The Danger Zone: Understanding Why Drugs and Alcohol Don’t Mix
I was 17 when I witnessed my first dangerous mix of drugs and alcohol. I was watching a partygoer having a fit and foaming at the mouth after mixing GHB, a party drug and nervous system depressant, with alcohol. My second experience was at 18, carting a friend of mine home after her drink was […]
The Gila monster gave the weight-loss revolution its bite
It’s currently estimated that over one-half of the adult US population is either overweight, that is, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 25 and 30, or obese, with a BMI higher than 30. This statistic does not indicate neglect by the healthcare, research, or pharmaceutical industry because enormous attention has been paid to the […]
Can Metformin be used for more than just diabetes?
Metformin has a long history as a substance with some medical value. It dates back even before its official recognition in 1918 for its ability to reduce blood sugar levels. Before any medical knowledge about diabetes, herbalists utilized a plant called Galega officinalis (also known as goat’s rue or French Lilac) to treat people who […]
Changes in insurance coverage for Ozempic
There’s been a rapid revolution in how U.S. insurers cover (or don’t cover) the cost of the newer type 2 diabetes medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. In this short article, we offer a general overview of the highly volatile situation concerning insurance coverage for these medicines. We aren’t trying to predict what could be […]
Focus on SGLT2 inhibitors like Farxiga
In August 2023, we published an in-depth article that focused on a significant improvement in the treatment of both heart and kidney diseases coming from the widespread introduction of new diabetes medications that are based on GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists (such as Ozempic, Semaglutide, and Mounjaro.) One of our readers posted a question as […]
Infection with COVID-19 can endanger the heart
It was already known that people with pre-existing heart conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure) were more likely to suffer more severe symptoms if they became infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A recent analysis of electronic medical records for more than 45,000 people found that the converse may also be true. Infection with COVID-19 […]
Expert opinion: Considering Ozempic for weight loss isn’t reckless
Heart Failure and Heat: A Recipe for Disaster
As summer wanes and temperatures moderate, our focus naturally moves from the unprecedented extreme temperatures that have created dangerous weather in so many parts of the country. As healthy as it is to move forward, it is important to remember some lessons learned – especially regarding how high temperatures can affect heart health and even […]
It’s too darn hot
“Extreme weather with high winds” no longer automatically means snowy blizzards battering homes and schools and causing massive power blackouts. It can just as easily conjure up images of melting asphalt on the roads and power blackouts caused by surges in demand for electricity for cooling that the power companies can’t meet. This new weather […]
New (and improved) diabetes meds for heart and kidney disease
Often, in the world of medicine, progress is made in unexpected ways. Researchers sometimes find solutions to problems not by carefully planned experiments but by happy accidents. A prime example of this is in recent advancements in treating heart and kidney disease with new families of medications initially intended to treat people with type 2 […]
