HEALTH

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble on Monday announced that NFL quarterback Drew Brees will be the first-ever "VapoDad" representing Vicks VapoRub.

Appearing alongside his son Baylen, Brees will be seen in television and print advertisements for VapoRub this upcoming cold and flu season.

Historically, VapoRub has only featured women as the primary caregiver in its advertisements. With fathers becoming increasingly involved in the upbringing of their children, Vicks felt it was important to feature its first "VapoDad."

ST. LOUIS — There has been a sharp increase in sales of pseudoephedrine products just outside St. Charles County, Mo., which implemented a prescription requirement on the sale of PSE beginning Aug. 30, according to an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch published Monday that cited data from Det. Sgt. Jason Grellner, past president of the Missouri Narcotics Officers Association.

According to that data, sales of PSE products were up 81% in September versus August in Bridgeton, Mo., and increases in Maryland Heights and Chesterfield were 59% and 51%, respectively.

NEW YORK — Rite Aid and LifeScan kicked off the Rite Track Diabetes Tour in New York on Tuesday with a special appearance by celebrity chef Sam Talbot.

The tour, which runs through November — to mark American Diabetes Month — and December will visit more than 30 locations across the Northeast in a specially outfitted RV and offer free diabetes testing, resources and materials.

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Pharmavite on Monday broke ground on the company’s new manufacturing and packaging facility in Opelika, Ala. Representatives from Pharmavite were joined by Alabama governor Robert Bentley, Alabama speaker Mike Hubbard, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers and local community and business leaders.

HILLSBOROUGH, N.J. — A new online healthcare service powered by Healthcare Resources Online and developed for members of the American Diabetes Association has made its debut.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. — ProPhase Labs on Tuesday launched the Cold-Eeze oral spray, which is formulated with zinc gluconate to help reduce the severity and duration of the common cold.

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — Hope Paige Medical has introduced a new line of short message, service-enabled medical jewelry that is designed to quickly provide patients' medical information via text message.

SAN FRANCISCO — Health Mart on Tuesday officially unveiled its Health Mart brand, a new line of private-label, over-the-counter products that will help place the Health Mart banner in America's medicine cabinets.

The Health Mart private label will launch with diabetes products to coincide with National Diabetes Month.