Community News
Controlling High Blood Pressure

Whether you or your loved one has been newly diagnosed, or have had hypertension for years, consider your Central Alberta Co-op Pharmacist a helpful resource. High blood pressure can be problematic, but it can be kept under control with lifestyle changes and proper treatment. Losing weight, eating a healthy high-fibre, low-sodium diet, exercising, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption can be effective measures. Ask your pharmacist to develop a blood pressure plan specific to your lifestyle and needs. They can educate you about blood pressure medication and discuss interactions with other medications you may take.

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Life!

We all want to be healthy, however many people disregard their oral cavity and teeth (whether real or false). The body is a holistic and interconnected system, one that can only function optimally if everything runs smoothly. Old or ill-fitting dentures can cause an array of health issues. From headaches, digestive problems, temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ), and hearing loss. Also social isolation may occur if you are unhappy with your smile because of missing teeth or old dentures. It’s imperative to see the right specialist for any health issues. When it comes to dentures see a denturist first.

The Importance of Collagen

Collagen makes up 90% of your body’s protein, and is vital for our skin, bones, muscles, tendons, cartilage, and ligaments, acting like glue for joints. The body’s ability to produce collagen naturally decreases as we age, and excess sun exposure, smoking and poor diet can also inhibit collagen production. It’s no surprise that people reach for collagen for wrinkles, cellulite, stretch marks, and joint health and comfort. The depletion of collagen may lead to joint challenges, and visible signs like sagging skin. When you consider collagen’s potential to support our joints, bones, and skin, it becomes obvious why this multitasking protein is on everybody’s radar.

Get Reading and Get Moving!

Help Red Deer become Canada’s most active community while enjoying a story and a self-paced stroll with Red Deer Public Library’s new StoryWalk® program! We’ve entered the ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge! The challenge runs from June 1-30 and is open to everyone, ultimately recognizing the community with the most tracked minutes as Canada’s Most Active Community and awarding it with $100,000 to support local physical activity initiatives. Help Red Deer win by tracking your activity on the free ParticipACTION app. Every move counts! For more information, including upcoming StoryWalk® locations, visit rdpl.org/wellness

Clean Ducts for Clean Air

When cleaning your home, don’t forget about your ductwork. Just because you don’t see inside your ducts doesn’t mean you don’t breathe what comes out of them. Each time your heating or air conditioning system comes on, debris in your ducts become airborne, resulting in poor indoor air quality. What are the benefits of duct cleaning?
Having your ducts cleaned helps:
• Improve the air quality in your home.
• Ensure your furnace and air conditioner operate at maximum efficiency. Dirty ventilation systems can lead to clogged air conditioner coils and furnace filters, as well as contaminated blower wheels that could result in a breakdown.

Natural Product Spotlight

The Raspberry Moisturizing Cream for dry and mature skin by Herbs & Butters Skincare is all-natural, vegan, biodegradable, and contains no parabens, sulfates or formaldehydes. Intelligently formulated with love by a local chemist, this lightweight moisturizing cream offers deep hydration and effectively improves the skin’s overall texture and elasticity. Raspberry seed oil helps to promote the regeneration of new skin cells, fights age spots and protects against premature aging. Other key ingredients like macadamia nut oil, sea buckthorn oil, oat protein, hemp seed oil, avocado oil, and olive oil help to effectively protect, soothe, moisturize, and nourish the skin.

Young Living – For Men

After a workout, massage the Cool Azul™ Pain Relief Cream into your skin for relief of aches and pains. Your muscles will thank you for ditching the synthetic ingredients and you can continue crushing the weights, tearing up the fairway or hiking to your highest heights. When you’re done, treat your face to Shutran™ Shave Cream and stand out from the pack. It is full of hydrating ingredients and pure essential oils that’ll give you a close shave with a great fragrance. Lastly, for a great super-charge, grab some NingXia Zyng™ for a delicious splash of hydration.

Stress Handling With Biofeedback

Lately life has been a bit of a roller coaster, to say the least. Anxiety, stress, and worry feel like constant companions. Unmanaged, this can lead to health issues such as trouble sleeping, headaches, depression, and exhaustion. Alternative approaches such as Biofeedback testing and treatment are very effective in handling stress. It detects imbalances, or weaknesses, in the stress handling areas of the body, and in turn, stimulates the affected areas to help the mind and body process and handle stress better. When it comes time to get back to normal activities, make sure that your body and mind are ready to enjoy everything that we’ve been missing.

Overcoming Dentist Anxiety

Dental phobia has become ingrained into our society with phrases like ‘pulling teeth’ being used to mean difficult and unpleasant. As a result, an important part of the dentist’s role has become putting the patient at ease, making them secure and comfortable. Those with dental phobia tend to avoid dentists. Unfortunately, putting off regular checkups is a good way to end up with gum disease or other problems, which is why establishing a good patient-dentist relationship is so important. If you are a person who suffers from dental anxiety, mention it to your dentist and they will work with you to find a way to alleviate the stress.

Grief and the Power of ‘Being With’

Whether we have lost a person, a pet, or a home, there is now an empty space where something valuable used to exist. Supporting someone you love through their grief does not require you to know all the right words. It simply requires intentionally showing up. It can be as simple as sitting with someone in silence, checking in after the initial loss, or even creating rituals or ways to honour the grief and loss together over time. “Being with” someone in grief or allowing others to show up for you is the most powerful way to navigate loss without feeling lost.

To listen to our full podcast, visit our website – www.safeharbourtherapy.com

Aging At Home

Many seniors would prefer to stay at home than move into a senior care home, but there are some challenges to consider. Factors like finances, physical mobility, social network, health concerns, and safety in the home are all things to think about. If you decide to remain in your home, discuss your plans with your family or a trusted advisor. It’s important to prepare your home to ensure you can live comfortably and safely there, using various aids and tools to make things easier. In-home care can also provide much-needed day-to-day support, as well as transportation to appointments and gatherings.