Editor's note: This story was originally published in Health Care Quarterly, a magazine about Southern Nevada's health care industry. Stories in Health Care Quarterly were submitted by doctors and their affiliates.
As a neighborhood pharmacist, I see patients come in every day seeking advice for issues ranging from what to do for the common cold to situations much more complex that require a hospital visit. My fellow Smith’s pharmacists and I are frequently called upon to provide medication and health information to patients and other health care providers. We are very accessible and willing to assist in whatever way we can. Our goal is to have a healthy community.
To that end, here are some health care basics to understand:
At various times throughout the year, for instance when it’s windy out, allergies kick in for many Southern Nevadans. We often recommend antihistamines or decongestants, but before we do ask questions about your health history to make sure what we’re recommending is safe. A person’s age, gender, pregnancy or breast-feeding status and other medications and medical conditions all can come into play. For example, in the elderly, certain conditions can be worsened by antihistamines. By discussing your history we can prevent problems and make the best recommendations.
For a cough or a cold, the same procedure is followed. We can help people determine if it’s an allergy or something beyond that. As described previously for allergy treatment, for over-the-counter medications for cough and cold, many times it’s not about simply directing someone to the right aisle or product. Scenarios often can be more complicated than what a patient originally thought.
We’ll ask questions about how long you’ve had symptoms, what you’ve previously tried, and then recommend the next steps to a healthier you.
To prevent getting sick in the first place, wash your hands frequently and get your flu shot every year. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu shot. There are very few reasons not to. Even for those allergic to eggs, there are certain flu vaccines that can be given without the risk of allergic reactions due to eggs.
If you are sick, stay away from others when you first become ill. Cover your mouth when you cough and stay home. Most importantly, pay attention to simple signs if you don’t feel good. Things can go from bad to worse after a couple weeks and could require stronger medicine at that point if you haven’t treated the problem.
There are other things you can do to keep healthy, such as visiting a doctor for yearly checkups to catch any health problems early. If you do have health problems, make sure you’re taking your medications correctly so you get the most from them.
If you have questions, ask your pharmacist to review your regimen.
A healthy lifestyle is important for preventing or treating many health conditions. Everyone should strive to be physically active. It is recommended to get at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. Start off with wearing a pedometer and log your daily steps to get an idea of what your baseline activity is. By the end of two weeks you should set a goal of increasing steps by a reasonable amount. As you add more activity to your life, find what you like to do — gardening, swimming, biking or walking are all great options.
Even small changes can help you be more active, like taking the stairs instead of escalator or elevator or parking at the far end of the parking lot. Stay positive and realize that small changes will add up and help you become more fit. Stay positive and realize that small changes will add up and help you become more fit.
Eating a healthy diet is important for any person, with or without existing medical conditions. Including plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean meats and whole grains is a recipe for success. Limiting fats and sugars is important, but depriving yourself completely isn’t realistic either. Most foods can be healthy in moderation. Portion size is key no matter the meal. Use a salad plate rather than a dinner plate when serving your meals. Try to fill half of the plate with vegetables. For extra help, check out www.chooseplate.gov, a great website that helps you track activity and has many printable health tips.
Use supplements as just that — to supplement your diet. It’s often best to try to vary your diet to allow you to get vitamins and minerals you need from foods you eat. Many people take more supplements than necessary. If you suspect you might have a nutritional deficiency, check with your doctor before adding too many supplements to your diet. Here’s to your health!
Kay-Lynn Bowman, PharmD, M.S., Med, is a team member of Smith’s Food & Drug Clinical Pharmacy.