Top 5 questions you should ask your doctor about prescribed medications When you are sitting in your doctor’s office, it can feel like your mind suddenly goes blank as soon as you are asked ‘do you have any questions’. Cut out this article and take it to your next appointment. 1. How and When Should I Use This Medication? Many medications are most effective when taken at certain times of the day and, in some cases, with or without food. Some medications require learning how to use a device (such as an inhaler, of which there are many types). 2. What Are the BestWays I CanManageMultipleMedications? If you have several medications, it is often good to ask whether they are best taken together or throughout the day. Some pharmacies can pack your pills into pouches, saving you time and confusion about which medications to take when. 3. IsThere a SimplerWay to Get MyMedicationDosing?When it comes tomultiple pills and inhalers, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Advances in treatment may have resulted in easier-to-use medications. Ask your doctor about the best strategy for you to use. 4. HowDo I KnowWhen I Should Stop TakingThisMedication? Some medications are prescribed for a short period based on a symptom that you are experiencing, while others are for longtermuse to help slow down or control disease progression. Check with your doctor before stopping a medication simply because you are feeling better. 5. What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose? It happens to everyone, but doubling a dose the next day can be dangerous for some medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what you should do if you miss a dose of your medication, and request tips for making your daily routine less complex and easier to follow. Always confirm instructions before starting or changing a medication. Be sure to ask your doctor if there are options available that may work better, or which would help to cut down on the number of medications that you take. SnowbirdAlert www.newscanada.com Doctors warn that older Canadians need this health test Were you born between 1945 and 1975? If so, you might not know that you’re at an increased risk for certain illnesses, including hepatitis C. Recently, the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver recommended that Canadians be tested based on their age, not just on possible risk factors. According to the new guidelines on the management of chronic hepatitis C, those born between 1945 and 1975 should be tested for the virus, aligning with the recommendations established by the Canadian Liver Foundation. There is no warning for hepatitis C, because its symptoms often don’t appear until the liver is severely damaged. Undiagnosed and untreated chronic hepatitis C can lead to liver cancer and is the number-one reason for liver transplants in Canada. Many people who have this liver disease show no symptoms, and up to an estimated 70 per cent of people with chronic hepatitis C in Canada don’t even know that they have the infection. To find out your hepatitis risk, complete the Canadian Liver Foundation’s viral hepatitis questionnaire at liver.ca/hepatitisquestionnaire. HearingAwareness One in five Canadians experiences some level of hearing loss, with nearly half of these associated with age progression. The Canadian Hearing Society (CHS) says that age-related hearing decline is the third most-prevalent chronic condition in older adults and the most widespread disability. Moreover, with Canada’s aging population, it’s predicted that numbers are poised to climb dramatically. Although the disability is not a life-threatening condition, if left untreated, it can have serious side-effects that include depression, social isolation, cognitive decline and a greater risk of falling. Hearing specialists stress that hearing loss is progressive – meaning that it will get worse over time – hence early detection is important. Audiologists say that the sooner hearing impairment can be diagnosed, the better the outcome for the person with the loss. One of the biggest challenges about the condition is that it deteriorates slowly over time, meaning that people often don’t notice it until it becomes obvious. Some of the initial symptoms are sometimes overlooked or go unheeded. • Listening to television or radio at a loud volume. • Trouble understanding speech, particularly in a noisy environment. • The perception that others are mumbling. • Difficulty hearing people on the phone. • Often asking people to repeat themselves. • Ringing in the ears. At the first signs of hearing loss, people are urged to get a hearing assessment from a certified audiologist. While age-related hearing impairment is not curable, there is a range of modern treatments and devices that can improve both hearing and quality of life. 6 | www.snowbirds.org
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzMzNzMx