Unfortunately, you can get sick any time of the year. Summer is a particularly crummy time to be ill, as it can take away from any vacation or relaxation plans you may have. However, if you know what to look out for, you can perhaps decrease your chances of getting sick.

Let’s take a look at some of the more common summer illnesses.

4 Common Summer Illnesses

Heat-Related Illnesses

The sun often feels like a rare commodity in Canada, so we often take full advantage of it during those sunny summer months. However, too much sun can be hard on the body. If your body loses the ability to cool itself off, you may notice yourself feeling dizzy, tired, achy, or thirsty. Heatstroke and dehydration are two of the more common illnesses that result from the heat, but fortunately, they can be prevented by ensuring you’re not pushing your limits and stepping into the shade when needed.

Recreational Water Illnesses

Taking a dip in the local pool can feel incredibly refreshing on a hot summer day, but try your best to prevent any of the water from entering your body, whether that’s by accidentally swallowing a mouthful or having some get trapped in your ear.

Swimming pools, hot tubs, and even lakes are carriers of various types of bacteria. While your immune system can handle most of them, there can be the odd one that your body isn’t prepared for. Swimming can also cause water to be trapped in the ear canal and grow bacteria, thus resulting in swimmer’s ear, a type of ear infection. If you do develop an ear infection, consult your local physician and pharmacy as soon as possible.

Food Poisoning

Warm summer temperatures are the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive on your food. Therefore, when bringing food with you for a family picnic or day at the lake, ensure any foods that need to be refrigerated are kept in a cooler and meats are properly cooked.

Bug Bites

Generally, bug bites are more irritating than a cause for concern. However, it’s important to know that bites can be more than simply itchy. Bugs such as mosquitos and spiders can carry diseases, so if you develop a rash or fever following a bite, it’s recommended you visit the nearest pharmacy.

With all that said, don’t be afraid to enjoy the outdoors this summer! Simply know how to stay safe so that those common summer illnesses don’t dampen your fun. And if you do end up getting sick, just turn to your nearest compounding pharmacy in Calgary for assistance.

Springborough Pharmasave is your health professionals committed to serving the Springborough community. Our pharmacy in SW Calgary provides you with all you need for your health, including healthcare advice and medical products. We offer vaccinations, flu shots, breast pump rentals, and can act as your travel clinic in Calgary. Giving back to the community is a core value at Pharmasave. Further, we are proud of our work to help the Springborough community. Visit us at 104-30 Springborough Blvd, Southwest Calgary, or call us at (403) 453-6113.

A pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) is a position commonly available in the US. Therefore, it is unlikely that a pharmacy in SW Calgary will have much to do with these services, but the contrast between the systems is still interesting to consider. For instance, the lack of a middle-person such as a PBM in Canada allows us much more affordable rates and also, greater clarity about the rates at which medication is sold.

However, perhaps we are getting ahead of ourselves. First, a review of what a pharmacy benefit manager actually does:

The Role of a Pharmacy Benefit Manager

The role of a pharmacy benefit manager appears to be, broadly, an intermediary between insurance companies and claimants. Although that doesn’t seem to be enough of a description, that is the broad understanding. They also have their hands in many different parts of the healthcare pot, such as negotiating rates between pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies, including discounts and rebates. They also serve a role in processing and paying insurance and drug prescription claims so that insurance companies don’t have to be as involved.

Interestingly, as a result of PBM’s, the actual net price of prescription drugs is hard to find and can be considered a trade secret. Somewhat related to this strange practice is the fact that, according to Wikipedia, “…in 2017, the largest PBMs had higher revenue than the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers,” and the further down this rabbit hole you go, the direr it appears to be. There have been multiple controversies surrounding PBMs, beginning in 1998 by then Assistant U.S. Attorney James Sheehan.

How Does This Affect Canadian Pharmacies

Luckily, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) aren’t a part of the Canadian pharmaceutical market. Thankfully, government-managed healthcare gives our citizens good discounts and affordable prices on our prescription drugs, and this provides a higher quality of life for our citizens.

Furthermore, with new changes coming into effect July of this year, there will be greater protections regarding the cost of patented prescription drugs. It is truly a superior system based on the healthcare of our citizens rather than the profits of a corporation, including at your local pharmacy in SW Calgary.

Springborough Pharmasave is your health professionals committed to serving the Springborough community. Our pharmacy in SW Calgary will provide you with all the essential services you need for your health, including healthcare advice and medical products. We offer vaccinations, flu shots, breast pump rentals, and can act as your travel clinic in Calgary. Giving back to the community is a core value at Pharmasave, and we are proud of our work to help the Springborough community. Visit us at 104-30 Springborough Blvd, Southwest Calgary, or call us on (403) 453-6113.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is a condition that affects almost half of the population worldwide. It is more common in women than it is in men, and it affects people living in South America significantly more than people living in Southeast Asia.

Typically, it can manifest as either diarrhea or constipation, and in some circumstances, both. It is usually accompanied by abdominal pain and can affect people of all ages. However, it is most worrying when there is a sudden onset after the age of 50 because of the higher risk that impaired digestive systems have for those above the age.

The likelihood of a sudden onset of IBS is substantially increased when an individual experiences a gastrointestinal infection, but the exact cause has yet to be determined. Although popular theories revolve around a lack of important gut bacteria and poor diet, the results are typically inclusive at this juncture.

Treatments Available From SW Calgary Pharmacies

If you are experiencing the constipation side of IBS, stool softener products are available to ease the flow. Furthermore, there are several dietary supplements and plans available to ensure your gut bacteria are varied enough to effectively move through your system. This includes diets that reduce the number of processed foods and increase the amount of dietary fiber that is taken in.

Mild pain relievers are also available for those experiencing distressing levels of abdominal pain. In very severe cases, fecal matter transplants have also proven effective at reducing the symptoms and effects of IBS.

Thankfully, there are some treatments available to those suffering from IBS, and your pharmacy in SW Calgary will be able to provide information and treatments that don’t require a prescription from your doctor. However, if you do seek medical advice or treatment from a doctor, again your pharmacy in SW Calgary will be able to fill your prescription and offer advice if it conflicts with other medicines that you may currently be taking.

Springborough Pharmasave is your health professionals committed to serving the Springborough community. Our pharmacy in SW Calgary will provide you with all the important services you need for your health, including healthcare advice and medical products. We offer vaccinations, flu shots, breast pump rentals, and can act as your travel clinic in Calgary. Giving back to the community is a core value at Pharmasave, and we are proud of our work to help the Springborough community. Visit us at 104-30 Springborough Blvd, Southwest Calgary, or call us on (403) 453-6113.