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Advice from our pharmacist. A new topic every month! Current Topic: Preventing Falls There is talk that Vitamin D may reduce the risk of falls in the geriatric population. The mechanism is thought to be by improving muscle strength.
Low Dose Aspirin Taking your low dose Aspirin 81mg at bedtime rather than on awakening can significantly reduce blood pressure. Make sure you always use "coated" ASA to protect your stomach.
Dr. Gifford-Jones explains the benefits of EpiCor, a natural way to strengthen the immune system. For the complete article click here.
Excessive Sweating New Treatment for Head Lice Bloody Eyeball? Coldsore? Some medications require storage in a fridge. There are some basic principles that you should follow. Always keep them on a shelf where they cannot be knocked over or mixed with food. Try not to keep them on a shelf on the refrigerator door as temperatures may fluctuate with constant opening and closing. If you have left your medication out of the fridge for an extended length of time, contact your pharmacist for advice. And always keep medication out of the reach of children.
Planning a trip south this year? If you are thinking of traveling to Cuba , Mexico or the Caribbean , consider protecting yourself against hepatitis a & b. You can contract hepatitis from a single contaminated ice cube, even in a 5 star resort. Twinrix is a vaccine given in 3 doses. Side effects are few however peace of mind is tantamount. Please consult your physician.
Head lice It's that time again and the kids are back at school. With that comes the emergence of the dreaded head lice. Female lice lay eggs called nits, which attach to hair with a super strong substance. After treatment, the lice may take up to a day to die. Re-treatment 7-10 days after the initial treatment ensures that all the nymphs and lice are killed effectively. Treatment choices and precautions should be discussed with your pharmacist. Fevers I often get questions regarding fevers. An oral temperature of 37.5 C or 99.5F is considered normal. Any temperature over 39C or 102F is considered high. Rectal temperatures are 38.0C or 100.2F are in the normal range and temperatures over 39.5C or 103.0F are considered high. Remember a fever is usually a response to infection and if the fever is high or prolonged, medical assistance should be sought.
Have Diabetes? If you are diabetic or borderline diabetic and are using a Glucometer on a regular basis, you might consider dropping in to our Stamford location. We have the ability to download information on your FREESYLE or ACCUCHECK Glucometers on to one of our computers and produce a concise report on your blood glucose levels. This information is very helpful to your doctor. This service is free of charge.
This is a really hot topic. All kidding aside, it is an extremely important subject since skin cancer is now the most common cancer in Canada. If you are venturing outdoors, apply a sunscreen, preferably with an SPF of 30, 20 minutes prior to exposure. It is beneficial to reapply the sunscreen 2o minutes after being outdoors for maximum protection avoid the sun between the hours of 11 am and 4 pm and wear sunglasses. If you are active outdoors, I recommend Avene 50 sunscreen for the face, especially around the eyes. For further information please consult www.dermatology.ca Insect Repellants Adults should apply repellant containing no more than 30% DEET, while children should use concentrations between 6 and 10% DEET. It is not recommended that children under 2 years of age use repellant unless there is high risk, in which case children 6 months to 2 years may use 10% DEET applied once daily. Repellant should not be applied to hands or face. Actinic Keratoses Actinic Keratoses or AK's are a potentially serious skin condition which have the appearance of rough red/brown scaly patchy crusts or sores and are usually found on the face, neck, forearms and the back of the hands. They are caused by years of unprotected sun exposure. If caught and treated in the early stages, AK's are treatable and in most cases curable. If left untreated AK's may develop into skin cancer. Please discuss treatment options with your physician.
Glucosamine and OsteoarthritisGlucosamine' s function in the body is to maintain the strength, elasticity, and resiliency of cartilage in the moveable joints. It is has been shown to decrease pain and promote the maintenance of joint function. The usual dose is 500 mg three times daily, however results may not be seen immediately. The drug is very well tolerated with very few adverse effects. If you have diabetes, consult your physician prior to initiating therapy.
WhatR17;s new in the world in personal blood glucose monitors? Well, the new FREESTYLE MINI is now available in most drug stores. The monitor itself will fit in the palm of your hand and has a backlit display and test light. It has an average test time of 7 seconds and has a 250 test memory with date/time and 14 day average. The mini is also suitable for alternate site testing due to the small sample it requires. Most pharmacies offer the machine free with the purchase of 100 test strips.
This is a free confidential service we provide to offer suggestions on lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise and stress relief that can help you fell your best. We also offer places where you can obtain further information and support as well as a refill reminder phone call. There is no charge for this service, however you must enroll to participate and you may opt out at anytime. This service is drug specific so check with your Pharmassist™Pharmacist or technician for further details.
The most common cause of traveller's diarrhea is bacterial in nature and may be caused by contaminated water or food. The severity may range from a few loose bowel movements with some cramping to blood and puss in the stool with a fever. Drinking bottled water and eating at reputable restaurants can prevent this affliction. If it us contracted, try using IMODIUM or PEPTO BISMOL for mild to moderate non-bloody diarrhea and drink plenty of fluids. If the diarrhea is severe, an antibiotic such as CIPRO may be effective.
Phytoestrogens and Menopause Phytoestrogens are compounds that are natural components of certain foods such as beans, cabbage, and soybeans. They have estrogenic activity in humans, however this effect is considerably less then naturally occurring estradiol. One of the main classes of phytoestrogens are the isoflavones, which are found mainly in the soybean. Their effect on menopause is demonstrated in soy consuming countries such as Japan where postmenopausal women have fewer hot flushes and night sweats. These substances are found in pharmacies as clover isoflavanoid extracts and may be an alternative to hormone replacement therapy.
Restless Leg Syndrome Alcohol and Diabetes
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