Safe, Effective Options to Treat Pain
America is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. Sales of prescription opioids have nearly quadrupled since 1999. Prescription opioids — medications that reduce pain by interrupting pain signals to the brain — only mask the sensation of pain, and they come with side effects including depression, overdose, and addiction, plus withdrawal symptoms when stopping […]
Drug-Induced Nutritional Deficiencies Are Your Medicines Harming You?
By Bill Kalman, R.Ph., Essential Wellness Pharmacy Have you ever been prescribed one medication and ended up with side effects from it? Did you know these may include muscle aches, leg cramps, restless legs, neuropathy, heart arrhythmia, or sleep disturbances? According to the CDC, from 2009 to 2012 in the United States, almost half of […]
Medicines, Children, and the Care Every Child Deserves
Information from U.S. Food & Drug Administration Use care when giving any medicine to an infant or a child. Even over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that you buy are serious medicines. The following is advice for giving OTC medicine to your child, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the makers of OTC medicines: Always […]
Your Health — Your Attitude
By Lee Baas, PhD, Psychologist Does your attitude really make a difference in your health? Earlier this year, I worked with a couple in Africa. They struggled with life. Their marriage was not much more than two struggling people living in the same house and being the parents of the same children. They were afraid […]
Headaches Should Not Ruin Your Quality of Life
By Hrachya Nersesyan, MD For most people, headaches are nothing more than a rare, uncomfortable inconvenience. For many others, however, frequent tension headaches, brutal migraines, or excruciating cluster headaches interfere with their ability to function. If you suffer from these crippling headache disorders, you may feel helpless against the pain, but you should know effective […]
Looking at Senior Living Communities
By Steven A. Buttice What is home? This writer believes home is a major part of our identity. Chances are, a married couple bought the home at a very exciting time of life. Families were raised in the home. Memories surround each room and piece of furniture. Vibrant bedroom colors may have been chosen by […]
The Truth About Rheumatoid Arthritis Part 2
Information provided by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. It occurs when the immune system, which normally defends the body from invading organisms, turns its attack against the membrane lining the joints. […]
Leave Those Wild Animals Alone
Submitted by Peoria County Animal Protection Services Summer is here and with it comes green grass, new flowers, and wildlife. Wild animals, particularly in our urban areas, continue to present a challenge for residents and neighborhoods. Most commonly, residents encounter young wildlife separated from their mothers, bats (sometimes inside the house), coyotes, raccoons, or squirrels […]
Bullying Defined
Information from StopBullying.gov Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems. In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be […]
Food Safety Tips for Parents and Caregiver
By Marianne Gravely, Food Safety Technical Information Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA Back to school, back to the books, back in the saddle, or back in the car for all the parents. The new school year means its back to packing lunches and after-school snacks for students, scouts, athletes, dancers, and all the […]