Community News
What is a Nurse Practitioner?

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are nurses with an advanced degree or doctorate who can perform most of the same skills that a physician can. NPs cannot bill for services, but the client has to cover the necessary costs. NP skills include conducting assessments, diagnosing, writing prescriptions for all medications, and performing procedures like draining abscesses, inserting IUDs, performing PAP tests, casting, reading x-rays, suturing, and performing some surgeries. NPs can also make referrals to other physicians or services, complete required government forms, admit and discharge patients to and from the hospital, prescribe medicinal marijuana, and perform medical assistance in dying (MAID).

Surviving the Holidays with Hearing Loss

If you have a hearing loss, attending family gatherings with many people can be stressful. Here are three tips to ensure a sound-filled holiday season.

1. Spend time with family members one-on-one.
2. Try to sit next to someone who will be willing to keep you in on the conversation if you miss anything that has been said.
3. Book a check of your hearing aids before the holiday season starts to ensure they are working their best.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the laughter of your kids, grand-kids or family members as they open presents or sit around the table. Happy Holidays!

Local Love: Boreal Wildcraft Tea Company

The Boreal Wildcraft Tea Company, located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, works cooperatively with local wildcrafters, hand picking and processing special herbs and berries from the nearby boreal forest in an ethical and sustainable manner to minimize our carbon footprint. Our exquisite, earth-conscious, custom-blended herbal infusions have a distinctly Canadian flavour – something you can drink and feel good about. Herbal teas provide a number of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to help provide many short-term and long-term health benefits, including boosting your immune system and increasing hydration. We are proud to share nature’s gifts through our unique, region-specific teas.

Laser Treatment for Snoring?

NightLase is a leading-edge laser procedure using energy to stimulate the tissues of the airway causing a tightening effect which helps keep your airway open, thus improving your daily sleep. Simply put, research has shown that NightLase® reduces snoring and provides an effective, non-invasive way to lessen the effects of sleep apnea WITHOUT requiring a device to be worn during sleep. This laser therapy involves no chemical treatment, and no anesthesia. It is a gentle and easy way for you and your loved ones to regain a good night’s rest.

Stress Handling With Biofeedback

Every day, we have an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 thoughts running through our minds. Considering that our minds can only handle 7-10 bits of information at a time, no wonder we start to feel overwhelmed, especially at this time of the year. Unmanaged stress contributes to many health issues, such as headaches, exhaustion, insomnia, chronic pain, and depression, to name a few. Alternative approaches such as Biofeedback testing and treatment are very effective at handling stress. It detects imbalances, or weaknesses, in the stress handling areas of the body, and in turn, stimulates the affected areas to help the mind and body process and handle stress better.

The power of saying NO!

The ability to say NO is an integral part of our wellness and self-care. Many of us have learned that saying no is “wrong” and worry it leads to criticism and people not liking us. When we feel compelled to say yes, even when it’s not in our best or highest interest out of duty, approval, niceness or fear of rejection, we dis-honor and rob ourselves of being fully authentic and begin building up resentments. When we dare to speak our truth and say NO we choose YES sincerely from an open heart and enthusiasm. People learn to trust exactly where they stand with you… both in your no’s and yes’s.

Martial Arts for Kids

Martial arts have many benefits for kids. They’re a great match for kids who learn and think differently, and feel like they never ‘win’ at anything. Many kids struggle with the pressure of competing with other kids, so traditional sports may not appeal to them. Martial arts focus on individual growth, not on team competition. In martial arts, the focus is on self-improvement. There’s no “letting the team down”. Kids work toward specific goals, while earning different coloured belts as they learn new skill levels. They work at their own pace, which helps boost self-esteem and keeps them motivated.

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.

The Five Things That Happy Seniors Do

Aging is not for the faint of heart. Ailments, losing loved ones and experiencing general aches and pains make getting older a challenge. Many people struggle to remain optimistic as they age, but it is possible to find joy and contentment at each stage of life. Here are some things that happy seniors swear by:

1. Exercise – the ultimate mood booster!
2. Maintain close connections to friends and family – ward off poor health and depression!
3. Volunteer – get a new sense of purpose!
4. Relax, actively practicing self-care – you worked hard, you deserve it!
5. Practice life-long learning – get a renewed zest for life!

Consider Keto BHB Supplements

If you are thinking about a Keto Diet, or are already following one, consider
taking Keto BHB Supplements. They contain Calcium, Sodium, and Magnesium.
When starting the diet they prevent the “Keto Flu” (not a virus, but a lack of energy
and feeling of malaise) Without the supplement you don’t have enough ketones for
energy and have soon used up the 500gm of carbs stored as glycogen in your
muscles and liver. Once on the diet, these supplements help during intermittent
fasting by keeping up the ketone levels in your bloodstream.

Avoid the Winter Blues

The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines suggest adults should perform at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week, as well as two sessions of muscle and bone strengthening activities, to achieve physical AND mental health benefits. With winter coming, and the challenges of leaving home, this can seem daunting! Your physiotherapist can tailor an exercise program designed specifically for you to do inside with minimal space (to help avoid the cold weather!), and with equipment everyone has around their home. At 30 minutes per day, the benefits of exercise are countless, while the side effects are minimal.