Quick Tip …

Research in The Journal of Pain shows that dropping the F-bomb when you hurt yourself may actually be beneficial at helping ease the pain.

According to the authors, using a swear word seems to activate deeper parts of the brain more associated with emotions.

For those of you who swear more frequently throughout a typical day, using a swear word is less likely to help when you feel pain.

Be well …

Chad Simpson

The Pharmacist Guy

The opinions and information provided by Chad Simpson are for informational purposes only and are not intended to treat, diagnose, or render medical advice.  They are not a substitute for medical advice or treatment from your physician or health care practitioner.  Never start, stop, or make changes to your medication or health care regimen (including, but not limited to such things as exercise and physical therapy) without first checking with your physician.

Tags: Chad Simpson | Cussing | F-Bomb | Medication-free | Natural | Pain | Pain Relief | Pharmacist Guy | Swearing

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In the News …

Dr. Carol Huser, a Colorado medical examiner in La Plata County, stated the death of 5-year-old Kimber Michelle Brown was the result of a combination of two over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medications, dextromethorphan (the active ingredient in OTC cough medications like Robitussin-DM) and an antihistamine, cetirazine (the active ingredient in the allergy medication, Zyrtec).

The child, who had toxic levels of the medications in her system at the time of her death, had been staying with her grandmother.  It is uncertain if the grandmother administered too much medication to the child, or if the 5-year-old took doses without the grandmother’s knowledge.  News reports indicate the medication was sitting on a counter in reach of the child.

At this time, Dr. Huser is ruling the death an accident.

Source:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/16/kimber-michelle-brown-5-year-old-dies-from-cold-medicine-overdose_n_1428699.html

My Thoughts on this Event …

This story is heartbreaking and my sympathies go out to the family of this child.  Sadly, however, it’s not surprising since we know that 100,000 people die each year as a result of accidental overdoses or errors in the administration of medication.  Based on information from the medical examiner’s office, it appears Kimber is now part of that statistic.

Events like this are exactly why I do my talk, Sex, Drugs & Red Bull™.  Each and every day students, parents, celebrities, neighbors, coworkers, friends, relatives, and even children are injured or die as a result of a medication or other substance.

One of the critical pieces of information I discuss in my program is that we have become exceedingly comfortable with OTC medications.  In my talk, I ask audiences which of these groups of drugs is the dangerous group:  OTC, Prescription, or Illegal Drugs.  I often see more hands raised for the “illegal drug,” but the truth is that they all can be dangerous.  Because over the counter medications do not require a prescription from a physician we have a false sense of security about using them; however, they can be just as harmful — or lethal, as in this case — as prescription medications.

Is this Preventable?

Yes.  A few tips to help keep you [Read More...]

Tags: Chad Simpson | Child overdoses in Colorado | Child overdoses on cold medicine | Colorado Girl Cold Medicine Overdose | Kimber Michelle Brown | Medication Safety | The Pharmacist Guy

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AeroShot is an inhaler type of device that delivers a shot of caffeine that you “draw into your mouth and swallow,” according to the website for Breathable Foods — the company that makes AeroShot.

Tags: Caffeine | Chad Simpson | college student | Medication Safety | Pharmacist Guy | student

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As I’m sitting here in my study on this beautiful Saturday morning drinking my tea, I was thinking about a decision I made this week.  I even alluded to it in a recent Facebook post!  Many years ago — in fact, it almost feels like a lifetime ago, I would have obsessed about whether I had made the right decision or not, but that’s not how I am now.  Today, I am confident — and even a little happy — about the decision I made!

One of the strategies I share in my Stress Less Blueprint program is about decision making.  Sometimes making decisions can be tough, but it’s all the worry we create about having to live with the decisions we’ve made that ends up gnawing at us after the fact.  Well, I’ve got great news for you:  It doesn’t have to be that way!

Today, I want to share with you a brief summary of one of the strategies from my Stress Less Blueprint …

One of the most important skills to further develop is your ability to hear that still, small, inner voice that resides deep within each of us.  Some call it the voice of God.  Others call it your gut instinct.  It’s been referred to as the voice of Spirit, Angels, Source, and the Universe.  Some even call it each of those names depending on the situation!  For the purpose [Read More...]

Tags: Chad Simpson | Decision | Decision Making | Gut Instinct | Stress | Stress Management

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In the News …

A new study of office workers in England found that employees working eleven hour days or longer were 67% more likely to develop heart disease than those working seven or eight hour days.  The study was published in the April 5, 2011, issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

My Take on the Information …

This is not all that surprising to me.  We know that working longer hours is likely more stressful and does not allow for as much time to participate in stress relieving activities like exercise and meditating.  With 70 – 90% of all visits to primary care physicians being for stress related illnesses, we can fairly conclude that stress is the root of most illness.  The results are disturbing, but certainly not shocking.

Is this preventable?

Life has few guarantees, but I’d say you would be better off in the long run if you follow these two strategies:

1.  Find a job that does not require you to work more than seven to eight hours per shift.

2.  Do not compromise the daily stress management tools I teach in my coaching program and in my lectures.

Wishing you less stress and abundant success in your life,

Chad

Source:

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/651527.html

The opinions and information provided by Chad Simpson are for informational purposes only and are not intended to treat, diagnose, or render medical advice.  They are not a substitute for medical advice or treatment from your physician or health care practitioner.  Always check with your physician before starting any exercise or physical therapy program.  Never start, stop, or make changes to your medication or health care regimen without first checking with your physician.

Tags: Chad Simpson | Heart Disease | Job | Stress | Stress Management

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This post is just for fun because having fun is a great way to stress less … especially on April Fools’ Day!  Here is a super easy and fun April Fools’ Day prank that I had loads of success with today:

1.  Cut a small square off from the sticky part of a “sticky  note”.

2.  Write “April Fools!” on it.

3.  Stick it over the red light sensor on your Fools’ mouse.

4.  Sit back and see how long it takes before they figure out why their mouse isn’t working!

Here’s to you having fun and stressing less … Be well – Chad

The opinions and information provided by Chad Simpson are for informational purposes only and are not intended to treat, diagnose, or render medical advice.  They are not a substitute for medical advice or treatment from your physician or health care practitioner.  Always check with your physician before starting any exercise or physical therapy program.  Never start, stop, or make changes to your medication or health care regimen without first checking with your physician.

Tags: April Fools' Day | Chad Simpson | Fun | Prank | Stress Management

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Yale Law School is experimenting with a new program to help their students in the ongoing battle with stress.  Monty, a certified therapy dog, is a 21-pound, brown, border terrier mix who is available for students to check out — literally — from the law library.  The thirty minute sessions with Monty provide students with an additional avenue for stress relief.

Law librarian, Blair Kauffman, hopes the free three day pilot program is a “positive addition to current services offered by the library.”

My take on Monty the Stress Therapy Dog …

MTV and the Associated Press recently teamed up and studied over 2000 students from 40 randomly selected colleges across the nation.  Their results showed that 85% of students are stressed out on a daily basis.  In my career as a hospital pharmacist, I’ve seen therapy dogs make a positive impact in the lives of patients with various medical conditions and suspect those benefits would carry over to stressed out students as well.  As a pharmacist and wellness advocate who specializes in showing students, professionals, and entrepreneurs medication-free strategies to minimize stress and maximize success, I’m ecstatic to see such a program for the students at Yale Law School and hope their trial run is a huge success.

To less stress and abundant success,

Chad

The opinions and information provided by Chad Simpson are for informational purposes only and are not intended to treat, diagnose, or render medical advice.  They are not a substitute for medical advice or treatment from your physician or health care practitioner.  Always check with your physician before starting any exercise or physical therapy program.  Never start, stop, or make changes to your medication or health care regimen without first checking with your physician.

Tags: Chad Simpson | Law School | Stress Management | Therapy Dog | Yale

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Tags: Chad Simpson | Pain | Stress | Stress Management

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Andrea Adams-Miller, founder of SexualityTutor.com, recently invited me to appear on her radio talk show, Sex Talk Live!  So of course, I said, “I’d love to be on your show.”  Then it hit me:  What is a pharmacist who specializes in showing students, professionals, and entrepreneurs medication-free strategies to Minimize Stress & Maximize Success going to talk about on Sex Talk Live?

Hmmm … did I just commit to the wrong project?  No way!  Let’s face facts.  Sex may [Read More...]

Tags: Chad Simpson | Radio

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Tags: Chad Simpson | Stress | Stress Management

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