You forgot. You ran out. You don't think it's helping. You've got lots of reasons why you skip a pill now and then.
But if you have heart disease, no excuse is a good excuse, because people who miss their meds 25 percent of the time can double their risk of dying from heart problems. Here's why October is a good month to get with the program.
Old Habits Die Hard
It's not clear why med skippers had a higher death rate than the faithful pill poppers in a recent study. It could be that the people who didn't adhere to treatment recommendations had other unhealthy habits as well that contributed to their decline. But more than one study has shown that incorrectly taking pills puts the body at risk. Here's a chart to help you track what you take, and when.
October: It's Time to Talk
October marks Talk About Prescriptions Month. So if you're having trouble with your pills, take them to your doctor and talk it out. Your doctor may have suggestions on how to help you remember to take your meds. And he or she may have ideas on how to minimize side effects if you're struggling with those. Here are six questions you should ask your doctor about your medication.
Thinking of Adding Herbals?
Get the scoop on the risks and benefits of 13 different herbal remedies.
RealAge Benefit: Adhering to medication regimens as prescribed by your doctor can make your RealAge 0.9 years younger.
Take the RealAge Test
But if you have heart disease, no excuse is a good excuse, because people who miss their meds 25 percent of the time can double their risk of dying from heart problems. Here's why October is a good month to get with the program.
Old Habits Die Hard
It's not clear why med skippers had a higher death rate than the faithful pill poppers in a recent study. It could be that the people who didn't adhere to treatment recommendations had other unhealthy habits as well that contributed to their decline. But more than one study has shown that incorrectly taking pills puts the body at risk. Here's a chart to help you track what you take, and when.
October: It's Time to Talk
October marks Talk About Prescriptions Month. So if you're having trouble with your pills, take them to your doctor and talk it out. Your doctor may have suggestions on how to help you remember to take your meds. And he or she may have ideas on how to minimize side effects if you're struggling with those. Here are six questions you should ask your doctor about your medication.
Thinking of Adding Herbals?
Get the scoop on the risks and benefits of 13 different herbal remedies.
RealAge Benefit: Adhering to medication regimens as prescribed by your doctor can make your RealAge 0.9 years younger.
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Try It: Taking meds on time every time is vital but hard. If little reminder gizmos aren't enough, check out this Med Center System  ! It holds a full month's worth, and alarms go off daily when a dose is due.
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Take the RealAge Test
