Stress is a commonality we all share. Interestingly, a lot of people are so stressed that they don’t know what the absence of stress, or a calm mind feels like. Take a moment and check yourself. Are your fists clenched? Shoulders riding high? Teeth clenched? Tongue touching the roof of your mouth? These are but a few stress-hold positions to take note of. Your body is communicating. Making self-care a priority, and getting proper sleep and nutrition, practicing meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing, and systematic muscle relaxation, you will find your body relaxing, and foster a better response to future stressors

Most of the people who read this will have suffered a headache. The most common type of headache and one that generally responds well to physiotherapy treatment is called a cervicogenic headache. Physiotherapists can help address some of the key causes of cervicogenic headaches. The major contributing factors include poor posture, stiffness of the joints in the neck and upper back, muscle imbalances (muscle tightness and weakness), and previous neck trauma (whiplash, sports injury). Treatment methods include neck mobilizations, modalities, soft tissue/trigger point release, acupuncture, and home exercises. So, if you suffer from headaches, see a physiotherapist!

Cold & Flu Season is here! Viruses are spread by sneezing, coughing and direct personal contact. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting the flu shot. Flu viruses strike in late fall and winter and cause fever, coughing, muscle aches, headache and fatigue. Health Canada recommends all Canadians get the annual flu vaccine to protect themselves and other around them. Seniors, young children and people with chronic health conditions are at the greatest risk of developing serious complications from the flu. Reduce your risk by washing your hands thoroughly & regularly, wiping down surfaces, staying active and getting plenty of sleep. Protect yourself and those around you – Get the flu shot. To find out more, speak to your Pharmasave Pharmacist today.

Our diets are providing less magnesium than they used to. The composition of what we eat and the quality of our foods has drastically changed over the past hundred years, and this has made it difficult for even the most health-conscious Canadians to get enough magnesium. Magnesium is involved in many processes throughout the body. Overstimulating these processes will result in an increase in our magnesium requirements. For instance, when we suffer from high stress, our body produces a hormone protein called cortisol. Producing and regulating this hormone means spending and excreting more magnesium. High-sugar diets also cause more magnesium to be used.

Falls are more common among people over 65 years of age, so it’s especially important for seniors to take steps to reduce falls as much as possible. One of the best ways to do that is to improve your balance. Wearing VoxxLife HPT technology like socks, insoles, and/or Harmony Neuropatches will give you instant stability and balance, thus reducing your chance of falls by 8x. Other things you can do to improve your balance and stay safe are get enough physical exercise, have your vision checked yearly, keep your home clutter free, and keep cords out of the way.