What is a Flu Shot?

Influenza vaccines or “flu shots” are vaccines that protect us from the 4 most common types of influenza during the cold months. The most common way of administering a flu shot is through needles but there also nasal spray flu vaccines.

There are different flu vaccine manufacturers and multiple influenza vaccine products licensed and recommended for use in the United States. However, CDC recommends use of any licensed, age-appropriate influenza vaccine during the 2021-2022 influenza season. They pointed out that there is no preference expressed for any flu vaccine over another.

How does it work?

The flu vaccine that gets injected into our blood stream can cause antibodies. These antibodies develop in the body about 2 weeks after vaccination. They provide protection against infection with circulating influenza viruses.

Seasonal flu shots are designed to protect us against the flu viruses. Research indicates the viruses that will be most common during the upcoming season. According to CDC, all flu vaccines in the USA are “quadrivalent” vaccines, which means they protect against 4 different flu viruses: an influenza A(H1N1) virus, an influenza A(H3N2) virus, and two influenza B viruses.

Who should get the shots?

Health experts recommend that everyone over the age of 6 monts receive the flu vaccine. This is especially true for people in high-risk categories such as:

• pregnant women
• children under age 5
• people over age 65
• anyone working or living in a nursing home or chronic care facility
• anyone with chronic medical conditions

Where to get a flu shot?

Most doctors’ offices carry the vaccine. You may also get the vaccine at:

• pharmacies
• walk-in medical clinics
• county or city health departments

Some schools and companies also offer flu shot clinics on site. Those that are open will begin promoting flu vaccines as the season approaches. Some even offer incentives such as coupons to encourage you to receive your vaccine according to Healthline.

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What is Vaccination?

Vaccination and immunization are ways of protecting our body from certain diseases. The vaccine enters into our body and an immune response is being triggered.  This is similar to the immunity a person would get from disease, but instead of getting the disease you get a vaccine. This is what makes vaccines such powerful medicine according to Fraser Health. Needle or injection are the most common ways on how to administer vaccines. Some are given by mouth (orally) or sprayed into the nose (nasally). In addition, they are also called “needles”, “shots” or “jabs”.

How it works

The vaccines contain the same germs that cause a particular disease. However, these germs do not make you sick. It’s because they have been killed or weakened. Your body is then “tricked” when you get immunized. It is tricked that it has been infected by the disease. The body then makes antibodies that kill the germs. These antibodies stay in your body for a long time and remember how to fight the germ. And finally, the antibodies destroy the germs.

Several diseases that vaccine protect you from:

• influenza
• measles (red measles)
• meningitis
• pneumonia
• polio
• rotavirus
• rubella (German measles)
• blood infection
• diphtheria
• ear infection
• Haemophilus influenzae type b
• hepatitis A
• hepatitis B
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• influenza
• measles (red measles)
• meningitis
• mumps
• pertussis (whooping cough)
• tetanus (lockjaw)
• varicella (chickenpox)

Vaccine Scheduling

We need vaccination in order to immunize and protect our body against diseases that can do harm . This protection starts from the time of birth and continues into later life. The timing is based on the general risk of a disease in a period of life of a person.

The vaccine schedule issued by the CDC and has been proven safe and effective at protecting children from common diseases. A child can be seriously at risk if not vaccinated.

The number of vaccines their child receives from the time of birth can be overwhelming for some parents. But it is important to follow the recommended schedule. Vaccines are designed and timed to protect against specific diseases, specifically when a child is most vulnerable to them.

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Stuttering is a speech disorder in which the flow of speech is interrupted. The interruption of speech is caused by involuntary repetition of words or stretching of a sound. It is also known as stammering and usually goes away on its own by age of 5.

However, stuttering is more than just disfluencies. It also may include tension and negative feelings about talking. It may get in the way of how you talk and you may want to hide your stuttering. For example, you may not want to talk on the phone if that makes you stutter more.

Types of Stuttering

According to Healthline, there are 3 types:

• Developmental – Most common in children younger than 5 years old. This type occurs as children develop their speech and language abilities. It usually resolves without treatment. Developmental Stuttering particularly common among males.
• Neurogenic – Signal abnormalities (between the brain and nerves or muscles) are the main cause of this type.
• Psychogenic- This third type originates in the part of the brain that governs thinking and reasoning.

Signs and Symptoms

• Adding a sound or word (interjection) – “I um need to go home.”
• Making long sounds with words – “My name is Amaaaaaaanda”
• Repeating whole words – “Well well, I don’t agree with you.”
• Repeating phrases – “He is–he is 4 years old.”
• Changing the words in a sentence (revision) – “I had–I lost my tooth.”
• Not finishing a thought.
• Avoidance of using certain words or use different words to keep from stuttering.
• Physical changes like facial tics, lip tremors, excessive eye blinking
• Tension in the voice, face and upper body
• Frustration when attempting to communicate
• Hesitation or pausing before starting to speak
• Refusal to speak
• Rearrangement of words in a sentence

Cause of Stuttering

There is no clarity as what causes this condition. But 60% of people who stutter have family members who stutters too.

Treatment

Most developmental stuttering are outgrown by children. Therefore, in most cases, treatment aren’t necessary.

At the present, there is no treatment for stuttering. However, Speech Therapy can help reduce interruptions in speech and improve your child’s self-esteem. Speech Therapy often focuses on controlling speech patterns by encouraging your child to monitor their rate of speech, breath support, and laryngeal tension.

Early intervention can also help prevent stuttering in adulthood.

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Pharmacists also contribute to research and testing of new drugs. They work in pharmacies, medical clinics, hospitals, universities, and government institutions.

Reasons to See a Pharmacist

Pharmacists are one of the most easily-accessible health care professionals. Every pharmacy has a licensed one. You can speak to one without making an appointment. Some of the reasons to see a pharmacist include the following:

Answering Medical and Drug-Related Questions

Pharmacists are qualified to answer most medical or drug-related questions you may have. You can ask a pharmacist which brand is the best for your headache, which one is cheaper, other ways to take your medicine and many more.

Filling Your Prescriptions

When you get your prescription from your doctor, you can take it to the pharmacy. The pharmacist then will fill your order. If you get all of your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy, they can better track your medicinal history. They can also provide you with a written history if you need it for your own record or just whenever circumstance need it.

For Vaccine

Your local pharmacist can administer flu shots and other vaccines too. This service also benefits doctors and hospitals to avoid flocking of outpatients and line up in their clinics.

At YCDSCC

YCDSCC takes great pride in having over 20 years of combined experience in the Canadian and international Internet Pharmacy field. We are able to utilize this valuable experience so that we can be your prescription referral service of choice. Each pharmacy contracted by us brings a unique set of skills that ensures you are provided with the same high-quality / personalized experience that you would get at your local pharmacy. There are a lot of people online claiming to be the best online pharmacy referral store. Though there are many who claim to be the best Canadian online pharmacy referral store, they will often use parallel imports to get the lowest prices. We don’t believe in that, we think there are better ways to get prescriptions online from Canada and internationally. We can provide you with access to authentic Canadian, United Kingdom New Zealand, and Australia medication.

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Symptoms 

The most common symptoms of types A, B, and C may include fatigue, poor appetite, dark urine, belly pain, aching joints, a mild fever, or yellow skin or eyes (jaundice). To be specific, here are the symptoms for each type:

Hepa A

• Clay-colored bowel movements
• Intense itching
• Sudden nausea and vomiting

Hepa B

• Weakness and fatigue
• Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
• Dark urine

Hepa C

• Bleeding easily
• Bruising easily
• Fluid buildup in your abdomen (ascites)
• Swelling in your legs
• Weight loss
• Confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech (hepatic encephalopathy)
• Spiderlike blood vessels on your skin (spider angiomas)

Treatment

For most people with acute viral hepatitis, special treatment is not necessary. However, people with severe acute hepatitis may require hospitalization so that symptoms can be treated. If doctors suspect that fulminant hepatitis is developing, the person is hospitalized so that mental status can be monitored, liver tests can be done, and doctors can determine whether liver transplantation is needed.

After the first several days, appetite usually returns and people do not need to stay in bed. Severe restrictions of diet or activity are unnecessary, and vitamin supplements are not required. Most people can safely return to work after the jaundice clears, even if their liver test results are not quite normal.

The infected liver may not process (metabolize) drugs normally. So a doctor may need to stop a drug or reduce the dosage of a drug that could accumulate to harmful levels in the body (such as warfarin or theophylline). Thus, people with hepatitis should tell their doctor all the drugs they are taking (both prescription and nonprescription, including any medicinal herbs), so that the dosage of the drug can be adjusted if necessary.

If itching occurs, cholestyramine, taken by mouth, is often effective.

Hepa A Treatment

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is most common in low- and middle-income countries. This is due to the lack of clean and reliable water resources and the increased risk of contaminated foods. A safe and effective vaccine is the way to prevent HAV. However, most HAV infections are mild. Majority of the people infected recovered fully and have developed immunity to further infection. But these infections can be (rarely) severe and life threatening due to the risk of liver failure.

Hepa B Treatment

On the other hand, Hepatitis B, when chronic, can often be treated successfully.

If Hepa B causes fulminant hepatitis, patients are usually treated in the ICU. Antiviral drugs may help. However, liver transplantation is the most effective treatment and is the best hope of survival especially for adults.

The most commonly used drugs to treat chronic Hepa B are:

• Entecavir (Baraclude®)
• Telbivudine (Tyzeka®)
• Tenofovir alafenamide (Vemlidy®)
• Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Viread®)
• Interferon alfa-2b (Intron A®)
• Peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys®)

Hepa C Treatment

Hepatitis C (HCV) can cause both acute and chronic infection. Some people recover on their own, while others develop a life-threatening infection (cirrhosis or cancer). There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. Although, antiviral medicines can cure more than 95% of persons with hepatitis C infection. These meds help reducing the risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Prevention

• Practice good personal hygiene such as thorough hand-washing with soap and water.
• Don’t use an infected person’s personal items.
• Take precautions when getting any tattoos or body piercings.
• Take precaution when traveling to areas of the world with poor sanitation. (Make sure to get your vaccines.)
• Make it a habit to drink lots of water.
• Get the vaccines for hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
• Use a condom during sex.

It is very important that you take these preventive measures if you participate in risky behaviors. Take preventive steps, too, if you work in places like nursing homes, dormitories, daycare centers, or restaurants where you have extended contact with other people and a risk of coming into contact with the disease.

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Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. The normal shape of a person’s spine includes a curve at the top of the shoulder and a curve at the lower back. If your spine is curved from side to side or in an “S” or “C” shape, you might have scoliosis. Scoliosis is not always noticeable.

This condition is most common in the later stages of childhood or the early teenage years when the person is still growing fast. It is more common in females than in males. Moreover, studies also show that scoliosis may cause osteoporosis and osteopenia.

Doctors may recommend a combination of back bracing and physical therapy. However, significant results cannot be expected as it is not possible to completely change the shape of the spine. This depends on the degree of curvature and the age of the child. Most scoliosis cases are diagnosed during the first 7 years of a child’s life or during growth spurts. It may be possible to stop the curve if detected early. Once an individual stops growing, scoliosis can still progress.

Common Causes

It’s common for children to require examinations for this condition to avoid complications later in life. It may develop during growth or it can be inherited genetically from birth. Age, gender and family history may increase your risk of developing it. 

• Birth defects
• Neurological abnormalities
• Genetic condition

Common Symptoms

Symptoms that may show depends on how severe the condition is. Some most common symptoms associated with scoliosis include:

• One shoulder blade that’s higher than the other.
• One shoulder blade sticks out more than the other.
• Uneven hips.
• A rotating spine.
• Problems breathing because of a reduced area in the chest for lungs to expand back pain.

Treatment

In most cases, childhood and adolescent scoliosis is mild and does not need treatment. If needed, the following would be the treatment recommendations the doctor might give the patient:

Casting

In childhood scoliosis, a doctor may use plaster casting to help the infant’s spine grow into a typical position. The cast attaches to the outside of the infant’s body, and they will wear it at all times. The cast needs to be replaced every 8 to 16 weeks depending on the severity of the curvature and response to treatment. Progress will be assessed and will continue until the condition improves or when the child is old enough for corrective surgery. This is the most gentle method of treatment and is generally effective. It can prevent the condition from growing worse, making surgery less severe, or it can cure the condition outright. 

Bracing

Bracing is recommended if a person has moderate scoliosis and the bones are still growing. The type of brace will prevent further curvature. However, it will not cure or reverse scoliosis. The person will need to wear the brace at all times, even during the night. Its effectiveness depends on the number of hours per day the person wears the brace.

Chiropractic treatment

Some people visit a chiropractor to relieve the pain and discomfort of scoliosis. Chiropractic doctors manipulate the spine and provide alternative treatments. They maintain that realigning the spine help promote healing and well-being. However, again, this is not a cure. It does not resolve the curvature of the spine. Research has not proven any chiropractic manipulations that directly benefits scoliosis.

Surgery

Surgery is reserved for people with curves that are greater than 40 degrees. It is important to talk to your doctor about this option. Especially if you feel the curvature is interrupting your daily life.

Spinal fusion is the standard scoliosis surgery. In this procedure, the doctor fuses your vertebrae together using a bone graft, rods, and screws. The bone graft consists of bone or a material like it.

A person should speak to a doctor if they suspect scoliosis. An early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent future complications.

Most complications of scoliosis can be treated or avoided if they get detected early. Luckily, most adult conditions are mild. Severe cases, however, can be debilitating with severe pain and impaired function of organs due to reduced space in the chest cavity. Surgeries can minimize the symptoms and prevent the condition from growing worse. 

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It can affect different organ systems throughout your body and causes inflammation. Many people experience high blood pressure and it can damage blood vessels.

It can also be difficult to diagnose because Lupus affects many parts of the body. Some forms of Lupus have telltale signs but moist are subtle. Most people experience it mildly but there is currently no cure for Lupus.

Men and women with lupus may have a higher risk of developing other conditions as the joint pain and fatigue make them less physically active. Appropriate treatment can greatly improve one’s quality of life.

Lupus Symptoms

Because this disease can affect many different parts of the body, and have different symptoms, it is often difficult to detect. And most people with this disease don’t have all the symptoms. In addition, symptoms may come and go and they can change over time as well.

The most common symptoms of Lupus disease are:

• Extreme fatigue
• Fever
• Joint pain, stiffness and swelling
• Sensitivity to sunlight or fluorescent light
• Chest pain when breathing deeply
• Dry eyes
• Headaches, confusion and memory loss
• Rashes, including a butterfly rash on the face
• Skin lesions
• Sores in the mouse or nose

The inflammation caused by Lupus can also cause complications with major body organs like the kidneys, blood and lungs.

When to see a doctor?

You should see a healthcare practitioner when you experience these common symptoms. Seek help immediately when you develop an unexplained rash, ongoing fever, persistent aching and/ or fatigue.

Causes of Lupus

In most cases, the cause of Lupus disease is still unknown. However, when a family member had it, it could be possible that one is at a slightly higher risk than those who have no history of it in the family at all. Experts say that it can be a combination of underlying factors too.

It can be one or more of the following:

• Environment: Smoking, stress, and exposure to toxins
• Genetics: Although they have not identified a specific gene that causes lupus, it has been known to pass down to offspring. twins, in particular, have a high rate of developing this.
• Hormones: Abnormal hormone levels (e.g. increased estrogen levels)
• Infections: Like the cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr
• Medications: Long-term use of certain types of blood pressure medications, anti-seizure medications and antibiotics. People who have drug-induced lupus usually get better when they stop taking the medication.

Potential complications

Lupus may interact with other conditions which may exacerbate symptoms. If you have any of these conditions or risk factors, inform your doctor to determine an appropriate treatment strategy.

• Lupus has a small risk of developing cancer
• You may have lower bone density which may make you more susceptible to microfractures or even breaks.
• Treatments may weaken your immune system. Lupus itself may make you more susceptible to infection.
• Lupus may increase your blood pressure during pregnancy making miscarriage more likely. If possible, avoid getting pregnant and use birth control methods (such as condoms) until you have manageable Lupus symptoms for at least 6 months.
  If you are already pregnant or plan to become pregnant, seek your doctor’s advice to help reduce the risk to an unborn baby.

Lupus Treatment

Medications are prescribed to help you manage your symptoms and prevent lupus flares. Your doctor will have to check your symptoms closely and their severity to recommend the right treatments.

In addition to Lupus medication, your doctor may also recommend some lifestyle changes such as:

• Avoiding excess exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light
• Eating a healthy diet
• Taking supplements that may help to reduce symptoms (vitamin D, calcium, and fish oil)
• Getting regular exercise
• Quitting smoking (if you smoke)

While Lupus may make life difficult, it can be managed with proper treatment. You should be able to live a full and long life. Alway be honest and communicate with your doctor to make sure that your treatment plan works with your lifestyle and properly manages your symptoms. If you find that your symptoms do not improve, or even grow worse, call your doctor to ensure that you are getting the best possible care.

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