24 - Sunday, April 26, 1998 — North Shore News

SUNDAYS

Sunday social 1:30 p.m. at Silver = Harbour Centre, 144 East 22nd St., North Vancouver. Everyone welcome, For information, call 980- 2474.

"M.S. Society self-help groups’ for varying needs. Info: call 689- 3144.

MONDAYS.

Carpet Bowling. Daily except: Tuesdays, Call for ~ times. . Silver - Harbour Contre, West Van. For more information cail 980-2474,

is West - Vancouver Sen- -

iors’ Activity Centre

“offers” a..variety. of, pro- » grams. For more infor-

‘mation call 925- 7280

Meals: on: "Wheels: ‘Hot

meals: -delivered between -

nd: 1 p.m.

“on: Mondays, Wednes-". days'and: Fridays for the’.

led or those.

» Planning

--informed: “both pres.ciption and over- 2 the-counter. products.

| Senie

Medications the topic of public session

Mary Sega! Contributing Writer

LAST month, more than 100 people, mostly seniors, attend- ed a public meeting about medications.

The event was co-spon- sored by Lionsview Seniors’ Society and Therapeutics Initiative of UBC.

Dr. Robert Ragno, pro-

’ fessor with UBC’s depart-

ments of medicine and phar- macology, and Dr. James McCormack of the UBC fac- ulty “of pharmaceutical sci- ences, spoke about decision- making regarding drugs that are prescribed to help

cope with high blood pres- sure. and/or high choles-

. terol. .

“Under: the heading “Just

. say know co drugs,”. they

gave us information about seniors?.dive use, advertising

misleading, and-. ay-hecome better

rut medications,

~ Did you know that:

* M-Most: Canadian seniors: fill - 2°33 prescriptions per year and “take / five different medica-

tions.

‘|... Ml Fifty’ five per cent” of |

- doctor -may dosage. -

SENIORS

rs say ‘know’ to

women and 41% of men take some form of medication.

@ Women have significantly more adverse drug reactions than men.

B On the North Shore, one in three senior women is pre- scribed a tranquilizer to help her get through the day or the night.

All this raises the question of what we seniors can do to be more effective in looking after our own health.

We all know the benefits of a healthy dict, exercise, and non-smoking in helping to prevent heart disease and other illnesses.

The doctors encourage us to take more control over our lifestyle, and to ask ques- tions,

If our doctor advises us to use a certain drug, here are some tips that will help us to manage our medications wiscly.

Don’r assume that health problems, such as forgerful- ness or confusion, are just a sign of aging — they may. in fact, be caused by the medi-

.cine or combination of med-

icines you are taking.

If you are reacting to. a medication or are experienc- ing side effects, tell your doctor or pharmacist —-your adjust. the

Do not drink alcohol: if

“you are taking. drugs: that

contain codeine or ASA.

If you are taking four or more prescription. medica- tions and/or over-the- counter. drugs, make sure ‘to

have a doctor review your medication cach month.

Talk to your health-care professional about alterna- tives to medication use. Medications may not always be the best solution to a health problem.

Take medications exactly as directed by your doctor and pharmacist.

Try to go to the same pharmacy for all your med- ication needs and visiv only one family doctor.

Tell your doctor about any other health-care profes-

sionals you visit:

Talk to your pharmacist...

before taking any ‘over-the- counter medication. These are complex medicines that can cause the same problems as prescription medicine — they should be treated with care and respect.

Ask your — pharmacist

about possible drug interac- tions if you are taking more than one medication. —_as the number of . medicines taken increases, so docs the possibiliry of medication problems. | : ot

Your Mother was always 4 there for you, what if you can’t be there for her? ‘

Medic Aid.

‘Seniors’ Anformation: Line: fat: $22-

Megic Aid Response Systems will

take over the moment an emergency occurs whether medical or a break-in. At the push of a button, Medic Aid Response :

Systems will do all the talking for you In a matter of seconds, our 24-hour®

monitoring station will contact: proper authorities, relaying vital information such as name. address, medical history, '. doctor's name, etc. Enjoy the peace of mind knowing we'll. * be there 24 hours a day. . |

_ Wake-up Call.

It’s ‘a fast paced world and you: want to keep up. ~ But for you, luxury cars have had all the appeal of. a big’ yawn. Until n now.

f

“Audi's back on the North Shore with three of the hottest luxury models. Touring Sedans, Quattro; Tiptronic, Adrenaline.

And they're here at your North Shore Audi Dealer.

Been there and done that just don't apply anymore. ~

Check with: your health- care professional to see if alcohol or any .foods ‘might. cause a negative interaction | with your medication... 2.

In a nutshell: we need to: look after ourselves as mich . as possible, to become better informed about medications, and to ask questions. ,

If we vare still concerned; after talking to our doctor, and our pharmacist, we ‘can’, call the British Columbia Medication ©

1330. Co Mary Segal is co-ordinator of. Lionsview’. Se

Planning Society, a non-profit >

society th that Shore’.

“Support & f ‘Do:you:have’pr ‘cancer?, Would you:

moms are expecting ‘aby. p-For information: -HN-a

; Mamm nograph

If you ar

40 or over,

‘ourself to this program. ‘or an app

984-571

Ntondays at. 59M: ‘ia the Chemotherap: Uni Designed: for al alla

P SOtIE es + “|. women with breast cancer.

If you.wish'a visit, please; call 253-6470

For information cane ; SW: at 984-371

mere at TAS se pages a,