Author: Jedha Dening

Skin does so much — it protects us from germs, ultraviolet radiation, viruses and infections. It helps regulate body temperature and acts as an immune warning against infections.. It’s no wonder we often assume that products applied to the skin can’t hurt it. Some, including Proactiv, have serious side effects.  Unfortunately, skincare products are an area the FDA doesn’t tightly regulate, despite the fact that many skincare products contain ingredients that can be harmful to our health. Many people aren’t aware that over-the-counter acne treatments list only the more common side effects on their product labels — they fail to…

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a real pain. Some people may not be able to go to the bathroom, which causes gut pain and discomfort. Others may need to stay near a toilet since IBS can cause you to lose control of your bowels when nature calls. Either way, it’s an incredibly unpleasant situation. Ten to 15% of adults and children suffer from IBS. The symptoms can severely impact one’s quality of life, so much so that the condition has been linked to suicidal behavior. That’s why it’s important to know that IBS is considered a real medical condition. And…

If you have hypertension — high blood pressure — you may think that the only way to control it is to take a drug. But did you know that many classes of hypertension drugs have serious side effects? For instance, beta blockers – such as Lopressor and Toprol-XL (metoprolol), Tenormin (atenolol) and Bystolic (nebivolol) — can slow the heart rate down too much, may cause depression, insomnia, or cold hands and feet, can worsen asthma symptoms, lead to impotence and increase the risk of bronchospasm. Calcium channel blockers — such as Norvasc (amlodipine), Cardizem (diltiazem) and Verelan (verapamil) — may…

From the outside, a person with fibromyalgia looks perfectly normal. But on the inside, it can feel like the pain volume dial has been cranked up to high and can’t be turned down. On top of this, the high level of fatigue can interfere with life on every single level. “Fibromyalgia is a very interesting illness,” says Jordan Tishler, MD, a Harvard-trained physician who focuses on holistic care. “Twenty years ago we felt that it was largely a psychological illness, partly because we couldn’t find much else wrong, and partly because it responds, at least for some, to antidepressants like…

Incontinence and overactive bladder can be potentially embarrassing conditions for men. Before using meds, find out about alternate therapies for relief. They are problems that many men don’t want to talk about out of potential embarrassment. Still, many men have to contend with overactive bladder and urinary incontinence — in layman’s terms, when control over urination is lost — which can be an indication of bigger problems. Just as important, it can lead to emotional issues and impact a man’s social life. There are treatment options available for the condition, though many doctors will first turn to prescription medication, especially…

No woman wants to be caught too far from a bathroom, especially when the ability to hold your bladder is a struggle. But if it gets to the point where the thought of coughing or laughing leads to leakage anxiety, or you have to wear pads due to wetting your panties, well, it’s natural to have a few concerns. Unfortunately, urinary incontinence is yet another health condition that affects more women than men: 25-45% of women aged 30 to 60 years, and 7-39% of women aged 20 to 30 years suffer from the condition. It can be a very embarrassing…

Acetaminophen, better known under the brand name Tylenol, is an over-the-counter pain- and fever-reducing medication that is generally considered safe to use, even during pregnancy. In recent years, however, a slew of studies have cast some doubt on its safety during pregnancy. Some have claimed use of acetaminophen during pregnancy is linked to autism, ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and behavioral issues in children. While this may raise alarm bells for parents, it is important to understand how these studies were conducted in coming to their conclusions. In many cases, a closer examination of the data reveals that the risks have…

Millions of Americans take an antidepressant daily. But a growing volume of research is indicating the pills may only provide marginal benefits. Most people take antidepressants with the idea the side effects associated with the drugs are worth it since they will help alleviate their depression. However, evidence is growing that antidepressants might not be all they are cracked up to be. In fact, they may be no better than a placebo. The gap effect seen between medication and placebos is sharply narrowing, even for those with severe depression, according to a recent article by Christopher Davey, PhD, and Andrew…

Up to 10% of children and teens suffer from migraine headaches, but only a few drugs are known to be safe, effective and have few side effects. A child suffering from migraines will certainly be offered medicine. But with so few drugs being tested for safety on children, what can a parent give a child that won’t have nasty side effects or, worse, long-term effects? The good news is there has been a spate of research on the 3 most common drugs offered to children with migraines: ibuprofen, acetaminophen and a class of drugs called triptans. Migraine headaches are a…