Disparities in Female Medical Research

Aristotle said “Women are unfinished men.” At that time, which some consider the dawn of modern medicine, the only reason there was really any attention paid to women’s health was because they could bear children. Although a great deal of the female mental, emotional, and physical inferiority viewpoints of Aristotle have been disproven, disparities in medical research still linger.

“Few physicians think intentional discrimination is at play here. Instead, it’s a result of the vestiges of disproved beliefs and outdated conventions. The origins of this situation go back many years,” explains Janine Clayton, MD, director of the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) at the NIH.

Women, specifically women of color, are still underrepresented when it comes to clinical trials and research and only account for 29-34% of pharmaceutical research study participants, limiting biological understanding and contributing to health inequities.

The FDA did allow biological women participants back into clinical research trials about 30 years ago, but the industry still places a heavy focus on childbearing and fertility concerns. This comes with every day, real consequences to women’s health diagnoses and treatments as physicians and pharmacists must use data derived from studies that underrecruited female participants. For instance:

• Women are seven times more likely to be misdiagnosed when they are having a heart attack and while cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women, women die more often from heart attack, with one woman dying every minute from heart disease in the US.

• The U.S. has the highest rate of maternal mortality in the developed world and the rate is worse for black women. The number of women who die during childbirth has doubled in the last two decades and as of 2021, 33 of 100,000 women died during live births.

• One in five women say they have felt that a health care provider has ignored or dismissed their symptoms, and 17% say they feel they have been treated differently because of their gender, compared with 14% and 6% of men, respectively.

But there is some good news: awareness of the problem is growing. There has been a steady increase in the representation of women in medical studies over the last several decades due to the introduction and passage of laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines addressing gender inequities. Health care professionals, including doctors and researchers, are beginning to understand that this is a problem and are taking steps to correct it.

In the meantime, women will have to be their own best advocates and pay attention to their bodies, demanding the level of care they know they deserve until they get it. If a health care provider isn’t taking your symptoms seriously, find another who will.

About RevanRx

Everyone deserves to have their pharmaceutical needs met without fear or embarrassment. RevanRx is a full-service and compounding pharmacy, specializing in the unique needs of the LGBT+ community in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas.

We hope to increase patient adherence and access to care for those who would otherwise not feel comfortable receiving medications or medication counseling in a public setting, avoiding embarrassing public conversations, misgendering, or refusal of service. Visit us at Revanrx.com and like us on Facebook.

Unique Health Needs of Gay and Bisexual Men

This month we’re taking a look at some of the specific physical and mental health challenges that are faced by gay and bisexual men. While gay and bi men are still a somewhat marginalized population, like the rest of the LGBTQ+ community, with the right care, none of these issues is insurmountable.

Mental Health

Research shows that compared to cis/het men, gay and bisexual men are at higher risk for:

• Depression

• Bipolar disorder

• Generalized anxiety disorder

• Body dysmorphia including low self-esteem and unrealistic body standards

• Eating disorders

• Attempting and completing suicide

Having a network of support is key to dealing with these stressors and often. Trusted friends and family, community involvement, and support groups can all help gay and bi men face these challenges successfully. Mental health professionals who are sensitive to the needs of gay and bi men are also a great resource, especially if the person has yet to come to terms with their sexual identity or to fully come out.

Physical Health

Research shows the following as some of the most common concerns of gay and bi men:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) – men who have sex with men have the same chance of encountering IPV as heterosexual women. Men may be more hesitant to seek help because of fear of being outed or discriminated against.

• Substance use disorder – Gay and bi men are more likely to use alcohol and tobacco than the general population. This puts them at higher risk for things like cancer and liver damage.

• Sexually transmitted infections and diseases – Men who have sex with men have a greater chance of contracting STIs than the general population. These include HIV, gonorrhea, hepatitis A and B, syphilis and HPV. Using a condom for every sexual encounter is the best way to prevent contracting and spreading the STIs.

Trusted Health Care Providers Can Make a Difference

Health care professionals who recognize the unique needs of this group of men and also provide nonjudgmental, quality care can help reduce the risk of mental and physical illness within the population of gay and bisexual men, which is a boost to the entire LGBTQ+ community. Know that at Revan Health and Revan Rx, we are steadfastly committed to providing quality, unbiased health care to gay and bi men, and to the entire LGBTQ+ community.

About RevanRx

Everyone deserves to have their pharmaceutical needs met without fear or embarrassment. RevanRx is a full-service and compounding pharmacy, specializing in the unique needs of the LGBT+ community in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas.

We hope to increase patient adherence and access to care for those who would otherwise not feel comfortable receiving medications or medication counseling in a public setting, avoiding embarrassing public conversations, misgendering, or refusal of service. Visit us at Revanrx.com and like us on Facebook.

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All about exercise-induced asthma

Exercise-induced asthma happens when the airways tighten during or following physical activity. It can occur suddenly and in people who have not previously been diagnosed with asthma.

 It can be super scary when you’re suddenly unable to breathe after a long run or when you’re watching your child suffer from a bout of exercise-induced asthma during their soccer match, but there are ways to prevent and treat these attacks and still be active and enjoy sports.

 Symptoms

Symptoms of exercise-induced asthma usually begin during or immediately following exercise. These symptoms can last for an hour or longer if untreated and can include any or all of the following.

·      Coughing

·      Wheezing

·      Shortness of breath

·      Chest tightness or pain

·      Fatigue during exercise

·      Unusually poor athletic performance

Sometimes children will try to avoid sports if they’ve suffered an attack of exercise-induced asthma in the past.

Triggers

While no one is completely sure what triggers exercise-induced asthma, breathing in cold, dry air seems to be the most likely culprit because it dehydrates airways. Other triggers can include:

·      Air pollution

·      Chlorine

·      Fumes from perfume, paint, new gym equipment or carpet

·      Activities with long periods of deep breathing, such as long-distance running, swimming, or soccer

·      High pollen or mold count

Treatments

Your provider may prescribe a long-term control medicine like formoterol or corticosteroids in an inhaler to manage asthma or to prevent and control symptoms if your episodes become worse or more frequent.

Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle for everyone, including most people with exercise-induced asthma. In addition to taking your medicine, there are a few other things you can do to prevent or reduce symptoms:

·      Warm up! Just 15 minutes could be enough to help stave off symptoms.

·      Breathe through your nose to warm and humidify air before it enters your lungs.

·       Cover your face when exercising in cold, dry weather.

·      If you have allergies, avoid triggers like high pollen count or try to exercise indoors.

See your health care provider if you have symptoms of exercise-induced asthma. The sooner you get a diagnosis, the sooner you can get back to enjoying your active lifestyle!

About RevanRx

Everyone deserves to have their pharmaceutical needs met without fear or embarrassment. RevanRx is a full-service and compounding pharmacy, specializing in the unique needs of the LGBT+ community in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas.

We hope to increase patient adherence and access to care for those who would otherwise not feel comfortable receiving medications or medication counseling in a public setting, avoiding embarrassing public conversations, misgendering, or refusal of service. Visit us at Revanrx.com and like us on Facebook.

Learn the Signs of Parkinson’s Disease

April is Parkinson’s Disease (PD) awareness month. It is estimated that at least one million people in the United States suffer from Parkinson’s disease, and roughly six million worldwide.

Parkinson’s affects everyone differently. While it may progress rapidly for some, many people live with mild to moderate symptoms for years. But in every case, the symptoms will continue to get worse over time.

Read on to learn the signs, symptoms, and treatments for Parkinson’s.

The four main symptoms of PD are:

1. Tremor—Tremors or shaking often begins in the hand, although sometimes it can start in the foot or the jaw. The tremor consists of a back-and-forth motion that may involve the thumb and forefinger. The shaking becomes most noticeable when the hand is at rest or when a person is under stress. The tremor usually disappears during sleep or improves with concentrated or intentional movement.

2. Rigidity—Rigidity is when muscles become stiff or a resistant to movement. Most people with PD will experience rigidity. The muscles stay tensed and contracted leaving the person feeling achy or stiff.

3. Slowing down of movement—This is called Bradykinesia. This can make performing even simple tasks incredibly difficult. Routine activities that were once executed quickly and easily, like bathing and dressing oneself, may take much longer.

4. Postural instability—Impaired balance and changes in posture can increase the risk of falls.

5. Loss of automatic movements – There can be a decreased ability to perform unconscious movements like blinking or smiling. There is often a decrease in facial expressions (also known as Parkinson’s mask).

6. Speech and writing changes – Speech may become slurred or soft or there may be more hesitation than before PD. It can also become monotone. Writing becomes much more difficult, and handwriting may appear smaller.

Causes and risk factors

• Genetics/heredity—Researchers have identified specific genetic changes that can cause Parkinson's disease. These are uncommon except in rare cases with many family members affected by Parkinson's disease. However, certain gene variations appear to increase the risk of Parkinson's disease. Having a close relative with Parkinson's disease increases your chances of getting it, but the risk is fairly small unless there are many people in your family with Parkinson's disease.

• Environmental triggers—Exposure to some chemical toxins like herbicides and pesticides or environmental factors may increase the risk of Parkinson's disease.

• Age—Young adults rarely experience PD. It typically begins in mid- or late life, and risk increases with age. People are most often diagnosed after the age of 60. If a young person does have Parkinson's disease, genetic counseling might be helpful in making family planning decisions.

• Sex—Men are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than women.

Although there is no known prevention for PD some small studies have shown that people who consume caffeine are less likely to develop the disease. But these studies aren’t enough evidence to suggest that caffeine is a preventative for PD.

While there is no cure for Parkinson’s Disease yet, there are many treatments that might slow its progression. There are several medications that are prescribed to manage symptoms and also surgical deep brain stimulation can help those who have especially advanced PD or who may not respond well to medications. If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, talk with your health care provider about what treatment options might work best for you and your lifestyle.

About RevanRx

Everyone deserves to have their pharmaceutical needs met without fear or embarrassment. RevanRx is a full-service and compounding pharmacy, specializing in the unique needs of the LGBT+ community in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas.

We hope to increase patient adherence and access to care for those who would otherwise not feel comfortable receiving medications or medication counseling in a public setting, avoiding embarrassing public conversations, misgendering, or refusal of service. Visit us at Revanrx.com and like us on Facebook.

Causes and Solutions for Bad Breath

No one wants to be known as the person with stinky breath. Along with the usual culprits like garlic and smoking, there are some chronic conditions that cause bad breath, scientifically known as halitosis. Following are some conditions that cause bad breath, when and if you should see a doctor about your breath, and some ways to counteract those things that cause bad breath.

Dental hygiene – Are you a habitual brusher and flosser? Keeping up with these and your regularly scheduled dental cleaning visits can help prevent bad breath.

Chronic dry mouth – When you don’t produce enough saliva, this can lead to the condition of chronic dry mouth. While we tend to think of saliva as gross, it actually helps keep your mouth clean, thereby reducing the funk that causes bad breath. Smoking and some medications can cause dry mouth. Drink plenty of water and if that’s not enough, ask your pharmacist for some over the counter options. Your health care provider or dentist can recommend a medication to help increase saliva production.

Gum disease – When too much plaque accumulates on your teeth it turns into tartar. That tartar causes little pockets to form between your teeth and gums and when food and bacteria collect in those pockets, the stink is released. Your dentist can tell you if you have gum disease and can help get rid of the tartar that’s causing it. Sometimes a deep clean, or descaling is all you need to get rid of the problem.

Sinus problems – If you have chronic sinus issues, they could be causing bad breath. Tonsilliths or tonsil stones can form in the throat and cause a terrible odor. Over the counter antihistamines and decongestants work to clear up most sinus problems but if you have chronic, recurring issues or infections, it’s time to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about options.

GERD – Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) is a fairly common cause of halitosis. Your doctor or pharmacist can recommend a medication that can help treat GERD and hopefully eliminate the associated halitosis. Working on healing your gut microbiome can also help reduce GERD and its related symptoms.

Diseases – Kidney  or liver failure can cause the breath to smell fishy. Out of control diabetes can cause it to smell fruity. If you think you may have one of these conditions, talk to your health care provider immediately.

 Here are a few things you can do to counteract run-of-the-mill halitosis:

• Brush and floss every day.

• Clean any dentures, mouthguards or retainers every day.

• Use a tongue scraper.

• Visit your dentist every six months.

• Quit smoking.

Your health care provider or dentist can usually diagnose whether your bad breath is normal or something to be worried about so make sure to set up an appointment if you’re bothered by chronic halitosis.

About RevanRx

Everyone deserves to have their pharmaceutical needs met without fear or embarrassment. RevanRx is a full-service and compounding pharmacy, specializing in the unique needs of the LGBT+ community in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas.

We hope to increase patient adherence and access to care for those who would otherwise not feel comfortable receiving medications or medication counseling in a public setting, avoiding embarrassing public conversations, misgendering, or refusal of service. Visit us at Revanrx.com and like us on Facebook.

Tips for Dealing with Seasonal Allergies

Spring allergies affect roughly 25 million Americans and there's one clear culprit for them — pollen. Seasonal allergies are the body’s response to the millions of grains of pollen floating on the wind every spring. By mistaking pollen as a threat, your body triggers an inflammatory response, leading to annoying symptoms like itchy eyes or a runny nose. This is allergic rhinitis, which is sometimes more generally referred to as seasonal allergies or "hay fever."

Common symptoms of allergic rhinitis are similar to a cold and can include:

• sneezing

• itchy nose

• runny nose

• congestion

• itchy, red and/or watery eyes

• cough

Spring seasonal allergies are incredibly common and are usually self-diagnosed and self-treatable. Unfortunately, they are also usually chronic and can last for years or your entire life. We don’t really have answers as to why some people suffer and some don’t, but genetics likely play a part and having a parent with a pollen allergy makes it more likely you'll have one as well.

While we still don't have a cure for allergic rhinitis, there are medicines you can take to minimize symptoms. Over the counter medications like antihistamines and nasal sprays can help reduce symptoms, and prescription meds like steroid sprays and shots can sometimes even help prevent allergy onset if taken regularly. All that being said, the most effective strategy is simply to limit your exposure to the outdoors and keep your windows closed on the highest-pollen days. If you do spend time outside, wash your hair before you lay down to sleep to prevent transferring pollen to your pillowcase

 Talk to your healthcare provider and/or pharmacist to see what they recommend to help with your seasonal allergies. They can give you the best recommendations for medications and treatments to help reduce symptoms.

About RevanRx

Everyone deserves to have their pharmaceutical needs met without fear or embarrassment. RevanRx is a full-service and compounding pharmacy, specializing in the unique needs of the LGBT+ community in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas.

We hope to increase patient adherence and access to care for those who would otherwise not feel comfortable receiving medications or medication counseling in a public setting, avoiding embarrassing public conversations, misgendering, or refusal of service. Visit us at Revanrx.com and like us on Facebook.

Signs of Disordered Eating

The average American will gain one or two pounds during the holidays.  

That’s not typically anything to worry about for most of us and it’s usually fairly easy to get rid of by cutting back calories for a while or moderately increasing exercise. But for some of us, those one or two pounds can send us into a devastating spiral of self-doubt and depression, leading to binging, purging, overexercising and more. Now think about the folks who deal with those feelings every day of the year.

Eating disorders affect every single group of humans. People of every race, age, gender identity and sexual orientation and background struggle with eating disorders like bulimia, anorexia nervosa and overexercising. 28.8 million Americans will suffer with an eating disorder at some point in their lives.

Eating disorders are complicated mental conditions that we kind of like to sweep under the rug. But it’s been a taboo subject for far too long. Let’s discuss some of the signs and symptoms and then some ways to get help.

Signs

• Inability to achieve body acceptance so much so that it interferes with daily life – This goes beyond self-esteem issues which most of us deal with from time to time. If body shape or size is a constant thought, that’s a near certain pathway to disordered eating. It could lead to obsessive weighing, avoiding social activities, only wearing baggy clothes in order to “hide” and the avoidance or obsession with looking in mirrors.

• Exercising to negate calories consumed – Using exercise as a fix for having overindulged or simply feeling like you overindulged even if you didn’t, is a very common sign of disordered eating. Food shouldn’t be treated like a reward for exercising and this behavior can lead to overexercising to the point of injury and illness. It can also lead to purging, which can cause serious long-term health issues like heart problems.

• Obsessing over weight or food – This one can include things like choosing to go on a fad diet, starts obsessively counting/logging calories, compulsively exercising.

• Striking foods completely from the diet – While trying to cut back on sugar, red meat or alcohol can be good for you, things like eliminating every single carb or never eating white foods are not healthy.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these things, there’s help available, and you are absolutely not alone. The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) gives support to those struggling. You can even talk to professional counselors and join peer support groups. You can also reach out to your health care provider and/or your mental health care provider. Our relationship to food and exercise doesn’t have to be complicated and there are numerous resources to help if you’re struggling.

 About RevanRx

Everyone deserves to have their pharmaceutical needs met without fear or embarrassment. RevanRx is a full-service and compounding pharmacy, specializing in the unique needs of the LGBT+ community in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas.

We hope to increase patient adherence and access to care for those who would otherwise not feel comfortable receiving medications or medication counseling in a public setting, avoiding embarrassing public conversations, misgendering, or refusal of service. Visit us at Revanrx.com and like us on Facebook.

NEDA helpline

CALL

(800) 931-2237

Monday—Thursday 11am—9pm ET

Friday 11am—5pm ET

Translation services are available on the phone.

TEXT

(800) 931-2237

Monday—Thursday 3pm—6pm ET

Friday 1pm—5pm ET

Flu Shot FAQs

Every year when cold and flu season starts to rear its ugly head, we always hear about the need for everyone who can to get a flu shot. But it turns out this year, it may be more important than ever. Here are some facts about the flu shot itself and why it’s so important that you get one every year.

Why get it now?

The flu has already hit more than 2 million Americans this year, with the southeastern and southcentral U.S. bearing the initial brunt. By the first week of November, 5% of all health care visits were due to respiratory illnesses and 6,000 people were admitted to the hospital with the flu. The rate of hospitalization is higher than it’s been in the last decade. This year could be even more dire with not only flu cases rising but RSV and the continued, if lower, threat of COVID and its variants.

Does it work?

Each year, scientists produce a flu vaccine from the most prevalent strains of the virus that are being seen at the time, with varying amounts of effectiveness. This year’s shot has around 50% efficacy for keeping the number of flu-related hospitalizations down. You may be asking ‘Why bother?’ if its efficacy is only 50% but no vaccine carries a rate of 100% effectiveness and the intent of these shots is to reduce the spread of disease, not necessarily to prevent infection altogether. If you do contract the flu after having been vaccinated, it’s likely that you will suffer a much milder case and your chance of being hospitalized is much lower than someone who is unvaccinated. This helps prevent medical personnel and hospitals from becoming overwhelmed. In the 2019-2020, the CDC estimates the flu shot prevented more than 7 million infections, 100,000 hospitalizations and likely over 6,000 deaths.

Will the vaccine give me the flu?

Nope! The vaccines contain an inactive form of the virus and in the case of those with live virus like the nasal spray, the virus is changed in order not to give you the flu. That being said, some people do experience pain at the injection site, muscle aches, headache, low fever and nausea as side effects after the shot, but those tend to dissipate within a few days at the most.

Is it safe?

Yes! The flu vaccine has been around for over 50 years and hundreds of millions of Americans have opted to take it with great success. So much research has gone into these vaccines making them the best defense against getting and spreading the flu. In rare instances, people do have adverse reactions so if you experience difficulty breathing, swelling of the eyes or lips, hives or an elevated heart rate or dizziness, do seek help. These reactions are incredibly rare and if they do happen, it’s likely within the first few minutes to hours after injection.

Having the flu is a miserable experience for relatively healthy people but it can be deadly for the very young, the elderly and the immune compromised. Getting your flu shot not only reduces your risk of getting seriously ill but also protects those who are more susceptible or who may not be able to get the shot and keeps hospitals from being inundated. Schedule your flu shot with us today!

About RevanRx

Everyone deserves to have their pharmaceutical needs met without fear or embarrassment. RevanRx is a full-service and compounding pharmacy, specializing in the unique needs of the LGBT+ community in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas.

We hope to increase patient adherence and access to care for those who would otherwise not feel comfortable receiving medications or medication counseling in a public setting, avoiding embarrassing public conversations, misgendering, or refusal of service. Visit us at Revanrx.com and like us on Facebook.