Like natural teeth, dentures can attract plaque, become stained, and collect food particles that can cause bad breath. They need to be cleaned daily to remove plaque and calculus. At home, dentures can be cleaned with over the counter cleaners and gentle bushing with a specialized denture brush. Ordinary toothbrushes and commercial toothpastes are too abrasive and can damage the surface of your dentures. When the plaque has hardened to calculus it will need to be removed at a denture clinic, so be sure to clean your dentures properly.
Community News
New Community Support Rep
The GAM Info Rep is a new service offered by the BC Responsible & Problem Gambling Program. GAM Info Reps are part of your Gaming & Gambling support services. Like any advisor, the GAM Info Rep is there to support you with your distinct needs every step of the way. Whether you need to inquire about counselling services, legal services, housing, community health, debt management or any other support service, the GAM Info Rep is there to help. Your GAM Info Rep in the Cowichan Valley is Shannon Husk. 250-588-3861
Importance of Social Activities
For many seniors, living alone may directly affect how often they engage in social activities. Social interactions often decrease as we age, which is why it is important to be involved in social activities as often as possible. The more active you are, the better you will feel in many ways both physically and mentally. If you are finding yourself lonely, while living on your own, you may want to connect with others by joining groups; such as, volunteering with organizations including a local senior centre. Another solution is to consider moving to a seniors’ residence which is ideally suited to create many opportunities for social interaction and fun on a daily basis.
Acupuncture for PTSD
PTSD is a physiological disorder that results from being exposed to a traumatic event. It can affect anyone at any point in their life. The disorder can result in several symptoms including, but not limited to anxiety, irritability, insomnia, nightmares, and flashbacks. Acupuncture for PTSD is administered by stimulating specific auricular points as well as others in the body. These points are responsible for signaling areas of the brain to help control nervous functioning as well as mitigate stress levels. Acupuncture treatments also have benefits such as a decrease in depression and physical pain. Soldiers, police officers, fire fighters and countless others who have been diagnosed with PTSD are using acupuncture to experience relief.
Management of Rotator Cuff Tears
If you have a rotator cuff tear several factors influence whether or not you are a good surgical candidate. These can include level of function, age, extent of the tear, and if it was a traumatic injury or developed chronically over time. Current research shows that in many cases conservative management like physiotherapy has similar outcomes when compared to surgery. Physiotherapy for rotator cuff injuries focuses on strength, posture, and mobility, all of which help to decrease shoulder pain and improve function. In cases requiring surgery, those who engage in physiotherapy while waiting for surgery have improved outcomes post operatively.
Fighting Cold and Flu Bugs
To stay well and to fight off the cold and flu bugs this season, it is important to support your body. Eating a balanced diet with ample veggies and fruits, lean proteins, healthy fats, and moderate complex carbohydrates provides energy and helps you feel well. Try to cut out the processed sugars as these lower immunity and increase inflammation. In our modern world with all its stress, adding supplements to a healthy, balanced diet and making time for meal preparation will help your body stay healthy at this time of the year. Stay well and feel great this autumn and winter!
Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of age-related blindness world-wide. Although there is no cure, early detection and preventative measures can delay or reduce vision loss. The central part of the retina at the back of the eye can become damaged over time due to Ultra-Violet radiation from the sun, smoking and/or poor nutrition. This results in the development of central blind spots and blurred or distorted vision. Symptoms progress slowly in the “dry” form and more rapidly in the “wet” form. Prevention of macular degeneration includes stopping smoking, good nutrition, regular exercise and wearing good quality UV blocking sunglasses.
Powers of Attorney in BC
Do you know the difference between a Power of Attorney (POA) and an Enduring POA? The distinction is important. A POA ends if you become declared mentally incompetent as may happen from an illness or head injury in an accident. An enduring POA carries on and allows your appointed person the authority to manage your financial affairs if such a tragedy occurs. Like your will, a POA should be reviewed and updated every 5 years or right away if you’ve moved from another province. No matter your age, everyone should consider having an enduring POA in place.
Breathing Effectively to Relax
Breathing is the single most important thing our body does. We may be able to live a few days without food or water but without breathing, we would only last a few minutes! So, why don’t we pay more attention to the way we are breathing? As our breathing is part of our autonomic nervous system, we don’t have to make a conscious effort to breathe. It happens automatically. This usually means, however, that we don’t think about our breathing until we experience some kind of breathing problem.
Using the breath effectively is an important element in ancient practices like meditation, yoga and qigong. In our fast-paced society, many people breathe too fast with a resting rate of 15 to 20 breaths per minute. This shallow type of breathing does not allow enough oxygen into the lungs for your blood, muscles and organs. Slow, sustained, gentle deep breathing of 10 breaths or less per minute for at least 15 minutes every day can help relieve stress, calm the nervous system, relax the mind, relax the diaphragm, ease muscle tension, improve circulation and digestion. It can even help to improve your concentration and creativity!
Spring Forest Qigong is a relaxing, meditative practice that uses the breath as well as the mind, simple movements and sound to help improve your health in these areas and more! This form of qigong, although simple, is powerful and very easy to learn. The practice can be adapted to your capability as you can do the movements or meditations standing, sitting or even lying down.
Before you know it, you will be choosing to breathe slowly more frequently throughout your day just because it feels so good and brings so many other added benefits!
Exercise… For Your Intestine?
A major underlying cause of health problems are the toxins within our internal organs. Unhealthy eating habits and excessive stress cause your intestines to become cold and stiff, which prevents food from being completely excreted, which then releases toxins. This is called auto-intoxication—self-poisoning by the body’s own toxins. This also negatively impacts absorption of nutrients and minerals from the healthy foods we eat. Intestine Exercise stimulates your intestines and improves peristalsis of the colon, which removes the feces along the walls of the intestine and relieves constipation. As the solar plexus is stimulated, bladder and reproductive functions are often enhanced, improving illnesses caused by cold energy. For a guided video tutorial:
Take Great Care of Yourself
Self-directed health care starts a long time before you find yourself in the medical care world. It starts with choices such as: Diet, exercise, no smoking and limited alcohol intake. Other choices are easy as well: driving the speed limit, getting good sleep regularly, washing your hands, following the health & safety rules and keeping your stress levels in balance. The first step is always the hardest BUT you’ve already made it by reading this far! Find out about local resources that support you making healthy choices! “69% of deaths globally each year are the result of preventable diseases.” Center for Disease Control 2017
