
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Stay Healthy Weekly Product Review By Jaye Kenzie Product Rating: 5 Star
Your favorite organic plant-based protein, now packed with super nutrition from 50 organic superfoods in every serving! Scoop things up a notch with this smooth and delicious powder.
This week’s product I want to consider is Orgain Organic plant-based Protein mix. I did a 30 day trial run and the reThe powder is made from organic: Plant Based Protein, and sults were outstanding. Im not a big fan of protein powder Anicent Grains, Greens and Grasses, Sprouts, Berries, Fruits, but this one had additional 50 plus superfoods included which B+C Vitamins and Veggies plus Herbs. caught my immediate attention. In conclusion, This product delivers a daily dose of 6 grams of prebiotic fiber, 21 grams of protein with only 1 gram of sugar. If your looking for a good daily source of added nutritional I stared my morning with a 12oz cup and immediately felt a balance to your diet then I highly recommend this product. good wake up boost of energy. In addition, I consider this a good balance morning meal because of the added 50 plus superfoods. As far as the taste I found the Chocolate fudge flavorble for me. This is good clean plant-based nutritional mix.
My personal rating for product is a Stay Healthy 5 star. This product is available nationwide at your local supermarkets. If you have used this product or interested in trying it please let us know your personal experience, thoughts, comments, etc.
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