Your immune system protects you from viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens that can cause illness. If you want to avoid getting sick, you can help your body fight off illness by boosting your immune health. There are certain lifestyle changes, dietary supplements, and other things that can help strengthen your body’s immune response so you can stay healthy. Here are some of the best ways to boost your immune system:
7 Ways to Boost Your Immune SystemA nosebleed, also called epistaxis, occurs when you lose blood from the tissue lining the inside of your nose. The tiny blood vessels in your nasal tissues are very fragile, and various factors can cause them to break. Approximately 60 percent of people will experience at least one nosebleed in their life. Keep reading to learn more about nosebleeds, including their most common causes and how to stop them.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Nosebleeds?Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Eating a heart-healthy diet may help reduce your risk of heart disease. Prioritize eating whole, natural foods and limit your consumption of processed foods and those that contain excess sugar, fat, and salt. Keep reading to discover some of the top foods for heart health that you should consider adding to your daily diet.
Top 7 Foods for Heart HealthYour body can’t produce vitamin C on its own, so you need to get it from external sources. This essential vitamin can be found in fruits and vegetables like citrus, bell peppers, strawberries, and spinach. Though it’s generally recommended to get your recommended daily amount of vitamin C from diet, that’s not always possible. Many people benefit from taking supplements to increase their intake of this important vitamin. Here are some reasons why you may benefit from taking vitamin C:
5 Reasons to Take Vitamin CDietary fiber is primarily found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. This non-digestible carbohydrate is one of the main reasons why whole plant foods are good for you and recommended as part of a healthy diet. There are a lot of health benefits of getting enough fiber, ranging from digestion to heart health. Here are some of the biggest benefits of fiber for your health:
Top 6 Benefits of Fiber for Your HealthThe human body regulates blood sugar by producing a hormone called insulin, which enables cells to use the sugar circulating in your blood. There are many factors that can affect your body’s ability to manage blood sugar, leading to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Managing blood sugar is especially important for individuals with diabetes to avoid potentially life threatening complications. If you need help managing your high blood sugar, try the following ways to lower blood sugar naturally.
8 Natural Ways to Lower Blood SugarAre you planning a trip abroad? One of the best parts about traveling to another country is bringing back souvenirs; however, one souvenir you don’t want to bring back home with you is a potentially dangerous disease like typhoid or malaria. Before you travel outside the country, it’s important to make sure you’re on top of all the necessary vaccines so you can protect yourself and your loved ones from diseases to which you could be exposed. Here’s what you need to know about travel vaccines to help you stay safe during and after your trip:
Passport to Health: Your Guide to Travel VaccinesMaintaining good bone health is essential, especially as you age. Your bones are constantly being broken down and reformed in a process called bone remodeling, and this process requires certain nutrients in order to occur properly and keep your bones healthy. It’s important to make sure your body is getting enough of these nutrients to support bone health, and this isn’t always possible through diet alone. That’s where supplements come in. Here are some of the top supplements for bone health that may be beneficial:
Top 6 Supplements for Bone HealthYour body needs vitamins and minerals to function. Different vitamins and minerals have different jobs in the body and can affect everything from blood clotting to bone strength to mood. For some people, eating a balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats can provide all the nutrients they need. However, it’s not always possible to get everything you need from food alone. That’s where multivitamins can help. These daily supplements contain multiple vitamins and minerals that your body requires. Here are some of the reasons why you should take a multivitamin every day.
5 Reasons to Take a Multivitamin Every DayBeing outside on a sunny day can feel good, and spending time in the sun has been associated with improved mental health. However, the sun can also be your skin’s worst enemy. Sun exposure can cause sunburn, wrinkles, dark spots, and even skin cancer. Thankfully, there are a number of steps you can take to protect your skin from sun damage that we recommend making into daily habits all year long.
How to Protect Your Skin from Sun DamageWhen your body is exposed to an unknown substance like dust, viruses that cause cold and flu, bacteria, or allergens, it launches an immune response. This response often causes inflammation, which can affect the blood vessels inside the nasal passages and result in nasal tissues swelling. A buildup of mucus can also occur. This swelling and mucus buildup cause nasal congestion, which makes your nose feel stuffy and difficult to breathe through. Here are some of the best remedies for nasal congestion that can help you breathe easier.
Top 7 Remedies for Nasal CongestionAre you considering long-term care options for a loved one? There are several types of long-term care, including retirement communities, medically-based senior assisted living, home medical assistance, and aging at home with non-medical companion care. The type of care your loved one needs depends on their physical and mental abilities. If their health is in good standing, non-medical companion care may be the best option. This guide will cover everything you need to know about non-medical companion care to help you decide if it’s right for your loved one.
What You Need to Know About Non-Medical Companion CareIf you want to lose weight, you need to not only make changes to your eating habits but also to your exercise routine. Regular physical activity will make a huge difference in helping you along your weight loss journey and improving your overall health. If you are trying to lose weight, you should aim to do a minimum of 300 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week. Here’s a list of some of the best exercises for weight loss that you can try to help you reach your goals.
6 of the Best Exercises for Weight LossSeasonal allergies, also known as hay fever, refers to the occurrence of allergic rhinitis at a particular time of year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 25 percent of adults and 19 percent of children in the U.S. have seasonal allergies. Allergies occur when your immune system reacts to an allergen such as pollen, dust, mold, etc. Your immune system responds by trying to fight allergens off like germs, and this response causes symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, sinus pressure, headache, sore throat, and others. These symptoms can be irritating and unpleasant, so keep reading to find out how to treat seasonal allergies to keep your symptoms at bay.
How to Treat Seasonal Allergies: 5 Remedies to Keep Symptoms in CheckThere are so many vitamins and supplements available that it can be difficult to know which ones you need, especially since every body has different needs. While it’s best to get the nutrients you need from your diet, that isn’t always possible. That’s when supplements may be necessary. Here are some of the vitamins that are very important for women’s health that you may want to pay attention to.
Top 5 Vitamins for Women’s HealthIt’s never fun to be sick. Whether you have a cold, the flu, or another respiratory illness, you likely want relief from your symptoms as soon as possible. While there are no remedies that can cure your illness immediately, there are a few things you can do to minimize the unpleasant symptoms you’re experiencing such as nasal congestion, cough, and sore throat. Here are some of the best remedies for cold and flu symptoms that may help provide the relief you’re seeking.
6 of the Best Remedies for Cold and Flu SymptomsThe holiday season is just around the corner, which means you may be more stressed than usual. This may put you in a not-so-cheery mood and can cause others around you to become stressed as well. Lucky for you, we have some tips and tricks about how to manage your stress for the holidays!
3 Basic Tips for Managing Holiday StressManaging your medications can be a daunting task, especially if you are taking a variety of medications for multiple health conditions. That’s why our pharmacy team here at Village Discount Drugs provides medication therapy management as an extra pharmacy service. Our goal is to help you better manage your medications so you can live a healthier life with less stress. Here’s everything you need to know about our medication therapy management service and how you may benefit from it.
Medication Therapy Management: What Is It?Influenza, or flu, viruses are detected in the United States year-round, but they tend to circulate much more prominently during the fall and winter months. This time of year is known as flu season. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the flu and flu season this year.
Everything You Need to Know About Flu SeasonAntibiotics are an essential part of treatment for many infections and can save lives, but any time antibiotics are used, they can cause side effects and contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance. In U.S. doctors’ offices and emergency departments, at least 28% of antibiotic courses prescribed each year are unnecessary, which makes improving antibiotic prescribing and use a national priority. (1) Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections by either killing the bacteria or making it difficult for the bacteria to grow and multiply. (2) Antibiotics ONLY treat certain infections caused by bacteria, such as:
Antibiotics: The Importance of Compliance and Antimicrobial ResistanceStaying active with regular exercise is important for keeping your body and heart healthy and reducing chances of heart disease. All movement is good movement, but if you want to keep your heart healthy and strong, you need to exercise intentionally with a consistent workout schedule. Here are some of the best exercises for heart health that you should start including in your regular workout schedule.
6 Best Exercises for Heart HealthDiabetes is a long-term health condition that affects your body’s ability to turn food into energy. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas stops producing insulin. Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body has insulin resistance, which results in your pancreas producing extra insulin; however, over time it is unable to keep up. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can cause too much sugar in the bloodstream. Many of the typical early signs of diabetes are easy to ignore, and one in five people with diabetes don’t know they have it. That’s why you should keep a close eye out for the following early signs of diabetes.
The Early Signs of DiabetesMany people around the world struggle with their mental health and although some individuals struggle more than others, resulting in a mental health disorder (1), it all ties into our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.(2) Our mental health affects the way we think, feel, act, make choices, and relate to others.
Struggling With Mental Health? You’re Not Alone!Stress can have a lot of effects on your body, from tense muscles to digestive problems to anxiety and more. It can be difficult to know what to do to relieve stress. That’s why we’ve put together this list of some of the best stress management activities that you can try out to experience relief from the stress you’re feeling.
10 Best Stress Management Activities and How They HelpMany men struggle with losing weight, especially as they get older. While there are a lot of weight loss programs and products out there, sometimes the best way to lose weight and keep it off is by making simple changes to your lifestyle. If you are a man trying to lose a few pounds, try following these weight loss tips for men for effective, long-lasting weight loss.
Top 9 Weight Loss Tips for MenFlu season is almost here and let’s face it — no one has time for sniffles and coughs. Save yourself the time and suffering. You have the power to protect yourself and the ones you love from influenza and as your trusted health resource, we are here to help you do just that. Here is everything you need to know about getting vaccinated against the flu:
Flu Vaccines: Everything You Need to KnowThe biggest contributor to skin damage is the sun. While the sun’s rays may feel good, too much time in the sun can cause a lot of damage over the years. When the sun’s UV rays hit unprotected skin, they cause changes at the cellular level that can lead to premature aging and even skin cancer. The most common signs of sun damage are dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles, and a rough skin texture. While you can never completely reverse these skin changes, there are some treatments that can help undo some of the damage. If you’re wondering how to treat sun damaged skin, take a look at the following treatments.
How to Treat Sun Damaged SkinOur bodies are exposed to harmful chemicals every day in the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the environment we live in. Because of this, it’s important to help your body get rid of toxins that may disrupt its normal activity. There are a number of detox products out there, but there are also a lot of things you can do to cleanse and rejuvenate your body naturally. Find out how to detox your body naturally and safely with the following tips.
How to Rejuvenate Your Body: Top 7 Ways to Detox Your Body Naturally & SafelyWith so many available resources online now, misconceptions about medications are becoming more and more common. But taking medication can be an important part of your overall health, and having the correct information is extremely important to keep you safe and healthy. Here are some of the top myths about medications, and the facts that debunk these myths:
Myths About MedicationsIt is likely that you or someone you know has suffered from some type of chronic disease. Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, stroke, or cancer, are more common than one might think and are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.
Top 7 Chronic Diseases in AmericaFor most, having a healthy lifestyle is a top priority. Eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly are often the first things people think of when looking to make positive lifestyle changes. However, many people who are active and eat well can still be missing out on certain nutrients without realizing it.
Combating 7 of the Most Common Nutrient DeficienciesHormones are your body’s chemical messengers that travel in your bloodstream to tissues or organs. Endocrine glands, which are a special group of cells, make your hormones. The major endocrine glands are pituitary, thymus, thyroid, adrenal, and pancreas. Additionally, women produce hormones in their ovaries. Hormones are very powerful and affect many different aspects of your life, including:
Women’s Health: Hormones 101We all love getting a good night’s rest, but have you considered sleep as an essential factor in your physical and mental health? While sleep is vital for a person’s well-being, many of us struggle to fall asleep when our head hits the pillow or wake up without getting any quality sleep. This struggle can leave us feeling tired during the day.
Become a Healthier You with Better SleepWhen your heart pumps blood through your arteries, the blood puts pressure on the artery walls which is what is known as blood pressure. Arteries then carry the blood from your heart throughout your body.¹ Blood pressure does fluctuate throughout the day, but having unusual high or low blood pressure can negatively affect your health in the long run which is why it’s important to know and understand your blood pressure numbers.
Blood Pressure & The Importance of Knowing Your NumbersStaying active in the winter can be difficult, but it’s often easy to come up with excuses to not exercise — there’s snow on the ground, it’s too wet to run, you don’t have a gym membership. Luckily, there is so much you can do in the winter months to stay active besides running or going to a gym. Whether your winter has rain, snow, or sunshine in the forecast, here are some ideas for different workouts and physical activities that you can do during the winter, along with some great safety tips!
When the Weather Outside is Frightful…Stay Fit and Stay Safe!Almost everyone has heard of diabetes, but not everyone fully understands what being diagnosed with diabetes means. Diabetes is a serious health condition that has two main types, type 1 and type 2. While type 2 diabetes is often caused by insulin resistance and can usually be prevented, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune response and cannot be prevented. There is currently no cure for type 1 diabetes, so people living with the condition are dependent on insulin injections to manage their blood sugar levels each and every day.
Until There’s Type “None” …Know the Signs of Type 1Are you 65 years of age or older and looking for a new or updated Medicare Part D plan? Are you unsure of where to start or how to review your plan? Maybe you’ve heard of a Part D plan but are unsure of what it is? A Medicare Part D plan covers prescription drug costs, both generic and brand name, for those 65 years or older. These plans can — and should —be reviewed each year during the open enrollment period, which takes place every year from October 15 to December 7. We’ve put together some basic information here, and our team at your local pharmacy can answer any questions you may have about choosing the perfect plan to fit your needs.
IF YOU ARE 65 OR OLDER, YOU WILL WANT TO READ THIS ASAPKids are heading back to school, fall is almost here (along with everything pumpkin), and that can only mean one thing: It’s time to start talking about flu season again. The flu virus doesn’t usually start circulating until the end of the year, but it’s important to get vaccinated in the fall to give your body time to learn how to fight off the disease if exposed.
THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE FLU? THINK AGAINVaccines are in the news now more than ever, with COVID-19 shining a spotlight on the importance of immunizations in preventing the spread of disease. But in recent years, there has also been more resistance than in years past against getting vaccinated. Between the COVID-19 pandemic interrupting normal vaccination schedules and the growing fear and misinformation surrounding many, if not all, vaccines, society has taken one step forward in innovation…and two steps back in community inoculation. To continue protecting ourselves and our communities, let’s take a moment to understand the 5Ws (and 1H!) of vaccines.
THE 5WS AND 1H OF VACCINESWe all love when the weather warms up and the sun is out most of the day — it can mean camping trips, hiking, family vacations, hitting the beach, or so may other fun outdoor activities. When you and your family are heading outdoors, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself from the dangers of summer, including sun exposure, poison plants, and bugs. Following these simple tips can mean that your summer fun doesn’t end in unwanted body pains.
Sunburns and Poison Plants and Bugs – OH MY! Tips to Enjoy Summer SafelyMany factors influence how we age, and whether it’s in a healthy way. Unfortunately, some of these (such as genetics) are out of our control. The good news? Other factors — such as exercise and physical activity, a healthy diet, going to the doctor regularly, staying up to date on vaccines, taking your medications as prescribed, and taking care of our mental health — are all within our reach.
WE ALL AGE - HERE'S HOW TO AGE IN A HEALTHY WAYSince the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health has been in the spotlight more than ever. We have seen the impacts of changing routines, limiting activities, and avoiding socialization, and this is especially true in children. As things begin to get back on track, it’s important to keep kids’ positive mental health as a priority so that the next generation can thrive.
KIDS' HEALTH STARTS WITH MENTAL HEALTHPharmacy has come a long way from its origins, and it keeps evolving. New medicines are developed, and new uses are found for older medicines; more people are using meds to treat and even prevent diseases – and insurances have expanded coverage on many prescriptions. That’s all amazing…but it also means that there’s more medications out there, and more medications means more chances for having an adverse drug event (ADE). ¹
Med Safety Tips for the Whole Family (Even Four-Legged Members)Immunizations: They help keep us healthy and protect us from contracting preventable diseases. However, many people don’t know what how vaccines work or why they should get vaccinated. We’ll answer the most common immunization questions to help you understand the science behind vaccinations and the importance of staying up to date.
Your Immunization Questions—AnsweredCholesterol has a bad reputation, but it is in fact a necessary part of how your body functions. The concern with cholesterol comes when there’s too much of it, especially the bad type of it – it can raise your risk of heart disease and stroke, both leading causes of death in the United States.
There are NO Signs of High Cholesterol — How do I Manage It?