Island Drug Podcast

Each winter the influenza virus wreaks havoc on our ability to work and play. Symptoms of the flu include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, runny nose, cough and stomach symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Sometimes a flu virus can come on slowly or it can hit suddenly without much notice. Each year this leads people to wonder how they can prevent themselves and their family from getting the flu. Naturopathic prevention and treatment of the flu virus includes vitamins and minerals, botanical medicine and lifestyle recommendations.

Migraines are more than simply a bad headache. They are a primary headache disorder caused by a deep brain mechanism that produces inflammatory chemicals which lead to a complex interaction of vascular and neuronal factors. In any given year, an average of 10% of adults worldwide suffer a migraine.

At the pharmacy we often get asked about safe and proper disposal of unwanted medications and biohazardous waste. This podcast will provide you with some information and resources for this issue. Please click here to download accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/DisposalUnwantedMeds.pdf

This week our podcast covers over-the-counter (OTC) cold, flu and allergy treatments. Every year millions of people use OTC products to relieve stuffy noses, chest congestion, sneezing, runny noses, sore throat, cough, and itchy watery eyes.

Emerging research suggests that the relationship between serious gum disease and diabetes is a two-way street. Not only are people with diabetes more susceptible to developing serious gum disease, but serious gum disease and infection has the potential to affect blood glucose control and contribute to the progression of diabetes. People with diabetes are at an increased risk for oral health problems because they are generally more susceptible to bacterial infection and decreased ability to fight bacteria that invade the germs. Please click here to download accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/DiabetesPeriodontal.pdf

October is national breast cancer awareness month and this year marks its 25th anniversary. Over the course of a lifetime, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Please click here to download accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/BreastCancer2011.pdf

Walking pneumonia is a fairly vague term frequently used in the medical professions. Pneumonia of course refers to disease or infection of the lung. The word walking means that the pneumonia is mild. A typical pneumonia renders someone bedridden, hospitalized and in need of IV antibiotics. At times however a pneumonia is so mild that the people feel well enough to be out and about; they 'walk' around with it. Please click here to download accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/walkingpneumonia.pdf

I’ve heard quite a bit about Vitamin D recently. How do I know if I am getting enough? Vitamin D has been a focus topic in both conventional and alternative medicine circles recently. This is because studies have been done that demonstrate that vitamin D deficiency is quite prevalent and is related to many health concerns, such as cancer, osteoporosis, depression, diabetes, immune function, and other chronic conditions. Copy and paste the following URL in your web browser to see the full podcast documentation: http://www.islanddrug.com/podcasts/VitaminDPodcast.pdf

Diabetes can damage nerves, deteriorate blood vessels in the feet, and cause poor circulation and loss of feeling. In order to reduce the occurrence of these issues, aside from tightly managing blood sugar levels, basic foot care and therapeutic shoes can play a vital role. Please click this link for the accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/DiabeticShoes.pdf

Anxiety disorders are among the most common diagnoses. Treating physicians must identify the symptoms, characterize the disorder, and evaluate whether the patient has a medical condition (such as hyperthyroidism, substance abuse, supraventricular tachycardia, or asthma) that manifests as anxiety. This podcast will review conventional treatments for generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. Please click here to download accompanying text;http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/AnxietyDisorder.pdf

I've had a few customers ask lately, "What is a Charlie horse?" so thought it would be a good podcast topic. A Charlie horse is the same thing as a muscle cramp, a sudden, uncontrolled contraction of a muscle. This type of pain is most commonly experienced in the legs, and commonly called a Charlie horse. Please click here to download accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/CharlieHorse.pdf

Eczema is used as a generalized term for many types of skin inflammation rashes. Typically eczema is described as skin becoming itchy, red and dry or even cracked or leathery skin. It can appear on any part of the body as a result of coming in contact with an allergen or irritating agent. Please click here to download accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/ItchyRash.pdf

While it might seem early to start thinking about flu vaccination… it is not. The current vaccine for 2012-2013 is available now. Because influenza seasons are unpredictable, the Center of Disease Control (CDC) recommends that people get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine becomes available in their community. Island Drug has a good supply of vaccine so why not beat the crowds and get vaccinated early before fall activities begin and the holidays are here?

With spring and summer approaching, it is a great time to mention that you have the ability to reduce your children’s and your risk of developing skin cancer. The risk of getting skin cancer is real. 3.5 million People will be diagnosed this year with melanoma (an aggressive type of skin cancer). Did you know the percentage of cases is higher in Washington than either California or Arizona? Please click here to download the accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/HereComesTheSun.pdf

Restless Leg Syndrome is a condition that triggers an irresistible desire to move ones legs or other parts of the body. At rest people experience unpleasant sensations, which are described as an aching, tickling, pulling or creeping feeling.

Today we will be covering the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine provides immunity to Measles, mumps and rubella. The MMR vaccine is manufactured using weakened forms of the measles, mumps and rubella viruses. Please click here to download accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/MMR.pdf

New research, recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, is shedding light on an old issues, that being the risk of many common OTC and prescription drugs, including some antihistamines, painkillers, blood thinners and eye drops for glaucoma being unsafe for use in the elderly population. Please click here to download the accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/ElderlyOTC.pdf

iRxSync shifts the paradigm from having our customers with the sole responsibility to get medications filled to a system in which our pharmacist led-team works collaboratively with you to deliver a simplified, coordinated process that makes managing your prescription therapy much more manageable.

One of the health observances during the month of July relates to hepatitis. While hepatitis is quite prevalent these days it is not the only affliction to the liver. This podcast will identify several herbal therapies available to prevent liver disease or to treat a compromised liver. Please click here to download accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/LiverHealth.pdf

You bang your shin on the coffee table, fall off your bike, or bump into a wall and wake up with a wallop of a bruise. What exactly is a bruise and what can you do about it? A bruise (medical term: contusion) is caused when tiny blood vessels are damaged or broken as a result of a blow to the skin. The raised area of a bump or bruise results from blood leaking from the injured vessels into the tissue, as well as the body’s response to the injury. Please click here to download the accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/BumpsAndBruises.pdf