According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 21% of adults (about 1 in 5) meet the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines. Studies show that engaging in physical activity can improve health outcomes. People who are physically active tend to live longer and enjoy better health.

Health Benefits of Physical Activity

* Lowers risk for heart disease

* Reduces risk for type 2 diabetes

* Lowers risk for obesity and high cholesterol

* Reduces risk for stroke

* Reduces risk for depression

Physical activity as defined by the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, is anything that gets your body moving. There are two forms of physical activity that are recommended to be performed weekly to improve your general well being –AEROBIC & STRENGTH TRAINING.

AEROBIC EXERCISE: Aerobic exercise, also known as “cardio” requires the pumping of oxygenated blood by the heart to deliver oxygen to working muscles. The Department of Health Services recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week. The total weekly time requirement can be spread out during the course of the week.

Examples of MODERATE aerobic exercise:

NuCara’s Home Medical Equipment division is celebrating its 150th anniversary providing patient care to Iowan’s. Alvin Hammer started his first pharmacy in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1872. The Hammer family then entered into the medical supply industry in 1976. The company then grew to become one of the premier home medical companies in the state of Iowa. In 2017, Hammer Medical Supply was acquired by NuCara, bringing the total number of home medical locations to 11. In addition to these locations, the company also boasts over 30 retail pharmacy locations.

Serving both the pharmacy and home medical fields allows NuCara to offer its patients a more robust line of services allowing them to remain in their homes as long and as comfortably as possible. NuCara’s services can be felt across the state of Iowa and into Minnesota, North Dakota and even down in Central Texas.

As its mission states, NuCara is passionately committed to providing diverse pharmacy and other healthcare products and services, emphasizing excellence, innovation and creativity for the benefit of its patients.

NuCara continues to be innovative when it comes to expansion in the healthcare area. CEO Brian Wegmann says, “Our goal is to continue to listen to our patients when it comes to the ever-evolving needs in healthcare and see what we can do to fill that gap.”

Point of Care Testing is now available at select NuCara Pharmacy locations! Point of care testing allows patients to get tested at the pharmacy for acute infections. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests are a fast, highly accurate way to diagnose certain infectious diseases and genetic changes. They are similar to tests found at urgent care facilities. NuCara is currently offering tests for COVID-19, Strep A, and Influenza A/B. Appointments can be scheduled on nucara.com or by calling the pharmacy directly.

What to Expect:

After you arrive at the pharmacy and check-in, a pharmacy staff member will ask some pre-screening questions and collect vital signs like your blood pressure and heart rate. Once the pharmacy processes all the information, they will call you in to administer the test. A pharmacy staff member will have you use a nasal swab or perform a throat swap depending on the type of test. Once the test has been run, a copy of the results will be printed for you. If you test positive for either Strep A, influenza, or COVID-19, our pharmacist can now prescribe medication therapies for eligible patients.

The current locations offering point of care testing are:

Have you ever wondered how a patient can gain access to naloxone nasal spray (also known as Narcan) through a community pharmacy? Keeping up with all of the rules and regulations can be confusing, yet naloxone is often times a key element to patient safety. Whether dispensed to a patient who frequently needs opioid pain medications, or to a concerned family member, it is important for patients to know how they can obtain naloxone. Keep reading to find out how a patient can obtain naloxone for reversal of opioid-related overdose from a community pharmacy.

Standing Order for naloxone

A standing order is a written protocol that allows members of the healthcare team (in this case, pharmacists) to complete a particular task (in this case, dispensing naloxone to a patient/family member at risk) without having to obtain a prescription from a doctor first.

Which states have a statewide standing order for naloxone in place?

Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Texas just to name a few. There are actually only a few states that do not have a statewide standing order for naloxone in place.

What steps does a pharmacist take to dispense naloxone per the Standing Order?

How do the vaccines work?

· The vaccines have a small piece of mRNA that acts as a blueprint for our body to produce a protein that resembles a protein found in the coronavirus. After the protein is produced our bodies create antibodies to recognize the virus and this enables us to fight the virus. The vaccines do not contain a live virus and the protein cannot replicate and cause an infection in our bodies. It teaches the immune system what the virus looks like so we can be better prepared for an infection.

Are the vaccines effective?

· Yes! The Pfizer vaccine is 95% effective and only one case of severe COVID-19 was reported during the trials. The Moderna vaccine is 94.1% effective and there were no cases of severe COVID-19 reported during clinical trials.

What are the benefits of being vaccinated?

· Being vaccinated will protect you from becoming severely ill if you become infected from COVID-19. It will also protect your friend, family, co-workers, or close contact from getting COVID-19. Vaccination is an important tool in the development of herd immunity.

Are the vaccines safe?

· Yes! COVID vaccine safety has been a top priority from the beginning. All vaccines go through a rigorous approval process that looks at both safety and efficacy data seen in trials prior to approval. 30,000 – 40,000 patients were enrolled in the Phases 3 trials testing for safety and efficacy.

It’s important to receive your flu shot each year under normal circumstances, but with COVID-19 circulating this year, it is even more critical that individuals protect themselves from the flu. A flu shot can help you protect yourself and those around you from contracting the flu, while also reducing your risk of being hospitalized this flu season. Since there is not currently a vaccine available for COVID-19, it is essential that you do what you can to protect yourself from other respiratory illnesses, including the flu. Frequently asked questions and educational points regarding the flu shot are addressed below to help you stay safe and healthy as we enter flu season.

Why is it important that I get a flu shot every year?

The influenza virus evolves and changes quickly, producing new strains of the flu virus each year. For this reason, new vaccines are created each year in order to better protect individuals against the new flu strains. The flu shot is designed to protect against the top three or four flu strains that are predicted to be most common for the upcoming flu season, depending on which vaccination you receive.

Even if you have received a flu shot in previous years, it is important to get your flu shot each year. This is because the immune protection provided by the flu shot you received last year decreases quickly and will not provide adequate protection for more than one flu season.

One of the fastest growing lifestyles is gluten-free diets. Thousands of people are switching to gluten-free due to intolerances, diet changes, or conditions like celiac disease. Gluten is a protein that’s found in wheat, barley, and rye and can cause reactions like constipation, nausea, and bloating. Celiac disease is the most severe form of gluten intolerance. However, even a mild intolerance can affect your daily life. People with gluten-free diets are becoming more common as awareness about gluten intolerance continues to rise. It is important for gluten-free people to know the hidden sources of gluten in your everyday life.

Is there gluten in any of my prescriptions?

While rare, gluten can be found in prescription medication, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and supplements. The FDA does not regulate if a prescription contains gluten unless the manufacturer claims that it is a gluten-free medication. If a bottle specifically says it’s gluten free, then it is. This rule covers prescriptions and dietary supplements, but does not include OTC medications.

What resources do I have?

You can always ask a pharmacist to help you with more in-depth research on if your medication contains gluten. It may take them some time to get the information, but pharmacists are always willing to help. However, if you want to do your own research there are a few websites that can be extremely useful.

Probiotics: The Good Bacteria

Probiotics are living microorganisms that can provide health benefits such as supporting gut and immune health and contributing to the maintenance of a balanced gut environment. This is important for the proper functioning of the digestive system and the entire body. They also help defend the body from infections caused by bad bacteria or other germs. Many people think that taking probiotic pills or supplements will keep them healthy. However, probiotics actually get into your body on their own, so your body is always maintaining your “good bacteria” without you doing or taking anything extra. Probiotics may be helpful if you have certain conditions and we’ll talk about when they may be useful to take as well as how to choose which probiotic may be the most beneficial for you.

Sources of Probiotics

Probiotics are often found in fermented foods. Some of the most common food sources of probiotics include: yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchi, miso, kombucha, pickles, traditional buttermilk, natto, and some types of cheese. If you consume any of these foods on a regular basis, it’s not recommended that you also take a probiotic supplement.

Who can benefit from long-acting injectable antipsychotics?

There are millions of people in America who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia and require the prescribing of anti-psychotics to help maintain control over their condition. For these patients, remaining adherent to their medications can prove to be difficult and if they fail to take these, it can cause major problems.

Long-acting antipsychotic injections (LAIs) can help improve adherence to these medications due to the dosing schedule, which vary from drug to drug. These injections help patients who struggle with strict medication schedules, like remembering to take a pill at the same time every day. LAIs are medications that last longer in the body, so they only need to be injected every 2 to 4 weeks, or sometimes even longer.

Below are some examples of long-acting antipsychotic injections and the typical dosing schedule.

NuCara offers home infusion services so that you can access the medication infusions you need within the comfort of your own home. Home infusion provides an alternative for patients who are medically stable but need to continue infusion medications, including intravenous, subcutaneous, epidural, or intrathecal administration. Home infusion is typically less expensive than a continued hospital stay, and provides you with the flexibility of getting treatment at home, and enables you to resume your daily life. Many patients can even return to work. Your care will be provided with a team approach with you, your physician, and our nurses, pharmacists, and dieticians if needed.

How does home infusion work?

We deliver all of the equipment and supplies that you will need, and teach you how to correctly and safely administer the medications to yourself. We can also provide training for your family members or caregivers who will be helping you. There is someone on call 24/7 to answer any of your questions or provide assistance.

What therapies do we offer?

The patients that we frequently serve have a wide variety of needs, including: immunodeficiency, infertility, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, autoimmune disorders, migraines, dehydration, vitamin deficiencies, total parenteral nutrition, enteral nutrition, infections, pain management, and blood disorders.

HOW DO I GET MY MEDICATIONS?

Pharmacy locations are currently offering DELIVERY, CURBSIDE, and MAIL-OUT services.

What does that mean for me?

• No patients in the pharmacy
• CALL AHEAD to ensure we have your prescription and over-the-counter products ready
• Call when you arrive, and we will come out to hand off your medication
• If you don’t have a cell phone, please come to the door and wave, but do not congregate
• All payment and correspondence will be done via the telephone or mail
• We encourage you to use our mail-out services if possible
• We are offering FREE mail out services through the end of April to all patients

If you need any over-the-counter items, we can get those to you! Just let us know when you request your prescriptions and we'll include them with your order. We are happy to bring these items to your vehicle, deliver to your home, or mail them for free!

Due to increased demand for some products, we may be out of stock on some items. We are working closely with our vendors to add more stock whenever possible. We encourage you to call your store to check product availability.

There has been a lot of talk and rumors about traveling and the coronavirus recently. Here’s a little information to help you make informed decisions.

Flight prices may be lower than normal, but they are dropping for a reason. People aren’t flying due to this outbreak. No one can’t stop you from making the decision to travel, but it is discouraged so please be mindful and careful when choosing where to go. China, Italy, and Iran have been hit the hardest with the most recorded amount of infected cases. Just because these have the most, doesn’t mean other places are any safer. Places around the world are steadily having increased outbreak rates.

Travel notices let us know what places are considered safe to travel to. This is constantly being updated and the updated list can be found at this link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.

Areas marked purple should be avoided if at all possible. These places have widespread ongoing transmission with restrictions on entry to the United States.

Areas marked dark orange have widespread ongoing transmission but have no restrictions on entry to the United States.

Manufacturers have touted the use of E-cigarettes, or vaping, as a healthy alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes. Many of these E-cigarettes are small, discreet, and can even be charged by using a computers USB drive. These factors, combined with the fruity and popular flavors they provide, has introduced a whole new generation of people to nicotine.

There has always been a question about whether or not E-cigarettes were safe. Recently however, that answer seems to have made itself clear, and the answer is no. Currently, there have been at least 1,080 cases of vaping related illnesses across 48 states and 1 territory, with 19 of them leading to death.

The signs and symptoms associated with the development of vaping-related lung disease have looked pretty similar across all patients. Most of the patients who have been hospitalized with these vaping related illnesses have reported significant problems with breathing. Patients, and their parents, have reported shortness of breath, which has quickly escalated into cough, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Many people that have started using E-cigarettes did so in an attempt to stop using traditional cigarettes. The makers of these devices have been advertising E-cigarettes as an efficient way to quit smoking. Although there are a few people in advertisements who say that vaping has helped them quit, there is actually very little data that exists that show this to be the case. The Mayo Clinic says that there is not enough evidence to show that vaping helps stop smoking, especially compared to traditional treatments, such as nicotine replacement therapies.

Medication storage:

• Keep all your medications including the over-the-counter (OTC) medications and supplements in a LOCKED cabinet out of the reach and view of children. Never leave your medications on countertops or tables.
• Child-resistant bottles do not guarantee the safety of your children. The only safe bottles are the ones that your children cannot get to.
• Topical medications (e.g. steroid cream, fentanyl/lidocaine/nicotine patches, etc.) can be dangerous for children. Keep children away from those medications and always wash your hands after handling any topicals to avoid transferring them to your children’s skin.
• Do not flush old medications down the toilet. Dispose of expired or no-longer-needed medications in appropriate locations such as your local pharmacy or police department. Make sure you seal the medications before throwing them away.
• When visiting other households, keep an eye out for potential poisoning hazards. Communicate with the hosts to make sure that all medications and supplements are kept away from children.

Giving your kids the correct medications:

Nice weather is here, and that calls for a lot of outdoor activities and many hours spent running under the blazing sun. With fun, we can easily forget to hydrate our bodies.

Remember that the human body is made of about 60% of water for men and 55% for women. Without water, we would not be able to survive. Dehydration occurs when there is more water leaving our body than entering it due to inadequate water intake.

Water in our body is continually being lost throughout the day as we breathe, sweat, urinate, and defecate. Thus, most occurrences of dehydration are reversible by hydrating the body with fluids.

What are the signs and symptoms of dehydration?

Thirst is not always the best indicator for dehydration. For example, older adults don't regularly feel thirsty as compared to younger adults. So, how do you know if you or your child is dehydrated? Here are the signs and symptoms to look for:

What can cause dehydration?

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Sweating too much

• Fever

• Not drinking enough

  more

The words “opioids” and “Narcan” have been used frequently by media outlets and medical professionals in the last few years. These terms have developed a negative connotation that may even scare people. “Why is my doctor prescribing me this dangerous opioid narcotic?” “I don’t abuse my meds, why do I need Narcan?” This article will clarify all of the misunderstandings surrounding opioids and their reversal agent, Narcan (naloxone).

What is an opioid?

Opioids are a class of pain relievers that are usually used for medical purposes but are sometimes used for recreation. Opioids used for medical purposes include codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, and oxycodone. Unfortunately, these medications can be abused by people that either have a prescription or obtain the medication illegally. Heroin is an illegal opioid that can be used for recreational purposes.

Why do people take opioids?

Not all people that use opioids are abusers or addicts; there are patients out there that have acute or chronic pain conditions that require strong pain medications. Recent surgeries or dental procedures are examples of why a person may be taking an opioid for a short period of time. Pain associated with cancer is a reason why someone would be on opioids long-term.

As the weather gets nicer and we spend more time outside, we are more susceptible to finding ticks on our skin and in our hair. Ticks can be found in any grassy or wooded area, so it is important we protect ourselves before going in these areas. It is also important to check our bodies for ticks after being outside.

The best thing we can do is prevent tick bites by wearing protective clothing, such as long-sleeves, closed-toed shoes, and hats. Applying permethrin 0.5% to clothes can also be used for protection. Other insect repellents can be used on the skin. After coming inside, do a scan of the body, clothes, pets, and any objects that were outside.

If you find a tick on your skin or in your hair, don’t panic! Remove the tick as soon as possible. Sometimes simply taking a shower will wash the tick off. Tweezers can be used to pull an attached tick off of the skin. Carefully place the tweezers at the head of the tick so no part of the body stays attached.

An ice pack can be applied to the site of the tick bite if there is pain or irritation. Avoid scratching or itching the site.

Doctors can also help remove stubborn ticks that won’t detach from the skin. If a rash that resembles the shape of a “bulls eye” becomes present, a doctor can assess the rash. Also, if you develop signs or symptoms of an infection, such as a fever, be sure to contact your doctor.

What it means to be a .pharmacy?

You cannot trust a pharmacy because their website looks legitimate. Only 4% ¹ of pharmacies online are truly safe to use for consumers.

Below are just a few of the risks you take when using an unverified website:

• Receiving pills that contain such fillers as drywall and rat poison

• Having your financial and other personal information stolen

• Having your email inbox flooded with spam that could infect your home computer with viruses

A National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) review process takes place with pharmacies that have an online presence to ensure they are operating following proper laws and business best practices.

Once verified, NABP adds the pharmacy onto a verified website list, allowing the pharmacy to use the .pharmacy domain name at the end of their website URL.

Why .pharmacy is important?

Having an approval from the NABP as a .pharmacy will set the pharmacy apart from 95%² of websites operating out of compliance laws and standards.

Having the .Pharmacy labeling allows patients to know that their health is being held at a higher standard of safety and control.