Source: HealthMart Pharmacies, Feb 2012

More than a million Americans have heart attacks each year. Nearly half of them die. Why does this happen? In many cases, it’s because people don’t take action quickly enough – or at all.

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked. If blood flow isn’t restored quickly to that part of the heart muscle, it lacks nutrition and dies. That’s why it’s so important to seek medical help right away.

If you or someone you’re with may be having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 without delay. This needs to be an ambulance trip to the hospital, not a joy ride. If you get caught driving in traffic, you can lose valuable minutes. To help you visualize the urgency of the situation, think of a heart attack as a gunshot to the heart. If symptoms stop within five minutes or come and go, don’t just thank your lucky stars. Call your doctor and describe what happened. A blood vessel could be on its way toward blockage.

Cardiologists call the 60 minutes after a heart attack the “golden hour.” That’s because this is the narrow window of time when treatment can open arteries and prevent permanent heart damage. These heart specialists have two methods for doing this. They can use a clot-dissolving drug. Or, they can perform a procedure to open blocked heart arteries (angioplasty).

If treatment is so effective, why don’t people get themselves promptly to the hospital where they belong? Maybe it’s because many have a Hollywood image of a heart attack: the clutching of the chest, the unbearable pain, the dramatic collapse onto the floor.

But a heart attack can have several guises. Symptoms can begin quickly or slowly. They can be severe or mild. They may come and go. They can even vary from one time to the next. And some people may have no clear symptoms at all. These are called “silent heart attacks.” They are more common in people with diabetes.

Chest discomfort or pain may be a hallmark of heart attack. But it can feel more like pressure than pain. It may be a squeezing or heaviness, making it difficult to catch your breath. Or, you may have a feeling of fullness or indigestion, resembling heartburn.

You may have other warning signs of a heart attack, including:
Discomfort in one or both arms, or your back, neck, jaw, or stomach
Nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, or fainting
Sweating

So if this happen to you or someone you know, will you take the needed action? Or will you be afraid you’re being alarmist and worry that the symptoms were nothing but a case of indigestion? If so, remember this: You can’t die of embarrassment. But a heart attack can most definitely kill you.

After a heart attack, doctors often prescribe medications to prevent a second one. These work in various ways. For example, they might prevent blood clots, lower cholesterol, or lower blood pressure. Don’t stop taking these without your doctor’s okay. If you run into any problems or have any questions, I’m here to help guide you.

Scientists in Germany have accomplished a new study that indicates people with a good level of Vitamin D have lowered risk of Type 2 diabetes development. The research was conducted in collaboration with the German Diabetes Center at the University of Ulm in Dusseldorf and was published in the October, 2011 edition of the Diabetes Care journal. The study shows that people with good vitamin D status have a lowered risk of developing Type 2 diabetes; and inversely, those with too low of vitamin D levels in the blood have a more elevated risk. It is believed that the effect may be partially due to the anti-inflammatory effects that vitamin D offers.

The research was conducted in Germany because vitamin D deficiency is a common problem in that country due to the factors of modern lifestyle and the geography. In winter months, vitamin D levels are low due to lack of sunlight. The number of diagnosed cases of Type 2 diabetes in Germany is around 6 million people; with a potential of higher numbers with those that are undiagnosed.

Source: Pharmacist Online, Living Naturally, 12/9/11

An industry study was conducted by Hamacher Resource Group, Inc. (HRG) a retail consumer healthcare industry’s marketing and research firm, on the topic of the relationship within suppliers, distributors and independent pharmacy entitled “Supply Chain Collaboration: Maximizing Health, Beauty and Wellness Product Sales in Independent Pharmacy.” This white paper has revealed that six health, beauty and wellness (HBW) categories are selling better within the independent pharmacy arena than chain drug retail stores.

The HRG exclusive data opens up opportunities and trends that independent pharmacies can most profit and capitalize on. This information allows independent pharmacies to increase front-end sales and encourage better communication.

Colds and flu – no big deal, right? Well, yes and no. They usually don’t last a really long time or cause serious problems.

Colds can plague you with everything from a stuffy and runny nose to a scratchy throat and watery eyes – and nonstop sneezing that can even put your cat on edge. Flu bugs bring symptoms that can look a lot like a cold. But the flu tends to ambush you suddenly, last longer, and pile on other “treats” such as fever, fatigue, headache, chills, and achiness.¹

Some people who get the flu, though, are at risk for pretty serious health problems. In fact, flu-related complications send more than 200,000 Americans to the hospital each year with thousands dying.¹ Even the common cold takes a toll, accounting for 22 million lost school days in the U.S. each year.²

Prevention is looking better and better, isn’t it?

The number-one thing you can do to prevent the flu? Get a flu vaccine, which protects against the three most likely flu viruses to strike each season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that everyone six months and older get a flu vaccine. Get the vaccine as soon as it is available if you are at high risk – you are pregnant, 65 or older, or have a chronic disease. It’s also more important if you are a health care worker or care for someone who is at increased risk.³

Available as a shot or nasal spray, the flu vaccine is best received in October or November, although you may still benefit in December or January.¹ Ask your doctor or me if you have questions about this.

Colds and flu are spread mostly by droplets in the air or by touching a contaminated surface, then touching your eyes or nose. So some other simple steps may go a long way toward helping you prevent these common diseases.

Wash your hands often with warm, soapy water for about 15 to 20 seconds. If you’re away from soap and water, an alcohol-based hand rub will do. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose as much as you can. No free rides for these germs! Set a good example for your kids and encourage them to do the same. Also, try to limit being around people who are infected.¹

Sneezing and coughing yourself? You know the drill: Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue, then throw it in the trash. If there’s no tissue in sight, cough or sneeze into your elbow or upper sleeve. Be sure to pass this tip on to your kids. If you’ve got a fever, stay home for at last 24 hours after the fever is gone – that is, gone without the use of a fever-lowering medicine.³

Don’t forget that other all-around healthy habits – a balanced diet, sleep, exercise, and stress control – can help prevent colds and flu. And, remember that exposure to tobacco – firsthand or secondhand – makes you more prone to respiratory illnesses.¹

Fall has finally arrived, and has brought with it the beautiful colors and smells that we look forward to every year. We sure hope that you’re making plans with your family to go apple picking, visit a pumpkin patch, or take that extra long drive this weekend and enjoy all of the beautiful colors. Or maybe you’ll be at home watching the big games this weekend!

No matter where you’ll be this fall, we want to make sure that you and your family are protected from the flu this year. At T&F Drugs, we promote happy and healthy families, and that’s why all three of our locations offer flu shot vaccinations on-site. No appointment is necessary and walk-ins are encouraged! Our pharmacists are licensed top administer both the flu and H1Ni vaccines to anyone over the age of 18. We also carry flumist for anyone ages 2-49! Read more.

Maybe you’re planning a trip this winter and you want to make sure that you and your family are safe from meningitis, typhoid or hepatitis? You’re in luck! Stop into any of our stores to receive and of these vaccinations before you leave:

• Meningitis
• Typhoid Oral
• Typhoid Injectable
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Hep A & B Combo

For more tips on how to vaccinate before your trip, visit the CDC website.

And, of course, don’t forget to grab those last minute items for you trip from our great selection of travel items.

HAPPY FALL!

Source: New Jersey Monthly, August 15, 2011 by Jacqueline Mroz

Drive north on Route 17 in Bergen County beyond the bustling shopping corridor of Paramus, and suddenly everything grows serene. Welcome to Ho-Ho-Kus, a sleepy little corner of New Jersey overshadowed by its busier neighbors. And that’s just fine with the residents of this borough, thank you very much.

“It’s a quiet town. We don’t mind when our town isn’t in the paper. We don’t need the limelight,” says Ho-Ho-Kus Mayor Thomas W. Randall. “Some people even like to call it ‘Mayberry’.”

This affluent hamlet, with its stately homes, commitment to education, relatively palatable taxes and low crime rate, is the number 1 town in New Jersey Monthly’s 2011 Top Towns survey.

The 4,078 residents here enjoy the experience of living in a small town, but also benefit from an easy commute to Manhattan and easy access to the restaurants and shopping of larger neighboring towns—especially Ridgewood to the west.

Read More

Independent pharmacies won top honors from 43,730 CONSUMER REPORTS readers for the second time, besting the big chains by an eye-popping margin. More than 94% of customers at independent drug stores were highly satisfied with their experience. Since prescription drugs account for the majority of pharmacy sales, there was a large focus on prescriptions and personal attention. Readers said that independent pharmacists made fewer errors, had faster service and most importantly, the medication was available and ready for pick up at the promised time.

In a world where independents are competing against chains, supermarkets, mass merchants, on-line sales and PBMs, being able to talk to the pharmacist about drug interactions, dosing and medical conditions is extremely important. 42% of the respondents commented that they have had a conversation with their independent pharmacist who is accessible and approachable and they were especially knowledgeable about medications, both prescription and non-prescription. This is important since there is a lack of understanding about medications and 25% of patients don’t take their medications as prescribed. Consumer Reports also highlights that independents offer extras such as DME, compounding and home delivery.