Ask the Pharmacist

Q: With a new year upon us, can you give some tips on being successful with our resolution? Can you also comment on what significant changes might we see in 2026?

A: Happy New Year to all our faithful readers. It is hard to imagine that we are once again at the start of a new year.

We generally like to review the best strategies to be successful with New Year Resolutions. Statistics tell us that only some of us continue to be committed to our resolutions after one month and even fewer (around 10 per cent) accomplish our goals.

To increase the likelihood of your success with your resolutions, be sure to adopt the five elements of the SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound). Let us take losing weight as an example since that is a popular resolution this time of year, and see how we can make use of these five elements:
 

• Specific: be as concise and specific with your resolution as you can. Instead of saying, “I want to lose weight”, say “I want to lose 15 pounds”
• Measurable: though measuring your weight on a scale is measurable, you should have a plan on how you expect to lose your weight, such as exercising 30 minutes each day and/or eating a minimum of three servings of vegetables each day
• Achievable: ensure your resolution is one that can be attained. It is not likely that you will lose 50 pounds. Instead, consider a more achievable goal, such as losing 15 pounds. If you are successful in the 15 pounds, you can then make another goal for another 15 pounds
• Relevant: ask yourself why this goal is important to you. If you cannot answer that question, you are less likely to be fully committed. Losing 15 pounds can decrease the onset of diabetes and heart disease for which your health-care practitioner said you are at high risk
• Time-Bound: having a date in mind for your end goal helps to keep you on track. Consider completing your weight loss goal in three months time

So now, the initial resolution of “I want to lose weight” can now be: “I want to lose 15 pounds by the end of March, 2026 and will achieve my goal by exercising 30 minutes each day and reduce my snacking. I will monitor my progress with a fitness app that tracks my calories in, and my output with exercise, and will weigh myself once per week to ensure I am staying on track.”

On another note, since we are starting a new year, we thought we would mention a few key things to watch for in 2026.

First off, it is expected that we will see an increase in more communicable diseases this year that have not been a concern for decades due to the success of childhood vaccination programs. This should not come as a surprise as we have already encountered an increase in measles cases and officially lost our measles elimination status in 2025.

Another communicable disease that is on the rise, is mumps. This is attributed to the decline in the number of children getting vaccinated since the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the increase in vaccine hesitancy. The key to preventing the resurgence of diseases that we have previously eliminated, is to ensure at least 95 per cent of the population is vaccinated against them.

The vaccination program to reduce/eliminate communicable diseases includes protection against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, and haemophilus influenza type B, as well as measles, mumps, and rubella. If you, or your family members, are not yet vaccinated for these, contact your primary health-care provider to book your appointment.

It would be a shame to see a resurgence of other preventable diseases, such as polio. Many of you may not know or remember the devastating effect polio can have on a person and/or family. Polio is a virus that affects the nerves in the spinal cord or brain stem. Polio has varying degrees of severity with the most severe cases resulting in paralysis.

It is also suspected that rates for cervical cancer will increase despite seeing a decline in other types of cancer. The majority of cervical cancer cases are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). What is most unfortunate with this type of cancer is that it is very preventable with an HPV vaccine that has been proven to be both safe and effective. This vaccine has been added to the Ontario vaccination program for Grade 7 students, with the parents’ consent.

Ozempic (semaglutide) has been a popular medication over the past few years which has led to supply problems and concern for those people who rely on it to best manage their blood sugar. Though that issue appears to have been resolved, there are many people who could benefit from taking semaglutide but cannot afford it. Since the patent for Ozempic is nearly up, we expect to see many generic companies looking to manufacture semaglutide which will help make it more affordable. That is wonderful news for those people who were seriously considering starting the medication but found the price was a little out of their budget.

Anther exciting thing to be hopeful for in 2026, is a new medication approved by Health Canada for Alzheimer Disease. Lecanemab is showing early promise of slowing early-stage Alzheimer's as opposed to just masking symptoms like the current medications on the market. Though Lecanemab will not be able to reverse the disease and restore lost memories, it is the first of its kind to slow progression and offer much hope to our loved ones who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. It will be interesting to learn how affordable it will be in Canada as the costs in the United States have been astronomical.

For more information about this or any other health-related questions, contact the pharmacists at Gordon Pharmasave, Your Health and Wellness Destination. Also check the website at www.gordon-pharmasave.com/ and the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GordonPharmasave/.