The never-ending tasks that are involved in caring for a loved one can play havoc on the caregiver’s personal life, as well as their health. Many caregivers will die before the person with dementia that they are caring for does. It is vital that caregivers take care of their own health by attending their own doctor appointments, eating well, exercising, and spending quality time doing things that bring them joy. Caregivers should also reach out to other family members and professionals with experience caring for a person living with dementia for support, guidance, and help caring for their loved one.
Community News
Healing Cell Signaling
The human body has between fifty and three hundred billion cells. Inside every cell, we have mitochondria (some cells have thousands). Mitochondria, when functioning properly, produce redox signaling molecules. Cell signaling carry life-sustaining messages to cells, and your cells respond to those messages, keeping you alive and healthy. As we age, cell signal weakens they can disrupt gene expression. But if you had a way to regulate gene activity with redox signaling molecules, cellular communication would remain strong. Our bodies heal on a cellular level, and the genetic instructions that dictate healthy body function don’t get through without redox signaling.
Exercise for SAD
SAD stands for Seasonal Affected Disorder, which is mainly attributed to the reduction in sunlight hours in winter and is your body’s reaction to the changes in season. With SAD you might feel sluggish or moody, have a loss of appetite, and even lose interest in activities you normally love. One way to combat these feelings and the wintertime blues is to get your body moving! Exercise, even light exercise, has been shown to improve mood and energy through increased blood flow and the release of certain endorphins, as well as improve sleep and alertness, and reduce anxiety and stress.
Using Essential Oils
Aromatherapy is also referred to as essential oil therapy. It can be defined as the art and science of using highly concentrated medicinal plant extracts to promote mental and physical health. Did you know that one of the most effective ways to enjoy the benefits of essential oils is by diffusing? Breathing deeply relaxes the body and allows the essential oil molecules to be utilized very efficiently. Massage is another wonderful way to enjoy essential oils. Add 3-4 drops to 1 oz of coconut oil and enjoy. Never use essential oils directly on your skin without a carrier oil and NEVER ingest essential oils. Just breathe!
Smart in Everything but Reading?
Children who are considered bright underachievers often have vision problems that make reading difficult. Sometimes they’re described as auditory learners because they can remember things they’ve heard much faster and easier than anything they’ve read. A clear sign that a vision problem may be at the root of your child’s difficulties is poor performance on written or standardized tests. It may surprise you to learn that many children who have vision problems interfering with learning actually have 20/20 eyesight (with or without glasses). A Developmental Vision Evaluation is needed to determine if a vision problem is interfering with reading.
Urinary Tract Infection Prevention!
Urinary tract infections are the second most common infection, instigating millions of doctor visits per year. Most affected are women but about 12% of men will get a UTI, and it usually reoccurs. In looking at urinary tract health, clinical studies have shown that hibiscus flower and whole cranberry reduce the ability of E.coli to adhere to the urinary tract and enter cells, therefore preventing recurrence and lessening antibiotic use. Adding probiotics like the shelf stable Friendly Trio to rebalance bacteria, and antioxidant minerals zinc & selenium synergistically help to eliminate yeast infections that can accompany UTIs, especially following antibiotics.
Want a Good Sleep? Try Lavender!
Whether used in a bath, applied to your skin, in a tea, ingested, or inhaled as steam, few plants can help you relax in as many ways as lavender. As well as providing you with lots of good stuff like Vitamin A, calcium, and iron, lavender is often used to reduce anxiety, fatigue and nervousness. Naturally, it also works very well as a cure for insomnia, helping to lower the heart rate and breathing rate so that you can achieve optimum sleep conditions faster than usual.
Hurry Hard
Curling is a great way to pass time during a long Canadian winter. Warm up with some cardiovascular activities before your dynamic stretches to increase your body temperature. Proper equipment can help to avoid injury. A slider and gripper will help to prevent falls, which account for the majority of curling injuries. You may want to consider wearing a helmet if you are new to the sport. Off of the ice you should work on strengthening your core, buttocks, and shoulders, as well as stretching your hip flexors, hamstrings, quadriceps, and calf muscles. See you at the next Brier!
Instant, Proven, Tested
Every once in a while, sometimes in a generation, sometimes longer, there is an idea, a development, a leap of progress so fantastic, seemingly improbable, even impossible, that shatters all preconceived notions of what was possible, what was real. This is VoxxLife. VoxxLife has harnessed the power of Neuro-Science and Neuro-Activation and spent 6 years developing Voxx Human Performance Technology (HPT) that instantly improves the user’s strength, energy, stability, balance and range of motion. No matter our age or lifestyle, VoxxLife is changing the way we live, play, and enjoy our lives and is the future of wellness, sports and rehab.
Prepare for Cold and Flu Season
Cold & Flu Season is here! Viruses are spread by sneezing, coughing and direct personal contact. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting the flu shot. Flu viruses strike in late fall and winter and cause fever, coughing, muscle aches, headache and fatigue. Health Canada recommends all Canadians get the annual flu vaccine to protect themselves and other around them. Seniors, young children and people with chronic health conditions are at the greatest risk of developing serious complications from the flu. Reduce your risk by washing your hands thoroughly & regularly, wiping down surfaces, staying active and getting plenty of sleep. Protect yourself and those around you – Get the flu shot. To find out more, speak to your Pharmasave Pharmacist today.
Are You Iron Deficient?
Iron deficiency knows no boundaries – from women (it is estimated that up to 26% of reproductive aged women are iron deficient), to athletes, the elderly, and vegetarians – shortage of this mineral is widespread. Iron is an essential element for the body, and when it’s low, energy levels decrease. Other tell-tale symptoms include: weakness, pale skin, dark under-eye circles, brittle hair and nails, shortness of breath, and cold hands and feet. Think you may be deficient? Try a natural liquid iron supplement. It will help fight back against iron deficiency by promoting the formation of healthy red blood cells.
