Itching for a beer? There may be more truth in that question than you want to know. Two separate studies link beer with that very itchy, unsightly and annoying skin condition. As reported in the “Tufts Health & Nutrition Update” online newsletter, “89,869 women in (a Nurses Health Study) who drink five or more regular beers per week were 2.3 times more likely to develop psoriasis than non-beer drinkers. In another study, researchers at the Society for Investigative Dermatology in 2009 “looked at 1,069 cases of psoriasis, a skin disease associated with the immune system. At first, they identified a connection between psoriasis occurrence and alcohol intake in general. But a closer examination narrowed the association to regular beer, not light beer, wine or other spirits.” The suspect: the starch source used in making beer. “Barley and other starches contain gluten, to which some individuals with psoriasis show sensitivity. If you see signs of psoriasis on your skin, see a doctor/dermatologist. There are treatments for psoriasis, as well as for a wide range of skin diseases. You will find a range of such treatments, both prescription and over-the-counter products, on the website FirstRxSavings.com, together with free savings coupons that you can print out from your computer, to bring them (together with any prescription you receive from your doctor, to your pharmacy—and save money while you get the help you need. To get the coupon, click here: psoriasis
Chocoholics, take Heart!
August 23rd, 2010 by Nils No comments »Here’s the “dark side” of chocolate—and it’s good news! According to a report in the “Tufts Health & Nutrition Update” online newsletter, “In another study linking consumption of chocolate high in cocoa flavenoids to heart health, researchers report that women who ate European chocolate (typically darker and richer in cocoa) once or twice a week were 32% less likely to suffer heart failure over a 9-year period than non-chocolate consumers. The study looked at 31,823 healthy Swedish women ages 48 to 83.” There is a caution, however, against overdoing a good thing. The people who ate too little of the dark chocolate or too much had the highest incidence of heart problems. So moderation is the key…and, when it comes to selecting the chocolate you want, look for a cocoa content of 70% or higher—which makes it darker, rather than the light milk chocolate. Your doctor is not likely to recommend chocolate to keep you healthy, but when you receive any prescription to help treat a heart condition, be sure to follow the doctor’s advice carefully. And before you bring the prescription to your pharmacy, visit the website — www.FirstRxSavings.com — to see if there is a free money-saving coupon that you can print out from your , and bring the coupon together with your prescription to the pharmacy.
About Anti-Depressants
August 16th, 2010 by admin No comments »Depressing Thought about Anti-Depressants
If your physician has prescribed a medication to help treat your feelings of depression, how long should you stay on that medication if you don’t feel better after a while? The fact — as depressing as it may seem — is that many anti-depressants take quite a while to begin to work in easing your symptoms. A report in a recent issue of “WebMD” magazine (an offshoot of the WebMD website) notes that “the first several days, or even weeks, can be rough. Antidepressants take time to work, and some can cause unpleasant side effects, such as dizziness, nausea, sweaty palms, and diarrhea. When you put all that together, you might start to doubt the value of a medication that takes a month or more to help you feel better.” The article goes on to provide several tips on how to cope with this problem. One of them is to re-visit your physician to see if, in fact, this is the right medication for your particular needs. Since depression is a serious illness that can, if not treated properly, even lead to thoughts about suicide, it makes good sense to ask for a “second look” at your specific problem and needs. Whatever the final decision, when your doctor provides a prescription for you, be sure to follow his or her instructions closely—and before you fill that prescription, visit the website FirstRxSavings.com to see if there is a free coupon from the pharmaceutical manufacturer that you can print right from that website, to bring to your pharmacy (together with the prescription) and use that free coupon to save on the cost.
Hypertension and Sex
August 13th, 2010 by admin No comments »If you already suffer from hypertension, adding the problem of a poor sex life at home is certainly going to add to your worries. But it should help you to know that the health professions at Johns Hopkins have some helpful suggestions for you, as reported in a recent “Johns Hopkins Health Alert” online newsletter. First of all, it will help you understand that you are not alone: “People with hypertension are twice as likely to experience sexual problems as individuals without high blood pressure. The reason: Healthy blood vessels are essential to sexual function, but high blood pressure damages blood vessels and impairs their ability to work properly. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to minimize these effects and continue to have a satisfying sex life.” The article points out that, in such conditions, “the result is reduced blood flow to the sex organs…(so) sufficient blood flow is a crucial step in sexual arousal and function to both men and women.” Among the tips offered in the newsletter: Ask your physician if any medications you are taking to treat high blood pressure might be contributing to the problem; adopt a healthy lifestyle and speak with your physician about other steps you can take, including changing your blood pressure medications and using erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs such as Viagra, Cialis or Levitra (if approved by your doctor!), or, for women, a vaginal lubricant…and, above all, do not be embarrassed to discuss this openly with your physician; he or she is trained to help solve the problem for you. And here is a tip from the website, FirstRxSavings.com. Whenever you receive any prescription from your doctor, immediately visit that website to see if there is a free coupon, printable from your computer, that you can bring to your pharmacy, with the prescription, to save on the cost of that medication.
Keys and Dementia
August 10th, 2010 by admin No comments »
Anyone who is close to a person suspected of having mild dementia or Alzheimer’s reaches a point when the question arises: Should he (or she) still be driving a car, or should the keys be taken away? We are concerned about both the person we love and others who might be injured, or worse, in the event of an accident. A recent issue of “WebMD” magazine reports the results of an analysis conducted by the Academy of Neurology, which examined 6,000 studies of dementia. The article relates specific guidelines that should help those faced with the problem to make the right decision. “Some telltale signs include someone who has had an accident in the last five years; has gotten two or more tickets for moving violations in the last three years; drives fewer than 60 miles a week; avoids certain driving conditions, such as driving at night or in rain; shows anger and road rage; and repeatedly gets lost in familiar areas.” The article points out that what makes the decision about whether to take the keys away or not is that “while some studies show that people with mild dementia can pass a driving test, nearly as many studies show they cannot.” One thing everyone can agree on: that person’s doctor should be involved in making the decision. Since there are some prescription medications that can slow the onset or progress of dementia and Alzheimer’s, and when that prescription is given, be sure to turn to the website, FirstRxSavings.com, to see if there is a free coupon that can save money on the cost of that prescription when brought together to your pharmacy. As with all prescriptions, it is important to follow the doctor’s instructions carefully, and having the medication cost less will encourage the patient to have that prescription filled promptly.
Remember Vitamins D and Zinc
August 2nd, 2010 by Nils No comments »A recent issue of the highly regarded “Tufts Health & Nutrition Update” online newsletter reported on important new findings about vitamins D and Zinc. In addition to the many benefits already known to be provided by vitamin D, a study of 858 seniors for six years showed that “those with the lowest levels of vitamin D were at greater risk for declines in thinking, learning and memory abilities…Participants who were severely deficient in vitamin D were 60% more likely to suffer substantial overall cognitive decline than those with adequate levels and 31% more prone to decline in tests of executive function (the ability to plan, organize and prioritize).” The newsletter also cautions those who use nasal sprays to treat colds, etc., that “zinc nasal products may cause permanent reduction of…or loss of…the sense of smell.” It suggests, “Zinc in your diet, not up your nose, may help prevent pneumonia.” Keep in mind that most Americans’ food habits lack the recommended levels of vitamins, and that the website, FirstRxSavings.com, provides money-saving coupons not only for prescription products, but also for many over-the-counter treatments, as well, including vitamins.
High Blood Pressure and Medication
July 22nd, 2010 by Nils No comments »Don’t Make Your High Blood Pressure Worse
“If you have high blood pressure, you should know that certain prescription and over-the-counter medications may raise your blood pressure.” That is the powerful opening cautionary line in a new “Johns Hopkins Health Alerts,” the online newsletter from Johns Hopkins, voted once again among the top hospitals in the nation by a leading news magazine. The brief article goes on to say that “A number of drugs and dietary supplements can worsen blood pressure”…(then lists among them) “ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil); corticosteroids like prednisone; cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune; used to suppress the immune system); epoetin alfa (Epogen, Procrit; used to treat anemia in cancer patients); estrogens such as those in hormone replacement therapy; migraine drugs such as sumatriptan (Imitrex); the weight loss drug subutramine (Meridia); and nasal congestants.” The article also points out that such over-the-counter products as cough, cold and asthma medications — and even some dietary or herbal supplements and appetite suppressants, (which are not regulated by the FDA) can be just as powerful as any drug, and some can also raise blood pressure “to dangerous levels.” The lesson to be learned by all this: Take an active role when discussing with your doctor or pharmacist any newly prescribed, or recommended over-the-counter health products. You may even wish to print out this “Health News Digest” article and take it with you. Chances are high that your physician and pharmacist will know exactly what is good for you based on your personal health condition, but it always pays to take the extra step of making sure. And, when you have a prescription or plan to try an over-the-counter product, check first with this FirstRxSavings.com website to see if there are special free coupon savings that you can take advantage of for such products.
Itchy skin
July 9th, 2010 by Nils No comments »Don’t always blame the mosquito! You are out in the hot, humid weather, and suddenly you feel an itch. Chances are, you figure a mosquito got you, so you go to a retail store and pick up a tube of some over-the-counter anti-itch cream. Later, you rub it on the itchy spot…and next thing you know the itchiness spreads to other parts of your body, as well. Surprisingly, it is a common problem. According to dermatologist Donald Belsito, MD, a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (as reported in an excellent article in the July/August issue of Health Magazine), it’s a situation he sees all too often. “One of the most common allergies I see in my practice is to neomycin, a common ingredient in antibiotic creams,” says Dr. Belsito. “Patients use it to treat a rash they think is infected, and then are surprised to see the rash get much worse. The article goes on to point out that “Another relatively common rash inducer: OTC or prescription cortisone creams, which, ironically, are normally used to treat allergic reactions like contact dermatitis… Unfortunately, many non-dermatologists aren’t aware of steroid allergies. So they’ll prescribe a cortisone cream to a patient with a rash, and when the rash gets worse prescribe stronger creams, causing a vicious cycle.” The recommendation: Your doctor can diagnose it with a simple skin test. As usual, a visit to your doctor is a wise move. If your doctor prescribes an appropriate treatment for your condition, go right to the website, FirstRxSavings.com, to see if there is a free cost-savings coupon for that prescription. Click on: Allergies and bring the coupon, with your prescription, to the pharmacy to enjoy the savings…and to get rid of the itch.
On the Road with Diabetes
July 6th, 2010 by Nils No comments »This is the time of year when most families are traveling, to visit relatives or friends, or just for a nice-weather vacation. But people with Diabetes have more planning to do than others who are along for the ride. The summer issue of Your Health magazine offers some excellent tips, among them: If you are going to have to go through customs or pass through airline security, it’s wise to have a doctor’s letter to explain why you are carrying such medical supplies as insulin, syringes, pumps or lancets—some of which might otherwise be taken from you by the inspectors because they don’t pass the travel regulations—items such as needles. A bracelet, necklace or other form of identification showing that you have diabetes will also be helpful. If you are traveling to another country, learn at least two phrases — “I have diabetes” and “I need a doctor” — in the language of that country. And, last but not least, prepare in advance for sufficient quantities of the prescriptions you will need for the length of your trip—and for an extra few days in the event of a delay in getting back home. Remember: If you carry your Diabetes medication prescription with you and suddenly find that you need a refill at virtually any pharmacy in the U.S. (except in the State of Massachusetts, which has its own rules), turn immediately to FirstRxSavings.com and click on Diabetes to see what kind of savings you can get by taking a computer printable coupon, along with your prescription, to a local pharmacy.
Looking at Glaucoma
June 28th, 2010 by Nils No comments »
Research over the past 20 years on the subject of glaucoma — an eye problem which, if not treated properly and quickly, can develop into a loss of vision — has found increasing evidence of a genetic influence. In other words, if a parent has had glaucoma there is a higher risk of you getting it, as well. But knowledge of this disease by the professionals at the world-famous Johns Hopkins University (as reported in a current issue of the Johns Hopkins Health Alert newsletter) includes the fact that “one of the main risk factors glaucoma is elevated pressure within the eye (also known intraocular pressure, or IOP). Normally the trabecular mesh work, the series of filtering tubes behind the iris, allows liquids to flow in and out of the eye. However, with glaucoma, the fluids often cannot drain properly. Abnormally high eye pressure over time damages the optic nerve, leading to vision loss, particularly of peripheral vision.” Further research has led to treatments that do work to alleviate this harmful pressure within the eye, and ophthalmologists and other vision doctors have products they prescribe that can, in many cases, alleviate the problem in an effort to avoid surgery. Indeed, glaucoma has become a fairly common issue that can be best treated when brought to a doctor’s attention as early as possible. If your eye doctor has prescribed a glaucoma medication treatment for you, turn immediately to the FirstRxSavings.com website and click on: Glaucoma to see what kinds of savings you can enjoy when you take that prescription to your pharmacy.
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