Tuesday May 27 / 2008

Tuesday May 27 / 2008

12:10: The Health Roundup with Jay McQueen.


12:12: Haley Reidy who has had diabetes for 3 years. She is this years JDRF Youth Ambassador for The TELUS Walk to Cure Diabetes is coming up Sunday June 8th. This year’s JDRF Youth Ambassador is 10-year-old Hailey Reidy.
Guest: Haley Reidy.

12:20: Time to whip it back into shape, buddy!
Guest: Ernie Schramayr over at All Canadian Fitness. 905.548.6732


12:35: Rexall Radio Health Matters segment.
Guest: Hilton Silberg.

12:45: Rexall Radio Health Matters segment.
Guest: Hilton Silberg

OTC medicines and how they Work;

OTC is short for over the counter. These medicines you buy without a prescription from your doctor. Chances are, you have used OTC medicines many times to relieve pain and to treat symptoms like the common cold, flu or allergies. OTC products that relieve your headache, fever or muscle aches are not all the same. That’s because the pain relievers you see in the aisles are either nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (called NSAIDS) which include pain aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen or acetaminophen. Each of these drugs has different ways of working. Aspirin and NSAIDS relieve pain by stopping the production of prostaglandins, which are natural chemicals in the body. Prostaglandins irritate nerve endings, triggering the sensation of pain.
Common NSAIDS are;
• Asprin the medicine in products like Bayer.
• Ibuprofen, the medicine in products such as Advil and Motrin
• NaNaproxen, the medicine in products such as Alev
• Acetaminophen is in products such as Tylenol
Antihistamines
Antihistamines work by blocking the receptors that trigger itching, nasal irritation, sneezing and mucus production. The three types of antihistamines are:
• Diphenhydramine, the medicine in products such as Banophen, Benadryl Allergy
• Brompheniramine, the medicine in products such as Dimetapp Allergy
• Chlorpheniramine, the medicine in products such as Aller-Chlor, Chlo-Amine and Chlor-Trimeton Allergy
Decongestants
Decongestants work by narrowing blood vessels in the lining of the nose. As a result, less blood is able to flow through the nasal area, and swollen tissue inside the nose shrinks. Pseudoephedrine is the only decongestant used in OTC products.

In Canada regulatory bodies decide whether a medicine is safe enough to sell over the counter. Taking OTC medicines still have risks. Some interact with other medications, supplements or food or dinks. Others can cause problems for people with certain medical conditions. Always check with your pharmacist.

Rexall #0202 Blog Reporter Nadine Janacek