Pharmacies aren’t just the place to get prescriptions filled and buy other health-related products, they are also somewhere convenient you can go to get checked for certain conditions.
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Miller’s Pharmacy on Comur Street in Yass has three programs in particular that are on right now or starting this week.
At the moment we’re already into day three of Atrial Fibrillation Awareness week (September 17 to 24).
As part of this national campaign, you can drop into Miller’s Pharmacy – without an appointment and at no cost – to get yourself screened.
“Atrial Fibrillation is a serious heart rhythm condition” says hearts4heart’s information sheet, and “a person with AF has a five times higher risk of stroke.” Significantly, “Many living with AF do not suffer symptoms”.
Pharmacy co-owner Peter Miller says that “anyone can be screened, and a lot of people don't know they've got it.”
As part of the screening you’ll fill in a cardiovascular risk questionnaire and undergo a simple ECG in the pharmacy, then if anything is identified you’ll be referred on to your GP.
“It’s a new thing in terms of being able to screen in this sort of setting [the pharmacy]. Previously people needed to see their GP.”
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Another screening process you can have at the pharmacy – again with no appointment and at no cost – is for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
There’s a focus on this through September and October, and if you’re over 35 you should go and get checked. It’s a simple process of blowing into a spirometry device for six seconds.
Part of an expanded national trial to show that pharmacies can help identify cases, “it allows us to work with people who aren't already recognised by a GP. We can screen them for proper diagnosis and see if treatment is required. We help identify prime [COPD] candidates and it is heavily undiagnosed."
People at the most risk are current or ex-smokers, or anyone over 35 who may have been exposed to chemicals of various kinds.
Thirdly, launching this week is Impromy, a weight loss and lifestyle program designed in conjunction with the CSIRO.
It has been around long enough to know that it works and it’s new to Miller’s Pharmacy. It costs $49.95 for a lifetime registration that gives you access to a dietitian helpline plus ongoing in-store support.
Impromy is a program that gets tailored to the individual. After an initial consultation with one of the trained staff certain products may be identified to help you, but mostly you’ll be given guidance with regards to food and activities that are the most suitable for you.
