Health and Wellness News
Health Fund Coordinator’s Report
Is it harming or helping?
Many
of us try to stay as healthy as we can, eat the right foods and often use daily
vitamin supplements. We may also use
complementary and/or alternative medicines and natural products such as herbal
supplements, and manual therapies such as chiropractic care, massage,
acupuncture, and meditation. However, in
our attempts to ward off illness, improve overall wellness, or to relieve or
reduce pain, we may be doing more harm than good.
Vitamin supplements, non-prescription drugs, and other natural supplements may alter or intensify the effects of many prescription medications. This may cause unintended adverse side effects which are sometimes serious. Often times we don’t discuss this with our doctor and many of these supplements can interact with conventional medicine.
Whether you take vitamin supplements prescribed by your doctor, or simply choose to take them to improve your health, the following five safety precautions can help you avoid any ill effects from vitamin supplements.
Vitamin Supplements: Five Warnings and Safety Precautions
- Educate yourself regarding all potential health risks and benefits.
- Notify your doctor if you are taking, or are planning to take, any vitamin
supplements or other supplements or over-the-counter medications.
- Compare vitamin supplements for quality as well as price.
- Learn how well a particular vitamin supplement will be absorbed by the body.
- Quit taking any vitamin supplement if you observe signs of adverse effects
and notify your doctor immediately.
Herbal or “natural” products are extracts of plants or foods (the leaves, stem, bark or flowers) that claim to have medicinal value and be beneficial for human health. However, it is important to remember that “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean safe. Because natural and herbal supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is no guarantee about their safety or effectiveness.
These products just like prescription medicines, can cause side effects, interfere with your other medications, or even worsen your health. In fact, some herbal products have been known to cause serious illnesses, allergies, high blood pressure, even organ damage. Therefore, it is vital that you inform both your doctor and your pharmacist, if you are taking any of these products.
It is always a good idea to keep a list, on hand, of all supplements you are taking along with your prescription medications and share this list with your doctor.
Remember, if you have questions regarding your health; please contact your Patient Advocacy program, Health Systems Management at 1-866-961-1119. They can provide information and answer you and your family’s health questions. The more information and tools you have to make educated decisions about you and your family’s health, the better the chances of having shorter recovery times and positive outcomes.
Another key component to your health is early detection and Health Dynamics is a way to make sure that you get all the tests available to find out your health condition on an annual basis. To find a facility near you, contact Health Dynamics at 1-866-443-0164.