8A
| JUNE 18, 2020
|
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
Finding Fresh
Food
Safety first before mixing drugs
Billions of people across the globe
take medications each day. Certain
medications can help people with
potentially debilitating or even dead-
ly conditions live normal lives, while
others can help people overcome rel-
atively minor issues like muscle aches
or seasonal allergies.
The American Heart Association
notes that mixing drugs can pro-
duce unexpected side effects. This
can make it dangerous for people al-
ready on prescription medications to
use over-the-counter drugs for issues
like headache or seasonal allergies.
Understanding the potential interac-
tions between their prescriptions and
common prescription and over-the-
counter medications can help people
stay safe.
• Antihistamines: Antihistamines
are widely used to alleviate symptoms
of the common cold or seasonal aller-
gies, such as runny nose, itchy eyes
and sneezing. The AHA notes that,
when taken along with blood pres-
sure medication, antihistamines can
contribute to an accelerated heart rate
and cause blood pressure to spike.
The AHA also cautions people taking
sedatives, tranquilizers or prescrip-
tions to treat high blood pressure or
depression to consult their physicians
before taking antihistamines.
• Bronchodilators: Bronchodila-
tors relax and open the airways in the
lungs and are used to treat various
lung conditions, such as asthma and
chronic obstructive pulmonary dis-
ease, or COPD. These drugs make it
easier to breathe and are available via
prescriptions. But patients with heart
disease, high blood pressure, thy-
roid disease, and/or diabetes should
discuss the potential interactions
between bronchodilators and other
medications they may be taking with
their physicians.
• Cordarone: According to Drugs.
com, Cordarone is used to treat po-
tentially deadly abnormal heartbeats.
Cordarone can cause severe problems
that affect the lungs, thyroid or liver,
and can be dangerous when com-
bined with other drugs. For example,
the AHA notes that patients who take
more than 20 milligrams of Zocor, a
drug used to lower “bad” cholesterol
and potentially to lower the risk of
stroke, heart attack and other con-
ditions, while also taking Cordarone
are at risk of developing rhabdomy-
olysis. Rhabdomyolysis is a condition
marked by the breakdown of muscle
tissue that can lead to kidney failure
or death. The AHA also says that
Cordarone can inhibit or reduce the
effects of the blood thinner Couma-
din.
• Nicotine replacement products:
People taking prescriptions for de-
pression or asthma should consult
their physicians before taking any
nicotine replacement products. The
Federal Drug Administration notes
that doctors may want to change dos-
ages of patients’ current medications
before recommending they take any
nicotine replacement products. The
FDA also advises people to speak
with their physicians before trying
these products if they have diabetes,
heart disease, asthma or stomach ul-
cers; have had a recent heart attack;
have high blood pressure but do not
take any medication for it; or have a
history of irregular heartbeat.
Drug interactions can complicate
treatment of various conditions. Peo-
ple currently on medication are urged
to speak with their physicians before
taking any new medicines, including
over-the-counter drugs.
Many of us haven’t been
eating right lately. Some-
times the stores are out of
what we want; sometimes
we can’t get an available
pickup time. But there are
a few other safe options for
getting what we need.
Community Support-
ed Agriculture: Farmers
near you like to know in
advance if their crops will
have a market once it’s
time to harvest, and they
sell “subscriptions” that
allow you, as a sharehold-
er, to pick up fresh food
once a week. Do an inter-
net search for “community
supported agriculture” in
your area. Look for ones
that sell more than just
vegetables. Some also have
eggs, butter, bread, jams,
flowers and meat.
Farm Stands: You’ll see
these along the road -- a
small farmer or gardener
who sells his produce at
the end of the driveway out
of a small stand. Stop and
take a look, and ask ques-
tions. Most of them will
have a limited variety, but
it will all be fresh, probably
picked just that morning.
You might have to point to
the items you want so they
don’t have people touching
the food. That’s a safety
point you’ll appreciate.
Ask about other foods that
will be available, and make
it a point to stop by.
Farmers Markets: These
could be a dozen or more
farmers who congregate
in specified town loca-
tions on certain days, each
with a stall or table. They
will likely have a special-
ty, with carrots and plants
here, and honey and pota-
toes there. Many will have
homemade goods such as
breads and jams, and some
will have meat in cool-
ers. Chances are you’ll be
asked to use a credit, EFT
or EBT card to keep from
handling cash. Some ven-
dors will have their items
prewrapped so they’re un-
touched.
And remember, no mat-
ter where you go, look for
marks on the ground for
places to stand six feet
apart.
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MKT-P0108
Rising Food Costs
Have your food expens-
es gone up recently? Even
if your local grocery isn’t
spiking the prices, it’s now
costing more to get what we
need.
Grocery delivery: Deliv-
ery prices are running to
$10 and more in most plac-
es. Usually those involve
a personal shopper who
selects your items from
your list and delivers them
to your door. Sometimes
they’ll call while shopping
to inquire about alternative
items. Typically the store
will have a minimum pur-
chase amount.
Pickup: Even if you go
to the store to pick up your
groceries, there’s a fee, typ-
ically between $5 and $10.
Granted, a store employee
has gone around the store
picking up the items you
chose online, but it does
add to the cost. Again,
there’s a minimum pur-
chase amount.
There is another option:
Meals on Wheels. If you’re
having trouble accessing
food, Meals on Wheels has
received new temporary
guidance from the govern-
ment, and the qualifications
have changed. At this point
if you’re over age 60 and
staying home to avoid the
virus, or if you’re under age
60, have a disability and live
with someone who receives
Meals on Wheels, you may
qualify for help.
One of the requirements
is being at nutritional risk.
If you can’t get what you
need from a store or can’t
afford the additional costs,
you may qualify.
If you’re staying home to
avoid the virus and can’t af-
ford food delivery, you may
qualify.
It’s worth asking about,
surely. At this point Meals
on Wheels groups across
the country are receiving
cash donations, grants and
federal funding, and volun-
teers are flooding in. So if
you ask for help, you won’t
be taking away from others
who might also need it.
To find the Meals on
Wheels in your area, call
the senior center, Agency
on Aging or look online for
Meals on Wheels in your
state.
Quality Cleaning
Certifi ed Green
Carpet Cleaning
Specialists
541-942-0420
Limited Time Only
$2 Rides
South Lane Wheels is running
door-to-door service within the city
limits of CoƩage Grove at the reduced
rate of $2 per ride unƟl July 3rd.
TURNING 65 AND NEED HELP WITH
YOUR MEDICARE CHOICES?
Call Paul to
help simplify
the complicated.
Metro and Local Door-To-Door services
have resume operaƟng at regular prices.
For health and safety reasons, face
coverings are required to ride.
Call and reserve your ride today!
541-517-7362
Paul Henrichs ~ Independent Agent
541-942-0456 x1
coverage4oregon@gmail.com
www.southlanetransit.com
Disclaimer: All vehicles are operated in accordance with the Americans with DisabiliƟes Act. South Lane Wheels complies
with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. InformaƟon about the transit agency, including informaƟon in non-English
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