Stress Management, Naturally
CD Whyte Ridge Pharmacy Presents:
An engaging educational seminar presented by renowned consultant pharmacist:
Dennis Wong, B.Sc. Pharm., FAARFM, CCN, ABAAHP
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Time: 6:30 pm
Place: Caboto Centre, 1055 Wilkes Avenue
Cost: $10 – plus a chance to win a book draw!
RSVP: (204) 488-1819 or info@cdwhyteridgerx.com
** RSVP required in advance **
Join leading-edge consultant pharmacists Dennis Wong, Tara Maltman-Just and Garth Yelland to uncover the truth behind stress, cortisol function, adrenal health, nutrients and herbs impact on your body, your weight and your overall health.
Start the year off right. Start feeling better now.
Chronic Stress and Adrenal Dysfunction
“The most wonderful time of the year” may unfortunately become “the most stressful time of the year” for many people. Societal expectations, family obligations, job pressures, and economic hardship can result in stress, and if that stress becomes chronic, it can result in Adrenal Dysfunction and ultimately lead to:
- Mood disorders and depression
- Increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases
- Osteoporosis
- Dementia/memory loss
- Sleep disorders
- Insulin resistance/diabetes
- Reproductive disorders
- Premature aging
The adrenal glands are involved in the “fight or flight” response. One of the body’s initial responses to fear or stress is the release of hormones such as epinephrine (adrenaline) and cortisol that initially help us to react or adapt to a stressful situation. Cortisol raises blood sugar and blood pressure, and increases the breakdown of protein while inhibiting protein synthesis. Cortisol interferes with thyroid hormone action and stimulates visceral fat deposition, which can lead to metabolic syndrome. Medical literature has confirmed the correlation between high levels of cortisol secondary to chronic stress (hypercortisolism) and disease development, including:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Immune suppression
- Impaired thyroid function
- Decreased kidney function
- Exacerbation of skin conditions (acne, psoriasis, eczema)
- Gastrointestinal problems (GERD, Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
Over time, the body may no longer be able to produce the needed amounts of cortisol and patients can ultimately end up with low cortisol levels (hypocortisolism).
Factors which influence the development and progression of adrenal dysfunction:
- Duration and severity of stress
- Previous exposure to chronic stressors
- Individual coping mechanisms
- Gender (females are more likely to develop adrenal dysfunction than males)
- Personality (introversion)
- Low self-esteem
Treatment of Adrenal Dysfunction
- Stress reduction techniques –Gentle exercise, Tai Chi, yoga, Pilates, meditation
- Sleep hygiene – Regular sleep-wake cycle, avoid third shift work. The following supplements may be helpful: 5-HTP, Melatonin, Phosphatidylserine, L-Theanine, Calming herbs (Valerian root, Chamomile, Hops, Passion flower)
- Lifestyle modification – Delegating responsibilities to eliminate stressors, regular meals, avoid caffeine and alcohol
- Vitamins and minerals – Magnesium Glycinate or Citrate, B Vitamins, selenium, zinc, calcium, manganese, Vitamin E with mixed tocopherols, Vitamin C (Ascorbate)
- Adaptogens – Ashwaganda, Rhodiola, Holy Basil, Siberian Ginseng, American Ginseng, Cordyceps
- Pharmacologic therapy – Low doses of hydrocortisone (by prescription, and closely monitored) have been found to help when the body fails to produce sufficient amounts of cortisol.
Our pharmacist will work together with patients and their physicians to treat adrenal dysfunction.
Copyright 2010, Storey Marketing. All rights reserved.
Personal Invitation to Education Seminar
We would like to invite you and your friends and Family members to Human Identical Hormone Therapy (BHRT) and Stress Management Seminar
CD Whyte Ridge Pharmacy presents: An engaging education seminar presented by leading-edge clinical consultant pharmacist Dennis Wong, B.Sc. Pharm., FAARFM, CCN, ABAAHP Date: November 1, 2010 Time: 6:30 pm Place: Caboto Centre, 1055 Wlikes Ave. Cost: $20, includes one free BHRT book by Dr. Gilson ($15 value) RSVP: (204) 488-1819 or info@cdwhyteridgerx.com
**RSVP require in advance**
Refreshments will be served
Join Dennis Wong and clinical consultant pharmacist Tara Maltman-Just and Garth Yelland to uncover the truth behind human identical hormones, nutrients and herbs and their use in all hormonal areas including: Perimenopause, Menopause, Postmenopause, PMS, Thyroid function, Stress minimization and Weight management.
Start feeling better now …..
Medications with a Personal Touch To Solve Problems and Improve your Quality of Life
- Are commercially available medications simply not working for you?
- Do you have allergies or need medications which are free of problem-causing ingredients such as sugar, lactose, dyes, alcohol, gluten, or preservatives?
- Are you concerned about or unable to take a medication due to side effects?
- Do you need a medication that is unavailable?
- Would it be easier to take a medication unavailable in the strength, flavor and dosage form that is best for you?
We can help by compounding a customized medication that meets your specific needs. We will prepare your medication using the finest ingredients from an FDA-inspected and approved supplier. Our compounding laboratory contains precision equipment (such as an ointment mill and capsule machine) that is not found in most pharmacies, enabling us to compound each medication to exact specifications. We can change the route of administration – for example from oral to transdermal – to simplify administration or decrease side effects, enhance compliance to medication protocols and improve therapeutic outcomes.
If the flavor or smell of a medication is a problem, we have the solution! Over a hundred flavors are available to please the palates of children, the elderly, those who are chronically ill, and even our furry and feathered friends! Root beer, watermelon, coffee, beef or fish are just a few examples.
Topical and transdermal creams and gels can be compounded for patients cannot swallow their medications and to avoid side effects and reduce the risk of interactions associated with oral administration. Medication can be placed in a transdermal base for absorption through the skin to treat a systemic problem, such as nausea; or applied topically to the problem area to relieve pain, inflammation, or spasms.
Patients with chronic or terminal illness are often unable to swallow tablets or capsules but wish to remain at home and avoid injections. Many types of medications including those needed to control nausea, seizures, and pain can be compounded as solutions, suspensions, lozenges, lollipops, transdermal creams or gels, suppositories, etc., to make it easier for both caregivers and patients.
When you need a medication that is unavailable or has been discontinued for a non-safety reason, we can usually obtain the active ingredient in chemical form and compound the preparation.
Bring us your medication problems. We are problem-solving specialists!
Let us help you balance your health!
Health Tip: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Chronic Fatigue and Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome, CFIDS) and Fibromyalgia (FM) have similar symptoms that commonly include severe fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive problems (“brain fog”), muscle pain and multiple infections.
When treatment is individualized to address the entire spectrum of these diseases, truly remarkable success can be obtained. Treatment for infections and enhancement of immune function is key, and hormone balance is essential for optimal outcomes.
Adrenal deficiency is very common in patients with CFIDS/FM, and is often the cause of serious fatigue. If poor adrenal function is undiagnosed, it can mean the difference between treatment success and failure. Standard methods of evaluating thyroid function may be inadequate for CFIDS/FM patients. For example, “low normal” thyroid test values are significant, and can cause fatigue, depression, difficulty losing weight, and may increase the risk of heart disease.
Ask our pharmacists for more information.
Nutrition Tip: Adrenal Support
It is impossible for a person to achieve optimal hormonal balance if their adrenal glands have been overworked in response to chronic stress. Recommendations to improve adrenal health include eating wholesome food, getting plenty of sleep, regular moderate exercise, stress management, slowing down to regain a proper perspective on life, and replacement of deficient nutrients and hormones. Proper adrenal support can often have profound effects.
Our pharmacist can help you to select the most appropriate professional, quality adrenal extracts and nutritional supplements.
Customized Medications: Balancing Hormones
Based on the results of non-invasive saliva or blood spot testing and a complete evaluation of signs and symptoms, if a hormone deficiency is diagnosed, experienced practitioners can prescribe customized hormones in the most appropriate dose and dosage form.
For example, most hypothyroid patients are treated only with levothyroxine (synthetic T4 which the body can convert to the active hormone, T3). However, despite treatment with levothyroxine, some hypothyroid patients remain symptomatic, and a combination of levothyroxine and T3 may be required for optimal thyroid replacement therapy. However, the only commercially available form of T3 is synthetic liothyronine sodium. Liothyronine is an immediate release formulation which is rapidly absorbed, and may result in higher than normal T3 concentrations throughout the body causing serious side effects, including heart palpitations. Research indicates there is a need for sustained-release T3 preparations in order to avoid adverse effects.
We welcome your questions!
Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy at CD Whyte Ridge
At CD Whyte Ridge Compounding Pharmacy one of our specialties are bio-identical hormone replacement therapies (BHRT). These are therapies designed to ameliorate the symptoms caused by menopause and other conditions. Basically as a woman gets older her hormone levels change and BHRT attempts to adjust the hormone level back to an optimal level.
What Are Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapies?
Bio-identical hormone replacement therapies (BHRT) involve using specially compounded mixtures of hormones or manufactured doses to replace those lost by the patient. Progesterone, estrogen and testosterone are all normal hormones but age and other factors change the amount within each individual’s body. BHRT changes the amount back to the optimal level for each individual. It is the focus on individual hormone levels as practiced by the CD Whyte Ridge Compounding Pharmacy that truly differentiates our BHRT therapies from commercial ones.
Manufactured hormones from drug companies have specific strengths and therefore there is no flexibility in dosages. Compounded BHRT therapies however can be tailored down to the lowest effective dose to make it a truly personalized therapy.
Also, by using hormone saliva testing (a simple, non-intrusive test of the patient’s saliva to determine what hormones are needed) we have a better idea how much of what hormone needs to be replaced. This type of testing means that Winnipeg’s CD Whyte Ridge compounding pharmacy can monitor conditions very closely throughout therapy.
In the Past
In the past hormone therapy was prescribed regularly to deal with symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes, vaginal dryness and night sweats were some of the symptoms that women faced and hormone therapy was found to be a solution. Unfortunately studies showed unsafe health risks brought about by the therapies, specifically an increased incidence of breast cancer, strokes and heart disease.
The Solution?
Bio-identical hormone replacement therapies were developed as a response to the dangers of normal hormone therapies. By using compounds developed from sources like yams and soya plants hormones are created that are molecularly identical to those found in the female body. That means that the body accepts the new hormones without many of the side effects of non-BHRT hormones.
It also means that monitoring the hormone level in the body is easy. A simple saliva test allows for the overall level of hormones (both naturally produced and introduced) to be measured very quickly and accurately.
In the End
In the final analysis it is up to you, the patient, to decide what therapies to follow. Compounded Bio-Identical Hormone therapies offer individualized hormone therapy tailor made to your particular needs. And you can use a Compounding Pharmacy like CD Whyte Ridge or the manufactured dosages prepared by a drug company.
Before you make any decision though you should talk with your own doctor because, after all, it’s your body!
Health in the Mosquito Season
In Winnipeg, Manitoba, we take our mosquito problems seriously.
Faced with almost 50 varieties of mosquitoes, several of which can potentially carry the possibly lethal West Nile Virus, we need to take them seriously.
Mosquitoes are members of the biting fly family of insects and females need blood in order to produce eggs. The females use a long mouth called a proboscis to obtain blood and eggs are laid in standing water and hatch in about seven days as larvae, eventually these become pupae and finally adult mosquitoes. When the mosquito bites they deliver anti-coagulants to the victim along with assorted enzymes. Most people (but not all!) react to the anti-coagulant and the result is itching and swelling at the site of the bite.
The City of Winnipeg recommends a variety of strategies to deal with mosquitoes:
• Make sure all doors and windows fit properly and have tight-fitting, fine mesh screens.
• Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants that are light coloured and loose fitting.
• Apply an insect repellent that contains DEET. (DEET is not recommended for children under the age of 6 months.) For more information, go the Manitoba Government web site at http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/wnv/.
• Reduce outdoor activity where mosquitoes are abundant and active. This will be in heavily vegetated areas and on days that are calm and humid, particularly near sunrise and sunset.
• Cover baby carriages and strollers with fine mesh netting to protect infants.
(Source: http://www.winnipeg.ca/cms/bugline/mosquitoes/mosquito_information.stm)
In addition home and apartment owners can perform a variety of other simple tasks to reduce the number of mosquitoes. Most effectively they can drain containers of standing water left outside this will deprive larvae of a place to develop.
The West Nile Virus
The good news is that there are a very small number of mosquitoes that can carry the West Nile Virus in Manitoba, most notably the relatively rare Culex tarsalis. According to initial studies in 1999 (when the disease reached North America from Africa) the actual chances of getting infected with West Nile are very low. Between 1% and 3% of the population of Queens in New York showed evidence of exposure after the first outbreak. Of those who did get infected 80% show no symptoms and only 1 in 150 of those who are infected show serious signs of infection like Meningitis or Encephalitis with between 5% and 10% of this final group dying.
In Manitoba the number of serious cases of West Nile is quite low, “The number of serious WNV cases in Manitoba has ranged from 1 to 72 per year since 2003. The number of WNV-related deaths per year has ranged from 0-4.” (Source: http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/wnv/intro.html)
Keeping the Bugs Away
Fortunately West Nile can be prevented simply by keeping the mosquitoes away. Towards that end there are a wide number of options, the chemical DEET (found in most over-the-counter insect repellents, it acts by making it harder for mosquitoes to zero in on carbon dioxide, the normal way mosquitoes hunt) being the most common. However many scientists promote plant-based repellents based on eucalyptus, soy-bean oil and citronella and the Government of Manitoba has information to determine who can safely use each type of repellent. This is available at http://www.wrha.mb.ca/healthinfo/a-z/files/wnv_Repellent.pdf but I will break it down:
Everyone:
•Can use insect repellent that contains Soybean Oil (the 2% solution lasts about 3 hours)
Children Under 6 Months of Age:
•Should not use DEET
Children 6 Months to 2 Years Old:
•Can use insect repellent with up to 10% DEET (check the bottle for concentrations) once per day, each application will last about 3 hours
Children between 2 and 12 Years of Age:
•Can use insect repellent containing up to 10% DEET up to three times a day, each application will last about 3 hours
Children Under 3 Years of Age:
•Should NOT insect repellents with Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
•Should NOT insect repellents with Citronella Oil
Adults and Individuals 3 Years of Age and Older:
•Can use insect repellent with up to 30% Lemon Eucalyptus Oil, each application will last up to 5 hours for the 30% solution (2 hours for the 10% solution)
•Can use insect repellent with up to 15% Citronella Oil, each application will last up to 1 hours for the 15% solution (30 minutes for the 5% solution)
Adults and Individuals 12 Years Old and Older:
•Can use insect repellent containing up to 30% DEET (each application will last about 6 hours)
Please Note: At CD Whyte Ridge Pharmacy, we make natural citronella mosquito repellents for our clients. That’s because we don’t like mosquitoes either and we’re not all that fond of the chemical smell of DEET!
Wishing you the best of health and a mosquito-free summer,
Dennis Wong, Owner of CD Whyte Ridge, Consultant Pharmacist
Drug Ads and the Consumer
Drug ads have been around for a long time and, for most of that time, they’ve had a very bad reputation. Fanciful advertisements for medicines in the nineteenth century led to a famous series of articles printed in Collier’s magazine by Samuel Hopkins Adams starting on 7 October 1905:
GULLIBLE America will spend this year some seventy-five millions of dollars in the purchase of patent medicines. In consideration of this sum it will swallow huge quantities of alcohol, an appalling amount of opiates and narcotics, a wide assortment of varied drugs ranging from powerful and dangerous heart depressants to insidious liver stimulants; and, in excess of all other ingredients, undiluted fraud.
(Source: The Great American Fraud, Collier’s Magazine)
The drugs promised quick and easy relief for hundreds of problems and ailments although most of them actually had few, if any, ingredients that worked. And they were very heavily advertised everywhere. Finally Dr. Harvey Wiley of the United States Department of Agriculture convinced the US Congress to pass the Pure Food and Drug Act which drastically limited advertisement options and started rigorous testing of health products.
Doctors and pharmacists at the time knew that many medicines had no effect or were, in fact, dangerous. Before the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act it was common for pharmacists to have signs in their windows that stated:
For you embarrass us, as our honest answer must be that IT IS WORTHLESS
(Source:The Great American Fraud, Collier’s Magazine)
Flash Forward a Hundred Years
A 2002 study by Barbara Mintzes published in the British Medical Journal found that:
Patients’ requests for medicines are a powerful driver of prescribing decisions. In most cases physicians prescribed requested medicines but were often ambivalent about the choice of treatment.
(Source: http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/324/7332/278)
According to a paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007 pharmaceutical promotion grew from $11,400,000,000.00 (USD) in 1996 to $29,900,000,000.00 (USD) in 2005. That amount of money means that the ads are omni prevalent and have been for the past ten years. Examples include Lunesta to combat sleeplessness, Prozac for depression, Viagara for impotence and Esomprazole to deal with acid reflux. And the list goes on as sophisticated ads with recognizable voices push brand-name drugs into the public consciousness.
Is It All Bad?
It’s important to note that in Canada Health Canada authorizes advertisements for products and has a variety of special requirements – in many ways Canada is much stricter than the United States. Despite the difference between the two countries however the cross border nature of the ads (where the broadcaster is, etc.) means that many ads are influencing Canadians anyway.
These ads have an effect on both sides of the border and can spur patients to ask their doctors for more drugs and that can lead to over-prescription, with all its dangers.
That is the greatest problem.
However drug ads are not inherently wrong – they can be helpful to patients as long as both the patients and the doctor or pharmacist can communicate. Drug ads:
- Can encourage patients to seek new treatments for existing problems
- Can inform patients about risks and conditions
And, most importantly:
- Can encourage patients to ask questions of their health professionals
And that’s a very good thing indeed because when dialogue begins then everything else will follow.
Wishing you the best of health,
Dennis Wong, Owner of CD Whyte Ridge, Consultant Pharmacist
New Tools to Stop Smoking
Stopping smoking isn’t easy and it’s almost never as simple as going cold turkey!
At CD Whyte Ridge Pharmacy we are constantly looking for effective ways to help our clients quit this dangerous (and increasingly expensive) habit. Because, is you quit smoking, “. . . you’ll start feeling better within 24 hours. The minute you stop smoking, your body will begin cleansing itself of tobacco toxins. Two days after you quit, your risk of heart attack will start decreasing . . .” (Source: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/tobac-tabac/quit-cesser/index_e.html)
So now is the time to stop smoking and CD Whyte Ridge can help you do it.
Genetics and Tobacco Addiction
Recently scientists have discovered a genetic link that makes people more prone to become addicted to tobacco and to develop cancer. This link was found by three separate groups of scientists working in the United States, Canada and Europe and involved the study of 35,000 individuals of European descent. Basically the gene (or closely linked series of three genes) on chromosome 15 makes the people who have it more likely to become addicted to smoking and less likely to quit once they start.
Smokers who only have the gene from one parent have a 30% greater chance of getting lung cancer but smokers who inherit the gene from both parents (10% of the population) end up with an 80% greater chance of developing lung cancer! How the gene actually works is currently being argued; does the gene make the owner more prone to contract cancer or does the gene make the owner prone to smoke more?
In any case quitting smoking deals with the problem, permanently.
Solutions
At CD Whyte Ridge Pharmacy we can offer several solutions to help you stop smoking. We can offer nicotine replacement therapies (like gum or patches) but, more importantly, we can offer our help in developing a Therapeutic Lifestyle Program to help you quit (check out our November 7, 2007 Newsletter for more information). This program, which consists of physical and mental exercises combined with changes in diet and the inclusion of supplements, is designed to make you healthier. However we have also discovered that the program has dramatic power to control the cravings smokers feel as they quit.
That means that the program makes it easier for you to quit!
Think about it this way, if you stop smoking you will be healthier and live longer. You will also save yourself $1,725.00 this year alone (figuring about 12 cigarettes a day or 23 cartons of cigarettes a year at $75.00 per carton), enough for a vacation.
Wishing you the best of health and a good vacation,
Dennis Wong, Owner of CD Whyte Ridge, Consultant Pharmacist
Health and Traveling
What Every Tourist Should Know
Canadians are noted travellers and are commonly seen in all corners of the world. However travelling outside of Canada can entail risks; risks that a prudent tourist can easily avoid with forethought and help from their doctor and pharmacist.
In 2007 Canadians made 7,400,000 trips overseas to countries (not counting trips to the United States). According to 2006 figures from Statistics Canada the top ten countries Canadians visited (not counting the United States) were:
• Mexico
• United Kingdom
• France
• Cuba
• Dominican Republic
• Germany
• Italy
• China
• The Netherlands
Source: http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/arts37a.html
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada:
If you are traveling internationally you should be
aware that conditions in other countries, both natural
and man-made, may be significantly different from
those in Canada and may seriously affect health and
personal security during travel.
Source: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/index-eng.php
Basically, when you travel, you do so at your own risk: so be careful. If you are travelling outside of Canada you may need immunization. It can take several weeks for an immunization to become effective so travellers should consult a physician two months before your trip in order to be safe. Consulting with your physician will also allow you to decide what steps need to be taken to ensure that your trip is as pleasant as possible.
The first thing you should do is make sure that your normal immunizations are brought up to date; these are the immunizations which most Canadians received in childhood for diseases like:
• Diphtheria (a bacterial infection, this disease in currently common in some Eastern European countries)
• Measles (a highly infectious disease, endemic in many parts of the world)
• Polio (a viral disease, intermittent outbreaks occur all over the world)
• Tetanus (caused by a toxin produced by bacteria and prevalent throughout the world)
The Canadian Public Health Agency also recommends a series of “normal” immunizations for diseases such as Hepatitis B (a viral disease, more serious than Hepatitis A, also fairly common in developing countries and many rural areas) and Rubella (also known as German Measles, it is caused by a virus and occurs around the world. Since the disease can cause birth defects all women of childbearing age should receive immunization).
Other diseases that you might need immunization against include:
• European tick borne Encephalitis (a viral disease fairly common in Russia and parts of Europe)
• Hepatitis A (a viral disease fairly common in developing countries and many rural areas)
• Japanese Encephalitis (a viral disease transmitted by mosquito bite, occurs throughout most of East Asia)
• Meningococcal meningitis (a bacterial infection fairly common in Sub-Saharan Africa with outbreaks that have also occurred in locales as distant as Brazil and Nepal)
• Rabies (an acute viral infection that occurs in many areas of the world)
• Typhoid (a disease caused by bacteria, outbreaks happen throughout the world)
• Yellow Fever (a viral disease that is very common in many tropical countries)
It also might be necessary to take anti-Malarial medications to control this disease which is commonly found in many tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world.
Other advice for travellers everywhere includes using anti-mosquito spray and covering (as many diseases including Yellow Fever and Malaria) are spread by mosquito bites, drinking either boiled or bottled water (to counteract simple conditions like diarrhea and more serious diseases like Typhoid) and making sure your travel insurance is up to date!
If these simple precautions are taken then travelling to new lands becomes a pleasure so take care and have fun. Taking care of the little health details early means that you can relax and enjoy the overall experience without concern. If you have any other questions or concerns please do not hesitate to ask the pharmacists at CD Whyteridge and we will do our best to help you.
Bon Voyage!
Set up a Consultation
CD Whyte Ridge Pharmacy
123 G Scurfield Blvd., Winnipeg, MB R3Y 1L6
Phone: 204-488-1819 · Fax: 204-489-2828
CinDen Pharmacy
1600 Pembina Hwy., Winnipeg, MB R3T 5Z2
Phone: 204-452-7989 · Fax: 204-452-7585
