Prevention Day: prevention also starts in pharmacy

Why prevention is important for you too

Prevention is about what you can do now to have fewer symptoms later. Think about not smoking, eating healthier, exercising more, sleeping well and dealing better with stress. Small steps can make all the difference. A healthier lifestyle helps you stay fitter and can reduce your chances of getting sick. It can also make medications work better or sometimes you need less care.

Maybe you recognize this: you want to live healthier, but don't know where to start. Or you take medication and wonder if your lifestyle affects how you feel. Just then, the pharmacy can be a practical and familiar place to ask questions.

Prevention through your medication: what does the pharmacy do?

Prevention is not just about lifestyle. Your medication also plays an important role. Sometimes it is necessary to supplement a drug or use something extra to prevent problems.

The pharmacy actively watches this and advises where necessary. A few examples:

• Methotrexate and folic acid
  Are you taking methotrexate? If so, it is important to take folic acid (or folinic acid) in addition. This reduces the chance of side effects such as nausea and blood abnormalities.
• NSAIDs and stomach protection
  Do you use painkillers such as ibuprofen, naproxen or diclofenac? Then a stomach protector (proton pump inhibitor) may be needed to prevent stomach upset, ulcers or bleeding, especially with long-term use or additional risk.
• Corticosteroid creams and skin care
  Are you using hormone ointments or creams? Then it is important to take good care of the skin in addition with an indifferent (neutral) cream. This helps to restore the skin barrier and reduce symptoms.
• Bone protection with certain medications
  Do you use corticosteroids (such as prednisone) for a long time? If so, you may need to take calcium and vitamin D to help prevent osteoporosis.
• Antibiotics and proper intake
  With some antibiotics, it is important to take them at a specific time or not combine them with certain products (such as dairy). This prevents the drug from working less well.

So the pharmacy looks not only at the drug itself, but also at what is needed to use it safely and effectively. That way you avoid problems and get more out of your treatment.

General advice for a healthier lifestyle

Good prevention often starts with small steps that you can stick with. Exercising more, eating healthy, drinking less alcohol and quitting smoking are important examples. Good sleep and enough relaxation are also among them. It's not about living perfectly, but about choices that suit you and that you can keep doing.

Are you overweight and want to live healthier? Then you can sometimes join a lifestyle program, also called GLI, through your doctor. Here you get help from, for example, a lifestyle coach, dietician or physiotherapist. This way you work step by step on healthier eating, exercise and relaxation.

Why a medication review is important

Are you taking multiple medications, suffering from side effects or has something changed in your health? If so, a medication review can go a long way. In a medication review, the pharmacist, doctor and you look together at all the drugs you are taking. So not only prescription drugs, but also self-care drugs and supplements.

Such a review helps to assess whether your medication still suits you well. Sometimes a dosage can be adjusted. Sometimes a drug could be simpler or safer. In making that assessment, doctors and pharmacists use NHG Standards, guidelines for diagnosis and treatment in general practice, and the Pharmacotherapeutic Compass, a source of independent drug information for healthcare professionals, among others.

Medication and remedies

In prevention, self-care is sometimes appropriate. A well-known example is nicotine replacement, such as patches, gum, lozenges and mouth spray. These can help quit smoking by reducing withdrawal symptoms. There are also self-care products that can help with sleep, diet or stomach problems, but they are not suitable for everyone. Therefore, always seek advice if you are already on medication, pregnant or have a chronic condition.

Together with your doctor and trusted close

The advantage of local pharmacy is the close cooperation with your doctor and other health care providers. We know you, your doctor knows you and you know us. That gives short lines of communication and personalized advice. If something changes in your health or medication, we can switch quickly. So you get care that suits your situation.

We are the trusted pharmacy in the neighborhood. And with an added advantage: with us you can also arrange a lot online. Think of repeats, ask questions and see if your medication is ready. This way you combine personal contact with online convenience.

Reliable information

Do you want to know more about healthy living, quitting smoking or a medication review? Then use reliable information and discuss your questions with us or with your doctor.

Read more at Thuisarts.nl: lifestyle program (GLI) and smoking cessation.
Read more at Apotheek.nl: smoking cessation and medication review.

Questions? Feel free to ask. We're happy to help.