EktoCare Pharmacy

12/03/2023

Hello
Following an outbreak of cholera in an institution in Kenya, I decided to dive into what Cholera entails. let's learn
Cholera is a bacterial infection that is spread through contaminated food or water. It can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening.

To protect yourself and your loved ones, we recommend the following:

1. Practice good hygiene: Wash your hands frequently with soap and clean water, especially before eating or preparing food, and after using the bathroom.

2. Drink safe water: Only drink water that has been boiled or treated with chlorine or other disinfectants. Avoid drinking untreated water from rivers or other natural sources.

3. Cook food thoroughly: Cook all food, especially seafood and shellfish, thoroughly before eating. Avoid eating raw or undercooked food.

4. Dispose of waste properly: Avoid open defecation and dispose of human waste in latrines or other appropriate facilities.

Seek medical attention if you experience symptoms: If you experience symptoms such as severe diarrhea or vomiting, seek medical attention immediately.

Cholera can be prevented by taking the appropriate precautions. By practicing good hygiene, drinking safe water, cooking food thoroughly, disposing of waste properly, and seeking medical attention when necessary, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from this dangerous infection
Watch our video below to learn more and keep yourself and your family safe.

Fellow Pharmacist.

19/11/2022

It's antimicrobial resistance awareness week .

11/11/2022

Over 6000 women all over Kenya are diagnosed yearly with breast cancer. And also each year we have 2500 cancer related deaths
Let's spread the word
i). promote regular screenings.
ii). Focus on risk reduction
III). Support survivors through long term care.
iv.) Lastly, Men let's help our fellow sisters in fondling their breasts to aid in early detection before the deed (very important).!

22/09/2022

I think one of the saddest scenes of community pharmacy practice is seeing a patient who needs proper care in a hospital but is unwilling (or not able) to make that trip to the hospital.

For some the money to go to the hospital is the problem. For most, the zeal to make the journey to the hospital is their own problem. The latter group is more common.

Their frustration comes from the cumbersome process one has to pass through especially in a teaching hospital before getting to see a doctor, who in many cases may even be dismissive of their concerns.

In the pharmacy, we notice how free patients are to discuss their concerns. Sometimes in counselling patients, you get information which they didn't bring to the attention of their doctors. Whether it is fear or lack of time or whatever, it may just be hard to know.

As a pharmacist who owns a community pharmacy, please endeavor to have a solid referral scheme for your patients. Give them all the necessary details they need to see a specialist and get better care where needed. Do your part and also do a follow up.

Most times these efforts give a positive look to your yearly accounts. But even if it does not, at least you're dutifully fulfilling your pharmacist oath and generally making the world a better place.

14/09/2022

11/07/2022

Hello fellow Kenyan
Well,.
Have you been having that reccuring nonstop headache for a while , well let's have a look

Headaches affect more than 50% of the population. But not all headaches are the same. There are different types of headaches and they all have different causes and treatments.

1. Sinus headaches

Sinus headaches are relatively common and they can occur when someone is congested from a cold or from sinus allergies. A feeling of head stuffiness, head pressure and a sensation of fullness behind the eyes and cheeks characterize sinus headaches. Sinus headaches often improve when the congestion resolves or with decongestants or sinus allergy medication.

2. Tension headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. Most tension headaches are characterized primarily by head pain, although sometimes eye pain or neck pain can be a component of tension headaches. Tension headaches are mild to moderate in severity and respond to over-the-counter painkillers.

Tension headaches can be caused by lack of sleep, stress, muscle strain, vision strain or even without an identifiable reason. Some people are more prone to tension headaches. A person who is prone to tension headaches may experience tension headaches regularly or may experience sporadic bouts of increased headaches for weeks or months at a time.

3. Migraine headaches

Migraine headaches are more severe than most types of headaches.

Migraine headaches are characterized by pain, but also have other features such as hypersensitivity to light (photophobia,) sounds or smells.

Migraine headaches are often associated with neck pain, nausea or a sense of dissociation. Some people with migraine headaches have more significant neurological symptoms with the migraine headaches such as vision changes, numbness or tingling.

Most people who have migraine headaches experience recurrent migraines at a frequency of several times per year up to several times per week. Many people with migraine headaches experience pre-migraine symptoms, such as excessive fatigue or dizziness. The pre-migraine symptoms are often referred to as an 'aura.' Sometimes the other neurological symptoms that occur along with a migraine are called an 'aura,' whether they occur before, during or after a migraine itself.

There are several migraine triggers that make it more likely for a migraine to occur, but a migraine headache can happen in the absence of a trigger. The most common migraine triggers are hormone treatments, menstrual cycle, hormonal fluctuations, caffeine withdrawal, soy products, artificial food additives and strong chemical odors.

Often, migraine headaches can be relieved by over-the-counter pain medications, but sometimes migraine headaches do not improve without prescription strength migraine medication interventional procedures.
There are also several subcategories of migraine headaches including:

An ocular migraine is a migraine characterized by flashing lights or blind spots or other temporary visual symptoms.

A cluster headache is a migraine characterized by redness of one eye, nasal discharge on one side and possibly even a small pupil on one side.

4. Medication overuse headaches

Medication overuse headaches are fairly common. When the body experiences withdrawal from pain medication, sometimes the ‘wearing off’ of medication can elicit pain. In order to reduce the pain, most people who experience medication overuse headaches take pain medication. This produces a cycle of medication withdrawal, pain medicine, relief and then medication withdrawal until the cycle starts over again.

Medication overuse headaches are characterized by head pain and they generally do not have other associated neurological features. Medication overuse headaches resolve easily with a schedule for gradually reducing pain medication.

5. Menstrual headaches/hormonal headaches

Menstrual headaches or headaches from the use of hormonal medications are not always migraine headaches. Some menstrual headaches and hormonal headaches are characterized by mild to moderate head pain and are relieved by over-the-counter pain relievers.

6. Sensitivity headaches

Some people notice headaches after eating or drinking certain foods such as red wine, cheese and chocolate. These are usually mild to moderate and respond to over-the-counter pain pills, but food and drinks can also trigger more severe migraine headaches. The best management for this kind of headache is avoiding the trigger.

7. Headaches caused by an illness

Meningitis

Meningitis is an infection or inflammation of the meninges, a covering beneath the skull that envelopes and protects the brain.

When the meninges become inflamed or infected, head pain and severe neck pain and neck or back stiffness occurs. The head pain does not improve until after the infection resolves, and sometimes the head pain may linger for weeks or months after meningitis resolves.

Brain injury

Injuries to the brain may cause bleeding in the brain or swelling from the injury. This causes pressure on the brain and often produces extreme head pain along with neurological symptoms such as vision changes, weakness or alterations of consciousness. The head pain caused by a head injury usually does not get better with pain medication and even if the pain temporarily improves, the pain returns again until the injury is medically or surgically treated.

Brain tumor/ Brain aneurysm

A brain tumor or a brain aneurysm typically pushes on the brain. Because the brain is enclosed in the skull, any pressure from a lesion in the brain causes pain. Headaches that are caused by brain tumors or brain aneurysms may be accompanied by neurological symptoms, but they are not always accompanied by neurological symptoms. Headaches caused by brain tumors may improve for a few hours with pain medication, but they typically return once the pain medication wears off. Headaches caused by brain aneurysms may suddenly worsen if the aneurysm ruptures, which may be a fatal event.

Increased pressure

Increased intracranial pressure may occur as a result of bleeding, swelling or blockage in the brain or spinal cord. This causes cerebrospinal fluid to build up and severe pain results. This is a medical and/ or surgical emergency.

Decreased pressure

Decreased intracranial pressure is rare and usually results from severe injuries that cause a tear in the meninges that protect the brain or spinal cord- resulting in a cerebrospinal fluid leak. The pain is severe and persistent and worsens when sitting up or standing up, with some improvement when lying down. The pain of a low-pressure headache can only be relieved by a surgical procedure that repairs the meninges or with a procedure called a blood patch if there is a tiny tear in the meninges at the level of the lower spine.

For all the types of headaches above, medications are available to assist with the pain.. And also medications used as prophylaxis (to prevent future reoccurrence) However, it's really important to treat the causative factor or disease leading up to the headache, if the headache is not a normal one.On our next update, we will recommend some homemade remedies or actions that would ease up headaches.

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Fellow pharmacist.

09/07/2022

Hi
Do you know these surprising health facts..?
1.Your feet can give an early warning about serious health problems.
People can develop serious foot problems as they age, which puts their health, independence and well-being at risk. Your feet can give an early warning about serious health problems such as diabetes, nerve damage, poor blood circulation and arthritis.
2.)You can tell if someone has high cholesterol based on their skin..
It is possible to see signs on ones body that you or they may have high cholesterol. Xanthelasmata, or xanthelasma, are cholesterol-filled bumps that form under your skin. It can be an indicator of possible heart disease.
3.)Bananas can help improve your mood
A banana has approximately 30% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 helps the brain produce serotonin, which is considered a mood stabilizer. Serotonin impacts your motor skills and emotions. Eating a banana can help relieve depression and anxiety by stimulating the serotonin levels in your body. So please eat that banana.
4.)Ginger can help reduce cramps and bloating.
Ginger is safe to eat daily, but it's recommend limiting yourself to 3 to 4 grams a day — stick to 1 gram daily if you're pregnant.To make the most of ginger properties, it is best to consume this herb in its raw, fresh form
5.)Both depression and anxiety can be the reason causing those neck and shoulder issues you might be experiencing once in a while.


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29/06/2022

Hi guys,
we take a look at something that isn't taken seriously in our society and it's widely serious DEPRESSION.

Depression is a cruel disease that can affect anyone , it's very easy Once the symptoms begin for a person to slide down the black hole of depression where the symptoms spiral and feed off of each other, increasing in severety.

Someone somewhere is battling depression, please know that you are not alone in the journey, just knw that you can overcome it. Several people have.
If you are in the process of developing depression, please talk about it to someone, so as not to dig a hole 🕳️ which would be hard to come out of.
Being unhappy isn’t the same as being depressed. But major depressive disorder — a type of depression — is much more complicated. There are specific symptoms that determine whether it’s depression or the sadness we all sometimes experience in life.

Determining if persistent, unshakable dark feelings are a result of depression can be the first step toward healing and recovery. Read through these warning signs to see if it’s time for you to see a mental health professional.
1.) feeling hopeless
in brief your feelings may be worthlessness, self-hate, or inappropriate guilt. Common, recurring thoughts of depression may be vocalized as, “It’s all my fault,” or “What’s the point?”
2.) Loss of interest
Depression can take the pleasure or enjoyment out of the things you love. A loss of interest or withdrawal from activities that you once looked forward
Another area where you may lose interest is s*x. Symptoms of major depression include a decreased s*x drive. (Don't judge anybody by the first meet, could be the person is experiencing so many things at once in their mind🤙🥇)
3.)Increased fatigue and sleep problems
4.)Anxiety and long deep thoughts.
5.)Irritability in men
6.)Changes in appetite and weight- majorly decrease in weight.
7.) Uncontrollable emotions-getting angry at minor things in life, in as small as someone talking to you, or visiting you instead of minding their own business.
8. Looking at death
When the depression has spiralled badly, people opt for another way of escaping it. People who die by su***de usually show symptoms first. Often people will talk about it or make a first attempt before succeeding in ending their life. If you or anyone you know is in this stage, Reach out to them if they haven't reached out to you
If you have had some of the previously mentioned symptoms for more than four weeks, you might be suffering from major depression disorder. Recognizing that you’re depressed is essential to getting the right help.
Take action immediately by looking for a therapist or talking to somebody you trust. Look for help as early as possible. And know that sometime in the future, you'll be looking back to that point in your life and say you overcame.

For the record, we have professional doctors in the country, who have dealt with many cases regarding this and they know how to handle you with care, so please reach out.

Please Like for more daily dose of the right health.

25/06/2022

Hi people
Well today, we take a look at a substance called illicit brew or changaa. Maybe you have a friend or that relative who is addicted to the high of village beer. Please advice him to desist or he should change it to alcohol that's sold from a licenced premise for the sake of what's coming to him/her. This is because the makers of the product, lace/ add it with methanol (found almost everwhere ) to make it stronger, for them to attract more customers. Methanol in itself when ingested, is broken down in the liver to a toxic metabolite called formic acid. Formic acid in the body is horrendous. Can lead to damage to the retina causing blindness "Hata mkizima taa Bado tutaendelea kukunywa" phrase plus several organ damage and death, permanent visual damage will occur in as least as 30ml of methanol ingested . Other symptoms that can ensue include headache, dizziness, agitation, acute mania, amnesia, decreased level of consciousness including coma, and seizure. Now, someone in this situation, if severe, look for a small amount of alcohol (from a licenced premise) and give to the person, while rushing him to the hospital. It's important to rush him or her to the hospital, don't wait.
Please like the page and stay informed. Take care

Fellow pharmacist .