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Posted on: June 18th, 2013 by JurosMedicalBlogger
Are you at risk for having a stroke? That’s a bit of a trick question because yes, we all are. Some of us are just at a higher risk than others. Juro’s
Pharmacy Health and Wellness wants all of our customers to be stroke aware and live the best lives possible, so we’re sharing information about stroke this month. Studies show that 461 Montanans died from stroke in 2006. That is not the number of people who had strokes that number is just the number who died from stroke. The number of people who lived after a stroke is much higher.
Stroke risk increases as we age, but 80 percent of all strokes are preventable and are linked to lifestyle and related health issues. The three leading causes are high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and smoking. About half of Americans have at least one of these three risk factors.
According to 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey results, adults in Montana reported having the following risk factors for heart disease and stroke:
- 25% had high blood pressure
- Almost 35 % of those screened reported having high blood cholesterol
- 6.6% had diabetes
- Almost 20% were current smokers
- Close to 62% % were overweight or obese
- 42% reported no exercise in the prior 30 days
- Almost 75% ate less than 5 fruits and vegetables times a day
As the “American lifestyle” of excess food and not enough exercise becomes more common, these numbers may have risen and increased stroke risks. How many of these categories do you fit into?
If you or someone you care about is recovering from a stroke, see Juro’s Home-Medical Pharmacy for equipment and supplies to make recovery better and safer. From bathroom safety equipment to walkers, see Juro’s Home-Medical Pharmacy first.
For more information on heart disease and stroke prevention in the state, visit the Montana Cardiovascular Health Program Web site.
Posted on: June 13th, 2013 by JurosMedicalBlogger
“What do you get for a man who has everything?” Father’s Day is this month and the old question comes up quite often. 
How about more independence and mobility? Get dad a stair lift from Juro’s Home Medical-Pharmacy. We carry a variety of stair lifts for both indoor and outdoor use. These stair lifts can be installed on straight and curved stair cases for easy and safe transport to upper or lower levels of the house. These stair lifts are clean and quiet and strong enough to take dad where he wants to go and gives him the use of hos whole castle again. The slim design allows others to use the stairs safely too.
Does dad show the signs of sleep apnea? Many more men than women have undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea and the numbers grow as a person ages. This undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea may be putting him at higher risk for stroke, certain cancers and heart disease. Encourage dad to get tested if he is showing the signs. The tests are painless and very easy. If He is diagnosed, Juro’s has a wide selection of CPAP machines, CPAP masks, nasal pillows and tubing to fit dad’s needs and preferences. His better health and better sleep habits will be a great gift to the whole family especially your mom!
If balance and endurance are becoming an issue for dad and causing him to give up doing the things he enjoys, talk to the experts at Juro’s. Today’s lightweight and compact scooters are easy to maneuver and easy to transport. These little scooters can make it easier for him to go more places safer and not get tired. A scooter can open up a world of activities for him and the whole family. Bring dad in for test drive today and try to keep up with him!
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!
Posted on: June 11th, 2013 by JurosMedicalBlogger
Sleep disorders are more common as we age and more common in seniors. Seniors often experience sleep that is less deep and choppier than do  younger people. Even a healthy 70 year old may wake up four times during the night. If that is normal, what isn’t normal and what can cause these disturbances?
The list of things that can lead to poor sleep in older people is long. Some of those include:
Alzheimer’s disease- People with Alzheimer’s often get days and nights confused. They can be sleepy throughout the day and then become wide awake and restless at night. This is particularly hard on the spouse or caretakers who need to adjust their sleep to the new schedule.
Alcohol- Even though alcohol is a depressant, when the alcohol filters through our bodies, the effects wear off we wake up again. As we age, we may not be able to handle alcohol the way we did in our younger years. While some alcohol like a beer or glass of red wine can be good for the body and over-all health, any alcohol should be consumed in moderation and early in the evening, well before bedtime.
Stimulants – We live in a caffeine fueled world. Coffees and teas have gone from being a simple drink we had in our percolators to a multibillion dollar “venti latte” phenomenon. Just like alcohol, some caffeine is good for you and has even been suggested for people with Parkinson’s disease. As we age, we also lose our need for caffeine and our tolerance. If you still want to enjoy a bit of caffeine, drink it earlier in the day cut it off by the afternoon. Switch to decaf or half-caf coffees or teas.
Juro’s carries many nutritional supplements and vitamins and home medical equipment that can help you get a better night’s sleep. Stop in and talk to our experts today.
Posted on: June 7th, 2013 by JurosMedicalBlogger
Summer is here and the fish are plentiful! June is National Seafood Month, and Juro’s Home Medical-Pharmacywant’s everyone to enjoy the
natural good-for-you food safely.
There’s nothing like eating the fresh fish you caught yourself. The lure of the boat and fishing pole make the fish taste even better. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the time or the place to catch our own seafood and need to buy it at supermarkets and fish vendors. Here are some tips to help you buy, store and prepare seafood safely to avoid food poisoning and illness.
When you’re buying fresh fish, only buy fish that is on-ice or refrigerated. Smell it, does it smell “fishy” or sour? Look at it and touch it, the eyes should be clear and the fish should be shiny and firm.
If you’re buying shellfish, read the label closely. Look for certification to ensure that they were properly harvested. Make sure that mussels, clams and oysters are fresh by tapping them. Fresh crabs and lobsters should be moving their legs. Talk to the people behind the counter, they know fish. If they don’t, don’t buy from them.
If you’re buying frozen fish, make sure the packaging is intact and there are no rips or tears. Freezer burned fish is not good fish.
Keep the “fresh” in fresh fish by preparing it no more than two day after purchase. Refrigerate it as soon as you get it home and if you can’t prepare it, wrap it tightly, label it and freeze it. Thaw your fish like you would any other meat, slowly in the refrigerator, NOT on the counter. Use good kitchen practices by using clean hands, surfaces and utensils before and after preparation. Like any raw meat, be careful not to cross-contaminate cooked food and don’t use the same tray or plate to house the raw and cooked fish.
Do not eat raw or undercooked fish! Most seafood should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 °F.
Enjoy these great Montana summer days and nights and be seafood safe! If you enjoy too much of a good thing, Juro’s has a full-service pharmacy to help get you back to normal. We are here for you.
Posted on: June 6th, 2013 by JurosMedicalBlogger
Salt is not a bad thing. Salt enhances the flavor of foods and is an essential ingredient in many things we enjoy. However, taking in too much salt  (or sodium is it’s referred to in the nutrition world) is a bad thing.
We are American and we love our sodium! We proudly place our salt and pepper shakers on our tables and season many things out of habit. The problem is not the salt we add to our foods, it’s the salt that is already in our foods that is the real issue.
Why is sodium a danger? Sodium has been linked to high blood pressure. High blood pressure can increase the risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke.
Where is all of this sodium coming from? Between 65 percent and 75 percent of dietary sodium comes from eating packaged and restaurant foods. When you think of sodium-laden foods, you may think about chips and popcorn and you would be right. But here are the top 10 sodium filled foods:
- Breads and rolls
- Cold cuts and cured meats
- Pizza
- Poultry
- Soups
- Sandwiches
- Cheese
- Pasta dishes
- Meat dishes
- Snacks
What can you do to curb your sodium intake and avoid high blood pressure? Read labels. Turn the can or box over and read the sodium levels. Be sure to add up the totals, for instance, if you add a high sodium canned soup with a delicious cheese sandwich, you have just consumed more sodium than you think and more than you need! And here you thought you were having a light, healthy lunch?
The best way to treat your high blood pressure is to avoid getting high blood pressure. Your friends at Juro’s Home-Medical Pharmacy have equipment to help you maintain a health blood pressure and medication to help you treat the blood pressure you have. Read those food label and visit Juro’s to learn more.
Posted on: May 30th, 2013 by JurosMedicalBlogger
Reasons to use veterinary compounding from Juro’s
Pets are becoming more important to us every day. The phrase “pet owner” has been replaced by “pet parent” and the idea that these fuzzy creatures are anything less than members of the family are considered fighting words to many people. If you are a “pet parent” you need to be aware of the diseases that affect our cats and dogs. In many cases, these conditions mirror human conditions with the same symptoms, discomforts and treatments. That’s why Juro’s Pharmacy Health and Wellness Veterinary Compounding Servicesare here for you and your pet.
 Veterinary compounding is a customized approach to keeping your pets healthy What are some of the human/pet conditions we share? Here are a few:
Allergic Dermatitis – If you see your pet scratching and itching (more than normal) or see red flaky skin, it could be Allergic Dermatitis.
Food Allergies- We all know a person who is gluten intolerance or is allergic to peanuts, but animals? Yep. Animals can have similar food allergies and like many of us, but they only find out after the food has been eaten. Unlike humans, they can’t read labels or tell you what’s wrong.
Cancers (in Dogs)- If you can get a type of cancer, odds are that our dog can too. While some of the causes may be different (dogs don’t smoke or drink too much alcohol) much of the cancers act just like they do in humans.
Dental diseases- Puppy breath (and almost everything puppy) is adorable, but dog breath is not. A dog’s teeth and mouth act as protection, grooming aids, eating utensils and stick-fetchers and they can take quite a beating. Dentistry is not just for humans anymore.
Arthritis- If your dog, cat, horse or other animal friend is aging and lost the pep in their step, it may be arthritis. May is National Arthritis Month, and that must apply to pets too.
Diabetes Mellitus- If our pet is always thirsty, urinates more often or has rapid weight loss, it could be diabetes.
If you are “pet parent” you need to know about Juro’s Pharmacy Health and Wellness Veterinary Compounding Services. Talk to your vet and then call us. Take the frustration and bitten fingers out of giving medication and contact Juro’s today. We want to keep your furry friends healthy and around as long as possible.
Posted on: May 28th, 2013 by JurosMedicalBlogger
What is Juvenile Arthritis?
May is National Arthritis Month. Arthritis is not just something that happens to older people. Juvenile Arthritis (JA) affects children here and across the world, yet we understand very little about it. Juro’s Home Medical-Pharmacy supports young people with this debilitating condition and carries a wide variety of medications and equipment for those living with this condition.
 Juvenile arthritis affects the joints all over a child's body and can cause excruciating pain What causes JA? No known cause has been pinpointed for most forms of juvenile arthritis, nor is there evidence to suggest that toxins, foods or allergies cause children to develop the disease. Some research points toward a genetic predisposition, which means the combination of genes a child receives from family members, may cause the onset of arthritis when triggered by other factors.
How common is JA? In 2007, CDC estimated that:
- 294,000 U.S. children under age 18 (or 1 in 250 children) have been diagnosed with arthritis or other rheumatic conditions.
- Childhood arthritis-related diagnoses range from a low of 500 children in Wyoming to a high of 38,000 children in California.
- Children diagnosed with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions account for approximately 827,000 doctor visits each year, including an average of 83,000 emergency department room visits.
Is there a cure for JA?
Is it treatable? These are the biggest questions from families dealing with JA. Unfortunately, there is no cure for juvenile arthritis. The goal of treatment for JA is to relieve inflammation, control pain and improve your child’s quality of life.
Medications used to treat JA can be divided into two groups:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, corticosteroids and analgesics that help relieve pain and inflammation
- Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that can alter the course of the disease, put it into remission and prevent joint damage.
As a full-service and compounding pharmacy, Juro’s Pharmacy Health and Wellness can create prescriptions that fit the customer’s needs. If you have a young person who needs a specialized prescription, see us today.
Click here to learn more about support for arthritis in Montana.
Sources: pediatriconcall.com, the CDC, the Arthritis Foundation
Posted on: May 23rd, 2013 by JurosMedicalBlogger
The link between sleep apnea and cancer
Think untreated sleep apnea is no big deal? A recent study from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health shows that people with sleep apnea may be at higher risk of developing many forms of cancer.
 All the snoring from sleep apnea could have a more detrimental affect than keeping your spouse awake According to the study, those with untreated sleep apnea had a five times higher incidence of cancer related death. Still think untreated sleep apnea is no big deal?
What is the correlation? Untreated sleep apnea means you could be suffocating your cells. It’s thought that poor breathing and the lack of oxygen (or anaerobic cell activity) over long periods of time fails to oxygenate the cells sufficiently.
In simple terms, your cells are suffocating. This suffocation that occurs as a result of sleep apnea may produce tumor growth which may become cancerous.
What can you do to protect yourself and those you love? If you suspect that you or anyone in your family could have sleep apnea, get a sleep test done. These tests are painless and easy.
After your test, you will be given results and recommendations. If these recommendations include getting a CPAP or BiPAP machine, see the home medical and respiratory experts at Juros Pharmacy Health and Wellness. We carry a wide variety of machines, masks and tubing to work for your needs. Our experts will work with you to choose the right mask and help you fit it for the most comfort and best results.
While more tests are needed to determine the final correlations between sleep apnea and certain types of cancers, on thing is certain: there is no downside of getting better and more restful sleep. The right CPAP or BiPAP machine from Juro’s Pharmacy Health and Wellness can help you achieve that, and in turn, better overall health.
We hope to see you soon!
Posted on: May 21st, 2013 by JurosMedicalBlogger
How stair lifts can help in your home
If your parents’ home has an upstairs or a basement and steps that have become too much for them to use safely, you have several choices. You can sell the home, just stop using the upstairs or basement or make the wiser choice and see the stair lift experts at Juro’s Pharmacy Health and Wellness for a new stair liftfrom Bruno.
 If you see stairs like these and feel dread, a stair lift could be a great fit for your home. Did you know falls are the leading cause of injuries and death for older people?
As we age, the homes we raised a family in and that were perfect for our needs in our younger years may no longer meet our needs. Loss of leg strength, balance issues and other illness and age related issues can make stairs a problem and a danger to many. Take that danger away with a stair lift.
Today’s stair lifts are more efficient and quieter than ever before. These custom installed stair lifts and be installed for short or long flights of stairs, straight stair or curved stairs on any level of your home.
Juro’s Pharmacy Health and Wellness even has stair lifts that can be installed outside to make getting in and out of the house easier and safer. If you’ve been through a long and snowy Montana winter, you know how dangerous those few outdoor steps can be. Many people resign themselves to missing friends, community and church all winter to avoid potentially dangerous stairs. Don’t miss out on your life; see Juro’s Pharmacy Health and Wellness about an outdoor stair lift.
Stair lifts are not just for the elderly. People of any age with arthritis, knee or leg issues, balance problems, spinal cord injuries and other issues can really benefit from a stair lifts. Many people have told us that they can’t use the stairs while they are carrying bulky or big items like groceries or laundry and use the stair lift to get their “cargo” where they need it to go safely and efficiently.
Is a stair lift right for you? Visit Juro’s Pharmacy Health and Wellness today and let us show you or stair lift and see for yourself.The only thing you have to lose is your safety and independence.
Posted on: May 16th, 2013 by JurosMedicalBlogger
Risk factors you can’t control
May is Stroke Awareness Month and Juro’s Pharmacy Health and Wellness wants you to be aware of the risks and what to do if someone is having a stroke.
 Using the FAST method of determining a stroke can keep a person stable until help is able to reach you In our last blog we talked about the risks you can control, so what are some of the factors you can’t control?
- Age-Risk increases with age. After the age of 55, risk doubles for every decade a person is alive.
- Gender- Women suffer more strokes each year than men. Annually, about 55,000 more women than men have strokes, but incidence is higher in men than women at younger ages.
- Race- African Americans have twice the risk when compared to Caucasians. Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islanders also have higher risk than Caucasians.
- Family history- If a family member has had a stroke, everyone in the family has a higher risk.
- Previous stroke or TIA- About 5 to 14 percent of the people who have a stroke this year will have a second one.
How to spot a stroke
What do you do if you think someone is having a stroke? Remember the acronym FAST!
F-A-S-T =
Face- Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
Arms- Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downwards?
Speech- Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred?
Time- If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately!
Check the time and when the symptoms first appeared or that you noticed them. If given within three hours of the first symptom, there is an FDA-approved clot-buster medication that may reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. Just remember this: time is damage, so the faster a person can be treated the better.
Juro’s Pharmacy Health and Wellness can assist people as they recover and learn new ways of living after the stroke. See us for walkers, wheelchairs, and other home medical supplies that can make recovery from a stroke easier and the life of your loved one much better. We hope to see you soon!
Sources: Stroke.org and the CDC
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