Health Education

March 23, 2021

Everyone needs a basic understanding of prescription medications, including asthma inhalers. Things like dosage and expiration dates remain essential to ensure proper and effective medication usage.

March 22, 2021

You may be considering a medication to help with your symptoms, but it can be daunting to take the first step. Learn more in our health news.

March 15, 2021

March marks National Nutrition Month. Proper nutrition remains important, not only for our physical health, but for our mental health, memory, and ability to comprehend. Here are five easy things you can do to improve your nutrition.

February 04, 2021

February is American Heart Month. One key aspect of heart health may be your state of mind, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Learn more about the mind-heart-body connection.

January 28, 2021

If you’re looking for the secret to a longer, healthier life, you may not have to look any farther than Blue Zones.

January 26, 2021

The emergence of COVID-19 has caused us to change the way we live our lives each day; some of these changes temporary, and some permanent.

January 12, 2021

If you’ve been diagnosed with hypothyroidism or suspect you have an underactive thyroid, you will most likely need to take a medication known as levothyroxine. But are all thyroxines the same?

January 04, 2021

Narcolepsy can be extremely disruptive to daily life, or even dangerous. Most patients need to be on medication to live a normal lifestyle.

December 01, 2020

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, you likely have a lot of questions. Learning some basics about pancreatic cancer can give you a better understanding of what to expect from treatment.

September 28, 2020

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) affects up to 12% of women in their childbearing years. It is one of the most common causes of infertility in women.

September 18, 2020

Research indicates that the risk of cancer can be greatly influenced by lifestyle factors related to body weight, exercise, diet, and alcohol consumption. Learn how you might reduce your risk.

June 25, 2020

Eating too much sugar is associated with insulin resistance, weight gain, high blood pressure, fatty liver disease, accelerated aging, a weakened immune system and more.

March 31, 2020

While they may be similar, the paleo and the keto diets are different in nature. However, each diet can be adapted to meet your needs.

March 03, 2020

Social determinants are the conditions you live in and can include factors like access to food or housing. Learn how these impact your health.

February 24, 2020

Benzonatate is related to a type of drug called ester local anesthetics. It works locally by numbing the stretch receptors in your lungs, throat, and airways.

November 21, 2019

There are several common over-the-counter (OTC) medications that older adults should avoid.

November 06, 2019

Good healthcare begins with good communication. If the doctor doesn’t understand your concerns and you don’t understand the doctor’s directions, you may not be getting the best care possible.

October 22, 2019

Do you have gastric reflux? Roughly 18 to 26% of Americans do. Learn about treatment options to get relief from you heartburn.

October 10, 2019

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports, as of September 2019 there have been 1,241 confirmed cases of measles in the United States this year, a number already higher than the previous four years combined.

September 10, 2019

Many of the signs we think about when it comes to stress are difficulty making decisions, excessive anxiety, worry, guilt, and nervousness.

June 18, 2019

If you are using one of these inhalers or have been told that your inhaler contains a steroid in it, you will need to rinse your mouth with water and spit after each use.

April 01, 2019

When most people think of a diet that leads to poor diabetes control, they may think of a diet high in carbs and sugar. While those types of food do impact your blood sugars, consuming too many saturated fats can be an enemy against diabetes control,too.

March 14, 2019

Hypothyroidism is most commonly caused by an autoimmune disorder which is when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues rather than infections.. If you’re struggling with hypothyroidism, there are prescription and natural treatment options available.

February 22, 2019

Do you wake up in the middle of the night feeling as if your lower legs are paralyzed and cramped? Do your lower leg muscles feel as if they are hard to the touch and tight? If you experience these symptoms, you may have nocturnal leg cramps.

January 02, 2019

When it comes to health information on the internet, many patients are no longer sure what to believe. As important, patients often don’t know how to apply what they have read. As a healthcare provider, you have the opportunity to help patients navigate through the vast variety of  online health information.

December 21, 2018

With flu season upon us, make sure you pencil in a date to get your flu shot. You may wonder why this is so important, and why your healthcare providers are always asking whether you received it. Influenza (the flu) is a huge threat to public health. It has been shown that around 5 to 20 percent of the United States population get the flu during flu season.

December 20, 2018

When winter rolls around, the holidays and the festivities that accompany the season follows suit. Turkey, the new year, and family, all of these jolly terms invoke the feeling of celebration and happiness. If you find yourself getting moody when the snow starts falling every year, do not fret. You are not alone. If you feel depressed during certain seasons, this is called seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

December 05, 2018

Diabetes, Cancer, HIV, seizures, pregnancy, organ transplant… chances are high that you or someone you know have experienced or are currently suffering from one of these conditions. But what do they all have in common? They’re all diagnosed or screened for with lab tests.

December 04, 2018

Bleeding can manifest itself in a variety of different ways which, at times, may not be easy to recognize. Some bleeds are also more serious than others and may require emergency medical attention. Bleeding frequency may also vary depending on a variety of factors such as underlying bleeding disorders or the use of certain medications.

December 04, 2018

As a nation, we spend over $5 trillion a year to feed our bodies.[1] That’s the value of food sold each year in the United States through retail and food service including nearly 38,000 supermarkets, an estimated 150,000 convenience stores, and over one million restaurants. The U.S. food industry is immense, touching every person in the nation every day.

December 04, 2018

More Americans live with obesity than breast cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and HIV all together. The medical community has been aware of the rising epidemic for many years, yet its response has not been effective at addressing the problem.

November 14, 2018

When you visit the dentist, you expect to answer typical questions regarding your oral health, such as how often you are brushing your teeth or the infamous question of whether or not you floss. It may surprise you when your dentist asks what medications you take at home. Why would it matter if the dentists knows what you’re taking?

November 14, 2018

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), occurs when your heart muscle doesn’t work as well as it should to pump blood. Some conditions, like narrowed arteries in your heart (coronary artery disease) or high blood pressure, gradually leave your heart too weak or stiff to pump efficiently. Most patients struggling with CHF usually present to the hospital with shortness of breath…

October 18, 2018

Nearly 20% of Americans have self reported an allergy to a medication and roughly 4% of the nation suffers from some form of food allergy. While it would seem obvious to avoid something if you’re allergic to it, you’d first have to know you’re allergic. When it comes to medications this can be challenging. 

October 18, 2018

From prevention of drug counterfeiting to managing data loss in natural disasters, startups across the country are using blockchain technology to fix problems that have plagued the healthcare system for decades.

September 11, 2018

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 5 million Americans are treated with skin cancer each year. Overexposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun is proven to be a major cause of skin cancer.

September 06, 2018

Every year there are millions of falls occurring in the older population, aged 65 and older. About 1 out of 4 older people fall each year, with less than half reporting it to their doctor.

September 05, 2018

You may be wondering, “Why do I need iodine in my salt or other food?” Iodine is an essential element our bodies need that we cannot produce on our own, and therefore need to get it from food sources. Iodine is needed to produce the thyroid hormone, which is important for bodily functions related to metabolism…

September 04, 2018

Many patients think that only pharmacists work at pharmacies. However, there is much more that goes on behind the pharmacy counter. In fact, most pharmacies include a team of trainee technicians, registered technicians, certified technicians, student pharmacists, and pharmacists. A common question is, what are the differences between technicians and why they are important? This answer is an essential reason why pharmacies can run safely, effectively and efficiently.

July 19, 2018

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 50% of Americans have used at least one prescription with in the last 30 days. One recent study shows that patients who were compliant with taking their statin therapy medications for at least two years had a 30% reduction in the risk of hospitalization for heart attacks.

July 02, 2018

There are currently over 250 Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) companies providing services to analyze saliva samples and create customized reports on what your genetic information says about you.

June 25, 2018

Technology users are becoming savvier about the data they produce, which companies have access to the data, and how the data is being used. There are government regulations set in place for protecting your health information.

June 12, 2018

The Medicare coverage gap, better known as the “donut hole,” is a mystery to many, however there are thousands of people that it effects every year. Simply put, it is a gap in coverage of medications after a certain amount has been contributed.

May 09, 2018

Nearly one-quarter of all U.S. deaths in 2016 we­­­re linked to heart disease, which refers to conditions involved in narrowing or blocking blood vessels, potentially leading to things like heart attack, chest pain, or stroke.

May 08, 2018

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a complex genetic disease that affects the lungs, digestive system, reproductive tract, and sweat glands. In the United States, roughly 30,000 people are living with cystic fibrosis, and another 1,000 are being diagnosed with the disease each year. Most CF patients are diagnosed by age two.

April 10, 2018

It’s likely you’ve heard about shingles, or may even know someone who has had the painful rash, but what exactly is shingles, and how can you prevent it? The varicella-zoster virus (VSV) causes two distinct forms of infection, chickenpox and shingles. It’s important to recognize how you can contract this virus and what you can do to protect against it.

April 03, 2018

Health mishaps happen. Whether it’s a twisted ankle on the stairs or something as serious as chest pains, having the appropriate medical supplies on hand help you stay prepared.

March 15, 2018

It is important to know why you’re taking a certain medication, or why your doctor prescribed that medication for you.

February 07, 2018

For many women there are other factors for heart disease and stroke that you can’t control that may not even be on your radar. Your love life, a strong family history, race, and increasing age are all on the list of contributing factors.

January 16, 2018

A general consensus estimates that approximately one-third of adults experience insomnia. Characteristic symptoms include: difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, waking up too early, and/or poor quality of sleep.

December 05, 2017

If your doctor has prescribed a statin medication to lower your cholesterol, you may have heard or read about the potential side effects of statin drugs, and their impact on liver function.

November 13, 2017

Across the United States, the rate of antidepressant use in children is rising. It has led to prescription costs exceeding $100,000 in the four states with the highest antidepressant prescription rates for children.

October 23, 2017

For many people, dry eyes may only be a minor inconvenience. But for those who experience chronic dry eyes, it can be a major problem, causing extreme discomfort. Left untreated, dry eye can have long term effects on your vision as well as your quality of life.

September 25, 2017

The NOACs, or novel oral anticoagulants, are a new breed of blood thinner that have arrived on the market within the last ten years.

September 08, 2017

Ready, a public service campaign designed to educate and empower citizens to prepare for emergencies such as natural and man-made disasters, proclaims September to be National Preparedness Month (NPM). In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and in anticipation of Hurricane Irma, you may be wondering how to go about preparing for such events. This is especially important to consider if you have a chronic disease or condition.

August 15, 2017

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a rare disorder. It occurs in about one in every 1 million people. Normally, when we eat, our body releases a hormone called gastrin, which tells your stomach to make acid to help break down foods and liquids. For patients with ZES, this mechanism is disrupted.

August 09, 2017

VUCA Health announced today that ScriptSave, a provider of prescription savings solutions and decision support tools helping close the gaps in prescription coverage, will employ its on-demand medication video library to improve medication information and drive better care outcomes for ScriptSave WellRx members.

August 07, 2017

It’s a simple fact: drugs don’t work in patients who don’t take them. The causes of non-adherence, when a patient either accidentally or knowingly does not take medications as prescribed, can be complex. Often it’s because patients can’t afford their medications.
Countless studies and surveys show a close relationship between high out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs and the rate of prescription abandonment, or non-adherence.

July 24, 2017

There are a number of mental conditions that shape mood and behavior. Any condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling or mood, falls into a medical classification of Behavioral Health.  Such conditions may affect someone’s ability to relate to others, or maintain reasonable function every day. Each person may have different experiences, even if they have the same diagnosis as someone else.

July 06, 2017

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects nearly 1 in every 3 adults in the United States. Hypertension is often referred to as the “silent killer,”  because for the most part, hypertension doesn’t have any warning signs or symptoms. You might not even know you have it. If left untreated, hypertension increases your risk for heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). So when is high blood pressure too high?

July 18, 2016

There are many over the counter pain medications often taken to treat minor aches and pains. One of the most frequently purchased pain medicines is Tylenol, which is also known by its common generic name, acetaminophen. You may also see acetaminophen abbreviated as APAP on certain medication labels.