The People's Pharmacy

The FDA has insisted for years that generic drugs are identical to their brand-name counterparts. Physician and medical historian Jeremy Greene writes: “Generic drugs never were–and still are not–exactly the same as their brand-name counterparts, but they are similar in ways we deem to be important.” We discuss the value of generic drugs and the […]

At some point during our lives, most of us will have at least one episode of back pain. Sharp or dull, the pain can come on at an unexpected moment and dominate our lives for days or weeks, until it disappears as mysteriously as it came. When Pain Becomes Chronic For some people, however, low […]

Is rest a waste of time? Many of us think so, but burning the candle at both ends has its costs. Eventually, the result is burnout along with physical and emotional exhaustion. Balancing Rest and Activity While sleep is crucial for good health, sleep alone may not suffice to restore health. Dr. Matthew Edlund believes […]

According to a new global survey, older adults in the United States take more drugs for more chronic health problems than seniors in ten other countries. Why do so many people suffer with chronic illnesses as they age? The diseases that afflict them are due in part to genetic susceptibility for heart disease, diabetes or […]

Hydrocodone Painkillers Last month, the Drug Enforcement Administration changed its classification of hydrocodone containing pain relievers. The new rules will make it more difficult for some patients to get their medications. What will they mean for you? Movember By now, everyone is pretty well aware that October is colored pink to draw attention to breast […]

Are you deficient in magnesium? Chances are you’ve never thought about it. Magnesium is a fascinating mineral that every cell in the body uses for a variety of activities. Yet very little attention is paid to this nutrient. Learn why magnesium is so vital and how to tell if your levels might be low. Which […]

Many couples struggle to conceive. Even healthy young couples may be less likely to have success with conception than is commonly believed. Without using protection of any kind, such a couple might expect to conceive in one cycle out of five. While most healthy couples do manage a pregnancy over the course of a year, […]

More than 30 million Americans have trouble hearing as well as they would like. Some assume there is nothing that can be done to help them, while others imagine that their hearing loss is not so great that it needs to be addressed. Are they mistaken? Hearing aids are expensive and somewhat mysterious. Technological Advances […]

For decades, Americans have been warned to step away from the cheese and leave the butter untouched. Saturated fat was believed to clog the arteries and lead to heart attacks and early death. But what was the basis for those admonitions? Where’s the science? The science of the popular prescriptions for a low-fat diet is […]

Dishonesty in Health Care Health care, it seems, is not immune to the dishonesty that prevails in many other parts of society, whether it is the polite lie that someone looks good (despite a hospital pallor) or a more serious deception or omission, such as a provider’s financial relationship with a drug or device manufacturer. […]