Community News
Dogs for Mental Health

Pets for Mental Health My advice for the very best in mental and physical wellness: get a dog! Dogs in particular can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and improve your cardiovascular health. Caring for a dog can help children grow up to be more secure and active, or can provide valuable companionship for seniors. Studies have found that dog owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets. Pet owners also have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than those without pets. One of the reasons for these therapeutic effects is that dogs fulfill the basic human need to touch. Even hardened criminals in prison have shown long-term changes in their behavior after interacting with dogs, many of them experiencing mutual affection for the first time. The companionship of a pet can also ease loneliness, and most dogs are a great stimulus for healthy exercise, which can substantially boost your mood and ease depression.

Amy Buehler, 12th Street Studio/Gallery/B&B

 

The Effects of Stress on Your Hair

It has been said that stress can make you go gray, or cause you to lose your hair. But can it? Hair loss due to stress can occur after a traumatic life event such as divorce, death or severe financial worries. This temporary hair loss, called ‘telogen effluvium,’ can also be caused by factors such as hormonal changes (think menopause or post-pregnancy), illness or poor diet. The significant stress of some sort may spark a change in your body’s routine physiological functions. Hair evolves in a cycle of growth (anagen); transition (catagen); and resting (telogen). Prolonged or extreme stress can cause hair to prematurely enter telogen and break off more easily. When you have a really stressful event, it can shock the hair cycle, pushing more hair into the shedding phase.

Jenna Wilcox, www.jennawilcox.monat.com

Pharmacy Budget

We know that the cost of prescriptions is often difficult to manage for patients. We want everyone to have access to good care and safe medication use – to accomplish this, a customized budget plan for clients. This allows you to remain on your medications and manage the expense throughout the year. Along with the budget, a visiting pharmacist will counsel you or your loved ones in the comfort of your own home on a regular basis. They will help you manage multiple or complex medications and collaborate with other members of your health care team to ensure your health needs are met. This gives you and your family peace of mind with the knowledge that this aspect of your life is taken care of and contributes to a positive quality of life. Better Health and Wellness can be achieved through medication management – call a visiting pharmacist to arrange a home visit.

Care at Home Pharmacy, www.careathomepharmacy.ca

Clean Eating: Almond Date Energy Bites

1 cup Medjool Dates (de-pitted).

1 cup raw almonds.

1/4 cup unsweetened coconut or rolled oats.

1/4 cup raw cacao.

¼ tsp cinnamon. Pinch of sea salt.

1/2 tbsp vanilla. 1/2 tbsp maple syrup.

1 – 2 tbsp almond milk.

1. Place dates in food processor and pulse until it forms a ball. Break up the date ball with a spatula and add almonds, raw cacao, coconut and salt. 2. Process for 3-4 minutes 3. Add vanilla, almond milk and maple syrup 4. Process until mixture forms a ball. Add more almond milk if the mixture is not forming. 5. Roll mixture into balls and dip in shredded coconut if desired 6. Can be stored in an airtight container or frozen.

Stacie Rasmussen RNCP, Blossom Nutrition, www.winnipegnutritionist.com

Considering Dentures?

The first priority when considering dentures is to ensure that your mouth is healthy. Make sure you see a dentist first. Only a dentist is specially qualified to check for signs of oral cancer and other conditions of concern in the mouth. People are surprised to learn that a dentist is the most affordable denture option. A well made denture is virtually undetectable to the untrained eye. More advanced options to replace missing teeth include fixed bridges and implants. Only a dentist can prepare natural teeth for a fixed bridge. Only a dentist can place dental implants. Any dentures supported by or attached to implants should be made by a dentist. “Life is more fun when you have a beautiful smile.”

Dr. George Cadigan, Exclusively Dentures, www.exclusivelydentures.ca

Help is Available

Professionals can help! If you have a mental health concern, deciding to take that first step toward reaching out to a professional can seem daunting and scary. However taking that first step can open the door to feeling better. Who do you go to if you have a mental health concern? Your doctor can be a great professional to turn to. They may even refer you to other professionals to ensure you get the care you need. There are many different types of professionals that can help us. For example, counsellors can help you work on relationship issues, past life events and many other topics. Financial planners can help you save money or reduce debt. Reaching out to a professional doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you, it means you’ve recognized a need for change and want someone to help you through it.

Canadian Mental Health Association, www.cmha.ca

The Right Footwear for Your Foot Type

Summer is here and everyone is taking advantage of the beautiful weather by running more outside. Proper footwear selection is beneficial to help decrease the risk of injury or chronic pain. Everyone’s feet are made differently and our running mechanics are as well. There are 3 general foot types and there is a right type of shoe for each. Over-pronators (flat feet or fallen arches) would benefit from a motion-control shoe. These are made of a stiffer material, so it helps correct normal heel-to-toe mechanics, as well as help maintain the dome shape of the arch. Supinators (high arches) would benefit from a cushioned/neutral shoe. This type of shoe focuses on cushioning and doesn’t have the same stiff material, therefore it is lighter. Normal pronators (medium arches) would want to look for a stability shoe. This shoe mildly helps correct foot mechanics, but has half the stiffness; arch support only on the medial aspect of the shoe. The proper shoe could save you a lot of grief as you try to keep active this spring and summer.

Heath Vermette, South Sherbrook Physiotherapy
www.Southsherbrook.com

Strengthen Your Core

Summer is finally here! As we plant our gardens, get on the golf links, train for the upcoming marathon we should always include your core exercises as a warmup for activity. The classic plank – engage your abdominals, glutes and legs, then try with your palms flat on the ground. Include some ‘supermans’; on your stomach, extend to lift both arms and legs to work those back extensors. Instead of that traditional abdominal crunch; grab a small weight and include some slow rotations while in that crunch or even crunch with opposite arm and leg touching towards center. But proceed with caution, know your technique and visit your Physio to personalize a program for you.

Chris Bisignano, Concourse Physiotherapy
www.yourphysio.com

Considering Dentures?

The first priority in having new dentures made is to ensure that your gums are healthy and that there are no signs of problems throughout your mouth. Having dentures made on inflamed or infected gums is only going to make matters worse. You should also be examined periodically for any signs of oral cancer. For this screening it is important that you see a dentist. If you need partial dentures then the health of the remaining natural teeth is critical. Any cavities need to be addressed before new dentures are made. Your teeth need to be cleaned and their supporting gums and bone need to be healthy and viable. Dentists train for many years to be able to recognize and treat all problems with your mouth. If necessary they will refer you to board certified specialists. These are dentists who have taken extra years of training over and above their dental degree.

Dr. George Cadigan, Exclusively Dentures
www.exclusivelydentures.ca

Cupping Therapy

Cupping therapy is an ancient tradition in Chinese medicine. “Cupping” involves placing glass, bamboo or plastic suctions on the skin. The vacuum effect targets areas of deep tissue within the back, which is beneficial for dulling pain, breaking up deep scar tissue, and relaxing tender muscles or connective tissue. Cupping has numerous benefits — it can help remove toxins from the body and stimulate the flow of fresh blood, lymph, and Qi (life force). It often works wonders for patients with the flu, coughs, back and muscle pain, poor circulation, anxiety, red itchy skin conditions, allergies, fevers, aches and other pains. Cupping is one of the best deep-tissue therapies available. Toxins can be released, blockages can be cleared, and veins and arteries can be refreshed within these four inches of affected materials. It should be noted that cupping is not be used on patients who bleed easily and/or cannot stop bleeding, have skin ulcers, or edema.

Dr. Ling Zhao, Balancing Channels Acupuncture & Massage
www.winnipegacupuncture.com

Don’t Fall Through the Cracks

If you are a caregiver of an older adult or a senior who finds the health care system inadequate and difficult to navigate you are not alone. Many caregivers and seniors are frustrated with unresolved health issues, insufficient time with practitioners to resolve matters and unsatisfactory quality of life. Another reason why many seniors fall through the cracks in the health care system is lack of timely review of health care needs as people get older. A Senior Care Practitioner is a medical professional, medication expert and health team coordinator who solves health problems and helps older adults and their families advance through the health care system and make optimal use of resources. She advocates for patients at their physician and coordinates activities between patients, families and health care providers to ensure continuity of care and desired outcomes. Visiting clients in the comfort of their homes adds more value to her service and reliefs caregiver burden.

Mathilda Prinsloo BPharm CGP CDE, Senior Care Pharmacy Practice
www.seniorcarepractice.com