Depending on the study, 50 to 90 per cent of people who are on their computers a lot experience issues with their eyes, including eye strain, red eyes, and eye twitching. Unfortunately, those of us using computers for work can’t just turn them off and walk away; we need to find ways to care for our eyes in spite of our computer use. The first step is to get an eye exam to evaluate how your eyes are doing today. After that, there are actions you can take to protect your eyes as much as possible, such as reducing ambient lighting and using floor lights rather than overhead fluorescent lights.
Community News
Do You Need to Take Vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 plays an essential role in red blood cell formation, nerve function, cell metabolism and DNA production. It can be found in meat, poultry, fish and dairy, or as a supplement. Your body can store vitamin B12 for many years so most individuals will not have a B12 deficiency. However, the following people may be more prone to deficiency: vegetarians/vegans, older adults, or people with digestive tract conditions that affect the absorption of nutrients. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to fatigue, anemia, muscle weakness, intestinal problems, nerve damage, and mood disturbances. Visit your physician or pharmacist to discuss whether you should be taking a vitamin B12 supplement.
Walking – The Activity of a Lifetime
Exercise does not have to be complicated. We almost always have access to somewhere to walk, and walking is a great activity. If you are going to walk and haven’t done so in a while start slowly. We recommend increasing the length of the walk by 10% per week maximum. If you have been walking and want to know what you can do to increase your intensity, speed up or add some stairs to your walk. Getting to a moderate to vigorous intensity during your walk requires you to be at a point where you are working so hard that you are feeling challenged and almost out of breath.
Clean Eating: Gluten-Free Pizza Crust
2 cups + 3 tbsp gluten free all-purpose flour, 1 7.5-g package active dry yeast, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp maple syrup, 1 1/2 tbsp butter (melted), 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 cup warm water. Directions: Mix flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Add the maple syrup, melted butter, olive oil and warm water and mix until combined. Using your hands, form the dough into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap. Set aside for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 450. Spread the dough onto a pizza pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Add your healthy toppings and place back in the oven until heated through. Enjoy!
Words to Live By
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
-John Wooden
Fit for the Job?
Whatever physical activities are involved at your job, a physiotherapist will test your functional abilities to make sure you are able to carry out all of your work demands. Can you lift 50 lbs with proper mechanics? Are you safe to climb ladders? Do you have good balance? Do you have enough muscular endurance? Don’t guess, take the test! Physiotherapists can also measure spinal range of motion – a stiff spine is a predictor of possible injury. By testing your push/pull/lift and carry, a physiotherapist can help to PREVENT injuries and keep you working. Remember, “Work Shouldn’t Hurt!”
Richard Van, BMR-PT, GlenYoungPhysioTherapy.com
Imagination is a Gift of Healing
Imagine what you would do, where you would go or who you would be if you had the opportunity, for just a few hours, to make that happen? When we visualize our preferred-self we might discover many things. It could lead us to make an important decision to change something that’s been bothersome. It might help us solve a problem or create a new venture. Many of life’s simple and complex discoveries and innovations have come from the use of imagination. Emotional healing can also be accessed through the mind’s ability to envision a new beginning and make appropriate changes. What are you doing with your imagination these days?
Gerry Goertzen, MA Registered Psychotherapist, Riverbend Counselling & Wellness, RiverbendCounselling.ca
See Better In Any Light
Every day our vision is affected but light in one way or another. Glare reduces visual acuity and is less aesthetically pleasing. Ultra violet rays assault eyes everywhere, 365 days a year. These UV A and UV B rays are invisible but accelerate eye aging, especially cataracts. Changing light conditions causes visual discomfort, squinting, and dark/ light adaptation stress. If your lenses are dirty or scratched this will increase light scatter and reduce your visual acuity. Poor contrast and indoor blue light in the visual environment cause eye fatigue. Your Optometrist can guide you and recommend protection for these everyday lighting quality concerns. Your solution may be personalized depending on your environment at work and play, to bring light under control.
Dr. Douglas Puttaert, Optometrist, East St. Paul EyeCare, EastStPaulEyeCare.ca
The Benefits of Stretching
Stretching can improve your joint range of motion, balance, flexibility and decrease your risk of injury. Here are some tips to help you stretch: Warm up your muscles before stretching with 10 minutes of gentle exercise like walking. Hold a sustained stretch for 10 to 30 seconds and don’t bounce when stretching. Only stretch to the point of mild discomfort. If it hurts, you’re pushing too hard. Breathe normally when stretching and balance your routine by working opposing muscle groups each time you stretch. Remember to check with a health professional before stretching if you have or have had an injury or are unsure how to stretch properly.
Jasdeep Ruprai, Pharmacist, You Drugmart, YouDrugMart.com
Weight Loss: The Real Truth
Weight loss is something that many of us are considering, so what is a safe weight loss goal? A weight loss goal of 1-2 lbs per week is sustainable and possible. The key word here is sustainable. There are lots of fad diets out there that promise and sometimes even deliver the weight loss levels promised. Weight loss is about changes that you make to both your activity levels as well as your food intake. The real equation for weight loss is the difference between calories in and calories out. It really is as simple as that.
Manitoba Fitness Council, ManitobaFitnessCouncil.ca
In Your Neighborhood
Good Neighbours Active Living Centre offers a variety of presentations that are of interest to those 55+. Coming up in April:
• Theories of the Universe
• Love Local (showcasing Manitoban and Canadian made food)
• Decluttering Isn’t for the Faint of Heart
• Joint Replacement – What to Expect
• Floods in our History
• Preventing Abuse of Older Adults
You do not have to be a member of Good Neighbours to attend any of our presentations offered. For more information or to register, please call 204-669-1710.
Good Neighbours Active Living Centre, gnalc.ca
