Recent research suggests that improving hearing loss with hearing aids reduces the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. In 2011, a team of Johns Hopkins medical school researchers discovered a significant association between hearing loss and the risk of developing these unwanted cognitive conditions. The worse someone’s hearing gets, the greater their risk of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia. The researchers believe their findings could have substantial implications for individuals and public health because hearing loss is treatable with hearing instruments. These findings underscore how important regular hearing tests are as part of preventative health care.
Community News
Meet Your Practitioner
Cathryn Coe, ND and owner of the upcoming Edgemont Naturopathic Clinic is passionate about helping her patients feel better, by understanding the cause of their condition. Practising for 14 years, she focuses on hormonal health, digestion and autoimmune diseases. Her interest in naturopathic medicine began in university, when she improved her health tremendously by following a holistic lifestyle. “You can see several patients complaining of migraines. One with food intolerances, another low progesterone, and someone who needs to detoxify. Understanding the root cause makes treatment much easier.” Dr. Coe looks forward to welcoming patients to her new clinic in December.
Coping with Senior Isolation
One of the biggest issues for seniors is that their social circles begin to shrink as the years go by. Friends, significant others and family members move or pass away. Even those who still live close may be inaccessible due to limited mobility, especially once a senior can no longer drive safely. Age-related changes in one’s physical condition, such as hearing loss, can make it so difficult to communicate that it doesn’t seem worth the effort anymore. Local senior centers or agencies are great resources providing home-visitation services as well as community transportation and outings. Do you have a loved one who may be lonely? Try to put in more effort to spend time with them.
Tidy Home, Tidy Mind
Sometimes we see cleaning as just a chore, but did you know that a clean home can be beneficial to your overall well-being? There is a strong connection between cleanliness and mood. When your home is clean and organized, it can make you feel more in control of your life, and therefore happier and more confident. Cleaning your home can give you a sense of accomplishment and create a more serene and welcoming space to enjoy. Need a little motivation? Try listening to your favourite music while you sweep, mop, dust, wash dishes, do laundry, or tidy up!
Aging at Home
Eighty-five percent of seniors haven’t prepared their home for aging or preventing a fall. It’s important to be aware of the day-to-day tasks your loved one may face and assess fall risks accordingly. Adapt their home to make sure they are safe on their own. Beneficial aids and home health equipment can help them maintain their dignity and self-confidence. This includes lift chairs, bed rails, reaching tools, grab bars, toilet seat risers and remote controls. Minimizing fall risks and making their home safe can help support our loved ones in living healthy, independent, and enjoyable lives.
In Your Community: Private Wellness Consults
Do you want to implement a long-term lifestyle plan to better your overall health and wellbeing? Do you want to thrive in levels of optimal energy, stamina, and performance? Are you looking to improve your quality of sleep and combat stress? Are you preparing for a major sporting event and need the proper nutritional and mindset fuel to reach your desired result? Red River Co-op is now offering personalized Health & Wellness consultations with our resident Health & Wellness Advisor, Paige. Appointments are approximately 15-20 minutes, personalized and completely FREE! Simply fill out an application online or in store.
How to Build up Confidence in Children
1. Praise effort over personal characteristics. Working towards a goal will have children work hard and see challenges as hurdles.
2. Surround them with positive people. Children will adopt the attitude of those around them.
3. Give them a job. Children get an internal boost when given an opportunity to feel resourceful, helpful and successful.
4. Encourage them to set goals. When children have goals, they can feel the excitement of progress. Have them write down what they’re interested in learning.
5. Show them the evidence. Talk with them about what they have achieved with hard work and perseverance.
Should You Stay at Home?
An AARP study found that 90 percent of people over the age of 65 would rather live out their later years in their own home rather than move into a senior living community. That’s understandable. Home is comfortable. Home is a part of us. But consider the risk of isolation posed by staying at home. Maybe you or your loved one don’t get around as well as you used to, or maybe driving is no longer an option. Studies have shown that social interaction goes a long way toward boosting health and happiness, especially among seniors, and living at home can be a barrier to an active social life.
Improve Your Focus & Concentration
Very often, the brain and nervous system become fatigued and overloaded. Much like a computer receiving too much data all at once, the brain can become overwhelmed, slow down, or even crash. This can result in an inability to focus, brain fog, memory loss, ADD/ADHD-like symptoms, a “wired” feeling, or the inability to cope with daily life. The key to turning these conditions around is to give the body what it needs to strengthen specific areas of the brain and nervous system. This can be achieved naturally with specialized nutritional formulations, which will replenish the body and alleviate symptoms.
Time to Move!
We all know exercise is important, but how much exercise should we be getting? According to the Canadian physical activity guidelines, most adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity per week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more, to achieve health benefits. Muscle and bone strengthening activities using major muscle groups should be done at least 2 days a week. Start by finding something you enjoy doing, like a new sport, a walking club, or a walking/cycling commute to work. A physiotherapist can also help you achieve your exercise goals!
Clearing up Keto Confusion
There is often some confusion between the ketosis of the keto diet and diabetic ketoacidosis. Diet ketosis is a metabolic state of low sugar levels and low to normal insulin levels, with moderate ketone levels in the blood secondary to the keto diet. Ketoacidosis is a state of extremely high glucose levels secondary to either low insulin levels or insulin resistance in diabetics. Diabetics cannot utilize glucose, so they excrete it in the urine. This causes hyperosmolality, and to sustain energy, the fat cells break down into high levels of ketones. Since they are acidic, this causes acidosis.
