Asthma Symptoms in Kids
Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting more than one million of our kids around the world. Severe symptoms can change throughout childhood and into adulthood. Asthma symptoms in kids may also be very different from those in adults. There can be times when it can go into remission or even resolve completely. Knowing the common symptoms of asthma in kids and how they can change over time can help you and your child get the right medical care as soon as possible.
Most kids with asthma develop symptoms before the age of 5. The bronchial tubes (the airways that allow air to go in and out of the lungs) are very small and narrow in kids. Colds and illnesses can inflame these airways, causing confusion about whether the resulting symptoms are asthma or not.
The main symptoms of asthma in early childhood may include:
- Cough (can be dry or wet/produces mucus)
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Trouble breathing or fast breathing
- Frequent colds that settle in the chest
- Whistling sound when breathing out
- To determine whether the symptoms are a result of asthma, your child’s doctor will do a medical exam. They will also perform a test that measures airflow in and out of the lungs. This is known as a spirometry test.
As kids get older, asthma symptoms change from distinct episodes of wheezing caused by viral infections to more instances of symptoms triggered by an allergic reaction. Exercise-induced reactions are also more noticeable in this age group. This may be due to changes in the condition over time. In some cases, kids in late childhood will rarely have everyday asthma symptoms but will have severe reactions to triggers like cold weather, cigarette smoke, or seasonal allergies. Asthma attacks triggered by viral infections are less likely in this age group than in younger children.
Although asthma is typically thought of as a childhood disease, nearly half of adults with asthma develop the condition during adulthood. It is a common adult condition, and more doctors are considering the term “asthma” to include a variety of symptoms.
Common asthma symptoms in adults include shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness and cough.
If you notice symptoms in your child that could be signs of asthma, talk with your child’s doctor. They can do an exam and perform tests to make sure your child gets the right diagnosis and treatment. It might help to keep a symptom log with the symptoms your child experiences, possible triggers or what your child was doing when symptoms appeared, and what helped to improve the symptoms.
If your child has been diagnosed with asthma and prescribed asthma medications, talk to your pharmacist today about best practices for managing asthma symptoms.
Remembering the Importance of Social Distancing: The Island Is Slowly Opening Up!
What is physical distancing?
Physical distancing is a way all of us can help slow the spread of COVID-19. With the island opening back up, we wanted to remind you of the purpose of social distancing so that we open back up safely and responsibly. By limiting our physical contact with others and staying away from crowded places where a virus can easily spread, we minimize the chances of spreading the virus.
How does social distancing help?
Coronavirus has affected us in ways beyond belief. Economically, financially, emotionally and physically. It can be difficult to maintain our distance in these difficult times when all we want to do is be around those we love. We need to remind ourselves that we do things like these to slow the spread of this virus and protect people who are at high risk for serious infection. We all need to do our part. If we practice physical distancing, we limit the number of people who are sick at one time. That will make it possible for healthcare workers to care for those who are ill. Practicing physical distancing means you are helping to protect not only yourself, but others too.
How do I practice social distancing?
It’s important to limit your contact with others, but you can still leave your home, if you need to. If you decide to go out, stay 2 meters (6 ft.) away from others and wash your hands often.
Things you can do at home:
Do a little something for yourself, like:
- Work out at home
- Read a good book
- Listen to music
- Clean your home/bedroom
- Cook a meal or bake
- Watch YouTube or stream a favourite show
- Arts & crafts
- Nap
- Study or do homework
- Order takeout
Connect with others:
- Check on friends and family members with a text, call, or social media
- Check on elderly neighbours over phone, email or social media
- Share memes and gifs
- Play video games
- Group video chats
You can still do things in the community while you practice physical distancing. Try to stick to activities where you can keep a safe distance from other people such as:
- Take a walk (while staying 2m apart from others)
- Do yard work
- Go for a run or bike ride
- Go for a drive
Sometimes you can’t avoid contact with others. In that case, be very careful when going out to:
- Shop for groceries or pick up food
- Use public transit
- Go to important appointments
- Pick-up prescription medication
After months of isolation, we now have a real glimpse of hope! We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s see each other responsibly and reduce the chances of a second infection wave. This is our time, Cayman. We all have an important role to keep ourselves and our community safe.
How To Manage Stress During The Unknown
The outbreak of COVID-19 may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in not only adults but also children. We at West Bay Pharmacy want to give you some helpful tips and pointers in managing your stress during this time. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.
Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include:
- Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
- Changes in sleep or eating patterns
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Worsening of chronic health problems
- Worsening of mental health conditions
Here are some reminders that are necessary while managing the unknown. This was not part of the plan but yet we are here. We hope these help you preserve your energy through this process.
Things To Be Reminded of While Quarantined:
- It’s okay to move through the various stages of grief
- Take care of yourself
- People can experience the same thing and have different reactions
- Being busy is not an accurate measure of worth
- Connection is healing
- Surrender by embracing what is
- Hobbies are important
- There’s always a way to help others
- Be content
- Be grateful for the little things
- We can’t force people to do things
- Sometimes we have to wait
- The wait is not always easy
For some of us, spending time alone is a real struggle. Being alone doesn’t have to be lonely or boring. Find ways to make the time you have with yourself enjoyable. Are you comfortable spending time alone?
How To Enjoy Your Own Company:
- Get to know yourself (journal or explore self discovery questions)
- Play by yourself (cards, games, coloring)
- Explore your hobbies or find a hobby
- Have a solo date (movie night, special dinner, dance party)
- Speak to yourself kindly (the way you would to a friend or a kid)
- Embrace the solitude (meditate, think, rest)
You got this! We hope you’re staying safe and sane while the world is on this temporary, unexpected detour. We want you to know that we are here for you. If you need to get in touch with us, fax or e-mail us here.
Take care and stay safe.
West Bay Pharmacy
Finding Peace In A Pandemic
In light of the coronavirus pandemic, many of us have had time to reevaluate our lives and the people around us. After all, it’s always easier to appreciate things when they are suddenly taken away from you, even if it’s temporary. Therefore, it’s no surprise most of us seek human comfort now more than ever before and are finding ways to have wholesome social experiences even while following the rules of social distancing. We at West Bay Pharmacy have comprised a list of ways to connect while being quarantined:
Things Not Worth Postponing:
- Telling people that we love them
- Apologizing when we are wrong
- Making necessary changes
- Showing self-love
- Finding joy
- Living intentionally
- Spending time with people we care about
The fear, anxiety, and uncertainty many of us may be experiencing at the moment does not have to consume us. Instead, be deliberate about reclaiming who we are and making space for things that nurture us and allow us to support those around us. Although we are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, it’s important to remember to keep our core values and continue supporting each other. A crisis does not mean:
- Our boundaries no longer matter
- We stop caring about the people around us
- We need to suppress/deny our emotions
- We should go back to unhealthy yet familiar relationships
- Our healing and growth will have to stop
- We have the right to lash out or mistreat others
- Our emotions become invalid
Let’s remember that we can learn and grow even in difficult times – if we let ourselves. This journey will look different for everyone, but we are an active agent in how life experiences shape us. Here are just a couple of things we think hard moments can teach us:
- Resilience
- Patience
- Love
- Endurance
- Forgiveness
- Awareness
- Adaptability
What are your personal lessons from experiencing this pandemic? What has it taught you? Thanks for taking the time to read this. We are still open at all three locations for your health and life needs!
COVID-19 Pandemic Store Policies
Cayman, during these uncertain times we would like you to know that we are fully committed to your health and safety. Let’s pull together as a community to take care of each other and beat COVID-19.
We have made some changes for the health and safety of our community. Please stay safe and know that we are here to help you.
- We have changed our hours to support and align with government curfew.
- Please call ahead for refills so you minimize your time in the pharmacy – we can also bring your prescription out to your car.
- Please come to the pharmacy alone as we are trying to minimize human contact. We advise you not to come into our pharmacy with elderly family or children.
- If you have a prescription, you can take a picture and text it to 516-0777, to have your medication prepared in West Bay Pharmacy.
- Please keep your distance (6ft) when waiting for or shopping inside the pharmacy. We have marked the pharmacy with black tape to further assist you.
We thank you for your cooperation and pray you’re keeping safe.
For more questions please don’t hesitate to call us: 945-0777
How To Stay Positive and Connected While Still Isolating
At times of uncertainty it is easy to let your mind get carried away with worry and panic. However, it’s important to remind yourself to focus on the things you can control instead of the things you can’t. We at West Bay Pharmacy have compiled a list of a few topics and questions to help ease your anxiety and give you some mindful perspective during this stressful time.
Things you can do for yourself right now:
- Take 5 deep breaths
- Make your bed
- Stretch for 5 minutes
- Brush your hair
- Take a shower
- Light a candle
- Read a passage from your favourite book
- Massage your temples
- Make yourself a cup of tea
Opportunities for growth you can see for yourself during this time:
- A chance to read all the books that have been on your list and gathering dust on your shelves
- An opportunity to develop better sleep habits
- An opportunity to rest and practise the art of doing nothing
- An opportunity to reconnect with friends (even if it’s just virtually)
- An opportunity to organize your home
- An opportunity to cook and bake
- An opportunity to serve more people online and develop content that will serve people who live all over the world
- An opportunity to sit and process your emotions
- A chance to strengthen your praying practise
Questions to reflect on:
- What can I do to remain connected while practising social distancing?
- How can I help my community and those in need?
- How can I manage discomfort in a healthy way?
- What am I learning about myself?
- What thoughts are most helpful to me during this time?
- How am I protecting myself from things that provoke panic or anxiety?
- How can I take care of myself?
We hope you enjoyed reading through our list and found it helpful. Please continue taking good care of yourself and loved ones, mentally and physically. Cayman – we will get through this!
COVID-19: Safety Tips For You
As COVID-19 is a new disease; scientists and public health experts are still learning how it spreads. Up until now, Grand Cayman has only had one confirmed case of COVID-19. The victim was a 68-year old Italian man who was at first taken to Health City for a heart attack but then succumbed to complications with the virus.
In light of the global pandemic happening right now, we at West Bay Pharmacy want to give you some tips in prevention when it comes to protecting ourselves from contracting and spreading COVID-19. During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible. The virus only lives on surfaces and inside the body for up to 14 days. Together, we can overcome this.
Health Tips:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 30 seconds, especially after being in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people.
- Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing; throw used tissues in the trash. If a tissue isn’t available, cough or sneeze into your elbow or sleeve, not your hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched spaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, computers, phones, keyboards, sinks, toilets and countertops.
- Be sure you have over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies to treat fever and other flu-like symptoms. Most people will be able to recover from COVID-19 at home.
- Avoid crowds as much as possible.
Get Your Household Ready
There’s no such thing as being too prepared. Check out these tips to better ready yourself for quarantine:
- Have a supply of food staples and household supplies like laundry detergent and bathroom items, and diapers if you have small children.
- Check to make sure you have at least a 30-day supply of your prescription medications and have other health supplies on hand, including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes and vitamins. You can visit any of our three pharmacies to refill your prescription:
Doctors Hospital Pharmacy: 946-2407
West Bay Pharmacy & Gifts: 945-0777
Savannah Pharmacy & Gifts: 946-3336 - Help family members and neighbours get prepared and share the safety messaging with those who may not have access to it.
- Stock up on household items and groceries in case you need to stay inside for a long period of time.
These are difficult times but not impossible times. We have overcome pandemics since the start of time and we will do it once again. Wash your hands, avoid contact, disinfect spaces. Don’t leave your house unless you absolutely have to. The sooner we kill this virus, the sooner our regular lives can return.
Stay safe and help those around you stay safe. Follow these tips and together we can do this!
The Truth & Myth of Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol is very much a part of our lives here in the Cayman Islands. If not directly, indirectly you may know someone who has experienced the pirate’s lifestyle that is represented in today’s media. On one side we see Jack Sparrow chugging a bottle of rum while drunkenly singing around a bonfire. On the other, we see total destruction and abuse to the human spirit. Overall, Hollywood has painted a pretty serious picture of the Caribbean lifestyle relating to alcohol consumption. However, it is important to separate the truth and myths of this substance. This may help with your decisions when out for dinner or on the beach with friends.
Moderate alcohol consumption may provide some health benefits, such as reducing your risk of developing and dying from heart disease. This directly relates to reducing your risk of an ischemic stroke which is when the arteries to your brain become narrowed or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow. As well researchers concluded that moderate drinking could possibly reduce your risk of diabetes. For both men and women, wine was seen as reducing the risk by more than 25 percent and beer by 21 percent. Clear spirits, on the other hand, were concluded to increase women’s risks of developing diabetes by 83 percent. But health experts urge caution over these findings. Diabetes UK, the British charity dedicated to supporting people suffering from the condition, say that people should not see it as an incentive to drink.
How do we define moderate consumption? Moderate alcohol use for healthy adults means up to one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than 65. Men younger than 65 should only have up to two drinks a day. Keep in mind that even moderate alcohol use isn’t risk-free. For example, even light drinkers have a tiny, but real, increased risk of some cancers, such as esophageal cancer. While moderate alcohol use may offer some health benefits, heavy drinking has no health benefits. Heavy drinking is defined as more than three drinks on any day or more than seven drinks a week for women and men older than the age of 65. As well more than four drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks a week for men younger than 65. Binge drinking like the famous Jack Sparrow can cause serious harm and is not to be taken lightly.
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism can affect all aspects of a person’s life. Long-term alcohol use can cause serious health complications, can damage emotional stability, finances, career, and impact one’s family, friends and community. Alcoholism is the 3rd leading lifestyle-related cause of death in the United States. Up to 40 percent of all hospital beds in the US (except for those being used by maternity and intensive care patients) are being used to treat health conditions that are directly related to the abuse of alcohol consumption. Alcoholism has little to do with what kind of alcohol one drinks. But it has a great deal to do with a person’s uncontrollable need for alcohol. Most alcoholics can’t just “use a little willpower” to stop drinking. The alcoholic is frequently in the grip of a powerful craving for alcohol, a need that can feel as strong as the need for food or water. While some people are able to recover without help, the majority of alcoholics need outside assistance to recover. Yet, with support and treatment, many are able to stop drinking and reclaim their lives.
Consider how much you are drinking on a daily or even weekly basis. We do not want to deter people from enjoying a well-deserved drink. But we wish for people to do so responsibly and understand the limits to alcohol consumption before it becomes a life altering risk. Drink in moderation and enjoy the perks that it has to offer. But more importantly, know the truth about alcoholism and understand the myths. Alcohol does not make you invincible.
Cheers!
5 Ways to Eat to Beat Diabetes
The numbers are startling: More than 100 million American adults have diabetes, meaning they have poor blood sugar control, which, if untreated, often leads to type 2 diabetes within a few short years. It’s not surprising that a great deal of research is trying to work out how eating habits
3 Ways to Make Sure You Exercise During the Holidays
The holiday season can be a really tough time to stay on top of your exercise routine. It’s cold out, and there are fun places to go and friends to see. Plus, managing your already-busy schedule can get tricky as you try to fit in holiday shopping, parties and family visits.
But considering the amount of rich and sugary food that are so common around this time of year — cookies, candies, eggnog, you name it — it’s especially important to keep moving. Here are some things I recommend this time of year to keep you going, even when all you want to do is curl up with more hot chocolate:
- Look for every opportunity to squeeze exercise in
You may feel like you don’t have time to manage your normal workout routine in between travel, shopping, family visits and friends’ parties. But you don’t necessarily need to carve out a full 30 minutes every day. Instead, take any spare moment as a chance to squeeze in a few crunches or planks. Take an extra lap around the mall on your next shopping trip, or walk home from a party with your friends instead of taking a cab. Even if you can only get a 10 minute brisk walk in twice a day, that’s better than nothing! - Fire yourself up
This is something that I do to get me excited and motivated for the day ahead. It’s really simple — I make a checklist in the morning of the 10 things I want to accomplish that day. It’s amazing how gratifying it is to check tasks off that list as you get things done. Make your workout part of that list and don’t let yourself end the day without marking off that box. - Follow through
Recruit others to help you stay accountable. Talk with a friend or your partner about your holiday fitness goals, and have them help you stay on track. Maybe you’ll get a workout buddy in the process, or just someone to text you reminders and motivation. Knowing that there’s someone else out there keeping tabs on your progress may spur you to keep up!
