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.
Community News
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
How to Write a Condolence Note
Finding the words to write a note of comfort to friends and family who have lost a loved one can be difficult. It does not need to be a lengthy message. Generally, a few heartfelt sentences are enough. Simply express your sympathy and let the recipients know that your thoughts are with them during this difficult time. Acknowledge the loss and refer to the deceased by name. Sharing a fond memory of the deceased is a wonderful addition to the message. End the note with a kind word, a hope, a wish or expression of sympathy
Prevent Pneumococcal Pneumonia
Pneumococcal Pneumonia, caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, is the most common bacterial type of pneumonia. It can be life-threatening and may require admission to hospital. Bacteria can be present in your nose and throat without symptoms however, you can still infect others. Like the flu, it can be passed on from person to person through talking, coughing and sneezing. Risk factors for Pneumococcal pneumoniae are *Increased age, *Medical conditions such as chronic lung, heart or liver disease, Diabetes, and cancer, *Lifestyle factors including smoking, alcoholism and living in long-term care facilities. If you are 50+, talk to your pharmacist about the Prevnar 13 vaccine.
Take Care of Yourself
It is January, often a difficult winter month, and we all may be feeling a bit sluggish. Along with eating a clean and balanced diet, getting daily exercise and doing things that make you happy, there are a few safe and healthful supplements you can add into your fitness and energy regimen. * Green tea extract to rev up your metabolism and energy *L-Carnitine for energy production and utilization of fat consumption *Chromium picolinate for help with blood sugar issues and appetite regulation *Green coffee bean extract to help lower blood sugar, burn and utilize fat and carbohydrates. Happy, healthy, and energetic New Year to you!
Hearing Loss and the Risk of Falling
Hearing loss may be a risk factor for a huge public health problem: Falls. A study led by Frank Lin, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that people with a 25-decibel hearing loss, classified as mild, were nearly three times more likely to have a history of falling. Every additional 10-decibels of hearing loss increased the chances of falling by 1.4 fold. If you or a family member are concerned about hearing loss, visit NexGenHearing.com to take a free online hearing test.
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!
