Capsule Comments by Bill Coon, Muskoka Medical Centre Pharmacy

Good news about thumb sucking -There is a “hygiene theory” of immunity that says that allowing your kids to get dirty while playing outside when they are young will reduce the risk of allergies in the future. A study done in New Zealand added to this by suggesting that children who sucked their thumbs as youngsters also had less allergy problems as adolescents and adults.

Tapering doses – Certain classes of routinely-taken medications should not be stopped suddenly. Instead, doses should be tapered gradually to avoid any withdrawal symptoms or worsening of the medical problem being treated. Some drug classes include antidepressants, antipsychotics, anti-seizure drugs, Parkinson’s drugs and benzodiazepine drugs (sedative/tranquilizers). Before changing your dose, talk to your doctor or pharmacist first.

Don’t stick anything smaller than your elbow in your ear – Most people are aware of this warning but many still do it to themselves and even their children. That’s using cotton swabs to clean out ear wax. This practice can cause injury to the ear and emergency room personnel see many people injured in this manner. Don’t use cotton swabs in the ear. The ear canal is usually self-cleaning but if you’re concerned, check with your doctor.

Link between Gout and sleep apnea – Gout is a complex form of arthritis that causes severe attacks of pain, redness and tenderness in joints often in the big toe. There has been studies done recently that show a possible link between gout and sleep apnea, a condition where breathing stops many times during sleep. Although sleep apnea doesn’t cause gout, if you suffer from gout, get yourself checked for sleep apnea.

Six mandatory health tests – There are so many different medical tests that people can have done to assess the state of their health. However there are six that should be mandatory. These six are: mammograms to check for breast cancer; Pap smear for cervical cancer; colonoscopy to check for colon cancer; A1c test for diabetes; blood test to measure cholesterol levels and an easy one … blood pressure check. Ensure the appropriate ones are done to assess the state of your health.

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

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