What does player health on online gaming and gambling platforms look like? Playnow, BCLC’s online platform continues to offer player support via their Game Sense Advisor program, including an active chatbox staffed by one of your GSA’s. Players are encouraged to *Stick to their time and financial limits *Take physical breaks from the screens *Walk around and to do something else for a while *Remain sober while playing *Use App-blockers if needed. Feel free to reach out to our outreach team for support. This pandemic is taking a toll on us all. We’re always here to help!
Community News
Add a Little Exercise to your Lifestyle
Physical activity plays an important role in your health and quality of life by making you feel healthier and stronger. Being active helps to improve your balance, reduce your risk of falls and injuries and can help you stay independent longer. So take the initiative! It’s never too late to start and you don’t need to go to a gym to add a little exercise to your routine; consult your doctor and ask to learn more about exercises that can be done while sitting in your chair!
Keep your Heart Tip Top
The heart muscle is your body’s blood pump. It uses the circulatory system to supply oxygen and nutrients to all tissues and vital organs while also removing carbon dioxide and other wastes. Keep your heart tip top with healthy lifestyle choices that include eating whole foods and avoiding overly salted and fatty processed foods, consuming plenty of green tea and garlic, losing excess weight, increase physical activity, quitting smoking, and drinking alcohol only in moderation. Heart-happy supplements include: Multivitamin/mineral, Extra Magnesium, Omega 3 fatty acids, Coenzyme Q10 (age 50+), L-Carnitine and Hawthorn Berry.
Time to Quit Smoking?
To quit smoking for good is not easy! Nicotine substitutes (patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers) or a prescription medication can help. Your pharmacist can offer support along the way and recommend the best choice according to your needs and state of health. Smoking can interfere with certain drug treatments. When you quit smoking, speak to your pharmacist to see if your treatment needs to be adjusted. Very few smokers are able to quit for good on their first try. Don’t get discouraged. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again! Ask your pharmacist for help, and remember—it’s never too late to quit smoking.
Living with Tinnitus
Your hearing is vitally important as you navigate your relationships and the world around you. If you have trouble hearing or are dealing with tinnitus, it can make life more difficult. Tinnitus is characterized by a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears. Over 360,000 Canadians report suffering from chronic tinnitus, and almost half of those are severely affected. The use of a hearing aid to amplify sounds has proven effective in minimizing the distraction caused by tinnitus. If you or a family member are concerned about hearing loss or tinnitus, be sure to schedule a hearing test.
Connect with Loved Ones
Relationships are a key source of strength and help build resilience in these strenuous times. This Valentine’s Day, let’s not forget to remember our significant others… lovers… or those who have stood by us in the darkest times of this past year. Take time to reflect on how important your loved ones are to you, remembering to connect in meaningful ways. Reminding those who are special to you this Valentine’s day how much they mean to you with a call, a thank you, or a hug that lasts just a little longer than usual brings more love into the world
Gambling to Relieve Stress?
Covid-19’s second wave crashed hard onto our shores. Although public health orders restricted our holiday festivities, our credit card bills may be starting to pile up. During these times, online gambling can become attractive to people seeking to relieve stress or to alleviate financial burdens. This could potentially place us in a position to gamble beyond our means, especially when left to our own devices and seeking comfort. If you or someone you love is struggling with a gambling issue, please call 1-888-795-6111. Or go to https://bit.ly/3nxYiFV to directly send a message. A Gambling Outreach Support worker will contact you within 24 hours.
Resolutions for 2021
It’s that time again, the beginning of the New Year; yet things look very different than last year. 2020 is officially over, and we are embarking into 2021, hoping for a very different year. Let’s work on making resolutions that will help us through. Focus on that all-important Self-care (and Community-care)! Find the things in life that are enjoyable (and able to do within the constrictions of the pandemic), and make a resolution to commit to them on a regular basis. Be specific yet flexible, and most importantly, make them enjoyable (not just healthy)!
Welcome 2021
What a relief to have 2020 behind us. Although we still need to adhere to health restrictions for a while longer, 2021 should bring brighter days. We look forward to seeing people in the coffee shops again enjoying the social connection and reading our newsletters. Until that time, you can connect on line with health and wellness resources in our WellnessHUB. We have missed the excitement of our Expos, promoting our vendors, booking interesting seminars and seeing all the attendees. While we are sad that the Women’s Expo will not be happening this year, we are hopeful that the Health Expo is a go for September.
Enjoy the Outdoors!
If there is one thing that we learned from 2020, it is the importance of our health. Make 2021 the year for living a healthy lifestyle. We may still need to wear masks and practice social distancing, but outside our door is the beautiful nature of our Vancouver Island. Whether it is just a walk around the block, or a hike up Mount Benson, the fresh air and exercise boosts our wellbeing. So lace up your shoes and wear VoxxLife socks with HPT for enhanced balance and stability. Additional benefits include; enhanced pain relief and management, especially PDN pain and improved mobility.
Quit Smoking in 2021
Do you know that in Canada, 100 people die every day from smoking related illness? Smoking is responsible for more deaths than obesity, physical inactivity or high blood pressure. Our unique 3 step Stop Smoking laser treatment package can help you quit smoking FOR GOOD! The cold laser balances the energy flow between acupuncture points to detox your body and helps alleviate all nicotine addiction and cravings. This non-invasive treatment will have you completely detoxed in 72 hours! Within one week with 2-3 Sessions you can be SMOKE FREE! If you have finally had enough, give us a call!
