An oral health exam is critical to the maintenance of your overall wellbeing. You should have your mouth checked at least once a year for prevention and treatment of any ailments. Even if you don’t have any live teeth, it’s important to make sure there are no signs of infections or early signs of cancer, growths, or cysts, and that your dentures are fitting you well. Leaving problems untreated usually leads to pain, periodontal disease, or tooth loss, and could make treatment more difficult, so it’s best to deal with problems early, or, if possible, prevent them.
Community News
Protect Your Vision This Summer
Many people fear the dangerous effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays on their skin, but few realize the danger imposed on their eyes. UV radiation can damage the eye’s internal layers, such as the macula, retina and lens. It can also burn the front surface of the eye, much like a sunburn on the skin. Just as we protect our skin with sunscreen, we should also remember to protect our eyes and vision with appropriate sunglasses. To provide sufficient protection to your eyes, your sunglasses should block out 100% of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
Choosing a Cosmetic Skin Clinic
Many people currently offer Cosmetic Skin Cervices such as Botox, Juvéderm, and a variety of laser treatments, but what makes a clinic good? One of the main things to consider is whether a doctor is in charge and what their qualifications are. Are they a specialist Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon? How long have they been offering Cosmetic Skin Care? Find out if you will receive one-on-one time with them, or whether you’ll be seen by a nurse or aesthetician. Lastly, do you prefer a busy clinic or a private setting? Wherever you go, make sure someone experienced and qualified is in charge.
Counselling and Art Play
Not knowing where you belong or fit in the world can be really uncomfortable. It can affect your sense of self, the energy you have, the goals you set, and the way you relate and compare yourself to others. Mindful art play is one way to change that! Counselling and art play can help expose your inner critic, develop self-compassion, deal with difficult memories, open up your creativity and capacity to cope, and develop your sense of self. Counselling, along with art play, provides a safe and neutral place to explore your feelings and options.
Celebrate Aging!
We often hear the negative about seniors in our society, rather than celebrating them. Seniors offer wisdom and life experience integral to the fabric of a vibrant community. They contribute by shopping, using services (keeping people employed), and paying taxes. Seniors volunteer and make more charitable donations than any other age groups do. Many organizations could not function without them. Additionally, they help with babysitting and caregiving for spouses and friends, ultimately helping others to successfully “age in place”. Take the time to acknowledge the contributions made by seniors. By making our community more age-friendly, we can all play a role in inspiring more intergenerational understanding and connection.
Don’t Leave Your Hearing Health to the Internet
If you suspect you have hearing loss, consult with a hearing health professional that can provide:
• a professional assessment, which is key to determining the degree and type of hearing loss;
• a hearing aid fitting (if hearing aids are recommended) to ensure you are equipped with most up-to-date technology to suit your lifestyle; and
• regular assessments and evaluations of your hearing.
Adapting to hearing loss can be challenging but hearing professionals can help you maximize the benefit from your hearing aids.
Make Self-Care a Priority
Stress is a natural part of everyday life. But are you aware that stress is among the number one cause for all kinds of health concerns including sleep deprivation, changes in appetite, illness, anxiety, & depression? One of the greatest ways to combat these stress symptoms is to implement a self-care plan that is done regularly in your life. Self-care strategies are doing activities that you enjoy on a regular basis. Like when a flight attendant does the safety brief and asks you to put on your own oxygen mask first before helping others, it is important to ensure your own health and wellness is a priority.
In Your Community
At Ocean Chiropractic, Dr. Patrick Johnson and his team specialize in Chiropractic care using the Koren Specific and Torque Release Techniques. Along with Chiropractic care, Ocean Chiropractic is proud to offer a unique approach to custom orthotics and foot rehabilitation to the residents of the Comox Valley. As a chiropractor, Dr. Pat is trained to assess whether orthotics are right for you. “Our mission is to empower our practice members to make healthy and informed decisions and we will work collaboratively with you to develop a treatment plan to restore your health. We also strive to serve, love, heal and transform you beyond your greatest expectations.”
Key Terms to Know About Senior Home Care
If you’re starting to research home care options, you may hear terms and phrases you’ve never heard before. Here are a few common terms and what they mean:
-Aging in place describes the act of staying at home through one’s senior years.
-Home care includes many different types of care such as personal care, housekeeping, respite care, nursing, therapy, and hospital transition assistance.
-Respite care is the introduction of a professional caregiver to provide a family caregiver with a break, or respite, from their caregiving responsibilities.
Yoga is for Everyone
Are concerns about how you look or that you’ll be expected to do advanced poses keeping you from attending a yoga class? Yoga is a great experience for every body size and type, at any age. A few simple stretches of the hands, feet, legs, arms, torso, and neck done regularly can help you regain and maintain flexibility. Seek out experienced and empathetic instructors, who specialize in providing a relaxed and supportive environment where these stretches are complemented with safe, accessible balancing postures. With this support, a path to greater physical comfort and security becomes available and you experience only joy when fear and pain are gone!
New to Acupuncture? What to Expect..
During your first exam, your acupuncturist will spend time getting to know you and your health concerns. You may be asked a wide range of questions about your symptoms, eating, exercise, sleep habits, emotional state and anything that may offer insight into your health.
Your practitioner will also employ diagnostic tools that are unique to acupuncture and TCM such as tongue and pulse diagnosis.
You will receive a comprehensive diagnosis and a treatment plan that will explain your underlying imbalance, your time line of care and what types of treatment you will receive. Possible treatments may include using pins, using lasers, using AcuGraph, cupping, moxibustion, and ointments.
