A health problem may start many years before you experience a symptom. The symptom is like the tip of the ice berg. Warning signs can be plantar warts, corns, athlete’s foot or ingrown toenails. There was a man who had plantar warts at the ball of his foot. In Reflexology, the ball of the foot corresponds to the lung. The plantar warts were surgically removed. He was also a smoker with morning cough. Once he stopped smoking, the cough went away. It is important to heed the warning signs that our bodies give us. With Chinese Medicine, Reflexology, or knowledge about Meridians (Acupuncture, Acupressure), a practitioner knows where in the body a problem is starting. With Reconnective Healing® the body/Creator knows what to heal.

Anna Christine Doehring, RHFP, RCP, Energy All Around Therapies
Energy-All-Around.com

Registered Nutrition Consultant Practitioners (RNCPs) are scientific evidence-based trained nutritional professionals who can educate you about diet, lifestyle and detoxification for optimum health and energy. They can design an individualized nutrition program that respects your unique biochemistry, food sensitivities and intolerances to help you build and maintain wellness. When designing a program, environmental pollution, metal toxicity, micro-organism imbalances, medications, and other factors that can contribute to your body’s total toxic load and perpetuates chronic disease are considered. RNCPs support your body’s natural detoxification processes to help eliminate wastes and toxins that can damage cells, tissues and organs. They can help you with lifestyle changes that incorporate the benefits of regular exercise: better cardio and lung capacity, more energy, muscle tone, posture improvement, stress release, weight control, and mood enhancement. RNCPs are certified by the International Organization of Nutritional Consultants.

Crystal McMillan, MA, RNCP, Bareroots Natural Health and Yoga Centre
BarerootsNaturalHealth.com

Many seniors wish to maintain an independent lifestyle in the comfort and familiarity of their own home but find it difficult to do so as they age. The good news is that there are a wide range of services available to help seniors do just that. These cost-effective services range from general care to extended care to nursing care. The level of care required is determined with an initial in-depth assessment and consultation welcoming family members, support providers and clients to identify the specific areas of need and care required. General care may include regular or special diet meal planning/preparation, assistance with appointments, grocery shopping and light housekeeping. Extended care attendants can provide family relief/respite, personal care, medication dispensing, pre/post operative and rehabilitation care. Nurses can help with Injections, wound care, catheter and colostomy changes and more. The level of care required can range from one visit per week to twenty four hour, full time care.

Sue Williams, Owner, Sue’s Seniors Care Inc.
SuesSeniorCare.com

As important as it is to feel safe at home, that feeling shouldn’t end when you head out the door. You want to feel safe and secure wherever you might be! Whether in your home, walking to your mailbox or going on vacation, there are devices available that give you 24/7 access to help. These on-the-go devices can send an alert when you press a button, sense when you fall and send an automatic alert, and provide direct, two-way communication with a 24/7 Response Center. They are designed to help locate the user in a variety of situations – home or away, indoors and out.  It really is possible to get out there and enjoy life with peace of mind.

Joan Ryan, Nanaimo Lifeline
NanaimoLifeline.ca

What is it and how will you know when you achieve it? Many of us have learned to look outside to what society tells us, whether it be family, friends or the media. From a young age, we have been trained to look up to our elders, do as we are told and mind our manners.  Some of these things are good but some are limiting and don’t encourage us to discover our own truth. As a result, we end up in pain; physical, mental, emotional or spiritual pain, all of which is the body speaking to get our attention. A sense of feeling unfulfilled or overwhelmed is another sign of being out of balance. Fortunately, there is much that we can do to change this. Meditation, massage, essential oils and nutritional supplements can all be incorporated into our lives. Join us at the Wellnessnews Workshop on May 17 where you will receive tools and much more.

Tammy Phye, R.A., EOT, Lifestyle Harmony
LifestyleHarmony.ca

Did you know that any sound exceeding 60 decibels can have a negative impact on your hearing? A music player can reach up to 100 decibels, and at that level, it would only take 15 minutes for you to inflict some damage on your hearing. It is tempting to crank up the volume when you hear a great song, or even if you are in a noisy environment and find it difficult to hear, but your hearing health is too important to sacrifice for a moment of enjoyment. Some music players are equipped with volume locks to warn you of dangerous sound levels and/or to prevent you from turning up the volume to a dangerous level. If you find it hard to hear your music in a noisy place, wait until you are in a quieter environment; you will hear the music better anyway!

Lana Cuddeford, Nanaimo, HearingLife Canada
hearinglifecanada.ca

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is particularly effective in detecting orthopaedic injuries in knees, shoulders, hips, and ankles, and for assessing brain and spinal cord issues.  MRI scans interpreted by radiologists provide essential information to family physicians to form treatment plans. MRI uses a strong magnetic field, radio waves and computer technology to generate detailed diagnostic images.  MRI is non-invasive; there is no harmful radiation as with other forms of imaging. When having an MRI scan, all metallic items must be removed before scanning.  The MRI Technologist will guide you during the 30-45 minute scan to hold still so that quality images, without blurry motion artefacts, can be obtained.  You will be given hearing protections as MRI is noisy but painless. MRIs are performed in a hospital where waiting times can be up to a year or performed very quickly in a private facility.

Nanaimo MRI, Inc.
nanaimomri.ca

1) Keep your mouth clean; Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste; Floss every day.

2) Check your mouth regularly for signs of gum disease: Red, shiny, puffy, sore or sensitive gums; Bleeding when you brush or floss; Bad breath that won’t go away. Signs of oral cancer: Bleeding or open sores that don’t heal; White or red patches; Small lumps and thickening on the sides or bottom of your tongue, the floor or roof of your mouth, the inside of your cheeks, or on your gums.

3) Eat well: Limit foods and beverages containing sugar or carbohydrates; Eat healthy snacks like cheeses, nuts, vegetables, and non-acidic fruits.

4) See your dentist regularly. 48% of Canadians who haven’t seen a dentist in the past year have gum disease. Regular dental exams and professional cleanings are the best way to prevent and detect problems.

Dr. Robert Wolanski, Dentist/Owner, Lakeside Dental Clinic
lakesidedentalclinic.ca