September is Pain Awareness Month, an annual opportunity to increase our understanding and recognition of the millions of people living with persistent discomfort. Chronic pain interferes with sleep, work, mobility, relationships and activities that once brought joy. Prescription opioids can provide valuable relief when used appropriately under a doctor’s supervision,...
Though dehydration might sound like a relatively minor health problem you can fix by drinking a glass of water, significant fluid loss can disrupt the delicate balance your body needs to function, affecting everything from your kidneys and heart to your brain. People struggling with addiction can be particularly vulnerable...
Everyone who enters addiction treatment has different needs. While one person may be medically stable enough to participate in outpatient care, another may experience dangerous withdrawal symptoms, a history of polysubstance abuse, mental health concerns or other underlying health conditions that require intensive monitoring. The American Society of Addiction Medicine...
Choosing an addiction treatment center can feel overwhelming, especially when you or a loved one needs help quickly. A search may turn up dozens of facilities promising compassionate care and lasting recovery, but it’s not always easy to determine which programs have the quality standards to back up those...
Prolonged drug and alcohol use can affect nearly every system in your body, making it harder to distinguish the effects of substance use from those of an underlying medical condition. Many people chalk up symptoms like fatigue, memory problems, weight loss or shortness of breath to stress or aging. Others...
Deciding to enter residential addiction treatment can feel overwhelming. For many people, the hardest part isn’t admitting they need help – it’s the uncertainty surrounding the experience. Once you walk through the door, will others there judge you? Will you receive a personalized treatment plan that accounts for your medical...
Prescription medications have transformed modern medicine. They help people recover from surgery, manage chronic pain, treat anxiety, improve sleep and control conditions like ADHD. When used appropriately, these drugs can be valuable tools for improving your health and quality of life. However, some prescription drugs also have the potential to...
While wrinkles, gray hair and stiff joints are natural parts of life, long-term substance use can accelerate many of the biological processes associated with aging, affecting everything from your brain and heart to your immune system and skeletal health. Whether you’re in your 20s or 70s, you should be aware...
