When you buy Huggies at London Drugs, you’re giving a hug to a vulnerable baby

Hundreds of medical studies have shown that all forms of touch are beneficial to the health and development of babies. Through an exciting new partnership with Huggies, we’re helping to make sure that no baby goes unhugged.

With every Huggies Diaper purchase made by an LDExtras member between January 26 and April 30, 2018, a $2 Donation will be made to the Huggies® No Baby Unhugged® program at Victoria General Hospital.

This volunteer hugging program help ensure all babies, especially those in the neonatal or pediatric intensive care unit, receive physical human touch should circumstance prevent a parent from being at their newborn’s side.

Within the hospital, specially trained volunteers are available to hug, rock, cradle and even sing to newborns – sometimes for hours at a time – providing peace of mind to parents, knowing that their baby is receiving this vital care even when they can’t be there.

The benefits of human touch for babies are endless; more stable heart rate, faster weight gain, stabilized body temperature, healthier brain development, and better overall health. These benefits are crucial to their long-term development and their effects extend throughout childhood.

Donations through this campaign will be used to expand the No Baby Unhugged program and the prenatal unit of Victoria General Hospital.

Every baby needs human touch to thrive—it’s what mothers have always known and science has proven. To help us give all babies the hugs they need, simply shop for Huggies at London Drugs in‑store or online before April 30th.

Not an LDExtras member yet? Sign up today. Visit LDExtras.com

Let’s Talk About… tough conversations

Most people want to appear like we have it all together, so we talk about what’s going well in our lives. But what about when we’re struggling with a difficult time in our life? The reality is that everyone faces ups and downs.

Whether is Bell Let’s Talk, Canadian Mental Health Association’s Ask About Suicide partnership with London Drugs, or celebrities sharing their challenges, there is a new openness to talking about mental health. This is so important, because every year one in five Canadians will have a mental health problem or illness. About half of them will not talk about it with family and friends, and that may keep them from getting the help they need. The more we talk about mental health, the more we make it safe for people to speak up when they are struggling.

Regular people like you can be the one to reach out first and start an important conversation. Here are three ways you could start a conversation with someone who seems to be struggling.

  1. Describe what you are seeing
    Keep it straight-forward and without judgement. “I’ve noticed lately that you have been away a lot. It’s made me wonder if you’re ok?”
  2. Offer your own experience
    “I had a really hard time when I was first home alone with a new baby. How are you doing?”
  3. Talk about the trends

When we show how common mental health struggles are, it makes it safer for others to talk. “People I know are really stressed out about debt and the cost of living, especially this time of year. Is that something that bothers you?”

Whatever words you use, reaching out to someone who is having a hard time is always the right thing to do. And it might just be what they need to hear. If you want more ideas or resources, visit www.cmha.bc.ca.

By Maya Russell, CMHA BC Division

Playtex Diaper Genie/London Drugs Contest – Enter for a Chance to Win!

Unlike ordinary household trash cans, the Diaper Genie system helps keep unpleasant smells where they belong. Diaper Genie’s Double-Lock design and 7-layer bag helps keep odours from escaping, so your nursery stays new-baby fresh.

Diaper Genie Elite now comes with Diaper Genie Carbon Filters to help tackle the strongest diaper odours. These filters are made with safe, natural activated carbon that locks in odour molecules rather than just masking odour with fragrance.

Handling stinky diapers is a dirty job, but with almost 60 years of caring for babies, Diaper Genie is well equipped to handle it.

Together with Diaper Genie, we’re excited to be giving away three Diaper Genie Elite’s! See below for full Terms & Conditions and how to enter.

 

Diaper Genie Facebook Contest Terms & Conditions

To enter: Comment with the a tip on keeping baby and nursery smelling fresh on the Diaper Genie giveaway Facebook post.

Contest is open to all residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba who, as of the date the prize draw is made: (i) have not won a London Drugs contest since February 2nd 2018; (ii) have reached the age of majority in the province in which they reside as of February 2nd 2018; (iii) are not employees of London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization (if any), or any family member living with any such employee.

No purchase necessary. Limit one (1) entry per person per social network per contest. Entries must be received no later than 11:59 PM Pacific Time on February 14th 2018. London Drugs is not responsible for entries that become lost or misdirected. All entries become the property of London Drugs Limited and will not be returned.

One (1) winner will be randomly chosen on the day the contest ends (see dates below) in Vancouver, British Columbia, from all eligible entries received per contest. To win, selected entrants must correctly answer a skill-testing mathematical question and must sign London Drugs’ declaration and release confirming compliance with the contest rules and acceptance of the prize(s) as awarded, releasing London Drugs from liability in association with the contest and prize and consenting to the use of their name, photograph, voice and statements for promotional and publicity purposes.

There will be three (3) prizes of one Diaper Genie Elite (Retail value of $45.00). See details and contest date below. Prizes must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and no substitutions are permitted. Prizes will be awarded at the closest London Drugs location to contest winners.

  • Contest date – Friday February 2nd 2018 – Wednesday February 14th, 11:59 PM Pacific Time
  • Draw date – Wednesday February 14th

Only one prize may be won by any one person and household. In the event that any selected entrant incorrectly answers the skill-testing question or is otherwise unwilling or unable to comply in full with these rules, a new entry will be drawn.

Selected winners will be contacted by email or on the social network they were drawn from. No correspondence will be entered into except with selected entrants. If the winners do not respond then they will be notified for the second time, 3 (three) days after the first notification. If the winners still do not respond within 3 days of the second notification, a new winner will be chosen in the same manner until a winner is successfully contacted.

The chances of winning a prize will depend on the number of eligible entries received. Decisions of the judges in respect of all aspects of this contest including, but not limited to, eligibility of entries and correctness of answers given to the skill-testing question, are final.

London Drugs and their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization, and their respective agents are not liable to an entrant in any manner relating to the contest or the awarding and use of the prize(s).

This contest is subject to all federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations. By entering the entrant consents to the collection of all personal information included on their entry and agrees to the use and disclosure of such information by and between London Drugs, an independent judging organization, and their agents. The winner(s) also agrees to the collection, use, and disclosure of their name, entry, photographs, voice, and statements for London Drugs’ publicity purposes without further compensation. All personal information collected from entrants will be used only for the purposes of administering the contest and for marketing and promotional purposes as contemplated by these rules; under no circumstances will any personal information be sold or rented to third parties. All personal information collected by London Drugs will be kept in accordance with the privacy policy of London Drugs, which can be viewed at www.londondrugs.com, and in accordance with all applicable privacy laws.

The right is reserved by London Drugs to terminate this contest, in whole or in part, and/or modify, amend or suspend the contest, and/or these rules in any way, should any cause beyond the reasonable control of London Drugs or its agents affect the proper administration thereof.

How to Set Smart Health and Wellness Goals for an Awesome 2018

smart health and wellness for 2018

It’s that time again – New Year’s Resolution season. Let’s admit it: we always start off strong with motivation and enthusiasm to eat healthier, exercise more, get more sleep and take better care of ourselves, but come mid-January, that enthusiasm starts to wain. Sometimes we just need that little extra spark to keep the fires of motivation burning, and we’ve got some super-handy tech gadgets to add some fuel to your smart health and wellness fire.

Eat Bettersmart health and wellness for 2018

Prep It: Of course preparing your own meals is far healthier than take-out or pre-packaged food, but cooking at home takes extra time and creativity that we don’t always have. Luckily,  The Panasonic Steam Microwave will make your meal prep even easier with easy, oil-free dishes that taste great. The steam function can also be combined with microwave, grill, and convection cooking to give you limitless options for making “healthy” synonymous with “delicious.”

Kick Sugar: Everyone snacks. It’s inevitable—that yawning chasm of time between lunch and dinner will find you eventually. In fact, healthy snacking can actually be good for you, as it fends off swings in blood sugar and prevents binge eating when you’re reaaally hungry. Unfortunately, most store-bought snack foods have a shocking amount of sugar in them, so we’ve got some easy tips for cutting down on sugary snacks here.

Move More

smart health and wellness for 2018

Pump It: The perfect playlist can make or break an intense workout. If you’re addicted to the energy that music gives you, make sure you’re taking full advantage of your tunes with a great set of headphones. Skullcandy’s XTFree Wireless Sport Headphones eliminates the hassle of cords and and keeps you free to pump it up. The lightweight buds have a tight comfortable fit, and you’ll get up to six hours of battery life on a charge to keep you going longer.

Get Up: New studies have shown that there’s a direct relationship between time spent sitting and your risk of early mortality. Doctors suggest that for every 30 consecutive minutes of sitting, standing up and moving or walking for five minutes at brisk pace will reduce the health risks from sitting. If you work at a sedentary job, a standing desk is a great way to avoid sitting for long periods of time. Our Certified Data Standing Desk easily changes from sitting to standing position and has a large surface area to accommodate all of your work activities.

Get Down: Fitness is more fun when it’s a family affair! Get the whole gang grooving with Just Dance, available for Nintendo Switch, PS3 & PS4, Wii & Wii U, and Xbox One and 360.  

Track It: Some people need a little bossing around to stay on track with their fitness. If you don’t want to hire an expensive personal trainer, go for some wearable tech to keep you accountable. London Drugs has a wide range of Fitbit fitness trackers in lots of different styles and price ranges that can help you reach your goals. With the Fitbit app, you can track your daily steps, caloric intake and output, heart rate, sleep habits–all while looking sleek and stylish.

Get more sleep

smart health and wellness for 2018

Light It: Everyone knows that getting enough sleep is essential support for good health: it helps our bodies repair damage, clean out waste products, balance hormones, renew cells, and so much more. New studies have even shown that a good amount of sleep helps you form memories, solidify learning, reduces your risk of depression, increases fitness levels, and helps to avoid weight gain. If the thought of trying to get more sleep seems intimidating, there is some great technology available to help create optimal conditions for a good night’s rest, like the Sleepace Nox Music Smart Sleep Light. It can help you fall asleep easily with soothing light and sound and wakes you up naturally with a smart light alarm. It also collects data from your bedroom environment that impacts your sleep quality and makes smart suggestions on how to improve your sleeping experience.

Hear It: If you like to listen to music or podcasts as you fall asleep but wake up in a tangled mess of headphone wires, the Furo Bluetooth Sleeping Mask helps you rest in comfort while listening to whatever sounds are needed to take you to dreamland. A soft micro-fibre sleeping mask with built-in Bluetooth speakers and a 6-hour battery life will give you a comfortable, tangle-free sleeping experience.

More self-care

smart health and wellness for 2018De-Stress: Ideally, we’d all have a live-in massage therapist to help us work out the knots after a stressful day or a hard workout, but alas, most of us aren’t so lucky. The next best thing could be the Homedics Neck & Shoulder Massager with Heat. This invigorating vibration massager adds heat to soothe tense muscles, and the portable design flexes and shapes to your body, providing the perfect fit for the perfect massage. Makes you want to let out a big “ahhhhhhh” just reading that, doesn’t it?

Breathe In: It’s amazing how scent can affect your mood and well-being. Just ask any of your friends who have jumped on the therapeutic essential oils bandwagon recently: lavender can help you sleep, pine can alleviate stress, citrus can help you feel more energized, and peppermint may boost concentration, just to name a few. An aromatherapy diffuser will help fill your home with whatever scent and mood you crave.

Hopefully, with a little help, we can all stick to our goals for the year (and stay off the road that they say is paved with good intentions), and make 2018 into twenty-GREAT-teen!

Want to quit smoking? London Drugs pharmacists can help

London Drugs pharmacist counsels a patient about over-the-counter smoking cessation aids.

Research shows quit medication combined with professional counselling provides the greatest chance of success

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to quitting smoking but there are many evidence-based ways to increase your chances of quitting success.

Research demonstrates the strongest approach to smoking cessation is to combine quit medication with quit counselling.

As part of National Non-Smoking Week, we are encouraging smokers to take advantage of complimentary smoking cessation counselling available at our pharmacies.

Pharmacists are available to advise patients on selecting a nicotine replacement therapy as well as provide advice by developing personalized quit plans to help people stop smoking.

To learn more about how your pharmacist can help a person quit, visit or call your local London Drugs.

 

Support for Smokers in B.C.

In B.C., London Drugs has joined forces with QuitNow, a provincially-funded program delivered by the BC Lung Association, to support British Columbians in their efforts to quit by providing free informational resources and coaching.

Eligible BC residents can also receive government financial support through the BC Smoking Cessation Program which covers 100% of the cost of nicotine replacement therapy (specific nicotine gum, lozenges, patches, inhaler), or contributing to the cost of specific smoking cessation prescription drugs.

 

London Drugs Certified Tobacco Educator Penny Lehoux, and QuitNow Health Promoter, Tracey Jirak.

Quit Coaching Clinic Co-Hosted by London Drugs & QuitNow

 As part of National Non-Smoking Week, London Drugs and QuitNow are co-hosting a Quit Coaching Clinic next Wednesday at the Coquitlam Centre location.

Quit Coaching Clinic

  • Wednesday, January 24, 2018 – 5:30pm to 8:30pm
  • London Drugs Pharmacy
  • Coquitlam Centre (2929 Barnet Hwy #1030)

 

During the Quit Coaching Clinic, London Drugs Certified Tobacco Educator, Penny Lehoux, and QuitNow Health Promoter, Tracey Jirak, will be:

  • Conducting CO breathing tests, a quick and easy way to demonstrate the impact that smoking is having on your body.
  • Discussing practical tips to help you reduce your smoking and providing info about free services available online through Quitnow.ca.
  • Developing personalized quit plans.
  • Offering information about the B.C. Smoking Cessation Program for nicotine replacement therapy.
  • Answering questions about smoking cessation products available over-the-counter and by prescription.

The Candy That Will Help You Kick Sugar: Smart Sweets

Smart Sweets founder, Tara Bosch (image via Facebook)

This post marks the first in a series of product profiles that we plan to publish on the London Drugs blog, exploring the talented people producing some of the exciting Canadian products on our shelves. 

22-year-old founder Tara Bosch launched the confectionary company Smart Sweets in 2016, and in doing so, shook up the candy world. If you picked up a bag of her treats at your local London Drugs, you may have wondered in fact whether you were getting candy or a health product.

You’re getting both.

Bosch set out to create a treat that wasn’t loaded with the usual amount of sugar. Where a 56-gram bag of Skittles contains 43 grams of sugar, Smart Sweets contains just 2 grams of sugar per 50-gram pouch (not to mention 24 grams of fibre and 5 grams of protein). It’s a sweet snack that you can feel a little better about enjoying.

An up-and-comer in the business world, Bosch has already been on the popular TV program Dragons’ Den (earning praise from all the judges) and has been honoured in the Pitch for the Purse contest as well as in the most recent BCBusiness 30 under 30 issue.

“It was amazing to see and hear the stories of how people’s lives have been impacted by sugar. There is no better time to be part of the wellness​ industry in Canada as more and more people are realizing the impact that food, specifically sugar, has on our body and are eagerly waiting for options to be innovated so they can make smaller, smarter choices in their daily lives,” says Bosch.

“It was so cool to see people who watched our episode reach out and share their stories about how they are kicking sugar, too. Smart Sweets has the opportunity to make a massive impact in people’s lives. At the end of the day, it’s about being able to feel good about enjoying the foods we love, and life’s too short not to be able to eat candy everyday.”

When asked where Bosch sees Smart Sweets going from here, the entrepreneur doesn’t balk. “Smart Sweets is revolutionizing candy consumption. Tackling one of the largest and most concerning problems hidden in our everyday foods, we are driving innovation through creation of the first candy products that kick sugar naturally … We want to empower people to live their best lives by giving them the choice to kick sugar.”

Bosch’s dream of seeing Smart Sweets take up space on shelves across the world–including shelves at London Drugs, of course–just may become reality. We wish her the best.

Smart Sweets is currently available in stores across Canada, including London Drugs. The product will be launching in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2018.

New Year, Healthier You: Wearable Tech to Improve Your Health

You’re ringing in the New Year with some new resolutions, but a lot of us get lost before we’ve even hit the ground running. Where do you start?
London Drugs Pharmacist, Agusha McGrath, stopped by Breakfast Television Calgary, with the 411 on how those popular gadgets some of us got under the tree can actually help reach your goals for 2018.

Catch the full segment here or read some highlights below.

If you plan on setting health goals for 2018, one of the best paths to success is to speak with a trained professional. Pharmacists are the most accessible health care providers in Canada. They can help you create a personalized plan to become a healthier you.

Wearable technology makes working towards, or maintaining a healthy lifestyle easy and fun. Set goals with your pharmacist and ask about what wearable device or monitoring technology is best for you. With the newest advancements, catching a health issue before it’s a major problem, or just being the best version of you, is easier than ever before.

Whether you’re looking for gadget to compliment an already established routine, or you’re just starting out on your journey and need a little assistance, London Drugs has the most popular health tech companions on the market.

Fitbit

Fitbits are some of the most popular devices for fitness tracking. Count your steps, measure calories burnt per workout, monitor your heart rate, and track how well you sleep. These can range from simple step counters to full featured smart watches, all of which are extremely user friendly. Join the Fitbit community and challenge each other, or just keep track of your personal goals.

Garmin vivofit3

Need to be reminded to get up and move? The Garmin vivofit will send your automated encouragement, and can monitor different activities, like walking, running, biking swimming, or using elliptical with Move IQ.

Oxywatch Fingertip Pulse Oximeter

A pocket friendly device for monitoring your blood oxygen levels on the go, while maintaining impressive accuracy. Store your data, set alarms, or replay results.

Abbott Precision Neo Meter

Accuracy meets affordability. Make 2018 your healthiest year yet by testing your blood glucose levels anywhere, anytime. No coding required, an easy high-contrast display, with a light user friendly design.

 

 

 

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