Being in love not only gives you a bounce in your step, but it also has several proven health benefits. When you are in love, your brain produces a hormone called dopamine that contributes to feelings of elation, pleasure, optimism, energy, and a sense of well-being. Physical touch, such as hugging, releases a hormone called oxytocin, which lowers stress hormones. Studies have demonstrated that people releasing these hormones have stronger immune systems, lower blood pressure, greater resistance to colds and flus, and decreased stress and depression. Finding your life partner has more benefits than we once realized!
Community News
Exercise for SAD
SAD stands for Seasonal Affected Disorder, which is mainly attributed to the reduction in sunlight hours in winter and is your body’s reaction to the changes in season. With SAD you might feel sluggish or moody, have a loss of appetite, and even lose interest in activities you normally love. One way to combat these feelings and the wintertime blues is to get your body moving! Exercise, even light exercise, has been shown to improve mood and energy through increased blood flow and the release of certain endorphins, as well as improve sleep and alertness, and reduce anxiety and stress.
Smart in Everything but Reading?
Children who are considered bright underachievers often have vision problems that make reading difficult. Sometimes they’re described as auditory learners because they can remember things they’ve heard much faster and easier than anything they’ve read. A clear sign that a vision problem may be at the root of your child’s difficulties is poor performance on written or standardized tests. It may surprise you to learn that many children who have vision problems interfering with learning actually have 20/20 eyesight (with or without glasses). A Developmental Vision Evaluation is needed to determine if a vision problem is interfering with reading.
Prevent Hospital Stays with Early Treatment
Many seniors hesitate to see a doctor because they are afraid their condition may put them in the hospital. In reality, seeing a doctor sooner with a medical concern can prevent long hospital stays. A common example is found when a person develops urinary dysfunction. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common but overlooked cause of dehydration, lethargy, and altered mental status. Early detection can minimize the severity of the condition. A prolonged UTI can lead to sepsis wherein a person becomes very ill. Community Paramedics Service provides economical non-emergency assessment and transportation. Don’t wait until you become an emergency.
In Your Neighborhood
Good Neighbours Active Living Centre offers a variety of presentations that are of interest to those 55+. Coming up in November, we will be offering the following presentations:
• Tree Planting Project – a grassroots initiative
• Bankers Row
• Protect Yourself from Scams
• Lake Winnipeg – learn about its current health and challenges
• Aging in Place
For more information, please call 204-669-1710, or email admin@gnalc.ca.
Special Care for Senior Pets
November is Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month, and those with senior pets know that they offer unique benefits and lots of love. As pets age, they need our care even more, with regular veterinary checkups and a focus on dental health to avoid periodontal disease and other associated health problems. When you’re away from home, use only a professional pet sitter experienced in caring for senior pets. Pet owners should inquire about a potential pet sitter’s experience with senior pets and any specific training they’ve had, such as Pet First Aid & a Certificate in Professional Pet Sitting Program.
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 cloves are an excellent remedy for oral pain? Eugenol, the main ingredient in cloves has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Thus, it works as a pain reliever and helps disinfect your mouth. Grind a few cloves to get ½ teaspoon of powder. Mix a few drops of olive oil into the ground cloves. Apply it onto your sore gum. Wait 5 minutes, and then rinse with warm water. Repeat 2 times per day until gum feels better.
Eye Care for All-Day Computer Users
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.
Vision Problems or ADD/ADHD?
Eye coordination and eye movement disorders have very similar symptoms to ADD/ADHD. When you have a child who has difficulty concentrating in school or at home, especially with reading or writing assignments, it is vital that you rule out the possibility that a vision problem may be contributing to your child’s difficulties, before you assume that it’s ADD/ADHD. Not all eye doctors test for vision problems that interfere with reading, learning, and paying attention. To find a doctor near you who provides this type of testing, visit the website for the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, www.covd.org.
Support for Dystonia
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: bcrow@mymts.net,
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.
