Author: The Healthy Pharmacist
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It’s summer. Get outside. Limit PBR.
The summers of my youth were liberating and adventurous but not always the best for my health. I’d frequently bike to 7 Eleven for a large cold slurpee or Taco Bell for their Grande Burritos. When I wasn’t outside, I’d be playing video games in the luxury of air conditioning and drinking a refreshing, sugar-packed…
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Your fragrance is killing me
Every day, I arrive to work early, take a deep sigh of fresh office air, and bask in the views of endless rows of desks. Luckily, my work has an open office space design which replaces the traditional cube with rows of desks divided by low glass walls, allowing me to see hundreds of feet away and whether Joe…
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Neurologists aren’t learning enough how to keep people healthy
It was a beautiful summer day in 2013 as I sat on my cottage porch in Northern Michigan developing my final presentation to graduate with my PharmD degree. Doing school work in such a serene environment may sound like torture, but actually it was quite pleasurable. Since 2010, I’ve been on a quest to understand why some people…
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Is cancer just bad luck?
Key Story Summary: The cause of cancer is elusive and debated. Environmental factors may play a greater role in the development of cancer than random chance or bad luck. Despite the true cause of cancer, you hold the power to reduce your risk of the disease. You can create your own four leaf clover. On Sunday…
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Paleo enthusiasts should relax and enjoy evolution
Key Story Summary The Paleo diet is based around the idea to live and eat like our ancient ancestors. The concept of one ancient diet pattern fitting our current genetic makeup is wrong. Humans have an amazing ability to adapt to new sources of food and can thrive utilizing many different eating patterns. Maybe this writing comes on the downward…
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Drugs are expensive because they can be
Key Story Summary: Drug makers can set the price of their own drugs since there is no legislation controlling prices. Despite some negative opinions, drug companies advance science and reduce disease. To truly lower the burden on the healthcare system, a shift towards preventing disease is needed. Does $1,000 sound like a lot of money…
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Changing health requires changing your environment
Key Story Summary: It’s easier to change your environment than your behaviors. To change the health of society, we need to first create a health-promoting environment within the healthcare system. Some examples of a healthier environment in the academic setting may include eliminating soda machines and incorporating health behavior counseling into each patient-clinician role modeling case. Parlez…
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Most pharmacists aren’t healthy…Change is needed
Key Story Summary: Most pharmacy students don’t meet health behavior recommendations. The Healthy Pharmacist attended a week-long health communications course at Tufts Medical School which provided valuable insights on how to get a message across. To best achieve the The Healthy Pharmacist’s mission, health professionals must first practice what they preach. You know about it. You probably…
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Pharma isn’t (mostly) evil
Key Story Summary: My life is ironic. I work for a corporation that sells medicines to ill people while I believe diet and lifestyle are the keys to preventing disease and suffering. Pharma companies aren’t evil. They only play in the rules set up by our economic and regulatory system. Regulations and resource-focus changes are needed…
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Born out of frustration
Key Story Summary: A lower back disk herniation sustained through athletics left me in significant pain 24/7 for over an entire year. After unsuccessful medical visits, my independent research on topics of pain and inflammation guided me to alter my diet and ultimately relieve my suffering. The relief of pain and improvement in mood and overall health made me question…
The Healthy Pharmacist 