Harare Pharmacy

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DID YOU KNOW?

High salt consumption → raised blood pressure & ↑ risk of heart disease and stroke.

5 things you didn't know about sugar

1. Is sugar bad for me?
There’s nothing wrong with some sugar. However, diets that are high in sugar tend to be higher in energy (calories) too, which can lead to weight gain and obesity. We should try to get most of our carbohydrates from starchy, rather than sugary, sources; the body breaks down starchy carbohydrates less quickly, giving a slower release of energy.

2. How much is too much?
Free or added sugar shouldn’t make up more than 5 per cent of the calories we get from food and drink, which is about 30g a day for adults.

3. Where does this sugar come from?
The top sources of sugar in our diets are table sugar, preserves and soft drinks. As well as sugary fizzy drinks, flavoured waters and fruit juices can have sugar added to them. Confectionery (sweets and chocolates), biscuits, buns and cakes are also big contributors.

4. Which types of sugar should I avoid?
It’s added sugars we need to cut down on
Mainly, it’s added sugars we need to cut down on, as these add energy to our diets but nothing else. Naturally occurring sugars usually come with some additional nutritional benefits, like vitamins and minerals. However, with fruit juices, you still need to be careful.

The energy is higher in a glass of juice than in a single portion of fruit, as it takes several fruits to make a glass of juice. It’s recommended we stick to one 150ml portion of fruit juice in a day.

5. How can I tell how much sugar is in my food?
Front-of-pack labels will tell you the total sugar content, and if it’s greater than 22.5g per 100g or there is more than 27g in one portion, then the product is high in sugar. You also need to check the ingredients list to see whether sugars have been added to your food or if they are naturally occurring. The higher up the list the added sugars are, the more there are.

6. Are there particular types I should watch out for?
Sugars have a variety of names. Anything ending with an ‘ose’, such as fructose, glucose, dextrose, is an added sugar. Beware of the addition of ingredients like concentrated apple or grape juice, honey, syrup and nectar.

Although they may sound more natural, they still count as added sugar. From a health perspective, opting for brown or white sugar makes no difference.

Its Wellness Wednesday!

Tip #15
Learn the calorie density of the food you eat

While dieting can often be a difficult venture, finding small ways to reduce calories with minimal effort is essential for rapid fat loss and longer-term success.

In no time, you’ll find yourself in a great weight loss position without having to completely revamp your life and diet – the best and most sustainable way to do so!

A lot of people have been asking why fully vaccinated people are still catching Covid 19?

It is inevitable that a small proportion of fully vaccinated individuals will become infected. An even smaller proportion will become seriously ill and die. What's important is that the risk of a serious outcome is vastly lower for those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, compared to those who have received no vaccine doses.

Contact us on +263774684088 📲send your prescription and information and we’ll deliver your medication to you.

WHY IS COVID-19 CAUSING SO MUCH STIGMA?
The level of stigma associated with COVID-19 is based on three main factors: 1) it is a disease that’s new
and for which there are still many unknowns; 2) we are often afraid of the unknown; and 3) it is easy to
associate that fear with ‘others’.
It is understandable that there is confusion, anxiety, and fear among the public. Unfortunately, these
factors are also fueling harmful stereotypes.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT?
Stigma can undermine social cohesion and prompt possible social isolation of groups, which might
contribute to a situation where the virus is more, not less, likely to spread. This can result in more
severe health problems and difficulties controlling a disease outbreak.
Stigma can:
• Drive people to hide the illness to avoid discrimination
• Prevent people from seeking health care immediately
• Discourage them from adopting healthy behaviours

It's Wellness Wednesday!

TIPS FOR CARING FOR A LOVED ONE WITH COVID AT HOME.
If one of your family members or housemates is diagnosed, there are certain measures you should take to help them get healthy while protecting yourself from getting sick.

The first step in caring for someone with COVID-19 is preparation.

Consider these important questions:

Does this person have support from an appropriate caregiver? (Someone at low risk of being severely impacted by the virus).
Is there a separate bedroom where the patient can recover without sharing immediate space with others?
Do they have access to food and other necessities?
Does the patient and other household members have access to appropriate, recommended personal protective equipment (at a minimum, gloves and facemask)?
Is the patient and caregiver capable of adhering to precautions recommended as part of home care or isolation (for example, respiratory hygiene, cough etiquette and hand hygiene)?
Are there household members who may be at increased risk of complications from COVID-19 infection (such as people age 65+ and those with co-morbidities)?

Steps to take
Restrict activities for everyone in the household, except for getting medical care. Don’t go to work or school. Don’t spend time in public areas or use public transportation.
Allow the patient to rest and help them remain hydrated.
As much as possible, keep the patient away from people even in your own home, including using a separate bathroom and sleeping in a separate bedroom.
Have the patient wear a surgical face mask to cover their coughs and sneezes and wear one as well if you are in close proximity to the patient. Dispose of face masks and tissues in a lined trash can after use.
Wash hands often for at least 20 seconds, using soap and water. If soap and water aren’t available and your hands are not visibly dirty, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. However, if your hands are visibly dirty, always wash your hands with soap and water.
Avoid sharing personal household items.
Monitor symptoms regularly and contact a doctor immediately if you believe you may be infected.
Clean all high-touch surfaces daily.
If you are unable to give the patient the help they need to get healthy and their condition worsens, call their primary care physician for guidance on next steps.

This week is World Breastfeeding Week. Every year since 1992, August 1-7 has been set aside as a time to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding. This year’s global theme is “Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility.” With the world still in the midst of a global pandemic, it is a good time to recognize how breastfeeding contributes to the survival, health and wellbeing of all.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival across the globe. However, the WHO estimates that almost two out of every three infants are not exclusively breastfed during the recommended first six months of life. That rate has not changed in two decades.

Breastmilk contains antibodies that help protect against many common childhood illnesses, like asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, ear infections, gastrointestinal infections and sudden infant death syndrome. Breastmilk provides the energy and nutrients that infants need during the first months of life. It is easier to digest than infant formula, and it can provide a cost savings over formula.

Breastfeeding can also be beneficial to a mom’s health. It helps lower the risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, ovarian and breast cancers.

Tips to help you cope during lockdown
With millions of us now advised to self-isolate and practice social distancing to prevent further spread of Covid-19, we all must make adjustments. It might sound simple at first, to just stay indoors and end social meetings, but it can present various challenges such as anxiety, loneliness, and stress.

There are coping mechanisms that we can incorporate into our daily routines to help combat any challenges we may face during this time.

1. Remember you're not alone
It’s so important to remind yourself that we are all in this together.
Take some comfort in being a part of one big community doing your own bit in battling through this pandemic.

2. The power of talking to someone is immense. Just because we can’t physically go and socialise doesn’t mean that we must stop socializing altogether. Make a conscious effort to pick up your phone and call family, friends, and work colleagues.
You should try to do this daily. You could even create a new daily routine, such as having a morning coffee with a family member virtually. If you have the facility to do this over a video call, then even better!

3. Similar to point number 2, use social media to communicate with your friends, family and work colleagues. This will help you to maintain your strong connections and relationships with people and help you to feel more supported, avoiding feelings of loneliness.

4. It can be very easy to lose all the structure from your days, which can often leave us feeling unmotivated to do anything. By planning your time, you can recreate a routine into your daily life so that you feel more active and your body can release those positive hormones.

Doing activities in the home can give you a sense of fulfillment and allow you to do things that you previously did not have the time to do. If you have children, planning a routine or schedule can also be helpful for them adjusting to being at home instead of school.

5. Focus on the facts
There are so many articles about Coronavirus online, as well as ongoing news updates on TV; it can be a bit overwhelming at times. Within all this information is a lot of speculation, especially on social media; so try to stick to the respected health advice websites when looking for updates.

6. Don’t ignore how you’re feeling
Don’t be hard on yourself if you feel stressed or worried. Your feelings are valid and it is normal for those feelings to come and go at times. One way to manage your emotions is to write things down in a diary, as a way of acknowledging how you feel.

Even after getting vaccinated against COVID-19, keep taking precautions to protect yourself, family and friends 👇

If you start to experience any symptoms, no matter how mild, please begin self isolating and get tested.

The symptoms to look out for:

Headache, sore throat and a runny nose*
Tiredness, new and severe fatigue (recent onset)
Aches and pains, new muscle ache for no obvious reason (recent onset)
Headache (sinus pain, pain around eyes)
Conjunctivitis (itchy, watery, painful or pink eye(s)
Loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Fever (high temperature, rigors, chills, can’t get warm)
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Dry cough (Continuous new cough)
Diarrhoea
Children and Over 80s – loose stool, mild fever, not themselves with a cough presenting later
A rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes (seek urgent medical advice)
Chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, chest tightness (seek urgent medical assistance)

Order your medication and have it delivered to your door step. Send your prescription via whatsapp to 0774 684 088 or call +263700644 for assistance.

Bladder Cancer : Another reason to quit smoking!

According to the American Cancer Society smoking is the most important risk factor for bladder cancer. Smokers are at least 3 times as likely to get bladder cancer as non-smokers. Smoking causes about half of all bladder cancers in both men and women.

Let’s flatten the infodemic curve!

We are all being exposed to a huge amount of COVID-19 information on a daily basis, and not all of it is reliable. Here are some tips for telling the difference and stopping the spread of misinformation.

Factors that may increase the likelihood of developing bladder cancer are:

Smoking
Aging
A diet high in fat
Exposure to carcinogenic materials/chemicals
Previous cancer treatment (especially radiation therapy)
Chronic bladder inflammation
Personal/family history of cancer

There are a few preventative measures that can be taken. Quitting smoking is the most helpful thing you can do to prevent bladder cancer. Avoid smoking, take precaution around all chemicals and hazardous materials, and choose a variety of fruits and vegetables to include in your diet. Although there is no guaranteed way to prevent bladder cancer, taking these preventative measures seriously can significantly reduce your risk of developing the cancer.

It's Wellness Wednesday!

Here are safety tips for shopping in retail shops or food stores to prevent of Covid-19 infection.

Remember at Harare Pharmacy you can have your prescription prepared for you in advance for quick collection if you send us an email or call us. We also offer a delivery service.

Know the symptoms and risk factors for Bladder Cancer. As with most cancers early detection is key to saving lives. If bladder cancers are caught early, then treatments are highly successful.

July is Bladder Cancer Awareness Month.

What is Bladder Cancer?
Bladder cancer is a common type of cancer that begins in the cells of the bladder. The bladder is a hollow muscular organ in your lower abdomen that stores urine.

Bladder cancer most often begins in the cells (urothelial cells) that line the inside of your bladder. Urothelial cells are also found in your kidneys and the tubes (ureters) that connect the kidneys to the bladder. Urothelial cancer can happen in the kidneys and ureters, too, but it's much more common in the bladder.

Wellness Wednesday Tip: GET VACCINATED FOR COVID!

According to the World Health Organisation you should take whatever vaccine is made available to you, even if you have already had COVID-19. It is important to be vaccinated as soon as possible once it’s your turn and not wait. Approved COVID-19 vaccines provide a high degree of protection against getting seriously ill and dying from the disease, although no vaccine is 100% protective.

WHO SHOULD GET VACCINATED

The COVID-19 vaccines are safe for most people 18 years and older, including those with pre-existing conditions of any kind, including auto-immune disorders. These conditions include: hypertension, diabetes, asthma, pulmonary, liver and kidney disease, as well as chronic infections that are stable and controlled.

Wellness Wednesday tip of the day!

Here are 6 tips for survivors to stay healthy after cancer.

It's Wellness Wednesday!

Sadly Covid-19 cases are on the rise again with many getting seriously ill and some succumbing to it.. here are some ways you can protect yourself and loved ones from the coronavirus.

Another inspiring story from a breast cancer survivor.

My name is Mary , and I am an eight-year breast cancer survivor.

Most people think of breast cancer as an older woman’s disease. It turns out, however, that breast cancer is actually the most common cancer in women aged 15-39.

A cancer diagnosis is terrifying for anyone, but it was especially frightening for me as my Mother died of metastatic breast cancer in 1998, after a brave, 14-year battle, at age 55.

As much as I still miss her everyday, the silver lining is that she became my guardian angel in many ways, but specifically in that high-risk specialists began screening me for breast cancer through bi-yearly mammograms, sonograms, and MRIs at age 31 because my Mother was first diagnosed at age 41.

Therefore, my breast cancer was caught early, before it spread. Even though I’m BRCA negative, a 1.1 centimeter tumor was found on my MRI, and I was diagnosed with stage one invasive breast cancer in 2009, at age 34. I was treated had a lumpectomy, eight rounds of CMF chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy, and several reconstructive surgeries over the course of four years.

Today, at age 42, the chart in my oncologist’s office reads N.E.D., the three most beautiful letters in the English alphabet. N.E.D. stands for No Evidence of Disease. Words cannot express how grateful I am for my health, and I look forward to the day when every cancer patient’s chart contains those lovely words.



Share your inspiring survivor story with us and give someone currently battling cancer some much needed hope.

Happy father's day!