“You may have high blood pressure

See your doctor
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is called the silent killer because many people don't even know they have this condition. That's why it's important to have your doctor check your blood pressure.
Learn your numbers
Blood pressure is measured by two sets of numbers: the systolic (or top number) and the diastolic (or bottom number). Chances are that your doctor will want you to have a systolic measurement under 130 and a diastolic measurement under 80. Depending on your health, your doctor may have lower numbers in mind. If your doctor feels that your blood pressure is too high, you might get a prescription for a blood pressure-lowering medication. Remember, lowering your blood pressure helps reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke.
Take your medication
There's a wide variety of medications that effectively lower blood pressure. They are generally divided into five classes: diuretics or water pills, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-receptor blockers or ARBs, and beta-blockers. Each class of medication works in a different way, and each has different side effects. Your doctor will determine which medication—or combination of medications—you should take. In addition, your doctor should recheck your blood pressure to make sure your medication is working.
Do you also have high cholesterol?
Many patients with hypertension also have high cholesterol, which may also increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. So have your doctor perform a blood test to check your cholesterol levels. And keep in mind that some blood pressure and cholesterol medications can cause problems when taken together. If Medco manages your prescription program benefit and we notice a safety issue with your medications, we can check the other drugs that have been dispensed to you and consult with your doctor, if necessary. And remember: See your doctor, learn your numbers, and take your medication.

“I'll help you reach your lower cholesterol goal.”

Know the score.
Everybody being treated for high cholesterol should know the number for his or her LDL, or “bad” cholesterol. You can get your LDL cholesterol number from a simple blood test. Just ask your doctor.
Set an LDL goal.
Everybody being treated for high cholesterol should have a goal for LDL cholesterol. Try to set the number below your actual goal. Your doctor will determine what your goal should be. Generally, your LDL goal should be under 130. However, if you have heart disease, diabetes, or are otherwise at high risk for a heart attack or stroke, your doctor will probably want you to have an LDL level below 100.
Develop a plan.
Not reaching your goal? Then it’s time to go on the offensive. The plan that you and your doctor develop may include improving your diet, increasing your exercise, increasing the dose of your medication, adding a medication, changing to another medication, or some combination of these.
Check your performance.
Has your doctor prescribed a cholesterol-lowering medication? If so, your doctor will be testing your liver and muscle enzymes for rare side effects. And your doctor will also retest your cholesterol level from time to time to make sure that you’re taking the right medication at the right dosage to reach your goal.
Remember ...
To lower your risk of heart attack or stroke: Set your goal. Develop a plan. Check your performance. And If Medco manages your prescription program and we see a medication safety issue, a Cardiovascular Pharmacist will work with your doctor to help make sure that you’re getting the most effective treatment.

“Do you know the ABCs of diabetes management?”

If you're one of the 20.8 million* Americans who have diabetes, it's important to remember how these ABCs can help you manage your condition.
A (A1c test)
Want to know how effective your diabetes treatment has been over the past few months? There's a test that can tell you. The A1c test shows your doctor how well your blood glucose has been controlled for the past 3 months. Because the test looks back over a large span of time, your doctor is able to determine whether your treatment is working for you as planned.
If your A1c test results aren't satisfactory, your doctor may make changes in your treatment. These can include changes in your diet, exercise program, and medication.
B (Blood Pressure) and C (Cholesterol)
If you have diabetes, you may also have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. There are many effective treatments for those conditions, as well as diabetes. Getting treatment for all of those conditions can help lower your risk of heart attack or stroke—which are more likely to happen in people who have diabetes. However, someone who has all three conditions can easily end up taking many medications. So be alert to the possible interactions that those medications can have.
Specialized care from specialist pharmacists
Medco Diabetes Pharmacists (like me) have expertise in the use of the medications that people with this condition need. And if we detect that the medications you've been prescribed might have harmful interactions, we'll alert you and your doctor. We may also suggest ways to make your medications more affordable. So if you have diabetes, rest assured that we're looking out for you.

BIRD FLU

You may be wondering how to react to the possibility of the bird flu spreading globally and infecting humans.

Though the bird flu (also known as avian influenza) has led to deaths of millions of birds and several humans, it remains difficult for humans to contol.

In April of 2007, doctors approved the first vaccine to prevent bird flu. If you develop flu symptoms and have recently traveled to a part of the world where the bird flu occurs, see your doctor right away

Microbial Activity in HAVAC Systems

Microbial Activity in HAVAC Systems - A Serious IAQ Threat.
Contaminated indoor air is a growing issue worldwide. Experts know that certain airborne contaminants cause widespread discomfort and health problems, leading to absenteeism and a decrease in productivity. Healthy indoor environments could save billions in health care costs, lost work time, output and possible litigation.
The most offending contaminants are bioaerosols, regarded as the leading cause of allergies, SBS (Sick Building Syndrome) and BRI (Building Related Illness).
Bioaerosols are airborne contaminants that include microbes and the metabolic gases, cell fragments and spores, other toxins and waste products.
Airborne and surface microorganisms include pathogens (viruses, bacteria and mold which cause measles, chicken pox, Legionnaires' disease, aspergillosis, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases); allergens (bacteria and mold which cause allergic rhinitis, asthma, humidifier fever and hypersensitivity pneumonitis); and toxins (mycotoxins and endotoxins which cause toxic and allergic reactions, irritations and odors).
Among allergens, mold and mold products are the most common worldwide ? and mold can proliferate in A/C systems year-round. Exposure to mold initiates the release of histamines. Scratchy eyes and throat, congestion, breathing difficulties, allergy asthma and other complications can follow.
Almost every space is air-conditioned today, and a damp A/C coil is especially conducive to the growth of molds and bacteria. The unit's fan disseminates and recirculates microbes along with space and occupant-generated germs ? both room to room and person to person.
We can't count on help from air filters for two reasons: (1) Microbial growth occurs downstream of filters, so microbes will still flood the rest of the system and space; (2) Viruses and many bacteria are too small to be stopped by the majority of filters in use today.
IAQ experts agree that chemical bio-remediation is impractical, as it's harmful to humans, equipment and the environment; and it is only temporary. There is growing interest in UVC as the most practical, effective and continuous solution.
This UV is the "C" band, not the more familiar A and B. It's been used for more than 70 years to kill harmful microorganisms in many applications. But it wouldn't work in HVAC systems because conventional UVC lights suffered drastic output losses and thus "killing power" when exposed to cold and/or moving air.
The new generation of Steril-Aire UVC Emitters? is engineered to provide peak output specifically at HVAC conditions. Output is significantly greater than that of conventional UVC fixtures in HVAC applications. Independently verified output, award-winning fixture designs and patented application procedures all work in concert to kill infectious microbes while continuously eliminating mold and bacteria on coils and in drain pans.
Though originally developed to improve IAQ, Steril-Aire's multi-patented methodology also rewards users with significant energy and maintenance benefits. The UVC Emitter eliminates the bio-film and dirt that foul surface heat transfer ? continuously cleaning and maintaining coils and drain pans to "like new" conditions. The process brings crucial improvements in coil heat transfer, efficiency and pressure drop. Many building operators report energy savings of 15-30% and much higher.
Those who use Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) quickly see more of a VFD's promised energy savings once the Emitters have cleaned the coils. As a result, those considering VFDs may have more incentive to use them in concert with UVC Emitters. Constant speed fan users will need to check system conditions as many will be able to revert to original design settings for substantial energy savings.
By keeping coils and drain pans clean and odor-free, UVC Emitters reduce or eliminate costly coil, drain pan and plenum-cleaning programs; and maintenance crews are no longer exposed to biocidal and cleaning agents or other chemicals required for these tasks. Also, coils and drain pans no longer seed the system with mold, bacteria and their products so ducts and occupied spaces stay cleaner and odor-free too. By combining energy and maintenance savings, a typical UVC installation will pay for itself in 3-5 months.