Hearing involves not only your ears but also the brain, so it’s no wonder that hearing loss can go hand in hand with thinking and memory problems. Studies are increasingly linking hearing loss to issues such as faster brain shrinkage, earlier onset of significant cognitive impairment, and up to a quintupled risk of dementia. Addressing conditions such as hearing loss, however, could help prevent a third of dementia cases worldwide, per a UK research collaborative. With hearing health and overall wellness so connected, it’s important to seek regular hearing checks and address listening difficulties early.
Community News
Testing for Food Sensitivities
If you experience bloating, indigestion, water retention, headaches, weight gain and skin conditions (such as eczema), this could be a sign that you have food sensitivities. The underlying cause of food sensitivities is poor digestion from stress, eating too much of a specific food, drinking lots of fluids with our meals, eating on the go and certain medications. The improperly digested food molecules pass through the digestive tract, triggering inflammation of the intestinal lining and an immune response. Comprehensive IgG and IgA allergy testing and individualized nutrition plans from naturopaths can help identify and treat food sensitivities.
Healthier ‘Ferrero Rocher’ Balls
100g pitted fresh dates. 140g roasted hazelnuts, skins removed. 75g digestive biscuits. 3 tsp. raw cacao powder. 1/2 tsp. vanilla. 150g dark chocolate, melted, cooled slightly. Place the dates in a heatproof bowl. Cover with boiling water. Set aside for 10 minutes. Drain. Place 60g of the hazelnuts, biscuits and cacao in a food processor. Process until coarsely chopped. Add dates and vanilla. Process until almost smooth but mixture still has a little texture. Roll into balls. Press a whole hazelnut into the centre of each and re-roll to enclose. Coarsely chop the remaining hazelnuts. Place melted chocolate in a bowl. Dip the balls in the chocolate to coat. Sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts. Place in the fridge. Enjoy the Holiday Season! A Woman’s Touch Cleaning, WomansTouchCleaning.com
Receding Gums & Sensitive Teeth?
When your gums start to wear away or pull back from your teeth, this is called gum recession. Receding gums expose more of your teeth or the roots of your teeth, and tooth sensitivity is usually the first sign that there’s a problem. Gum recession can occur for a variety of reasons, including genetics, brushing your teeth too hard, not cleaning your teeth frequently enough, smoking, grinding or clenching your teeth, and hormonal changes (in women). Don’t ignore tooth sensitivity and receding gums! It’s important to get proper treatment to avoid more serious potential problems, such as tooth loss.
Loneliness May Lead to Bad Health
Several studies have shown social isolation can negatively affect your health. This National Institute on Aging primer notes that loneliness can lead to high blood pressure, depression, and put you at greater risk of illness. That could mean more doctor’s visits and higher health care costs. And what if you or your loved one takes a fall with no one around? Beyond the physical pain, the financial implications could be high. And then there’s the emotional toll of social isolation, which can be even more devastating. These are all things to consider when deciding whether you or your loved one spend the next chapter of life at home or in a senior living community.
Ask The Expert
Q: How bad is it for your eyes to open them under water?
A: In short, prolonged exposure to water can be irritating or dangerous in many ways. Contact lenses can be easily lost. Chlorine from pools can inflame the ocular surfaces. Freshwater itself can cause edema in the eye just from the lack of salinity. Water from hot tubs, outdoor freshwater and sea water can carry all sorts of infectious microorganisms. The human eye doesn’t focus well under water, so the vision is blurry. Try to use swim goggles or masks when you know you’ll be needing to see underwater.
Made in the Valley: Brian’s Arthritis Cream
Arthritis can be quite a debilitating affliction. This had been known especially by one of the ladies who works at Green Valley Aromatherapy, as her father Brian was dealing with a severe case. Her father’s arthritis had gotten so severe that he was unable to fully enjoy his life. We decided it was time to make a blend specifically for arthritis. It contains Eucalyptus, Sweet Birch, Clove Bud, Rosemary, and Camphor essential oils; all mixed into an emu oil base. All of these have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, which help ease the pain of arthritis. Now, Brian can fully enjoy life without the hindrance of arthritis to hold him back.
In Your Community
At Ocean Chiropractic, Dr. Patrick Johnson and his team specialize in Chiropractic care using the Koren Specific and Torque Release Techniques. Along with Chiropractic care, Ocean Chiropractic is proud to offer a unique approach to custom orthotics and foot rehabilitation to the residents of the Comox Valley. As a chiropractor, Dr. Pat is trained to assess whether orthotics are right for you. “Our mission is to empower our practice members to make healthy and informed decisions and we will work collaboratively with you to develop a treatment plan to restore your health. We also strive to serve, love, heal and transform you beyond your greatest expectations.”
Planning for Aging in Place
The first step is to assess the home, perhaps with help from an occupational therapist. It’s possible that your residence isn’t suited for senior living – maybe it’s too large or too remote, for instance. In that case, you can think about alternatives, such as a different home, a retirement residence or assisted living facility. Often, homes can be made safer with modifications. Small, inexpensive changes that can make a big difference to a senior’s comfort and safety include installing railings and grab bars; improving lighting for hallways and staircases; eliminating tripping hazards; changing doorknobs and cabinet pulls to lever handles; adding higher toilet seats; and widening doorways to accommodate walkers and wheelchairs.
Meet Your Practitioner
Meet Heather Green, owner of BodyWell Remedial Exercise & Registered Massage Therapy. Growing up on the Island, Heather spent her time dancing and playing music with her friends. She’s always been creative and applies this skill to work as an RMT; opening and running a practice and creating tailored video-led home care sequences for her clientele who are interested. She hopes to help people get creative in how they see, move and feel in their bodies and grow their independence and confidence in managing their wellness. Heather is eager to learn, and alongside her continued education for massage therapy, is currently studying therapeutic yoga to integrate a new approach into her practice.
What is our Purpose?
For many people, identifying a purpose can cause significant distress, as our purpose can vary throughout our lifespan, and mean very different things. However, we all need a purpose in life to be well. Whether this be from our relational roles within a family, to our jobs, or even the things of which we do with intention. When we find our purpose, we start to notice a change in ourselves, as we increase attention to accomplishing purpose. As you embark on a New Year, I encourage you to explore what purpose do you want this New Year to have?
