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Webinar: Nutrition in Managing Diabetes and Blood Pressure

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During these unprecedented times, it is vital that good health it at the top of your hierarchy of needs. At the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, learning to manage underlying conditions such as diabetics and hypertension is very crucial. This is why Goodlife Pharmacy in partnership with Mega We Care Pharmaceuticals invite you to a webinar that will change how you look at your diet forever.

Mark your calendars for August 27th at 2:00 pm where American based Dr. Scott Stoll ,Co-Founder and Chairman Plantrician Project and Dr. Sant Chaiyodsilp, Chief Wellness Officer at Wellness We Care will review evidence in studies that show support of incorporating plant based diet into your lifestyle in reducing the risk and managing complications related to type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Type 2 diabetes is a global epidemic, with approximately 422 million cases worldwide and a rapidly rising prevalence in middle and low-income countries. Studies show a positive correlation with diet and type 2 diabetes management.

JOIN THE WEBINAR HERE

Hypertension also known as high blood pressure is identified as the number one risk factor worldwide for deaths and disability-adjusted life years. Worldwide, it is estimated that one billion people have hypertension. Various medical studies found that people on plant based diets had significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and significantly lower odds of hypertension.

Register and join us for a live discussion on the findings of the role of your diet in learning how to manage your condition for optimum health. This webinar will help impart this knowledge through tried and tested ways by renowned experts in the field.

Treating Eczema

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As there is no definitive eczema cure, the goal of eczema treatments are to manage symptoms of flare-ups and to relieve and prevent itching. Similar to what causes eczema, how to treat eczema can be different for everyone and for different types of eczema. Read more below on tips to manage eczema.

Eczema may require treatments and a maintenance routine to manage symptoms. Depending on the severity and type of eczema, your dermatologist will provide the most effective course of treatment. Common solutions for how to treat eczema include:

Bathing & Moisturizing

Eczema prone skin retains less moisture than normal skin, often resulting in dryness. To give the skin the moisture it needs, a combination of bathing and moisturizing may be used1 . It is recommended to soak skin in lukewarm water for no more than 10 minutes. After dabbing skin dry with a towel, apply a body moisturizer to lock in moisture. A great way to tell which moisturizers and cleansers are appropriate is to check the National Eczema Association website for a list of qualified products. The Lipikar line of body lotions has been accepted by the National Eczema Association after a thorough review of their ingredients, safety, and efficacy. These body lotions for dry skin and eczema are suitable for the whole family including babies even as young as 2 weeks.

Corticosteroids for Eczema Treatment

Your dermatologist may prescribe topical corticosteroid creams to be applied to the affected areas. Corticosteroid creams are a common eczema treatment that have anti-inflammatory properties. For less severe cases, over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams may be used to help soothe skin and reduce damage from scratching. For the most severe cases, oral or injectable corticosteroids may be administered. These are only recommended for short-term use due to possible side effects.

Wet Wrap Therapy

During severe flare-ups, wet therapy can be used to hydrate and soothe skin. This treatment can be done at home after bathing and moisturizing or medicating. It involves applying damp gauze or clothing to the affected area.

Light Therapy for Eczema Treatment

If medications do not work for you, there is some evidence to support the use of light therapy, or phototherapy. This involves exposing the skin to a controlled amount of UVB rays to help calm inflammation and increase levels of vitamin D. This treatment should be administered by a health care professional.

Immunosuppressants

While there is no definitive cause to eczema, it has been linked to an immune system that overacts to certain irritants. Often prescribed for severe eczema that does not respond to topical treatments, immuno-suppressants work by lowering the body’s immune system response. Due to potential side effects, this eczema treatment is typically administered for a short period of time.

What is Eczema?

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WHAT IS ECZEMA?

Eczema is an umbrella term for different types skin conditions characterized by itching and rash. The most severe, common and long-lasting type of eczema is called atopic dermatitis (AD).

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ECZEMA?

Eczema nearly always begins early in life — 90% of cases occur before the age of five. Itching and rash most often appear inside the elbows, behind the knees, and on the face, but can affect almost any part of the body.

People with eczema always have very dry skin. The rash and itching will be intensified during ‘flare-ups’ which will be alternated with relatively symptom-free periods.

 ECZEMA AFFECTS 1 IN 10 CHILDREN, but can affect people of all ages more than half of the kids who have eczema today will be over it by the time they’re teenagers.

La Roche Team of Researchers

more than half of the kids who have eczema today will be over it by the time they’re teenagers.

HOW TO MANAGE ECZEMA AT HOME

1. Don’t scratch your eczema

While scratching can temporarily relieve the itchiness associated with eczema, it only makes things worse. Your nails can damage the protective skin barrier, which maintains moisture levels in the skin and protects it against irritants. Telling your child to stop scratching rarely works so dermatologists often recommend keeping their finger nails trimmed short and covering itchy areas with loose fitting, cotton clothing.

2. Wear cotton

Avoid scratchy fabrics such as wool. Instead opt for breathable cotton, which is softer on the skin.

3. Opt for lukewarm showers

Take lukewarm showers and limit them to 10 minutes max. After gently patting your skin with a towel, apply your topical medication or moisturizer to the affected area. Moisturizing after showering helps lock in moisture. When it comes to your choice of moisturizer, look for formulas such as Lipikar Balm AP+, which is accepted and recognized by the National Eczema Association to be suitable for the care of eczema.

4. Avoid sweating when possible

Working out is not off-limits, but it is recommended to shower immediately afterward. Also, opt for looser-fitting, breathable clothing that wicks sweat away from the skin. If you’re experiencing a flare-up, it’s best to opt for low impact workouts with less carious such as yoga or strength training to minimize sweating.

5. Avoid harsh soaps

When cleansing or bathing, avoid harsh soaps, as these may further strip skin of natural moisturizing factors. Use gentle, fragrance free cleansers instead.

6. Control your environment

Allergens such as dust mites may trigger eczema in some cases. Be sure to vacuum and air rooms out regularly to prevent accumulation. If the air in your home is particularly dry, look into purchasing a humidifier.

Consult your dermatologist for more advice on how to treat eczema and to determine which eczema treatment is best for you.

Talk about it with your doctor or dermatologist. Topical corticosteroids, also called cortisone or steroid creams, are commonly used to treat eczema. Other prescription treatments your doctor may recommend include: antihistamines (to help control itching) oral or topical antibiotics (to prevent or treat secondary infections, which are common in kids with eczema).

Find the Lipikar Products HERE

Goodlife: Free Advice on Lifestyle Diseases

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 30 – Kenyans are set to receive free advice on Non – Communicable Diseases (NCDs) or lifestyle diseases on all Goodlife Pharmacies across the country in a new campaign dubbed Wellness 360. 

The campaign follows a partnership between Goodlife Pharmacy and Phillips Pharmaceutical where Goodlife pharmacy staff will get the continuous training on Non – Communicable Diseases (NCD’s), in a bid to equip Kenyans on lifestyle modification interventions so as to help in reducing the burden of NCD’s and promote healthy lifestyle. 

The partnership is under Philips Top100 training programme that seeks to provide patient centric education aimed increasing knowledge of NCD’s to Kenyans.

Under the collaboration, various experts from Clinical Nutritionist, Medical Experts and Consultant pharmacists will provide continuous training and update tailored on patient- centricity and advice on wellness and lifestyle modification.

Phillips Pharmaceutical CEO Newton Siele

The move comes even Covid-19 pandemic worsens with people who suffer from NCDs at a great risk.  

Ministry of Health data shows that NCD’s accounted for over 50 percent of hospital admissions in Kenya. Moreover, 33 percent of Covid-19 related deaths suffered from diabetes and hypertension.   Latest statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) also indicate that about a quarter of Kenyan Women aged 15 years and above are either underweight or obese. 

In contrast only 7 percent of Men in the same age group suffer from the conditions with obesity increasing across at an alarming rate. 

Goodlife CEO Amaan Khalfan chats with Phillips Pharmaceutical CEO Newton Seiele

 Lifestyle modification is highly recommended as one of the interventions in reducing NCDs related complications, Kenyans can now walk in any of our pharmacies and get necessary advice especially on nutrition and healthy living.

Goodlife CEO Amaan Khalfan

The campaign will run for  5 months. 

About Goodlife Pharmacy 

Goodlife Pharmacy is a fast-growing pharmacy and health hub and only one of its kind in East Africa. The company provides trusted pharmaceuticals to customers across the population from convenient locations – with a total reach of over 3 million people with 65 branches in the region. Goodlife offers a range health services including Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose, Body Mass Index, Malaria and Family Nutrition. Doctor Consultations, Vaccinations and Laboratory Services are available in select locations. Goodlife also offers delivery services for its range of products available on its recently launched e- commerce website goodlife.co.ke.

About Phillips Pharmaceuticals Limited

Phillips Pharmaceuticals limited is one of the pioneers Kenyan Pharmaceutical Distribution Company focused on Pharmaceuticals, Medical devices and Over the Counter medicines. Established in 1991, Phillips Pharmaceuticals has been at the forefront in providing essential pharmaceuticals, medical devices and OTC drugs to healthcare professionals focused on helping the patients’ needs.