Originally published May, 2019. Revised April, 2021; March, 2022, March, 2026 There’s a good chance you take at least one prescription medication or dietary supplement. Almost three-quarters of us do, and 20% of us take five or more. The older we get, the more likely we are to have health problems. And medications are the mainstay of treatment for chronic health problems like heart disease and diabetes. That’s because so
Low thyroid (hypothyroidism) is a common problem among adults. It’s most often caused by iodine deficiency in other parts of the world, but here in the US it’s usually due to an autoimmune disorder (Hashimoto’s disease). More often than not, a diagnosis of hypothyroidism will require lifelong treatment with a thyroid hormone replacement. Luckily, thyroid replacement therapy is relatively simple. Safe and effective oral medications are available and doctors are
What’s REALLY in the supplement product you just purchased? At first thought, it might seem a given that a product actually contains the ingredients listed on the label, in the listed amounts. But it turns out that for dietary supplements, that’s not always the case. The production and sale of dietary supplements is a booming industry. Nearly 3/4 of US adults use at least one supplement on a daily basis.
Maintaining good health takes a fair amount of effort. We depend on information we learn about diet, physical activity, air quality, infectious diseases, and more. For those of us who take prescription medications, our health also depends on knowledge about those meds. Pharmacist-Provided Counseling Many of you have heard me speak publicly (or privately) about the importance of pharmacist-provided education and counseling. Research has shown that meeting regularly with your