The Roger PharmD Show: Recent Episodes
Roger Ma, PharmD
Top o' the mornin' to ya!
Here's everything you need to know about #health. Get answers to questions you never thought to ask from a real healthcare professional - ME!
Shoot me a message at rogerpharmd.com or leave a message on #Anchor if you want to suggest a topic.
New episode EVERY. SINGLE. DAY (almost)!
I've been turning a blind eye. I’ve rejected patients before but it never felt like I was helping. If you’ve ever tried to force a smoker to quit, you know what I mean. You‘re usually met with annoyance, resentment, and deceit.
Quitting anything has to be a choice the person makes — especially with something this addicting. Persuasion and influence are your best tools, not force and rejection.
The problem is... I don't have enough time. You'll know what I mean. Check the episode out!
The study I'm referencing can be found here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(18)30227-X/fulltext
Definitely check it out. I think this is very encouraging for my patients. I hope you found value in it as well!
Take a close look at your med cabinet. I have a feeling there's at least one or two things in there that you don't need anymore. Ask a professional!
We just don't. I think it's partly due to how fast our tech is expanding. What do you think?
I can't believe the negligence. This could happen to anyone. Be careful at these health fairs!
A poorly-timed hickey can kill people! Here's how it happened.
stroke is no joke. Use the acronym FAST to help spot someone having a stroke.
What's Amazon been doing to healthcare? Let's stay updated together.
On this episode, I go through some of the most recent activities of Amazon pertaining to healthcare.
Personally, I can't wait for their big plans to come to fruition.
It's a matter of time before everyone starts talking about #mentalhealth. Before the pretenders start yapping, make sure you start talking first! Spread knowledge now! Make a change!
Worms aren't all bad! As it turns out, they carry some healing properties that can help us fight off diseases like obesity and diabetes. Does it disgust you?
Did you hear about Facebook? Mark Zuckerburg is being called into questioning as news hits that Facebook is selling our privacy.
More is not always better and this is one of those cases. Don't overeat while you're breastfeeding. It could put your baby at risk of early puberty (which is BAD), diabetes, and fertility risks.
We're used to the usual tips. We know the usual questions. "What makes you a good candidate?".... "Tell me your strengths." Here are 3 unusual tips that'll put you miles ahead of your competitors.
Since luck plays such an important role in the trajectory of our lives, we need to figure out how to deal with unlucky moments. Here's what I think is the most important thing to do.
A study in Italy tells all. The results are surprising and highly applicable to our daily decisions... Check it out!
Experts are worried that mental health issues in the city are getting out of hand. The CEO of the hospital is not doing anything about it and the psychiatrists are finally speaking up.
Here is the not-so-short and sweet intro to the common vitamins and minerals I get asked about. Remember to check with a healthcare professional to see if it's right for you!
Uber wants to help patients improve compliance by providing them with rides to the clinic. This will hopefully reduce healthcare costs by increasing checkups, vaccinations, etc.
Men aren't as simple as we thought. There are things in the male psychy that prevents them from really thriving and leading a healthier life. Listen to these issues and make sure you don't do them.
Today, I meet with an alcoholic. I'm asked by his wife to address his drinking. He is unaware of his wife's concerns.
Bad news for us all. In 2010, there was a study that concluded it took an annual income of $75000 to reach peak happiness. The newest study shows that it's increased to $105000! Yikes!
Loneliness is correlated to DEATH. Research has shown that the lonelier you are, the more likely you'll die or develop certain chronic diseases. This is especially relevant for the elderly population as about 17% of the seniors in America report that they're either lonely or isolated. Reach out to someone who's lonely today!
CNN reports, "In a tweet Thursday, President Donald Trump described someone who would shoot up a school as a "savage sicko." At CNN's town hall on the Parkland, Florida, school shootings on Wednesday, NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch described the gunman as "an insane monster" who is "nuts" and crazy." And at a White House briefing Thursday, the President again used the term "sicko."" Here's more information!
Meditation sounds like pseudoscience...But is it really? Should you try? I go over some facts and some common techniques for meditating.
Health isn't on top of everyone's mind. In fact, it's probably not on top of most people's priorities. What will interest you more?
"Amazon has quietly launched an exclusive line of over-the-counter health products in a possible challenge to pharmacy retail chains that could spark a price war and put pressure on store-brand profit margins.
Technically, the company doesn't own these products, which are produced by private-label manufacturer Perrigo, but it does put Amazon in a position to squeeze other retailers. The e-commerce giant launched the Basic Care line in August, including 60 products ranging from ibuprofen to hair regrowth treatment.
Pharmacies make money when people walk in looking to grab medicine and end up buying cosmetics and other goods. They're already losing traffic as people shop for those products online, including on Amazon. Giving them another possible reason to skip the store could hurt even more." - CNBC
"Musical theatre legend Andrew Lloyd Webber has revealed his struggles with depression in a new memoir called Unmasked.
According to The Mirror, the book details how Webber considered taking his own life more than once, with the latest episode of depression arriving amid serious health problems including prostate cancer and severe back pain.
“It was absolute agony and utterly despairing,” he wrote. ”I did think of suicide. It was so painful and I couldn’t sleep and you go on thinking about it.”" - mirror.co
The information we get might be simplified already. Be careful when we try to explain the same concepts to our friends. We might be oversimplifying things. Like a case of broken telephone.
"A football coach. An athletic director. And young, eager and forward-looking students.
They were among the 17 people killed by a gunman Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said Thursday that all families who lost loved ones in the shooting have been notified." - CNN
Love has a lot of benefits! Here are a few reasons why you should hey paired up this Valentine's Day.
"It works out at roughly 38 condoms each and gives competitors enough opportunity to heat up what could be the coldest winter games in 20 years.
Manufacturer Convenience donated most of the condoms but doesn't expect the athletes to use them all.
With the competition lasting just 16 days, it would be some achievement.
Hook-ups are rumoured to be commonplace in the Olympic Village.
Despite the large quantity, at least one athlete has apparently questioned the quality of the condoms handed out." - BBC News
Science is boring. Clickbait, sensationalism, and polarizing opinions are what's in. We have to be careful of pseudoscience. No matter how boring real research is, we have to spend the time to do it.
"New research from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has found strong evidence that disruptions in sleep cycles could be an early, preclinical sign of Alzheimer's disease. A further companion study in mice found that circadian rhythm disruptions could directly accelerate the accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain – the build-up of which are strongly linked to Alzheimer's disease and memory loss." - Newatlas
"Apotex Inc. is recalling a batch of Alysena 28 birth control pills.
The company says they may not be effective in preventing pregnancy because the pills were chipped.
Alysena 28 is a prescribed birth control pill, with 21 “active” pills and 7 “inactive” pills. The “active” pills were the ones with chips, Health Canada said, which means they may contain less of the active drug ingredients." - Global News
"Émilie Ricard’s post, shared over 50,000 times in 2 days, blames Gaétan Barrette for poor working conditions. Quebec's federation of nurses says many of its members are burning out and that the social media post written by a nurse in Sherbrooke is a typical day-in-the-life account of health care workers across the province." - CBC News
Seriously... Don't put your health in the hands of others. You have to be responsible for your own well-being. Two simple reasons. 1) Healthcare providers are human and are prone to mistakes. 2) You have the most stakes out of all of us.
"Hypnosis is a state of human consciousnessinvolving focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness and an enhanced capacity to respond to suggestion. The term may also refer to an art, skill, or act of inducing hypnosis." - wiki
Here's my take on hypnosis in healthcare and why should think about it more!
"What are some herbal supplements for anxiety?" Everyone has anxiety at some point. Here are some solutions I suggest! 1) Chamomile 2) L-theanine 3) Hops 4) Valerian and more!
"A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that low levels of alcohol consumption can actually lower inflammation in the brain and help it clear away toxins, including those linked to serious diseases like Alzheimer's.
The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, focuses on the glymphatic system, which is the brain's cleaning process. When mice were exposed to low levels of alcohol consumption — comparable to two-and-a-half drinks per day — they showed less inflammation in their brains and a more efficient waste removal process, compared to mice who were not exposed to alcohol." - CNBC
"A Boston pharmacist, Glenn Chin, was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison for his role in a 2012 meningitis outbreak that killed 64 people and infected more than 700, according to the Massachusetts Attorney's Office.
"Glenn Chin will be trapped in a prison of sorrow and guilt for the rest of his life," his attorney Stephen Weymouth said in a statement. "He knows that the victims will suffer for the rest of their lives."
A federal jury convicted Chin in October on 77 counts including racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud and introduction of misbranded drugs; he was acquitted of second-degree murder." - CNN
We're all struggling inside. Working with medications has opened my eyes. Some of the most awesome and charismatic people are actually on anxiety and depression medications. Don't judge a book by it's cover. Your happy-go-lucky friend might be struggling deep inside. Pay attention to that!
There are certain things everyone know to look out for. But aside from trans fats, sugars, and salts, what else should you worry about? What can cause infertility, cancer, or hyperactivity? Listen to find out!
What's the most dangerous drug? It's one that too many children are on. It's killing their ability to think outside the box and be innovative. It's Concerta, Ritalin, Vyvanse, Biphentin, and more.
"In 50 years, what will medicine and healthcare look like?" There will be two paradigm shifts in healthcare. First, we will shift our focus to prolonging health-span over lifespan. Second, we will enter Healthcare 3.0 where medicine and patient care is hyper-personalized using technology.
iPhone's newest update allows it to keep track of your medical records. It's a great way to keep track of your lab values, vaccination records, and more. Will there be privacy issues?
"Confidential industry data reveals a morning sickness pill taken by hundreds of thousands of Canadian women did not meet the company's own targets for efficacy.
The drug is called Diclectin, a combination of vitamin B6 and a common antihistamine, and is recommended as a treatment for women suffering from nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Canadian doctors write 300,000 prescriptions for Diclectin every year." - CBC
I was asked what I thought about homeopathy. There's what it is, why it's pseuodoscience, and my take on the whole thing. No background music for this to make it extra serious!
"After seven days of listening to more than 160 girls, women and parents describe the impact of his sexual abuse, disgraced gymnastics physician Larry Nassar turned to the courtroom Wednesday and quietly attempted an apology, saying, "There are no words that can describe the depth and breadth for how sorry I am for what has occurred."
Then Judge Rosemarie Aquilina read from a letter Nassar wrote last week in which he expressed very different sentiments. In the letter, Nassar complained about the length of his sentencing hearing, maintained that his touching of patients was legitimate medical therapy and termed some of the alleged victims' accounts "fabricated." As Aquilina read excerpts, some in the courtroom gasped.
"My treatments worked, and those patients that are now speaking out were the same ones that praised me," Aquilina said as she read Nassar's words. ". . . The media convinced them that everything I did was wrong and bad. . . . Hell hath no fury like a
Patient care is exactly that — caring for a person and their health. It can involve diagnosis, counselling, vaccinating, suturing, bandaging, and more fun stuff.Children dreaming of being a healthcare professional lust about performing these tasks. And who can blame them? Just watch House, M.D.Media has completely romanticized the profession. The glamour of saving lives and making a difference has overshadowed the reality.The reality is only 30% of healthcare is patient care.What’s the rest? Paperwork, public payers, private payers, customer service, bureaucracy, hiring, firing, taxes, and policies. There’s too much to list.Point is, the other 70% of the job is shit. No more shitty than other jobs, but other jobs aren’t glamorized quite the same either.The difference between expectation and reality is what shocks most new graduates. It’s what causes job dissatisfaction, depression, and misery. The only way to remedy this is through education.Before your kid jum
"How do I get my overweight father to exercise with me?" Three things that'll help. 1) Understand that it's a marathon 2) Start with diet 3) Exercise with him!
Some STDs cause infertility. Not only that, it could harm your baby if you're already pregnant. Here are ways the prevent these terrible diseases.
Did you hear about the newest app for sex? Your bio specifies more intimate information like STD status, condom use, anal, and etc. It's controversial but possibly necessary. Tell me how you feel.
1 in 5 women have been raped. 1 in 15 for men. It's a common and scary thing with a lot of health consequences. This ranges from mental health (anxiety, depression, PTSD) and physical health (genital trauma, gastrointestinal diseases, STD, HIV). We NEED to talk about this. Thank you OPRAH for the awesome speech!
Why are you afraid to die?
Is it because there’s so much you haven’t done? So much you haven’t seen? What about being a billionaire or celebrity?
Whatever it may be, these patients have already had their shot at achieving those things.
There isn’t much on their bucket list they can check off in their remaining time.
On top of that, aging is a cruel and slow process.
Hypertension at 30. Arthritis at 40. Diabetes at 50. Incontinence at 60. Dementia at 70.
They’ve accepted that their time is coming.
Not everyone feels the same though.
I’ve seen patients terrified.
But only for a moment. Stepping into the unknown is scary for many.
A common sign of fear is last minute baptisms. A Hail Mary, perhaps.
A religious patient can be afraid too. Heaven is not guaranteed.
“Why aren’t old people afraid to die?”
When you’ve been weak and without purpose for the past 20 years, would you call that living?
Many don’t.
This episode talks about catching up on sleep, impaired driving, asleep at work, and melatonin. If you've ever been sleep deprived, you'll be able to relate!
A story about a woman suffering from depression after her husband got Alzheimer's. If someone close to you is going through a tough time, don't forget to keep tabs on how YOU are doing. You're at risk of becoming collateral damage.
Whenever you beat yourself up, remember the 3 yous. I’ve recently been taught this method. Let me spread the love. Conceptualize the 3 yous. Past you, Present you, and Future you. The three are best friends for life. Literally inseparable. You’ve been beating yourself up? That was Past you’s doing. Past you can be foolish, but who isn’t from time to time? Show some forgiveness. If you’re paralyzed today, that’s Present you being discouraged. But that’s okay. You need to persevere for Future you. Do Future you a favor for once! Tomorrow, make sure Future you remembers to thank Past and Present you for being such good friends. Always remember to thank yourself tomorrow. Finally, remember you don’t have split-personality disorder and that… …you can be foolish, forgiving, persevering, and thankful. Love yourself for that.
“How can I kill myself quickly and without feeling pain?” You can die quickly but not without causing pain. The key word is causing. You may not feel the pain but the trauma you’ve caused to those in your life is permanent. Even if you have no one in your life right now, someone was in your life and someone will be in it too. Your childhood friends whom you’ve grown apart from will be hurt. Your future granddaughter will not have your voice to fall asleep to. You can die quickly but not painlessly. Call 1–800–273–8255 immediately. Someone is eager to speak with you there. Shoot me a message privately as well if you need someone to talk to.
Here's an extra episode off-the-cuff brought to you by my insomnia! People are getting dependent on sleeping pills so here are a few tips to fall asleep better without medications.
Always use Hanlon’s Razor.
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." Most people don’t think they’re as rude as they are. Maybe their culture is more blunt. Maybe they had a bad day. Maybe they’re just an asshole. Whatever the reason may be, we can be 90% sure it’s not on purpose. For the remaining 10%, god help them.
"I banned my 17 year old daughter from buying condoms. Is that okay?" Taking condoms away from your daughter is like taking armor away from a soldier. Your daughter is a soldier. She fights off body image issues, acne, period cramps, school stress, and annoying boys. Though she’s won many of those battles in the past, she will inevitable have her guard down one day. When that day comes, you will want her to have protection. Condoms are meant to protect good people from harm. Less responsible children would not even bother buying them. From that, I know you’ve done a wonderful job teaching your daughter to be a responsible teen. Let her continue this healthy habit into adulthood.
Maybe it is justifiable.
It is difficult, but perhaps it is justifiable.
Let me explain.
Drug companies are companies.
People often think of healthcare as some altruistic industry where a bunch of geniuses gather and work to rid the world of diseases.
The healthcare industry, including drug companies, attracts talents that they do because it’s a great money-making machine.
Just like Apple Inc., Pfizer Inc. answers to their shareholders and pays for top talents.
However, let’s assume they don’t have to answer to anyone. Let’s assume they don’t have to make money.
To keep the lights on, they would have to at least break even.
Pfizer’s cost of R&D per new drug was calculated to be almost $8 billion in 2013.
They need to make at least that to stay operational and continue to save lives.
Do they make more than that per drug? Yes.
Do payers like that? No.
Is it justifiable? Maybe.
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About the Author
Roger Ma is a consultant pharmacist stationed in the exciting city of Toronto