Community News
Pharmacists as Prescribers (Part1)

Many times we have found ourselves lost in the big aisle of non-prescription medications. Spending time, trying to match our symptoms with the most suitable medication, trying to eliminate the occurrence of adverse reactions and also getting confused at the thought of weather to approach the BUSY pharmacy staff or not and finally end up buying tried and tested medication. BUT…. maybe your symptoms do not require the same old medication or use of the same medication has worsened your condition. At times like these even your family physicians may not be available for immediate assessment, and you may not have the time or patience to wait in a walk-in-clinic. Here in Winnipeg, Expert Pharmacist can assess, diagnose and treat certain medical conditions. For the better health outcomes of Manitobans, we are putting our knowledge and skills to maximum use. Hence, next time one less worry for you.

 

Hajra Mirza, Rossmere Pharmacy

More Than Just Words

There’s a lot of talk out there about positive affirmations, but do they really do anything? Research has revealed that negative words and thoughts have a damaging neurochemical effect. The brain interprets negative words and thoughts as a threat and it goes into survival “fight, flight, or freeze” mode, which in turn releases stress hormones and interrupts rational thinking and decision making. The good news is that positive words and thoughts can counteract the negativity. The bad news is that positivity isn’t perceived as a threat and, thus, the brain does not respond as swiftly or dramatically to positive words as it does to negative ones. Researchers say that we must repeat positive thoughts or words a minimum of three times for every negative one. This engages the motivational center of the brain and reduces stress. So yes, science tells us we should keep saying those daily affirmations.

Timing of Medications

It is important to understand clearly when to take medications and how to take them. Some prescription drugs have to be taken on an empty stomach while others are taken with food – check with your pharmacist to ensure you know what that means – (how long before or after a meal do you wait)? This helps with the appropriate absorption of the drug. Some medications should not be taken with other drugs as this can lead to reduced effectiveness. The timing of medications is also important regarding when to take them – morning vs. evening – to alleviate side effects. As well, it is key to follow the instructions on the number of times per day to take the medication. When you are prescribed new medications, ask your pharmacist to fully explain these medications so you have a good understanding of them. A full medication review of all your prescription drugs and over the counter products can further help you to see how they work together.

Urgent Need for Plasma Protein Therapies

 

Urgent and Ongoing need for Plasma Protein Therapies

Did you know that a large number of patients depend on protein therapies derived from human plasma and blood donors in Canada? Donors are required because large volumes of plasma, the liquid portion of blood are required to treat a wide variety of diseases.

For example:

  • 1200 plasma donations are required to treat one patient with hemophilia, a bleeding disorder.
  • 130 donations to treat one patient with primary immunodeficiency, condition where people can not make functional antibodies to fight infections.
  • 900 donations are required to treat one alpha-1 patient, a disorder that affects the lungs.

These therapies replace missing or defective proteins in patients with rare disorders so they can lead healthier and otherwise normal lives. They typically require on-going infusions throughout their lives as they are chronic diseases so plasma is always required.

Bill Bees, Vice- President, Plasma Technology
www.plasma.prometic.com

 

 

Examples of diseases and their products are outlined in the table below:

 

Disease Product Description of Condition
Hemophilia A Factor VIII Bleeding Disorder caused by a lack of Factor VIII clotting factor. Affects 1 in 10,000 people.
Hemophilia B Factor IX Bleeding Disorder caused by a lack of Factor IX clotting factor. Affects 1 in 25,000 people.
Von Willebrand Disease Von Willebrand Factor VIII Bleeding disorder due to a defective Factor VIII gene. Affects 1.2 million people worldwide.
Antithrombin Deficiency Antithrombin III Bleeding disorder due to a defective ATIII gene.
Primary Immunodeficiency (PID) Immune Globulin Intravenous or subcutaneous Genetic disorder where insufficient or defect immune globulin is produced, leading to susceptibility to infections.
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) Immune Globulin Intravenous Autoimmune disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system of both children and adults. Can lead to muscle weakness and paralysis.
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) Immune Globulin Intravenous Autoimmune disorder that affects blood platelet levels leading to bleeding disorders.
Kawasaki Immune Globulin Intravenous Primarily affects children under 5-years of age leading to heart disease.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) Alpha-1 Protease Inhibitor Also called genetic emphysema that affects lung function.
Burns, Shock, Trauma, Major Surgery Albumin The major plasma protein is used for fluid replacement for a variety of disease conditions.
Infectious diseases like:

Rabies

Tetanus

Varicella Zoster

Hepatitis B

 Hyperimmune globulin directed against a specific virus or bacteria Used for treating ore preventing a variety of infectious diseases.
Hereditary angioedema C1-esterdase inhibitor A rare and potentially life threating condition characterized by acute attacks of swelling of face, airway, stomach and extremities.

 

Clean Eating – Turkey and Sweet Potato Curry

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp finely chopped ginger;
2 Tbsp finely chopped garlic;
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes;
2 Tbsp curry powder;
2 tsp garam masala;
1 cup plain greek yogurt;
1 lb cooked turkey breast, chopped;
1 Tbsp cooking oil;
1 yellow onion, chopped;
2 tomatoes, chopped;
1 lb sweet potatoes, chopped;
1 cup chickpeas;
1 Tbsp brown sugar.

Directions: Put ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, curry powder, garam masala and yogurt into medium bowl and stir to combine. Set aside. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook until translucent. Reduce heat; slowly add curry sauce being careful not to boil. Stir in turkey, tomato, sweet potato, chickpeas and sugar; cook until heated through. Serve with basmati rice or toasted pita bread. Delish!

Book Club – Always Hungry?

Conquer Cravings, Retrain Your Fat Cells, And Lose Weight Permanently by Dr. David Ludwig. Renowned endocrinologist, Dr. David Ludwig, explains why traditional diets don’t work and presents a new plan to help you lose weight without hunger. “Always Hungry?” turns dieting on its head with a three-phase program that ignores calories and targets fat cells directly. The recipes and meal plan include delicious high-fat foods (like nuts and nut butter, full-fat dairy, avocados, and dark chocolate), healthy proteins, and natural carbohydrates. The result? Fat cells release their excess calories, and you lose weight and inches without battling cravings and constant hunger. This is dieting without deprivation. This helpful book reveals a liberating new way to tame hunger and lose weight for good. Available at your local bookstore.

Exercise for Mental Health

After a long day of work, or chasing children, or just trying to fit life into your schedule, the last thing you might think about is being active. However, staying active is part of a healthy lifestyle, and it has the added benefit of helping us feel happy. When we are active, our brain releases a chemical called serotonin. This chemical helps us feel happier. Feeling down? Start with a low-intensity activity such as walking. Bring the dog or your family along to share the experience. Other great activities include biking, doing yard work, swimming, and throwing a ball around. Still having a hard time fitting in being active? Try to add a little bit of activity to your work routine, especially if you have an office job. Stand at your desk instead of sitting. Take time during the day to stretch. Remember, small changes over time can make a big difference!

Financial Fitness: The Benefits of a Formal Proposal

Worrying about debt can strain your emotional well-being. A Formal Proposal offers an individual with the opportunity to arrange a settlement with their creditors while avoiding bankruptcy. Wage garnishments and other creditor actions will be stopped once the Proposal is filed. When an individual makes a Proposal, creditors are offered a percentage of what is owing to them, to be paid over a specified period. Once the majority of the creditors accept the Proposal, it is legally binding on all parties. A Consumer Proposal is a streamlined process available to individuals whose total debts do not exceed $250,000 (excluding any mortgage indebtedness on their personal residence). This type of Proposal does not require a meeting of creditors unless specifically requested by the creditors, and there is no automatic bankruptcy if the creditors reject the Proposal. Only a Licensed Trustee in Bankruptcy can act as the administrator or trustee of a Formal Proposal under the federal insolvency legislation.

Consult Your Pharmacist

We have heard it quite often that no twins are alike. So then why should be the patients with similar disease conditions be treated equally? Every person is an individual and individual’s response to medication varies. Pharmacists understand these complexities. They meet with patients through one- on-one consultations to assess their current use of medication, prepare recommendations, discuss it with their physician and with patients themselves. Pharmacists are personalized medicine experts who have the training and tools to optimize medication therapy in our communities. Personalized services or medication management is different from regular counseling that patients receive from their pharmacy. Helps to find drug therapy problems, find solutions for such problems, decrease repeat visitations to hospitals, reduce emergency visits and improve patient satisfaction.

Benefits of Green Tea Extract

Green tea extract is a powerful fat burner loaded with beneficial antioxidants called catechins that help support immune function, cardiovascular health, and fat loss. Studies show that regular consumption of green tea extract has a positive effect on overall health and to your dietary habits. It also contains 2% to 4% caffeine, which affects thinking and alertness, increases urine output and may improve the function of brain messengers. The addition of caffeine to the potent mix of catechins revs up your production of noradrenaline, pumping you with feel good confidence, stimulating the nervous system, heart, and muscles by increasing the release of certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. To safely incorporate green tea extract into your weight loss regimen, consider drinking plenty of water. One of the active ingredients in SlimROAST weight loss coffee from Valentus – The Healthiest Coffee on the Planet!

Lower Cross Syndrome

Do you suffer from low back pain and aren’t sure what brought it on? It is quite possible that you are experiencing a muscular imbalance known as Lower Cross Syndrome. This is a chronic condition where there is a lack of core stability and weakness in the abdominal and glute muscles. Lack of strength in these muscles contributes to tightness in the lumbar back muscles and hip flexors. Tightness in these two muscle groups causes the pelvis to rotate anteriorly. This decreases the angle between the vertebrae and the posterior aspect of the pelvis, thus causing pain in the low back. To reduce this pinch, it is important to strengthen the glutes and abdominals, while loosening the hip flexors and low back muscles. Hip Bridges, Dead Bugs, Child’s Pose Stretch, and Proposal Stretch are four exercises you can perform to help try and decrease your low back pain.