Island Drug Podcast

So--- you love your heart. What can you do to help reduce heart attack potential? Please click here to download the accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/LoveYourHeart.pdf

Medicine–On-Time® is a pill cup. Expertly prepared by your pharmacist. Each personal pill cup contains exactly the pills you need to take and each cup is labeled with the precise time to take them. Your personal pill cups come organized in color-coated calendar cards. It’s a familiar and easy to follow system for keeping track of your medications. Please click here to download the accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/MOT.pdf

Insomnia is a relatively common sleeping disorder, affecting about one-third of the adult population worldwide. Around 10 to 20 percent of adults with insomnia experience severe sleeplessness. Insomnia is more common in women, but the quality of sleep often decreases as we age, equally in both women and men. Although so-called insomnia cures are promoted widely, there are no guaranteed insomnia cures. There is, however, much that can be done to improve quality and duration of sleep. Please click here to download accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/Insomnia.pdf

Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen to your organs. Anemia is the most prevalent blood condition in the United States, it affects about 3.5 million Americans. Please click here to download the accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/UnderstandingAnemia.pdf

Coenzyme Q10 is specifically recommended if you are taking a 'statin' medication. This is a class of cholesterol-lowering prescription medicines which include atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvistatin (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor), as well as others. [Advicor, Altoprev, Atorvistatin, Caduet, Crestor, Fluvastatin, Lescol, Lipitor, Livalo, Lovastatin, Mevacor, Pitavastatin, Pravachol, Pravastatin, Rosuvastatin, Simcor, Simvasatin, Vytorin, and Zocor]. Please click here to download the accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/CoQ10.pdf

Over the last 20 years there has been an increase in the use of drugs originally designed for human use to be given to animals (specifically domesticated dogs and cats) for therapeutic intervention and treatment. In this podcast we will look at some of the challenges and concerns in using some of these drugs in our companion animals. Please click here to download accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/HumanMedsInAnimals.pdf

In the last couple weeks there have been a number of laboratory confirmed cases of pertussis in Island County and several more are suspected. Most of these have been in south Whidbey (Clinton and Langley). Pertussis or “whooping cough” is a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes severe uncontrollable coughing. Please click here to download the accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/pertussis2.pdf

This week the CDC highlights the importance of EVERYONE getting vaccinated against the flu. For our podcast this week we have posted a short video from the CDC and written information pertaining to the need to get as many people vaccinated as possible. We also have the audio below as usual but it is recommended to use the video. Most importantly, if you haven't already, stop by any hour we are open and receive your flu shot from your Island Drug/LaConner Drug Pharmacist! Video: http://www.islanddrug.com/video.aspx?v=18 or http://islanddrug.com/youtube Written Info: http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/NIVW2011.pdf

Let’s have a Happy Healthy Holiday season by starting off with celebrating National Handwashing Awareness Week from December 4-10 to help make your home and workplace safe. Please click here to download accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/HandwashingWeek.pdf

Did you know that antibiotic resistance is one of the world’s most pressing public health issues? Antibiotics are powerful tools for fighting illness, but overuse of antibiotics has helped create new strains of drug-resistant germs. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in a way that reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of antibiotics.

Today I’ll be discussing a class of medications referred to as beta-blockers. Beta-blockers are commonly prescribed for a variety of conditions including high blood pressure, heart failure, migraine, glaucoma, tremors and even performance anxiety. These medications are extremely beneficial for patients with cardiac disease. Most of the generic medications in this class end in ‘olol’ examples include metoprolol, atenolol, propranolol, carevedilol, and timolol. Please click here to download accompanying tasks; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/betablockers.pdf

Today’s topic is healthy eating. We will spend most of our class focusing on “The Plate Method.” By the end of today’s discussion, you will see how something as simple as a dinner plate can help you eat healthier and gain control of your diabetes. In addition, we will take time at the end of class to share the power of a pharmacist with you. This podcast is the audio from a video presentation, to see the video please head to islanddrug.com/youtube and/or download the slides via this link; http://islanddrug.com/podcastas/WhatDoIEat.pdf

Just as quickly as the holidays seem to be approaching, so does the 2011-2012 flu season. The importance of getting your flu shot cannot be stressed enough. The seasonal flu is responsible for thousands upon thousands of hospitalizations and deaths every year. Please Click Here to download the accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/Flu2011.pdf

Today’s podcast topic is Polypharmacy. Polypharmacy means “many drugs” and refers to problems that can occur when a patient is taking more medications than are actually needed. It’s of particular concern for older adults who make up 10% of the population but account for almost 30% of all prescribed drugs. Please click here to download accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/PolyPharmacy.pdf

On the whole, your immune system does a remarkable job of defending you against disease-causing microorganisms. But sometimes it fails: A germ invades successfully and makes you sick. Is it possible to intervene in this process and make your immune system stronger? What if you improve your diet? Take certain vitamins or herbal preparations? Make other lifestyle changes in the hope of producing a near-perfect immune response? Please click here to download the accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/ImmuneBoost.pdf

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of medications that reduce pain and inflammation. The class is typically prescribed for treating arthritis, headache, fever and a variety of other aches and pains. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are well known over the counter (OTC) NSAIDs. Prescription only products include indomethacin, diclofenac, Celebrex and many others. As you might expect as a class NSAIDs are prescribed and used quite regularly. Perhaps because of this familiarity and OTC availability, the general public seems to have the perception that they are quite safe. Clinical research, however, over the last decade has shown a link between NSAIDs and heart attack and stroke. Please click here to download accompanying text; http://islanddrug.com/podcasts/NSAIDs.pdf