When to get help for low back pain
Low back pain is caused by disc rupture or arthritis. It can be treated with painkillers, exercise, physical therapy, steroid injections, or surgery.
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Adjusting your blood pressure medicines at home
Many people with diabetes can successfully tailor drug dosages according to daily measurements. A similar strategy for self-regulating high blood pressure drugs may produce good results for some people.
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Do you need all the drugs you’re taking?
Drug effectiveness and side effects change with age. Review your drugs regularly with your doctor.
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How to stay in the sodium safe zone
Excessive sodium raises blood pressure, which raises cardiovascular risks. Reading nutrition labels, considering sodium in restaurant meals, getting adequate potassium, and reducing calorie consumption can lower dietary sodium intake.
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Ask the doctor: Is there a connection between sedatives and Alzheimer’s?
Benzodiazepine use longer than three months linked to increased dementia risk. Cognitive side effects make them unsuitable for seniors.
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Cheaper treatment for vision loss just as safe as expensive option
An independent review of nine clinical trials found no clear difference in safety between two drugs for age-related vision loss, despite current practice to favor use of the more expensive drug because of safety concerns.
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Women’s waistlines are still increasing, study shows
Although the level of obesity has plateaued recently at around 35% of the population, waistlines are continuing to increase.
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What blood tests require fasting?
Very few blood tests require a period of fasting before the test. They include tests for blood glucose and triglycerides. It is permitted to drink water, coffee, or black tea before the tests.
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Ask the doctor: Why did the doctor ask about my marital relationship?
Medical professionals are required to report signs of elder abuse, so doctors may question you about your relationships if you’ve been injured.
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Back pain: What you can expect from steroid injections
After trying and failing to control back pain with conservative measures, injections of anti-inflammatory steroid medication are an option. The benefit may be small and short term, and the therapy has risks such as infection.
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