• An estimated 40% of men who have type II diabetes have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and 50% of long-term OSA sufferers have high blood pressure. • Studies show that depressed people are five times more likely to have OSA than non-depressed people. • Sleep apnea is strongly associated with obesity (even moderate obesity). • In the US, an estimated 40,000 cardiovascular deaths are thought to be related to OSA each year. Ask your Doctor about getting a sleep study done to see if Obstructive Sleep Apnea might be affecting your health.

“If not now, when?” – Hillel

Red Deer PCN and Your Family Doctor are here to help you.
Your family doctor and Red Deer Primary Care Network (RDPCN) are here to support your health and wellness. They can help with whatever ails you, not just COVID-19. RDPCN group classes for help with anxiety, healthy lifestyle, grief, happiness, pain, diabetes and relationships are available through a live online format. Call 403.314.3297 to register. To connect with your family doctor call their office. Visit reddeerpcn.com for a list of doctors accepting new patients and for information on RDPCN programs.

Practicing social distancing and self-isolation is an important way to help limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Older adults are at the greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and family members should avoid exposing their loved ones to the virus. But social distancing can have a negative impact on your loved one’s mental health, so what are some ways to socialize with them safely? 1) Stay in touch with regular phone calls and/or texts. 2) Use video chat to have a virtual dinner party, movie night, or game night. 3) Arrange homecare services to support your loved one.

Facials are a fantastic way to practice self-care and offer a variety of benefits. Their main purpose is to help your skin look and feel its best by helping to promote collagen development, improve blood circulation, cleanse, open the pores to free any bacteria buildup, remove blemishes, improve overall skin tone, and boost cell regeneration. Facials also provide benefits beyond healthy-looking skin! They are an important way to relieve stress, boost your mood and promote relaxation, and can also reduce congestion in the sinuses by opening the lymph nodes and encouraging the sinuses to clear any fluid buildup.

Otherwise known as constant positive airway pressure, CPAP therapy is the gold standard choice in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with significantly higher success rates than corrective surgery or dental appliances in moderate to severe cases. A pressure is applied gently to the airway to relieve flaccid anatomical muscle tone during sleep through an externally affixed mask. The patient’s perception is that like a fan, that translates into an airway splint or pressure to keep the airway open during sleep. Through repetitive use and as their pre-treatment symptoms subside, improved breathing is achieved.

As parents know, children’s feet can grow quickly, meaning shoes that fit last month can be squishing their toes today. Here are a few tips; 1. Look for signs of irritation. 2. Don’t choose shoes “they’ll grow into.” 3. Don’t pass shoes to siblings. 4. Do look for a shoe with support. Take the toe and heel and try to bend them toward each other. The shoe should bend where your foot bends. Try to spiral the shoe, moving the toe and heel in opposite directions. You want a little movement. Finally, pinch the heel counter. You want it to be firm. 5. Size well, size to the longest toe.

Tinnitus affects about 10% to 15% of the population. It is often described as a ringing, buzzing or pulsating sound in the ear, but is defined as a phantom auditory sound. About 5% of the population reports severely intrusive tinnitus affecting day-to-day activities. Many people who suffer from tinnitus also experience tiredness, irritability, poor concentration, anxiety and depression that can be severe. Wax buildup, eardrum perforation, ear infection, and noise exposure have been associated with the onset of tinnitus. Specialized tinnitus testing and therapy are now available and have high success rates for relief.