If you are take any medication, whether it be doctor initiated prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs or herbal remedies, you are apt to be doing do so in hopes of getting a particular outcome (e.g., less pain, greater mobility, etc.) However, can the medication you are taking actually make you sicker? Unfortunately, the answer is “Yes.” Click here to find out more.
Do you know the side effects of acetaminophen – Tylenol? What about the side effects of Aspirin?
Many of us take over-the-counter medication on a regular basis. Due in part to the fact that these medications are available without prescription and are taken so freely and frequently, it is not uncommon for their side effects to be ignored and/or indeed unknown to us. Unfortunately, this lack of knowledge can have serious consequences. For example, in a 2006 FDA report, approximately 46,000 emergency room visits/year were related to acetaminophen overdoses.
In a recent online article found on huffingtonpost.ca, some popular medications and their side effects are identified. If you have not already read it, you may wish to do so. As Stephanie Hallett, the article’s author states, “Potentially serious side effects for popular medications are more common than you may think.”
With the cold and flu season upon us, flu shot clinics have sprung up in a number of locations, including grocery stores, pharmacies and in shopping malls. Related to these clinics are the discussions and debates around the topic of immunization and vaccination. Should a person get a flu shot? What are the risks of getting a flu shot? What are the risks associated with not getting one? Below is a tweet that contained statistics from the US concerning immunization and vaccination.
Annual US Morbidity From Common Diseases Before and After Vaccines.#health #medicine #vaccines #vaccination pic.twitter.com/v9uA8HGPQc
— Disease Symptoms (@DiseaseSymptom) May 10, 2014
The Government of Canada has also developed the Canadian Immunization Guide that provides information about immunization. In addition, there are numerous websites, including New Health Advisor, which discuss the pros and cons of vaccinations and immunization. One thing for sure, there is no shortage of information concerning vaccination and immunization debate. On which side of the debate do you fall?
It is that time of year again – flu season. For many people, a related question often arises namely: “Should I get a flu shot or not?” For individuals who see getting a flu shot as beneficial to one’s health and well-being, the thought of doing otherwise can be deemed foolhardy. Essentially, the question is not, “Should I get a flu shot but rather why would I NOT get a flu shot?
In an online article entitled, “Here’s Why People Avoid The Flu Vaccine,” Jason Tetro identifies what he sees to be the underlying reason for vaccine avoidance. Click here to discover why only one third of Canadians get the flu shot.
