We all have asprin in our medicine cabinet.  Not only is it used as a pain and inflammation reliever, but it also prevents blood clot formation.  Many people will take a low dose of aspirin on a daily basis to prevent a heart attack or stroke.  Aspirin therapy is especially beneficial for patients with certain risks factors like diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, or elevated blood pressure. However, taking aspirin is contraindicated for patients with stomach ulcers, asthma, gout, and patients who are on other type of anticoagulant therapy. Never use aspirin for children under 12 years old to treat fever or viral infection because it can cause very serious brain swelling and liver damage known as Reye’s Syndrome.

Did you know that there are different ways to position the ear lobe while administering ear drops to adults versus children?  When you are going to administer drops to an adult you need to pull down and back on the ear lobe. As when you are administering ear drops to a child you would want to gently pull the ear lobe up and back. These tips will help with the effectiveness of your medication.

Many of us stop taking medications as soon as we start feeling better thinking the drug did its job and we are cured. However, we should always finish the entire course of antibiotics, or other prescribed treatment. We should not save pills for “next time”, nor share them with other people who potentially may need them.  As we stop taking medicine sooner than suggested by our physician, we are susceptible for infection relapse or secondary infections which often are more difficult to treat and the whole process of “getting better” is much longer than expected.

The information provided is for general interest only and should not be misconstrued as a diagnosis, prognosis or treatment recommendation. This information does not in any way constitute the practice of medicine, or any other health care profession. Readers are directed to consult their health care provider regarding their specific health situation. Marque Medical is not liable for any action taken by a reader based upon this information.