Community News
Cataracts: Clouding your Vision

Cataracts are one of the leading causes of reduced vision in adults. They occur when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy due to sun exposure over the years. Symptoms include blurred vision, glare when driving at night, and more rarely, double vision. Wearing good quality sunglasses outdoors is the number one way to block Ultra-Violet radiation from the sun. This will slow down the onset and progression of cataracts.

A Healthy Brain Helps Your Hearing

Did you know that although hearing loss can be hereditary and a natural result of aging, there are proactive steps you can take to keep your hearing sharp and healthy? Your ears receive sounds, but your brain processes all the wonderful, (and maybe not so wonderful) sounds that you hear. So, keeping your brain healthy can help to keep your hearing healthy too. Puzzles like Sudoku, crosswords, and word searches help to maintain healthy brain tissue and the neural connections necessary for processing sensory information. However, if you suspect that you are suffering from hearing loss, be sure to speak to a hearing professional.

How to Stay Active this Fall

Here are some tips from Parks and Recreation to help you stay active this fall season: * Change Your Perspective – Being active keeps you healthy. * Try Something New – Parks and Recreation now has Zumba drop-in classes at Oliver Wood for only $7. * Get Creative at Home – Invest in a few pieces of equipment and exercise for a few minutes each day. * Buddy Up – Make a commitment to exercise with somebody else. * Set a Goal –How about getting in 10,000 steps every day for three months?
Looking for ways to stay active? Check out the Activity Guide or visit recreation.nanaimo.ca.

Balancing the Blues

As the seasons change, for some so does their sunny disposition. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), often called “winter blues”, affects about 35% of the Canadian population. The usual symptoms include fatigue, sadness and apathy. There are things you can do to help alleviate these symptoms. Managing stress, especially around the holidays, a healthy diet, exercise and seeking the sun are all important ways to combat SAD! If you’re finding no relief, speak to your health care provider and seek treatment. Life is the gift we receive to be enjoyed.

How Long Do Hearing Aids Last?

Hearing aids have a life span of about 3-5 years. With good maintenance and care, they can last many years after that. However, to receive the best care and technology, it is recommended to invest in new hearing aids after the initial 3-5 years. Faster processing within the hearing aids, improvements in speech-in-noise, rechargeability and wireless connectivity are just some of the technological advancements. Hearing aids are programmed specific to your hearing loss and process sounds to best meet your needs. Contact your hearing professional to find out more about the best investment in technology for your hearing loss and lifestyle.

Managing the Stress of the Season

With the arrival of fall and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season approaching, we can feel overwhelmed with all the extra ‘stuff’ we all need to get done. The added baking, cooking, cleaning, shopping and visiting. As the demands start to add up, having a little help makes the season more enjoyable. By delegating some of the tasks to in-home service and personal care providers, you are allowing more time to enjoy the season with friends and family. We all need help managing the holiday season. There is comfort in knowing you and your loved one are supported.

Product Review: Pure Green Energy

Kickstart your day with a super clean, raw and nutritionally dense organic drink that increases alertness and stamina. Coconut MCT, Maca super-food, Matcha green tea and many other key juiced powders, together with zero calorie Monk fruit, and even human strain probiotics round out this fantastic Kickstarter! A health-packed alternative to coffee & conventional energy-boosting drinks, PURE GREEN ENERGY gives vigor without potentially harmful effects of excess stimulants. It is also a perfect pre-and-post-workout supplement to replenish essential nutrients, improve cardio performance, and revive your workday energy drain.

Product Review: Pure Green Energy

Kickstart your day with a super clean, raw and nutritionally dense organic drink that increases alertness and stamina. Coconut MCT, Maca super-food, Matcha green tea and many other key juiced powders, together with zero calorie Monk fruit, and even human strain probiotics round out this fantastic Kickstarter! A health-packed alternative to coffee & conventional energy-boosting drinks, PURE GREEN ENERGY gives vigor without potentially harmful effects of excess stimulants. It is also a perfect pre-and-post-workout supplement to replenish essential nutrients, improve cardio performance, and revive your workday energy drain.

A Support Group for Women

Studies show that having a sense of belonging, being part of a community, and making a meaningful contribution to a cause that you believe in, are beneficial to your health. In fact, it greatly enhances your chances of living longer and feeling happier. If you are a woman in the Ladysmith area and would like to be part of a newly formed support group, please put these dates in your diary: 30th Nov and 28th Dec. 6.30-8.30pm. By donation (Suggested $10-20), all proceeds to reforestation projects. Help heal yourself AND save the planet! Contact [email protected] for information.

Keep Your Home Healthy this Winter

“Close the door, you are letting in the cold air”. Our homes are built to be energy efficient and we diligently seal any cracks that may be allowing cold drafts into the house. Unfortunately, this also seals off our home from fresh air. In turn, this increases the concentration of VOCs from the use of cleaning products, traditional air fresheners and scented personal products. To keep your air healthy, try unscented products, add certain indoor plants and open windows when seasonally possible. There are also a growing number of natural, scent-free air fresheners that absorb both odours and chemicals.

Aging & Knee Pain

When your knees chronically hurt, you are told they are a sign of aging and degeneration, which is very true… but did you know there is a method of treatment to regenerate your knees? Prolozone therapy results in about 75% of chronic pain sufferers to become permanently pain free. Chronic pain occurs in areas of the body that contain ligaments or cartilage, which typically have only 1/10th the circulation that is seen in other connective tissues. This makes them especially vulnerable to the effects of decreased oxygen utilization/aging, which further compromises circulation. Prolozone therapy with procaine, natural anti-inflammatory medications, vitamins and minerals, and ozone gives the tissues what they need to heal.