Pharmacy Archives - Page 17 of 38

Sleep Awareness Seminars – Learn how sleep impacts your health

Sleep Awareness Seminar
Friday March 15 10:30am – 12pm

If you find yourself struggling to get the restful sleep you need, London Drugs’ sleep seminars can offer solutions to improve your energy levels and your health. In honor of World Sleep Day on March 15th, London Drugs and CanSleep will host a Sleep Awareness Seminar at London Drugs’ Park Royal North location to explain the benefits of quality sleep. Attendees will learn how poor sleep patterns can contribute to health problems, how to identify possible sources for sleep issues and what they can do to improve the quality of their sleep.

The educational seminar will include three guest speakers and will cover topics such as:
• Why sleep is important for your health
• How nutrition and sleep are connected
• How to identify if you have obstructive sleep apnea and its potential health impact
• Other possible sleep issues
• Quality sleep solutions and treatments to give you the rest you deserve
Attendees will receive complimentary refreshments as they take advantage of the information this sleep seminar provides and learn more about how their sleeping habits are affecting them. If you find yourself exhausted after a full night’s sleep, are struggling to lose weight or find it difficult to keep a consistent sleep schedule, this sleep seminar’s experts could have the answers you need.
Book your spot today, as seats are limited!

To sign up for our Sleep Awareness Seminar at our Park Royal North location, simply call us at 1-888-991-2299 or email us at LDOnline@londondrugs.com

GUEST SPEAKERS

Dr. Zameel Dewji
Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery
Medical Director, Indigo Health Clinic
www.indigoent.ca

Originally from Coquitlam, BC, Dr. Dewji studied at the University of British Columbia, graduating in 2002 in BioPsychology. He further graduated from Medicine at the University of Manitoba in 2008. He continued on at the University of Manitoba for his Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery residency and served as Chief Resident. He also studied at the University of Iowa, University of Michigan and the Atlanta Sleep institute.

Dr. Dewji has a special interest in sleep apnea, snoring, therapeutic and cosmetic botox. He has published and presented on many subjects related to his specialty, and is currently involved in several tech related startups.

Dr. Dewji has since established office based practices in Coquitlam and New Westminster, serving patients from around British Columbia.

Bahareh Ezzati
Clinical Therapist, CanSleep Services
www.cansleep.ca

Bahareh is recognized as a dynamic and compassionate Clinical Therapist, who strives for excellence when caring for her patients. She believes that the most satisfying and rewarding aspect of her career is having the opportunity to make a positive difference in her patients’ lives.

Bahareh joined CanSleep Services in 2014 as a Clinical Therapist, and prior to that she worked as a Multiple Scoliosis Drug Specialist at Calea Ltd. She gained experience as a Registered Respiratory Therapist while working at Credit Valley Hospital and William Osler Hospital in Ontario. Bahareh has a Bachelor of Science and Technology Studies and a pharmacy technician diploma and speaks fluent Persian and English. As a Clinical Therapist, she enjoys her role as a critical thinker, patient educator and acute decision maker.

Roxanne Brooks
Registered Holistic Nutritionist
Certified Integrative Adult Sleep Coach
www.foodforsleep.ca

Roxanne Brooks is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and a Certified Integrative Adult Sleep Coach who studied at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. She is the mother of an 8 year old boy and an 11 month old girl.

She is passionate about helping people reach optimal health and she believes that it starts with quality sleep. She understands how a lack of sleep diminishes our overall health, decision making abilities, cognitive capabilities and that it can worsen almost every health condition.

Call to book: 1.888.991.2299

Email to book: LDOnline@londondrugs.com

Important points to know about Measles and how you can stay protected

Our British Columbia Lower Mainland pharmacies are experiencing high call volumes and requests for the measles vaccine. Please know we are doing our best to secure additional vaccines on a daily basis and we will schedule your appointment as soon as we can. Please call ahead to book a vaccination appointment and we will add patients to a wait list where necessary as we strive to help all of our patients. Thank you for taking a proactive approach to taking care of your health.

Measles is an extremely contagious and serious disease. 1 or 2 out of every 10 people who get it need a hospital stay.

In Canada, measles is rare because of routine vaccination. But it can be brought here by unvaccinated people who travel overseas. Recent cases in the Vancouver area have been traced to travellers who were infected in Vietnam and the Philippines. Read more.

Measles can spread through the air when an infected person breathes, sneezes, or coughs. The virus can survive for several hours in droplets in the air or on surfaces. You can catch measles if you breathe in these droplets or touch contaminated objects (such as door handles) and then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes. Kissing, or sharing food, drinks, and cigarettes also spreads measles.

What are the symptoms and complications?

Symptoms start to appear between 7 and 18 days after someone is infected. The typical symptoms include:

• Cough
• Fever
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Inflamed, sensitive eyes
• Red rash

Measles can have serious complications:

• Pneumonia — 1 in 10 cases
• Ear infections — 1 in 10 cases
• Diarrhea — 8 in 100 cases
• Encephalitis (swelling of the brain) — 1 in 1,000 cases

One in 3,000 people with measles may die from complications. Learn more

Vaccinations prevent measles.

The standard vaccination schedule varies slightly across provinces. Children get one dose when they’re 12 or 15 months old, and a second dose at either 18 months or between age 4 and 6 years.

If you were born before 1970, you’re likely immune because you probably caught measles in the past. If you’re not sure, a blood test can confirm immunity.

Health Canada recommends vaccination for adults born in or after 1970 who have never had measles. Learn more

If you are not sure whether you have had an active measles infection in the past or have received a measles vaccination, it is safer to be vaccinated than not.

All London Drugs pharmacies in British Columbia are equipped to provide MMR vaccinations and boosters. In other provinces, please contact your local health unit.

In British Columbia, please call your local London Drugs pharmacy to book a vaccination appointment. Calling ahead will ensure we can meet your needs – confirming we have the vaccination inventory available, and that a certified injection pharmacist is available to provide your inoculation.

What should you do if you’ve been exposed to measles?

If you’ve been exposed to someone with measles, don’t wait for symptoms to show. If you haven’t had measles, and haven’t been vaccinated, you should immediately get the shot. You need to get it within 72 hours after exposure to be protected. Alternatively, you may get an injection of measles antibodies within 6 days of exposure. Speak with your healthcare provider. Learn more

If you’ve been exposed to measles, or have been in an area with an outbreak, and you have a fever and rash, you should be examined. Call ahead so the doctor or nurse can make sure you’re examined in a closed area so others are not exposed to the virus.

If you have measles, stay at home for at least 4 days after the rash appears so you don’t spread the infection. You can take medication for your fever, if you wish. Wash your hands frequently, and cough or sneeze into a tissue. Don’t share food, drinks, or cigarettes. And don’t kiss anyone! Stay well hydrated, and make sure you get plenty of rest.

For those exposed to measles, please avoid direct contact with young children under the age of one year as they have not yet been immunized. Also avoid contact with people with compromised immune systems and also avoid direct contact with pregnant mothers.

To learn more about the measles vaccination, visit your local London Drugs pharmacy.

Health Tips Video: London Drugs Pharmacy Offers Point of Care Testing

Pharmacies are more than just places to pick up prescriptions. Did you know that some pharmacies also offer point of care testing?

Point of care testing is a term for any medical test or screening that is performed outside of a lab or clinic. The testing happens at a place where the patient is receiving care, such as a pharmacy. It’s more convenient for the patient and, as London Drugs Registered Pharmacist Ellen Cheng says, “the really big advantage is that you don’t have to wait as long for the results.” Because of advances in medical diagnostic technology, point of care tests don’t need to be processed in a lab. You can have the results right away.

London Drugs pharmacists can perform screening for several diseases and conditions:

Hepatitis C
Heart disease
Diabetes
Osteoporosis
And more

Hepatitis C Screening

Hepatitis C is a chronic disease that attacks the liver, and can cause serious liver damage or even liver failure if left untreated. There are curative treatments for hepatitis C but the BC Health Authority estimates that 1 in 4 people in BC with hepatitis C are unaware that they have it. This means that 25% of people are undiagnosed and thus not receiving treatment.

This is why London Drugs developed an in-house hepatitis C screening program, to make it easier for people to get tested and thus reduce the potential for long-term liver problems in those who do have hepatitis C. The screening involves a quick finger prick test using the OraQuick HCV rapid antibody test. This test detects hepatitis C antibodies in the blood and is 99% accurate. It takes about 20 minutes, and then the pharmacist can explain the results and what your next steps might be, including connecting with a doctor if necessary.

Osteoporosis Screening

For osteoporosis screening, a bone strength scan of the wrist can be done using a Sunlight Omnisense® device. It uses safe, non-invasive ultrasound technology and can provide immediate results which you can then discuss with your pharmacist.

Heart Disease Screening

Heart disease screening involves point of care testing of blood sugar and cholesterol levels, as well as measurement of your blood pressure. Like the hepatitis C screening, these tests use a small blood sample via a pin-prick device.

When visiting any London Drugs Pharmacy point of care screening clinic, please bring all your prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and any other herbal remedies you take. This can help inform the individualized plan you and your pharmacist will make.

Health Tips Video: Getting the Right Pain Relief Treatment

We all experience pain at some point in our lives, as much as we try to avoid it. But according to Panela Moore, a Registered Pharmacist with London Drugs, acute pain (short-lived pain with a known cause) is actually useful. It tells us there’s a problem or injury we need to address. That doesn’t mean you have to live with pain, however! There are lots of options for pain relief medication and other pain treatments.

What is the Right Pain Medication for You?

It’s important to take the right medication for the pain you’re experiencing. Pain can affect your muscles, bones and joints, your nervous system, and your organs. You can also experience different kinds of pain at the same time.

Taking the wrong medication for your problem, or taking more than the recommended dose, will not actually result in faster relief. At best, it’s a waste. At worse, it can increase the likelihood you’ll experience adverse effects.

As Moore says in our latest Health Tips video: “Pain is something we all experience, and it’s important we understand it so we can get the right treatment for the job.”

The Big Three Pain Relievers

Let’s talk about the big three:

Acetaminophen
Ibuprofen,
ASA (acetylsalicylic acid)

These are more commonly known as Tylenol, Advil, and Aspirin, respectively. We often think of these three medications as interchangeable, but they’re not. They affect the body differently and should be used for different types of pain.

Tylenol works by elevating the body’s overall threshold for pain, so the pain you feel is lessened. It’s good for things like headaches and arthritis pain. It also helps reduce fevers. But it’s not good for swelling, and shouldn’t be used by those with liver problems.

Advil and Aspirin belong to the same class of drugs: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). This means that they’re both effective at reducing pain caused by inflammation like toothaches and muscle sprains. However, because of the way they affect the body, they should not be used by people with stomach issues, kidney disease, or high blood pressure.

Non-medicinal Pain Relief Products

There are also other pain relief options that aren’t medications:

Topical pain relief treatments like Voltaren
Braces that can help support weakened muscles
Electric stimulators that can help block pain

It’s important that you get the right tool for the job in order to effectively treat your pain and prevent any unnecessary complications or adverse reactions. If you’re not sure about what the best option is for you, visit your local London Drugs and talk to a pharmacist for recommendations.

Check out London Drugs’ range of pain relief products online or visit your local London Drugs to talk to a pharmacist about getting the pain relief you need.

Health Tips Video: Prevention is Key with Heart Disease

Heart disease is the second leading cause of death for Canadians (after cancer). Heart disease is actually a class of diseases that involve the structure and functions of the heart, including conditions like angina, arrhythmia, stroke, heart attack, and more.

Prevention of Heart Disease is Key

According to Sam Ma, a registered pharmacist with London Drugs, “Prevention is really key. Often there are no symptoms of heart problems until the underlying disease has progressed.” That’s really scary when you consider that 90% of Canadians have at least one risk factor for heart disease.

This means that routine screening is really important, and especially important if you’re a woman. The classic symptoms of heart disease don’t always appear in women. Women’s heart disease tends to manifest as chest discomfort, shortness of breath, stomach upset like indigestion or nausea, fatigue, and back or neck pain rather than the crushing chest pain men might experience. Because women’s heart disease can be harder to spot, women are also less likely to be prescribed the drugs they need to lower their blood pressure or cholesterol.

Check out a London Drugs Healthy Heart Clinic

So how can you get screened? London Drugs’ Healthy Heart Clinics are a great option. These are 45-minute one-on-one consultations with a Patient Care Pharmacist to discuss your heart health and look at your risk profile. This includes your lifestyle, family history, and risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one of the main risk factors for heart disease and it’s estimated that 6 million adults in Canada suffer from high blood pressure.

During this screening, the pharmacist will measure your blood pressure and test your cholesterol and blood sugar via a pin-prick blood sample. You’ll also have a conversation about lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of heart disease, such as:

Changing your diet
Increasing your fitness routine
Quitting smoking
Cutting back on alcohol consumption

Your pharmacist can also call your family doctor with the results of the screening and recommend potential changes to your medication that could improve your heart health, if necessary.

You can book an appointment online at LondonDrugs.com/healthyheart, or by calling your local London Drugs. Be sure to bring along all your prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and any herbal remedies you take to help give your pharmacist a comprehensive view of your medication routine.

Book your Healthy Heart appointment by visiting LondonDrugs.com/healthyheart and read more on heart health here.

Health Tips Video: Quit Smoking Successfully

We all know smoking is bad for our health, but so many of us still struggle with an addiction to cigarettes. In 2017, Statistics Canada reported that around 5 million people in Canada smoke and of those 5 million, 3.6 million smoke daily.

Smoking Can Cause Serious Health Problems

Smoking is closely linked with many serious health conditions, including:

Heart attack or stroke
Lung cancer
Other forms of cancer, such as mouth and throat cancer
Dental problems
Fertility issues

Smoking also yellows skin, teeth, and nails.

Second-hand Smoke is Also Dangerous

Smoking isn’t just dangerous to the smoker. Second-hand smoke is also a serious problem. In Canada, over 800 non-smokers die each year from illnesses caused by second-hand smoke. Children are especially at risk, and are more likely to develop asthma, leukemia, respiratory infections, and other conditions if exposed to second-hand smoke.

It’s Never Too Late to Quit Smoking

You might think it’s too hard to quit smoking, or it’s too late if you’ve been smoking for a long time, but it’s never too late to quit. Penny Lehoux, a Registered Pharmacist and Certified Tobacco Educator with London Drugs, says quitting smoking has health benefits at any age, with almost an immediate effect.

If you quit smoking, your health will improve in the following ways:

Within 20 minutes, blood pressure lowers
Within 24 hours, the risk of heart attack is reduced
Within 2 weeks to 3 months, your lungs work better

All of these effects will increase your life expectancy, regardless of how long you’ve been smoking or when you quit.

We Can Support Your Efforts to Quit Smoking

There are many types of smoking cessation aids that may help you on your journey to quit smoking, such as nicotine replacements to help with nicotine cravings and prescription medications that can reduce the physical effects of addiction.

There is also lots of support available to people who want to stop smoking via community groups, counselling, and online tools. Check out Alberta Quits in AB and QuitNow in BC.

If you want to speak to someone directly, London Drugs offers consultations with pharmacists to give you tips and advice on how to reduce your tobacco consumption. They’ll work with you on making a plan to quit, potentially including prescription medication if it makes sense for you.

Visit or call your local London Drugs to book an appointment with a Certified Tobacco Educator and make sure to bring any current medications, over-the-counter drugs, or herbal remedies with you to your appointment—this will help your pharmacist make your personalized smoking cessation plan.

For more tips on how to quit smoking, visit your local London Drugs and speak to a Certified Tobacco Educator, or visit https://pharmacy.londondrugs.com/Channel/Smoking-Cessation online.

Hepatitis C screening now offered at five Calgary London Drugs locations

Hepatitis C screening now offered at five Calgary London Drugs locations

Unique collaboration between doctors and pharmacists expands access to
hepatitis C screening and treatment in Calgary

Hepatitis C screening now offered at five London Drugs locations in Calgary, helping to make testing and treatment for the potentially liver-destroying virus more accessible. Patients can now undertake a simple finger prick test at the pharmacy to check if they have been exposed to hepatitis C virus (HCV). The test, called the OraQuick HCV rapid antibody test, is more than 99 per cent accurate at detecting HCV antibodies and provides results in 20 minutes.

According to Alberta Health Services (AHS), an estimated 24,000 Albertans live with chronic hepatitis C and many are unaware they harbor the blood-borne virus because it can take decades before symptoms become evident.

“You can carry this infection for decades in your liver and actually have no symptoms at all – until the end stages of the disease. That’s why screening and early diagnosis is critically important,” says Dr. Matthew Sadler, a physician at the Foothills Medical Centre’s Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and clinical assistant professor at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. “Offering hepatitis C screening in the community helps increase awareness of the disease, and expands access to treatment by offering a point-of-care testing option that some, such as those without a family doctor, may find more convenient,” he says.

Recent guidelines published by the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver recommend that all Canadians born between 1945 and 1975 get tested.

“Making hepatitis C screening quick and convenient right in the pharmacy and working collaboratively with doctors, we can ensure those who test positive will get the treatment and follow-up care they need,” says Aaron Lo, Pharmacy Manager at London Drugs.

“There is a lot of misinformation about hepatitis C. The cure rate is above 95 per cent now and the treatment is relatively simple. It involves taking antiviral medications daily for eight to 12 weeks,” says Lo.

Hepatitis C screening is available at the following London Drugs locations in Calgary. Patients should call the pharmacy to book an appointment. The cost of the test is $24.

First Calgary SE

4701 – 130th Avenue. SE

Calgary, Alberta, T2Z 4J2

Pharmacy: (403) 257-6850

London Town Square

3545 – 32nd Avenue NE

Calgary, Alberta T1Y 6M6

Pharmacy: (403) 250-8492

Beddington Towne Centre

8120 Beddington Blvd NW

Calgary, Alberta T3K 2A8

Pharmacy: (403) 275-4804

Stephen Ave LD Express

230 – 8 Avenue SW

Calgary, Alberta T2P 1B5

Pharmacy: (403) 351-0645

London Place West

5255 Richmond Road SW

Calgary, Alberta T3E 7C4

Pharmacy: (403) 240-1235

Sleep Awareness Seminars – Learn how sleep impacts your health

Important points to know about Measles and how you can stay protected

Health Tips Video: London Drugs Pharmacy Offers Point of Care Testing

Hepatitis C Screening

Osteoporosis Screening

Heart Disease Screening

Health Tips Video: Getting the Right Pain Relief Treatment

What is the Right Pain Medication for You?

The Big Three Pain Relievers

Non-medicinal Pain Relief Products

Health Tips Video: Prevention is Key with Heart Disease

Prevention of Heart Disease is Key

Check out a London Drugs Healthy Heart Clinic

Health Tips Video: Quit Smoking Successfully

Smoking Can Cause Serious Health Problems

Second-hand Smoke is Also Dangerous

It’s Never Too Late to Quit Smoking

We Can Support Your Efforts to Quit Smoking

Hepatitis C screening now offered at five Calgary London Drugs locations

Archive

Categories

Pages

Newsletter

Sleep Awareness Seminars – Learn how sleep impacts your health

Important points to know about Measles and how you can stay protected

Health Tips Video: London Drugs Pharmacy Offers Point of Care Testing

Hepatitis C Screening

Osteoporosis Screening

Heart Disease Screening

Health Tips Video: Getting the Right Pain Relief Treatment

What is the Right Pain Medication for You?

The Big Three Pain Relievers

Non-medicinal Pain Relief Products

Health Tips Video: Prevention is Key with Heart Disease

Prevention of Heart Disease is Key

Check out a London Drugs Healthy Heart Clinic

Health Tips Video: Quit Smoking Successfully

Smoking Can Cause Serious Health Problems

Second-hand Smoke is Also Dangerous

It’s Never Too Late to Quit Smoking

We Can Support Your Efforts to Quit Smoking

Hepatitis C screening now offered at five Calgary London Drugs locations

Archive

Categories

Pages

Newsletter

Tags