PharmaPassport Health Tips Blog

August 25, 2010

Ways to Beat Depression

Filed under: depression — Tags: anxiety, caffeine, depression, exercise, massage, relax, vegetarian, vitamin D — Candace @ 6:29 pm

Summer is coming to an end and it’s the time to get out, enjoy the weather, forget your worries, and just be happy! Here are a few tips on how to beat your depression and fully enjoy the finish of the summer season.

Depression is transient – Depression does not last. Even in severe cases of depression it does go away. Even if it only leaves for a small amount of time each day (example- you can laugh when you watch a comedy show), you do get a relief from depression.
Learn the value of human contact – Do not keep yourself to yourself. Get out of the house and out with your friends. Go do something active. Talk to people, hug people, spend time away from yourself. This is key in overcoming depression.
Healthy eating habits – There are certain foods that can contribute to depression, which you should avoid. This includes coffee, meat, alcohol, and fast foods. If you really want to overcome depression, try to be a vegetarian for a while.
Get some sun – The sun is extremely healthy for depression. Outside there is fresh air and you are not enclosed in some small little room. Just as little as 15 minutes a day can have a major impact on your emotions.
Exercise – Exercise is healthy on all levels. You do not necessarily have to run. You can walk, jog, or play a sport. You can bring a pet or a friend with you or go alone. Local parks or forests are the best locations because of their calming serenity.
Take a break – Go get a massage or invest in a rocking chair. Something calming and relaxing where all you have to do is sit, and enjoy yourself. Let yourself be pampered.

Pharmapassport.com, a Canadian Internet-based pharmacy intermediary (license #BC X23), provides customers with low prices and long-term prescriptions drugs. All Canadian prescriptions are filled by a professionally registered pharmacist. For more information on how to order Canada drugs safely and securely call 1-866-293-3904 or visit http://www.pharmapassport.com/ – a trusted and reliable Canadian online pharmacy that has filled over 1 million prescriptions.

Comments (0)

August 24, 2010

5 Foods that boost your energy

Filed under: blood sugar,breakfast,endorphins,energy,exercise,fibre,healthy diet,healthy food,protein,zinc — Tags: blood sugar, calcium, energy, fiber, oats, protein, serotonin, vitality, vitamin, vitamin b, zinc — Amanda @ 5:03 pm

During a summer heat wave it becomes harder and harder to feel energized. After a long hot day most of us just feel like slouching on the couch or having a nap. Here are some foods that will promote energy production,help you retain more energy, and leave you feeling rejuvenated.

1. Oatmeal - The fiber in oatmeal helps you to get a long stream of energy. This is a healthy food because it makes digestion easier on your body and also stabilizes your blood sugar levels. The complex carbohydrates in oats are not like the simple carbohydrates that turn into fat and make you feel drowsy. Instead they are absorbed more slowly into the body therefore stabilize blood sugar levels and provide you with lasting energy. Oats contain vitamin B which helps to transform carbohydrates into energy that your body can use.

2. Nuts – Nuts like peanuts and almonds are packed with protein that gives you lasting energy. Snack on almonds during the 2pm slump and add peanut butter to your oatmeal for optimum energy.

3. Water – It’s not a food, but it’s the most important item on this list. Without water, your body can’t even generate energy. Water allows your body to digest, transport, and absorb nutrients. If you are dehydrated, your body cells can’t function to efficiently receive nutrients. This leads to fatigue. Try to drink as much water a day as you can to keep yourself hydrated and energized.

4. Pineapple – The fructose in pineapple breaks down quickly for an instant energy boost while the fiber slows down digestion and gives you long lasting energy. In addition the manganese and thiamin are both crucial to energy production and the vitamin B6 helps the body create the hormone serotonin that boosts your mood! Pineapple can also prevent dehydration – a main cause of fatigue in most individuals

5. Yogurt – Yogurt will give you an immediate boost of energy because it is easily and quickly absorbed into the body. The high protein levels in yogurt ensure that it will give you long lasting energy. Yogurt is full of calcium, protein, zinc, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, phosphorus, tryptophan, and molybdenum.

Comments (0)

August 23, 2010

Bad Foods for Your Bones

Filed under: broken bone,healthy diet,healthy food,healthy living,immune system,osteoporosis,osteroarthritis — Tags: bones, caffeine, calcium, caltrate, coffee, healthy, immune system, vitamin A, vitamin D — Amanda @ 9:38 pm

Bones have an important role in our bodies. They help control muscle movement and make us into the vertebrates that we are. Keep your bones healthy by drinking plenty of milk and by exercising on a regular basis. You can also try to stay away from these substances that are damaging to your bones.

Salt - For every 2,300 mg of salt you eat, you will lose 40 mg of calcium. This is a big deal considering that the average American has around 5,000 mg of salt every day (double the recommended daily intake) due to processed food and fast food.

Soda - Soda is a complete bone killer. The carbonation in soda comes from phosphoric acid. These acids will cause twice as much calcium to leave your body through urination, meaning your calcium levels will be compromised as a result of your need for a sugary fix. Not to mention there is no nutritional value in soft drinks!

Coffee - The caffeine in coffee is known to suck the calcium out of bones. For every small/medium sized cup of coffee you consume, you lose 6 milligrams of calcium. It’s not a lot, but can do some damage if you tend to drink large amounts of coffee without making up for it with fortified drinks like milk and juice. Try to limit your coffee intake to control your calcium levels.

Alcohol - Alcohol prevents your body from absorbing bone building minerals that you eat. Chronic drinking prevents bone-building cells from re-building damaged and eroding bones. Alcohol makes your bones weaker and slower at healing after a break or fracture.

Carrots? - Apparently too much vitamin A can actually affect your health. Vitamin A is essential for good vision and a healthy immune system, but the average diet is already naturally high in vitamin A. If you add multivitamins to your diet then you are actually getting way more than the recommended daily dose of 5,000 IUs. Too much vitamin A has been linked to bone loss and an increase in the risk of hip fracture. Experts believe that excessive vitamin A can trigger an increase in osteoclasts (cells that break down bone). In addition they also believe that vitamin A can interfere with vitamin D, a vitamin that is important to preserving bone.

Comments (0)

Massive Recall of Eggs Linked to Salmonella

Filed under: health risks — Tags: CDC, contamination, eggs, FDA, health risk, Recall, salmonella, Wright County Egg — John @ 9:18 pm

In May 2010, the CDC began noticing a drastic increase in the number of reported salmonella cases (4 times the average amount) and began to investigate. During the investigation, the CDC, FDA, and other state partners were able to successfully locate the site of contamination, Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa.

On August 13, 2010, Wright County Egg began a voluntary recall on all of their shell eggs that had been shipped since May 19, 2010. The recall will be the largest in years as Wright County Egg ships their products to food wholesalers, distribution centers and food service companies in California, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. These companies then distribute the eggs all throughout the nation. There is also the issue that the contamination is thought to have begun back in May, almost 3 months before the recall of these products.

Wright County Egg shell eggs are packaged under the names: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hollandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms, and Kemps.

The FDA has issued the following information for consumers.

Don’t eat recalled eggs or products containing recalled eggs. Recalled eggs might still be in grocery stores, restaurants, and consumers’ homes. Consumers who have recalled eggs should discard them or return them to their retailer for a refund. Individuals who think they might have become ill from eating recalled eggs should consult their health care providers.
Keep shell eggs refrigerated at ≤45˚ F (≤7˚ C) at all times.
Discard cracked or dirty eggs.
Wash hands, cooking utensils, and food preparation surfaces with soap and water after contact with raw eggs.
Eggs should be cooked until both the white and the yolk are firm and eaten promptly after cooking.
Do not keep eggs warm or at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Refrigerate unused or leftover egg- containing foods promptly.
Avoid eating raw eggs.
Avoid restaurant dishes made with raw or undercooked, unpasteurized eggs. Restaurants should use pasteurized eggs in any recipe (such as Hollandaise sauce or Caesar salad dressing) that calls for raw eggs.
Consumption of raw or undercooked eggs should be avoided, especially by young children, elderly persons, and person with weakened immune systems or debilitating illness.

Comments (0)

5 Ways to Prevent Salmonella Poisoning

Filed under: food poisoning,poisoning,Recall,recalled products — Tags: diarrhea, eggs, immune system, poisoning, Recall, recalled eggs, salmonella, symptoms, US egg recall — Amanda @ 9:18 pm

The recent Salmonella outbreak throughout the United States due to contaminated eggs has everyone worrying about Salmonella poisoning. If you have Salmonella, your symptoms will develop within 8 to 72 hours of eating a contaminated product. Salmonella poisoning can be deadly to those with weak immune systems. The most common symptoms of Salmonella are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Salmonella poisoning usually lasts for 2 to 5 days.

How to Prevent Salmonella Poisoning

Don’t buy or eat recalled eggs or products containing recalled eggs. These eggs may still be used in grocery stores, restaurants, and people’s homes. If you have recalled eggs in your home, discard of them immediately.

Keep your eggs refrigerated in a fridge with a constant temperature of 4 degrees Celsius or below (40 degrees F or below), and discard of any cracked or dirty eggs that you have purchased.

Always wash your hands before and after dealing with raw eggs. Wash the cooking utensils and surfaces where your eggs came in contact to immediately after preparation. Do not eat products that contain raw eggs like uncooked cookie dough or Caesar Salad dressing.

Cook your eggs until both the yolk and the white are firm. Eat your eggs soon after cooking and don’t keep eggs warm or at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Refrigerate any unused to left over egg products without delay.

Avoid eating out at restaurants with meals made with raw or undercooked, unpasteurized eggs. Restaurants should use pasteurized eggs in their recipes. If you are worried about a restaurant serving unpasteurized eggs, ask your server to find out or avoid ordering a dish that contains raw eggs.

Comments (0)

August 17, 2010

5 Dangerous Medication Mishaps

Filed under: alcohol,anxiety,headaches,health risks,high blood pressure,infection,insomnia,iron — Tags: alcohol, blood pressure, combining medicine, dementia, dizziness, injuries, iron, medicine, over-the-counter, overdose, prescription medication — Amanda @ 6:17 pm

100,000 people die each year due to medication mistakes and 1.5 million become sick or injured due to improper use. Many of theses deaths and injuries are accidental. It’s shocking that the public is unaware of how use prescription and over-the-counter medicines safely. Read about these medication mistakes and enlighten yourself on how to safely use medications.

Age - One mistake people make is that they forget to ask their doctor or pharmacist if certain medications are safe for certain age groups. Many doctors are still uninformed about medications that cause risks to elders and children. Older adults process medication differently, and they are at an increased risk of problems like dementia, dizziness, falling, and high blood pressure. Some drugs can increase these risks and are more likely to cause dangerous side effects in people older than 65. To avoid this problem, check with your doctor and the Beers List before taking any medication you are unsure of.

Similar Medications – Many medications have similar appearances or names causing medications to accidentally be misused. The doctor’s handwriting may be hard to read, or the name of the drug could be incorrectly placed into the computer. The pharmacist could even grab the wrong medicine off the shelf as most pharmacies are organized alphabetically. For example, it is easy to mix up Proloprim and Proferrin; however one medication is an antibiotic used to treat infections, and the other is an iron supplement. To avoid this costly mix-up, ask your doctor to tell you the name of the medication after he or she writes it down. After receiving your medication at the pharmacy, check the prescription label and directions to make sure you received the correct medicine.

Combining Medications with Similar Side Effects– All drugs have possible side effects, but if you take two or more medications at the same time without consulting your doctor, they can interact with each other and cause unwanted or dangerous effects. Some drugs, including ones that involve blood pressure and dizziness, can magnify the other’s potential effects. If you are taking a drug with the potential side effect of high blood pressure, and then you being taking a medication with the same possible effect, your blood pressure will become dangerously high. If you combine medicines that may cause dizziness, it can lead to falls and fractures. Before taking any combination of medicines, talk to your doctor about their possible effects and reactions with each other.

Combining Medications with Similar Components- It’s easy to accidentally combine medications with similar effects or properties. You might be taking one medication for pain, one for anxiety, and another for insomnia – but little do you know that they are all sedatives and can cause toxic effects when taken in large doses. The risk for overdose is highest in drugs that are designed to deal with the central nervous system. Narcotic painkillers and sedatives are examples of these. To avoid accidental overdose, tell your doctor before taking any new prescription medication about all prescription and over-the-counter medication that you are already using.

Mixing Alcohol with medicine – Many people don’t realize the dangers of alcohol in general, let alone the dangers of mixing it with medication. Alcohol can be a deadly poison when taken with painkillers, sedatives, and other medications. Many experts now believe that there should be no alcohol consumption with any medication because alcohol can decrease the effectiveness of any medication or increase the risk of side effects. Alcohol can cause a dangerous reaction with over-the-counter drugs like Benadryl and cough and cold medicines. The cough and cold medicines can also contain alcohol themselves – so you can end up with alcohol poisoning. Other drugs like antidepressants can cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure when mixed with alcohol, and some sedatives like Ativan or Valium can depress the heart rate enough to cause a coma when taken with alcohol.

Comments (0)

August 12, 2010

Internet Addiction Leads to Depression

Filed under: depression — Tags: anxiety, depression, internet addiction — Tanveen @ 4:35 pm

A recent study shows that the amount of time that a teenager spends on the internet is linked to an increased chance of developing depression. Teenagers who are addicted to the internet are 2.5 times more likely to suffer from depression than normal internet users.

Teenagers use the internet for a variety of reasons and many end up getting hooked to it. This should however be no surprise. I mean in this age, what can’t you do on the internet? With everything being at your fingertips, why get up from the computer?

Approximately one half of the teenagers surveyed said that they used the internet as a means of entertainment. The other half said that they used the internet to talk to their friends or to do some research.

Here are a few tips you as a parent can give to your child in order to avoid this problem.

5 Ways to Avoid Internet Addiction

1) Stop the urge: Set a time to use the internet, instead of going over whenever temptation calls.

2) Get away: Focus on your hobbies and interests and what you are passionate about. Doing something you enjoy will help you stay off the internet.

3) Use the phone: Instead of communicating to your friends by messenger, facebook, or whatever you may use, just call them. Having a real conversation is much more interesting.

4) Counseling: In some cases, if the addiction is very high then counseling is necessary. With counseling one can work towards ridding themselves of their addiction.

5) Schoolwork and friends: There’s more to life than sitting in front of a computer screen all day. Do your schoolwork and go hang out with your friends. Get your work done and have a fun time!

As a side note to parents, internet addiction can lead to kids avoiding their homework. Keeping the computer in a place which everyone has access to (not your child’s room) will give you a greater ability to help your child get past his/ her addiction.

Comments (0)

High Heels are Dangerous to Womens Health

Filed under: arthritis,back pain,osteroarthritis — Tags: arthritis, back pain, calcium, chronic pain, high heels, knee pain, osteoarthritis, posture — Amanda @ 4:35 pm

This is not new information, doctors have been warning women against heels for years, but it is important for women to know that high heels, thick or thin, can negatively affect the health. Orthopedists have been warning women for years about how high heels can cause many conditions such as arthritis, chronic knee pain, and back problems. Several studies have been conducted over the years to show women the health hazards associated with wearing high heels.

Apparently women who wear heels on a regular basis are at a greater risk of developing knee osteoarthritis and joint degeneration. Specifically, the higher the heel is, the greater the risk.

In 1998, researchers at Harvard linked high heels, exclusively very narrow stiletto heels, to knee osteoarthritis. This disease is categorized by the breakdown of cartilage surrounding the knee and is a painful degenerative joint disease. In 2001 the researchers decided to look at wider heels to see if they are also harmful to women’s knees. The study concluded that wider heels actually increase the risk of osteoarthritis in the knee as much as, or even more than narrow heels. Researchers suggest that wide heeled shoes give women the feeling of stability and comfort, which in turn allows them to wear them all day long. The extra support does make them better for your feet, but just as bad for your knees.

Other studies used sensors and cameras to measure the force acting on the knee joints and the shock waves travelling up their bodies from the heel strikes caused by flats, two inch heels, and 3.5 inch heels. As the heels got higher, the compression inside the knee increased. Heels two inches and high changed the join positions at the ankle, hip, and trunk. These changes will inevitable alter posture and put strain on the lower back.

Even though it takes a long time to start feeling the effects of osteoarthritis, it comes suddenly and cannot be cured. 80% of Americans suffering from arthritis have osteoarthritis, and there are over 300,000 artificial knee replacement surgeries performed every year due to knee osteoarthritis. The study concludes that low-heels (1 inch) or no heels are best for protecting yourself against osteoarthritis of the knees.

Comments (0)

7 Health Benefits of Blueberries

Filed under: anti-aging,being healthy,belly fat,cholesterol — Tags: aging, anti-aging, belly fat, cancer, cholesterol, copper, heart disease, iron, lose weight, vision, vitamin A, vitamin b, vitamin c, zinc — Amanda @ 4:35 pm

Blueberries are ripe and local during the summer months, the perfect reason to eat them as snacks or in pies. You may not know, however, that blueberries are also exceptional for the health in numerous ways

Anti-Oxidant Rich - Blueberries have the highest ant-oxidant capacity of all other fresh fruit. Blueberries contain large amounts of vitamin C, vitamin B complex, vitamin E, vitamin A, copper, selenium, zinc, and iron. All of these components boost the immune system and prevent infections.

Help Slim Belly Fat – New studies suggest that blueberries can help reduce belly fat as well as risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. A blueberry rich diet in a study on rats resulted in lower cholesterol, less abdominal fat, and lower triglycerides in the subjects. There was also an improvement in glucose and insulin control.

Anti-Aging – Blueberries have components that neutralize the free radicals in your body that can cause aging. Being full of anti-oxidants these sweet berries are your best defense against wrinkles.

Healthy Heart – Blueberries have the amazing ability to improve cardiac muscles, and reduce bad cholesterol. Blueberries are often used as a supplement to cure heart disease.

20/20 Vision – According to clinical studies, blueberry extract high in anthocyanosides has been found to slow down vision loss. Blueberries can prevent and slow down all age-related eye problems due to their high anti-oxidant levels. Other components in blueberries like flavanoids, vitamin A, zinc, phosphorus, and selenium are beneficial and essential for good eye health.

Increased Mood – Blueberries increase the production of the feel-good hormone dopamine. This hormone is a natural neurotransmitter that moderates mood, brain function, and motor skills. Those who are low in dopamine levels tend to have brain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

Cancer – Blueberries can be beneficial to cancer patients because they contain compounds such as Pterostilbene, Ellagic Acid, Anthocyanin (anti-oxidant), copper, and Vitamin C that work together to help prevent and even cure cancer.

Comments (0)

Hormonal Contraceptives are Less Effective in Obese/Overweight Women

Filed under: birth control pills,obesity,pregnancy — Tags: birth control pill, birth control study, hormonal contraceptives, hormonal implant, nuvaring, obesity, over weight, pregnancy, skin patch, vaginal ring — Amanda @ 4:35 pm

A systematic review of results reported online has concluded that hormonal contraceptives (such as skin patches, vaginal rings, implants, pills, and injections) may not be as effective in overweight and obese women.

With obesity rates increasing worldwide every year, it is important that these findings be shared with the public.

The results from seven studies on 39,531 women on the success of hormonal contraceptives were examined and the results were varied among the different methods of birth control. Some methods such as the birth control pill were less effective at preventing pregnancy in the obese and overweight women who used a hormonal contraceptive.

Body mass index, or BMI, played a large role in the effectiveness of the birth control pill. Women with a BMI higher than 25 (classified as overweight), were more likely to get pregnant while using the pill than women with a BMI under 25.

Body weight, on the other hand, was the factor among women using the skin patch, vaginal ring, implant, or injection. The body weight due to fat on the body determined the pregnancy risk among women using contraception. Overweight and obese women using the skin patch, progestin implant, and vaginal ring were more likely to get pregnant than women of normal weight using these forms of contraception. Curiously enough, the effectiveness of the hormonal injection was not affected by BMI or body weight. One possible reason for the decreased effectiveness of the skin patch is simply that there is a higher density of fat cells in areas where the patch is to be placed. The fat cells in the way of the blood stream can absorb and store the hormones preventing them from reaching the blood stream.

The exact reason why overweight and obese women are at a greater risk of pregnancy while using hormonal contraceptives is unknown. Although several theories imply that it has something to do with specific biological factors.

Liver Enzymes – overweight women can experience an increased regulation of liver metabolism. These higher levels of enzymes can help break down the hormones in oral contraceptives. Heavier women have a greater circulating blood volume and body mass therefore there is more tissue for blood to circulate though. The chance that enzymes will break down the hormones in contraception is faster therefore the levels of circulating hormones can be decreased.

Hormone Storage – Hormones like estrogen and progestin that are found in birth control are stored in body fat. The more fat cells on a woman, the greater her chances of the hormones becoming stored in her fat rather than flowing into her bloodstream.

Comments (0)

Another Risk Factor- the Size of Your Waist

Filed under: obesity — Tags: heart disease, obesity, risk factors, waist size — Tanveen @ 4:35 pm

Obesity is a huge issue in the United States. More than a quarter of the people who live in the US are affected by this condition. It has many emotional and physical effects on a person and is responsible for causing many different health conditions. For example, heart disease is one of the most common. In order to lower obesity, many measures have been taken to reinforce healthy living over the years.

The focus has been on losing weight and achieving a healthy body mass index (BMI). However, recent research claims that even if one has a healthy BMI, if they have a large waist they will have a much higher risk of death in comparison to someone with a smaller waist, approximately twice as much of a risk.

The waist size recommended for men by the American Heart Association is less than 40 inches. For women, they recommend less than 35 inches. It has been found that every four inches of extra waist can mean a 25% higher risk of dying.

The reason why having a large waist can lead to death is because fat in the waist region means that there is a great amount of fat around vital organs. This sort of fat is the cause of many health complications.

This study was based on 100 000 people (a mixture of both men and women) that were 50 years or older. The people were studied over a time period of nine years and many ended up dying due to their health condition. The results were based on one study so the research has not technically been proven as of now. However, it wouldn’t hurt to burn off some of the fat hanging around, right?

Comments (0)