Rx for Change

Rx for Change: Protect yourself (and your family) from medication overload

By NWHN Staff | Mar 15, 2021 | Comments Off on Rx for Change: Protect yourself (and your family) from medication overload

Many patients benefit from taking multiple drugs, and taking several medications may be necessary for people with more than one chronic disease. However, the growing use of multiple medications puts millions of people over the age of 65 at risk for medication overload, which refers to theharm caused by too many medications.

Rx For Change: Racial Disparities in Cervical Cancer Mortality

By NWHN Staff | Jan 8, 2021 | Comments Off on Rx For Change: Racial Disparities in Cervical Cancer Mortality

Race is a strong predictor for the development of cervical cancer in the U.S., and Black women, in particular, have disproportionately higher risks for developing the disease.

Rx for Change: Skin Lightening

By NWHN Staff | Feb 26, 2020 | Comments Off on Rx for Change: Skin Lightening

Skin lightening — also called skin whitening or skin bleaching — is the practice of using cosmetics to either reduce the appearance of age spots and/or discoloration or to change one’s natural complexion.[1] Skin lightening cosmetics include bleaching creams, soaps, and pills that contain compounds designed to inhibit melanin production and thereby lighten skin.[2]

Rx for Change: Mentioning the Unmentionable: Urinary Incontinence (UI)

By Nancy Worcester and Mariamne Whatley | Oct 28, 2019 | Comments Off on Rx for Change: Mentioning the Unmentionable: Urinary Incontinence (UI)

Urinary incontinence (UI) is finally something women can talk about—and do something about.  A new comprehensive study and a national meeting of UI researchers and other experts demonstrate widespread agreement that Kegel exercises and bladder training can improve UI symptoms for many women.[i] It’s time to make UI a topic for women’s health activism!

Rx for Change: Transgender Gender-Affirming Hormone Treatment

By Nancy Worcester and Mariamne Whatley | Jun 17, 2019 | Comments Off on Rx for Change: Transgender Gender-Affirming Hormone Treatment

Our experiences and research tell us that the urgent message is that life-saving transgender health care needs to be available to more transgender people.

Rx for Change: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

By Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD | May 23, 2019 | Comments Off on Rx for Change: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is another name for “chronic oligoanovulation”—irregular or absent ovulation resulting in  irregular or absent menstruation. PCOS may be associated with ovaries that have multiple cysts; hyperandrogenism (increased DHEA and/or testosterone); excessive facial or body hair (hirsuitism); acne; and weight gain.

Rx for Change: Changing the Culture Around Urinary Tract Infections

By Nancy Worcester and Mariamne Whatley | Mar 7, 2019 | Comments Off on Rx for Change: Changing the Culture Around Urinary Tract Infections

Many women may be surprised to discover that what they know about Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) treatment and what, previously, seemed to serve them well is being questioned and may no longer be recommended.

Rx for Change: The ABCs of Hospice and Palliative Care

By Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD | Jan 7, 2019 | Comments Off on Rx for Change: The ABCs of Hospice and Palliative Care

An 83-year- old woman dies on a ventilator in the ICU. She’s been hospitalized for five of the last six months of her life.

A 57-year-old woman with recurrent metastatic breast cancer develops cancer-related fluid inside her chest cavity. She has aggressive surgery to prevent the fluid from reaccumulating. She dies in the hospital two days later.

Women’s Health in the Climate of Democracy in Chains

By Nancy Worcester and Mariamne Whatley | Sep 27, 2018 | Comments Off on Women’s Health in the Climate of Democracy in Chains

What happened? What’s happening? What can we do about it?

Rx for Change: Throw Away Your Opioids

By Charlea T. Massion, MD, and Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD | Sep 12, 2018 | Comments Off on Rx for Change: Throw Away Your Opioids

Adriane just had dental surgery and the surgeon provided a prescription for Tylenol with codeine. When she told him that opioids were not better than over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers for dental pain, the surgeon argued, “But it’s such a weak opioid.” And then he said, almost to himself, “Well, I guess it does turn to morphine in the gut.”