Community News
Online Health and Wellness Resource

Wellnessnews Choices for Healthy Living® invites you to check out the Wellness Hub, your online Health and Wellness resource for Vancouver Island. The Wellness Hub features hundreds of local business and practitioners offering services and products. In addition, there are hundreds of health tips and articles on a variety of topics. It is easy to search, access and share information. While you are checking out the Wellness Hub, don’t forget to subscribe to receive a monthly email letting you know about events and the monthly contest. You can also read the digital version of our five island editons of the newsletter.

Socks for Healthy Circulation

Today’s travel often involves long flights in cramped seats that can be very hard on your circulation. Wearing socks with mild compression will comfortably help increase circulation and reduce the risk of swelling. The compression steadily squeezes your legs, helping your veins and leg muscles move blood more efficiently. They offer a simple, safe and economical way to keep blood from stagnating. Others things that will help you during long flights include getting up and stretching every hour while flying, staying hydrated and flexing your ankles every 30 minutes.

Profile: Revitalize Laser Clinic

At Revitalize Laser Clinic, we are passionate about education and knowledge! It doesn’t matter what age you are: investing in yourself is a vital part of your life journey! All our treatments are provided by trained and certified professionals who can create a custom treatment plan to fit your needs. Our Nanaimo location offers skincare treatments for face and body including treatments for men; we’ve got everything you need in one place. Great skin doesn’t happen by chance; it happens by appointment. Be sure to enter this month’s Wellnessnews contest for a chance to win an AFA Facial.

Conditions Affected by Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is connected to many other health conditions of the body. While hearing loss may not be the cause of these diseases or conditions, it is considered a risk factor for many. *Tinnitus refers to the sensation of perceiving sounds that have no external source—in other words, hearing sounds that are not there. *Meniere’s disease is a chronic inner ear disorder that causes recurring episodes of severe dizziness (vertigo), ear pressure, tinnitus and hearing loss. It typically affects only one ear, although some people experience symptoms in both ears. *Treating hearing loss aggressively can help ward off cognitive decline and dementia.

A Gift for Your Family

Making final arrangements ahead of time is a wise and considerate decision. This guarantees that your wishes are observed and spares your family from undue pressure at a time of great emotional stress. Having final plans in place is a blessing when passing is anticipated. With an unexpected death, they are even more important. An unexpected death can bring overwhelming grief, guilt and anger. These feelings can make it very difficult to plan an end-of-life service that respects the wishes of a loved one. Preplanning is a special gift to give your family. We can help.

Benefits of Pet Therapy

Pet therapy is a great form of compassionate care that has been popularized over the years, primarily on school campuses and across communities. The research on pet therapy’s effect on our aging population is remarkable. Pet therapy has been shown to decrease stress and anxiety. By providing connection and comfort through animals, pet therapy is extremely beneficial for feelings of stress and anxiety. Some studies even show positive results on mental functioning through pet therapy. Playing with animals is also a fun way to increase mobility as we age.

Too Much Screen Time

A 2019 report from Common Sense Media into media use by US tweens and teens stated: *8- to 12-year-olds in the US used screens recreationally for an average of 4.44 hours per day – excluding time spent online for schoolwork. This is twice the recommended healthy exposure. *8- to 12-year-olds from high ­income families spent 1 hour 50 minutes ˂ low-­income families. *Gaming accounts for (31%) of all screen time among 8- to 12-years-olds; (46%) play mobile games daily (in 2015 it was 27%); (24%) play console video games daily. On average, an hour and a half per day are spent gaming. citation: intenta.digital

Join the WellnessHub Today

Are you a health care practitioner? Do you have a health and wellness business? If so, you want to get a listing on the WellnessHub – Basic listings are FREE. The WellnessHub is Vancouver Island’s local online health and wellness resource. It features practitioners, businesses, health tips, a monthly contest and much more. Monthly memberships are available for people who want extra exposure. The WellnessHub is supported in print, social media, radio and more. We work with you to get your message out to your potential customers. The Hub attracts thousands of local visitors every month.

Diabetes Symptoms and Prevention

It is important to know the common symptoms of diabetes. *Fatigue and drowsiness, *Frequent urination, *Increased thirst or hunger, *Weight change, *Blurred Vision, *Frequent or reoccurring infection, *Tingling or numbness of hands or feet, *Cuts or bruises that are slow to heal. Untreated hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) can lead to serious health problems. The good news is that Type 2 diabetes is usually preventable by keeping your weight under control, eating a healthy diet, not smoking and being active on a daily basis. Please speak to your health practitioner if you have any concerns.

Supporting Individuals with Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease presents unique challenges for individuals living with the disease and the people caring for them. Here are three approaches you can consider as you care for your loved one: *Engage them with meaningful activities such as folding clothes or working on a puzzle. *Accept your limitations as a caregiver and recognize when and where you need support. *Learn helpful communication strategies. There isn’t one “right” way of communicating with all individuals, so try different strategies to find what works best to help your loved one feel supported. Learn more on our blog at CBI.ca.

The Influence of Sleep on Food Choices

When we are tired, drained and recovering from a poor night’s sleep, we are more likely to reach for foods that are quick, easy and premade. These are often packed with sodium, unhealthy fats and stripped of nutrients. Then, on top of that, we are more likely to give in to our cravings when we’re tired. This means sleep can be the secret weapon to influencing our food choices during waking hours. Get curious and notice when you’re tired and what food you crave and gravitate towards, and notice what it’s like after a good night’s sleep.