Shannon Medical Center | Health Beat | Winter 2021

Winter 2021 7 Do you take several medications daily? If so, you may have a hard time keeping track of what medicines to take and when. The most important part of your medica- tion routine is to keep it manageable. Your medicines may not work properly if you don’t take them as prescribed by your doctor. Not only would that be a waste of money, but it also could harm your health. KEEP A RECORD OF KEY INFORMATION A good way to start managing your medi- cines is with a medication record. You can write it out by hand or create it on your computer or smartphone. For each medicine you take, record: ● The name of the medicine. ● Why you take it. ● The name of the medical provider who prescribed it. ● How and when to take it. Include whether you should take it with food or on an empty stomach. ● How much to take. ● Any potential side effects or warnings. Update your medication record any time you stop taking a medicine or are prescribed a new one. TRY THESE TIMING TIPS If you struggle to remember to take your medicines, consider these suggestions from the American Heart Association: ● Take your medicine at the same time(s) every day. ● Pair taking your medicine with other daily activities, like brushing your teeth or eating your lunch. ● Put colored labels on your medicine bottles to signify when to take them. For example, red could mean morning, yellow for afternoon and blue for evening. ● Use pill containers divided into sections for each day of the week. Or ask your phar- macist about timer caps for pill bottles that beep to remind you take your medicine. ● If you do use a pill container, refill it at the same time each week. For example, you might refill it every Sunday night after dinner. ● Keep a medicine calendar near your pill bottles and make a note every time you take your dose. Additional source: Eldercare Locator Learn how to better manage your medications If you’re still having trouble managing your medicines, talk with your doctor. Working together, you can come up with a solution. Shake a salt habit with homegrown herbs If you enjoy cooking, you probably have at least a few dried herbs in your kitchen. Having herbs on hand is a great way to flavor your foods without adding salt—an ingredient that can boost blood pressure. There’s nothing wrong with reaching for dried herbs instead of the salt shaker. But wouldn’t it be great to have fresh herbs to use whenever you wanted? You can always buy fresh herbs—or you can grow your own. Herbs are fun and easy to grow, even if you live in an apartment or other small space. You can grow herbs in patio pots—even indoors on a window sill. So which foods can you pair with your home- grown herbs? That’s up to you. For inspiration, try these flavorful combinations suggested by the American Heart Association: Basil with pastas, pizzas, soups, dressings, eggs and dishes that include tomato sauce, chicken or fish. Try using basil in recipes that call for mint. Cilantro with recipes that include beans, corn, tomatoes, rice, avocados and peppers. Cilantro pairs great with various Mexican-style dishes (perhaps with a squeeze of lime juice). Oregano with pizzas, pastas, soups, poultry, tomato dishes, beans, salads and oily fish (such as salmon). Parsley with chicken, eggs, fish, soups, pastas, carrots and salads. Rosemary with root vegetables, such as carrots, turnips and onions, as well as potatoes, beans, corn, cabbage, pears, apples and soups. Sage with vegetables like potatoes, rutabagas and carrots. Thyme with chicken, carrots, corn, mushrooms, potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, soups and stews. Additional source: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Wellness