Lowri Griffiths, Head of Communications and External Affairs, Wales

I was quite shocked when I started working for the Stroke Association, at just how many strokes could be prevented.  I was even more shocked that about 40% of ischaemic strokes (those caused by a blockage of the blood supply to the brain) are caused by high blood pressure.

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by Louise Bayne, Chief Executive, Ovacome: the ovarian cancer support network

The middle-aged woman with abdominal symptoms such as bloating, discomfort or gastric disturbance is an everyday visitor to community pharmacies.

She has ovarian cancer, but doesn’t know it yet.  She’s visited primary care many times, but has received a misdiagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome or recurrent UTI, and has decided to self-medicate with treatments bought from pharmacies.  

How can you help her? Read more »

I’ve recently had the pleasure of acting as RPS spokesperson for the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme, which acts as an early warning system for the identification of previously unrecognised drug reactions. Read more »

By Steve Williamson, Consultant Pharmacist in Cancer Services

Last week, Professor Watson (one half of the Nobel prize winning team of Watson and Crick who co-discovered of the structure of DNA in 1953) published his new theory regarding the role of antioxidants in resistance of cancers to drug therapy.  His  hypothesis is that antioxidants found in blueberries, supplements and so called ‘superfoods’ taken to prevent cancer may actually be harmful in patients who already have cancer.  

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By Colin Cable, Pharmaceutical Science Information Adviser

Medicines have undoubtedly made a huge difference to the lives of millions of people.

But why do some medicines have more than one name? Read more »

By Sotiris Antoniou, Consultant Pharmacist Cardiovascular Medicine, St Bartholomews Hospital, London

Every day there seems to be new research about aspirin, much of it contradictory. Interest in aspirin has never been greater, but is it really the cure-all it’s sometimes portrayed as in the media? And what should pharmacists be recommending to patients who come in self-medicating with low-dose aspirin? Read more »

By Dave Branford, Chief Mental Health Pharmacist

Mental Awareness Health Week starts today (21-28 May). The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week (run by the Mental Health Foundation) is altruism – Doing Good Does You Good. The week will focus on how by helping others you can help yourself, including random acts of kindness, volunteering and peer support

So how altruistic am I? Do I go that extra mile for people with mental health problems? I probably do because it is part of being a pharmacist; part of being a healthcare professional.  Somehow it is different when it is a patient. I am quite happy to close the door and turn off the computer when it is just dealing with never ending paperwork but when it is a person – that’s different. Altruism –going the extra mile is in the blood of pharmacy.

But what about mental health? It’s easy for me, you might say, because it’s my job. On a day to day basis I am interacting with some of the most mentally unwell people you can imagine.  Medicines play a huge part in both making and keeping them well.  Most of my career has been in mental health. What about the rest of the profession! Read more »

By John Betts, Royal Pharmaceutical Society Museum Officer

Given the scientific knowledge we now have about the harmful effects of smoking on health it seems unbelievable that in the past medical professionals viewed smoking as an effective and legitimate medicinal treatment. One of my father’s aunts, who regularly suffered from coughs and sore throats, was told by her doctor in the 1930s to take up smoking to toughen up her throat!

The fascinating, and at times contradictory, relationship between pharmacy and smoking inspired me to curate new Developing Treatments exhibition ‘Going Up in Smoke’ – Smoking and Pharmacy. Read more »