Home

Category: Lifestyle

  • Most Effective New Antidepressant Medications

    Most Effective New Antidepressant Medications

    Trying to make it through the day when you’re struggling with depression can feel impossible. Some people need antidepressant medicine to keep their depression symptoms in check.

    Many adults struggling with depression have tried some antidepressants, and maybe some people have found they don’t work well.

    Today we’re breaking down some of the most effective new antidepressants. Talk to your doctor about some of these medications to see what would be right for you.

    Most Effective New Antidepressants

    SSRIs

    Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are commonly prescribed to start. These are medications with relatively few noted side effects and are largely considered unlikely to have complications. SSRIs, notably, tend to be prescribed at higher doses by doctors due to their lower side effect risks.

    The most common types of SSRIs are fluoxetine, sertraline, escitalopram, citalopram and paroxetine. Brand names of this variety include Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa and Paxil. Note that these medications do, in fact, have side effects, they just don’t have as many as other antidepressants.

    SNRIs

    Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, like Cymbalta, Fetzima, Effexor XR and Pristiq are similar to SSRIs. These medications are notable for their lower amounts of potential side effects, though doctors don’t often begin by prescribing these medications. Typically, those who want these medications ask about them directly from their doctor.

    Tricyclic Antidepressants

    Medicines like nortriptyline, doxepin, imipramine and desipramine often have more reported side effects. These antidepressants can lead to side effects such as an increase in suicidal thoughts, nausea, insomnia or blurred vision. Usually these are only prescribed if other antidepressants are having no effect on the patient.

    MAOIs

    Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are notable because their side effects can be extreme. These are normally prescribed as a last resort if every other type of antidepressant on this list simply isn’t cutting it.

    These medicines, like Nardil and Parnate, can be dangerous in combinations with certain foods. Certain cheeses, wines and even birth control can have lethal side effects in some people, so they require close consideration by the patient and doctor.

    Atypical Antidepressants

    Medicines like Remeron, Trintellix, Aplenzin and Wellbutrin are uncommon antidepressants. They are not prescribed in very high numbers, so they’re unlikely to be in the conversation with your doctor. Typically these are prescribed if other medicines haven’t worked and your doctor would rather you not start a regiment of MAOIs.

  • Top Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments

    Top Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments

    Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is a disease that affects the joints and bones of those afflicted. Swelling and warmth are normal symptoms, and aches in the joints are the most common problem experienced by those with RA.

    If you’re looking for the top treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, we’ve rounded up some of the most common treatments here. Remember, however, that there is no cure for RA, though there are ways to soften the symptoms.

    Top Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments

    Steroids

    If your RA symptoms are severe, your doctor could prescribe you steroids.  Corticosteroid medicines like prednisone have been shown to reduce inflammation and slow the rate at which joints become damaged by arthritis.

    Doctors don’t prescribe steroids in all cases. There are side effects that could occur, like weight gain and the thinning of bones, that are of notable concern. Generally, steroids are prescribed for short-term use, tapering off as the most severe symptoms abate.

    NSAIDs

    Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are a common treatment for arthritis. These drugs are usually available for inexpensive prices and can be picked up in any drugstore. Over-the-counter NSAIDs, like Tylenol and Ibuprofen, can be taken daily for normal aches and pains. They’re generally not dangerous as long as you take them only as directed.

    While NSAIDs can have negative effects on the liver over long periods of time, they’re generally considered pretty safe. Speak with your doctor about taking over-the-counter NSAIDs if you’re worried about their potential long-term effects on your health.

    DMARDs

    Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are a form of medicine that can slow the progress of RA. These medicines tend to prevent joint damage by slowing the progress of the disease considerably. DMARDs are not available over the counter and have to be prescribed.

    Common DMARDs, like leflunomide, methotrexate and sulfasalazine are prescribed in some cases. Doctors have to keep the side effects of these medicines in mind when they prescribe them. Their side effects can include bone marrow suppression, severe lung infections and liver damage. These potential side effects must be weighed against the severity of RA that the patient is dealing with,

    A newer form of DMARDs, called biologic agents, have become more prevalent in recent years. These drugs work by targeting the parts of the immune system that cause the inflammation of joints. Biologic agents also have side effects that include increasing the risk of infection, since they target the body’s own immune system.

  • The Best Prescription Discount Cards: Stop Overpaying for Medicine

    The Best Prescription Discount Cards: Stop Overpaying for Medicine

    Medicine can be really expensive. This goes double for people who have a large number of prescriptions. For many Americans, the high costs of medications can be prohibitive. If you find that, even in spite of your health insurance, you’re spending far too much money on prescriptions, maybe you need a prescription discount card.

    If you’re a bit intimidated by the sheer number of discount cards out there, don’t worry. Today we’re taking a look at some of the top prescription discount cards that are available. Stop spending all your money on overpriced medicine and start saving with one of these great discount cards today.

    The Best Prescription Discount Cards

    Discount Drug Network

    Our first entry is the Discount Drug network. This prescription card has a massive network, which includes over 66,000 pharmacies. This one gets a nod due to its huge network as well as its helpful and handy app which allows you to search nearby pharmacies. The app helps you make sure you’re getting the best prices on discounted prescriptions!

    Script Relief

    Another excellent discount card is Script Relief. These guys offer discounts on a ton of prescriptions and have many partnerships with other discount cards. The coolest thing about this card is how well-connected it is, as it has contracts with over 50,000 pharmacies.

    Like the Discount Drug Network card, Script Relief also offers a mobile search app, called SearchRX, that helps you find pharmacies in the network.

    US Pharmacy Card

    This well-regarded and entirely card-based pharmacy discount program is one of the best out there. You don’t have to print off coupons or provide any additional info with the US Pharmacy Card: simply present it at a participating pharmacy.

    This easy-to-use and convenient card is a favorite of people with a large number of prescriptions, as it’s so hassle-free. Privacy buffs love how the cardholder info with the US Pharmacy Card isn’t shared with anyone. This is a great pick for people who want a simple, no-frills discount card.

    Good RX

    Good RX is another fantastic discount card. The numerous coupons offered by the card can be applied to a number of different discounts. Good RX offers a large number of pharmacies from which you can redeem your savings, and there are always savings to be had.

    You can sign up for the $6 per month version of the card for even bigger savings, too!

  • Best Weight Loss Programs: Get Started Losing Weight Today

    Best Weight Loss Programs: Get Started Losing Weight Today

    Losing weight can be hard. Whether you’ve got a desk job that keeps you on your butt all day or you just find it hard to shed the pounds, maybe you’re looking into a weight loss program. Which ones are right for you, though? There are so many options!

    Today we’re looking at some of the top-rated weight loss programs. Remember, nutrition is as much art as science, and everybody is different. What works for other people might not work for you.

    Best Weight Loss Programs

    Weight Watchers

    Community is a huge part of Weight Watchers, which holds that it’s easier to make healthy dietary choices when you’re held accountable. Much like working out with a buddy, Weight Watchers offers you the support of a community of like-minded dieters so you can feel like you’re not alone.

    The program offers an app that you can access for a fee, which gives you access to various meal plans and “points” values. You can also add weekly meetings, which allow you to feel like you’re a part of a community. The main appeal to Weight Watchers is the straightforward and easy-to-follow dietary guidelines that make nutrition simple.

    MyFitnessPal

    A smartphone app that helps you stay on track and in shape, MyFitnessPal is highly recommended. For a  monthly fee, you get access to day-to-day workout and nutrition tips. If you don’t need the community-minded approach of Weight Watchers, MyFitnessPal is a good pick.

    You get daily tracking of your fitness and nutritional advice to keep you on track. Those with good discipline but no direction are recommended to try this app out. It’s relatively affordable when compared to options like Noom or Weight Watchers.

    Noom

    Noom is a great virtual weight loss app, though it’s on the pricey side. You get access to a lot of resources, such as educational info and nutritional help, that rival the in-person experience of Weight Watchers. Noom is considered a “high-end” weight loss app, and is priced as such.

    While you don’t get the in-person meetings of Weight Watchers, phone-only fitness can be a great fit for busy people. As long as the price tag doesn’t scare you off, Noom can be a good fit for a busy lifestyle.

    Final Thoughts

    Importantly, remember that skinny doesn’t inherently mean healthy, nor does fat inherently mean unhealthy. The only reason you should want to lose weight is if you feel you’ll be happier at a lower weight. Don’t let societal beauty norms make you engage in behaviors that you find unhealthy or unsustainable.

  • Natural Arthritis Pain Relief

    Natural Arthritis Pain Relief

    Natural pain relief is a great alternative to potentially harmful painkillers or NSAIDs. While you should always take medicine as directed by your doctor, there are non-medicinal ways to combat aches and pains.

    This goes double for arthritis pain, which can be a big deal for older people. Here are some of our top picks for arthritis pain relief.

    Natural Arthritis Pain Relief

    Fitness

    It might sound weird, but staying active is a huge part of curbing arthritis pains. If you’re in good shape and getting regular exercise, it’s much less likely that you’ll have serious aches and pains. Not to mention, it’s just good for you to exercise often and get good nutrition!

    Regular exercise means that your joints stay flexible. It also means that you’ll weigh less, meaning there is less strain on your joints in daily activities. Now, running and weight lifting aren’t the best picks for exercise if you’re already experiencing arthritis pain. However, swimming, yoga and tai chi are all low-impact exercises that are great for you.

    Meditation

    Meditating to relax and focus your mind elsewhere can be a huge help with chronic pain. While many people are quick to write meditation off as pseudo-scientific or ineffective, it’s been proven to help those who put effort into learning the practice.

    Remember: meditation isn’t inherently religious or even philosophical. It’s a way of putting mind over matter and refocusing your energy. It’s helpful for getting your mind off of chronic pain and on to more ephemeral and pain-relieving thoughts, like eternity, mindfulness and wellness.

    Nutrition

    Getting the right things in your diet is another important way to address arthritis pain. Omega-3 fatty acids are a huge help in this regard. Certain fish oils and other supplements are one way to make sure you’re getting enough omega-3, which helps keep your joints loose and limber.

    Another fatty acid recommended for those with joint pain is gamma-linolenic acid. Ask your doctor if evening primrose, borage, hemp, or black currants or supplements made from them would be safe in your diet, as these carry gamma-linolenic acid.

    If your symptoms are quite severe and impacting your daily life, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor. However, addressing them in a natural and holistic way can be a great way to avoid doctor’s fees and having to take traditional medicine. Everyone is different, however, so make sure you do what is right for your unique situation.

  • Empty Nest Syndrome: How to Fight It

    Empty Nest Syndrome: How to Fight It

    This is the moment: the kids have finally all moved out. How do you feel? Probably some combination of proud, wistful and nostalgic. It’s hard to wrap your head around.

    This chapter of your life has come to a close, and now you’ve got the house to yourself again. How do you fight off the empty nest blues?

    Here are a few of our tips.

    Empty Nest Syndrome

    Hobbies

    Consider picking up some new hobbies to help you focus on something else. Painting, playing an instrument, learning a new language, gardening and learning a new sport are all popular choices. Health and fitness pursuits are also great at this stage in someone’s life.

    Not only will these hobbies provide a good outlet for your complex feelings about this stage of life, but they’ll likely help you meet new people or find new common ground with old friends.

    Vacation

    If being in your home without the kids is bumming you out, consider taking a vacation. Get on a cruise ship and travel to the Caribbean for a week. Head up to Aspen and enjoy some skiing. Heck, just head to the beach or the mountains for a weekend. It’s hard to get used to the new status quo, so why not take a break from the usual for a while?

    Downsize

    Maybe you’re finding your current place is a bit big now that all the kids have moved out. Maybe you don’t need all this room, and you’re sick of seeing the empty bedrooms where the kids used to sleep. Consider moving into a new, smaller home. Not only will you have a smaller mortgage, you’ll also get a fresh start on a new chapter in your life.

    If you’ve found it hard to move on from your kids moving out, maybe it’s time for you to move out too. You can even opt to move somewhere more central, like downtown or closer to the city center, to get into more social activities.

    Reflection

    Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. When all is said and done, some things in life are hard to wrestle with. The blues you’re feeling now that the kids have moved out could be simple angst that time keeps passing. Aging and, eventually, dying are just natural parts of being human. If these are the underlying issues to your empty nest syndrome, we’ve got advice.

    The best way to deal with these emotions is by sitting with them and reflecting on them, honestly. Aging isn’t glamorous or fun. It is, however, what makes you human.

    Consider meditating on your life’s path, and think about your children and their role in shaping who you are now. Accepting life, even in the moments where it hurts, is key to living happily.

  • Best Places to Find Deals on Baby Formula

    Best Places to Find Deals on Baby Formula

    Baby formula can be really expensive. It’s hard to find good deals on this product, as it’s universally needed and you can’t exactly skimp on it. If you have a baby, you need formula.

    For those who are struggling with the high costs of baby formula, you’re likely looking for the best places to find deals on it.

    Here are some of the best places to look for deals on baby formula.

    Best Places to Find Deals on Baby Formula

    Dedicated Sites

    Many people prefer to use dedicated websites for buying their baby formula. These sites, like BabySavers, tend to focus on finding discounted rates for baby formula so new parents can save more money. Buying online through these kinds of retailers can be a huge help for people with infants, too.

    For one thing, shopping online offers you the comfort of comparing prices from home. You can quickly judge what the best deal is without having to go all over the place looking at different in-store prices. For another thing, you’re able to have the formula delivered right to your home, allowing you to forego traffic.

    Amazon

    As with most products, Amazon can be a life-saver for buying in bulk online. Using plug-ins like Honey, which helps to find coupon codes, you can likely save big on bulk baby formula. As with buying from dedicated sites, you get all the benefits of buying online, which can be huge for new parents.

    Amazon also often offers free shipping for existing Amazon Prime users. Many new parents love Amazon Prime for getting supplies like diapers and other new-parent staples. If you haven’t looked into them yet, consider looking at Amazon to see if they could help you with all the things you need for your new baby.

    Membership Stores

    Big warehouse membership stores like Sam’s Club and Costco often have great deals on bulk items. Baby formula is no exception. If you happen to already have a membership to one of these stores, check in and see if the in-store price for formula is better than the online price.

    While you don’t get the benefit of shopping from home and avoiding traffic when you shop in-store, there are some upsides. You don’t have to wait for shipping with in-store purchases, so you can get your formula right away if you’ve run out. You also get to stock up on other supplies while you’re out, allowing you to roll your grocery shopping into your formula run.

  • How LinkedIn Can Help You Find a New Job

    How LinkedIn Can Help You Find a New Job

    There’s no way to sugarcoat it: trying to find a new job is really, really difficult. It’s hard to even know where to begin. Who’s hiring? Who has good benefits and a good work environment? If you’re not using some kind of job board or have a ton of connections, you’re running in blind.

    That’s where LinkedIn comes in. More than just being a simple job board site, LinkedIn is the best social media app for meeting professional connections. After all, it’s much easier to get ahead in a crowded job market when you know the right people. Here’s how to have LinkedIn work for you.

    LinkedIn

    Take it Seriously

    LinkedIn might be a social networking site, but you should take it seriously. It’s not quite the same as Facebook or Instagram. It’s an opportunity to present yourself in a professional and well-curated way for potential employers and colleagues.

    As such, you should make sure you present your best self on LinkedIn. Make sure your pictures aren’t ones of you and your buddies hanging loose and partying. Make sure you’re well-dressed and well-groomed in your pictures!

    Use it Often

    Make sure to use LinkedIn often. Even if you’re employed and like your job, it’s good to have connections that you cultivate. If you only use the app when you’re looking for a new job, you’ll be out of luck. It’s not enough just to run to it in an emergency: you need to keep up to date!

    By using the app often, you ensure that you’ve got a presence online that potential employers and professional connections can see. This is essentially an ad for yourself as an employee. Take pride in it, and make sure everyone knows just how good of an employee you are.

    Resume

    Make sure you keep a well-formatted, up-to-date copy of your resume easily accessible on your LinkedIn. You never know when a recruiter or hiring manager might come along and see your profile. If they do, you want to make sure your info is all up-to-date and accurate!

    There’s no reason to potentially miss out on a great job just because you’ve got some goofy typos on your resume. Make sure you keep everything connected to your business page tight and well-formatted. This is an easy step to take that will take you only a few minutes, so don’t put it off!

    If you’re looking to make lasting businesses connections, LinkedIn is where it’s at. Get your profile active and looking great today.

  • Important Info You Need to Know about Blood Thinners

    Important Info You Need to Know about Blood Thinners

    Blood thinners are commonly prescribed for people with atrial fibrillation and pulmonary embolisms. Common blood thinners, or anticoagulants, are coumadin and warfarin. These medications can be very important, but they do have some side effects that people, especially older men, need to be aware of. Here’s the important info you need to know about blood thinners.

    Important Info on Blood Thinners

    What They’re For

    Blood thinners are commonly prescribed for atrial fibrillation. A fib, as it’s commonly shortened to, is a condition that causes the patient’s heart to beat irregularly. Defibrillation pads are also commonly used to address an acute incident of fibrillation, essentially stopping and restarting a heart that is beating irregularly.

    Blood thinners are also prescribed for those suffering from pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of the arteries of your lung. This is a problem, of course, as the lung is where your blood goes to receive oxygen. Blood thinners prevent your blood from clotting, thus breaking up the embolism.

    Prescription

    You can only get blood thinners via prescriptions. They’re not available over the counter. That’s because they have a lot of side effects that you should be aware of, and you should only take blood thinners as directed by your doctor. Blood thinners don’t actually thin your blood: they’re more accurately referred to as anticoagulants.

    That’s because coumadin and warfarin primarily are given to prevent blood from clotting as easily. These medicines do so by blocking certain proteins in the blood from doing their job, preventing your platelets from clotting up.

    Side Effects

    As you may be guessing, there are some notable side effects to this type of medication. Since it prevents your blood from clotting, when you’re on anticoagulants, you need to avoid becoming injured. That might seem like silly advice, as you would of course normally avoid injury. However, being on anticoagulants means you should shift your priorities.

    Since your body can’t create blood clots, you need to avoid any strenuous or dangerous activity altogether. Something as simple as a cut from a kitchen knife could be deadly if you can’t stop bleeding. This goes double for internal injuries. If you were to get in a car accident and had internal bleeding, it would be incredibly difficult to get it to stop.

    If you do become injured while on blood thinners, wrap the injury and apply pressure to it, then call your doctor. If the bleeding is severe, call an ambulance and go to the emergency room. The same goes if you think you may have internal bleeding: don’t waste any time. Call an ambulance and get medical help as soon as possible.