I know that having the pharmacy in the back of the store is annoying

But that design is intentional, in the hope that you’ll see something you’ll be tempted to buy as you walk through the aisles

Try an independent drug store

If you want more personalized attention and a shorter wait, try an independent drugstore. Independents significantly outperformed chains in customer satisfaction and wait-time surveys conducted by J.D. Power and Consumer Reports

Don’t rush it

That line at the pharmacy counter may be annoying, but it’s long for a reason. Your pharmacist has a ton of things to do—and it takes time to do it right. “A pharmacist’s job to a lay person may seem simplistic, but there are many functions, from reviewing your profile to checking interactions, and making sure you’re getting the correct drug, and dosage,” says Fernando Gonzalez , RPhI, assistant professor pharmaceutical sciences division at Long Island University’s Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. “Patients should realize that rushing a prescription is like telling a pilot not to check the landing gear before takeoff,” he adds.

Don’t rush it

That line at the pharmacy counter may be annoying, but it’s long for a reason. Your pharmacist has a ton of things to do—and it takes time to do it right. “A pharmacist’s job to a lay person may seem simplistic, but there are many functions, from reviewing your profile to checking interactions, and making sure you’re getting the correct drug, and dosage,” says Fernando Gonzalez , RPhI, assistant professor pharmaceutical sciences division at Long Island University’s Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. “Patients should realize that rushing a prescription is like telling a pilot not to check the landing gear before takeoff,” he adds.

Don’t cheat on your pharmacist

It may be more convenient to sometimes use the pharmacy at work, and other times, the one closest to home, but filling your prescriptions at multiple locations removes a layer of protection from your care, which could make your prescriptions less effective—or even deadly. Drug interactions are a real thing—and that includes every drug, including those that don’t require a prescription. “Make sure all your doctors are aware of every medication you’re taking, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbs,” urges Brian R. Malone, R. Ph, director of Pharmaceutical Services and Medication Safety Officer at NYU Winthrop Hospital on Long Island. Remember that some medications cancel each other out, and others are dangerous to mix.

Know what your prescription plan covers

Medication sticker shock is as upsetting to your pharmacist as it is to you. They want you to be able to get the medications best able to make you well, but these conversations are better had with your doctor, or insurance company, rather than your pharmacist. “It’s important for patients to have a better understanding of their insurance plans, so they know if certain medications will be covered, or if they will wind up with a huge bill. Pharmacists have become the bearer of bad news regarding plan limitations, copays, and deductibles. For example, if you have a Medicare Part D prescription plan, you may want to review your options prior to selecting a plan with your pharmacist,” recommends Gonzalez.

Brown bag it

Your conditions change over time, and so do the medications on the market which can treat them. To make sure you’re getting the best, up-to-the-minute care available, Malone suggests bringing all of your medications to your doctor, at least once a year. “Brown bagging your medicines can help you and your doctor talk about them and find out if there are any problems,” he adds.

Don’t take (medical) matters into your own hands

Medications can become expensive, but don’t let cost jeopardize your health. According to Gonzalez, patients should become better educated about their medication options, including their cost, but must be proactive, and ask to be counseled, if that information isn’t readily supplied. “Today’s drugs are so potent and so expensive. Taking them correctly is the key to disease management. Many patients who have reached, or exceeded, their plans max now have to pay a higher fee for their prescriptions and tend to start extending the medications they have by not taking them as prescribed, or not taking them at all. This is a very dangerous practice,” he says. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about plans which may be more affordable for you, and find out which drug manufacturers might be willing to provide you with free or lower-cost medications

Ask questions


Your pharmacist lives and breathes medications all day. They are an incredibly knowledgeable resource you should use, especially if you’ve got a doctor who watches the clock during appointments. “Always ask for information about your medicines in terms you can understand,” says Malone, who suggests writing down these questions, and taking them with you, each time you fill a new prescription:
•What is this medicine for?
•How am I supposed to take it and for how long?
•What side effects are likely? What should I do if they occur?
•Is this medicine safe to take with other medicines or dietary supplements?
•What food, drinks, or activities should I avoid while taking this medicine?

Make sure to write down the answers and to ask for clarification if you don’t understand something your pharmacist says

Save the Internet for social networking, not for buying medicine

“Patients need to have an understanding of the dangers of purchasing medications from unapproved sources. Examples of this are invalid Internet sites, that could offer prescription drugs at dramatically low prices. In most case, these are unapproved, and may even be counterfeit. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has the highest standards of drug approval in the world, and all manufacturers must comply. That is not true of drugs you buy from unauthorized sources, including individuals who claim to be selling prescription drugs they no longer need,” says Gonzalez. In some cases, this is even illegal,

Check and Double Check
 

Ask to look at your medication bottles before they are bagged. “Patients should check their medications before they leave the pharmacy. Look at the vial to check the name of patient, drug, doctor, and directions. Patients need to talk to the intern or pharmacist, not the cashier, to get these answers. If your medications look different, either in shape or color, always check with the pharmacist,” says Gonzalez.

Travel wisely

Whether you plan to travel around the world, or simply to another state, be proactive about your medications. You may forget, or lose, something you desperately need, without a pharmacy you trust nearby. “When traveling, keep a list of all your medications with both brand and generic names. There are drugs manufactured in other countries with the same brand name as in the U.S. which contain different active ingredients. Patients should also know to keep medications in their carry on bags. In addition, dosage adjustments for time zone changes may be needed. Consult with your pharmacist before you go!” stresses Gonzalez.

Check expiration dates


become toxic, and make you ill,” says Malone. Schedule a specific time once or twice a year, for checking expiration dates on your prescription, and over-the-counter medications, and dump anything that has expired. Some people do this when they change the batteries in their smoke detectors, or as part of an annual spring cleaning ritual. Here are some more non-food things you didn’t realize had expiration dates.

Turn on the lights

Don’t ever take medications without your glasses on, if you wear glasses, or in the dark or semi-dark. Believe it or not, Malone was once consulted by someone who’d put hydrocortisone cream on her toothbrush for two days straight. Another woman contacted him when she accidentally took her dog’s worm medication. Taking medication can become an automatic thing that you do without thinking. Rather than going on auto-pilot, stop for a minute, and make sure you are taking what you’re supposed to in the right dosage.

Personalize your medication bottles

you live with others, separate everyone’s medications if possible and keep them in different places. If that is not practical, find a way to identify each household member’s meds, including pets. Pill bottles all look alike, and so do many pills. Try color-coding the bottles with a marker or with nail polish so you don’t take someone else’s drugs by mistake. Here are the signs you might be taking too many prescriptions.

Keep your medications at room temperature

And then there’s the one about the woman who took over-the-counter allergy pills which had been kept in a hot glove compartment for two days. She became violently ill (plus got no allergy relief). “Don’t keep medication in direct sunlight, or subject them to extreme temperatures, ever,” says Malone. Life-saving medications, such as nitroglycerin, lose their effectiveness if they are kept in too-hot temperatures for too long. According to NPR, all medications should be kept at room temperature, unless their label specifies that they be refrigerated.

Don’t crush it

Malone stresses that even though pills are sometimes hard to swallow, they should never, ever be crushed up without your doctor’s OK. This is because some medications are time-released and are designed to slowly enter your bloodstream. Crushing them up eliminates their ability to work as they should and may even be dangerous. If you are having trouble swallowing your pills, do not stop taking your medication. Talk to your doctor about alternative drugs, such as those in liquid form, which will be easier for you to tolerate. Now that you know all these pharmacist secrets, learn about the things pharmacists keep in their own medicine cabinets.

Sources: Dr. Daniel Zlott, oncology pharmacist, National Institutes of Health; Cindy Coffey, PharmD; Greg Collins, pharmacy supervisor, CVS/pharmacy, California; Stuart Feldman, owner, Cross River Pharmacy, New York. Lisa Gill, deputy content editor at Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs project; David Zgarrick, acting dean and professor for the Department of Pharmacy and Health Systems Sciences at Northeastern University; an anonymous pharmacist at Rite-Aid and an anonymous pharmacist at Walgreens; Jesse Pike Jr., owner of Pike’s Pharmacy in Charlotte, North Carolina; Lajaynees Ingram, a former drugstore cashier and pharmacy technician; and Fernando Gonzalez, RPhI, assistant professor pharmaceutical sciences division at Long Island University’s Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Hãy sửa lại cái tít thành YOUR HEALTH hay SỨC KHỎE CỦA BẠN thay vì "Your's Health" sai và thấy rất ngứa mắt.

How do you keep your brain young?
A rich new area of science is analyzing which healthy habits best keep your mind and memory healthy in the 40s and beyond. Kenneth S. Kosik, MD, co-director of the Neuroscience Research Institute at the University of California, Santa Barbara, has studied which habits most powerfully boost our cognitive function. Here he shares the most up-to-date research from innovative labs plus the best brain-boosting tips from his book Outsmarting Alzheimer’s. These are daily habits of people with impressive memory.

Play games with your frontal lobe

Whether you’re deliberating a chess move or bluffing at cards, you’re also giving the frontal lobe, the area of your brain that handles executive function, a workout. “The frontal lobe is particularly vulnerable to degeneration and the effects of aging,” says Dr. Kosik. According to a 2014 University of Wisconsin study, older adults who routinely worked on puzzles and played board games had higher brain volume in the area responsible for cognitive functions, including memory, than those who didn’t play games. These weird brain exercises can help you get smarter.

Stay young with saa, taa, naa, and maa

Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD, president and medical director of the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation, has spent many years studying the meditative tradition called Kirtan Kriya and has found that daily 12-minute sessions of the practice can improve blood flow to the brain and possibly even increase levels of telomerase, an enzyme that slows cell aging. The practice is simple: While breathing deeply, chant the Sanskrit words saa, taa, naa, maa (which mean “my divine self”) while moving your thumb to touch your index, middle, ring, and pinkie fingers with each new sound. Like any meditation, it may help to lift anxiety and fatigue. Here are other compelling health benefits of meditation.

Protect your mind from your heart

Scientists surveyed volunteers on seven familiar heart-health factors and tested their cognitive performance at two points over eight years. The results found that the more heart-healthy habits people had, the less cognitive decline they exhibited. A stronger cardiovascular system means a stronger pipeline of nutrients to the brain, says lead author Hannah Gardener, ScD, an epidemiologist in the Department of Neurology at the University of Miami. The seven heart-health ideals to strive for may be familiar (if they seem overwhelming, Gardener points out that “each one helps”): Not smoking; healthy body mass index (under 25); physically active (for at least 150 minutes a week); healthy total cholesterol (under 200 mg/dL); healthy blood pressure (under 120/80 mmHg); healthy blood sugar (under 100 mg/dL); and balanced diet (rich in fruits, veggies, and whole grains; low in sodium and sweets).

Lift the quality of your white matter

As the brain ages, its white matter often develops small lesions because of disrupted blood flow, leading to impaired cognitive function and mobility. Researchers at the University of British Columbia wanted to determine whether strength training might offer protection. Women ages 65 to 75 who already had lesions were divided into three groups: once-a-week strength trainers, twice-a-week strength trainers, and those who did other types of exercise. The results: Women who strength trained twice a week showed significantly less progression of white matter lesions than the other two groups did. Key moves you can try at home (using soup cans for weight): biceps curls, triceps extensions, calf raises, mini squats, mini lunges, and lunge walks; aim for 45 minutes a session. Here are some more brain facts that will blow your mind.

Make moves directly against Alzheimer’s

Exercise benefits the brain by improving vascular health—but newly published research suggests it also combats the chronic neuroinflammation observed in Alzheimer’s, depression, and other brain diseases. In such neurological conditions, the inflammation that normally clears tissue damage doesn’t shut off and starts to interfere with communication between neurons. Exercise has proven anti-inflammatory effects against diseases like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, so that could be why exercise protects brain health as well, says assistant professor Jonathan Little, PhD, in a review article in Brain Research Bulletin. “Any type of moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking, cycling, and swimming, can have anti-inflammatory effects,” says Little. Aim for about 30 minutes a day.

Get your blood pumping

Although any exercise is good, aerobic workouts may be the best for brain health. A study from Wake Forest School of Medicine showed that the brain volume was higher in elderly people who participated in aerobic exercise than in people who just stretched. The aerobic exercisers also saw their cognitive function improve over a six-month period. “Research shows that aerobic exercise increases blood flow in the hippocampus, the memory region of the brain,” says neuroscientist Sandra Bond Chapman, PhD, founder and chief director of the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas. “This is also the area most affected by Alzheimer’s, so you are strengthening a vulnerable part of the brain.” Check out more ways exercise makes your brain better.

Think deep thoughts

The brain relies on connections between neurons to function well; in Alzheimer’s, these connections begin to die off. Doing all you can now to help strengthen your neural connections will help protect your brain as you age. So use any opportunity in your daily routine for critical thought and analysis. “The strongest mental habit is to pursue deeper level thinking,” Dr. Chapman says. “This can happen in your everyday life, for instance abstracting themes from shows you see or books you read. Deeper-level thinking is like push-ups and sit-ups for the brain.” Joining a book club or even discussing last week’s episode of Game of Thrones with your partner is an excellent place to start. Read more on why your brain needs you to read every single day

Keep your mind working

40 Genius Habits Your 80-Year-Old Brain Will Thank You for Doing Today

l i g h t p o e t/Shutterstock

Another way to keep those neurons strong is to encourage neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to rewire itself and form new connections. Studies have shown that cognitive stimulation actually helps improve brain plasticity. Any new tasks you embark on can help keep your brain active, motivated, and inspired. “The brain is quickly jaded on routine and goes to auto-pilot when it gets bored,” Dr. Chapman says. “Doing new things—and improving things you’re already doing—can help your brain gain ground.” Here are more things to do to keep your brain sharp and healthy later in life.

Get brain circuits singing

Listening to or playing music can activate the motor cortex (touching a piano key or guitar string), the auditory cortex (hearing the notes you make), and the emotional center, or limbic system (feeling moved by a beautiful passage). “Circuits and networks are stimulated by these activities, which help keep the brain healthy,” says Dr. Kosik. Older adults who had at least ten years of musical experience did better on cognitive tests, according to a 2011 Emory University study.

As Jon Lovitz would say, “Acting!”





Learning lines for a production or an acting class engages the hippocampus, the temporal cortex, and the frontal lobe, says Dr. Kosik. So follow the lead of one of Jon Lovitz’s Saturday Night Live characters, Master Thespian: In one study, those who went to acting classes twice a week for four weeks boosted their ability to remember words, numbers, and short stories. A follow-up study found they improved word fluency by 12 percent and word recall by 19 percent

Draw out your neural connections

40 Genius Habits Your 80-Year-Old Brain Will Thank You for Doing Today

golubovystock/Shutterstock

When you draw, paint, or sculpt, you have to make spatial calculations and focus attention on details, Dr. Kosik says. Engaging in these activities (even doodling has health benefits!) helps protect octogenarians from mild cognitive impairment, according to a 2015 Mayo Clinic study. Also, 60- and 70-year-old art-class participants boosted scores on psychological resilience tests; MRI images showed their synapses had formed new connections. Here are more science-backed reasons adults should use coloring books.

MIND your eating habits



Research from Rush University found that combining the Mediterranean diet and the heart-healthy DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is good for your brain. Adhering to the MIND diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay), as it’s called, was found to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s up to 50 percent. “The food you eat provides the fuel for your brain, and the MIND diet produces the best kind of fuel,” Dr. Chapman says. “It includes such things as whole grains, leafy green vegetables, nuts, fish, berries, olive oil, beans, as well as limited amounts of cheese, wine, and dark chocolate.” Here are more of the best foods to eat to boost your brain health.

Skip the fat

40 Genius Habits Your 80-Year-Old Brain Will Thank You for Doing Today

Yulia Grigoryeva/Shutterstock

There has been debate over the role of dietary fat in Alzheimer’s. According to Dr. Chapman, “Fried foods and foods high in saturated fat should be avoided.” We already know these foods aren’t good for your health in general, so that’s another good reason to give them a pass. A high-fat diet can also cause weight gain, which is a risk factor for diabetes—and diabetes, in turn, is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s. Although scientists aren’t sure exactly how diabetes and Alzheimer’s are linked, the Alzheimer’s Association suggests diabetes damages blood vessels in the brain, alters brain chemistry, and contributes to inflammation that harms brain cells. These are the foods that are secretly hurting your brain.

Take a probiotic



Scientists are just beginning to understand how the collection of good bacteria in your GI tract, known as the gut microbiome, influences your brain. “Feedback signals from the gut tell the brain about gastric and intestinal motility, gut hormone secretion, and gut inflammation,” says Linda Rinaman, PhD, a psychology professor at Florida State University who’s studied the gut-brain connection. Much of the research on the “gut-brain axis” in relation to the development of Alzheimer’s has been observed in rodents. But new studies in humans are also revealing a connection between the type of bacteria in the gut and the likelihood of Alzheimer’s. Although probiotics, which aim to balance your gut bacteria, haven’t yet been proven to protect brain health, it’s may be worth giving them a try—or eating probiotic foods like yogurt or sauerkraut—just in case.

Get your zzz’s on





You know what a bad night’s sleep can do to your focus the next day. Over the years, regular sleep deprivation can raise your risk of dementia, suggests research. “During sleep, your brain literally cleans out some of the toxicity that has built up from stress or agitation,” Dr. Chapman says. “Without good sleep, we see increased anxiety and stress. Sleep is restorative, helping you be more mentally energetic and productive. Even a quick nap helps.” Just keep daytime snoozing to about an hour, as longer than an hour and a half may be detrimental to your noggin, according to some studies. Here’s another scary thing that happens to your brain when you don’t get enough sleep.

Accentuate the positive

Doctors have long known there’s a connection between depression and Alzheimer’s; now, research is suggesting that depression is actually a risk factor for the disease. In addition, stress and stress hormones in the brain also been linked with dementia. On the other hand, research has found that a positive attitude about aging is actually associated with a lesser chance of developing dementia, even in the presence of other risk factors. If you’re depressed, it’s best to get help now. “Positivity always helps, but it’s just as important to embrace mistakes to learn from them and not be stuck,” Dr. Chapman says.

Make new friends, and keep old ones



Brain researchers have found that socializing and maintaining friendships can protect against cognitive decline. “One of the most powerful things for brain health is relating to others—a shared sense of community is one of the top three factors associated with brain health as we age,” Dr. Chapman says. “Socialization also requires some of the most complex cognition because it requires us to constantly negotiate an understanding with those around us. For the brain, it’s like constantly solving a puzzle.” It’s not the number of friends you have, she says, but rather the quality and depth of your connections

Don’t multitask

Trying to focus on several things at once puts a strain on the brain and studies have shown it negatively impacts memory, especially as we age. “Multitasking is as toxic to the brain as cigarette smoking is to the lungs, but the effects become apparent much more quickly,” Dr. Chapman says. “Multitasking, which is really the brain constantly switching between tasks, decreases memory function and reduces hippocampal size. It fatigues the system and breaks down your immune system.” All of these things combined make avoiding multitasking the number one thing people should do to maintain and enhance their brain health, she says

Skip sugar

muddy your thinking and your memory. You don’t have to be diabetic to have high blood sugar level speed your brain’s cognitive decline, find several studies. “Although the brain relies on sugar for its main source of energy, too much sugar flooding into the brain at once from a high-sugar diet can overload the brain and cause negative effects such as lapses in concentration, learning, and even advanced aging of the cells,” says certified diabetes educator Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, author of 2 Day Diabetes Diet. “By eating a diet low in added sugars, you can help to prevent spikes in blood glucose levels that may cause these damaging effects while making sure the brain still gets the energy it needs to function at its peak

Limit alcohol



Recent research published in The Lancet suggests that having more than three drinks a day for women—more than four a day for men—substantially raises the risk for dementia, and particularly early-onset dementia. “Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can have a negative impact on the brain—another study found excessive drinking may accelerate memory loss as we age,” Palinski-Wade says. The jury is still out on moderate drinking: Although some research suggests it may be detrimental for your brain, the harm might be balanced by its heart benefits, according to Harvard Medical School. If you do drink alcohol, stick to the recommended one drink a day for women, two for men. Watch for the signs your brain is aging faster than you are.

Load up on fruits and veggies



You can get antioxidant compounds called flavonoids in most brightly colored fruits and vegetables—and they can help keep your brain healthy. “Antioxidants fight against damage to cells caused by free radicals,” explains Palinski-Wade. “When free radicals are present, they can harm cells, including brain cells, causing premature aging and raising your risk of disease. A high level of antioxidants in your diet can help fight against free radical damage and offer protective benefits to cells.” A study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that women who had a higher consumption of berries had a slower rate of cognitive decline. A daily dose of this one veggie can boost your brain, science says.