Your heart muscle works hard pumping your blood to deliver vital nutrients around your body and to feed your organs. Those of us with family history, or risk factors like obesity, circulatory disorders, high blood pressure and/or sugars, need to be extra aware and wary about our hearts. Take heart knowing that your risk can be reduced. Start by eating an anti-inflammatory whole foods diet. Exercise is essential so choose something you enjoy. Keep lean to reduce the “metabolic syndrome” risk factors. Talk to a professional about supplements such as coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a potent antioxidant that has been linked to normal cardiac muscle functioning to support cardiovascular health.

The Comox Valley Lifeline Society, a non-profit organization, has been providing an easy-to-use personal emergency response system to the Cowichan Valley since 1988. The Society was established because the membership believed that people deserved the dignity to live on their own and have access to immediate help in an emergency situation. If you experience a fall or other emergency in your home, every second counts. Delays can jeopardize your recovery and your independence. Lifeline quickly connects you to a trained Response Associate, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at the push of a button. You are never alone and help is always there when you need it.

How old are you on the inside? We all want to look younger, but certain negative lifestyle choices like smoking, drinking, inactivity and poor diet can all affect the body in ways that can’t necessarily be seen on the outside. Join the 90 Day Cardio Challenge for improved cardio health. Step 1 – test your internal age with the iHeart device. Step 2 – for 90 days, eat right, stay active and add one serving of Cardioflex Q10. Step 3 – retest and share your results with Innotech (the manufacturer) to receive a free container of Cardioflex Q10.

Your gums are constantly changing. When the remaining gum or residual ridge atrophies or “shrinks”, it results in changes to the shape of the face and mouth. As a result of these changes, your denture will no longer fit properly. By refitting or “relining”, your denturist can reshape the denture base to compensate for these changes. Signs that indicate your denture should be examined for relining include: sore, painful gums, loose denture and cracked or broken denture. See your professional denturist to ensure that the comfort, fit, and appearance of your denture will keep you smiling.

The Clements Centre offer a unique opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to explore, have fun and participate in an array of sensory experiences. Multi-sensory rooms have been used to enhance sensory development, increase hand/eye co-ordination, promote language development and encourage relaxation. Trust and relaxation are encouraged in the multi-sensory room by providing the space and time to enjoy sensations. The multi-sensory room is a therapeutic and recreational room designed to provide stimulation and relaxation through touch, light, and sound. The room is specifically designed to provide a variety of sensory experience to promote relaxation, leisure, learning, and fun for people with special needs.

A study led by Frank Lin, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, suggests that hearing loss may also be a risk factor for a huge public health problem: falls. The study 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 your local hearing specialist to take a free online hearing test.