Medication mix-ups can and do happen. It’s easy for people to lose track of what they are taking and how often they are taking it. Asking a pharmacist questions is a powerful action that can improve medication safety, they are an expert in medications. Patients are also a very important partner in medication safety. Ask questions every time a new medication is prescribed, given or purchased. A full understanding of all aspects of medication is so important to help patients manage their health. Questions save lives, it’s safe to ask.
Community News
Manitoba’s Wellness Road Trips
Located just an hour’s drive from Winnipeg, the community of La Broquerie is home to a healing gem called Calder House. Take an easy road trip and experience all that Calder House has to offer, including solo and group retreats with yoga, meditation, spa therapies, detox programs, and spiritual teachings. Learn how to integrate your mind, body, and spirit for total wellness. Enjoy the journey as you leave the city behind and immerse yourself deeper into nature. Take in the sights, sounds, and smells while you travel to your wellness destination, and practice your deep breathing while you drive!
Keep Your Joints Happy
Many of us have an old injury, or joint that tends to stiffen up with a change in weather. With an increase in barometric pressure or humidity, especially in these nasty cold spells we’ve been experiencing, our joints get cold and cranky just like the rest of us. These changes cause the “synovial fluid” in our joints to increase in viscosity, causing inflammation. A few easy ways to keep our joints happy is with extra layers of warmth. For examples: Wearing Long John’s, a knee or elbow sleeve, tensor bandage or even putting your clothes in the dryer before putting them on. Stay warm out there!
Signs of Poor Mental Health
It can be hard to know if someone is suffering from poor mental health. It is impossible to know the thoughts another person is experiencing unless they share them with us. If you suspect someone may be struggling, look for common signs of poor mental health, such rapid mood swings, increased anxiety, social withdrawal, and lack of self care. Other signs to look for include concentration or memory issues, lack of motivation, and withdrawing from friends and activities. Offering to listen and sharing about your mental health can open up lines of communication so they can start to feel better.
Do’s and Don’ts of Dating
In today’s distracted world, where people are panicked when they don’t have instant access to their electronics, face-to-face meetings can be a foreign concept. When getting to know someone, it is important that they feel you are giving them your undivided attention. Cell phones need to be on silent and put away while on a date. Exes are not discussed. Communication needs to be real. Texting and emailing are not appropriate ways to get to know someone. Take the time to call them and have a real conversation. Do an activity on your date where you have ample time to get to learn more about the person. Mini golf, bowling, the zoo, or walking through craft shows are some suggestions that allow you to get to know one another without pressure.
Massage for Infants with Colic
Colic in infants can be distressing for the entire family. Luckily, massage can help relax the baby’s abdomen and move painful gas through the intestines so it can be expelled. Techniques to try include bending the infant’s legs up toward the abdomen and moving the knees in circles over the tummy, using your hand to put firm, gentle pressure on the abdomen, or laying the baby over your knees, stomach down, and rocking the child side to side. You can also try stroking the infant’s abdomen with alternate hands, moving gently but firmly from ribs to hips.
Words to Live By
“Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.” -General George Patton
Book Club: Hack Your Anxiety
How to Make Anxiety Work for You in Life, Love, and All That You Do. What if anxiety is not a monster to be tamed, but a resource to be tapped? In this revolutionary book, Dr. Alicia Clark recognizes anxiety as the unsung hero in the path to success and happiness. It can become the motivating force that will lead to a better you, and The Anxiety Advantage aims to restore anxiety to its rightful place as a positive resource. Reclaim your anxiety as a powerful energy source, and bring yourself peace, growth and success.
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Q: Where did the hippo go to study about the brain? A: The hippocampus!
FUN FACT: The hippocampus is a region of your brain that helps form, organize, and store memory. It is the most sensitive area to stress.
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
Clean Eating: Matcha Green Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients: 2 frozen ripe bananas, 1/4 cup chopped ripe pineapple, 3/4 cup coconut milk, 2 tsp matcha green tea powder, 1 cup organic spinach or kale. Topping ideas: berries, coconut flakes, banana slices, chia seeds, almonds. Instructions: Add frozen banana slices, pineapple, coconut milk, matcha powder, and spinach to a blender and blend on high until creamy and smooth. Enjoy!
