Lifestyle

How can pharmacy retailers and their vendor partners help make health care more accountable, accessible and cost-effective? And what role can they play to help their customers to lead longer, healthier lives?

“We are on the verge of an economic crisis that could disrupt the whole U.S. healthcare system.” Our lack of preventive health care — and the implications of that — was a theme conveyed by numerous economists, healthcare entrepreneurs and technology experts gathered at a special thought leadership event co-produced by Mack Elevation and Drug Store News.

When RB North America president Alexander Lacik thinks about his 18-year-old son, he doesn’t doubt that it’s possible he might live longer than 100 years. His concern is where his son will get the knowledge to lead a healthy lifestyle — something Lacik said could be a big role for Walmart, particularly in the vitamins, minerals and supplements category.

In June, Drug Store News and Mack Elevation Forum co-hosted an exclusive one-day Retail Health Summit in Bentonville, Ark. Here are my seven takeaways:

“One-in-4 people over age 45 in the United States is chronically lonely.”

UMEA, Sweden - As if there aren't enough reasons to kick the nicotine habit already, researchers from Umeå University in collaboration with U.S. researchers found a new link between nicotine and inflammation.

WASHINGTON - U.S. adult obesity rates decreased in four states (Minnesota, Montana, New York and Ohio), increased in two (Kansas and Kentucky) and remained stable in the rest, between 2014 and 2015, according to The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America, a report from the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

This marks the first time in the past decade that any states have experienced decreases – aside from a decline in Washington, D.C. in 2010.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - Ricola on Thursday announced the release of Ricola Herbal Immunity Lozenges, formulated with ginseng, vitamins C, B6 and B12, to help support the immune system and fight fatigue.

"The immunity category has exploded in recent years," stated William Higgins, regional president, North America at Ricola. "We are excited to expand our product portfolio into the category and bring consumers a proactive approach to wellness."