Archive for April, 2017
Prescription Drug “Take-Back” Day is Saturday, April 29 from 10 am to 2 pm.
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will take place on Saturday, April 29 from 10 am to 2 pm. During this yearly event, you can turn in old or no longer used medicines for proper disposal. We know that many of you may have medications that have expired or that you don’t take any more and this is a perfect way to make sure they are destroyed so that no one gets hurt.
To find out more about the Take-Back Day, visit the web site HERE.
To find a disposal location near you, go HERE and put in your zip code or county and city.
In Union County, you can turn in unused and expired medications at these sites:
Union County Sheriff’s Office
221 West 5th Street, Marysville, OH 43040 (Please enter the sally port from the south off of 6th St. Signs will be posted).
Pleasant Valley Fire Department
650 West Main Street, Plain City, OH 43064 (Please enter the rear of the bays).
Richwood Police Department
153 North Franklin Street, Richwood, OH 43344 (Please enter the sally port entrance).
Sleep Hygiene and Me. By Our April Student Pharmacist, T’Bony Jewell.
Have you ever had trouble falling asleep or staying asleep?
Many of our daily activities and parts of our routine contribute to our ability to fall and stay asleep. Certain foods and drinks contain substances that can either help us fall asleep or may keep us awake. Other medical conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD and other restrictive airway diseases), acid reflux disease, and congestive heart failure may affect our ability to achieve adequate rest due to “variations in airway resistance” and changes in our posture during sleep.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep hygiene is defined as, “a variety of practices and habits that are necessary to have good nighttime sleep quality and full daytime alertness.”
Here are some things you can do (or not do) to help decrease time to falling asleep and help you stay asleep.
Do:
- Establish a regular routine. Your body gets used to recurring activities. Doing the same thing every night, such as eating dinner, showering, then reading a book can help you slowly relax as you get ready for bed.
- Make your sleep environment comfortable.
- Turn off cellphones and televisions.
- Use soft lighting.
- Adjust the temperature in the room.
- Light cardio or aerobic exercise, such as walking or cycling, can aid in restful sleep.
Don’t:
- Take naps throughout the day, especially close to bedtime. Your circadian rhythm or sleep-wake cycle can be thrown off making it harder for your body to know when to produce hormones like melatonin that aid in sleep induction.
- Drink caffeine or use other stimulants close to bedtime. These substances can over power your natural ability to fall asleep.
- Engage in strenuous activity (i.e. furniture lifting).
- Use your bedroom for activities such as studying or catching up on work. Your body may begin to associate the bedroom with stimulating activities and may not begin to relax or put you in a restful state.
People with other medical conditions:
If you have GERD or acid reflux:
- Don’t eat spicy foods close to bedtime. If you do, drink plenty of water and pre-treat with recommended medications like ranitidine or famotidine 30 minutes before your meal.
- Raise the head of your bed to keep food from re-entering the esophagus where it causes heart burn.
If you have congestive heart failure or CHF:
- Restrict the amount of sodium and water you consume. This helps to prevent the buildup of fluid around the lungs that can make it difficult to breathe.
If you have COPD or other restrictive airway disease:
- Take your medications as directed by your physician, even when you feel well. Your controller inhalers usually have a steroid or other medication to decrease the inflammation in the airway making it easier to breathe.
- Adjust your posture in bed to get the best air flow to your lungs.
Follow these tips and you’ll be sleeping like a baby.
Heart Failure and You. By Our April Student Pharmacist, T’Bony Jewell.
Congestive Heart failure (CHF) is a complex disease that affects your heart’s ability to effectively pump blood to your organs. CHF is usually a result of heart muscle remodeling; the muscle can become big and baggy or stiff and rigid. It is often caused by consistently high blood pressure and coronary artery disease (CAD).
High blood pressure is an increased resistance in blood flow and can be caused by a sodium rich diet, genetics, or poor kidney function.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is often the result of plaque buildup in the arteries surrounding the heart. It can be caused by genetics or an inactive lifestyle coupled with a poor, cholesterol rich diet.
Treating the underlying causes of CHF can aide in its control and relief of symptoms.
High blood pressure can be managed by weight loss, exercise, and eating a heart healthy diet that is low in sodium (less than 2000 mg per day).
CAD can be controlled and prevented by eating a diet low in cholesterol and saturated fats, adherence to cholesterol lowering medications (like Statins), and increased daily activity.
Things you can do to prevent hospitalizations from worsening symptoms of CHF:
- Take your medications as directed by your physician.
- Your medications work together to prevent your heart from working too hard. They also prevent your body from holding on to extra fluid that can build around your lungs making it difficult to breathe..
- Weigh yourself daily!
- Weight changes are indicative of fluid retention. Limit your fluid and salt intake to help your diuretics work more effectively Any weight gain over two pounds in one day or 5-10 pounds in a week puts you at risk for being admitted to the hospital.
- Stay active.
- Improving the function of the heart is beneficial in reducing symptoms. Your medications will make you feel better and help you to tolerate physical activity.
- Talk you your local pharmacist!
- Pharmacists are great at recognizing gaps in medication therapy and offering alternatives to help you stay adherent. Pharmacists may also effectively communicate with your physician to help manage your therapy.
- Get your family involved.
- Having a great support system to help you maintain a routine is another way to stay healthy. Family members can help you remember what’s in your diet, notice oncoming symptoms, and remind you to take your medications and weigh yourself.
Stay heart healthy and out of the hospital by using these tips.
Free Electronic Waste and Appliance Recycling Day on Saturday, April 22 from 9 am to 1 pm at Union Recyclers.
On Saturday, April 22, there will be a FREE electronic waste and appliance recycling day from 9 am to 1 pm (rain or shine) at Union Recyclers, 15140 US Route 36 East in Marysville.
Items that will be accepted from households, businesses, industries, schools, and the government include: Computers, any and all types of cable and wire, cameras, servers, VCRs, Monitors, DVD Players, all types of cell phones, keyboards and mice, CD and DVD media, battery backup systems, scanners, printers, fax machines, copiers, all stereo equipment, video games, video game systems, all phone equipment, speakers, floppy disks, microwaves, sweepers, and other household electronics.
Televisions will be accepted for a fee of $20 each. There is a $5 Fee for each CRT (cathode ray tubes found in most computer monitors) Monitor.
Freon and Non-Freon appliances including refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, stoves, dishwashers, washers, and dryers will be taken at NO CHARGE.
Aluminum beverage cans will be purchased for 5 cents over the price of the day!
Absolutely NO tires, light bulbs, alkaline batteries or household hazardous waste will be accepted. NO Early Drop Offs!
For more information, call Union Recyclers at 937-642-7283 or visit their web site HERE.
If a business, industry, school, or government office has a large quantity of electronic waste, contact Accurate IT to schedule a pick up date/time. Call 1-888-811-2487 or visit their web site HERE.
This event is being sponsored by the North Central Ohio Solid Waste District, Union Recyclers, Accurate IT, the Union County Commissioners, and the Union County Chamber of Commerce.