Pharmacists Paul White and Brad White discuss tips for a healthy immune system for the coming cold and flu season.

Influenza (Flu) Vaccines

The Centers for disease control estimates that for the 2017-2018 influenza season that vaccination prevented 7.1 million illnesses, 109,000 hospitalizations and 8000 deaths. The CDC recommends that children and adults should received their flu shots by the end of October. Vaccination is recommended before there is flu activity in the community. Statistically flu seasons are most likely to peak in January and February but can occur as early as October. You cannot get the flu from the flu shot. You may experience side effects like soreness at the injection site or a mild temperature or malaise which is a sign of an immune response to the vaccine.

The CDC recommends the following patients get the influenza vaccine:

• All children aged 6 through 59 months;

• All persons aged ≥50 years;

• Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (excluding isolated hypertension), renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);

• Persons who are immunocompromised due to any cause (including but not limited to immunosuppression caused by medications or HIV infection);

• Women who are or will be pregnant during the influenza season;

• Children and adolescents (aged 6 months through 18 years) who are receiving aspirin- or salicylate-containing medications and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;

• Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;

• American Indians/Alaska Natives; and

• Persons who are extremely obese (body mass index ≥40 for adults).

• Healthcare workers

• Caregivers

Pneumonia Vaccines

Older adults need two pneumonia vaccines separated by at least one year. Prevnar 13 (PCV13) provides coverage against 13 strains of pneumococcal bacteria and Pneumovax 23 (PPSV23) provides protection against 23 strains of pneumococcal bacteria. Both vaccines provide protection against illnesses like meningitis and bacteremia. Side effects are mild and typically do not affect daily activities. Soreness at injection site is the most common.

CDC Recommends:

• You should receive a dose of PCV13 first, followed by a dose of PPSV23, at least 1 year later.

• If you already received any doses of PPSV23, get the dose of PCV13 at least 1 year after the most recent PPSV23 dose.

Nutritional Recommendations

A strong immune system starts with both adequate rest and adequate nutrition. Pharmacist Brad White recommends the following supplements to support your immune system:

• Multivitamin

• Vitamin D

• B-Complex Vitamin

• Omega 3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil)

• CoEnzyme Q10

• Magnesium Chelate or Magnesium Glycinate

• Probiotic

This episode of Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy covers a variety of services that we offer at your local independent pharmacy. The pharmacist fills a role that covers many aspects of health care. They link the patient to the prescriber and not only check for drug interactions and make sure that your prescription order is accurate, they also help solve problems with insurance billing, manufacturer recalls, and over the counter medication recommendations. Patients visit their pharmacist on average of 12 times a year, making the pharmacist the most accessible health care professional.

In addition to providing services like home delivery and special medication packaging to simplify medication administration, the Medicine Center also offers a Free Kids Vitamin program for kids in grades Kindergarten through Fifth grade. We have convenient pharmacy locations in Canton, Louisville, Minerva, and New Philadelphia, Ohio for you to take advantage of this service.

We also talk about an upcoming informational seminar that pharmacist Brad White will be hosting on September 5th, 2019 about the uses for Low Dose Naltrexone. Low Dose Naltrexone, or LDN, can be of benefit in a variety of autoimmune disorders and chronic pain treatment. You can register here for the seminar to learn more.

When it comes to medication, a lot goes on behind the scenes that impacts the final cost of medicine. Gag orders, clawbacks and PBMs, also known as pharmacy benefit managers, play a significant role in soaring medication costs. Antonio Ciaccia, director of government and public affairs for the Ohio Pharmacists Association, explains how this could be changing thanks to the efforts of a Canton politician. 

In today's podcast, we continue our conversation about pharmacy, including vaccines, supplements and our recommendations for what to keep in your medicine cabinet this spring.

Brad and Paul White, registered pharmacists, discuss supplements, vaccines and share tips for what to keep in your medicine cabinet this spring.

About 33% of Americans over age 20 have high blood pressure and over 5 million Americans have heart failure.  Of those diagnosed with heart failure, roughly 70%  also have high blood pressure.  These conditions increase a patient’s risk for heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.  Medication therapies continue to improve and manage the symptoms of these conditions – but there are many things we can do to control these diseases and improve our health.  This morning we will talk about risk factors, symptoms and treatment of these conditions – but also about the changes we can make in our lives to improve our health. Today, Dr. Simonette Jones, non-invasive cardiologist joins us from Mercy Cardiovascular Institute to talk about cardiovascular health issues. 

(L-R) Brad White, R. Ph., Paul White, R. Ph. and Dr. Simonette Jones

Voting day is just a couple weeks away, and there is a lot of chatter about Issue 2, which has been dubbed the “deceptive Rx issue”. Will you vote NO or yes? To help you get a better understanding of what is at stake, today we will talk about what Issue 2 is, how it will affect individuals and families and find out how the actual ballot language reads, as well as dig into what it all means. Antonio Ciaccia, Director of Government and Public Affairs for the Ohio Pharmacists Association joins us to discuss the facts.

(L-R) Brad White, R. Ph., Paul White, R. Ph., WHBC producer Steve Potter and Antonio Ciaccia, Director of Government & Public Affairs for Ohio Pharmacists Association

When we think of heart disease and cardiovascular issues, we often think of adults later in age. However, approximately 40,000 children are born with a heart defect each year. And, at least eight of every 1,000 infants born each year have a heart defect. Thank goodness for organizations like the American Heart Association and volunteers across America who get involved not only to raise funds for research but also raise awareness of heart disease. Next month the Stark and Wayne County Healthy For Good Heart Walks will take place, with the Wayne County Walk, Saturday, September 16 at Secrest Arboretum in Wooster. The Stark County Walk will be held Saturday, September 30 at Kent State University-Stark. This walk is the Association’s premier event for raising funds to save lives from this country’s Number 1 and Number 5 killers – heart disease and stroke. 

Jack Ford, senior vice president of Beaver Excavating and chair of the American Heart Association’s Stark and Wayne County Healthy For Good Heart Walks and Dr. Brandon Smith, pediatric cardiologist at Akron Children’s Hospital Heart Center join us today.  

Brad White, R. Ph. and Paul White, R. Ph. are joined by Jack Ford, senior vice president of Beaver Excavating and Brad's son Reagan in the WHBC studio.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death of both men and women in the United States. This includes heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, according to the American Heart Association. Heart disease is often associated with men, but it is a major health risk for women as well. Statistics indicate every minute, approximately one woman dies from heart disease. Unfortunately, only one in five American women believes heart disease is her greatest health risk.  

It’s not all gloom and doom – there is some good news. Risk of cardiovascular disease can be reduced by diet and exercise, so it is important to know the risk factors. The statistics may be daunting, but cardiovascular disease can be treated. During today's program, Dr. Rizwan Sardar, cardiologist at Aultman Hospital joins Brad White, R Ph. and Paul White, R. Ph. to talk about treatment options for cardiovascular disease.

General dentists are the primary providers for dental care in patients of all ages. From children to seniors, dentists treat the entire family for overall health care which is crucial to mouth and general health. So, when it comes to baby teeth, sealants, root canals and beyond, regular dental care can not only treat problems but also prevent many issues – from cavities to gum disease.

Dr. Brian Amison from the Amison Dental Group joins us to talk about all things dental including root canals, oral cancer, preventive visits and his upcoming event Dentistry From the Heart.