Skin provides our first line of defense against the world around us, and yet we so often abuse it without even a second thought. Every time we go outdoors, we expose our skin to the harmful effects of the sun’s rays. Sun damage can range from the pain and blistering of a sunburn to the wrinkled, saggy appearance caused by photoaging to the most serious problem of all: skin cancer. More than 90% of all skin cancers occur on the parts of the body that are subjected to repeated sun exposure. Health Canada warns that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Canada and that about one third ..read more

Cancer impacts most Canadians’ lives, whether that be from a personal diagnosis or with supporting a friend or family member affected by the disease. The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that about 2 in 5 Canadians will develop cancer in their lifetime, and about 1 in 4 Canadians will die from the disease. Some of the most common types of cancer in Canada include non-melanoma skin cancer, lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer. Cancer is a disease that in general results from changes in the growth cycle and differentiation of cells, and it can affect multiple organs and body systems. T ..read more

  When you think about your health, your liver is probably not the first organ that comes to mind.  Your heart, your lungs, and your kidneys probably all come to mind before your liver, but don’t be fooled—the liver plays a very important role in our overall health. It is involved in over 500 body functions including: digesting proteins cleansing blood producing bile regulating the balance of hormones balancing your cholesterol level monitoring your body’s supply of essential vitamins and minerals providing your body with energy fighting off infections and harmful substances called ..read more

  As spring brings warmer weather our way and plants begin a new year of growth, many people will find themselves experiencing the symptoms of seasonal allergies. If you are one of those allergy sufferers, you may be wondering what causes allergies and what you can do to prevent or manage the symptoms. What causes allergies? An allergy is a condition that has both hereditary and environmental factors. On the hereditary side, you can inherit a tendency to develop an allergy to a particular substance. On the environmental side, your body can react to substances you encounter in your home ..read more

  Hepatitis C (HCV) is a viral infection that causes inflammation (swelling) of the liver. It spreads through contact with blood that has the hepatitis C virus in it, and it can lead to serious liver damage. For some people, hepatitis C is a short-term illness; however, in more than half of the people who have become infected with HCV, it develops into a long-term chronic infection. People with chronic hepatitis often experience no symptoms and don’t feel ill—so how do they know if they have the virus? There is no vaccine available to prevent HCV, but fortunately there are treatments tha ..read more

Three things are certain each fall: cooler temperatures, pumpkin spice everything –– and an uptick in coughs and runny noses. With the kids back to school, people being indoors more often, and in close proximity to each other, viruses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are on the rise. RSV is a common, highly contagious virus that can appear like a common cold. Symptoms often start two to eight days after you come into contact with the virus and can include coughing, wheezing, sneezing, and a fever. Luckily, for most people, RSV infections tend to be mild and clear up on their own in one ..read more

It is no secret that smoking is bad for your health. Smoking has negative effects on nearly every organ in your body, and it has been connected with more than two dozen diseases and conditions. In fact, smoking tobacco is the number one cause of preventable deaths in Canadians, and it impacts the health of people of all ages—from unborn babies to seniors. About 48,000 people in Canada die from tobacco use each year. Every single day, about 125 Canadians die due to a smoking-related illness. Smoking increases the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke by two to four times, and it increases ..read more

The concept of medical devices that attach to your body, take measurements to monitor your health, and report the results to your healthcare team may sound like the premise of a science fiction movie, but it is actually the face of medicine today. The London Drugs Connected Wellness Program combines the medical expertise of our pharmacists with the expertise of our TECH Department. Our pharmacists can recommend appropriate health monitoring devices to meet your needs and can help you interpret the results. And our TECH Department can help you set up compatible Bluetooth devices and apps to do ..read more

Men’s Health Week is June 13-19 2022, aimed to raise awareness about important health issues impacting men and boys. Did you know? According to Health Canada, men are twice as likely as women to suffer a heart attack. Did you know? According to Health Canada, men are newly diagnosed with heart disease about 10 years younger than women (55-64 years vs 65-74 years) What is heart disease? Heart disease is a term to describe a number of conditions affecting the heart including coronary artery and vascular disease due to hardening of the arteries (cause of most heart attacks and angina), rhythm di ..read more

What exactly is stress?17 Stress is a biological response that causes hormones (brain chemicals) to surge through your body. These hormones make you sweat, breathe more rapidly, and tense your muscles. Sometimes called “fight or flight,” the stress response is a built-in alarm system that prepares your body to take action – or leave the scene. Stress and Mental Health Stress is a normal response to outside pres­sures or demands, and small doses of stress help people stay focused, meet deadlines, and handle challenging situations. When stress is frequent or prolonged, however, the risk of ment ..read more