18 Sep, 2024
1 min read

What You Should Know About Taking Cholesterol Medication If You’re Over 50 – Health Digest

Lifestyle changes can be a good alternative to cholesterol medication for many. You’ll want to eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats and low in sugar and refined carbohydrates, according to Noorda. “Reducing intake of sugary foods, white bread, and processed snacks can have a positive impact on cholesterol levels.” Adding probiotic-rich […]

1 min read

The Popular Sleep Medication You Should Avoid Taking With Coffee At All Costs – Health Digest

There’s a reason why coffee has been classically touted as a morning pick-me-up beverage. It jolts your system awake. “Caffeine works by blocking sleep-promoting receptors in your brain called adenosine receptors. It can do this because, structurally, caffeine looks very similar to adenosine, the molecule that usually binds to these receptors,” primary care physician Dr. Rashad […]

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Avoid Eating Too Much Peanut Butter If You Take This Type Of Medication – Health Digest

Peanut butter contains vitamin E and resveratrol, both of which can increase the side effects of blood thinners. Vitamin E-rich foods are considered natural blood thinners themselves. We’re talking spinach, tomatoes, kiwis, mangoes, and yes, peanut butter. When consumed in excess with blood thinning medications like warfarin (Coumadin), aspirin, and clopidogrel (Plavix), vitamin E can increase your risk of […]

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This Common Prostate Medication Might Also Reduce Your High Cholesterol – Health Digest

Different doses of finasteride were given to male mice who had atherosclerosis for 12 weeks while feeding them a Western diet. The finasteride not only lowered their cholesterol levels but also had some clearing of the fatty deposits in their arteries. The mice on finasteride had less fat in their livers than the mice not […]

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The Common Medication You Should Avoid Taking With Coffee At All Costs – Health Digest

Some cold and allergy medications, like decongestants, contain stimulants to help keep you awake. Combining them with coffee can cause restlessness and make it hard for you to sleep.  For example, pseudoephedrine (brand names: Sudafed, Galpseud, Boots Decongestant, Care Decongestant) is a decongestant you might turn to in order to relieve a stuffy nose brought on […]

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Our Doctor Explains Why This Common Medication Can Raise Your Potassium To Dangerous Levels – Health Digest

According to Dr. Scott Noorda, your heart health is what’s mostly impacted when you have too much potassium. Potassium — by influencing the electrical signals of the myocardium – keeps your heart beating at the right rhythm. “Having high potassium can drop the heart’s rhythm, potentially leading to irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias. In severe cases, it […]

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Avoid Mixing Ibuprofen With This Common Medication – Health Digest

While diuretics used for bloating purposes can often be purchased OTC, prescription diuretics are used to help manage high blood pressure, among other health conditions. When taken alongside ibuprofen, however, they can negatively impact kidney function (via GoodRx). 2010 research published in the scientific journal Pharmaceuticals outlines how older adults, particularly those with health conditions […]

4 mins read

This Common Medication May Have An Unexpected Effect On Your Personality – Health Digest

PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock Sometimes we underestimate the effects that over-the-counter (OTC) medications can have on our health and wellness. It’s easy to assume that medications that don’t require a prescription have fewer side effects than drugs that do require doctor approval. However, this isn’t always the case. In fact, some OTC meds can impact […]

1 min read

What It Means When Your Medication Gives You The Body Aches – Health Digest

With so many complaints of body aches, researchers from a 2022 study published in The Lancet took an in-depth look at the causes of patient muscle aches and whether they could truly be traced to the medication. In analyzing data from 23 different clinical trials, the study team found that the majority of body-ache cases […]

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New Study Shows A Common Medication Could Reduce Breast Cancer Mortality Rates – Health Digest

A 2023 study in JAMA Network Open followed more than 13,000 women with invasive breast cancer. Women who started taking prescription statins to lower cholesterol after their initial breast cancer diagnosis had a lower likelihood of dying from their cancer. The reduction in risk was more notable when their cholesterol levels also went down, and […]