Menopause 101

It can be kind of a taboo subject, but menopause is a natural part of aging and it’s time to open up the dialogue surrounding so that no one has to suffer alone or in silence. Menopause is the transition that occurs when menstrual periods have ceased for a full year. It's caused by a naturally occurring decline in ovarian function and estrogen levels. Perimenopause is the amount of time before that year without periods has occurred and is when most menopausal symptoms begin. During perimenopause menstrual periods may get longer or shorter, flow may be heavier or lighter and start occurring less frequently and usually starts sometime in the 40s. Menopause usually comes on gradually and lasts roughly between the ages of 45 and 55. Most people notice when they unexpectedly miss a period and are not pregnant. 

Menopause/perimenopause can be associated with a variety of symptoms, which may all last for years, including:

·      Anxiety

·      Depression

·      Decreased libido

·      Vaginal dryness

·      Insomnia

·      Difficulty concentrating

·      Hot flashes and night sweats

·      Mood changes

·      Weight gain and slowing metabolism

·      Thinning hair and dryer skin

Some things that may help with menopause/perimenopause symptoms include:

·      Exercising regularly

·      Taking a cool shower

·      Using a fan

·      Having a cold drink

·      Cutting back on alcohol

·      Quitting smoking

·      Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

It’s normal to feel confused, angry, sad, and/or frustrated during the menopause transition but many people report feelings of great relief once they come out on the other side of it. There is freedom in not having to worry about having a period every month and keeping up with cycles, and the added benefit of not having to worry about accidental pregnancy.

Talking to your friends and loved ones about menopause, especially those who are going through or have already gone through menopause, can open up that dialogue and help remove the stigma around menopause. Talk therapy is also a great way to help make it through this huge life transition. If you are struggling with the menopause transition, reach out to your healthcare provider and see what your treatment options are.

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.

More sitting correlated to higher dementia risk

We all know that being sedentary isn’t good for us, but recent studies have shown that it also puts you at increased risk for dementia. Even for people who exercise regularly, sitting for extended periods can increase dementia risk.

We’ve known for a while that extended periods of sitting can lead to increased risk for heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and a host of other illnesses, but until now the risks to the brain were less clear. A recent UK study found a high correlation between sitting for more than 10 hours a day and risk for developing dementia later in life. The risks are even higher for those who sit 12 or more hours a day.

“Sitting in the office all day, then in front of the TV and in the car and all the other ways we find to sit, it adds up,” said David Raichlen, a professor of biological sciences and anthropology at the University of Southern California, who led the new study. “These extreme levels of sedentary behavior are where we see a much higher risk” for cognitive and memory decline.

While we should still make time to exercise and to take regular breaks to stand and move around, it is still better in the long run to spend way less time sitting than most of us currently do. Raichlen said that people who sat fewer than 9.5 hours a day had zero increased risk of developing dementia.

If your job requires a lot of desk time, look for opportunities during the day to be in motion. Take a walk around the office or head outside and walk when you have to take a call. Schedule walking meetings. Pick up your lunch instead of having it delivered, even better: walk to lunch! Find more reasons to move and fewer reasons to sit. Try to keep track of how many hours you’re spending stationary. If you’re hitting more than 10, it’s time to reassess your day.  

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.

Stress Management 101

Stress is an unintentional physical, mental, and emotional response when we’re feeling challenged and a pretty normal part of being a human. While a bit of stress can sometimes be an opportunity to grow and change, in the long term, negative stress can not only lessen your quality of life, but it can also adversely affect your health.

When your brain is stressed, it tells your body to release hormones like cortisol and adrenaline that increase your heart rate and raise your blood pressure, inducing the fight-or-flight response. While that’s great if you’re dealing with an imminent threat, sometimes our brains and bodies don’t get the message that the threat isn’t imminent or that the perceived threat has passed.

Resilience is key to training your body and brain to reset when you feel stressed out. Improving the following skills can help you manage stress:

• Time management – Whether at work or in your personal life, time management is key to preventing stress and overwhelm. This could be an entire blog post by itself but in short it can mean setting up systems to help you be more efficient, eliminating distractions to stay focused, and setting boundaries to limit interruptions.

• Task prioritization – Make time for the things that matter most and are urgent. Then categorize other tasks by schedule, delegate, or eliminate based on urgency and importance. (Pro tip: Learn how to say “no”.)

• Emotional awareness – Learning to recognize when you’re starting to feel stressed is incredibly important. Check in with yourself. Often.

Unfortunately, stress can lead a lot of us to fall into some bad habits or unhealthy coping mechanisms. Following is a list of healthy ways to cope when you feel overstressed:

• Yoga

• Tai chi

• Meditation

• Spend time with friends and loved ones.

• Exercise - sometimes even just taking a short walk can lessen your stressin’. 

 We all get stressed from time to time. The way we handle it is what matters for our health in the long run. Don’t wait until your health is affected to adopt some of these stress-busting measures. Today is a great time to start!

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 and Causes of GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD occurs when stomach acid repeatedly flows back into your esophagus, which is the tube that connects your mouth and stomach. This acid reflux can irritate the lining of your esophagus.

Many people experience acid reflux from time to time. However, when acid reflux happens often over a period of time, it can cause GERD.

Most people can manage the symptoms of GERD with lifestyle changes and/or medications.

Common signs and symptoms of GERD include:

·      Heartburn, which is a burning sensation in your throat or chest, typically after eating. It can worsen when you lie down.

·      Regurgitation of food or sour liquid

·      Upper abdominal or chest pain

·      Trouble swallowing

·      Sensation of a lump in your throat

If you have nighttime acid reflux, you might also experience:

 ·      A recurring cough

·      Laryngitis caused by acid irritating the vocal cords.

·      New or worsening asthma

Things that can cause or make GERD worse:

·      Smoking

·      Eating large meals or eating late at night

·      Trigger foods like fatty, fried, or spicy things

·      Drinking alcohol or coffee

If left untreated, GERD can have long-term consequences including inflammation and bleeding in the esophagus, scar tissue in the esophagus causing it to narrow, damage to esophageal tissue leading to an increased risk for esophageal cancer.

If you have frequent symptoms and often take over-the-counter remedies, it’s time to make a visit with your healthcare provider. They can offer you medications and treatments that provide more long-term relief than OTC options.

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.

Psoriasis 101

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes a rash with itchy, scaly patches, usually affecting knees, elbows, torso, and scalp. Psoriasis affects 7.5 million adults in the United States with symptoms usually starting between the ages of 15 and 25. It can affect anyone of any age and any skin color. It is not contagious.  

Psoriasis is caused by an overly active immune system that speeds up the growth of skin cells. So instead of the usual process of growing and shedding over the course of a month or so like regular skin cells would, the psoriatic cells grow faster and start to pile up on the top layer of skin causing plaque patches or scales.

Unfortunately, psoriasis is chronic and there is no cure. For some people it is painful, sometimes causing blisters or pustules, which can interfere with sleep and make it difficult to concentrate when you are awake. It tends to go through cycles, flaring for weeks or months at a time, then going away for a while. People who have it are usually genetically predisposed. Triggers vary from person to person but common triggers include skin injuries (like sunburns, bug bites, and even vaccinations), stress, weather changes, and illness.

People who have psoriasis may also suffer from related health problems. One in three will suffer from psoriatic arthritis and people with psoriasis are at a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Psoriasis can also be detrimental to mental and emotional health, often leading to depression and other mental health conditions.

Fortunately, there are treatments and numerous medications to help manage symptoms. Some treatments like creams, light therapy, and oral meds or injections limit skin cells from growing too quickly and help remove scales. People who suffer from psoriasis can also try some lifestyle changes to help avoid flareups.

·      Try to avoid stress – Easier said than done, right? But with some practice, managing stress can turn into a no brainer. Things like meditation, exercise and talking to your healthcare provider or a mental healthcare provider can all help.

·      Clothes and fabrics – There are certain types of fabrics that can help moisturize the skin and ease the symptoms of psoriasis.

·      Talk about it with friends and loved ones – Psoriasis can be embarrassing and talking about it can be even more so. But turning to those who love you can really help. Knowing there are folks in your corner can be a huge stress reliever.

·      Wrap up in winter – Cold dry conditions may make flareups worse so really bundle up during winter.

·      Keep skin well hydrated – Dry skin triggers the scaling that can cause flareups so keep body and scalp well moisturized.

·      Get a humidifier – Keeping the air in your home moist will help keep your skin moist.

·      Get some sun but avoid getting burnt – Studies have shown that short bursts of UV light can help suppress symptoms of psoriasis. Just avoid being out too long because sunburns can trigger a flareup.

·      Try an elimination diet – Some people are triggered by certain foods that can cause inflammation. An elimination diet can help you pinpoint if there are certain foods like dairy or gluten that may be triggering for you.

While there may be no cure for psoriasis, it is not hopeless and there are numerous strategies out there to help those who suffer find some relief. Your healthcare provider can help you figure out which medication or possibly a combination of medications and lifestyle strategies will work best for your psoriasis.

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.

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.