BLOG

Capsule moments

BABY ASA WITH NO CARDIAC HX:

It’s human nature to think that something as “innocuous” as a baby ASA can harm adults. It was made originally for babies, after all.  And if that baby ASA just might prevent a heart attack, well why not take it? Good insurance, right?  I’m sure many people do just that not realizing there is some danger in doing it.  It’s been proven that taking low-dose ASA does not benefit those who have never had a heart attack and have no family history of heart disease.  It is recommended for those who have not had a heart attack but have had a stent placed in the coronary artery, had by-pass surgery or who have active angina.  The main side effects of daily ASA is gastrointestinal bleeding and increased risk of stomach ulcers.  While it can help prevent a clot-related stroke it could increase the risk of a hemorrhagic stroke.  If asked, pharmacists should encourage patients to see their doctors about whether low-dose ASA is  appropriate.

SMOKING AND SURGERY:

Smoking can slow down and interfere with the healing of bones, skin and other body tissues.  Smokers are more likely to suffer from wound infections, longer healing times and problems

with scarring compared to those who have stopped smoking for eight weeks or more.  As we know, nicotine in cigarette smoke in heart rate and blood pressure.  As well, the carbon monoxide produced by burning tobacco depletes the oxygen levels in the blood.   All these effects can result in a slower recovery time from surgery. 

DARK SKIN AND SUN DAMAGE MYTH:

There is a great misconception that dark-skinned persons don’t need to use sunscreens.  Since their skin contains more melanin, the feeling is that they are protected naturally from sun damage.  It is true that dark-skinned people are less likely to be diagnosed with melanoma but when they are diagnosed, it is usually at a later stage of the disease which makes it more difficult to treat.  Just a note of about the sun’s rays:  UVB is more energetic but is blocked by window glass and is the main cause of sunburn.  UVA rays are less energetic but penetrate more deeply into the skin and are not blocked by window glass.  One type of ray I forgot about is UVC.  It is the most dangerous but currently is entirely screened out from reaching the earth by the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere.  Those aerosols pharmacists dispensed in the 70s and 80s were partly responsible for a thinning of the ozone layer and in 1989, a ban on these propellant was agreed to worldwide and the ozone layer returned to normal by the mid-90s. (Political comment: it would be nice if worldwide cooperation could be achieved with global warming.)

FLOSSING AND CHILDREN:

By introducing good oral hygiene early in their children’s lives, parents can instil a sense of how important it is for good long-term health. If children are introduced to good brushing and flossing techniques early in life, chances are good that they will continue into their teen and adult years.