Vaccine Update!

by Steve Quisenberry on December 12, 2009

in Illness, Pharmacy, Vaccinations

We are pleased to announce that we will have 100 doses of the H1N1 vaccine available to everyone beginning Monday
(most likely Tuesday by the time it is delivered to us – SQ)

Here is te public announcement:

Oregon Public Health officials to make H1N1 vaccine available to everyone

Oregon Public Health officials are making the H1N1 vaccine available to everyone beginning Monday, December 14. Previously the vaccine had been prioritized to groups most at risk from H1N1 influenza.

“We have been hearing for some time that people outside the federally guided target group are very interested in getting vaccinated,” says Mel Kohn, M.D., M.P.H., director of Oregon Public Health Division. “We’ve received a substantial amount of vaccine, and more is flowing into Oregon at a brisk pace, so it makes sense to open up it up to all.”

While cases of H1N1 flu have dropped off over the past few weeks, there is a good possibility that additional waves of illness may occur over the next few months. Health officials continue to urge people to get vaccinated to prevent problems later this winter.

“Local county health departments will continue working to get vaccine directed to a variety of providers so that, as vaccine continues to be shipped, the public will be able to get immunized,” says Kathleen O’Leary, administrator of the Washington County Public Health Division and chairwoman of the Conference of Local Health Officials. “Private healthcare providers, retail pharmacies and local public health clinics will be receiving vaccine to administer. I am very pleased that we can now provide this protection to more Oregonians.”

Kohn and O’Leary advise that people check the flu vaccine locator on Oregon Public Health’s flu Web site (www.flu.oregon.gov) to find out where vaccine will be available in the coming weeks in their area.

“During the busy holiday season, finding the time to get vaccinated can be challenging,” Kohn says.  “Now that everyone will be eligible to get vaccinated it will be more convenient for multiple family members to get vaccinated at once, and that can save you some time.”

Kohn recommends that everyone get vaccinated, but adds that it’s still especially important that those at high risk for complications from flu do so.  “H1N1 flu is not a gift any of us want to get or give this holiday season.”

As of today Oregon expects to have received 891,716 doses of H1N1 vaccine.  In the past week Oregon received 126,208 doses.

Many other states have either expanded eligibility already, or are considering doing so in the near future.

More information on the flu pandemic and a vaccine locator are available on Oregon Public Health’s Web site, www.flu.oregon.gov.  Those with flu-related questions, such as how to care for someone who has the flu or when to see a health care provider, also can get their questions answered by a nurse at the state’s flu hotline, 1-800-978-3040.

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Acidic or Alkaline foods?

by Steve Quisenberry on October 28, 2009

in Common Ailments, Healthy Lifestyle, Pharmacy

Foods are usually classified as acid or alkaline. Classification is depending on the residue that foods leave in the body after metabolism.

Some of the information on the web recommends that you have a total acid or a total alkaline diet to solve some diseases and their symptoms. However, it may be better for your body to have a combination of the both types of diet. It would seem that a balanced acid/alkaline food intake would maintain better overall health. Going to one extreme or the other in regards to acidity or alkalinity in your diet may lead to health problems. If you take it to the extreme conditions may arise such as acidosis which occurs when the body fluids become too acidic, or a condition called alkalosis may develop when the fluids become too alkaline.

All foods are rated acid or alkaline based on their pH value.

Pure water has a pH value of 7 is considered neutral. Alkaline foods have a pH above than 7 and acidic foods base have pH lower than 7. As examples of acidic based foods, most of the grains, meats, dairy products and nuts and legumes have acidic base. As examples of alkaline based foods, most of the fruits and vegetables have alkaline base. Most cooked foods are alkaline as compared to the raw foods.

It is said that the modern and western diets usually are too acidic to maintain good health, which is attributed to the lack of fruits and vegetables in the diet. It is still controversial, however, common sense agrees that modifying the diet to get a better balance of fruits and vegetables can only help your overall health.

The basis for all the controversy is the lack of understanding of how foods metabolize and how foods are rated. Foods like lemon and orange juice are acidic in nature but they turn alkaline when metabolized in the body. Here is an example of the controversy. For dietetic purposes, lemon and orange juice are considered as alkaline forming foods even though they are acidic before consumption and other fruits such as plums, cranberries and prunes are considered as acidic because the body is unable to metabolize the acids that these fruits contain.

And of course we MUST add, it is important to consult your doctor before trying any new diet. Only a doctor can recommend an alkaline diet be given to people suffering from acute or chronic kidney failures and people with heart diseases and on medications that have an effect on the potassium levels of the body should check first with their doctor before changing their diet.

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Obama: Swine flu a national emergency

by Steve Quisenberry on October 24, 2009

in Illness, Vaccinations

President Barack Obama declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency and empowered his health secretary to suspend federal guidelines at hospitals and speed up how infected people might receive treatment in a disaster.

Here is the declaration that Obama signed late Friday.

DECLARATION OF A NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE 2009 H1N1 INFLUENZA PANDEMIC
- – - – - – -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION

On April 26, 2009, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the “Secretary”) first declared a public health emergency under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 247d, in response to the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.

The Secretary has renewed that declaration twice, on July 24, 2009, and….

…October 1, 2009. In addition, by rapidly identifying the virus, implementing public health measures, providing guidance for health professionals and the general public, and developing an effective vaccine, we have taken proactive steps
to reduce the impact of the pandemic and protect the health of our citizens. As a Nation, we have prepared at all levels of government, and as individuals and communities, taking unprecedented steps to counter the emerging pandemic.

Nevertheless, the 2009 H1N1 pandemic continues to evolve.

The rates of illness continue to rise rapidly within many communities across the Nation, and the potential exists for the pandemic to overburden health care resources in some localities.

Thus, in recognition of the continuing progression of the pandemic, and in further preparation as a Nation, we are taking additional steps to facilitate our response.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including sections 201 and 301 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) and consistent with section 1135 of the Social Security Act (SSA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 1320b-5), do hereby find and proclaim that, given that the rapid increase
in illness across the Nation may overburden health care resources and that the temporary waiver of certain standard Federal requirements may be warranted in order to enable U.S. health care facilities to implement emergency operations plans, the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic in the United States constitutes a national emergency.

Accordingly, I hereby declare that the Secretary may exercise the authority under section 1135 of the SSA to temporarily waive or modify certain requirements of the Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children’s Health Insurance programs and of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule throughout the duration of the public health emergency declared in response to the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic.

In exercising this authority, the Secretary shall provide certification and advance written notice to the Congress as required by section 1135(d) of the SSA (42 U.S.C. 1320b-5(d)).

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

/s/ Barack Obama

For Oregonians, here are some links to various entities.

State Information for Individuals and Families

Oregon Influenza Page

Oregon Department of Human Services

Oregon (H1N1) Swine flu Information

Oregon Flu Resources for Individuals and Families

State Information for Professionals

Flu Resources for Oregon Workplaces

Flu Resources for Oregon Schools and Childcare Facilities

Flu Resources for Local Health Departments in Oregon

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Alzheimer’s Disease – The Epidemic of the Future

by Steve Quisenberry on October 10, 2009

in Common Ailments, Illness

We  now live in an aging society. It is common to see people living well into their eighties and longer. We are seeing more Alzheimer’s disease each year and this will continue to increase and affect many more lives in the future. It is now estimated around thirty million people worldwide, will suffer from this insidious disease within twenty years.

“Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative condition that affects the cerebral cortex of the brain and leads to the progressive death of nerve cells. This causes the sufferer to gradually lose their memory. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia making up more than half of dementia sufferers. Around twenty percent of people aged over sixty five experience dementia which is a term that describes many different diseases where people experience serious memory loss.”

In addition to affecting primarily people over sixty, it can also affect people as young as thirty and is called early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

The most common symptoms are;

  • become lost in areas that are well known to them,
  • forgetting what things are called and are actually used for and are quite likely to be items that they have used every day during their life.

Causation

“Alzheimer’s disease is caused by a shortage of neurotransmitters in the brain. These neurotransmitters are the chemical that normally transmit messages to the brain controlling memory, speech and movement.”

Progression of disease

In the early stages; short-term memory loss. The person may be unable to remember things that happened only a short time ago yet can remember things that happened many years before.

Their long-term memory remains intact for quite some time. It is vital for them to share their memories it is like exercise for the brain.

As the disease progresses, the person finds it increasingly difficult to perform day-to-day activities. Even personal care and taking care of their nutritional needs can be affected such as assistance with cooking and be reminded to eat. They may forget people’s names, including close family members which may lead to angry outbursts. They also tend to become restless and suffer from insomnia.

They can sometimes become so confused and forgetful that their resulting actions may put themselves or others at risk such as forgetting to switch off heaters, stoves or putting clothes or papers too near such appliances. They may also act inappropriately, behaving in ways that are totally out of character for them. A person who has always been very properly spoken and behaved may begin using vulgar language or stripping their clothes off in front of other people.

In the later stages; 24 hour care and supervision may be needed as they lose their memory completely. By this time, they are weak and find it hard to walk as the part of the brain that controls muscles succumbs to the disease. They may become wheelchair dependent or even bedridden. Dysphasia (difficulty in swallowing) becomes a problem and may make the person reluctant to eat, resulting in weight loss. They become incontinent and lose all control of both bladder and bowel.

In the final stages of the disease, the person may not recognize anyone but they still recognize the kindness of a soothing voice and a loving smile.

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Stomach Flu, Common Cold and Influenza Disease

October 5, 2009

“Just the facts ma’am”
The influenza disease, or Flu, affects the upper respiratory system. Flu symptoms can vary, but are often similar to the common cold. The major exception is relatively high fevers which are almost always present in cases of the flu, but rarely in adults who have a common cold.
The Flu is caused by [...]

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Fighting Swine Flu: Immune Strengthening Foods

September 30, 2009

One simple thing that you can do is to strengthen your immune system. A strong immune system will lessen your chances of contracting this flu. In addition, washing your hands frequently, eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of rest is key.
Stay calm, stress will put a lot of strain on your immune system. When [...]

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Swine Flu

September 24, 2009

The swine flu is a specific type of flu that is very common in pigs or otherwise known as “swine.” The swine flu has symptoms that are similar to the regular flu. Even though it is quite rare for a human to have swine flu, it is possible for a human to contract the swine [...]

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Hello Salem!

June 18, 2009

Welcome to Quisenberry Pharmacies and Willamette Compounding Pharmacy. We are located downtown Salem at 150 Liberty St SE.
Our business hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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