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.
Community News
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!
How a Senior Care Practitioner Can Help
A Senior Care Practitioner is a consultant, medical professional and medication therapy management expert with advanced training of how medications affect older people. Senior Care Practitioners find solutions for age, medical and medication-related problems that are safe and appropriate. They advocate for patients at their physician’s and other health care professional’s offices to pursue desired outcomes. They educate patients and their families of best ways to manage existing health conditions and visits patients in the comfort of their homes. Sometimes it may be necessary to refer to other health professionals like physiotherapists, social workers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists or government assistance programs to aid in improving functionality and quality of life. Everyone agrees that improvement of functionality and quality of life of elderly loved ones lower the burden on caregivers and families.
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.
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!
Summertime Self Care
The summer season can be a time of growth, renewal and a time to let go of regular routines. Manitoba winter weather places limitations on taking our self-care outdoors. Take advantage of the longer days and sunshine- You Deserve It! Here are some tips and ideas on how to take care of your mental and physical health: 1. Do things you’ve been wanting or needing to do. 2. Create a deliberate habit and routinize something small in your life by doing it, in the same way, each day or week. 3. Eat regularly, drink water, get outside, and get plenty of sleep. 4.Take your workout outdoors. 5. Arrange a date with a friend for pampering. 6. Act like a tourist and explore your city. 7.Find local outdoor events. 8. Punctuate your day with a 3-minute mini-meditation. 9. Do a mini-declutter. 10. For 1 hour today: unplug!
Hot Weather Workout Safety
Exercising outside when it’s very hot can be risky business since it’s harder for the body to cool itself. And it’s not just the heat but also the humidity that takes its toll. Our bodies cool primarily when sweat evaporates off the skin. But as humidity rises, this doesn’t happen as efficiently; potentially causing your core temperature to rise, increasing the risk of heat-related ailments such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Stay hydrated with cold drinks, and maintain hydration during your activities. Also, be sure to dress properly. Heavyweight, dark and tight-fitting clothing will heat you up. Keep it loose. Keep it light. More air will be able to circulate over your skin, keeping you cool. Get your workouts in during the morning or evening, when it’s relatively cooler and more comfortable. Don’t forget the sunscreen, and enjoy the rest of your summer!
Getting There by Relaxing
An ad for a fitness centre caught my eye some time ago. It said, “Don’t look back; you’re not going that way.” As for the body; so for the brain! As a body part, our brain only knows what it has been trained to know through the experiences we’ve had. As much as it is important to understand what has happened to us in the past through talk therapy or contact with others who have survived the same struggles as we have, movement forward means doing exercises that help us achieve the goals that will build the future we carry in our hearts. Sometimes we can’t do that because old habits and patterns hold us back. The best way through those is to relax. Brainwave Optimization helps the brain relax and reset itself on its own terms so you are supported as you work at getting yourself to where you want to be.
