Featured Article

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HealthConnection GOOD NEIGHBOR PHARMACY

December 2017

Issue 12 • Cold and Cough

THIS MONTH’S

Featured Article

KNOW THE SIGNS OF BRONCHITIS PG. 3

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Healthy Lifestyle Healthy Eating

Fight Off Colds and Flu More Easily with a Good Diet Part of staying healthy, especially during these winter months when viruses are more common, is eating a balanced diet. Here are a few tips on maximizing the effect of the nutrients in your food as a way to fight colds and flu. •• T hink color and variety. Eat a colorful plate to get all of the vitamins and nutrients you need to stay healthy. Choosing a variety of fruits and veggies can help you make sure you get important phytochemicals that can help boost your immune system. •• S  tay hydrated. Water, herbal tea and other non-caffeinated drinks can help keep your system running well and help you fight off germs. Carry a refillable water bottle with you throughout the day.

Senior Health Update

“Am I Too Old to Worry About Safe Sex?” Age does not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases. Older people who are sexually active may be at risk for syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, genital herpes, hepatitis B, genital warts and trichomoniasis. Almost anyone who is sexually active is also at risk of being infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The number of older people with HIV/AIDS is growing. You are at risk if you or your partner has more than one sexual partner or if you are having unprotected sex. To protect yourself, always use a condom during sex. For women with vaginal dryness, lubricated condoms or a water-based lubricating jelly with condoms may be more comfortable. A man needs to have a full erection before putting on a condom. Talk with your doctor about ways to protect yourself from all sexually transmitted diseases. Schedule regular checkups and testing. Talk with your partner. You are never too old to be at risk. Source: National Institute on Aging For additional articles on senior health, visit MyGNP.com.

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Cold and Cough

•• Think fiber. Choose whole grains such as wheat bread, brown rice and whole-grain cereals. •• E  at healthy protein. Get enough protein from lean meats, fish, eggs, tofu and beans. •• P  ractice smart snacking. Think ahead and pack fruits, dairy or nuts to keep you going between meals. •• C  onsider taking a multivitamin. Not every day is going to be a perfect day when it comes to healthy eating. A multivitamin can help fill the nutritional gaps. Source: University of Michigan

DECEMBER

– Featured Article

Is My Cough Serious?

Know the Signs of Bronchitis Bronchitis is a condition in which the bronchial tubes become inflamed. People with bronchitis often have a cough that brings up mucus. Bronchitis also may cause wheezing, chest pain or discomfort, a low fever and shortness of breath. The two main types of bronchitis are acute (short term) and chronic (ongoing). The same viruses that cause colds and the flu are the most common cause of acute bronchitis. They are spread through the air when people cough. They also are spread through physical contact (for example, on hands that have not been washed). Sometimes bacteria cause acute bronchitis. Acute bronchitis lasts from a few days to 10 days. However, coughing may last for several weeks after the infection is gone. Several factors increase your risk. Examples include exposure to tobacco smoke (including secondhand smoke), dust, fumes, vapors and air pollution. Most cases of acute bronchitis go away within a few days. If you think you have acute bronchitis, see your doctor. Chronic bronchitis is an ongoing, serious condition. It occurs if the lining of the bronchial tubes is constantly irritated and inflamed, causing a long-term cough with mucus. Smoking is the main cause of chronic bronchitis. Viruses or bacteria can easily infect the irritated bronchial tubes.

Early diagnosis and treatment, combined with quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke, can improve quality of life. Elderly people, infants and young children are at higher risk for acute bronchitis than are people in other age groups. People of all ages can develop chronic bronchitis, but it occurs more often in people over age 45. Your doctor will use a stethoscope to listen for wheezing or other abnormal sounds in your lungs. She may also: ••Look at your mucus to see whether you have a bacterial infection ••Test the oxygen levels in your blood using a sensor attached to your fingertip or toe ••Recommend a chest X-ray, lung-function tests or blood tests Your doctor may recommend rest, plenty of fluids and medication to treat fever. Antibiotics usually aren’t prescribed for acute bronchitis. This is because they don’t work against viruses — the most common cause of acute bronchitis. However, if your doctor thinks you have a bacterial infection, she may prescribe antibiotics. A humidifier or steam can help loosen mucus and relieve wheezing. Other medications may also be prescribed as needed.

Healthy Lifestyle

To-Do List

4 Tips for Staying Active Over the Winter Holidays We typically eat more and exercise less during the holidays. Try these four tips for fitting in more physical activity. 1. Take the stairs. In one minute, a 150-pound person burns about 10 calories walking upstairs and only 1.5 calories riding an elevator, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2. Find trails and tracks before you travel. Check with your host or hotel for recommendations on local places to safely walk or run. 3. Clean your house for the holidays. Set aside several hours and REALLY clean. Bending, squatting, running up and down stairs, standing while folding and putting away laundry, etc., all burn calories. 4. Find a holiday fun run. There’s usually a small fee and they’re open to everyone from runners to people who meander along the trail with friends. They are usually 5K runs (3.1 miles). Invite your friends and plan on an outing with coffee or a healthy meal together afterward. You’ll feel better physically and mentally.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Source: University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension

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Drug Facts Q&A Moms’ Corner

Help Ease Your Little One’s Cold Symptoms There’s no cure for the common cold (a viral infection that can’t be treated with antibiotics), says FDA pediatrician Amy M. Taylor, M.D., M.H.S. “A cold is self-limited, and most patients will get better on their own in a week or two without needing medications. For older children, some OTC medicines can help relieve the symptoms, but won’t change the natural course of the cold or make it go away faster,” Taylor says. “Coughs help the body clear the mucus out of the airway and protect the lungs: so you don’t want to suppress all coughs,” Taylor adds. Non-drug treatments for coughs include drinking plenty of fluids, especially warm drinks to soothe the throat. “Call your pediatrician at the first sign of illness whenever a baby three months or younger is sick,” Taylor advises. For all children, call if you see any of these symptoms: ••A fever in an infant three months or younger ••A fever of 102 degrees or higher at any age ••Signs of labored breathing ••Blue lips ••Not eating or drinking, with signs of dehydration ••Ear pain ••Excessive crankiness or sleepiness ••A cough that lasts for more than three weeks ••Worsening symptoms  ources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration; S U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Kids’ Health

Healthy Vision Tips — for Kids! Parents, take a few minutes to talk with your kids about these important eye-care tips. Now’s the time to create habits that will give them a lifetime of good vision! ••Eat right to protect your sight. Load up on different types of fruits and veggies, especially leafy greens like spinach, kale and collard greens. Fish like salmon, tuna and halibut have been shown to help your eyes, too. ••Get moving. Did you know that kids who exercise often have a healthier body weight than kids who don’t? Being overweight or obese can put you at higher risk for diabetes and other conditions that can lead to vision problems. ••Speak up if your vision changes. Is your vision blurry? Do you squint a lot? Ever have trouble seeing things at school? Tell a parent or teacher if your eyes are bothering you or if you notice any changes in your vision.

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Cold and Cough

••Wear your glasses. Your glasses help you see better, especially when they’re clean. Talk to an adult about how to clean your glasses and how to store them when you’re not wearing them. ••Keep the germs away. Always wash your hands before putting them close to your eyes, especially if you’re putting in or taking out contact lenses. ••Gear up. Playing your favorite sport? Using chemicals during science class? Mowing the lawn? Wear the right protection to keep your eyes safe. Many eye injuries can be prevented by using protective eyewear. ••Wear your shades. The sun’s rays can hurt your eyes. Choose sunglasses that block 99 or 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation from the sun. And remember, you should never look directly at the sun. Source: National Eye Institute For additional articles on kids’ health, visit MyGNP.com.

Drug Facts Q&A Health News You Can Use

World AIDS Day Is Dec. 1 — Are You AIDS/HIV Aware? Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the immune system. It stays in the body for life, but treatment can keep it under control and keep the immune system healthy. Without medication, people with HIV can develop AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). AIDS is the most advanced stage of an HIV infection, when the immune system can no longer fight infections. Someone with AIDS has both HIV and at least one of a specific list of “AIDS-defining” diseases, which includes tuberculosis, pneumonia and some types of cancer. An estimated 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV, including 166,000 people who don’t know they are infected. Thirty percent of new HIV infections are transmitted by people who are living with

undiagnosed HIV. For these people, testing is the first step in maintaining a healthy life and reducing the spread of HIV. The CDC’s Revised Recommendations for HIV Testing of Adults, Adolescents and Pregnant Women in Healthcare Settings advises routine HIV screening of adults, adolescents and pregnant women in these settings in the U.S. The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine healthcare. A general rule for those with risk factors is to get tested annually. Additionally, sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from getting an HIV test more often, perhaps every 3 to 6 months. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National AIDS Trust

Health Q&A How Do Antacids Differ? Q: I’m not sure which type of over-thecounter antacid to choose for heartburn (or whether to choose another remedy). What are the differences? A: Occasional heartburn is common. It’s caused by reflux of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus and is usually felt as a burning sensation behind the breastbone. Antacid preparations serve to neutralize gastric acid after it’s secreted. These have a continuing role in treating mild, occasional heartburn and supplementing prescription drugs in more severe disease. They are traditional, cheap, handy and relatively safe — although they are not without risks, and side effects can occur. Most commercially available antacids combine aluminum and magnesium hydroxide. Some effervescent antacids contain sodium bicarbonate and aspirin. Some antacids are combined with an alginate (an insoluble substance that increases surface tension in liquid) to form a compound that floats on gastric fluids to protect the esophagus from acid exposure. Antacid tablets are slow acting and have less neutralizing power than a liquid antacid. Tablets must be chewed and may not interact well with gastric acid. But for most, the convenience of tablets far outweighs these slight disadvantages. Today, medications such as Zantac (an H2 blocker) and Prilosec (a proton-pump inhibitor) are used more commonly for frequent heartburn, although traditional antacids (Maalox or Gaviscon) still have a place for treating acute symptoms. Source: International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Do you have more questions? Our website has the answers. Visit MyGNP.com for more information. MyGNP.com

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Diabetes Health Diabetes and Men

Guys, You Are Not Alone

Life with diabetes can be challenging. More than half of men with diabetes over age 50 have a problem with impotence. Another name for impotence is erectile dysfunction, or ED. Having ED means the penis often fails to get or stay hard enough for sex. Men with diabetes, on average, get ED up to 15 years earlier than other men. There can be many causes for ED. In men with diabetes, the most common causes are nerve and bloodvessel problems. Depression can also cause ED. So can some medicines. ED is a serious problem for most men who have it. And many men worry about getting ED.

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Cold and Cough

What can you do? First, be clear what ED is not. You do not have ED if you can’t get an erection once in a while, you have reduced sexual desire, you ejaculate too quickly or you can’t ejaculate. The term ED simply means you can’t get or keep an erection. If you don’t have ED, help keep it that way. Prevent nerve and blood-vessel problems. Nerve damage blocks the signal telling the penis to get hard. Blood-vessel blockages reduce blood flow to the penis, so it can’t get hard. To limit nerve and blood-vessel problems, keep your blood sugars as close

to normal as you can, don’t smoke, don’t drink too much alcohol and keep your blood pressure under control. If you think you might have ED, talk to your healthcare provider about it. Diabetes can be a hard disease to live with. Get the help you need. Talk with someone you trust. That could be a family member or friend, your healthcare provider or someone else with diabetes. Take that first step and go from there. Sources: Johns Hopkins University; Johns Hopkins Health System

Diabetes Health

Living With Diabetes

Continuous Glucose Monitors

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is a process that allows someone with diabetes to track their blood glucose continuously throughout the day and night, being notified of highs and lows so they can take action.

Unlike a blood glucose meter (BGM), which provides a single glucose reading, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) provide nearreal-time glucose information every five minutes — up to 288 readings in a 24-hour period. Besides giving the instant and recent readings, most CGMs have an upload feature to view and share reports with the user and their diabetes care team to look at trends to

improve diabetes management. CGMs are now being integrated with insulin pumps to allow for instant insulin adjustments based on CGM readings (closed-loop systems), which protect patients from dangerously high or low glucose levels and keep them in a target range.

best one for you depends, in part, on your insulin-delivery method. Do you use an insulin pump? If so, which kind? Talk with your doctor or diabetes educator about whether a CGM system is a good choice for you and, if so, which type of system would best fit your needs.

A small sensor that measures glucose levels is located just underneath the skin. A transmitter, which fits onto the sensor, sends data wirelessly to a display device, a small receiver or compatible smart device that displays near-real-time glucose information. There are a number of CGM products on the market today. Choosing the

Depending on the type of CGM system you use, you may need to calibrate your CGM with finger sticks to make sure it continues to provide accurate information. Sources: American Diabetes Association; Dexcom.com

This newsletter is not intended to replace or substitute the medical advice provided by a healthcare provider. The content of the newsletter is to be used as a reference tool. While Good Neighbor Pharmacy uses commercially reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of the content, it does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the content and specifically disclaims all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the material contained in the newsletter, unless such liability is due to the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Good Neighbor Pharmacy. The content is not intended to be relied upon by any person or entity for purposes of medical diagnosis or treatment.

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Stay Healthy During the Holidays! The holidays are one time of the year when you really want to feel your best. But they’re also chock full of health woes, from cold and flu bugs to overdoing the holiday cheer. Your local Good Neighbor Pharmacy has the products you need to stay healthy — and merry — as you shop, travel and celebrate.

Good Neighbor Pharmacy features affordable, high-quality products with many of the same ingredients found in the top name brands. All items may not be available in every Good Neighbor Pharmacy location.