Capsule Comments by Bill Coon, Muskoka Medical Centre Pharmacy

Do you have type O blood? Drink beer. Just kidding

Mosquitoes seem to like to bite people who have type O blood. In fact good research has shown that this blood type attracts mosquitoes twice as often as other blood types. They are also attracted to people who drink a lot of beer although this is just an observation not real research.

Stay hydrated

The hot days of summer can pose a risk of dehydration in adults and children. It’s important that everyone gets plenty of fluids. Participating in sports or other strenuous activities requires extra fluid before the activity begins and repeat fluids every 20 minutes or so. Signs for dehydration include dry mouth, sleepiness, no tears when crying, no wet diapers in infants for 3 hours, dry skin, headache, constipation and thirst.

Microwave before you barbeque

To add safety to grilling meat on the barbeque, nutritionists recommend microwaving the meat for a couple minutes before grilling. This is especially true if you like your steak well done. This cuts down on the time the meat is on the grill and will reduce the amount of heterocyclic amines (HCAs) which form when meat protein is exposed to high heat. HCAs have been linked to colon cancer.

Important to understand how often various side effects may occur

When you receive a new prescription, your pharmacist will discuss the drug with you and give you an information sheet about the drug to take home. Side effects are also listed and some of them are kind of scary. They could be common like nausea and dizziness and can be dealt with easily. Others are quite serious and may have long-term effects. It’s important to understand how often various side effects occur. It may be only in 0.01% of users but it’s good to be aware of this information.

The world of botany

The history of pharmaceuticals is found in the world of botany and natural products as it still is today. Digoxin, a drug still much in use today was used in the late 18th century. It is used today to slow and strengthen the heartbeat. The drug is found naturally in the foxglove plant which can harm due to the toxic chemicals it contains but in prescribed smaller doses can and does save lives.

Be sure to visit Penny at Muskoka Medical Centre Pharmacy in the Home Health Care department for your compression stocking, mastectomy or ostomy needs.

Bill Coon graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto in 1984, and was the Faculty’s Centennial Scholar that same year. Bill and his pharmacist wife, Barbara, along with Paul Whitehead, opened Muskoka Medical Centre Pharmacy in 1990. The understanding that medications are only part of the health solution has lead to Bill’s interest in fitness and health, both personally and professionally. Bill’s Capsule Comments provide a full range of up to date health information.

Muskoka Medical Centre Pharmacy is conveniently located in the Huntsville Professional Building ~ 348 Muskoka Road 3 North, Huntsville Phone:(705) 789-1785

Read more from Bill on the Muskoka Medical Centre Pharmacy Facebook page.