PeriodsExplainer
Can You Swim on Your Period Without a Tampon?
A menstrual cup is one option; period swimwear is another if you want nothing inserted. Check product instructions, changing facilities and your flow before heading to the pool.
The library
Every article, in one place.
Breath & MouthExplainer
Swollen, Overgrown Gums? Your Blood Pressure Pill Could Be Part of It
Calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine and amlodipine can cause the gums to thicken and grow over the teeth, a side effect called drug-induced gingival overgrowth. Existing gum inflammation raises the risk, and good cleaning helps. Here is what reviews and the amlodipine label say, and what to ask your dentist and prescriber.
SkinChecklist
Tacrolimus Ointment: Plan Sun Protection With Your Prescriber
Discuss outdoor plans and artificial UV exposure with the team managing your eczema prescription.
Sleep & NighttimeExplainer
Talking in Your Sleep as an Adult: How Common It Is and When to Worry
Two in three adults in a Norwegian survey had talked in their sleep at some point. In a sleep lab study of 883 recorded episodes, the most common word was "No." Sleep talking on its own is harmless, but sleep doctors say a few changes are worth a visit. Here is what the research found.
SkinComparison
Terbinafine Skin Products: Check the Form Before Using the Instructions
A one-time solution and a cream have different directions, even when the medicine name matches.
Menopause & HormonesEvidence check
Thinner Skin After Menopause: Collagen Loss and Whether HRT Helps
Skin loses collagen fastest in the first years after menopause, about 30% in five years by one widely cited estimate. Older biopsy studies found more collagen in women given hormone implants. A four-year randomized trial of modern hormone therapy found no difference in facial wrinkles or firmness. Here is what changes, what the trials show, and what helps thin, dry skin.
Sleep & NighttimeEvidence check
Tired With Low Iron but No Anemia: Does an Iron Supplement Help?
A normal blood count doesn't always rule out low iron. In a French trial of 198 tired women with low ferritin but normal hemoglobin, 12 weeks of iron cut fatigue scores by 48%, against 29% on placebo. A review of 18 trials found iron eased tiredness in people like this, without improving exercise capacity. Here is who the evidence applies to, and why iron shouldn't be a guess.
Breath & MouthGuide
Can Acid Reflux Wear Down Your Teeth? Signs of Enamel Erosion and What Helps
Stomach acid that reaches your mouth can wear away tooth enamel, and that loss is permanent. A 2025 review of 22 studies found dental erosion was more common in adults with reflux. Here are the signs, why nighttime reflux is hardest on teeth, and the habits the American Dental Association suggests.
SkinChecklist
Topical Fluorouracil: Keep Pets Away From Medicine and Treated Skin
Review storage, contact and disposal arrangements for your prescribed cream or solution.
PeriodsExplainer
Tranexamic Acid for Heavy Periods: Why Kidney Function Changes the Dose
A lower prescription schedule may reflect your kidney test. Check the lab result, units and packet with the pharmacist before copying a dose found online.
PeriodsEvidence check
Trouble Sleeping Before Your Period? What Studies Show
Many women notice worse sleep in the days before and during their period. In a South African diary study, healthy women rated their sleep quality lower over the 3 days before and 4 days of their period, even though the hours slept didn't change. A study of 213 women found three patterns: worse sleep around the period, worse sleep mid-cycle, or no change. Here is what drives it and what to track.
Breath & MouthEvidence check
Twice-a-Day Mouthwash and Blood Pressure: What One Study Found About Oral Bacteria
Some mouth bacteria help the body make nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, and antibacterial mouthwash can knock them back. In a study of overweight adults aged 40 to 65, people who used over-the-counter mouthwash twice a day or more were about twice as likely to develop high blood pressure over three years. It's a link, not proof.
