Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions, which force certain parts of the body into abnormal, sometimes painful movements or postures. Approximately 50,000 people in Canada have dystonia, which is the third most common movement disorder following essential tremor and Parkinson’s. Dystonia can often be misdiagnosed for extended periods of time. The Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF) Canada is the only charitable organization that is dedicated to supporting dystonia patients, and their families, in Canada. The DMRF Winnipeg Support Group is here to help you: [email protected],
Community News
Why Get a Flu Shot?
Getting a flu shot is a great way to protect your health during flu season, so why not take advantage of free flu shots available from your healthcare provider? Flu vaccinations can help prevent many types of the influenza virus and are a safe way to keep yourself healthy in the fall and winter months. Each year, a new flu shot is provided that can help protect against that year’s most common flu viruses, so getting the flu shot annually is beneficial! Some other ways to protect yourself include washing your hands frequently and boosting your immune system.
Take Your Water Pills!
Your heart is a pump, or rather two pumps. One pumps fluid to the lungs, and the other to the rest of the body. When the pump fails, fluid backs up. This is first observed in the feet and legs, and later in the lungs. Water pills help reduce excess fluid and thereby relieve strain on the pump. Taking your water pills as prescribed in the earlier part of the day will help decrease nighttime bathroom trips. If you don’t take these pills as prescribed, you could experience worsening complications, such as swollen feet, difficulty breathing, and higher blood pressure.
Your Body is a Bank Account
Think of your body as a bank account. When you eat electron-rich alkaline food, you’re making a deposit in your account, maintaining and investing in your health, fitness, energy, vitality, and weight. When you eat proton-saturated acidic food, you’re making an energy withdrawal from your account. If you withdraw too much, your body will have trouble maintaining a positive balance (pH). When your account is completely depleted of electrons, you are dead. To keep a good balance, you need to limit your withdrawals and make plenty of deposits in the form of electron-rich alkaline food, good fats, and electron-rich water.
Medication Review
Taking your medication properly is one of the most effective ways to manage chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. Up to 25% of Canadians are admitted to the hospital annually because they don’t take their medications as prescribed. Schedule a Medication Review with your Pharmacist to discuss how to take your medications and for how long, understand if your medications are working properly, manage potential side effects and help you stay on track. Get the most from your medications with a Medication Review.
Home Remedy for Denture Pain
Sometimes dentures can cause pain or discomfort, especially if your dentures are old or ill-fitting. Did you know that you may be able to ease your discomfort with turmeric? Turmeric has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation, while preventing growth of harmful bacteria. Make a paste of ¼ tsp of turmeric powder with a few drops of water. Apply the paste on the affected area of the gum. Leave the paste for 5 mins then gently massage into the gum for a few mins and rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water. Repeat twice daily for a week.
Community Event
Nov. 1. 12 pm – 3pm: Falling Through the Cracks: Greg’s Story. Greg Price died as a result of surgical complications in 2012 following a delayed diagnosis of testicular cancer. His family is determined that his death will not be in vain. Produced by the Price family, this film focuses on the events of his health care journey that ended in his tragic death. The Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety, in partnership with the Office of Interprofessional Collaboration, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, invite you to a free screening of followed by a post-film discussion and patient safety forum. St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, Sam Cohen Auditorium – 351 Tache Ave. Space Limited, please register at mips.ca/greg-s-story.html [email protected]
Clean Eating Recipe: Almond Butter Pancakes
Makes 7 – 8 pancakes. Ingredients: 1/2 cup almond butter. 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce. 2 whole eggs. 1/2 tsp baking soda. 1/2 tsp cinnamon. 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Directions: In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix until a smooth, uniform batter is created. Cook on pre-heated non-stick frying pan medium heat, with a small amount of oil. Cook until surface of pancakes have some bubbles and a few have burst, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Serve with fresh fruit, berries, dollop of plain Greek yogurt with a drizzle of maple syrup.
Words to Live By
“Every ceiling, when reached, becomes a floor, upon which one walks as a matter of course and prescriptive right.”
~ Aldous Huxley
Are You Too Acidic?
If you have acid reflux, gout, kidney stones, osteoporosis, dental disease, or cancer, these all can be considered symptoms of chronic acid states.
We can do better! Stop covering up symptoms with prescription medications and start managing the symptoms from the root cause.
Help your body out by eating a diet of plant-based whole foods that are rich in fibre, such as whole grains, vegetables, and fruit. The take-home message here is to start restoring equilibrium and physiology with lifestyle choices that will help return the body to a more balanced, alkaline state. Ionized alkaline water helps support this effort!
Learning Difficulty or Vision Problem?
When a vision problem is at the root of a child’s struggles with learning, the signs are very easy to see – when you know what to look for. Unfortunately, the signs can easily be mistaken for learning difficulties and/or attention problems. Children don’t know how they are supposed to see, so the only way they can tell you they have a vision problem is with their behaviour. One of the signs of a vision problem is a short attention span when it comes to reading and learning. A developmental vision evaluation could open the door to your child’s success.
