GOOD NEIGHBOR PHARMACY

Issue 2 • Here’s to Your Healthy Heart!HealthConnection

� is month’s FEATURED ARTICLE

Here’s to Your Healthy Heart!

inside Health Connection

ree Steps to Raising Healthy Eaters

Protect Yourself From Winter Slips and Falls

Craving Apple Pie? Try is Healthy Alternative

Whip Up a Fun Valentine’s Day Recipe You Can Make Yourself!

How Can I Say Goodbye to Dandru� for Good?

is Savory Soup Helps Keep Winter Weight Gain Away

New Technology May Help Save Eyesight Damaged by Diabetic Retinopathy

MyGNP.com

2

2

4

5

6

7

3

3

February 2015

GN HConnect Feb15 FINAL.indd 1 12/16/14 11:29 PM

GN2202214DBIMPR

CONLIN'S PHARMACY30 Lawrence Street, Methuen, MA 01844

Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-7pm Sat 9am-3pm Sun ClosedPhone: (978) 552-1700 Fax: (978) 552-1785

Delivery Available • Compounding Specialists

2

Healthy Lifestyle

Senior Health Update

Protect Yourself From Winter Slips and FallsTo prevent slips, trips and falls, clear nearby walking surfaces of snow and ice, and spread de-icer, as quickly as possible after a winter storm. Taking the following precautions also will help reduce the likelihood of injuries:

• Wear proper footwear when you must walk on snow or ice. A pair of insulated and water-resistant boots with good rubber treads is a must for walking

during or after a winter storm. Keeping a pair of rubber over-shoes with good treads that fi t over your street shoes is a also good idea during the winter months.

• When walking on an icy or snow-covered walkway, take short steps and walk at a slower pace so you can react quickly to a change in traction.

—Source: U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration

To Do List� ree Steps to Raising

Healthy Eaters

Almost one in two children in the U.S. is either overweight or obese, according to Iowa State University statistics. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help your kids develop healthy eating habits:

1. Remove temptation. Keep very few high-fat, high-calorie snack foods in the house. Instead, stock up on healthy snacks such as fresh fruit, nuts, carrots and air-popped popcorn. Keep these snacks readily available and save cookies and other treats for special occasions.

2. Don’t use food as a reward. Doing this teaches children that some foods are better or more valuable than others. It can also help set up an unhealthy relationship with food.

3. Teach kids to identify hunger. Much of our eating these days is in response to “emotional” hunger such as stress, anxiety, boredom or loneliness, rather than physical hunger. Help your child recognize “hunger cues” and “non-hunger cues” by asking if he or she is really hungry before automatically providing a snack. Sometimes reading a book, playing outside or doing some other activity is a better alternative than turning to snacks.—Source: Iowa State University

Here’s to Your Healthy Heart!

GN HConnect Feb15 FINAL.indd 2 12/16/14 11:29 PM

Healthy Lifestyle

3

January Featured Article

GoodNeighborPharmacy.com

Here’s to Your Healthy Heart!There is much you can do to help prevent heart disease and stroke. These tips can help:

• Keep your blood glucose under control. You can see if your blood glucose is under control by having an A1C blood test at least twice a year. The A1C test tells you your average blood glucose for the past 2 to 3 months. Your doctor can tell you your recommended A1C level.

• Keep your blood pressure under control. Have it checked at every doctor visit. The target for most people with diabetes is below 130/80.

• Keep your cholesterol under control. Have it checked at least once a year. Your doctor will tell you what your target numbers should be. You target may vary by age, overall health and risk factors.

• Make physical activity a part of your daily routine. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. Check with your doctor to learn what activities are best for you. Take a half-hour walk every day. Or walk for 10 minutes after each meal. Use the stairs instead of the elevator. Park at the far end of the lot.

• Make sure the foods you eat are “heart healthy.” Include foods high in fi ber, such as oat bran, oatmeal, whole-grain breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables. Cut back on foods high in saturated fat or cholesterol, such as meats, butter, dairy products with fat, eggs, shortening, lard and foods made with palm oil or coconut oil. Limit foods with trans fat, such as snack foods and commercial baked goods.

• Lose weight if you need to. If you are overweight, try to exercise most days of the week. See a registered dietitian for help in planning meals and lowering the fat and calorie content of your diet to reach and maintain a healthy weight.

• If you smoke, quit. Your doctor can tell you about ways to help you quit smoking.

• Ask your doctor whether you should take an aspirin every day. Studies have shown that taking a low dose of aspirin every day can help reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

• Take your prescribed medicines as directed.

—Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Healthy EatingCraving Apple Pie?

Try � is Healthy — and Scrumptious —

Alternative

Ready for a little comfort food on a cold night? This sweet treat will fi ll the house with comforting scents and appeal even to picky kids.

Baked Apples & Sweet Potatoes

2 cups baking apples

2 cups sweet potatoes

½ cup apple cider

¼ teaspoon salt

¾ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

¼ teaspoon ginger

1 tablespoon butter, melted

¼ cup brown sugar, fi rmly packed

Peel, core and cut apples into medium-sized pieces. Peel and cut sweet potatoes into small pieces. Toss all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and pour into a deep baking dish. Cover and bake at 350°F for 45 to 60 minutes, until tender (drain excess juice if necessary). Serve as a side dish with roasted turkey or other main course. Top with roasted pecans if desired.—Source: Clemson University Extension

GN HConnect Feb15 FINAL.indd 3 12/16/14 11:29 PM

4

What’s Happening at the Pharmacy?

Before You Leave the Pharmacy…

After you have your prescription medicine, and before you leave the pharmacy:

• Look to be sure you have the right medicine. If you’ve bought the medicine before, make sure it has the same shape, color, size, markings and packaging. Anything different? Ask your pharmacist. If it seems different when you use it, tell your pharmacist, doctor or other healthcare professional.

• Be sure you know the right dose for the medicine and you know how to use it. Any questions? Ask your pharmacist.

• Make sure there is a measuring spoon, cup or syringe for liquid medicine. If the medicine doesn’t come with a special measuring tool, ask your pharmacist about one. (Spoons used for eating and cooking may give the wrong dose. Don’t use them.)

• Be sure you have any written information the pharmacist can give you about the medicine. Read it and save it.

—Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Kids’ Corner

Whip Up a Fun Valentine’s Day Recipe You Can Make Yourself !

Raspberry Banana Pops with Sprinkles

Ingredients:

3 medium bananas

6 large wooden Popsicle sticks

1 (6 oz.) container low-fat raspberry yogurt

1 (1.75 oz.) container chocolate or rainbow sprinkles (or both!)

Equipment needed:

Cutting board

Dinner knife or plastic knife (sharp knife not needed)

Two dinner plates

Spoon

Directions:

1. Cut each banana in half crosswise. Insert wooden stick into the cut side of each half.

2. Pour yogurt on dinner plate. Roll bananas in yogurt until they are completely covered. Hold bananas upside down and allow excess yogurt to drip off onto the plate.

3. Hold the yogurt-covered bananas over the second dinner plate. Pour sprinkles to cover the banana.

4. Place fi nished pops on a waxed-paper-lined baking sheet and place in freezer for two hours before eating.

Makes six servings.

Note to Parents: Here’s a sweet treat that older kids can make on their own with a parent’s permission. Younger children can help make these with the help of an adult or an older child. Each serving provides fruit and dairy — and a whole lot of Valentine’s Day fun. Help your child make these ahead (to allow for freezing time) for an after-school snack or as a special dessert for the whole family. While a knife is needed, it doesn’t need to be sharp, as it’s only used to cut the bananas in half. As always, use caution with young children when using any knife.—Source: Shasta County (California) Department of Public Health

Here’s to Your Healthy Heart!

GN HConnect Feb15 FINAL.indd 4 12/16/14 11:29 PM

Health Q&A

How Can I Say Goodbye to Dandru� for Good?

Q: What’s the best way to get rid of dandruff once and for all?

A: Dandruff is a common chronic scalp condition marked by fl aking of the skin on your scalp. Mild cases may need nothing more than daily shampooing with a gentle cleanser. More stubborn cases of often respond to medicated shampoos. Dandruff can have several causes:

• Dry skin (the most common cause).

• Irritated, oily skin (seborrheic dermatitis). This is one of the most frequent causes of dandruff and is marked by red, greasy skin covered with fl aky white or yellow scales.

• Other skin conditions, such as eczema (a chronic, infl ammatory skin condition) or psoriasis (a skin condition marked by a rapid buildup of rough, dry, dead skin cells that form thick scales) may appear as dandruff.

• Not shampooing often enough.

• A yeast-like fungus (malassezia). Malassezia lives on the scalps of most adults, but for some, it irritates the scalp.

• Sensitivity to hair-care products (contact dermatitis).

Follow these tips to keep dandruff under control:

1. Shampoo regularly. Use a medicated shampoo if necessary.

2. Cut back on styling products, which can build up on your hair and scalp.

3. Eat healthy foods. A diet that provides enough zinc, B vitamins and essential fatty acid may help prevent dandruff.—Source: Mayo Clinic

5

Drug Facts Q&A

For more information, visit www.GoodNeighborPharmacy.com. Compliments of:

For more information on healthy living, timely health news, and exclusive savings, visit our website at GoodNeighborPharmacy.com.

GoodNeighborPharmacy.com

Do you have more questions? Our website has the answers. Visit www.GoodNeighborPharmacy.com

for more information.

Did You Know?…

Coming home after a long day to the aroma of dinner cooking in a crock pot is a sweet reward after just a bit of planning ahead. Just make sure you are following food-safety rules when using your slow cooker.

Begin with a clean cooker, clean utensils and a clean work area. Wash your hands before and during food preparation. Keep perishable foods refrigerated until preparation time. If you cut up meat and vegetables in advance, store them separately in the refrigerator. The slow cooker takes time to reach a safe, bacteria-killing temperature. Constant refrigeration assures that bacteria, which multiply rapidly at room temperature, won’t get a “head start” during the fi rst few hours of cooking.

Always thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker. Choose to make foods with a high moisture content such as chili, soup, stew or spaghetti sauce.

Keep the lid in place during cooking, removing only to stir the food or to check whether or not the dish is fi nished.—Source: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

GN HConnect Feb15 FINAL.indd 5 12/16/14 11:29 PM

6

Diabetes Health

Get Fit

Love to Run? Don’t Let Cold Weather Slow You Down

In addition to following basic safety guidelines as a runner, there are specifi c things you should do when running during cold weather, according to Road Runner Club of America, the oldest and largest national association of running clubs, running events, and runners dedicated to promoting running as a competitive sport and as healthy exercise.

• Avoid running on the roads in snowy conditions. Drivers have a decreased ability to maneuver and stop.

• Winter means fewer daylight hours. Wear bright-colored, refl ective clothing or a refl ective vest so you are noticeable to drivers. For added visibility, wear a lightweight head lamp or fl ashing light.

• Wear layers of clothing that will help you maintain your core body temperature during the run but will keep you warm during warm-up and cool-down phases.

• Consider wearing traction devices on your shoes if sidewalks, trails or roads have snow or ice cover.

• If you drive to a running trail or route, leave a change of dry clothes and a blanket in the car for emergency situations.

• Stay alert and aware of your surroundings and the weather conditions. Oncoming storms can quickly drop the temperature, putting you at risk for frostbite or hypothermia if you are caught wearing the wrong clothes.

• Know where to fi nd shelter on your route if the weather gets really bad.

• Do not ignore shivering. It is an important fi rst sign that the body is losing heat, and you may be in danger of hypothermia.

—Source: Road Runners Club of America

Your Diet� is Savory Soup

Helps Keep Winter Weight Gain Away

At just 147 calories and 3 grams of fat — and with a healthy dose of fi ber and protein — this easy-to-make soup is a great way to increase your veggie consumption. It makes a nice lunch with a crusty piece of whole-wheat bread and fruit for dessert.

Broccoli Soup with Lemon and Chives

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 yellow onion, chopped

8 cups chopped broccoli (1½ to 2 pounds)

4 cups water

1 can (15 ounce) white beans, rinsed and drained

Salt and pepper, to taste

Toppings:

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt

¼ cup chopped fresh chives

Salt and pepper, to taste

In soup pot, sauté oil, garlic, onion and broccoli about 10 minutes, until tender. Add water and beans. With a hand blender, puree half of the soup. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Mix lemon juice, yogurt, chives, salt and pepper. Serve drizzled on top of warm soup. —Source: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Here’s to Your Healthy Heart!

GN HConnect Feb15 FINAL.indd 6 12/16/14 11:29 PM

7

“This newsletter is not intended to replace or substitute for the medical advice provided by a healthcare provider. The content of the newsletter is

to be used as a reference tool. While Good Neighbor Pharmacy uses commercially reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of the content, it does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the content and

specifi cally disclaims all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the material contained in

the newsletter unless such liability is due to the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Good Neighbor Pharmacy. The content is not intended to be relied upon by any person or entity for purposes of

medical diagnosis or treatment.”

Diabetes and Seniors

Diabetes and Your HeartToo much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes-related health problems. This high blood glucose can damage the heart and blood vessels. Heart and blood-vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes, the leading causes of death for people with diabetes.

Many people with diabetes have high blood pressure. If you have heart problems, high blood pressure can make them worse. Fortunately, you can do a lot to prevent or slow down these

heart-related problems. If you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor how to lower it. Your doctor may ask you to take blood-pressure medicine.

You can also help control your blood pressure by eating more fruits and vegetables, eating less salt and high-sodium food, losing weight if you need to, being physically active, not smoking and limiting alcoholic drinks.

—Source: National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse

Diabetes in the News

New Technology May Help Save Eyesight Damaged by Diabetic Retinopathy

Abnormal blood-vessel growth in the eyes, known as diabetic retinopathy, is a leading cause of diabetes-related blindness. Advances in treatment — including the advent 30 years ago of laser therapy and, more recently, anti-VEGF, an injectable therapy that prevents blood-vessel growth — have helped preserve vision in people with diabetic retinopathy. But both approaches are limited because they affect surrounding healthy tissue in addition to diseased tissue.

Ashwath Jayagopal, Ph.D., of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, is leading a study to develop targeted therapy for retinopathy that would recognize and deliver therapy only to diseased tissue. His approach involves building tiny carriers that can deliver anti-VEGF therapy to only the diseased blood vessels. He’s currently testing the safety and effi cacy of these nanocarriers in animals and is working toward being able to study this in human trials. If the technology is effective, it could be used to deliver other drugs or therapies specifi cally to diseased tissues while sparing healthy cells.

—Source: American Diabetes Association

GoodNeighborPharmacy.com

Living with DiabetesYour Diabetes Care Team

Taking care of diabetes is a team effort between you and your healthcare team — doctor, diabetes nurse educator, diabetes dietitian educator, pharmacist and others.

Members of your healthcare team will track important information such as your blood-glucose results, weight, blood pressure, medications and the health of your heart, feet and eyes. Your physical-activity plan will be monitored, you will have a meal plan and you will receive counseling about quitting smoking if you smoke. Your team can perform A1C tests, blood-lipid tests, kidney-function tests and more.

But remember: You are the most important member of the team. There are things you can do every day for good diabetes care. Follow your eating plan; be active a total of 30 minutes most days; take your medicines as directed; check your blood glucose daily; check your feet for cuts, soreness or swelling; brush and fl oss your teeth daily; control your blood pressure and cholesterol; and don’t smoke. —Source: American Diabetes Association

GN HConnect Feb15 FINAL.indd 7 12/16/14 11:29 PM

Good Neighbor Pharmacy features affordable, high-quality products with many of the same ingredients found in the top name brands.

All items may not be available in every Good Neighbor Pharmacy location.

February is American Heart MonthYour local Good Neighbor Pharmacy has the products you need to maintain a healthy heart and enjoy an active lifestyle. Talk to your pharmacist today about what products are right for you or visit GoodNeighborPharmacy.com/HeartHealth

8 Here’s to Your Healthy Heart!

GN HConnect Feb15 FINAL.indd 8 12/16/14 11:29 PM