Page 11 - Leisure Living Magazine Autumn 2017

Your Pharmacist Can Help
You Stay Well This Season
By Marilee D. Clemons, PharmD, RPh, clemons.99@osu.edu
The transition into fall and winter is upon us bringing seasonal health challenges with it.
Your local community pharmacist can play an important role in helping you stay well over the fall and winter months, when colds and the flu are most common. As one of the most accessible health care providers, pharmacists are highly trained professionals who can provide advice and recommend over the counter treatments for the common cold. When talking with your pharmacist about your symptoms, it is important to let them know what medications and medical conditions you have, to find a product that is tailored to your needs.
Getting an annual flu vaccine is the first and best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu. The CDC reports that as many as 250,000 people are hospitalized each year due to a flu- related complication and an average 30,000 people die each year because of these complications. Early vaccination can reduce illness and prevent both doctors’ visits and missed work/school due to the flu. In addition to protecting the general population from the flu, getting the flu shot can further protect vulnerable populations such as older people, young children, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions who could have serious flu complications.
The flu vaccine is available in most pharmacies beginning in August or September of each year. It is recommended that almost everyone age 6 months or older receive the flu vaccine each year. It is important to get the vaccine early in the season as it takes up to two weeks for your body to have maximum protection from the virus. A common misconception is that the flu shot can give you the flu. Flu vaccines are made with viruses that have been inactivated and therefore cannot cause disease. Some people may have mild reactions to the flu vaccine, which usually last less than two days. The most common reactions people have to the flu vaccine are less severe than symptoms caused by an actual flu and include low-grade fever, headaches and muscle aches. Like many things, the flu vaccine is not perfect
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and may not prevent the flu completely, however if you get vaccinated and get the flu, your disease will likely be much milder than it might have been if you were not vaccinated.
In addition to flu, knowing which vaccines you need is an important step toward protecting your health and that of your friends and family members. Common vaccinations given to older adults are meant to prevent other dangerous illnesses such as shingles, pneumonia, tetanus, and pertussis. All of these are important in preventing disease and improving long-term health. Your pharmacist can help you determine which vaccines are recommended for your age, health status, and lifestyle.
Marilee is a PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Resident at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. She can be reached at clemons99@osu.edu
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