Asthma

Asthma is when the airways of the lungs become inflamed and cause difficulty in breathing. More than 2 million Australians suffer from Asthma. Asthma cannot be cured but it can be contained and controlled with medicines allowing an individual to live a normal and active life free of symptoms.

Most commonly, people who suffer from asthma feel tight, weezy and suffer from shortness of breath. They may also cough and bring up extra mucus.

Some of the most notable symptoms are: dry cough, wheezing, whistling in your breath, breathlessness, constriction in your chest.

Whilst there are many things that can trigger asthma, some of the most known causes are:

• The inhalation of allergens (dust, pollen, moulds, animal hair)
• Colds and flus
• Physical activity
• Cold air and inclement weather
• Pollution in the air
• Emotional stress, anxiety
• Foods
• Preservatives

How do we go about getting some help? 

If you think you suffer from asthma, consult your local physician first. It is always essential that you take your initial diagnosis to your local GP. You will need to be assessed on your symptoms, any allergic reactions you might have, ascertain a management plan for your asthma and document an action plan to make changes in the management of your health.

What kind of drugs are there?

Asthma drugs are usually broken into three categories: Relievers, Preventers and Symptom Controllers. The most commonly used reliever is Ventolin.

How Do I Monitor My Asthma?

One of the most common measuring systems used is 'The Peak Flow Meter'. This measures the capacity of your lungs and his available in all pharmacies.

For more information, see the Asthma Foundations Australia website on www.asthmaaustralia.org.au

Vitamin D Plays A Part In Reducing Your Risk To Dementia

Vitamin D has been shown through recent scientific research to be related to high risks associated with dementia.  Severe Vitamin D deficiency is shown to correlate by up to 60% with cognitive decline.

Other studies have linked Vitamin D insufficiency with dementia, Alzheimers and stroke.

In Japan, scientists have hypothesised that Vitamin D helps to break down amyloid plaques, the build up of amyloid plaques is considered to be a major aetiological factor in Alzheimers disease.

Furthermore, Vitamin D helps absorb calcium, helps maintain the immune and helps in the defence of respiratory tract infections.

Source: Andrew Whitfield-Cook, Technical Research Writer For Fit Bioceuticals.

Just Arrived! Nature's Own Fish Oil In Liquid Mango Formula!

Omega 3 improves brain power as well as helping the heart and looking after your joint function. Nature's own now has it in a liquid form with a mango peach flavour. It has all the usual Omega 3 goodness but in a liquid form. 

Just Arrived! Blackmores Super Fruit Smoothie For Weight Loss

This weight loss super fruit smoothie is a meal replacement with a low GI formula coupled with Luralean to help you to feel fuller for a longer period of time. It also has superfruit extracts which are rich in antioxidants and it contains no artificial sweeteners or colours.

Yoga For Health And Lifestyle

Yoga is a great way to get fit, stay flexible and to clear up the mind. Yoga is often a precursor or acts as a physical pathway towards meditation. Mediation has been proven by many scientific studies to lower blood pressure, stave off the effects of depression and anxiety and in some cases is more restful than sleep for the body.

We thought we might therefore recommend a few places to go in order to get meditation advice:

1. The Double Bay Meditation Centre: http://doublebaymeditation.blogspot.com/
2. The Subtle Science In Avalon: http://www.thesubtlescience.com/ggbio.php

And we decided to bring in some Yoga mats if you want to take up some yoga too. And if you are looking for a yoga studio in the area:
Yoga Synergy Newtown 

196 Australia Street, Newtown NSW 2042

(02) 9389 7399 ‎yogasynergy.com

Fibre and Bowel Health

You know, fibre is so necessary for healthy digestion of the food we eat and keeping a healthy bowel. But there are more reasons that just this, did you know it can help control your weight, lower blood cholesterol, sugar levels and lower you risk of bowel cancer?

You can get fibre by eating things such as wholegrain breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, seeds and of course husk fibre drinks such as Metamucil. 

What is fibre? That's easy, it's just the part of a complex carbohydrate that is not digested or processed by the stomach or intestines during digestions. Some types of fibre cause gas (let's be frank... farts!) and can make you feel bloated. But over time your body usually adjusts to this intake.

One of the best intakes of fibre that you can have is lentils -  and we recommend these for sure. To learn about lentils, click here. They are rated by some world health authorities as being one of the top 5 foods in the world to eat for their rich intake of vitamins, minerals, proteins and carbohydrates.

Okay, so what are the benefits of a better functioning system via fibre:

• Increase the bulk of faeces and allow more water to be absorbed so that faces are softer and come out easier (yippeee)
• Helps control weight  because they are quite filling and slow to digest as they need to be chewed more.
• Fibre slows down the absorption rate of sugar - which may even stave off diabetes.
• It can reduce the risk of bowel cancer by cleaning out the system and getting more movement through the bowel.
• It can provide you with vitamins and minerals you may not be getting enough of.

What could happen if I don't look after myself? Any of the following: 

• Constipation
• Haemorrhoids
• Bowel Cancer
• IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
• Always tired
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes

So what are we saying? Look after your self by taking lots of fibre in your diet and if you can't get enough, come in an see us at Fords Pharmacy Newtown, 247 King Street, Newtown, Sydney - and we will find a supplement to get you back at your best. 

Metamucil, another way to get fibre back into your diet. 

Lentils, part of the pulse family of Legumes, an ideal source of dietary fibre.

Gout - Don't Play With It

If you have ever had a bout of gout you will know that it is a disease not to be messed with. Gout is when you have high amounts of uric acid in your blood stream which eventually form into needle like crystals that form around the joints and where there are bottle neck constraints in the circulation system. This disease is usually only exhibited in men and women (only after menopause), but mostly men after their thirties, and tends to be something we see in men that carry more weight around their stomach area. There are a number of remedies that are prescribed but you really need to see the doctor before you attempt to medicate yourself. Some of the most commonly used drugs are:


1. Colgout - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colchicine - which is usually used to combat the effects of an attack of gout but it also used when moving onto a longer term treatment of allopurinol.


2.Zyloprim - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allopurinol - From Wikipedia:


Allopurinol is a purine analog; it is a structural isomer of hypoxanthine (a naturally occurring purine in the body) and is an inhibitor of the enzyme xanthine oxidase.^[1] Xanthine oxidase is responsible for the successive oxidation of hypoxanthine andxanthine, resulting in the production of uric acid, the product of human purine metabolism.^[1] In addition to blocking uric acid production, inhibition of xanthine oxidase causes an increase in hypoxanthine and xanthine, which are converted to closely related purine ribotides adenosine and guanosine monophosphates. Increased levels of these ribotides causes feedback inhibition of amidophosphoribosyl transferase, the first and rate-limiting enzyme of purine biosynthesis. Allopurinol, therefore, decreases both uric acid formation and purine synthesis.


3. NSAID - Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs - such as Indocid. These are useful for short term treatment of accute attacks of gout to reduce inflammation and soreness around the problem area.


4. Increasing your daily intake of water.


Whatever you choose, don't be afraid to come and see us at Ford's, 247 King Street, Newtown. 

Welcome to Fords Pharmacy's Blog, We Are An Old Pharmacy Being Re-Born

Ford's Pharmacy was established in 1908. The original owner was Noel P Ford who was the chief examiner in pharmacy and optometry at Sydney University. After Noel P Ford retired his own children took over the building. Noel P Ford had made his way to the South Coast of NSW at Tarthra where he grew certain pharmaceutical drugs during World War 2 since there was no availability of certain drugs during this period.

Dennis Ford, a pharmacist, and his other son, Peter Ford, who was an optometrist, ran the pharmacy until 1968 when they sold the business to Anastasios Atgemis who has run the business to this day.

Fords has always been a pharmacy about caring for our customers. It is a place where we receive and impart the latest knowledge on lifestyle, health and well-being. We are still here, we will always lend you an ear, so why not come and visit us at our grand old establishment at 247 King Street Newtown.