Croup

Recently, lots of children that we know have been diagnosed with croup. They are all toddlers which is not surprising since croup is most common between children aged six months to three years old. One of my friends said that her two year old son said, "Mummy, I can't breathe," and it absolutely petrified her.

Croup is a relatively common respiratory infection which usually starts with a cold. It is usually caused by infection from a virus, but can also be due to a bacteria. Like colds, it is spread in droplets via sneezing or coughing or touching a surface which has been contaminated with the virus.

Croup is basically an inflammation of the airways which makes it difficult to breathe. The reason it affects children is that they have narrower airways than adults, so any further restrictions on these airways can be quite serious. It is more likely to occur when it is cold, particularly during the night. The symptoms are a barking cough, a hoarse voice, a noisy high-pitched sound when breathing (this is called stridor) and can progress to difficulty breathing.

In severe cases, croup can cause your child to stop breathing so you should see a doctor urgently if you are concerned (go to the Emergency Department of your nearest hospital if it is after hours). Some symptoms which warrant immediate medical attention include:

• Difficulty swallowing.
• A sudden attack of coughing.
• Unusual noises while breathing. This can include stridor or a snoring sound when breathing out.
• If you notice a 'caving in' of the chest when trying to breathe in. 
• An increase in the rate of breathing or any difficulty breathing (especially if they stop breathing for more than ten seconds at a time).
• A bluish tinge to the lips or fingernails.
• A rapid heart rate.
• If your child is restless, anxious, sweating, abnormally drowsy and can't be woken, or has a high fever (38.5 degrees celcius or higher).

If the croup is mild and none of the above symptoms are displayed, ensure your child keeps well hydrated with frequent drinks, try and keep the room reasonably warm and offer lots of cuddles and reassurance to your child. You can also give paracetamol, but ensure you give the correct dose for your child's weight. Mild croup will usually go away on its own within 48 hours, but may last up to a week.

If the croup is more severe, your child may require medication. Croup is usually caused by a virus so giving antibiotics won't help the infection or the symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe a few doses of a corticosteroid such as dexamethasone or prednisolone, which will help reduce the swelling of the airways and make it easier to breathe. These can be given either in tablet or liquid form. If admitted to hospital, doctors may prescribe adrenaline which is breathed in via droplet form through a mask and nebuliser. This will also help with the breathing.

The best way to prevent croup is via good hygiene, but like colds and other infections, this is not easy and often even the cleanest children contract croup. Wash hands with soap and water regularly, and especially before preparing or eating food and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. Discourage the sharing of cups and eating utensils. Cover mouths after coughing or sneezing. Keep hands away from eyes, nose and mouth. Keep children home from school or childcare if they are unwell.

Croup can be very scary, both for the child and the parents or carers. If you are at all worried or if your child has any of the above symptoms, seek medical attention from your family doctor or a hospital immediately. You are always welcome to give the pharmacists at Berwick Pharmacy a call to discuss any concerns about your family's health.

References and further reading

• Croup Fact Sheet, NPS, published 4 May 2012 (accessed online 9 May 2012)
• Croup Fact Sheet, Better Health Channel, published February 2012 (accessed online 9 May 2012)

Epilepsy

March is Epilepsy Awareness Month in Australia, with March 26th 2012 being Purple Day, where people are encouraged to wear purple or have purple-themed events to raise awareness and funds for epilepsy.

Everyone knows about epilepsy, right? After all, it is a relatively common disease. It is recognised as the world's most common brain disorder. It is estimated in Victoria alone that approximately 4% of the population, or 220,000 people, will have epilepsy in their lifetime. When I read that figure, I must admit that it was larger than I would have guessed.

I suspect that many people's perception of epilepsy comes from what they have seen on television or in movies. i.e. someone falls to the ground twitching and jerking and frothing at the mouth. Quite dramatic. And while some people with epilepsy can have seizures like that, there are many, many more who don't.

A seizure, or 'fit' as it is commonly referred to, is a sudden, short burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures can last from a few seconds to a few minutes and can cause changes in thoughts, feelings, behaviour or consciousness. Just because someone has a seizure, this does not mean they have epilepsy - it could just be a one-off. People with epilepsy have recurrent seizures.

Epilepsy can be caused by an injury to the brain, a stroke, an infection in the brain, a tumour, other conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease, or genetics. In about half of cases, however, the cause is unknown.

The type of seizure generally falls into one of two groups:

1. Partial or focal seizures - these start in one part of the brain and affect the part of the body controlled by that part. Usually these seizures only last a few minutes. They can either be a simple partial seizure (which can affect hearing, vision, taste, smell or muscle jerks, but the person remains conscious and remembers what happens) or a complex partial seizure (the person may appear vague or confused and show some strange behaviours such as smacking their lips repeatedly).
2. Generalised seizures - these affect most or all of the brain. They can either be absence seizures (where the person appears to have spaced out as if they are daydreaming and may then have some facial twitches) or tonic-clonic seizures (the person's entire body goes stiff before they experience uncontrollable muscle jerking and twitching. They may also have other signs such as drooling of the mouth, groaning and loss of bladder control). If these symptoms last more than five minutes, an ambulance should be called. There are also a few other types of generalised seizures, but these are the two main ones.

Different people may be aware of triggers which make it more likely for them to have a seizure. Common triggers include tiredness, alcohol, caffeine, stress, illegal drugs, menstrual periods, illness, fever, flickering lights or hunger. If you have epilepsy, it is wise to try and identify any triggers and avoid them if possible.

Medications have a very important role in controlling seizures in people with epilepsy. In fact, of people at risk of recurring seizures, more than 60% are likely to achieve complete seizure control with medication within a year.

There are many different medications which can be taken for seizures and often, people need to be on more than one to sufficiently control their seizures. The type or combination of medication chosen will be a joint decision between you and your doctor, but will often be influenced by factors such as the type of seizures, your age, other medications you may be taking and the risk of further seizures.


Just like any other medication, there are possible side effects. And like any other medication, if you find you are experiencing anything unusual, especially when medications are commenced or stopped or changes to your dose have been made, you should speak to your doctor and/or pharmacist. Often side effects are more likely to occur at the start of treatment and will subside after awhile, but sometimes, you may need to be changed to a different medication.


As a general rule, do not suddenly stop taking your medication for seizures. Abruptly stopping them can result in seizures or a medical emergency, as can missing doses. Usually, if your doctor wants to stop one of these medications, they will advise you on how to gradually wean it down to minimise any unwanted effects.


Everyone who takes any sort of medication should also be aware of the possibility of their medication interacting with another medication (including medicines you buy over-the-counter from your pharmacy) or even a herbal product or vitamin. It is always wise to keep a list of your medications with you and check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure anything new will not cause any problems.

Although many medications have generic brands which are available, in the case of epilepsy, it is advisable that patients stick to one brand of medication and do not swap. Due to the way antiepileptic drugs work, even the slightest variation in the amount of the drug taken appears to cause problems for some people with epilepsy, such as seizures or side effects. Our pharmacists at Berwick Pharmacy can help you make sure that you stick to the same brand.

Epilepsy is very common and can usually be managed with medication and awareness. If you or someone you know has epilepsy, try and identify and avoid triggers for seizures. Make sure you learn about the condition and what to do in case of a seizure. Be aware of your medications and how to take them and avoid abruptly stopping them as well as the potential for any interactions.


Our pharmacists at Berwick Pharmacy can help you find more information about your condition and the medications. Pop in for a free Self Care Card on epilepsy. We can advise on whether other medications or herbal products will interact with your seizure medication. We also sell medico-alert bracelets which can have your personal information as well as stating you have epilepsy to alert medical professionals in case you are unable to communicate with them.

References and further reading

• Epilepsy Self Care Card, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, published February 2011
• Epilepsy Australia website
• Purple Day website

Flu Season & Vaccination

Summer is now gone and as the days start to turn a bit cooler, it's time to remember that flu season is just round the corner.

Many people complain of catching 'the flu', but often what they are referring to is just the common cold. Colds tend to cause a mild fever, start with a runny nose and often only last a few days. By contrast, the symptoms of influenza are a high fever, muscle aches and general tiredness, sore throat, headache, chills and sweating. These symptoms can last a week or even longer.

In Australia, influenza on average causes 3,500 deaths, about 18,000 hospitalisations and 300,000 visits to the GP each year. It is thought that 10% of all sick days in workplaces are due to influenza.

The flu is caused by a highly contagious virus, usually spread by sneezes and coughs. The majority of people will recover from the flu relatively quickly, but for those people with an underlying medical condition or an impaired immune system, the flu can be very dangerous, and even fatal. These at-risk people are recommended to have the influenza vaccine every year and include:

• adults aged 65 years and older
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 15 years and older
• people with chronic illnesses such as heart disease, kidney disease, lung disease (including severe asthmatics who require frequent visits to hospital), diabetes and some bleeding disorders
• pregnant women
• children on long-term aspirin therapy.

People who live with, work with or care for anyone in the above at-risk groups are also recommended to be vaccinated against influenza every year. These include people who work in health care or with children, or look after an elderly or chronically unwell person.

If you suspect you have the flu, there are antiviral medications which can be prescribed by your doctor, but these generally need to be started early in the illness (often within 48 hours). Other options for treatment are bed rest, paracetamol for fever, fluids and other medications to target your symptoms. Our pharmacists at Berwick Pharmacy can help advise you on which medications are best for you.

The best way to protect against the flu is an annual vaccine. The virus itself is constantly changing to try and avoid recognition by the body's immune system. The actual vaccine changes every year, depending on the most common strains found on the opposite side of the world in the previous season as these are the ones most likely to migrate to us this season. Immunisation should occur between March and May and protection develops within about two weeks and lasts a year.

I've heard many people say that the flu vaccine gave them the flu, but this is not the case. The vaccine itself does not contain the live virus. Like any medication though, some people may have some side effects to the vaccine. The most common ones are a mild fever, soreness at the injection site, a low-grade fever or muscle aches, so sometimes these are mistaken for the flu itself. Placing a cold, wet cloth over the injection site or taking a dose of paracetamol will often help reduce these side effects. It's important to keep in mind that the vaccine only protects against the most common strains of the flu, so you may still catch a different strain.

Before receiving the vaccine, make sure that you tell your doctor or nurse if you or your child:

• is unwell (temperature over 38.5˚C)
• has had a serious reaction to any vaccine
• has had a severe allergy to anything
• has had an anaphylactic allergy to eggs – this is because the virus used in the vaccine is grown in eggs
• is under six months of age
• has had Guillain-Barre syndrome.

As it is now so well recognised that getting the flu vaccine is the best way to protect people, it is freely available. People 65 years and older and/or in the at-risk groups are entitled to free vaccines (check with your doctor or pharmacist), and many doctors' clinics will only charge for the vaccine itself, without any additional appointment fee.

So everyone should definitely consider getting the flu vaccine this year and every year. It's even available for children from the age of six months old. It's a small inconvenience to ensure that you are protected, but also to protect other people you may come in contact with.

The flu vaccine is now available at Berwick Pharmacy and we have made sure that we have heaps in stock to try and avoid people missing out.

Don't forget:

• influenza is a potentially serious disease and may even be fatal
• flu vaccine can save you time and money by preventing you from having to take days off work
• the flu vaccine does NOT cause the flu
• you may get side effects from the flu vaccine but these are generally minor.

If you have any concerns or questions or just need to fill your prescription for the flu vaccine or anything else, come and see us at Berwick Pharmacy where giving advice and friendly service is what we do best.

References and further reading

• Colds & Flu Self Care Card, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, published February 2011
• Flu (influenza) Fact Sheet, Better Health Channel, published July 2011 (accessed 10 March 2012)
• Flu (influenza) - immunisation Fact Sheet, Better Health Channel, published April 2011 (accessed 10 March 2012)
• Immunise Australia Program website
• Influenza Specialist Group website
• Key Facts about Influenza and Flu Vaccine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, published October 4, 2011 (accessed 10 March 2012)

Dandruff

I was trying to find inspiration for this post by flicking through the newspaper and came across an article for Valentine's Day. The article interviewed random people about their turn-ons and turn-offs and although the majority of respondents discussed personality traits, one young woman mentioned dandruff as a turn-off.

As we probably all know from television ads for anti-dandruff shampoo, dandruff appears as white flakes on the scalp. It is very common and the flakes are simply excess dead skin cells which may have stuck together with oil from the hair and scalp, making them larger and more noticeable. It is not dangerous, not contagious and does not cause baldness.

Dandruff, or pityriasis capitis, affects about half the population and can occur at any age, although isn't usually seen in children. Some people find it is milder in the warmer weather and worse during the colder months. People also probably are more likely to notice it in Winter as we rug up in thick, dark coats and jackets which make the white flakes more noticeable. Dandruff is not confined to the scalp and can appear on the eyebrows, the beard, and the neck and shoulders.

It is thought that dandruff may be linked to an overgrowth of a fungus which lives on everyone's scalp. For some unknown reason, sometimes this fungus grows out of control and irritates the skin, causing dandruff.

Many people with dandruff have an itchy scalp, but other causes of an itchy scalp may include:

• Cradle cap - a crusting and flaking of the scalp seen in babies
• Psoriasis - a common skin condition which causes thick, silvery scales to form. More commonly affects elbows, knees and the trunk, but can affect the scalp too.
• Contact dermatitis - an inflammation of the skin possibly triggered by an allergy to a haircare product.
• Head lice - also known as nits. A contagious disease, more common in children, where lice feed, grow and breed on the scalp and hair (check out my last post from 31 January 2012  for more info on head lice).
• Seborrhoeic dermatitis -a red, itchy scaly scalp. Dandruff is a mild form of seborrhoeic dermatitis.

Dandruff is generally treated with shampoos and regular washing of the hair. If the dandruff is mild, just a simple non-medicated shampoo may be all that is needed. In moderate cases, a medicated shampoo will probably be required. There are many brands and products which are available from Berwick Pharmacy without a prescription. Many contain ingredients such as zinc, selenium or tar. Some even contain antifungal agents for more severe cases. Have a chat to our pharmacists to see which product is best for you and for advice on how to use the product. Some shampoos need to be used daily and others perhaps only once a week.

In severe cases, a doctor may be able to prescribe something a little stronger to help clear up the dandruff, but one of our pharmacists can help you decide if this is necessary. Other signs that may mean you should see a doctor include patches of hair loss or a red, bleeding or painful scalp.

Some other hints that may help control and clear up dandruff include:

• Wash hair regularly. If you have an oily scalp, daily washing is best. Make sure you massage the scalp gently and rinse thoroughly to try and remove any loose flakes.
• It's better to wash hair after exercising rather than before as the sweat will make your head even oilier.
• Using a conditioner will help prevent your hair from drying out. Leave-in conditioners may have the added bonus of moisturising your scalp too.
• Minimise other haircare products, especially those which contain alcohol as it can dry out your skin.
• Some people find stress and a poor diet makes their dandruff worse. If this is the case, try and minimise your stress levels and eat healthily.

So if you do notice some white flakes in your hair or on your clothes, don't panic. As mentioned, dandruff affects about one in two people and is usually easily managed with a simple trip into Berwick Pharmacy. We have plenty of products which can help, plus our pharmacists are always on hand with free and friendly advice.

References and further reading

• Dandruff and Itching Scalp Fact Sheet - Better Health Channel, published August 2011 (accessed 13 February 2012)
• Dandruff Self Care Card, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, published August 2008
• A-Z of Skin: Dandruff, Australasian College of Dermatologists, published March 2001

Indigestion & reflux or heartburn...a reminder during the silly season

Wow, how did we get to December already? I could hardly believe my eyes when I started seeing Christmas decorations in shops, but I can't hide any longer, Christmas and New Year is almost here.

Regardless of whether or not you celebrate Christmas, December is a month for office parties and catching up with friends and family. It's always such a hectic month where fitting in social engagements is almost a competitive sport. One thing that's difficult to avoid is the celebratory food and drink...excellent for the tastebuds, but sometimes not so much for the stomach!

Many people complain about suffering from indigestion. Indigestion is a general term for discomfort in the upper abdomen (tummy). Symptoms can include pain or discomfort, burping, loss of appetite or bloating. It is often related to eating or drinking, especially spicy or fatty foods or indulging too much.

Heartburn or reflux occurs when stomach contents come back up into the oesophagus. The stomach acid causes a burning sensation which rises up from the stomach into the throat and you may even feel or taste food or acid in your mouth. If you find you are having frequent bouts of reflux, see your doctor as it could mean you have Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (commonly abbreviated to GORD) which can damage the lining of your oesophagus.

People with reflux may have different symptoms and triggers, but risk factors include being overweight, smoking, eating spicy, rich or fatty foods, pregnancy, caffeine, large meals, stress and anxiety and some medications such as aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications (such as ibuprofen or diclofenac), some antibiotics (such as doxycycline) and some medications for osteoporosis (such as alendronate or risedronate). If you suddenly notice symptoms of reflux or anything else new after starting a new medication, speak to your pharmacist to see if the two could be linked.

Berwick Pharmacy have plenty of potential solutions for you. Antacids such as Mylanta or Gastrogel help neutralise the stomach acid and reduce burning. Some antacids also have an ingredient which sits on top of your stomach contents to help try and keep them inside your stomach, instead of rising into your oesophagus.

We also sell stronger medications which prevent the acid pump in the stomach from releasing so much acid. These medications generally come from one of two groups - the H2 antagonists such as ranitidine (Zantac is one brand) and the proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole (Losec) or pantoprazole (Somac). Many people take these medications regularly on a prescription from their doctor for long-standing conditions or to protect their stomachs from bleeds (especially if they take medication such as anti-inflammatory medications or blood thinners), but they can also be purchased without a prescription for more minor reflux.

So in addition to medications, there are also some simple changes to your diet and lifestyle that can help:

• Avoid foods which you know trigger the symptoms (e.g. spicy, fatty or rich foods)
• Eat smaller meals
• Try not to eat too close to bedtime
• Avoid wearing clothes which are tight around the waist
• Try to reduce or even avoid caffeine, alcohol and smoking
• Raise the head of your bed to sleep
• If your symptoms are triggered by stress or anxiety, learn some relaxation techniques.

Don't forget that sometimes symptoms that seem to be reflux, may actually be something else. If you also notice chest pain, pain radiating to your arm, neck or jaw or sweatiness, you may be having a heart attack so seek immediate medical attention (possibly even call an ambulance). See you doctor if:

• You notice blood in your stools (stools may appear very dark or black or you may see blood on the toilet paper)
• You vomit and notice blood or your vomit resembles coffee grounds
• You are getting symptoms often (e.g. more than once a week) or they start increasing in frequency or severity
• Your symptoms wake you from your sleep
• You are losing weight for no particular reason.

By all means, enjoy this special time of the year, but don't forget to look after your health too. Come into Berwick Pharmacy and speak to our pharmacists who can help you with advice and treatment. Don't forget to ask for a free Self Care Card on Heartburn and Indigestion.

Oh, and while you're visiting Berwick Pharmacy, why not pick up some Christmas gifts? We have a great selection of goodies to pop a smile on the faces of all your friends and family such as perfumes and fragrances, beauty products from brands such as Chanel, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Napolean Perdis and Jurlique or even a voucher for a pampering treatment to our beauty rooms, Indulge at Berwick.

References and further reading

• Heartburn and Indigestion Self Care Card, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, published February 2011
• Heartburn is a Form of Indigestion Fact Sheet - Better Health Channel, published November 2011 (accessed 29 November 2011)

Diabetes...not just about jelly beans

Diabetes used to be thought of as a disease that children and young people had. And not many young people, just a few unlucky ones. All most of the general public knew about it was that it involved patients giving themselves needles and ensuring a supply of jelly beans was always available.

Nowadays, the majority of Australians are much more aware of diabetes. We know it can affect people of all ages. Most people realise there are basically two different types of diabetes. And if you asked your friends and family if they or anyone they knew have diabetes, you would probably be surprised at how common it is.

Unfortunately, diabetes is Australia's fastest growing chronic disease, with 275 Australians developing diabetes everyday. Currently, nearly one million Aussies are diagnosed as having diabetes, but it is estimated that there are probably another 700,000 people who have not yet been diagnosed. In addition, is is thought that there are 3.2 million Aussies with diabetes or pre-diabetes. It is currently the sixth leading cause of death in Australia.

So when words such as "health epidemic" and "national crisis" are thrown around by the media reporting about diabetes, they're not just being dramatic. Diabetes has a significant cost to the community, not just health-wise, but financially. But it's not all doom and gloom. Up to 60% of cases of Type 2 diabetes can be prevented and there are plenty of ways that people with diabetes can improve the complications associated with the disease.

Two types of diabetes

In Type 1 diabetes, patients' bodies are unable to produce insulin. The role of insulin is to convert sugar into energy which the body can use. Without insulin, toxic chemicals build up in the bloodstream and this can be fatal if left untreated. People with Type 1 diabetes must therefore inject themselves with insulin everyday (usually multiple times a day) as well as religiously test their blood sugar levels to make sure they are not too high or too low. It usually occurs in people under 30 years of age (and more often in children or teenagers), but can start at any stage of life.

Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes tend to appear very suddenly and include significant weight loss, lack of energy, excessive thirst, increased risk of infections and a frequent need to urinate (including during the night). It is important that if you or anyone you know has these or similar symptoms, that they see their family doctor as soon as possible, as it can quickly develop into a medical emergency.

Type 2 diabetes is much more common and affectes 85-90% of diabetics. It is caused by the body being unable to produce enough insulin or failing to respond properly to insulin. It is brought on by a combination of genetic and environmental and lifestyle factors such as being overweight (especially carrying excess weight around the stomach area), having high blood pressure or heart disease, an unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise. Most people are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are over 40 years old, but we are now seeing it in teenagers, and even children.

Unlike with Type 1 diabetes, patients with Type 2 diabetes often do not show any obvious symptoms and are usually diagnosed after a health professional assesses them for the above risk factors and then recommends a blood sugar test. If the blood sugar levels are particularly high, patients may display similar symptoms to those experienced by Type 1 diabetics.

Some people with Type 2 diabetes can manage their disease with lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise. Most will require medication in the form of tablets and some will need to inject insulin. Starting tablets and insulin early leads to less complications and better outcomes for patients, and is just due to the natural progression of the disease.

Complications of diabetes and how Terry White Chemists Berwick can help

Diabetes is a complex disease and since the high levels of sugar in the bloodstream travel to every cell of the body, it can affect a variety of areas. Our team at Terry White Chemists Berwick have a wealth of expertise and would be happy to help.

Firstly, Terry White Chemists Berwick is an agent for the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS). The NDSS is administered by Diabetes Australia and is an initiative of the Australian Government. All Australians with diabetes can register for free and are then eligible for diabetes-related products (especially things like blood glucose test strips and needles) at subsidised prices. The NDSS is also a very useful resource for information and support.

We stock a wide range of blood glucose meters to help you monitor and manage your diabetes. Nowadays, these devices are small, simple to use and have lots of features such a large memory to store your results, allowing yourself or your doctor to easily review them. Speak to our pharmacists to determine which one is right for you. And feel confident that if you purchase your blood glucose meter from us and then have any trouble with it, bring it into the pharmacy and if we can't fix it, we'll contact the manufacturer to try and sort it out for you. Of course, we also stock blood glucose strips to use in the machines.

Many people with Type 2 diabetes also have high blood pressure, (known as hypertension). Come in for a free blood pressure check or speak to us about purchasing your own blood pressure monitor. Click here for more information on both blood glucose meters and blood pressure machines.

Being diagnosed with diabetes is definitely an extra good reason to give up smoking. At Terry White Chemists Berwick, we can help you kick the habit for good with sensible advice and a range of products to make it a little bit easier for you.

People with diabetes are more prone to developing eye problems and should have their eyes checked at least every two years. Speak to your doctor if you notice any changes to vision (such as blurred or distorted vision), problems with balance, reading, watching television and recognising people, difficulty seeing at night or becoming more sensitive to sunlight. If your optometrist diagnoses you with a mild short or long-sightedness, you may find "Readers" glasses a cost-effective solution. Come in and give them a try.

Diabetes can damage the blood and nerve supply to your feet so it is important to take good care of your feet everyday and to have them regularly checked by your doctor or a podiatrist. You should look out for signs of tingling or numbness, changes in colour of your feet (especially a blue tinge) , pain or cramping, cuts or calluses or corns and get them checked out as soon as possible. At Terry White Chemists Berwick, we have a large range of footcare products such as nail clippers and moisturisers. We sell the Circulation Booster which may help relieve aches, pains and swelling. Pop in for a free trial. We are also authorised sellers of of Homy Ped shoes, including their Homy Ped Diabetes range, specially designed to assist blood supply and minimise stress on feet.

People with diabetes may find that wounds, particularly on areas such as the feet, can quickly develop into something more serious or may take a long time to heal. This is due to diabetes affecting the blood supply. We stock a large range of wound care products and can help assess and dress the wound for you.

Taking control of diabetes

Know that if you or someone you know has Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, you are not alone. There are so many resources available which can help you to take control and manage this condition and prevent it from overtaking your life.

A great place to start is by paying a visit to our pharmacists and staff at Terry White Chemists Berwick. We deal with diabetes every single day and can help with professional advice and resources such as blood glucose meters, medications and additional supplies as mentioned above. We are an accredited NDSS agent. We also have free Self Care Cards on both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes for you to take home and read. And don't forget, we also make sure we are always in stock of the best jelly beans in the world, Glucojels.

References and further reading

• Diabetes Type 1 Self Care Card, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, published February 2011
• Diabetes Type 2 Self Care Card, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, published February 2011
• Diabetes Fact Sheet - Better Health Channel, published October 2011 (accessed 10 November 2011)
• Diabetes Australia website
• The NDSS (National Diabetes Service Scheme) website

Introducing...

Hello and welcome to the Terry White Chemists Berwick Pharmacist Blog. Our goal is to provide you with information and general advice on health-related issues...the sort of stuff you can have a chat to your friendly local pharmacist about, but from the comfort of your own computer (or mobile phone or iPad or other device, if you’re tech-savvy).

The information provided will be researched and published in good faith, but please remember that it is general in nature and we can’t advise on individual cases. As always, if you have any health concerns, contact your local pharmacist or family doctor, or call 000 (or your country’s relevant emergency telephone number) in emergency cases.

I guess I should introduce myself.

My name is Kelly and I’m a pharmacist who works in a large metropolitan teaching hospital network in Melbourne. For the majority of my career (and I’ve been a pharmacist for almost ten years now...yikes! Where did the time go?), I’ve worked in hospital pharmacy, but I’ve also spent some time working in community pharmacy. My husband Darren (who is also a pharmacist and one of the owners of Terry White Chemist Berwick) and I also spent two years based in England where we worked as hospital pharmacists and spent any spare time and money that we had on travelling.

Right now I work part-time at the hospital and am kept very busy raising our gorgeous 19-month old daughter, The Munchkin. I used to think being a pharmacist was a hectic and rewarding job, but since becoming a mum, the words hectic and rewarding have both taken on a whole new meaning!

I must confess that I had never even considered writing a blog until I was asked to do so by Darren, Chris, Pete and Grahame, the owners of Terry White Chemists Berwick. To be honest, I was quite petrified by the idea initially (and still am, a bit)! But then I did a bit of a search to see what other pharmacist blogs exist out there, and was surprised to see that there wasn’t much, and especially not in terms of actual health advice.

So in-between my hospital pharmacist job and mummy job, I have agreed to give this blogging shenanigan a try. Not that there’s very much “in-between time”! If you want a job done, give it to a busy person, right?

I’m really excited about this and as I’m completely new at it, I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments and especially suggestions on what you would like to read. Don’t be afraid to tell me the truth...gulp...I can take it!

If you’re in the area, please pop into our store at 51 High Street, Berwick (we also have one at Eden Rise Shopping Centre) to say hello to our friendly and knowledgeable staff and experience our exceptional customer service for yourself. We’re sure you’ll be impressed by our great range of health and beauty services. We have male and female pharmacists, of all different ages and backgrounds, with many years of both pharmacist and life experience between them, who would love a chat. And there are times when a coffee and cake at Gallery Cafe, a massage at Indulge at Berwick, our beauty salon, or a mini-makeover at the Estee Lauder, Chanel, Clinique or Napoleon Perdis counter, can make you feel better than any tablet!

We'd love for you to visit our website and make sure you browse our online store if you're looking for a gift for yourself or a special someone.

Thanks for stopping by. The team at Terry White Chemists Berwick and I all look forward to seeing more of you!