Article

Acute vs. Chronic Cough: What Is It Really Trying To Tell You?

Want to be the least popular person in a crowd? Start coughing. You will surely draw the attention of everyone within earshot—and probably not in a good way. You may even notice people inching away from you and your perceived germs, (whether real or not). But, if strangers can interpret the signs and symptoms of a cough so quickly, why are we sometimes last to pay attention to it? Here’s what’s true: A cough is an important symptom that’s trying to tell you something.The Anatomy of a CoughYour...

How I Became A Sickle Cell Warrior

In Kenya, where I was born, many people are aware of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), more so than in the U.S. This may be because there is a greater proportion of the population in Africa that has the disease. My older brother and I were both born with SCD. We have also witnessed many people suffer from and lose family members and friends to the disease.For a long time, I lived in denial about having SCD. As a child, my view of it was very negative; I could not imagine anything positive ever coming...

Preventing Accidental Poisonings at Home

It’s always important to be aware of unintentional poisonings and to learn about poison prevention. Though many adults may not think a poisoning could happen to them or their children, many parents may not even be aware of what the dangers could be! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every 13 seconds, a poison control center in the United States answers a call about a possible poisoning with more than 90% of these exposures occurring in the home. Additionally...

Pediatric Dosing—Giving Your Child a Safe Dose of Medicine

When your child gets a cough or runny nose, do you pick up a bottle of medicine at the pharmacy and give them a dose with a kitchen spoon? Don’t. Giving medicine with that old kitchen spoon may mean that your child may be receiving a larger or smaller dose than directed. In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services asks that you ditch the kitchen spoon and use the dosing device that comes with the over-the-counter (OTC) medication because the dosing spoon or cup that comes with the...

Real People

My Story: Surviving a Brain Aneurysm

I have always been a healthy and active person. In 2014, I was working two jobs: one as a safety associate at Pfizer and one as a neonatal nurse. I was also preparing for a triathlon. Things were great in my life—except for the occasional bout of migraine headaches. Later that year though, I began to experience nausea along with the headaches which grew more and more painful. Like anyone else might do, I passed it off as stress and decided to back off of my athletic training a little to see if...

Common Misconceptions About Vitiligo

Vitiligo (pronounced: vittle-EYE-go) is a skin disorder that causes depigmentation (loss of skin color) in irregular patchy patterns. The disorder itself is rare, affecting only about 0.5% to 1% of the world’s population. Though vitiligo is neither fatal nor life-threatening, there is a social stigma that results in lowered self-esteem among those with the skin condition. As a dermatologist who has treated many patients with vitiligo, raising awareness is one way to help dispel the damaging...

Caregiver’s Guide for Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative motor disorder, meaning there are many features of the disease that will change over time—slowly in most people. And, while no two people experience the disease the same way, there are a number of common symptoms caregivers can look out for that may help prepare them for the changes likely to occur during early-stage, mid-stage, and advanced-stage Parkinson’s disease. As PD progresses, patients may have increased difficulty walking...

What to Ask a Doctor about a New Treatment or Diagnosis

Sometimes getting a new diagnosis from your doctor can be a scary experience. It may be a surprise and—depending on the medical problem—it can impact the rest of your life. Make sure you talk with your doctor and ask key questions to ensure that you fully understand your medical diagnosis and treatment options. Questions for Your Doctor There are some general questions you may ask your doctor when you are given a new diagnosis or recommendation for a new treatment. Remember the 5Ws and an H...

Managing Headaches

Throbbing, pounding, aching head pain…sound familiar? Many of us get headaches. Some people have headaches only occasionally, while others experience them more often. Headaches can have many causes and levels of severity too. If you experience headaches frequently or have difficulty managing them, speak with your healthcare provider. For many people, headaches can be managed effectively with lifestyle changes and medications. What Kind of Headache is it? In order to properly treat a headache...

Adult Vaccination in Communities of Color

Each year, thousands of adults suffer from serious infectious diseases that in severe cases can result in hospitalization or even death. Even though there are vaccines available to help prevent a number of these potentially serious diseases, vaccination rates among U.S. adults remain low—lagging well behind federal goals and expert recommendations. Older African Americans and Hispanics are less likely than white adults to be vaccinated, leaving them at greater risk. And, with chronic diseases...

Dry and Itchy Skin, or Is It Eczema?

No one likes having dry, scaly, or itchy skin. And though it may seem like a problem that comes with cold or dry weather, or simply a need to moisturize, it may also be a sign of a medical condition called atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema, is a non-contagious, inflammatory skin disease characterized by unrelenting itch that can affect a person’s quality of life.More than 30 million Americans have some form of eczema, which can cause skin to become dry, red, and itchy...

7 FAQs About Generic Drugs

1. What is a generic drug? A generic drug is loosely defined as a “copy” of a brand name drug. The active ingredient or drug content is identical or “bioequivalent,” and works in the body the same way as the brand name drug. Such drugs must show that their active ingredients get to the bloodstream at the same time and to the same extent as the brand name version. Generics are similar to brand name drugs in several other ways. These include the quality of the product, how it’s absorbed in the...