News - Dycks Pharmacists Health Library
Smoking tobacco does not help people who have glaucoma, a condition of the eye where the pressure inside the eye rises. Smokers tend to have higher intra-ocular pressure than non-smokers. Since glaucoma can lead to blindness, if you have this condition and smoke, it is best to stop....
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There is so much written about smoking and heart health that the information almost becomes invisible to many men. This comment might make some of them sit up and take notice. For some smokers, heart attacks are a long way down the road....it’s an accumulative thing. However, saying that smoking may get in the way of the healthy sex life, might get more attention. I’ve always been a believe in the concept of visualization. If someone can visualize what is happening in their body when they do something unhealthy, it may make a bigger impression. So male smokers can visualize the narrowing and clogging of the blood vessels in the penis which might now produce the desired result when sexual activities are desired. Hopefully, you may get some men asking about smoking cessation methods....
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There was a time when hydrogen peroxide was used to clean and treat wounds. The bubbling action on the skin did help with cleaning the wound but mild soap and warm water would do as well. Peroxide can cause skin irritation so isn’t recommended as a first-line treatment anymore....
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A new method of rating patients in hospital is being developed to assess their risk of being readmitted or dying within the next 30 days. Known by the acronym, LACE, it looks as these 4 variables: L: length of stay. The longer the hospital stay, the greater the probability of readmission. A: Acuity of the problem. The more serious the problem, the greater the risk. C: Co-morbity: how many other medical problems are there? E: Number of Emergency Room visits....
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For some people, heat or cold rubs work well to relieve muscle aches and pains. They work by “counter-irritation” which means an ingredient in the rub causes a mild inflammation of the skin which distracts the pain responses from the muscles. These rubs also create heat which increases the blood flow to the area. Do not use a heating pad on the areas you apply the rub....
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“Psychoactive” drugs are used to help people sleep, lower anxiety, treat depression, reduce pain and relax the muscles. These medications can increase the risk of falls in the elderly. If you or someone you know is a fall risk, have them check with their doctor. Perhaps a reduction in dose or elimination of a drug is indicated....
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A new therapy to treat stroke and cardiac arrest victims is currently being studied. It’s called therapeutic cooling where the body is cooled to 34 degrees Centigrade as soon as possible after the attack. Survival rates are increased and fuller recovery after the stroke is also increased. It looks encouraging!...
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One of the symptoms of allergies is red, itchy and runny eyes. Often, these symptoms can be controlled by taking an antihistamine tablet but sometimes eyedrops can bring more immediate relief. Products like Visine-A and Naphcon-A contain an antihistamine and decongestant to “get the red out” and reduce itching....
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Just a reminder that if you are taking medication to control your allergy symptoms, try not to miss doses, especially if your allergy season last weeks or months. The effectiveness of the allergy pill depends on the level circulating in the bloodstream. Most allergy medications last 12 to 24 hours then need to be repeated to keep blood levels up and allergy symptoms down....
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Hot flashes affect three out of four women going through menopause. One method that may be effective in reducing the number of hot spells is to practice deep breathing. This involves inhaling slowly through your nose for 5 seconds then exhaling slowly for 5 seconds. Doing this twice daily for 15 minutes for prevention or while you are having a hot flash can minimize its severity....
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Mumps is a preventable viral disease. There were fewer than 400 cases of mumps in all of Canada in the early 1990s but between 2007 and early 2008, there were over 1200 cases reported....mostly in Alberta, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The group most affected were young people aged 20-29. Mumps vaccine is the best way to prevent getting mumps....
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That “evidence” that linked autism with vaccines has now been totally refuted. The medical journal Lancet announced it is totally retracting the erroneous research paper from public record. The offending study involved only 12 children and the results were presented in a dishonest and erroneous manner. In summary, there is no proven link between autism and immunization....
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The banning of smoking in public and workplaces has resulted in a 36% drop in the incidences of heart attacks in communities where the ban was instituted. This is proof of the dangers of first, second and third-hand smoke. Third-hand smoke is the residue from tobacco smoke that clings to walls, carpets and furniture....
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Sometimes when you take a drug or vitamin product can have an effect on how it works and is absorbed. With vitamin D supplements, it doesn’t matter. It can be taken before or after meals; once or twice a day, once a week or even once monthly. The doses become larger as the interval increases. The usual dose is between 400 and 2000 units daily....
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It was 100 years ago this year that British medical scientists discovered that goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland) could be prevented by taking iodine. We need very little in our daily diet and using iodized salt and eating seafood can satisfy these needs easily....
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If you have trouble sleeping at night, you might try not watching TV or using your computer at least two hours prior to bedtime. Do a little stretching, go to bed a bit earlier, read a good book or listen to soft music . Try to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night....
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We hear much about adults needing more vitamin D. What about children? It is now recommended that 400 IU per day is recommended for children through to adolescence This is especially important for children who live in more northern areas (above the 55th parallel which is about where Edmonton is located). One cup of milk contains 100 IU....
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A new adhesive product for bones is currently being tested. Called Kryptonite®, the product will be used to repair the breastbone after open heart surgery and in the future may be used instead of screws and metal plates to repair broken limbs. Unlike its effect on Superman, this is a powerful glue that can bind broken bones together. It looks really promising....
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There are many reasons to stop smoking. Here’s another: Smoking is now considered a risk factor for that devastating neurological disease, ALS. The longer you smoke, the greater the risk. The converse is also true: your risk of getting ALS drops the longer you have stopped smoking....
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“Do not drink alcohol with this medication”. This warning label is often seen on prescription and non-prescription medication. It’s a warning to be heeded. Alcohol can reinforce a sedation side effect of the medication or in the case of a few antibiotics can make you sick. Always read those auxiliary labels on the bottle....
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April is Oral Health Month, a time to help us become more aware of the importance of good oral hygiene to our overall health. Five steps to good oral health include: seeing your dentist regularly; good brushing and flossing technique on a daily basis; eating a well-balanced diet; checking your mouth regularly for signs of gum disease and oral cancer; and avoiding all tobacco products....
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The human kidney is an amazing organ. It contains up to 1 million little filters which 1.3 litres of blood every minute and produce around 1.4 litres of urine daily. It’s a very important organ, too. Take good care of them....
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March is Poison Prevention Month. It’s a time to raise awareness of the poison centres in our homes. Medications account for the majority of child poisonings. Be sure all medication, cleaning supplies, plants and even arts and craft supplies, are kept well away from the prying hands (and mouths) of children. Each year there are about 200,000 poisonings reported in Canada....
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Doctors in hospitals that treat severely burned patients have been using medical grade honey to speed healing. It helps clear up foul-smelling bacteria and hastens the healing of the wound. This special honey (made from manuka honey) is imported from New Zealand....
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We always recommend keeping an open dialogue with your pharmacist. If you are beginning a new drug and experience vision problems, dizziness or perhaps fuzziness of thought, share your experiences with us. It may be due to a side effect of the new drug and we can advise you as to what’s best to do....
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Don’t you love those health stories that tell us that our body fitness peaks during our mid-20s then it’s downhill from there. As we age, we become less able to form muscle from our dietary protein and muscle deterioration increases. Older persons are turning to Tai Chi, yoga and weight training to slow down help balance, flexibility and muscle loss. You’re never too old to exercise....
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Sometimes one small statistic can send a powerful message. One such number from the U.S. says that if everyone in the country reduced their salt intake by one-half teaspoonful per day (that’s 8 salt-shaker shakes), there would be 750,000 fewer cases of heart disease and a proportional reduced number of deaths. This is predicted over a ten years....
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Hospital cafeterias in Halifax have banned deep fryers. So no more french fries. These cafeterias are serving baked potato wedges instead. They are trying to set an example of a healthy eating lifestyle....
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Back in January of 1964, a report was released in the U.S. acknowledging for the first time that smoking was bad for the health. At that time, about 42% of Americans smoked. By the end of 2008, that number had dropped to 19.8%. Want to quit smoking? Our pharmacists can help with advice and methods to support this important lifestyle change....
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We hear of many claims for supplementing with omega-3 fatty acid capsules, many of them have been substantiated. One latest claim says that they help reduce the symptoms of dry eyes. Fatty fish like lake trout, herring, sardines, salmon and albacore tuna contain good amounts of omega-3s. For dry eyes, it’s worth a try....
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You can help yourself remember to take your medications by putting them in a place where you'll find them at the right time. Morning and bedtime pills can be placed in the bathroom next to your toothbrush. If a pill has to be taken with food, put it in the kitchen where you'll see it. Always keep all meds away for children....
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Sleep problems are very common. A couple of ideas to help this situation are to try to avoid napping and caffeine-containing drinks after 3PM. As well, don’t eat or drink too much after your evening meal. Too much food could cause stomach problems while too much fluid might cause more bathroom trips during the night....
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It’s good to leave a bit of moisture on the skin after a bath or shower if you suffer from a dry skin condition. Applying a good moisturizing cream like Eucerin will allow this moisture to stay trapped in the skin and help keep the skin soft....
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If we were to encapsulate ten ideas to help make 2010 a healthy year for you, here’s what we might include in that capsule....
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Cold weather can cause higher blood pressure especially in the elderly over 80 years old. Because risk of stroke is higher in this age group, it is a good idea to keep close tabs on blood pressure during the extremely cold weather....
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In the U.S. (and Canada as well), many people end up in hospital due to not taking their medications properly. Some people, when interviewed, didn’t even know why they were taking certain medications. It is vitally important to have this knowledge. Always ask questions of your doctor and pharmacist and keep a written record of your medications and their uses....
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Now that winter is here and we aren’t getting our vitamin D needs met by sun exposure, it might be a good time to add one 1000 unit vitamin D tablet daily. If we don’t get enough vitamin D, our calcium levels drop and our body starts to draw calcium out of the bones which can lead to osteoporosis....
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Some medical advice just never goes out of style. Back in about 420 BC, Hipprocates, the father of medicine said something like this: if we give everyone the right amount of nourishment and exercise, the road to good health is assured. (The more things change, the more they stay the same.)...
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This is the time of the year when we warn users of decongestant nose drops to not get an addicted nose. Overuse of these drops can irritate the membranes of the nasal passages causing inflammation and a stuffiness that causes a need to use more drops. If this is happening to you, stop the drops totally. If you need a decongestant, try an oral form. Our pharmacists can help....
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ot everyone is a cat lover but it has been found that those who have a pet cat seem to be able to weather life’s bad times better than those who don’t have a cat. Cat-owners appear to suffer from fewer headaches, are less likely to get the flu and are generally more relaxed than non-cat people....
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Research into Alzheimer’s disease is continuous. The five prescription drugs available may slow the progression of the disease but do not cure it. Vitamin B supplements and the herb, ginkgo don’t protect against the disease. Keeping physically active seems to help keep our brains healthy. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain. Another reason to make it part of your daily routine....
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Canadians are near the top of the list of salt-users in the world. On average, we consume 3100 mg daily. We should use only half that amount. Ontarians are the lowest salt consumers in Canada (average of 2871 mg daily) while B.C. and Quebec consume the highest, more than 3300 mg daily. How’s your salt intake?...
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New regulations in the U.S. will control what goes into cigarettes. There will be a cap on the amount of nicotine they contain. Other ingredients now used to enhance nicotine absorption into the brain will also be controlled. This bodes well for reducing healthcare costs and the number of smokers too....
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October is SIDS Awareness Month. The risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) can be reduced significantly if the infant sleeps on its back not its tummy. Breathing is easier this way. Parents should be sure to inform baby sitters of this important principle as well....
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You know that white stuff left on an orange after you peel it? It’s called the albedo and is sort of a second skin that is quite good nutritionally. It contains some vitamin C and soluble fibre that can help lower cholesterol. It’s OK to eat....
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It used to be thought that if you added extra gelatin to your diet, you would improve your nails. Not so. Brittle, splitting nails could be due to the effect of being in and out of water often throughout the day. If you are prone to this type of nail problem, using rubber gloves may prevent the problem....
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Four things seem to always appear in this formula: no smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, moderate regular physical activity and five servings of fruit and vegetables per day. One other factor contributes: a sense of how meaningful and manageable you feel life is for you helping you want to get out of bed each day....
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One way of increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids is to eat eggs from chickens fed a flax-based diet. Flax is high in omega-3s which are good for heart health....
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If you are taking vitamin C supplements, be aware that the absorption of this water-soluble vitamin decreases as the dose increases. Take smaller doses more often rather than a big dose all at once....
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On April 1, the U.S. federal sales tax on a pack of cigarettes rose from 39¢ to $1.01. Then the cigarette manufacturers raised their prices as well. It is predicted that these changes will force about one million Americans to quit smoking....
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