Normally we do not look for information on a subject until we need it or notice how other people are managing until we are in the same boat. Being informed before we have a need is beneficial to ourselves and to our families and friends. Nanaimo offers many opportunities to educate yourself about what aids and services are available for your health needs. Attending health fairs such as NSSN Seniors Health and Wellness Fair on November 8, is educational and can be a lot of fun. Consider attending events where dozens of health service providers are on hand to give you information and answer your questions.
Community News
Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins
Did you know that there is a safe, simple and effective method to cosmetically treat the condition of spider veins and some varicose veins? Spider veins are small dilated vessels that usually appear on the legs and face. Spider veins on the face are treated by laser while spider veins on the legs are treated by sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is an injection of a sclerosing solution directly into the vein using a fine needle. Fading of the spider veins is gradual but a 75 – 90% improvement is possible. Sclerotherapy treatments are performed by a LPN, under doctor supervision.
Help for Thinning Hair
Have you noticed your hair thinning or signs of male pattern baldness? Collagen Activation Therapy may help. The wound healing response from skin needling can stimulate the production of the proteins that are responsible for new hair growth. The induced blood circulation increases nutrients including human growth hormone to your follicles that can reactivate follicles that have become dormant. Ideal candidates include men with male pattern baldness and men or women with thinning hair. It may also help hereditary hair loss known as alopecia. Talk to a professional to see if Collagen Activation Therapy can help you.
Laser Therapy for Quitting
Quitting smoking can be difficult and those who are looking to kick the habit can often use all the help they can get. Low level laser therapy (soft laser) can be a safe, affordable, and effective tool. Laser therapy sessions can help you quit smoking by addressing all three parts of addiction: physical, psychological, and detoxification. For the physical aspect, laser therapy helps stimulate key neuro-chemical pathways to produce endorphins and curb nicotine cravings. Laser therapy sessions can help with relaxation and allow you focus on the psychological reasons for nicotine cravings, and as part of the sessions, detoxification techniques can also be discussed.
Urinary Tract Infections and the Elderly
A ‘UTI’ is a bacterial infection that occurs anywhere along the urinary tract. There are many reasons why elderly people tend to be more vulnerable to UTI’s. One of these is their overall susceptibility to all types of infections because of a suppressed immune system that comes with age. Elderly men and women often experience weakening of the bladder muscles which results in incomplete emptying of the bladder. This leads to more urine being retained in the bladder and incontinence, which in turn can lead to UTI’s. UTI’s can present with symptoms of confusion and other cognitive difficulties.
Wildfire Smoke Inhalation
The effects of wildfire smoke inhalation can manifest weeks and/or months after our skies have cleared in the form of chronic colds, flu, and upper respiratory infections. Inhalation ozonide therapy is good for any acute upper respiratory infection. Both asthmatics and patients with chronic lung disease can use it. Ozone gas is bubbled through olive oil to the inhaler, which turns it into ozonides molecules that are completely safe to inhale. The ozonides can last for weeks in the human body and have an incredible regenerative effect on our cells and organs, helping to control and eliminate infections, increasing the delivery of oxygen to cells, and stimulating cells to generate more energy.
Theatre Production: Glorious
Glorious, the outrageously hilarious comedy about the worst singer in the world, brings the story of Florence Foster Jenkins to life on the Chemainus Theatre Festival stage this fall. First premiering on London’s West End in 2005, this delightfully comedic play portrays the story of “An extraordinary woman who had the guts to follow her dream”. Known as ‘The first lady of the sliding scale’, Jenkins’ charm lies somewhere between Norma Desmond and Lucille Ball. During World War II, the amateur singer and flamboyant socialite was the squeaky soprano du jour, singing her way into the hearts of New York society.
Recipe for Fermented Dills
Fermented pickles provide healthy pro-biotic digestive enzymes, make the nutrients more bio-available and are easy to make. In a clean, 1 quart glass Mason jar, place a horseradish leaf in the bottom. Tightly pack with washed cucumbers, making sure there are no air pockets. Add sprigs of dill and cloves of chopped garlic evenly throughout the jar and top with bits of horseradish leaf. Add 1 heaping tablespoon of course sea salt and fill to top with clean, filtered water. Cover with a Mason jar lid and leave on the counter for 5 – 7 days to ferment and then store in the fridge.
Risk vs Reward
All gambling, be it poker, a sports game, scratch’n win tickets etc. involves risking something of value in the hopes of winning something by chance. There are three elements to gambling: Wager is the cost of playing in the form of a bet or stake. This can be money or possessions that you are prepared to lose. Chance is the uncertainty and the fact that the outcome of the gamble cannot be predicted or guaranteed. Risk is the value of the wager that has been made on an uncertain outcome. Before you gamble, ask yourself; “Is the potential of winning worth the risk of losing?”
Making Decisions for Loved Ones
When you are faced with a sudden situation such as the illness of a loved one, in order to make any medical or financial decisions, you will need to have a power of attorney or representation agreement in place. A power of attorney gives the power to take care of financial and legal matters. A representation agreement can be set up to handle personal and health care matters for your loved one if they have become incapable of making decisions on their own. The time to get these set up is before they are needed. Talk to your local notary.
Laser Acupuncture for Depression
Studies have shown that low levels of serotonin are often linked to depression in individuals. These low levels can be caused by factors such as genetics, as well as a person’s environment, which may include physical and emotional trauma. Laser acupuncture using cold non-invasive lasers can stimulate the release and synthesis of serotonin, as well as the release of endorphins, both of which can improve emotional wellbeing. Laser therapy offers a comprehensive process for recovery that can be used as part of a treatment program for depression that may also include physician-prescribed medication and/or psychotherapy.
