When someone has a head injury, they typically have vision problems that can be temporary or permanent. When a vision problem is causing or contributing to a problem with reading, balance, or movement, the recovery process will move slowly until the vision component is treated. Some symptoms might disappear after a while, such as eye pain or headaches, and yet other symptoms may remain, such as blurred or double vision, or vice versa. If you suspect that a concussion has caused vision problems resulting in difficulty coping with daily activities, see a developmental optometrist for a visual evaluation.
Community News
Self-Care for the Holidays
As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is fast approaching, it is important to be mindful of the precious little moments that we tend to take for granted. Grab a journal or a pad of paper and write down three things that you are grateful for every day. You can even make this a family project. Studies have shown that having gratitude can lower stress, anxiety, and depression. Some other tips that will keep us feeling our best:
• Drink more water
• Eat a clean diet
• Go to sleep earlier
• Volunteer at a local shelter or organization
• Practice mindful breathing
• Exercise daily
• Spend time with people who make you happy.
Clean Eating: Simple Vegan Eggnog
Ingredients: 1 15-ounce can coconut milk (400 ml), 1/2 cup raw cashews, 1/4 cup water, 3 tbsp maple syrup, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon. Directions: Soak the cashews overnight or for at least 1 hour. Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve the eggnog chilled, so keep it in the fridge for at least 1 or 2 hours. Enjoy the Holiday Season!
Self-Care for the Caregiver
It’s often difficult for caregivers to admit when they need self-care. But everyone struggles with negative thoughts and life stressors. These can lead to anger, frustration, emotional or physical violence, depression, anxiety and crimes. Life is a mixture of work and self-care and one without the other can be unhealthy. Self-Care is a source of activities that builds us up and soothes the stresses of life, whether that be your 15 minute break, running in the morning, gardening, cooking or genealogy. So next time you find yourself working hard, consider doing self-care to take care of your emotional life. Show the same amount of care to yourself as you would give to someone else.
Best Treatment for Osteoarthritis
When it comes to osteoarthritis, the best approach is to treat it from the inside and the outside. Specialized nutritional formulations work on the inside of the body by turning off the inflammation-producing mechanisms and strengthening the joints. N.I.R. Laser Therapy works on the outside of the body by decreasing inflammation, thereby reducing pain and stiffness. The laser penetrates to a level that breaks up scar tissue to shrink nodules and increase mobility. Following a multi-faceted approach that feeds and stimulates the joints at the same time greatly enhances the body’s ability to respond. That is why even long-term, severe arthritis sufferers can get relief.
Control Your Diet
Those with a lower-limb amputation, in many cases, will initially be less active than they were prior to their amputation. As such, having a sedentary lifestyle will often result in weight gain. It is important for amputees to understand this and to adjust their nutritional intake to match their activity level so that they do not gain appreciable amounts of weight during the early stages of initial prosthetic fittings. If an amputee’s weight fluctuates significantly, either up or down, after being fitted with a prosthesis, intimate socket fit can be greatly compromised with more adjustments being needed.
Elder Abuse is Real!
One of the most underreported crimes in Canada is elder abuse. As of 2016 over 700,000 reports of abuse were recorded. Some abuse is invisible like neglect, psychological abuse and abuse of finances. The people most vulnerable are those who live in social isolation or suffer serious health conditions. And when it comes to physical abuse, data from statistics Canada shows 60% of senior domestic violence victims are female. Warning signs for elder abuse include: Anxiety or fearfulness about someone the elderly individual should trust. Dehydration, poor nutrition, or poor hygiene. Speak to your loved ones about elder abuse and learn more about the resources available to help victims in your community.
Choosing a Health Advocate
One of the most important steps in a senior’s life is to choose the right health advocate.
Your advocate could be your family member or your friend; someone you can trust with your health concerns. The advocate will play a very important role in your healthcare plans in the future.
For example, they can go with you to a doctor, the lab, your pharmacy, or the hospital.
It is very important to name an advocate before you need one, and you can decide the limits of their authority.
You can find more information, videos, and a “My Patient Advocate Agreement” form at www.safetoask.ca
Learning-Related Vision Disorders
While 20/20 vision is a great start, our vision is also related to how well our eyes work together with our brain to process visual information. Many children who suffer with vision problems can go undiagnosed since learning-related vision disorders may not be revealed through a regular eye exam. Lack of eye movement control, focusing difficulties, poor visual memory, and much more can make learning seem overwhelming. Without fundamental visual skills, children may have more difficulty with reading, writing, and comprehension at school. A developmental optometrist diagnoses and provides treatment options for learning-related vision disorders.
Benefits of Blue Light-Blocking Glasses
Exposure to artificial light at the wrong times of day is one of the largest often-overlooked health risks of living in the 21st century. Blocking blue light serves an important biological purpose, helping to regulate your internal clock to control sleep patterns and other body functions; avoiding blue light at night is crucial to protecting your health. One of the least expensive and simplest ways to protect your body’s internal rhythm, and thereby support healthy sleep and a lowered risk of many chronic diseases, is to wear blue-light-blocking glasses at night.
Avoid Winter Back Pain
Here are a few tips on how to keep your body free of pain this winter. 1. Check your shoes. Has the tread started to wear down? Falls on ice and snow can be prevented with the right footwear. 2. Stretch. Stiff muscles can make it hard to move freely, and if you trip or fall, your back is likely to be in far more pain than it is now. 3. Stay warm. This is critical to keeping your back healthy—or keeping your back injury from getting worse. Cold weather is one of the causes of joint pain and tense muscles.
