Analysis of COVID-19 infections has identified that older patients with pre-existing conditions are at higher risk of severe disease. Doctors treating patients further emphasize that people with hypertension and heart disease are at higher risk of complications. This article discusses the relationship between blood pressure medication and coronavirus and what...
Erectile dysfunction (also known as ED or impotence) affects more than half of all men over 50 years of age and can have many causes. Mental health, stress, cardiovascular health and medications can all play a role. In older men, the risk of erectile dysfunction increases due to underlying blood...
Erectile dysfunction affects more than half of all men over 50 years of age. Psychological stress is one of the risk factors for erectile dysfunction, and accounts for 10-20% of cases, particularly before the age of 40. Some men suffering from depression avoid taking antidepressants due to fear of reduced...
Are your prescription drugs not working for you at all? Medications are not ‘one-size-fits-all’. It’s important to know how prescription drugs work with your body. Knowing which ones are safe and effective for you – and which drugs do not work for you (or are likely to cause side effects)...
What if you or one of your parents experience depression later in life, and the doctor prescribes an antidepressant? It’s important to understand the health risks and take careful steps to minimize them, especially if other medications are being taken as well. As we get older, medication management becomes trickier...
Many millions of people worldwide will suffer from a mental health disorder at some point in their lifetime. Adderall and Xanax are drugs used to treat serious mental health conditions. Taking them together without proper diagnosis and supervision by a physician can lead to unwanted results, potential addiction, and a...
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a complex chronic disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Multiple factors are known to influence predisposition to UC, including genetics, gut microbiota composition, and diet. A recent genetic analysis of gut epithelial cells in UC patients revealed unique patterns of mutation that drive disease progression. Mutations in...
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive autoimmune disease affecting the brain and spinal cord, leading to weakness of limb muscles, tremors, poor coordination and electric shock sensation from certain movements. MS also causes chronic fatigue and can affect vision, memory and speech. The causes of MS are still unknown, and...
Everyone wants to keep their health information private and secure. It can be concerning to hear news about recent data breaches reported by financial institutions (CapitalOne, Desjardins), health services providers (LifeLabs), and genetic testing companies (Veritas). With the increasing access to affordable genetic testing options for consumers, how can individuals...
Chronic pain is notoriously hard to treat. Affected individuals endure pain for months or years, trying desperately to find a remedy to take the pain away. Unfortunately, less than 30% of patients respond, even with the best treatment. It may take several months to reduce the pain to tolerable levels....
