How does tardive dyskinesia affect my mental health?

What does it mean to be a self-advocate with TD?

5 Complications of Living With Tardive Dyskinesia

5 Tips for Finding the Best Treatment for Tardive Dyskinesia

When to Call a Doctor While Managing Tardive Dyskinesia

8 Risk Factors for Tardive Dyskinesia

5 Ways to Support Someone With Tardive Dyskinesia

What Are the Symptoms of TD?

Treating Tardive Dyskinesia

What Is a Drug Allergy?

It's very important for people to realize that antibiotic resistance is becoming a serious problem in this country. Antibiotic resistance means that the bacteria that can cause serious illnesses no longer respond to simple antibiotics today, and over 2 million infections in this country today result in 23,000 people dying of infections that could be treated, that could have been treated in the past and the problem is getting worse. 

The Center For Disease Control suggests anybody could die of these infections today and it could explode devastating our healthcare system in this country. Something we have to do something about and we have to do something about it right now, and this problem arises because of the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and their use for predominantly viral infections which they have no effect anyway. 

But when we take antibiotics into our body, it kills all the healthy bacteria in our digestive tract and selects out for more dangerous organisms that don't get killed by antibiotics and knows now proliferate and those other bacteria, they are the good bacteria, take months and months to come back, and you're pre-disposed you don't want more serious infections in the future, it weakens your immune system. 

Plus, about 75% of antibiotics in this country are given to animals in farms to help them grow faster, and then they've developed these super bugs, and people contact super bug and serious disease from those animals as well. You are handling the raw meat or eating foods that are contaminated, such as foods you don't cook well enough or the foods that you touch something in your kitchen when they are raw, and then you'd use that same utensil or same surface to touch another food to it, and you can contact super bugs that way as well. 

  

Is Antibiotic Resistance a Serious Problem?

From vitamin store oils to online foot creams, cannabidiol (CBD) can be found just about everywhere these days, in a stunning array of products. Millions of people are getting in on the trend. In 2019, Consumer Reports estimated that about 64 million Americans had tried CBD over the previous two years, often to treat a health condition like insomnia, anxiety, or pain.

The problem is, while people take CBD for a multitude of medical issues, there is currently little scientific evidence it actually helps. In some cases, it may even pose safety risks. That&rsquo;s why healthcare providers (HCPs) must be careful about the information they relay to patients&mdash;and why patients should let their HCPs know if they&rsquo;re taking CBD.

So, what is CBD, exactly? Do the purported health perks really live up to the hype? And what potential problems should patients keep in mind?&nbsp;

The basics of CBD 
CBD is a cannabinoid, a chemical compound that comes from the cannabis plant. There are more than 100 known cannabinoids, including CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the substance that creates a high when you use marijuana. Unlike THC, CBD has no psychoactive effect, which is part of its mainstream appeal.&nbsp;

Certain varieties of the cannabis plant have lower amounts of THC and higher amounts of CBD. These types are commonly known as hemp, and they&rsquo;re often used to make CBD products, including oils, sprays, creams, and pills.

Currently, the legal status of these and other CBD products is complicated. Though the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp on a federal level, state and local regulations vary widely, meaning what&rsquo;s readily available in Colorado may be unlawful next door in Nebraska.&nbsp;

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also restricts how CBD can be advertised and sold. It&rsquo;s against the law to market CBD in food or as a dietary supplement, for example, and to peddle it across state lines. Importantly, it&rsquo;s also illegal to push a CBD product as a prevention, treatment, or cure for any disease without FDA approval.&nbsp;

That said, the general enforcement of CBD rules is somewhat lax, and the substance remains widely accessible in much of the United States, especially once online retailers are taken into account. In many states, there are even brick-and-mortar stores dedicated entirely to CBD goods.&nbsp;

Does CBD really have health benefits? 
People take CBD for a wide variety of problems, often without the recommendation of an HCP. It&rsquo;s commonly used as a treatment for <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/chronic-pain/natural-ways-manage-pain">chronic pain</a>, as well as anxiety and insomnia.&nbsp;

Some research hints that CBD has potential for treating these, and perhaps other, health problems. For example, a 2018 review published in the journal Pain found some evidence that cannabinoids helped ease chronic noncancer pain slightly better than a placebo. And in an analysis published in 2021 in Cureus, researchers suggested it has potential to relieve discomfort in people with fibromyalgia. Other small human studies have found that CBD may curb the urge to use heroin, suggesting it could help treat opioid abuse.&nbsp;

In addition to promising research, there&rsquo;s widespread anecdotal support for CBD. No matter the illness, many people report that taking CBD simply helps them feel better. This may be true for some, and it may hint at a possible placebo effect for others&mdash;the idea that if people believe something works, it just might help.&nbsp;

Much more CBD research is needed, though, and there&rsquo;s currently little concrete scientific proof that it&rsquo;s an effective therapy for most conditions. In fact, the FDA has approved just one medication containing CBD for the treatment of disease: Epidiolex, for people with Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, rare childhood seizure disorders.&nbsp;

On occasion, a company will market CBD specifically as a cure for serious chronic health problems, including illnesses like cancer and <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/alzheimers-disease/what-need-know-about-alzheimers-disease">Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease</a>. But patients must understand that it will not prevent, treat, or cure these conditions. Companies making these claims may be putting patient lives at risk, since sick people may use CBD instead of seeking proven medical care.&nbsp;

Other possible downsides of CBD 
In general, CBD is considered safe to use in the short term for most people, and there&rsquo;s little evidence you can abuse or become dependent on it. But there are risks of side effects, including:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Nausea</li>
	<li>Fatigue</li>
	<li>Irritability</li>
	<li>Low blood pressure</li>
	<li>Sleepiness</li>
	<li>Dry mouth</li>
	<li>Lightheadedness</li>
</ul>

CBD may also interact negatively with other medications, supplements, and even foods. Fattier meals and snacks can increase its absorption and effects. What&rsquo;s more, not much is known about how CBD affects certain populations, including pregnant people, children, and older adults. The FDA strongly advises those who are pregnant or nursing to avoid CBD.

Due in large part to its relative newness, many experts have unresolved questions and concerns about the compound, including the following:

Long-term safety: CBD&rsquo;s effects over time remain unclear. For instance, there are some indications it can lead to liver injury in certain people.&nbsp;

Lack of dosing guidelines: There&rsquo;s little professional medical guidance regarding how much CBD to take for any given condition, and how the amount might vary depending on the form of CBD.&nbsp;

Labeling inaccuracies: Since the FDA doesn&rsquo;t generally police the purity and safety of CBD products, labels are often inaccurate. There may be unlisted additional ingredients, including THC, or the listed amount of CBD may be incorrect. In fact, in 2020, an FDA report to Congress found that more than half the products they tested were mislabeled, with the listed amount of CBD off by over 20 percent.&nbsp;

To combat these issues, some states now require CBD products to include a label that confirms ingredients, a certificate of analysis from a lab outside the company, and a QR code or website directing consumers to this information.&nbsp;

CBD safety recommendations 
Despite these risks, many people decide to go ahead with CBD anyway. In these cases, it&rsquo;s best to exercise caution and take a conservative approach. Start with a low dose, slowly working up to a dose that&rsquo;s effective, and monitor your progress as you go, ideally with consultation from an HCP.&nbsp;

In other words, if you&#39;re taking it for pain, keep a log to record how your pain improves&mdash;or doesn&rsquo;t. If you&#39;re using it for <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/sleep-disorders/simple-habits-sleep-soundly">sleep</a>, document how many hours you&#39;re sleeping. If you&#39;re using it for anxiety, keep track of how the intensity of your anxiety changes over time.

To really know what you&rsquo;re getting, you can also ask manufacturers to provide a third-party evaluation of the content of the product. Reputable companies should have no problem with such a request.&nbsp;

Ultimately, CBD requires plenty of additional research before we more fully understand its capabilities and drawbacks. For these reasons, it&rsquo;s always best to speak with an HCP before trying a CBD product. It&rsquo;s perfectly reasonable to be curious about CBD. Just be sure to educate yourself about the products and have an open dialogue with your HCP.

What Is CBD and Why Are so Many People Using It?

From lowering cancer risk to boosting your beauty regimen, aspirin&rsquo;s a versatile little pill. But it&#39;s important to know the potential side effects.

Surprising Reasons to Take Aspirin—and When to Skip It

When it comes to a lingering case of the sniffles, your first instinct may still be to run to the family doctor for an antibiotic to knock them out.

The truth is, though, antibiotics aren&rsquo;t a one-size-fits-all solution when you aren&rsquo;t feeling well. And when you take them for the wrong reason, they can actually do more harm than good.

What Happens When I Take an Antibiotic I Don&rsquo;t Need? 
A doctor prescribes an antibiotic when bacteria, rather than a virus, causes the illness in question. This means if you&rsquo;ve got a cold, the flu, or even something like mono, an antibiotic isn&rsquo;t going to make you feel better.

They could also bring on some not-so-pleasant side effects, like an allergic reaction or upset stomach. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics also contribute to <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/superbugs/article/have-antibiotics-reached-their-expiration-date" style="line-height: 1.6em;">antibiotic resistance</a>, which is what happens when the bacteria adapt and make the medication ineffective. This means longer, more severe infections.

When Are Antibiotics the Right Choice? 
There are times when an antibiotic is still the best bet for getting you back on your feet, though, and if you have symptoms of these six illnesses, it could be time to head to your doctor for a prescription.

Bacterial sinus infection - may set in after a cold, but also can be hard to distinguish from a cold

<ul>
	<li>Symptoms: Cloudy or discolored nasal drainage is the big clue, along with headaches, facial tenderness, congestion, bad breath, fever and fatigue. Symptoms that last more than 10 days, or get better then worse again, suggest a bacterial infection.</li>
</ul>

Whooping cough - a serious bacterial respiratory infection that mainly affects infants younger than six months old, kids who haven&rsquo;t been immunized and older children and adults whose immunity is wearing off&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Symptoms: Early symptoms include runny nose, mild cough, low-grade fever and sneezing. After one to two weeks, severe coughing fits often appear. They can last over a minute, followed by a &ldquo;whooping&rdquo; sound, vomiting and exhaustion.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Strep throat -&nbsp;a contagious sore throat infection caused by Streptococcus bacteria, more common in children than adults

<ul>
	<li>Symptoms: A severe sore throat may be accompanied by a fever of 101&deg;F or above, swollen tonsils (sometimes with white patches), red spots on the roof of the mouth, headache, nausea, vomiting, swollen lymph nodes and a rash.</li>
</ul>

Bacterial ear infection - occurs when germs cause fluid buildup in the middle ear; it can also cause the tubes in the ear to become blocked or swollen

<ul>
	<li>Symptoms: Most ear infections, viral and bacterial, share common symptoms such as fever, headaches, ear pain, pressure in the ear, drainage, reduced hearing and dizziness.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Urinary tract infection (UTI) - an infection of the urinary tract&mdash;including the urethra, bladder and kidneys&mdash;most commonly caused by bacteria; affects more women than men.

<ul>
	<li>Symptoms: Symptoms of a UTI vary by age, but most commonly include an intense need to use the restroom, burning or pain during urination and cloudy or dark urine. In older adults, symptoms can be vague and include weakness, fatigue, muscle aches and abdominal pain.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Bacterial pneumonia - A serious bacterial infection in the lungs; often a complication of the flu

<ul>
	<li>Symptoms: Bacterial pneumonia often causes very high fever, sweating, increased heart rate and rapid breathing, along with a cough, shortness of breath, sharp chest pain, headache, loss of appetite and, in older adults, confusion.</li>
</ul>

Drug information