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Posts Tagged ‘Nick Trego’

Summer Travel. By Our “Soon To Hit The Road” Student Pharmacist, Nick Trego.

Summer time has arrived and the kids are out of school, which means it is time for the annual summer vacation! Here at Plain City Druggist, we want to make sure you have a blast on your family vacation, so we have some easy tips and advice for making sure that the vacation goes as smoothly as possible. We want to make sure that this family vacation is one you will never forget for all of the right reasons.

Whether you are headed to the beach or a foreign country far, far away, there are many helpful things we can suggest to make preparing for your trip a breeze. Sometimes, the excitement of packing for and looking forward to the vacation can interfere with making sure that you have packed all the essential goods to prevent disaster after you leave home. On the other hand, trying to pack for the entire family and remember to complete all necessary tasks before leaving is not easy. A checklist, especially one for your healthcare, is always helpful to make sure you don’t forget anything.

CDC checklist: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/pack-smart#travelhealthkit

If staying inside the continental United States, whether driving or flying to your ultimate destination, there are a few things to look into. First, knowing the climate of the destination will be very helpful when deciding what exactly to pack. Now, this may seem like common sense, but temperature and weather can affect air quality, allergens in the air, and ultimately the health of many members of your family. Some destinations will be very hot and have low air quality–this could potentially cause problems for people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). The hot, low quality air will contain less oxygen than normal and could cause shortness of breath, asthma attacks, or other exacerbations of these conditions. Visiting your local pharmacy for an inhaler and other asthma and COPD medication refills is a must if visiting one of these destinations.

Air allergen presence is another factor to consider when leaving for vacation. The local weather reports of the area which you are visiting will most likely contain any allergy alerts. Since this destination may have different plant and animal species than your family is used to, an allergy exacerbation is possible. In this case, it does not hurt to bring along a common allergy medication such as Claritin or Allegra to prevent allergies from interfering with your vacation.

Common over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, or Aleve are always a good idea to tote along on a vacation, as well. These can quickly help take care of minor aches, pains, injuries, swelling, headaches, and fevers.

Sometimes motion sickness can interfere with travel and, if you are prepared with medication, you can quickly fix this problem without a headache.

Link: Common Motion Sickness Medications with doses and reviews (http://www.drugs.com/condition/motion-sickness.html)

Uncomfortably high temperatures can make motion sickness worse, so cooling a nauseous family member down is always a good idea. Packing, dressing, and hydrating appropriately for higher than normal temperatures, while on vacation, is a wonderful preventive measure that will keep your family healthy during summer vacations.

Other products such as antiseptics (alcohol swabs), antibiotic ointment (Neosporin), bandages, sunscreen, antidiarrheal, and antacid medications are useful to prevent unwanted problems or delays in vacations.

Diabetics and people with blood clotting disorders need to take into account that they may be seated for long periods of time during travel, which increases their likelihood of developing a blood clot. Compression stockings and frequent breaks in travel (if driving) are a few good ways to lower the risk of clot formation. Walking around on an aircraft can help to improve circulation, but only do so if allowed by the flight crew and if the patient is very careful due to the potential of a fall during bouts of turbulence. Patients may want to speak with their doctor before traveling to receive other prescription medications that will reduce the likelihood of clot formation.

For those really lucky people traveling out of the country, there are many more aspects to consider when leaving for vacation. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has developed a website that tells you what precautions you need to take based on the country you enter into their database.

CDC: Out of US Travel Search: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Extra precautions for traveling out of the country may include pre, during, and post-vacation treatment with preventative medications, special vaccinations, and other precautionary medications or devices that might be helpful in a specific country.

We here at Plain City Druggist hope you and your family enjoy summer vacation and that the memories last a lifetime. By following the simple precautions listed in this article, you may save yourself a headache or two and insure the health of your family during future trips.

Seasonal Allergies. By Our June Pharmacy Student, Nick Trego.

It’s warm weather again in Ohio and you know what that means: ALLERGY SEASON!

Plants, that had been dormant over the winter, are once again blooming and releasing allergens into the air. These allergens find their way into our bodies and provoke our immune systems to attack foreign particles that are not necessarily harmful, but our bodies perceive them as being so.

Seasonal allergies typically occur in the spring and fall when the seasons are changing and plant life is most active. The blooming of plants in the spring and the shedding of plant material in the fall releases a high number of allergens into the air and increases the likelihood of people experiencing allergy symptoms. Pollen, grass, ragweed and mold are common substances that cause seasonal allergies.

Some ways to avoid exposure to seasonal allergens are to:

1. Stay inside on dry or windy days.

2. Avoid lawn mowing, weed pulling, and other gardening chores that stir up allergens.

3. Remove clothes that were worn outside.

4. Take a shower after being outside to remove allergens from skin.

5. Do not hang laundry outside to dry.

6. Wear a dust mask if you must do outdoor chores.

Many newspapers and television news stations report the pollen and allergen levels on a daily basis, so this is a good way to determine if going outside will aggravate allergies.  Allergy Information:  Allergy Information

There are numerous over-the-counter medications available to ease the burden of seasonal allergies. Avoiding exposure to the allergen is always a first line recommendation, but for some people staying inside all day is not a viable option. Antihistamine medications such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine), chlorpheniramine, Allegra (fexofenadine), Zyrtec (cetirizine), and Claritin (loratadine) can help to combat these seasonal allergies. Benadryl and chlorpheniramine can cause drowsiness, so these may not be the best option for day time allergy relief. Zyrtec, Allegra, and Claritin all work very similarly and will not cause drowsiness. However, it is recommended to switch between these medications if one has been used for a long period of time and seems to be losing its effect on allergy relief.

All of these medications are available behind the pharmacy counter in combination with pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine is a medication that helps to relieve the stuffy nose and congestion that is commonly associated with seasonal allergies. This medication can cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure–therefore, anyone with high blood pressure or heart problems should consult their doctor before using pseudoephedrine containing products. How to choose the right medication for me?

Nasal saline rinses can also be helpful with allergy and congestion relief, but remember to always use distilled water with saline nasal rinses, as tap water can contain harmful substances that may cause extra complications. These nasal rinses help to lubricate the nasal passages and clear any mucus and allergens from the nasal canals. Nasal sprays are available to decrease congestion, but their use is not recommended beyond three days. These medications cause the blood vessels in the nose to constrict and this provides temporary congestion relief. However, these nasal sprays only act for a very short period of time and as they wear off, the blood vessels open back up and increased congestion occurs.  For this reason, the use of decongestant nasal sprays is not commonly recommended.  Rebound Congestion

One other product that can help make seasonal allergies more bearable is the antihistamine eye drop. Often times, seasonal allergies cause itchy and reddening of the eyes.  The active ingredients in antihistamine eye drops include naphazoline hydrochloride (Naphcon A) and ketotifen fumarate (Zaditor). These medications are available over the counter for allergy symptoms of the eyes.

If any symptoms of seasonal allergies become too much to handle or affect normal daily life to a point that is unacceptable, a physician or allergist should be consulted. There are many prescription medications and treatments that can help relieve allergy symptoms and improve quality of life in many patients.

Poison Ivy. By Our Student Pharmacist, Nick Trego.

Toxicodendron radicans, also known as poison ivy, is a common nuisance encountered by anyone participating in outdoor activities. Whether you are gardening, hiking, exploring the woods, or working outside, you will likely run across poison ivy at some point in time. This plant is difficult to identify, but knowing how to identify poison ivy will most likely save some suffering. The following link provides some help with the identification of the poison ivy plant: Identification

The poison ivy plant produces an oily resin called Urushiol. Urushiol is the compound that causes allergic reactions in humans. This oil can stay on clothes, gloves, shoes, and any other object (even your pets!) for very long periods of time. It is very important, therefore, to thoroughly wash any object that might have come in contact with the poison ivy plant to prevent further spread of the oil. If the contaminated objects are not washed, the oil can stay on the surface and cause a reaction the next time somebody touches or uses the object. This is why poison ivy is commonly mistaken as being “contagious” or “spreading” on a person without the person being outside or close to the original source.

For more poison ivy myths: Myths

Some common ways to prevent poison ivy are to:

1. Wear long sleeved shirts and pants.

2. Wash clothes, hands, and tools after being outdoors.

3. Apply products that block the spread of poison ivy.

4. Avoiding burning the plants, as the smoke of the burning plant can still cause irritation and an allergic reaction.

At least 50% of people who come in contact with the plant or oil develop an itchy rash that can become quite annoying and painful. It usually takes 12-72 hours after contact with the plant for a rash to develop and the rash can last for up to three weeks. Although the rash does not look pleasant and can cause discomfort, poison ivy is usually a mild condition and will resolve on its own. The rash is a delayed reaction. Therefore, if the rash gets larger from day to day, it is not spreading, but still developing from the initial exposure. Scratching the rash will not spread the poison ivy unless Urushiol oil is still present on the skin. However, scratching is not recommended due to the irritation it causes to the already damaged skin. Scratching also increases the potential for breaking the skin and eventual scarring.

The FDA released this document for poison ivy awareness:  FDA awareness

Identification of the poison ivy rash is important because the area of the rash needs to be washed immediately to remove Urushiol oil from the skin to prevent further spreading.

Common symptoms of poison ivy reactions include redness, itching, swelling, and blisters. Any area of skin believed to be exposed to poison ivy should be washed thoroughly with rubbing alcohol, specialized poison plant washes, degreasing soaps, or detergents. This washing should be done with plenty of water to remove the Urushiol oil from the skin. Then, the exposed person should scrub underneath their fingernails to make sure all the oil is off of their hands.

The poison ivy rash can be treated by soothing the area with a cold compress and applying calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching. If the skin becomes broken (bleeding occurs), hydrocortisone cream should no longer be used. Oatmeal baths can also be helpful for itch relief. Oral antihistamines, such as Benadryl, can be taken to help reduce the allergic reaction. If the skin becomes broken, the rash covers more than 1/3 of the body, or the rash is on the face or genitals, medical attention should be sought. Oral corticosteroids are often prescribed by doctors in treatment of serious poison ivy reactions.

We are Lucky to Have Two Fourth Year Students in the Store This June. Meet Our Second Student Pharmacist, Nick Trego!

Nick Trego is our fourth year pharmacy student for the month of June along with David Brokaw. Nick is excited to have the opportunity to learn about independent community pharmacy from the pharmacists and staff while he is with us in the store.

Nick will be graduating from The Ohio State University next May (2014).

Nick grew up close by in Dublin, Ohio and attended Dublin Scioto High School. He then graduated from Ohio Dominican University with a major in chemistry and a minor in biology. Nick was a four-year member of the Ohio Dominican University varsity golf team during undergraduate school.

While attending Ohio Dominican, Nick discovered his passion for pharmacy in his organic chemistry and microbiology classes. His professors and fellow students influenced Nick to apply for pharmacy school after graduation. Currently completing his fourth year of pharmacy school at The Ohio State University, Nick is excited about the opportunity to be at Plain City Druggist.

Nick has had a variety of pharmacy work experience over his first three years in pharmacy school. Walgreens Pharmacy and Progressive Medical Inc. are two intern positions that Nick has held while completing pharmacy school. Walgreens has taught Nick about community pharmacy and Progressive Medical has given Nick some non-traditional pharmacy experiences. Medco, a pharmacy benefits manager, is another location that Nick has worked at during his time in pharmacy school.

Nick enjoys community pharmacy because it offers him the opportunity to interact with the patients in the community and become friends with the people who enter the store. He is undecided about what type of pharmacy he wants to practice after he graduates school, but is counting on some great experiences during his rotations to lead him in the right direction.

In his spare time,  Nick enjoys golfing, running, and walking his dog. Nick likes to be outside as much as possible and is considering moving south after graduating in order to be warm all year around.

Nick says, “I am looking forward to a valuable learning experience at Plain City Druggist and getting to know the people of Plain City and the surrounding areas.”