Archive for the ‘Health Tips’ Category

The 2013 US Flu Epidemic could be worst in a decade

Posted by on January 11th, 2013

fluHitting the U.S. unusually early and hard this year, the flu season has officially arrived and it won’t be departing any time soon with the Center for Disease Control warning that the 2013 flu season could be the worst in a decade.

The best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated. It’s not too late to get a flu shot. Contact your doctor or visit the CDC’s flu resource site at www.flu.gov and use their Flu Vaccine Finder tool to find the closet place to you that is running a flu shot clinic. Remember, the flu shot can’t give you the flu. You might have a sore arm or a little fever after getting your shot, but it doesn’t contain live virus so you’re safe from getting sick. Also, just because you had a shot last year doesn’t mean your safe. The flu is virus that constantly changes and has different strains. To be protected you’ll need to have received a shot sometime in the last 6 months.

If you do still catch the flu remember:

•    If you have underlying medical problems, call your doctor early in the illness to see if they want to prescribe an antiviral drug.

•    Stay home until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours. That will cut down on the number of people to whom you might give it.

•    Cover your coughs and sneezes.

•    Keep your hands clean — use soap and water or hand sanitizer frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing.

•    Drink plenty of liquids!

ABC News ran a story last night Flu Fact and Fiction. Check it out here for some more great information.

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Acid Reflux and Heartburn are on the rise. How to prevent it?

Posted by on October 19th, 2012

A lot of us have had the experience of enjoying a good meal, only to be knocked down by a bad

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case of heartburn an hour or so later. Heartburn—when food and stomach acid travel the wrong way, creating a burning sensation in your esophagus—is an unpleasant feeling, those that have a very bad case, can even confuse the symptoms with those of a mild heart attack.

A new study has reported that the number of people who frequently experience symptoms of heartburn, also called acid reflux, has almost doubled in the past decade. This is a concern because heartburn can mean more than a bout of discomfort after a few too many slices of pepperoni pizza, the stomach acid that hurts so much in your chest area can create scars in the esophagus, causing food to get stuck on its way down. Research also has connected acid reflux with an increased risk of esophageal cancer, particularly if it is chronic and untreated.

The reason for the increase in heartburn cases is traced back to the same thing that is causing an increase in a lot of conditions; mainly North Americans are gaining too much weight. The increased weight adds pressure on the stomach and esophagus, pushing more stomach acid back-up and causing heartburn.

The Mayo Clinic study saw an increase of over 31% in reported cases of heartburn from 1999-2011 and the American College of Gastroenterology reports that 60 million Americans have heartburn at least once a month, and some studies report that more than 15 million Americans have symptoms every day.

Besides losing weight, you can prevent heartburn by watching what you eat. Certain foods can irritate the lining of the esophagus; as well fatty foods loosen the mussels and allow acid to escape the stomach more easily. Caffeine and carbonated beverages should also be avoided if you suffer form heartburn regularly.

Finally, you should talk to your doctor about medication solutions and turn to CanadaDrugs.com, online pharmacy to save you money on these prescription and OTC products. Prilosec is one of the top selling prescription medications that people turn too to combat acid-reflux. Common OTC’s also work for people that suffer from less serious cases of heartburn.

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Tackle a Headache without a pain reliever.

Posted by on April 20th, 2012

We all get the occasional headache, they are one of the most common health issues and most disappear on their own (after a little time) or with the help of mild pain relievers. Canada Drugs, Canadian Pharmacy offers a full line of brand name and generic over-the-counter treatments for the common headache at prices quite a bit lower than your neighbourhood drug store, but an article in Men’s Health Magazine this month had some tips on how to deal with chronic headaches, which over-the-counter pain relievers might not treat and may actually make worse because they lower your pain threshold. If you find yourself taking over-the-counter medication for your headaches more than twice a week it’s best to talk to your doctor and try some of these methods to reduce your need to pop pills.

  • Apply Ice

An ice-lack can offer a quick short-term fix and help ease inflammation.

  • Yoga

A 2007 study from India showed that yoga can reduce chronic tension-headache pain by 71 percent as well as decrease spasms in your temporalis muscle, a chewing muscle on the side of your head.

  • Acupressure

Peter Goadsby, M.D., director of the headache center at the University of California at San Francisco, says some people find relief by using their right index finger and thumb to gently squeeze the muscle between their left index finger and thumb.

  • Hit the Gym

Not so good when you have a headache. But to prevent one in the first place it’s recommended to get 40 minutes a day of regular exercise to reduce your risk of developing migraines.

Headaches are never fun, so hopefully combination of these measures and maybe the occasional discount Tylenol from CanadaDrugs.com can get you feeling yourself again!

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Cut Back on the Red Meat (and Watch That Bacon) to Live Longer

Posted by on March 22nd, 2012

New research from the Harvard School of Public Health in a study published this week suggests that moderate consumption of red meat — as little as just one serving a day— poses more of a serious health risk than first thought. Red meat has been linked to chronic diseases in the past, but this study on more than 120,000 men and women conducted over a two-decade span is by far the largest and longest research study done on this subject and has compelling results for those that like to eat red meat every day.

The researchers concluded that one daily serving of unprocessed red meat, about the size of a deck of cards, resulted in a 13 percent increased risk of death overall, 16 percent greater risk of cardiovascular death and a 10 percent greater risk of cancer death. The results were even worse for those who love bacon (pretty much every non-vegetarian alive!) because the study showed that just one daily serving of processed red meat, such as a hotdog or two slices of bacon, was associated with a 20% increased risk of death.

It’s thought that the saturated fat in red meat—and the sodium in processed meats—is partially responsible for the shorter lifespans of red meat-eaters. Sodium is known to increase blood pressure, which is a risk for cardiovascular disease. As well certain carcinogens form during the cooking process — all of which have long been linked to an elevated risk for chronic diseases in other health studies.

The study did show that small changes in eating habits could make a big difference in our health. Replacing one serving of red meat with one serving of a healthier protein like fish, or poultry or beans all lowered mortality of those in the study. When it comes to death – an estimated 9.3 per cent of men and 7.6 per cent of women could have lived longer by just consuming 0.5 servings less red meat a day. That means simply changing up meals a few times a week. Making veggie lasagna, or having a tuna sandwich instead of processed lunchmeat one can easily reduce your red meat consumption.

If you love red meat, try only having it a couple of times a week, keep it to leaner cuts that are well trimmed and make your portions smaller and you’ll make a real difference in your health over the long term.

At Canada Drugs, Canadian pharmacy we know that with summer just around the corner that it’s hard to imagine of a world without BBQ’ed burgers and it’s still okay to enjoy them, just maybe leave the bacon off the burger, and after indulging in a big burger or a juicy steak, try to have some fish or humus and veggies for lunch the next day.

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Valentines Healthy Heart Tips

Posted by on February 14th, 2012

Today is all about hearts, whether it’s a heart-shaped box of chocolate, those little candy hearts that say “You’re the 1” or a last minute trip to pick up a heart-shaped Valentine’s Day card that Hallmark store has left on it’s picked over shelf. But what about your actually heart?

Besides Valentines Day, February is heart month, when we are reminded heart disease is still the biggest public health problem that faces Americans of all ages. Everyone can do a better job to improve his or her heart health. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; one in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, equal to 2,200 deaths per day. Heart disease is also expensive because over $444 billion in health care expenses and lost productivity are the direct results of cardiovascular issues.

Too often, when we think of heart disease, we think that it only affects men.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Nearly 43 million women, one-third of all women in America, are living with or are at risk for heart disease.  More women die from heart disease than from anything else, more than from all forms of cancer combined, and it’s largely preventable.

Elizabeth McSpiritt, MD, MPH recently wrote about 10 tips for making sure you’re heart will be healthy for many Valentines Days to come:

1.  Stop Smoking.  This is one of the most important changes you can make to improve your health and prolong your life.  Smokers are twice as likely to have a myocardial infarction, or heart attack, than non-smokers.  The good news is that once you stop smoking, your risk begins to decrease.

2.  Exercise Regularly.  Exercising 30 minutes most days of the week will improve your overall health, as well as your cardiovascular health.  Women who exercise regularly reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease 30 to 40 percent.  Additional benefits include improving your quality of life, helping maintain a healthy weight, reducing cholesterol levels, and demonstrates to children the importance of being active.

3.  Reduce Salt Intake. Approximately 90 percent of Americans are eating more than the recommended amount of salt every day.  Too much sodium increases the risk of high blood pressure, which leads to heart disease and stroke.  On average, Americans take in about 3,300mg of sodium per day, which is much more than the recommended limit of 2,300mg per day.  Surprisingly, most of the salt we eat is not from the shaker on the table, but from processed foods, such as breads, pastas and processed meats.  By eating foods that are less processed and closer to the source, we can both decrease our salt intake and improve the overall quality of the foods we eat.

4.  Eat Heart-Healthy.  A healthy diet is one of the best ways to prevent cardiovascular disease.  Ensuring that your diet is low in fat, cholesterol and salt and rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains decreases your risk of heart disease.   Decreasing sources of saturated and trans-fats in your diet is a big step in making your diet heart healthy.  Major sources of these cholesterol-raising fats include red meat, dairy products, fried foods and packaged snacks.  By avoiding these sources and adding at least five servings of fruit and vegetables, your diet will be a building block in your goal of heart health.  Unfortunately though, a recent study found that more than 90 percent of Americans fail to consistently eat a heart-healthy diet.  These poor eating habits increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and obesity.

5.  Maintain A Healthy Weight. Maintaining a healthy weight throughout adulthood decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol and diabetes.  This is especially important in the US today, as 2/3 of the US population is overweight.   A Body Mass Index (BMI) >25 is directly associated with an increase with many risk factors of heart disease, including increased cholesterol and diabetes.  You can calculate your BMI at http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

6. Limit Alcohol Intake.  Excess alcohol intake can damage the heart muscle, increase blood pressure and lead to weight gain.  If you do drink alcohol, do so in moderation-limiting intake to 1-2 drinks per day.

7.  Get Regular Check-Ups. Regular visits to your primary care physician can help control blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood sugar.  Chronic, untreated high blood pressure can lead to an increased risk of both stroke and heart attack and a shortened life expectancy.  High levels of cholesterol can lead to an increase in fatty deposits in the blood vessels that supply your heart, which can result in a myocardial infarction.  Obesity and dietary insufficiencies can increase the risk of Type II diabetes, which is a risk factor. These risk factors are treatable with both lifestyle changes and medications, but the first step is getting these factors identified.

8.  Decrease Stress. While the connection between stress and heart disease is unclear, it is clear that chronic stress leads to an increased likelihood of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking, drinking and eating an unhealthy diet.  By decreasing stress in your life, you will increase the quality of your life and may decrease your risk of heart disease.

9.  Know the Warning Signs of a Heart Attack.  A heart attack is a medical emergency where every second counts.  The sooner a heart attack is recognized, the sooner medical attention can be sought.  Today, heart attack victims can benefit from new medications that can be given as soon as a heart attack is identified.  The sooner these medications are given, the greater the benefit.  The most common symptoms of a heart attack are chest discomfort, discomfort in other areas of the upper body, shortness of breath and sweating or nausea.  For women, these symptoms may differ.  One in three women will not experience chest pain while having a heart attack.  Nearly three-fourths of women experience flu-like symptoms in the weeks leading up to a heart attack.  The greater the awareness of the signs of a heart attack, the sooner medical attention can be sought.

10.  Educate Your Loved Ones About Heart Health.  Not only can you decrease your risk factors for heart disease, you can help your loved ones decrease their risk.  By incorporating exercise and a healthy diet into your family’s lives, you can keep your Valentine’s heart healthy all year long.

At Canada Drugs, Canadian Pharmacy we hope you all have a happy Valentines Day with your loved ones, and that you treat your heart well all year long.

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