Health Pharmacy services
Do you need a pharmacy health check?
Shaheen Bhatia, pharmacist/manager at P&S Chemist in Ilford, Essex explains how your local Careway pharmacy could help look after your health now and throughout the year
The start of a new year is a good time to remind ourselves to commit to being fitter and healthier. However with so many bewildering adverts out there for diets, gyms and health apps, you may be wondering where you should go for some down-to-earth advice. If you’re looking for a good reliable
place to start, try your local Careway pharmacy. For instance, did you know
pharmacies can help detect your risk of long-term problems such as heart problems and diabetes? Many pharmacies offer health checks for blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol. Most people can walk into a
pharmacy at any time and book health checks instantly and have a full consultation afterwards. Pharmacists are the only accredited health clinicians you can access immediately to get free health advice, so why not take advantage of that?
High blood pressure and high
cholesterol are described as ‘silent’ killers because they cause no symptoms until you experience a heart attack, stroke or other critical event. So don’t wait for that to happen. Get tested early at your local pharmacy where you can also get advice on how best to avoid or delay getting a long- term health condition. And if your pharmacist thinks you need to see your GP, they will refer you.
Goal tracking Another good reason to have pharmacy health checks is they help you monitor whether a new or regular medicine is effective for you. Or you may want find out if certain lifestyle measures you’ve adopted are working – if you’ve started exercising daily or changed your diet to cut down on carbs and fats, for example, having your blood pressure or cholesterol
tested could show you how useful your efforts have been. Having pharmacy health checks
means you can often get results immediately too. Plus the pharmacist is on hand to discuss the results and what they may mean with regards to your health in the future.
Professional expertise Visiting your local pharmacy is also a good idea because pharmacists are experts on how medicines work. They can let you know what side effect you can expect too, and even when it may be best to see your GP about stopping taking certain medicines. Many pharmacists also offer free
NHS services called the New Medicine Service (NMS) and Medicines Use Review (MUR). These allow you to sit with your pharmacist while they explain everything about any medicine you’re taking and answer any questions you may have. Ask your pharmacist if either of these services would be available to you.
For all of this and more, visit your local Careway pharmacy (find your nearest pharmacy at
www.careway.co. uk/find-a-pharmacy). Note: some basic pharmacy tests are often free, but there may be a charge for others.
Helping you quit
Many pharmacies also offer a free smoking cessation service to smokers who need help and support while quitting their habit. Smoking is the highest single factor
that contributes to heart disease and cancer. You're four times more likely to stop smoking with support, according to NHS Smokefree. For more details about stop
smoking services, ask your local Careway pharmacist today.
32 All About health
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