Medication Tips to Lower Your Risk of Stroke
There are plenty of ways to reduce your risk of stroke, such as getting more exercise, lowering your blood pressure, and improving your diet. However, one aspect of stroke prevention is often overlooked: taking your medication as prescribed.
Whether you’re managing high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or atrial fibrillation, sticking to a medication routine is one of the best ways to prevent a stroke. While this may seem easy enough, taking all of your medications on a schedule can get complicated and expensive. In this blog, we’re sharing some tips on how to simplify your routine and save money so that you never miss a dose.
Get Your Meds at Singing River Pharmacies
The outpatient pharmacies located at Ocean Springs Hospital, Pascagoula Hospital, and Singing River Gulfport are here to fill your prescriptions with a high level of personalized customer service.
Part of Your Care Team
Our pharmacists are part of your care team, working closely with providers within our system to make sure you have what you need to stay healthy.
If your prescription is running low or you’re having side effects, our pharmacists can contact your Singing River provider to help speed up refills or find alternatives that work better for you.
Discount Options
If the price of your medications and supplies is causing you to miss doses, ask your Singing River pharmacist or pharmacy tech if there’s a discount card, coupon, or patient assistance program available. In some cases, the cash price may even be less than your insurance co-pay, but you won’t know unless you ask.
Our pharmacies also offer glucose monitors and test strips at cost, meaning you won’t find a more affordable option for supplies at other retail pharmacies.
Remember to Take Your Medication
Getting a prescription, filling it, and paying the bill is only half the battle. You still need to take your medication on time. Below are some helpful ways to organize your meds and make them part of your daily routine.
Pill Organizers
Simple daily pill organizers, available at our pharmacies, are a great way to separate your medications. Larger organizers often include AM and PM sections.
Medication Dispensers
Newer electronic pill dispensers can be pre-loaded with your medication and will release doses at specific times.
More advanced smart dispensers can send notifications and alarms to an app, letting you or a caregiver know if a dose is due or missed. These devices are available in a range of prices and can be purchased with an FSA or HSA account.
Habit Stacking
Everyone forgets things now and then. The key to medication compliance is making it a part of your daily habits. Habit stacking is a strategy that connects your medication with something you already do.
For example, keep your pill bottle next to your toothbrush so you can take it after brushing, or put it by your coffee maker to take it while your cup brews.
Smart Devices
Use your smart phone to set an alarm or a calendar reminder for your daily dose. There are also free medication reminder apps available for Apple and Android phones.
Visual Cues
Some people find that keeping a simple log on a dry erase board or notepad also helps, especially if they take multiple medications throughout the day.
Ask for Accessibility
If you have physical limitations, there are solutions that make taking medications easier.
Packaging Options
If you have trouble opening a bottle or seeing the label clearly, talk to your Singing River pharmacist about easy-open caps or large-print labels.
Connect With Help
If you’re blind or visually impaired, we recommend the free app Be My Eyes. It connects users with a volunteer who can help identify medications and read labels using your phone’s camera.
Prevent Stroke One Dose at a Time
Missing doses of blood pressure medication or blood thinners like anticoagulants, even just occasionally, can significantly increase your chances of having a stroke. If you feel unsure, overwhelmed, or just have questions, remember that Singing River pharmacists are trusted partners in your care. Take advantage of their knowledge and care by stopping in or giving them a call.
Singing River is a leader in stroke prevention on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. For the past 13 years, we have held the region’s largest stroke education conference for healthcare providers, and our hospitals are recognized with the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke award for our commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.