Getting ready for the festive season and summer holidays
Like us here at your local Unichem Highfield Mall Pharmacy you are probably feeling like you are beginning the mad dash to the end of 2023.
Yes, another year is almost over and Myself and our wonderful staff of Pharmacists, Technicians and Pharmacy Retail experts would like to say what a pleasure it has been to be part of yours and your families Health, Wellness and Beauty journey in 2023.
To prepare you for the Xmas, New Year and Summer Holidays we have some tips and reminders to help you towards a Happy, Healthy and Stress-Free end to 2023 and bring on 2024!
Christmas shop with us
We have in store gifts for Him, for Her, For the Children, For the teachers, the coaches even the Secret Santa’s. Our range is extensive from Gelato coloured nail polishes to Beautiful Candles, Toilet Bags for everyone and always the classic Soap on a Rope. Best of all we offer gift wrapping with our gorgeous Xmas wrap. Yon may even go in the draw to win a Christmas gift for yourself – what a treat!
Sun Protection
First Aid
Have you checked your First Aid kits recently? Have you got one? Before you head away on your summer adventures get out your First Aid kits check the expiry dates on any creams or medications you may have in your kits. Also don’t forget to check the expiry dates on your sterile dressings too. Bring your kits into us and we can check them for you and fill the missing gaps, otherwise we can put together a new kit big or small to fit your Family’s needs over the summer and beyond.
Hayfever & Allergy
BUCCALINE
Taking Buccaline now and again in 3 months time gives your body a helping hand when it comes to keeping away the winter ills and chills so you can keep doing all those activities you love.
Buccaline is an oral vaccine that provides your body with strong immunity against bacterial complications that can arise from a simple cold or niggly sore throat. Buccaline does not replace the Flu vaccine and we would suggest you do both but just leave a gap between taking Buccaline and having the Flu shot of about 10 to 14 days. Buccaline is a Pharmacist Only Medication so our Pharmacists will need to make sure it is the right medicine being taken at the right time for you.
Buccaline is easy to take. One course is 7 tablets taken over 3 days giving you 3 months cover.
Vitamin C and Zinc
Vitamin C and Zinc are Immunity super stars. Vitamin C is a powerful supporter of our immune system helping to fight off viruses and infections as well as aiding our body to heal and recover. Zinc has been shown to decrease the duration of the common cold and is an important part of our everyday diet. There are times when our bodies benefit from increasing our intake of Vitamin C and Zinc, one of those times is over winter when we are trying to protect ourselves from Colds, Flus, and their complications.
Vaccinations
Influenza, or the Flu, is not just a bad cold – it can be serious and can even. lead to hospitilisation. The flu spreads easily and even if you are healthy those around you like your family, friends or work-mates may not be. Immunising yourself is protecting those you care about by lessening the chance of you bringing home the flu to a baby, an older relative or someone in your community who due to their health may become a lot sicker than you from the flu.
Every year the flu virus changes. Scientists from the World Health Organisation find three or four strains of flu they think will be the most widespread for the coming winter and use them to develop the flu vaccine for that year.
We will be providing the Flu vaccination in-store with the first vaccines being made available to the over 65’s from the 14th of April* .
*Ministry of Health proposed start date and roll-out schedule for the Flu Vaccine. For those who meet theEligible Conditions Funded Vaccine from the 21st of April and for all others including those who pay for their vaccination from the 28th of April.
Flu vaccinations are free with us for over 65s and those with Eligible conditions. We also provide vaccinations for those with work place Flu Vouchers. This year you can have both the Flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available there will just need to be a 2 week wait between each one.
Spring has Sprung – How to manage your Allergies and Hayfever
There is always a feeling of Hope and Joy when spring arrives with daffodils, blossoms and warmer weather. But for many the arrival of tree pollens in spring through to grass pollens that are around into summer is the start of ‘Hayfever Season’ otherwise known as Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis.
The common symptoms include sneezing, itching, watery or puffy eyes, stuffy or runny nose, itchy skin, or a skin reaction such as hives. Pollens can also irritate your sinuses, throat and ears. Those with Allergies/Hayfever also often feel generally tired, irritated and find it more difficult to concentrate.
Ideally the best treatment would be to avoid the allergen in the first place but that can be difficult especially as Kiwis we all look forward to getting outside when the warmer weather arrives.
Come and visit our helpful staff and we can give you some tips on how to reduce your risk of suffering from Hayfever this Spring and Summer.
Tips for reducing your exposure to Spring Allergens
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Identify activities or locations that bring on a reaction to allergens and try and reduce your exposure to these
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Wear sunglasses when you are outside
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Avoid grassed areas especially when freshly cut
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Don’t allow you pets to sleep on your bedding, pillows and upholsted furniture as they bring in allergens on their fur
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Limit you time exposed to the outside air when the pollen count is high. You can find out the days pollen count rating on most weather websites. During the day the pollens are highest from about 5am until 10am and then again on dusk.
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Maintain a strong immune system
Treating Allergies
If you can’t avoid the allergens’ that give you symptoms of Hayfever then come in and visit us and we can give advice and recommendations on the best product for you to get back to feeling your best.
Steroid Nasal Sprays
These are your Hayfever preventer. They are best started before your allergy season starts. If you start using a steroid nasal spray once you have symptoms you may need to take an oral Antihistamine for about 10 days until the steroid nasal spray really kicks in as a preventer. Your steroid nasal spray such as Flixonse is intended to be used long term over your allergy season and to have effect should be used regularly every day. If you already have hayfever symptoms and do not wish to take a tablet as well as a nasal spray then you could use Dymista nasal spray which contains both an Antihistamine for immediate effect and a Steroid for the longer term prevention of nasal and eye allergy symptoms.
Antihistamines
We have available oral antihistamines in Tablet, Chewable and Liquid form for the whole family. Oral Antihistamines like Levrix can work quickly as a symptom reliever, but taken regularly every day will work to block the release of histamine, the chemical that your body produces in response to allergens and prevent you from experiencing allergy symptoms such as a stuffy nose, sneezing and itchy skin. These Antihistamines are best for those who only suffer from Hayfever for short periods of time or to have on hand when you accidently expose yourself to an allergen or an allergen like a Bee finds you. Children’s Claratyne Chewable tablets in Grape flavour are a good addition to any household First Aid Kit as they can be taken by the whole family 2yrs and up. For those under two there are liquid preparations such as Zyrtec. Just remember everyones symptoms are different so we want to know what your symptoms are so we can offer you the best Antihistamine for you.
Natural Remedies
There are natural products that act like Antihistamines too. Both Vitamin C can help break down histamines and stabilise inflammation and Zinc is also useful in reducing inflammation. There is also Horseradish and Garlic which help clear the airways and support the immune system. These often come in combination with Vitamin C. AllerStop contains a special egg protein identified by Dr Bruttmann that gives natural support to the body’s response to allergens. Allerstop’s bioactive proteins that come from Quail eggs block irritants before they affect the nasal tissues. AllerStop come as a chewable tablet, they are fast acting and can be taken by pregnant women.
© 2018 Highfield Pharmacy Supplied by SPF
