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The average older adult in the United States takes five prescription drugs per day. Half of these drugs contain a sedative. Alcohol should therefore be avoided by most senior citizens because of the dangerous interactions between alcohol and sedatives.
Thyroid conditions cause a higher risk of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
About 100 new prescription or over-the-counter drugs come into the U.S. market every year.
Giardia is one of the most common intestinal parasites worldwide, and infects up to 20% of the world population, mostly in poorer countries with inadequate sanitation. Infections are most common in children, though chronic Giardia is more common in adults.
In the United States, an estimated 50 million unnecessary antibiotics are prescribed for viral respiratory infections.