Healthcare blog

Since sunglasses are as much a fashion accessory as they are protective eyewear, it can be tempting to buy a pair just because you like how they look on your face, you like the particular style, or you're a fan of the brand. But you can certainly ensure solid UV protection for your all-important vision without sacrificing style. 

Chances are that when you were growing up, your parents had a bottle of rubbing alcohol somewhere in the cabinets or bathroom that they broke out for first aid purposes, and you undoubtedly pass the bottles at your local pharmacy while on the hunt for other things. But did you know that rubbing alcohol is incredibly versatile and can be used for a whole host of household and emergency situations beyond simply sanitizing that scraped knee?

While most of us know that we need to schedule routine maintenance for our cars and even our heating and A/C systems before they break down rather than waiting for disaster to strike, sometimes we're not quite as conscientious when it comes to our own health and well-being. Sure, we might undergo an annual physical each year, but unless we're complaining of any particular symptoms, such a checkup might not amount to much more than a weigh-in, a stethoscope to the chest, and maybe a hammer to the knee to check if you're still alive and (literally) kicking.

There is no denying that many people love white teeth, on themselves as well as on others. Having white teeth is not only aesthetically appealing to most people but it also has a psychological reason behind it. According to Dr. Dacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, most people are attracted to white teeth because they appear to be cleaner and healthier as compared to stained or yellow ones

You wake up after a long night's sleep hoping to feel all refreshed and looking forward to a good day but the first thing you end up doing is sneezing while your nose runs. Thankfully, a handy box of tissues is right on your nightstand because this is something you're now used to. You wake up with a runny nose more often than not, but why and what can you do to stop it from happening?

When it comes to skincare, new products and technologies are constantly hitting the market, and that's not including the various skincare routines that are always being touted online. However, some products withstand the test of time and hyaluronic acid is one of them.

Acne is not just a teenage ailment, as it can occur at any age. Although adult acne is less common than teen acne, it affects more women than men and can often occur during menopause when hormones are off balance. Healthline reports that 25% of women aged 40-49 get acne. Hormonal imbalances that occur with puberty are also what cause teen acne, so it makes sense that the same thing would cause adult-onset flareups. But how do you remedy acne using natural and gentle methods?

There's nothing like soaking up the sun on a warm summer day, but it's very easy to get a little too much sun. How quickly you burn can vary from person to person; the American Skin Association warns that someone with lightly pigmented skin can get a sunburn in as little as 10 minutes. Even if you wear sunscreen (as you should — even indoors), people often forget to reapply it throughout the day, which means they can still get a sunburn.

Lower back pain affects more than 31 million people in the U.S., reports the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). From children and teens to seniors, anyone can experience this problem. Lifestyle habits, such as prolonged sitting or standing, can worsen your symptoms and lead to chronic back pain. In some cases, the pain is due to a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or muscle strain, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Waking up in the middle of the night to numb hands is never a fun feeling, but it's certainly not an uncommon one. 

It's a feeling that most people have felt in their life at some point or another, (via Healthline). When your hands are asleep, or the feeling of "pins and needles," it's usually pretty simple to get the sensation flowing back with some quick movements and some relocating of limbs. But what causes this feeling in the first place? 

When a person unfocuses their eyes, they do so by relaxing the ciliary muscles in their eyes, which in turn causes them to lose focus. In general, people tend to unfocus their eyes when looking at an object from a close range, when looking at hidden images — such as Magic Eye Images — and when admiring 3D imagery or artworks. A lot of people first learn the ability to unfocus their eyes during their childhood, while others simply pick up the skill while daydreaming or staring into space. 

Cold and flu season, allergies, and even inhaling an irritant like smoke or perfume can cause an unpleasant coughing fit. Coughing is the body's way of getting rid of anything that's irritating the throat or lungs. It's estimated that coughs can be expelled from the mouth at speeds of up to 100 mph (via Penn Medicine)

Mastitis can quickly ramp up the stress of post-partum life and having a new baby. As a new mom, you're dealing with post-labor body, latching your baby, and potentially mastitis, a condition that you might not even know you have it. You may chalk up your symptoms to fatigue and the post-partum journey.

Having a stye in the eye can be really annoying as the symptoms are uncomfortable. It may look like a pimple, but it's a lot more painful than regular acne, and no, you can't just pop it.

Cigarette smoking is a difficult problem that pharmacists and other healthcare professionals can play an important role in. Varenicline is one of the main medications that can be used to help curb this addiction. In this post, I will lay out my most important varenicline clinical pearls that I have learned from my practice as a pharmacist.

A 62-year-old male had a heart attack about 9 months ago. He was stented and placed on both aspirin 81 mg daily and clopidogrel 75 mg daily. He presents today to the emergency department and is diagnosed with a STEMI. 

I just wanted to cover a question that I get asked from time to time. My real world thoughts on vaccines:

It certainly is a controversial topic and people have seriously strong opinions about this issue, so I approach it with that in mind. I personally see the impact of influenza outbreaks in nursing homes…

Many patients will take acetaminophen for their pain management. It is cheap, somewhat effective, and typically pretty safe at normal dosages. There are potential downsides when it comes to acetaminophen. Let me outline a couple of common mistakes with acetaminophen.

Mirtazapine is commonly used in elderly patients with depression who are also suffering from insomnia. Mirtazapine is often chosen because it is much safer than benzodiazepines, “z-drugs”, and antipsychotics. The mechanisms of mirtazapine (podcast episode on the pharmacology) include the release of norepinephrine via presynaptic adrenergic auto-receptor blockade, increased serotonin production through stimulation of adrenoreceptors on serotonergic cell bodies, and the direct blockade of 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptors. Mirtazapine has a high H1 receptor affinity, leading to antihistamine effects. So what does this mean as far as dosing of mirtazapine for insomnia?