Pharmacy is a profession that encompasses the preparation, dispensing, and distribution of medication. Pharmacists are trained in a wide range of sciences including chemistry, biology, physics, bacteriology, and physiology. They also receive extensive training in business skills including merchandising, accounting, computer technology, and pharmaceutical jurisprudence. Pharmacists are experts on drug therapy and primary health care professionals who optimize the use of medications to benefit patients. The pharmacist has been an integral member of the healthcare team for over a century and is an important link between the patient and the physician. A number of studies have shown that when a pharmacist is involved in the management of a prescription, outcomes improve and costs decrease. As more and more people turn to online pharmacies to obtain their medications, there is a need for consumers to understand what these sites offer. The most common services that are offered by these sites include verifying a prescription, providing counseling on how to take the medication, educating patients on side effects, and answering questions regarding the medication. These are all critical to the success of a patient on a new prescription and should be provided by every online pharmacy. The history of pharmacy dates back to ancient Greece and Rome and the Middle Ages in Europe. Initially, physicians and apothecaries worked together to treat patients. Later, the Arabian influence in Europe resulted in the separation of responsibilities between the physician and apothecary, with the physician primarily treating the disease and the apothecary supplying the physician with herbs and raw materials from which to make medicines. The practice was eventually further cemented in America by Benjamin Franklin who appointed an apothecary to his Philadelphia hospital. Today, there is a much wider selection of drugs available than ever before. Often, multiple medications are prescribed for one condition and pharmacists are responsible for helping the prescriber and the patient decide which medicine will produce the best results. Pharmacists are also tasked with ensuring that the patient is taking their medications properly and that the prescription does not interact with any other drugs they may be taking. Despite the fact that pharmacists are tasked with a number of duties, their main role is still to prepare and distribute medication. This is the primary job function of a pharmacist, and it cannot be replaced by technology. The knowledge that a pharmacist uses to perform this job is complex and difficult to define. A chemist has both subject-specific knowledge of chemistry and pedagogical knowledge on how to teach the subject effectively. This knowledge is not easily transferred from one individual to another. The same is true of the knowledge that a pharmacist has accumulated over the years. This makes it difficult to determine whether or not pharmacy is a knowledge-based profession. Ultimately, the most valuable knowledge that a pharmacist has is his or her experience in the field. This is something that a chemist can never fully lose and should be cherished by all pharmacists.
Read MoreCancer is a disease that happens when cells in the body grow and divide too fast. Normal cells only grow and divide when the body sends them signals to do so. They also stop growing and die when the body sends them signals to do that. Cancer cells don’t follow those rules and grow out of control, forming a mass of abnormal cells called a tumor (say: T-uh-mer). These cancer cells often group or clump together and can damage nearby tissue. They may also spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymph (say: LY-moh) system. Cancers are named for the organ or tissue where they begin, such as lung cancer, liver cancer or brain cancer. They can also be named for the type of cell that formed them, such as breast cancer or leukemia (say: LY-moh-lee). Cancers are also classified by how fast they grow and spread. Fast-growing cancers are more likely to be deadly than slow-growing cancers. Cells become cancerous when they acquire mutations (say: MUT-tur-mun-tiehs). Mutations change the way a cell functions. Mutations may be caused by things like viruses or chemicals. They may also be caused by errors that happen during the process of cell division, which is how the body makes new cells. When a cell has too many mutations, it starts to grow and divide without control. This leads to more and more errors that make the cell grow even faster than it should. The mutations that cause a cell to turn into cancer are called oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. When these genes mutate, the cell loses the ability to stop growing and dying. There are a lot of different ways to treat cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Some people also have other types of treatment, such as hormone therapy or targeted therapy. Some kinds of cancer can be hard to fight because the cells can dodge your immune system or trick it into not fighting them. Some of the newest treatments try to change that by “marking” cancer cells so they are easier for your immune system to find and destroy. Taking steps to prevent cancer is the best way to protect your health. Ways to reduce your risk include eating a balanced diet, being physically active and not smoking. Avoiding processed meats and limiting how much red meat you eat can also help lower your risk of some types of cancer. Try to get about 30 to 40 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. Avoiding alcohol is a good idea, too. Women should not have more than two alcoholic drinks a day, and men should limit their intake to one.
Read MoreMedical is the science and practice of caring for a patient with illness, injury or disease, managing their diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation and promotion of health. Medical care may be delivered by physicians, physician assistants, nurses, midwives, clinical pharmacists, dentists, and allied health professionals. It may be provided in hospitals, clinics, patients’ homes, and schools, as well as in community health centres and private practices. It may be subsidized by a national or local government or by private insurers. Medicine consists of a wide variety of professional disciplines, and it is often difficult for students to keep track of all the details. Some disciplines are particularly challenging to learn and retain, such as the pharmacology of drugs or the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Some medical disciplines also have significant overlap with each other. For example, medical physics and cellular biology both deal with the application of physical principles to the study of living systems. Students who are enrolled in medical school must acquire a huge amount of knowledge over a short period of time. This can be overwhelming for some, especially since the information is constantly being thrown at them through lectures, texts and the news. It is therefore important for students to organize and plan their studies effectively. A good strategy is to take detailed notes while studying. This allows students to test their comprehension and recall of the information. It also helps them to write down the most important aspects of a lecture or text so that they can refer back to it later. Taking notes is one of the most effective ways to study for a medical exam, as it forces students to absorb the information and retain it in their long term memory. It is also important to study at the same time every day, in a quiet place that is free of distractions. In addition, it is helpful to find out what study methods work best for you, such as forming a study group with like-minded students or using online services that provide practice quizzes and flashcards for medical students preparing for USMLE or MCCQE exams. Writing for a medical audience can be challenging, as it is important to strike a balance between technical content and being interesting. This can be accomplished by focusing on what is most relevant to the reader and by following industry standards and formats. Moreover, by making sure that the content is original and providing thought-provoking or inspiring ideas, students can make their writing more compelling and appealing. Another way to improve medical school study is to seek out the help of an instructor when you are confused about a topic. Many instructors have been students in your shoes and are well-equipped to offer advice on how to study efficiently and effectively. They can teach you scientifically proven study techniques that have been shown to boost retention of factual knowledge, foster active learning, and enable optimal long term memory storage.
Read MoreHealth is a very broad topic and one that has many different definitions. The term health is often used to describe the absence of disease, but it can also be seen as a positive state of well-being and the ability to live a fulfilling life. A person’s health depends on several factors, including genetics, lifestyle, and environment. Health is also influenced by social and cultural values. For example, some people believe that good health is a result of having a strong spiritual foundation, while others view it as the ability to enjoy a rich social life. The ancient English word for health, haelth, is connected to the word whole, which suggests that our ancestors had a more holistic understanding of health than we do today. Some experts define health as the state of being free from disease or disability, and this is the most widely accepted definition. However, this concept is flawed in several ways. For instance, a healthy person may not always have the strength to overcome a medical crisis or an unexpected change in the environment. A better way to define health is to look at the individual’s total functioning within a constantly changing environment. This more inclusive view is reflected in the World Health Organization’s founding constitution, which states that “health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” The meaning of health can be quite subjective. Moreover, it’s difficult to measure and quantify. For example, a person who is allergic to certain substances can have a variety of reactions, from mild rashes to anaphylactic shock and coma. These are serious symptoms, but they can occur even when the person is not currently exposed to the substance. In this sense, it’s important for a journalist to be sensitive to the subject of an article when writing about health and wellness. Whether the piece is for a general audience or a scientific journal, there are certain guidelines that should be followed to ensure accuracy and balance. One of the most important things is to decide who your audience will be. This will help you focus your research and choose which topics to cover. It’s also crucial to understand that a health story can take many different forms, from a brief news item to an in-depth feature article on a particular treatment or illness. Choosing the right tone is also critical. It’s important to avoid sounding too casual in a health or wellness article, as this can make the reader suspicious of your objectivity. Using facts and statistics is a great way to add credibility to your work. For example, instead of saying’most people who use medication Y do not experience side effects,’ it would be more accurate to say ‘a majority of the 70,000 Americans who have tried medication Y do not report any side effects. The final step is to edit and proofread the article. This is important to avoid mistakes, which could be embarrassing or potentially dangerous for your readers. In addition, it’s helpful to ask for feedback from a trusted friend or colleague.
Read MorePharmacy is the practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, and reviewing medications to ensure they are safe and effective. It is a broad science that combines health sciences with pharmaceutical sciences and natural sciences. A pharmacist is a licensed health care professional that works in a drug store. They dispense prescriptions after a doctor has written one, as well as provide advice and education on the usage of medication. Pharmacists work with doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals to help patients live healthier lives. The word “pharmacy” derives from the Greek words for drug and remedy. In ancient Greece, doctors worked alongside herbalists to prepare medicines. However, as medicine developed, the roles of physician and apothecary became more distinct. By the 18th century, physicians were forbidding their staff to mix herbs and other ingredients together (an activity known as “extemporaneous compounding”). With the development of the pharmaceutical industry after World War II, the scope of extemporaneous compounding greatly diminished. Pharmacy has since focused on filling the prescriptions of patients, ensuring the correct dosage forms and amounts are provided, and making sure the patient gets the most benefit from their medications. A career as a pharmacist can be very rewarding. It is a very hands-on and fast-paced job. Many people choose this profession because they enjoy helping others improve their lives through their medical knowledge and skills. Many people also choose to become pharmacists because they like the ability to travel and see different parts of the country or even the world. In addition to distributing medicine, pharmacists do a number of other important jobs that are vital to the health care system. They may check the expiration dates of medicine, inform patients on how to properly take their medication and what side effects they might expect, and offer education about healthy lifestyles including diet, exercise, and quitting smoking or using tobacco products. Pharmacists may also administer vaccinations, such as the flu shot, and help patients manage their health care costs by providing information about prescription plans and coverage. If you are interested in becoming a pharmacist, it is a good idea to start by obtaining as much work experience as possible. This can be done by either gaining paid work experience or volunteering, such as working at a local free clinic. It is also a good idea to get a letter of recommendation from a trusted teacher or mentor, as it will help your application stand out. Any reputable school that you apply to will expect a high GPA, so it is essential that you strive for the best grades in your courses. This will show the admissions committee that you are a hard worker with excellent communication and analytical skills, which are both essential in this field. Lastly, it is a great idea to take the PCAT as this will give you a competitive edge over other applicants.
Read MoreCancer is a disease that affects the whole body, not just the organs in a specific part of it. There are more than 100 types of cancer. They can start in different types of cells and grow and spread in different ways. Each cancer has its own characteristics, which is why no two cancers are exactly the same. Cancers can grow quickly or develop slowly over time. Some cancers form tumours, or lumps, while others do not. Some cancers can be controlled with medicine, while others cannot. Some types of cancer can also spread to other parts of the body, which is called metastasis. Cancer cells develop when abnormal genes that control how cells grow and reproduce become damaged or lost. Genes are long strings of chemical messages that tell cells what to do. Most genes are in the cell nucleus, which is located inside the centre of most cells. There are many ways in which genes can be changed to produce cancer. Some genetic mutations are inherited, while other cancer-causing genes can be triggered by things that happen in the body. For example, smoking and sun exposure can cause changes to genes that increase a person’s chance of developing cancer. There are some cancers that only affect cells in a particular part of the body, such as lung cancer or breast cancer. Other cancers can spread to tissues throughout the body, including blood vessels and nerves. This can cause new cancers to form in other parts of the body or make existing cancers more serious. In most cases, cancers that are caught early (when they are small in size or when they have few cells) are curable. This is why it is important to see a doctor if you have any signs or symptoms of cancer, such as a lump or bleeding. Improvements in cancer detection, better treatments and a reduction in tobacco use have all contributed to a year-on-year decrease in the number of people dying from cancer. However, there are still some cancers that are not preventable and they can cause serious illness and death. This information is adapted from the National Cancer Institute of the United States. This article was updated in 2021. It was originally published in 2015.Cancer is a complex disease that causes abnormal growth of cancerous cells in the body. It can be found in any type of tissue and can spread to other areas of the body if it is not treated promptly. It can be hard to understand, but having accurate cancer information will help patients and their families cope with the disease. There are more than 200 different types of cancer, which vary by the kind of cell they start in, how fast they grow and what they do to the body’s other cells. Some cancers form solid tumours, while others are liquid tumours that build up in the blood and bone marrow. Cancers in the blood and bone marrow are called leukemias or lymphomas. They do not usually form solid tumours, but they can be seen on laboratory tests.
Read MoreMedical is the body of knowledge and techniques for diagnosing, treating, or preventing disease. It encompasses an array of disciplines, including anatomy, physiology, pathology, and biomedical engineering. Medical terms are built using a standard structure of prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Understanding how to deconstruct these word parts enables medical students to easily grasp an enormous vocabulary of terms related to the human body. A medical professional is an individual who provides healthcare services. This may include a physician, nurse, physician assistant, or chiropractor. It may also refer to a health care facility, such as a hospital, clinic, or surgical center. In addition to providing patient care, a medical professional must possess a license to practice in their field. Those interested in pursuing careers in healthcare must have an extensive understanding of medical terminology to accurately and efficiently communicate with other professionals in the field. This is true whether a student wants to be a doctor, nurse, or allied healthcare worker. The most important element of a medical term is the root. This is the most basic part of the term and conveys its primary meaning, which is often a body part or system. It is important to remember that a single medical term may contain multiple root words, which are combined with a suffix for ease of pronunciation. For example, cardio-pulmo-nary indicates a study of the heart and lungs, while gastro-entero-logy combines the study of the stomach and intestines. A medical suffix is tacked onto the end of a word and often indicates a procedure, function, test, condition, or pathology. Suffixes can also identify whether a word is a noun, adjective, or verb. A common suffix is -op, indicating a surgical procedure. Other common suffixes include -ia, indicating a disease or abnormality, and -om, indicating a treatment. In addition to medical terms, a medical vocabulary includes a vast collection of abbreviations and acronyms. These can be difficult to learn, but it is important for future allied healthcare workers to have a thorough understanding of these. The best way to learn medical terminology is through repetition. Making flashcards is one effective method, but there are also a variety of online learning sites that offer medical terminology games to help students memorize the terms they need to know. These games can be fun and engaging, which makes them ideal for medical students. Also, it is helpful for students to learn medical terminology in the context of a larger sentence or paragraph, which helps to provide context and aid in retention.
Read MoreHealth is a state of physical, mental and social well-being. It is also a positive concept, defined by some as “the ability to live life to the fullest”. A broad range of ideas about health have been described and debated over time, and there are many ways to write about it. Health articles can take the form of short news stories, in-depth feature pieces or even profiles of researchers studying new treatments. To be effective, health articles should have a clear focus and audience. It is a common mistake to assume that if an article has a strong idea, it will automatically make sense for a wide audience. However, writing for a specific group of people can help you focus your ideas and make them more relevant to the readers. To do this, consider what kind of audience you want to reach — general readers, scientists, or science nerds? Knowing your audience can also help you pick topics, as it will narrow your options for finding information that is pertinent and useful to them. In 1948, when the World Health Organization was established, its Constitution included a definition of health that stated that it is more than just the absence of disease and infirmity: “health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of illness or infirmity”. This view of health has become widely accepted. Various viewpoints about health have been described by scholars and philosophers over the centuries. Some have focused on the role of health in society, while others have looked at what contributes to health and illness, or what causes diseases and their symptoms. A more recent approach, which is called salutogenesis or healthy aging, is concerned with factors that support health and wellness, rather than those that cause disease and illness. There is a growing recognition that people’s health is influenced by a complex interplay of factors — some of which are individual choices, such as whether or not to engage in risky behaviours, and others are societal, such as how easily individuals can access medical services or affordable housing. Moreover, some of these factors are beyond the control of individuals and groups, such as genetics and environmental conditions. A third perspective on health is that of the lay person. This view is characterized by three qualities: wholeness, pragmatism and individualism. Wholeness relates to the perception of health as a holistic phenomenon, and the idea that it must be viewed in terms of what is realistically achievable for a given situation. This might mean that a person who lives at sea level may experience problems if they move to a high altitude, because the environment there has a different concentration of oxygen and the body has to adapt to this change. Pragmatism means that the definition of health is relative to what a person values in life. Finally, individualism relates to the fact that everyone’s values are unique.
Read MorePharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure safe, effective and affordable use. It is considered a miscellaneous science as it links health sciences with pharmaceutical sciences and natural sciences. It is a specialized branch of the medical sciences and requires extensive training to obtain a degree in Pharmacy (Pharm.D). Pharmacists provide a variety of services to patients, providers, and health care systems. In addition to providing medication consultations and advice, pharmacists may also educate patients on disease management and healthy lifestyle choices. They work with healthcare professionals, including physicians and nurses, to help optimize treatment outcomes. Pharmacists can be found in hospitals, community pharmacies, long-term care facilities, and even home care agencies. A large part of the pharmacist’s job is to verify prescriptions. They do this by checking that the patient is receiving the correct prescription and the appropriate dose. They also make sure that the new medication is compatible with other medications the patient is taking. They may also inform doctors and patients about alternative medications or supplements that can treat a particular illness. In order to do their jobs well, pharmacists must have a wide range of knowledge. This includes subject-specific knowledge, pedagogical knowledge on how to teach the subject, and a vast array of tacit knowledge about the profession and its underlying practices. This broad knowledge base is used to improve the quality of patient care and enhance the health of the public. In addition to their clinical duties, many pharmacists participate in research, clinical trials and advocacy efforts on behalf of their patients. As the population ages, so too does the need for geriatric and consultant pharmacists. Elderly patients typically have more chronic diseases and complex drug regimens. The pharmacists can play a role in ensuring the patient is getting the most benefit from their medications, which is particularly important for drugs with significant side effects or interactions. Pharmacy is an exciting career with great opportunities for advancement. The first step toward becoming a pharmacist is earning a bachelor’s degree. Upon completion, the next steps include passing two exams and obtaining a license to practice. The North American Pharmacy Licensure Examination and Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam are required for licensure. If you’re interested in starting a career in pharmacy, we encourage you to talk to one of our admissions counselors. They can help you get started on the path to a fulfilling and rewarding career. Contact us today to learn more!
Read MoreCancer occurs when cells grow and divide out of control, forming tumours (cancerous growths) that can invade surrounding tissue or organs. It can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymphatic system. Cancer is one of the world’s leading causes of death, but experts are working hard to find better treatments and ways to prevent it. The good news is that survival rates are improving year on year, thanks to improved detection and quality treatment. All cancers start when normal cells become abnormal and begin to grow and divide without control or order. These abnormal cells may form a tumour, or a group of cancerous (malignant) cells that grow and spread into other tissues and organs, destroying them along the way. Different types of cancer begin in different cells, and they affect different parts of the body. Some are more common than others, but all cancers cause a wide range of symptoms and can be difficult to treat. To develop cancer, changes happen in a cell’s genes. Genes are long strings of code that contain instructions for how a cell should grow and divide. The genetic changes that lead to cancer are called mutations. A mutation can happen for many reasons, including ageing, lifestyle choices and exposure to certain chemicals. A mutated gene can also be passed on from parents to their children, which is called inherited cancer. Mutations can also be caused by a virus, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes 90 percent of cervical cancers. When a tumour is growing, it needs to get oxygen and nutrients from the blood. This is why cancerous cells often grow into nearby tissue and make enzymes that break down the healthy tissue around them. Cancers can also spread to other parts of the body by forming new blood vessels that bring them nourishment. This is called metastasis. The main type of treatment is chemotherapy, which involves using drugs to destroy cancer cells and stop them from spreading. It can be given before surgery to shrink a tumour and make it easier to remove, or after to help reduce the risk of cancer returning. It can be given as a tablet, liquid or through a tube in the vein (intravenous, or IV). Other types of treatment include radiation therapy and targeted therapy. With targeted therapy, doctors identify specific molecules on the surface of a cancer cell that help it grow and survive, then design a drug to attack these molecules. This type of treatment can be given as a tablet, liquid, or through a tube in the vein (intravenous, referred to as IV). It is less likely to harm healthy cells than standard chemotherapy. It is usually combined with other cancer treatments such as radiotherapy or surgery.
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