Medications are important to improve our health and well-being. Sometimes, having multiple medications can be confusing and can lead to taking medication incorrectly. Think about it: You should take some medications with food, while you should take others on an empty stomach. Some can’t be taken with others. It’s a lot! Taking care of the elderly or loved ones recovering from hospital stays, and organising prescriptions from different doctors can all contribute to the challenge of managing many drugs. Knowing there's an easier way to ensure you take the right dose at the right time is good. A ..read more

We should all think more frequently about our bowel health, even though we might not discuss it every day. Maintaining tip top gut health can be achieved in two ways: by being aware of our daily routines and by eating a diet rich in fibre. Continue reading to learn more about the telltale indicators of an unhealthy gut, the most important symptoms to be aware of, and what you can do to assist. Signs of an unhealthy gut Not sure how your bowel stacks up? A number of symptoms can suggest an unhealthy gut. These include: An upset stomach – including bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhoea ..read more

Bringing a new baby into the world is a joyous occasion filled with excitement and anticipation. It’s natural to want to visit the new family and maybe gift them something special. However, some precautions may be advisable to look after the new mum and bub. Newborns are most vulnerable to whooping cough during the first few months of life, before they receive their primary series of vaccinations. So, it doesn’t matter if it’s someone’s first or fifth baby. If you expect to spend time with the newborn before they are old enough to complete their whooping cough vaccinations, it's important for ..read more

These aspects of our health are especially important to consider, even though they may not be at the top of your list for a casual conversation. Ask your GP if you're unsure whether you've had certain tests or screenings recently. You can also discuss these checks our Pharmacist on your next visit.    1. Poo Learn what is typical for you and let your doctor know if your bowel habits change. If you'd like, during your next appointment, you can ask that your doctor to show you the Bristol Stool chart. It's a simple method to talk about poo without having to give a literal descrip ..read more

Compounding Lab You would usually need to go to a pharmacy to pick up your medication when you're given a prescription to treat an illness or condition. However, how readily you can obtain the prescribed medication and whether you would need to go to a regular pharmacy or a compounding pharmacy to pick up your prescription will depend on what you have been prescribed. So, what distinguishes compounding pharmacies from conventional pharmacies?  Let’s discuss this a bit further… While we may all be aware of what a regular pharmacy may do and the types of services you would obtain from ther ..read more

In the busyness of day-to-day life, we can forget to check in with ourselves. But when it’s pain we’re ignoring, the knock-on effects can be unpleasant. If you experience joint pain, it can pay to discuss your symptoms with your GP, to rule out joint problems or start treatment as soon as possible. Ask yourself, does this sound like me? I experience some/all of these issues: Joint stiffness Joint swelling (inflammation) Pain at the joints Muscle weakness Less flexibility and range of motion that before Discomfort or tenderness when I press on a joint A clicking sound when my joi ..read more

When it comes to keeping our health in tip-top shape, there are some tried and true habits we all need to adopt. Apart from helping us feel more positive and have more energy, a healthy lifestyle helps control some of the risk factors that could otherwise lead to chronic illness, such as type 2 diabetes. So how many of our ten top tips are you doing?             1. Healthy weight Carrying excess weight is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. In general terms, aim for a body mass index (BMI) within the range of 18.5-24.9 and a waist measurem ..read more

Often, it can be a challenging task to get a child to take medication. For some parents and carers, this can turn out to be the most difficult time of the day for both you and your child. Then, when you factor in issues like a tired and sick child, sore throats, a dislike of the flavour of medicine, or simply a cranky toddler, the difficulty of the task can escalate.  At Thomsons Lake Pharmacy we are here to help. We've put together some advice from our pharmacists (who also happen to be parents of young children of varying ages) that may improve your technique and assist your child's at ..read more

Pardon? I hear you asking. You are not alone if you believed that menopause was a singular occurrence. However, this stage of life includes a number of phases and requires time to complete. What is Menopause? A woman's peak reproductive years are often in her 20s and early 30s, and as she gets older, the quality and number of her eggs (or ovulation) will decline. Ovulation (and your menstruation) eventually ceases when the body stops producing oestrogen and progesterone. Each woman's experience of menopause is different, just like each of us is. Many physical and emotional symptoms associated ..read more

1.   Take a hike Lace up your hiking boots and get “off the beaten track” for some adventuring. You don’t have to go far... Kings Park or Bold Park have some wonderful hiking trails that the whole family can enjoy.  Make a day of it and pack some portable speakers and a picnic lunch.  It’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors and keep active.  It’s good for your heart, great for reducing anxiety and you never know, you might find a new favourite spot! 2. Become a kitchen wiz Summer is a wonderful time to explore new foods with a lot of locally sourced produce being in s ..read more