Want to avoid catching the flu but don’t like the needles?

Here are some things that you could consider.

I know there are people, like me, who just absolutely hate needles. Does that mean you need to hibernate during the winter months to avoid catching the flu? Well, there are some less extreme options that you could consider.

First of all, the flu vaccine is the most effective way to protect yourself and your family from the flu. The flu shot helps strengthen your body's natural immune response against the flu by stimulating your immune system to build antibodies against the flu virus. If you can tolerate needles, this is the best way to protect yourself.

If you don’t want to take the flu shot, there is a nasal spray flu vaccine called FluMist.

Unlike the flu shot, there are no needles involved with FluMist. FluMist flu vaccine is appealing, especially to children, who gets scared by the sight of needles.

FluMist is not covered by OHIP, it costs about $25-30 CDN depending on the dispensing fee of your pharmacy.

There are also other things that you could do to avoid catching the flu.

 

1. Wash your hands with soap and water OR use a hand sanitizer.

 

Do this before and after every meal, after taking public transit and at regular intervals throughout the day. Keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (gel or wipes) handy at work, home and in your car. Remember, a hand sanitizer needs to be at least 60% alcohol to be effective. (Purell hand sanitizer only $1.49 +HST per bottle 59ml @ Custom Care Pharmacy) 

2. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and then throw the tissue out. (Kleenex Go Pack 3-ply tissues only $0.50+HST @ Custom Care Pharmacy)

 

3. If you or your family members are coughing or sneezing, consider putting on a mask to avoid spreading the germs to others. (N-95 Surgical masks 10 for $3.99 @ Custom Care Pharmacy)

 

4. Take a Zinc supplement

Studies have shown that zinc can reduce colds because of its ability to stop the cold virus (rhinovirus) from reproducing and causing an infection. When taken within the first 24 hours of symptoms,  zinc appeared to shorten the duration of a cold by about a day. It has also been shown that patients taking zinc had less severe symptoms compared to those taking a placebo. (Zinc lozenges, 30 for $4.69+HST @ Custom Care Pharmacy)  (Zinc 25mg tab 100 for $6.49 @ Custom Care Pharmacy)  

 

 

Make sure you have a digital thermometer at home. (Oral digital thermometer $8.19 @ Custom Care Pharmacy) (Ear digital thermometer $38.29 @ Custom Care Pharmacy) If you have a fever in addition to cold or flu symptoms, you should consider visiting your physician for an assessment.   

 

 

CALCIUM TABLET TOO BIG TO SWALLOW? 鈣片太大無法吞服？

My patient tells me that she needs to take calcium supplementation but she just couldn't swallow the tablets! This is not uncommon. Just like the multivitamin tablets, calcium tablets are often quite big and hard to swallow. Is she doomed to gulp down a horse pill or is there a better way? I was determined to find a solution for her that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg. And so my calcium investigation begins:

The options: 

There are many, many calcium products out there. In my professional opinion, calcium is calcium. It doesn't make a big difference if they source it from an oyster shell or from a rock. What is more important is that you take no more than 500mg for each dose and that you take vitamin D to increase its absorption. If you don't mind crushing or cutting up the tablet in halves, you can easily purchase a bottle of 100 tablets calcium carbonate 500mg without Vitamin D for approximately $5-6 CDN plus tax ($3.99 + tax at CUSTOM CARE PHARMACY). Definitely best bang for your buck!
 

Otherwise, there are some slightly more expensive options such as the calcium chews approximately $17 plus tax for 60 squares  ($11.64 + tax at CUSTOM CARE PHARMACY) and calcium liquid approximately $13 plus tax per bottle  ($8.91 + tax at CUSTOM CARE PHARMACY). Each bottle has about 34 doses of 500mg calcium in it. So price wise: the tablet<<<the chews<<the liquid.

The calcium chews have a chocolate, vanilla or caramel flavour which makes it seem like candy except it is not. If you are not a fan of chocolate, vanilla or caramel to begin with, it may not appeal to you enough to make you want to take it everyday. The chews also take a long time to dissolve. It will somewhat sticks to your teeth...dentures beware!

The liquid calcium seems like a natural option. webber naturals makes a blueberry flavour liquid giving you 500mg calcium and 200IU vitamin D in 1 tablespoonful. However, it does taste a little 'chalky' and medicinal. Although you have to refrigerate it after opening, it actually makes it taste much better.

Maggie's Pick:

Webber naturals liquid calcium 500ml - Every tablespoonful (15ml) contains 500mg of calcium and 200IU of vitamin D. Remember it tastes better when refrigerated!
 

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有一位病人告訴我，她需要補充鈣質，但她無法吞下藥片！她的情況並不罕見。鈣片就像維生素片一樣，往往是相當大片，吞服它並不容易。難道她注定要勉強吞下巨型藥丸? 我下定決心要為她找到 一個經濟實用的解決辦法。

選項：

在市場上，有很多很多的補鈣產品。 以我的專業意見認為，無論鈣的來源是蠔殼或石頭它仍然是鈣, 差別並不大。最重要的是你服用的時候, 每次不超過500毫克的鈣。同時應該服用維生素D，以增加其吸收。如果你不介意壓碎藥丸或切割兩半，你可以很容易地用$5-6加元加稅  ($3.99 加元加稅 at 美健藥房 )，以購買一瓶100片鈣片500毫克附加維生素D。絕對最划算！

否則，有一些較為昂貴的選擇，如 Calcium chews 鈣軟糖 大約$17加元 60粒 ($11.64 加元加稅 at 美健藥房 )和補鈣水 大約$13加稅($8.91 加元加稅 at 美健藥房 )。每瓶大約有34劑量 (500毫克鈣)。所以價格方面：鈣片<鈣軟糖 <補鈣水。

鈣軟糖 是一種似糖果類型的補鈣產品。有巧克力或焦糖的味道。鈣軟糖需要時間溶解和它會粘在牙齒上...假牙提防！

補鈣水也是一個不錯的選擇。webber natural 有藍莓味的補鈣水，在1 湯匙中給你補充500毫克鈣和200IU維生素D。打開後請必須冷藏, 為保持新鮮和味道更好。

 

Maggie的推薦：

Webber natural 補鈣水 -  冷藏後味道更佳和放它在牛奶旁邊可以幫助提醒大家每天服用。