Health Centre

You probably know that bumping your nose can cause a nosebleed, but so can anything that damages the blood vessels in the septum - the part of your nose that divides the nostrils.  When you have a cold, repeated nose blowing irritates the blood vessels and can result in nosebleeds.  Once your cold is over and you stop blowing your nose so much, the blood vessels will heal and stop bleeding.  Another cause of nosebleeds is dry air because it dries out the blood vessels.  Using a nasal moisturizer can help reduce the frequency of nosebleeds.  If you can't identify a reason for your repeated nosebleeds, have them checked-out by a physician.

When you are nursing, you need to be aware of two things: whether a drug you take appears in the breast milk and whether the drug is harmful to your nursing baby. Sometimes if a drug does appear in the breast milk, you can minimize your baby's exposure by timing when you take the drug. You want shorter acting drugs, so that you take the drug and it's gone from your body - and your breast milk - before you need to feed your baby. A great idea is to ask your Pharmacist before you take anything. They will be able to tell you whether the drug is safe when you are nursing and if it isn't, suggest alternatives. For your headache, acetaminophen pain relievers are usually considered safe, but remember non-drug approaches - a cool compress, relaxation techniques, rest.

Shingles or herpes zoster is caused by the reactivation of the chicken pox virus in your body. The virus usually remains dormant in one or more of the large nerves that radiate from your spine causing pain and rash in a band. The rash will blister and scab, then clear up over a few weeks, however the pain from the initial infection can remain long after the rash has cleared. This complication of shingles is called “post hepatic neuralgia.” The pain can be severe, with itching, numbness, sensitivity to touch and temperature, burning, and deep aching. It is thought that initial shingles outbreak damages nerve pathways causing nerve malfunctioning and the pain. A variety of treatments are available ranging from drugs that affect the nervous system to painkillers, however several therapies may be tried before the most effective ones are found. 

Before you begin taking sleep aids, consider your “sleep hygiene”. A person’s sleep hygiene is their habits surrounding sleep. Optimal sleep hygiene includes: a dark bedroom reserved for sleep and intimacy only; a consistent bed time; a consistent wake-up time; and a regular bedtime routine. If you can't get to sleep, don't lie in bed tossing and turning, get up and only go back to bed when sleepy.  If you want to try a non-prescription sleep aid, you should know that the most common of these contain antihistamines.  Some antihistamines, which are commonly used to treat allergic reactions, have a side effect of drowsiness.  Such antihistamines are acceptable choices to help get to sleep when used occasionally for less than a few days at a time.  However, if used more frequently, your body will adapt to the drowsiness caused by the antihistamine and it will no longer be effective.

Pain is a feeling that is transmitted by your nervous system. Antidepressants work on the nervous system to alter how the nervous system transmits messages. It has been shown that taking an antidepressant medication can help reduce long-term pain in some people. However, it is important to continue taking your other pain medications because it can take several weeks before the antidepressant helps with the pain.

Iron tablets are a leading cause of accidental poisoning among children - as little five tablets have been reported as lethal. Your body needs small amounts of iron to make a component of blood known as hemoglobin, which transport oxygen throughout your body. When your body does not receive enough iron, iron deficiency anemia results with fatigue and paleness as symptoms. Brightly coloured iron tablets and multiple vitamins containing iron are the two most common sources of accidental childhood exposure to iron. Pharmacies keep iron behind the dispensary counter.  In your home, you should keep iron-containing products out of reach of children.

That is not true.  According to Statistics Canada in 2003, the number of deaths due to stroke and heart disease are similar in both males and females. The risk factors are the same for women and men: diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, excess alcohol consumption, smoking, and stress.

The thyroid gland, located in the neck just below the larynx, produces thyroid hormone, which is involved in virtually all body functions. Too little thyroid hormone causes weakness, fatigue, cold intolerance, constipation, weight change, depression, dry skin, a slow heartbeat, and anemia. Too much thyroid hormone produces sweating, weight change, nervousness, diarrhea, irritability, fatigue, a fast heartbeat, tremor, eye changes, and moist skin. Levothyroxine is the drug of choice in treating low thyroid hormone levels or hypothyroidism, however regular testing is required to ensure that you are getting the correct dose and adjustments to the dose are often needed to ensure the optimal benefit.

 Having your Pharmacist talk to you about your prescription is a great idea. You may be able to find out how best to take it, what to do if you experience problems with it, and even non-drug recommendations to increase its effectiveness. Not only will your pharmacist be able to discuss your prescriptions, but they can also discuss your non-prescription drugs, herbal products, and natural remedies. No matter what the question, ask your pharmacist!

The insulin is the same whether it is packaged in a vial or penfill, however the injection method is different. With vials you need insulin syringes to draw-up and inject the required insulin dose. The penfills are much like a fountain pen - the insulin containing penfill is mounted in the pen and injected through the tip. With penfills you do not need insulin syringes, only the needle tips that attach to the pens. The dose may be more accurate with the pens because you do not have to manually draw-up the dose, rather you "dial-in" the dose on the pen. As well, the needle tips remain sharper because you do not have to penetrate the rubber stopper of an insulin vial. Regardless of which method you use, following your dosage instructions is key to controlling diabetes.

It is unclear if zinc is effective in the treatment of coughs and colds.  The theory is that zinc reduces the cold virus's replication, but studies are inconclusive.  Zinc lozenges and supplements are available and are generally considered harmless if taken as the manufacturer recommends.  If you want to try a zinc product, it is recommended to start zinc within the first 24 hours after the initial symptoms are noticed.  Taking zinc with food reduces the side effects of bad taste and nausea.  However, non-drug approaches for the common cold may be more effective: increased fluid intake, salt water gargles, saline nasal rinses, increased humidity, and rest.
**Note: Health Canada has published a warning stating that intranasal zinc preparations should not be used because they have been linked to anosmia (loss of smell) – sometimes this was long-lasting or permanent.

Migraines tend to have triggers, one of which is can be hormonal changes that occur surrounding periods.  Keep a headache diary to help determine what your triggers may be. If you can avoid these triggers, you may be able to reduce the frequency or severity of your migraines when they do occur. At the first sign of a migraine headache, try to go to a dark, quiet place and relax. Sleeping can sometimes relieve these headaches. Taking a pain killer such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen at the first sign of a migraine may be sufficient pain relief.  However, remember that taking pain relievers more than three times per week can result in rebound headaches - headaches that you are the result of stopping the pain reliever.

Although genetics play a role in the disease, only about seven per cent of cases are associated with genes that cause the early onset inherited familial form of the disease (FAD). The majority of cases are of the late onset "sporadic Alzheimer's disease" form, in which genes may also play a role. A person who has a parent or a sibling who has or had sporadic Alzheimer's disease has a very slightly increased risk of getting the disease.

Gential herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus and is spread through direct physical contact.  It is classified as a sexually transmitted infection (STI).  The old term for STI’s “sexually transmitted disease” (STD’s) is no longer used due to the stigma associated with the term ‘disease.’ Genital herpes can be spread by direct physical contact, even when someone does not have open sores.

You are asked to get a flu shot to protect all of the residents of the nursing home, including your mother.  The seasonal flu can be particularly dangerous to those who are elderly or who have chronic medical conditions. If you are vaccinated, the chance that you bring the flu virus into the nursing home is reduced.  Getting the flu shot may a good idea for you anyways - it reduces your own risk for the flu!

A "wheat allergy" is more correctly called celiac disease, which is an immune reaction to a part of wheat known as gluten. In the small intestine tiny hair-like structures called villi are responsible for the absorption of nutrients. When gluten comes into contact with these villi, they are damaged. While the villi are still able to absorb the basic nutrients, cramping, intestinal gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, weight changes, and anemia can occur. Celiac disease can occur as the result of other conditions - osteoporosis, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, gastro intestinal cancers, even lactose intolerance. A gluten free diet will alleviate symptoms and avoid the condition. 

Usually hiccups are only annoying.  Persistent hiccups should be evaluated for more serious underlying causes. The most common causes include gas distention due to drinking carbonated beverages or swallowing air, sudden temperature changes, alcohol consumption, excitement, stress, and laughing. Avoiding these causes will prevent hiccups, however many home remedies are available and are effective. Holding your breath interrupts the breathing cycle as does sneezing, gasping (fear response), drinking a glass of water, and breathing into a paper bag. Eating a teaspoonful of granulated sugar or sucking on a lemon wedge are sometimes effective.

What is commonly called a "bladder" infection can involve any part of the urinary tract, from the kidneys to the bladder. Women, because of their anatomy, are more often affected than men by the symptoms of a urinary tract infection- burning, itching, pain, and even abdominal or back pain. Some simple measures that you can take to prevent these infections include drinking plenty of fluids, frequent voiding, wiping front to back to avoid spreading bacteria from the rectal area, wearing cotton underwear, and daily cleansing of the area.

Selenium is a trace mineral needed by the body in only small amounts. It acts as an antioxidant in the body and has shown to be of benefit for the eye sight condition of macular degeneration. It is unclear whether selenium has any effect - either harmful or beneficial - on diabetes. A recent study of people who developed diabetes noted that many people in the study took selenium supplements, however it is not known if the two factors were related. Unless your doctor recommends you take selenium supplements, it probably is wiser to stick to dietary sources - pasta, bread, nuts, and meat.

While economically, getting one bottle of a prescription may make sense, it is not a good idea for your health.  When your Pharmacist fills your prescription, the information is entered into your personal health profile.  If you only get one bottle of medication, either you or your husband's health file will be missing important information, that is, the prescription information.  If either of you are seen in an emergency department, by a specialist, at a walk-in clinic, in another pharmacy, or even by another doctor in the same clinic, no one will know that you are taking the prescription or alternatively they will believe that you are taking twice as much medication.  It is always best to have your own bottle of medication with your name and dosing information.

Trace minerals are inorganic substances that your body only requires in minute or trace amounts.  Examples include copper, fluoride, selenium, chromium, manganese, sulfur, and molybdenum.  Often trace minerals are involved in metabolism in the body.  Average diets usually contain sufficient quantities of these trace minerals in that they are commonly found in a wide variety of foods.  Non-trace minerals are important because the body requires larger amounts and supplementation may be needed - calcium, iron, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorous.

 Diets are numerous and vary depending upon whether weight loss or medical treatment is the goal. Ideally, diets should be low fat, low calorie, and high fibre. The most recent diet, the portfolio diet, includes these basic ideas. The portfolio diet started out as a "portfolio" of foods each with cholesterol lowering benefits - almonds, oatmeal, and tofu. The premise of the diet was that the combination or portfolio of foods would result in greater health benefits than any one food alone. Besides diet, increased physical activity and smoking cessation will have positive health benefits. Following the Canada food guide will provide you with a balanced diet; a benefit that many of the fad-diets do not provide.

Feminine pads and incontinence pads are similar, however they are designed to absorb different amounts of liquids, and in some cases, e.g. male incontinence, designed to absorb liquids from different locations. At one time incontinence pads were large and bulky, however today they are slender, discreet, and absorbent. They are available as a full brief, but also as pads with adhesive backing meant to be stuck to underwear. You may have to try several brands, before you find the pads that suits your needs.

Fecal occult blood tests or FOCTs detect minute amounts of blood in your stool. While the test sounds disgusting, it is may provide an early warning to a variety of conditions that cause bleeding in your bowel, most notably: colorectal cancer. With early detection, colorectal cancer is curable. Other reasons for blood in your stool include hemorrhoids, polyps, ulcers, colitis, and even anti-inflammatory drug effects. Before the FOCT, you will need to avoid some foods, e.g. turnips, beets, radishes, broccoli, red meat, which can result in false positive readings. You will also need to stop taking iron supplements, vitamin C, and anti-inflammatory drugs, which can also produce incorrect results.

 Swollen ankles occur while flying because you sit motionless in your seat for long periods of time. Ordinarily when you move about, your leg muscles act to move the blood back up your legs towards your heart.  However, when you don’t move, blood pools in your legs and fluid builds up, causing swollen ankles. To prevent this from happening, you should move your legs - stretch, flex, rotate your ankles, and contract your calf muscles - to get the blood flowing again. Getting up and walking around the airplane every half hour or so will also help. Set your watch and/or plan a schedule to ensure that no matter how long the flight is, your legs will have enough activity. Wearing support stockings can also help, but should not replace movement.

 A medical alert bracelet, necklace, or even wallet card provides your health information when you are unable to do so. While a rash may not be life threatening, if you are rushed to an emergency department, you will want the nurses and doctors to know what you are allergic to. Medical alert bracelets are always a good idea and can include your name, drugs you take, allergies, disease conditions, and even your contact information. Remember to keep the information up-to-date.

Recommended daily doses of vitamins and even minerals can vary depending upon the government or organization that is making the recommendation. Sometimes, the difference reflects different diets from country to country or culture to culture and sometimes it reflects the availability of different foods including fortified foods. In some disease states and conditions, recommendations also change, e.g. pregnancy.  Men, women, and children can all require different recommended daily vitamin doses depending upon activity levels and growth stages. Age can also be a factor, as can family or ethnic health risks.

You should take the medication whenever you can remember best, regardless of whether that is in the morning or in the evening.  Statins are a class of cholesterol lowering medications that include: atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin.  Some people believe that taking a statin at night will help reduce cholesterol; however, this has not been shown to be true.

Watchful waiting is a term used most often as a treatment option with prostate cancer.  Prostate cancer treatment can include drugs and surgery, both of which may have adverse effects and neither of which may cure the cancer.  For some men, merely monitoring the progress of the condition and waiting to see what happens is an option.  These men usually have other disease conditions and/or are older, which may make drugs or surgery more risky.  With watchful waiting, regular follow-up tests are still done in order to monitor the prostate cancer.