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More people are using GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications to help with weight loss and control diabetes. These medications can be helpful, but they are not without side effects. It’s important to understand how they work and what changes they may cause in the body. One common GLP-1 medication is Ozempic. The active ingredient in Ozempic…

It’s Wellness Wednesday, and today we are focusing on all the craze around ashwagandha. Ashwagandha is a small shrub with yellow flowers that is native to Asia. It has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, which is based on Indian principles of natural healing. It’s commonly referred to as an “adaptogen” and is often used…

Echinacea, often praised as nature’s immune booster, is the perfect plant for Self-Care Sunday. Not only is it a beautiful flower, adorned with vibrant purple petals and a spiky cone center, but it also has health benefits. Indigenous peoples of North America have used Echinacea to support immune health and treat infections, wounds, and coughs….

World AIDS Day 2024: Reflecting on Progress, Commitment, and the Fight Against HIV Posted on December 1, 2024 by Collette Onyejekwe, PharmD, RPh, MPH History of World AIDS Day Since the first World AIDS day in 1988, December 1 has been observed as a day to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, show support for…

Did you know there were 525 pregnancy-related deaths in 2020? Posted on January 23, 2025 by Collette Onyejekwe, PharmD, RPh, MPH January 23rd is Maternal Health Awareness Day – a day dedicated to raising awareness of the complex factors contributing to maternal morbidity and mortality, while also highlighting initiatives aimed at combating these rising rates….

Did you know that influenza caused over 5,000 deaths in 2022? Posted on December 2, 2024 by Collette Onyejekwe, PharmD, RPh, MPH National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) highlights the importance of getting vaccinated against the flu. Before we discuss the vaccine, let’s first look at what influenza is. What is Influenza? Influenza, or the flu,…

World AIDS Day 2024: Reflecting on Progress, Commitment, and the Fight Against HIV Posted on December 1, 2024 by Collette Onyejekwe, PharmD, RPh, MPH History of World AIDS Day Since the first World AIDS day in 1988, December 1 has been observed as a day to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, show support for…

Understanding and Managing Type 2 Diabetes: A Guide to Better Health Posted on November 27, 2024 by Collette Onyejekwe, PharmD, RPh, MPH Did you know that approximately 537 million people are living with diabetes, and over 90% of them have type 2 diabetes? Let’s dive into what type 2 diabetes is. What is Type 2…

Did you know that an estimated 7 million (11.4%) of the children in the United States between the ages of 3 – 17 have ever been diagnosed with ADHD? Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects both children and adults, impacting attention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity. Individuals with ADHD often struggle with remembering things, staying…

Did you know that breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States? Did you know that breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States? Before diving into what breast cancer is, it is important to discuss the anatomy of breasts. The…

September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Did you know that around 100,000 people in the United States are affected by this condition? Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a group of inherited disorders that affect the red blood cells, the essential carriers of oxygen throughout our bodies. Normally, red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes,…

Last month, the FDA approved the first cell-based therapies for the treatment of Sickle cell disease in patients 12 years of age and older: CASGEVY and LYFGENIA. Casgevy is the first FDA-approved treatment to utilize a novel type of genome editing technology that modifies the patients hematopoietic (blood) stem cells. The modified blood stem cells…

December 1 is World AIDS Day. Globally, 39 million people were living with HIV in 2022, 1.3 million people became newly infected with HIV in 2022, and 630,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2022. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an infection that attacks the body’s white blood cells, and results in the weakening of…

October is Attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) awareness month. Did you know that millions of children aged 3 – 17 have a diagnosis of ADHD? Furthermore, if affects millions of adults too. Attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. If left untreated, it can potentially negatively impact an individual’s life….

It’s BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK (April 11 – 17). This is a topic that is near and dear to me as a black woman and mom who experienced complications during my first childbirth. Let’s start with a moment of silence for all the women who lost their lives during pregnancy, at delivery, or after delivery….

It happened again, an ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION. As I sat on the couch scrolling through Facebook, my phone began to ring. I looked at the caller ID and it was an unknown number. I watched the first and second rings. I wasn’t going to pick it up because it was an unknown number. I didn’t want…

Aloe vera is most known for relieving sunburn. But did you know it can be used medicinally for much more? For centuries, aloe vera has been used throughout the world for internal and external ailments. It is commonly referred to as aloe and has several Latin names including Aloe vera, Aloe africana, Aloe arborescens, and…

Vitamin C is an essential vitamin; it can’t be produced in the body. It serves many roles and provides numerous health benefits. It is found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, including oranges, spinach, kiwi, bell peppers, strawberries, and kale. The recommended daily intake is 90 mg for men and 75 mg for women….

The emergence of coronavirus has been associated with mental health challenges. As states mandated the closure of schools, restaurants, and other social settings, we began to see the signs of an impending mental health crisis. Mental health and mental illness have been historically viewed as taboo topics. A variety of cultures failed to acknowledge the…

So, you’ve been told by your doctor that you need to make lifestyle changes to improve your health. You schedule an appointment with a nutritionist who helps you develop a meal plan or maybe you meet with a personal trainer to create a workout schedule. You start the process but then you arrive at a…

Biotin is a B complex vitamin that is found in a variety of foods such as lentils, sunflower butter, carrots, dairy products, whole grains, cauliflower and almonds. It is most commonly used for biotin deficiency.  Biotin works by helping to break down fats, carbohydrates and other substances in the body for energy. There are also claims that it can…

Cancer continues to be a major public health concern in the United States and across the globe. According to the National Cancer Institute, it is estimated that this year alone over 1,700,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and over 600,000 people will die from the disease. When comparing cancer…

Taking control of your health may sometimes equate to taking a prescribed medication. The story usually begins with a visit to the doctor’s office where you are told that you are at risk for diabetes, your cholesterol is too high, or your current medication regimen is no longer working. The doctor then writes a prescription…