Austral Pharmacist Advice

Do you ever feel worried about a leak when you go to lift up your little ones? Or hold back a giggle for fear of an accidental dribble? Incontinence affects 1 in 4 Aussies, and the causes and symptoms of incontinence are as diverse as the people it affects. Continence issues can affect women, men and children of all ages, physical ability, and background.

Feel comfortable speaking to our trusted Pharmacist about your continence care needs.

It doesn't matter how long you have smoked - as soon as you quit smoking, there are immediate health benefits:*

- Twelve hours after stopping, almost all ni****ne is out of your system.
- After two days, your sense of taste and smell turn
- After two months, blood flow to your hands and feet improves
- After one year, your risk of heart disease rapidly drops
- After 10 years, your risk of lung cancer is halved

Quitting smoking can be one of the most difficult, yet rewarding, things a person can do. For support during your quit journey, come in and speak to our Pharmacist at any time. 🚭

* https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/smoking/quit-smoking

Are you being sun smart this Winter? 🌤️

There are simple and effective ways to reduce your risk of sun damage. Even in Winter UV and on a cloudy day radiation can burn your skin without seeing or feeling it. The UV index is a great tool for identifying when you need to protect your skin. You can find out the UV index by downloading the Sun Smart app here: https://www.sunsmart.com.au/resources/sunsmart-app

It's easy to take the immune system for granted because it does such a good job at keeping us free from infection around the clock!

Vitamin C is important for maintaining a strong immune system, especially during these colder months. Vitamin C is sensitive to heat, so some of its nutritional benefits can be lost during cooking. Raw foods are more beneficial as dietary sources of vitamin C.*

Check out our suggestions for Vitamin C rich foods below:
🧡 1/4 cup raw red or green capsicum
🧡 Grapefruit juice
🧡 Kiwi fruit
🧡 Orange
🧡 1/4 cup cooked broccoli

* https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Vitamins-and-minerals -c

Keeping blood glucose levels in a healthy range will help prevent complications from medically diagnosed Diabetes. ❤️‍🩹🩺

Our Pharmacists can assist you with your Diabetes management with our blood glucose monitoring products, a diabetes medication review, and support. During a Diabetes medication review, our Pharmacists will sit down with you, discuss your medications and provide you with a personalised medication profile and action plan.

Eating the right food boosts your immunity — particularly plants that are intensely flavoured (herbs and spices) and/or intensely coloured. These plant foods are loaded with antioxidants and other immune-boosting micronutrients. 🛒🥬🍄🌶️🍏

The following is a shopping list to help you make better food choices and boost your immunity this Winter:

1. Eat Your Veggies - Eat the colours of the rainbow. Examples are green leafy vegetables of any kind (such as spinach, kale, and cos lettuce), red cabbage, red onions, peppers, beets, carrots, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and eggplant. Add legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas and split peas) to your list too!

2. The Mighty Mushie - Mushrooms are a fungus rather than a vegetable, and eating them a few times a week will not only boosts your immunity but your mood too!

3. Let's Get Spicy - There are too many to mention here, but use them to add flavour to your meals. Turmeric, which is both intensely flavoured and intensely coloured, is the “king of health-promoting spices.” Did you know adding black pepper to turmeric increases the effectiveness by 1,000 times?

4. Fresh (Not Dried) Fruit - Again, intense colour is important: oranges, pink grapefruit, mangoes, papaya, watermelon, kiwi fruit, dark grapes, dark plums, berries.

This week we are celebrating NAIDOC week in our community. The theme for this year is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!

"Getting Up, Standing Up, and Showing Up can take many forms. We need to move beyond just acknowledgment, good intentions, empty words and promises, and hollow commitments. Enough is enough. The relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non‑Indigenous Australians needs to be based on justice, equity, and the proper recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights. Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! with us to amplify our voices and narrow the gap between aspiration and reality, good intent and outcome."

Learn more here: https://www.naidoc.org.au

Dry eye can affect anyone of any age but is more common as we get older because we produce a smaller volume of tears. Some medications can trigger dry eye, as can some general health conditions. While there is no cure for dry eye, its symptoms can be alleviated.* 💙

This JulEYE, for National Eye Health Awareness Month, we are encouraging you to come in-store and speak to our Pharmacists about a personalised eye therapy that's right for you.

* https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/dry-eye

Now that the weather is getting colder, if you are someone who has asthma this can be a difficult time for you.

The cold, dry air can irritate your airways and cause the muscles to spasm, and cold or respiratory tract infection can exacerbate asthma symptoms. It is a good idea to make sure you or your child are taking asthma medicines properly. Come in and chat to our team about arranging an asthma technique check today! 😀

Keeping blood sugar levels in a healthy range will help prevent complications with diabetes. Our Pharmacists can assist you with your diabetes management , including blood sugar monitoring devices, and medication review services. During a diabetes medication check our Pharmacists will sit down with you, review your medications and provide you with a personalised medication profile and action plan.

Feel free to speak to our Pharmacist about our Diabetes services next time you are instore! 👩‍⚕️

Did you know that the body can’t make iron? So, you need to get it from food. If you do not eat as much iron as you use each day, it may lead to an iron deficiency.* ❤️

If you have iron deficiency, you may not realise it as you may just feel tired and run down. Low iron symptoms include:

- Feeling tired, listless and weak
- Breathlessness
- Poor memory and concentration
- Poor performance at school or work
- Increased infections
- Finding it difficult to do aerobic exercise
- Fatigue (feeling very tired)

It's important not to self-diagnose iron deficiency, please speak to our Pharmacist or your Doctor if you think you might be iron deficient. ❤️

* https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/iron-deficiency

Did you know men who sleep 7-8 hours a night have about a 60% less risk of fatal heart attack than those who sleep 5 hours or less?*

This Men's Health Week (and every week) we are here to support men's physical and mental health in our community. Our Pharmacists are always there for you to have a chat too, don't be shy! We are there to help.

* https://westernsydney.edu.au/__data/assets/image/0010/1884223/7healthfacts-infographic.png

This week is International Men's Health Week, which aims to provide a platform for challenging and debating key issues in men's health and to raise the profile of men, their health outcomes and health needs around the country. Our Pharmacists are always there for you to have a chat too, don't be shy! We are there to help.

To learn more and to find events in your local area, you can visit https://www.menshealthweek.org.au/

Have you recently recovered from COVID-19? Are you keen to get back to exercising? 🤾‍♀️

Now that you’re on the road to recovery and are starting to feel yourself again, the question is 'How should I approach my return to exercise?' Just remember everyone has limitations - whether that be time, tolerance, or capacity. The key is not to try and improve everything overnight, but rather look at what it is that you do have time for.

Tip 1: Lessen the load - make sure you decrease the intensity and the weights of your workout
Tip 2: Decrease your session frequency - in the initial few weeks try to focus on mobility and flexibity rather than number of workout sessions
Tip 3: Be kind to your self - after any illness your fitness levels will drop, so make sure you take it easy and use this as an opportunity to fall back in love with fitness.

If you are recently recovering from COVID-19 and need help or advice, pop in to the Pharmacy and talk to us today!

Have you had your flu vaccination? It's not too late! Ask our friendly Pharmacist about any questions you may have the next time you are in-store. 😃

Today on World No Smoking Day we wanted to ask you... What is your motivation to quit smoking?

Choosing your "why'" can help keep you going when things get tough. Is it to improve your overall health? Save more money? Or are you quitting to help your family and friends? Write down your reasons and place it somewhere visible to help you on your quit journey. If you are not sure where to start, speak to our Pharmacist today!

We can help you find the tools and resources you need to help you, or someone you love quit for good.

Have you booked your flu vaccination?

Your protection from a flu vaccine declines over time therefore a flu vaccination each year is still the best protection available against flu.

And don't forget to take everyday precautions, like washing your hands, avoiding people who are sick, and wearing your mask, particularly if you are not vaccinated, to protect your health and that of your family.

Do you know how long to hold a minor burn under running water? Not 5, not 10, not 15... 20 minutes!

Quite often we hear that people held a minor burn or scald under water for less than this, but you need at least 20 minutes to properly cool it.
Remember, do not use ice on a burn, only apply cool running water to the area, and avoid using ointments, lotions, creams or fat on a burn as they seal in heat and cause more damage.

For more information on what to do in the case of burns and scalds, visit https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/burns-and-scalds

Here's one less thing thing to worry about! Let us take care of your scripts.

We know life can be busy at the best of times, so next time you come in with a script ask us about our script on file service. It's free to do! We can hang onto your scripts and give you a reminder when your repeats are due, and you can even call ahead to let us know when you are coming in so we can have your medication ready in advance! 💙

With international borders open and increased population movement, a resurgence of influenza activity is expected.*

Vaccination is our best defence in preparing for the months ahead. Ask our Pharmacist to see when is the best time for you to receive your flu shot.

* https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/atagi-advice-on-seasonal-influenza-vaccines-in-2021-december-2021-update

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing, strong, loving mothers and mother figures out there in our communities! We hope you are all having a fabulous day. 💐

Here is a new recipe to try this month from - cauliflower and leek soup!

SAVE THIS ONE for those cold and ‘can’t be bothered cooking’ nights. 👏🏽

Soup season has well and truly hit! There’s nothing better then a warming bowl of goodness paired with some crispy sourdough lathered with butter! 🤤

WHAT YOU NEED:
1 x Cauliflower (chopped into florets)
1 x Leek (sliced)
1 x Fennel Bulb (roughly chopped)
2-4 Garlic cloves (depending on size)
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
750 mL Bone Broth
200mL Almond or Coconut Milk
Salt & Pepper
Coriander and/or Parsley

HOW TO CREATE:
1. PREHEAT the oven to 200C..
2. TOSS the Cauliflower, Leek, Fennel and Garlic Cloves in the Olive Oil - pop it onto a baking tray and straight into the oven for about 45 minutes or until crispy/cooked.
3. ONCE crispy, place roasted veggies and remaining ingredients in a deep pot to blend with an immersion or use your blender (you’ll most likely need to do this in 2 parts).
4. SERVE with Fresh Herbs, Sourdough and Salt/Pepper.

Our Pharmacists can provide absence from work certificates. 📝

If you are unwell and need an absence from work certificate or are caring for an unwell family member and need a carer’s leave certificate, speak to our Pharmacist. If you need further medical treatment, assessment, or diagnosis, we will refer you to your Doctor.

Want to know more? Ask our friendly Pharmacist the next time you are in store.

We know it can be difficult to keep up with all the information about vaccines being circulated in the media right now. Here at our Pharmacy, we can answer any questions or concerns you have about the flu vaccination at any time. 💚

Pop in-store and speak to our Pharmacist about getting your flu shot today!

We know it can be difficult to keep up with all the information about vaccines being circulated in the media right now. Here at our Pharmacy, we can answer any questions or concerns you have about the flu vaccination at any time. 💚

Pop in-store and speak to our Pharmacist about getting your flu shot today!

Happy Easter everyone from our Pharmacy family to yours! 🐇

We hope you are enjoying this long weekend with your family!

Do you or someone you love work in healthcare? Don't forget to say THANK YOU this World Health Day.

Show your appreciation and say thank you to all the Doctors, Nurses, fellow Pharmacists, and other health professionals who are changing the world one day at a time! 🌏

Tag a healthcare professional you would like to say 'THANK YOU' to, below! 👇

When was the last time you had a read of your medicine bottles and boxes? Medicines do expire, so we recommend every 6 months to go through your medicine box or cabinet, and check the expiration dates on the packages. If you do find you still have something that is past its use by date, you can bring it in to the Pharmacy and we can dispose of it for you.

We are proud to provide these health services to our community. If you would like to know more, ask us in-store today! 💚

With this new season and change in weather, you may find yourself coughing, sneezing, or with a blocked, runny or itchy nose. These symptoms may be a result of autumn allergies. You can check for symptoms and possible signs of causes here: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/symptom-checker/tool/basic-details or you can come and speak to one of our Pharmacists for advice and treatment options.

Purple Day is a global initiative dedicated to raising epilepsy awareness, dispelling myths, and increasing support to those affected.

Epilepsy Action Australia are proud to facilitate research, support and educate in ways that will make a profound difference and to build sustained hope for those Australians impacted.

If you would like to get involved by hosting your own purple day event, you can find out more information here: https://www.epilepsy.org.au/fundraise/purple-day/