Health Alert

By David Bodunde, Rph

Ice for sports injury pain 

The next time you injure yourself playing sports or exercising, remember the acronym RICE, which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Ice provides relief by slowing the inflammation and swelling that occur when you’re injured, numbing sore tissues like a local anaesthetic and reducing damage to tissues. Reach for ice as soon as possible after your injury, the numbing cold makes the veins in your tissues to contract, which reduces circulation. When you take the ice away, your veins dilate quickly, allowing blood to rush back to the injured area and bringing the nutrients needed to help your tendons and ligaments heal. Protect your skin from direct contact with the ice by using a towel or any type of cloth anddon’t ice the injury for more than 15 minutes at a time. 

Yeast infection

 There is a new OTC oral medication for vaginal yeast infection that has just hit the pharmacy shelves. It is called Canesoral and contains the drug fluconazole, which used to be available previously only as a prescription. For women who do not like the mess of vaginal creams or pessaries, this is a suitable alternative. Oral fluconazole and vaginal antifungal products are similarly effective for uncomplicated cases. If external irritation is present the canesoral combo pack contains a small tube of clotrimazole which can be applied externally to treat the itch.

 NOTE: Oral fluconazole is not recommended for pregnant women.

Probiotics 

Are healthy ‘friendly’  bacteria that help fight off harmful bacteria. Colonization with healthy bacteria flora keeps your immune system producing the maximum amount of antibodies also probiotics may help boost immune function and replenish good bacteria that have been killed off with antibiotic use.  Choose yogurt with live or active cultures for the best health enhancing probiotics or purchase probiotic capsules at your pharmacy. 

Green tea

Scientists found that people who drank 1 cup of green tea daily were up to 37 percent less likely to suffer age related cognitive decline than those who consumed less. Researchers credit a compound in the tea called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which may help prevent the build up of plaque on brain cells, a characteristic of Alzheimer’s. To get the most benefit, steep your tea for at least 3 minutes, any less results in lower amounts of EGCG. 

Zinc and denture adhesives

 There are concerns about the safety of denture adhesives with zinc—- some Poligrip, Fixodent, and store brand products. Zinc is added to adhesives to help dentures hold. These products are safe as long as the directions on the package are followed. But using too much for several years may increase zinc levels and this can lead to copper deficiency resulting in neuropathy and anaemia. This can happen in patients who use one tube or more in a week instead of one 50gm tube every 4 to 6 weeks. It is best to dab dots of adhesive on the denture to avoid oozing and get dentures fitted instead of using extra adhesive. 

Prolong your life, eat chocolate

While you are probably aware that it is heart healthy, chocolate may be even more powerful than previously thought, a new study suggests. Dutch scientists followed 500 men for 15 years and found that those who ate the most cocoa daily had a 50 percent lower risk of dying of heart disease than those that who ate the least. Antioxidants in cocoa activate nitric oxide which relaxes blood vessels, making it easier for your heart to deliver blood
throughout your body. The death defying benefits were achieved by consuming just 4 grams of cocoa a day. 

To speak with Pharmacist David Bodunde, Rph in person, visit him at the Manitouwadge Pharmacy in the Hallmark Square or call 826-3888 during regular business hours.

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER The opinions expressed on OntarioNewsNorth.com and by David Bodunde,Rph  are published for educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as a diagnosis, treatment or  as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis and treatment. Please consult a local physician or other health care professional for your specific health care and/or medical needs or concerns.

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