Weight Loss Online

Weight loss drugs are some of the most common products sold online. If you want to safely order weight loss drugs online, here is a guide:

1. Undergo a physical check up with your family doctor.

Doctors often prescribe weight loss drugs as a last resort when a person is in high risk of diseases caused by excess weight. Your practitioner might ask you to consider alternative and cheaper means of losing weight such as dieting and exercise.

2. Get a prescription from your doctor.

Weight loss drugs are often considered as prescription medication. If your case is not severe, an online medical

consultation may suffice. You will be asked to fill up a medical history record online which will be evaluated by a

licensed doctor.

3. Search for a reputable online pharmacy.

There are several qualities that make an online pharmacy reputable. These include selling only FDA-approved drugs, providing accurate product information, having strict confidentiality and privacy policies, and requiring a prescription. Online pharmacies provide tracking numbers for your orders. Keep these on hand and log in regularly at the online pharmacy to find out the status of your order.

by: Kristine Gonzaga

Guide to Generic Contraceptive

Now that health insurance providers are changing their terms into covering generic birth control pills

only, people need to reconsider. If you are in the market for a cost-effective birth control, then

generic oral contraceptives may be for you.

Why consider generic contraceptive pills?
By U.S. law,

generic drugs and their branded counterparts are chemically the same. They have the same amount and

kind of active ingredients.

Since they have the same formulation like brand-name pills, generic contraceptives also perform the

same functions.

Why are they cheaper than branded pills?
Generic birth control pills are more

affordable than branded ones since their manufacturers used little capital in producing them.

Manufacturers of generic contraceptives manufacture the drug after the 20-year patent period due to

the original manufacturer without research and patent costs.

Since they spent little on the drug, they are able to sell it for a lower price.

If they are the

same, why do they look different?
The differences in generic and branded oral contraceptives are more

of a marketing strategy. Even beyond the 20-year patent period, U.S. law and the FDA still protect the

manufacturers of the original drug by prohibiting imitation of its appearance.

By: Tin Gonzaga

Smart Senior Travel Tips

Traveling, when you are old or on medication, can be more trouble than it is worth. If you are still keen on traveling despite your age or need for medications, here are some tips:

1. Discuss your travel plans with your doctor.
Inform your doctor of your travel plans so he can advise you on matters pertinent to your health and travel plans. The climates, activities, and even the local food of the place you are visiting can have significant impact on your health.

2. Make a medication calendar.
Jot down your medication schedules on a calendar. This way, instead of a being a hassle, your medications become a part of your daily schedule. Invest in pillboxes and label each with a date corresponding to your travel schedule.

3. Get prescription refills before setting out.
Visit your local pharmacy or your doctor to get a refill of your prescription medications prior to traveling. This is especially important if you are using a medication that is not common or popular. Obtain a duplicate prescription from your doctor so you can get your medications from another place.

By: Tin Gonzaga

An Overview On OTC Medications

OTC medications or over-the-counter drugs are medicines that you can buy without a prescription. But like prescription drugs, OTC medicines can also cause unwanted side effects. Read the label before using OTC medications. Here's what to look for:

1. Active ingredient. The active ingredient is the chemical compound in the medicine that works to relieve your symptoms.

2. Uses. This section lists the symptoms the medicine is meant to treat. Uses are sometimes called "indications."

3. Warnings. This safety information will tell you what other medicines, foods, or activities to avoid while taking this medicine. Side effects are also listed.

4. Directions. This section tells you about dosage information and how to take the drug.

5. Other information. Any other important information, such as how to store the medicine, will be listed here.

6. Inactive ingredients. An inactive ingredient is a chemical compound in the medicine that isn't meant to treat a symptom. This section is especially important for people who know they have allergies to food coloring or other chemicals.

7. Contact information. A toll-free number for the manufacturer is provided in case you have any question about the medicine.

By: Kristine Gonzaga

3 Ways to Prevent Medical Errors

Medical errors are among the leading causes of death and injury in the United States. The Institute of Medicine estimates that as many as 98,000 people die each year as the result of medical errors. Be proactive and do your part in preventing medical errors. Here's how:

1. Keep your healthcare team informed.

Make sure that all of your doctors know about everything you are taking. It is also important that all health professionals involved in your care have important health information about you. Do not assume that everyone knows everything they need to.

2. Ask for information about your health that you can't understand.

When your doctor writes you a prescription, make sure you can read it. If you can't read your doctor's handwriting, your pharmacist might not be able to either.

3. Talk to your pharmacist.

When you pick up your medicine from the pharmacy, ask whether it is the medicine that your doctor prescribed. A study by the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences found that 88 percent of medicine errors involved the wrong drug or the wrong dose.

By: Kristine Gonzaga

What You Should Know About Preventive Services

In addition to treating you when you are sick, your doctor can follow a program designed to help you stay healthy. This program tells the doctor which preventive services you need depending on your age, medical history, and family history.

A preventive service can be a test or it can be an advice from your doctor. Preventive services include but are not limited to:

• Tests to check your general health or the health of certain parts of your body

• Regular measurements of weight, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure

• Advice about diet, exercise, tobacco, alcohol and drug use, stress ,and accident prevention

• Immunizations for both children and adults

• Special tests at certain times in your life such as during pregnancy and after age 50

Follow your doctor's advice about check ups, healthy lifestyle choices, and medicines that prevent problems such as blood pressure medicine. Preventive services are offered in your community. If you're not sure you need the service being offered, ask your doctor. Most health insurance companies pay for at least some preventive services. If you aren't sure what preventive services your insurance covers, read your health plan's patient manual or call the health plan's office.

By: KRistine Gonzaga

A Guide to Health Self-Management

Suffering from chronic illness is a lot different from being sick with fever or twisting your ankle. Chronic illness like heart disease or diabetes demands regular medical attention from your doctor and on your part, shouldering the responsibility of self-managing your health.

What is Health Self-Management?
Self-managing your health means taking charge and doing what you can to manage your illness and make it easier for you to live with it. You don't just entrust your health care to your doctor - you become partners with him in managing your chronic illness. With self-management, you stop being just a patient.

How to self-manage chronic illness?
Self-managing your illness covers a lot of things. First: Following your doctor's prescription. Taking your medicine properly is important in relieving symptoms. Second: Implementing lifestyle changes. Whether it means exercising more or eating a restricted diet, it is your job to follow doctor's orders to make your illness more controllable. Third: Talking to your doctor. You and your doctor are partners - talk to him about your experiences during treatment or if you come across any problem with your disease that you are unsure about.

By: Kristine Gonzaga