Yearly Archives: 2017
Food Additives and Your Health
I have touched on additives in food that may be impacting your health in the past and this week I will be elaborating on the topic. There are many different products that companies may add to food in order to modify the … Continue reading
Managing Methotrexate Adverse Effects (Part 3)
In our last two blogs we discussed the importance of folic acid supplementation while on methotrexate, and the use of dextromethorphan (DM) to reduce the potential “sick day” phenomenon which some people experience the day after taking methotrexate. In this blog, … Continue reading
Managing the Adverse Effects of Methotrexate
In our last blog, we looked at the role of folic acid and its importance when taking methotrexate. Even though folic acid reduces the adverse effects of methotrexate and is needed, it may fall short in managing the fatigue (or what … Continue reading
Is Folic Acid Needed With Methotrexate?
Methotrexate is a medication used in low weekly doses in the treatment of many autoimmune conditions, from rheumatoid arthritis to psoriasis to inflammatory bowel disease. One way methotrexate works is by decreasing the production of folate. For this reason, folic acid supplementation … Continue reading
Predicting Active Disease in IBD
Most patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are familiar with certain blood and stool tests that can assess how active their bowel disease is. One such test is the fecal calprotectin test ( Fcal for short). Calprotectin is a protein found in … Continue reading
Are dry eyes and dry mouth related?
People with autoimmune conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus may also complain of dry eyes and mouth. This combination of symptoms is known as Sjogren’s (SHOW-grins) syndrome, which is also an immune system disorder. The glands in the mouth … Continue reading
Fashion and Psoriasis
For people living psoriasis, consideration is often given to the fabrics that will cause the least skin irritation. Cotton is most often recommended because it is considered the most breathable. Silk is another possible choice as it tends to be soft … Continue reading
#WiseWordsWednesday: Project ECHO
Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a collaborative model of medical education that empowers all types of health care professionals to provide better care to more people in their own communities. Wait times to see specialists can be lengthy and those … Continue reading
The many benefits of medical marijuana
Medical marijuana can be very beneficial for a variety of conditions and is most commonly used to combat issues such as pain management, epilepsy, and more. Medical marijuana is highly regulated by Health Canada for its purity, lack of any fungal … Continue reading
Fatigue and Psoriasis
Fatigue can be caused by many factors from low levels of iron or vitamin B12 to low thyroid function. However, feeling fatigued can be a complaint of people suffering with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in whom these levels are normal. … Continue reading