Community News
Gambling and Balance

Have you ever wondered if your gambling habits are in balance with other areas of your life? Problem gambling can harm a person’s relationships, employment status, education, and finances. It can also affect one’s physical and mental health. Here are some questions you can answer to do a self-assessment. Do you feel annoyed by criticisms of your gambling?  Do you feel guilty about your gambling?  Do you borrow money to gamble?  Do you gamble more than you intend to?  Do you often gamble until all your money is gone?  Do you lie or hide evidence about your gambling? Do you gamble to pay debt or solve financial difficulties?  Do you feel anxious, hopeless, depressed or suicidal about your gambling? If you answer “Yes” to any of these questions, you may have a problem with gambling. You are not alone. Reach out for help. That’s what we’re here for!

Karen Hlady, Community Engagement & Prevention Service Provider, Gambling Awareness Program
BCResponsibleGambling.ca

Orthotics & Summer Footwear

More and more people rely on custom foot orthotics to treat biomechanical issues related to the feet, whether it be plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, arthritic knees or low back pain, just to name a few. Now that summer has finally arrived, the question most orthotic wearers ask is what to do when it’s sandal weather. When orthotics are needed to correct altered foot mechanics it is important to wear them during all weight bearing activities.Fortunately many shoe manufacturers recognize the increasing need for sandals that accommodate custom orthotics. These sandals have removable foot beds that can be taken out to make room for your orthotics. If you recently purchased sandals but your orthotics don’t fit into them properly, very often a simple low-cost adjustment will solve the problem. Sandals don’t provide the same support as a closed-in shoe but can allow pleasant relief from the heat even for orthotic wearers.

Bryan Mitchell, B.D.
MitchellPandO.com

Wellnessnews Meetup Group

The Wellnessnews Meetup group is for people interested in Health and Wellness. It is free to join. We offer workshops on a variety of topics including alternative medicine, nutrition, healing, healthy weight-loss and many other wellness topics. Admission is free or by donation. Most workshops are 60 – 90 minutes in length. Over time, we hope to offer workshops between Cowichan Valley and Comox Valley. We also inform our members about health and wellness events, trade shows and activities happening in Central Vancouver Island. Here at the Wellnessnews, we love sharing the gift of health and wellness knowledge with our communities. Our next workshop is Bingo with a Twist. There are prizes to be won and refreshments to enjoy while we play Bingo.

Teresa Ostman, Publisher, Wellnessnews Central Island
Meetup.com/Wellnessnews

Dentures Have Come a Long Way

Years ago, the word “dentures” conjured up images of sticky adhesive pastes, ill-fitting appliances and awkward chewing. Thankfully, today’s dentures are more comfortable than ever before and can give you a bright, beautiful smile.  It is important that the denturist finds the right dentures for their patient who has suffered tooth loss. Tooth loss can cause a host of physical and emotional issues and a blow to self-esteem. More than just an aesthetic problem; it can also make eating, drinking, and talking uncomfortable. With so many denture options available, there is no reason to suffer with tooth loss. Today’s dentures are comfortable and affordable. Denture options include full dentures, partial dentures, or denture implants. Properly fitted dentures look and feel just like your natural teeth and allow you to experience a better quality of life. Visit a qualified denturist to find out what is best for you.

Ahmed A. Omar, Denturist, R.D., Nanaimo Denture Clinic
www.NanaimoDentureClinic.ca

Senior’s Health and Fitness Day

Looking for an Afternoon Outing and for Lots of Information related to Seniors? Want a great place go for a walk where its safe, quiet and peaceful? Come on out to Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens on 1st June 2017 between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm.  Take advantage of the companies that are offering free services such as a blood pressure clinic, hearing tests, consultations with an eye doctor, chiropractor, mobility aid company, nutritional  companies and information on senior’s fraud scams and safety from the RCMP. Go for a walk on one of our 3 different walking challenges or take part in the Exercise Olympics. Win a draw prize by completing some of the activities. Come see all of the companies that are committed to giving back to our community.

Ken Greig, Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens
ArborMemorial.ca/en/cedarvalley/about-us

Diffusing Essential Oils

Diffusing essential oils is a wonderful way to help purify the air in your home, create an ambiance or mood, allow the entire family to breath in the benefits of the oils, and even trigger or create positive memories! There are many products on the market to mask odors in our homes, but most are filled with synthetic and sometimes harmful chemicals that we should not be breathing in. Pure therapeutic grade essential oils are also made up of chemical compounds, but they are in their natural, unadulterated state, and can actually have beneficial effects when inhaled, such as helping you feel relaxed, uplifted, invigorated, or calm. There are many options for diffusing oils, from diffuser necklaces and bracelets, to USB car diffusers, to fancy ultrasonic diffusers with LED light displays, music options, and even remote controls! This allows you to create the perfect ambiance in your own home.

Denise Mackinnon, Young Living Independent Distributor 2122587
Facebook.com/simplehealthideas

Magnesium: Are you getting enough?

Do you know that only 1% of the body’s magnesium is stored in your blood? This means that it may not show up in routine blood tests and is sometimes missed as a deficiency. Magnesium is by far the most important mineral in the body. It is essential for the electrical stability of every cell in the body and regulates the flow of calcium, potassium and sodium. Magnesium is needed in large quantities to be an effective cell controller. The recommended daily amount for persons over the age of two is 250+ mg. Transdermal (through the skin) magnesium absorption has proven to be one the most effective methods of getting enough of the mineral. A home bath of Epsom salts, topical magnesium supplements or a session of salt-water floatation therapy can be fantastic choices. What’s more, our skin has the ability to self-regulate the amount of magnesium it absorbs!

Paul Martin, Harbour City Float
HarbourCityFloat.com

Growing Up Can Be a Pain

Does your child complain of achiness in both legs at night? Pain in the upper or lower legs or behind the knees can occur during periods of rapid growth in kids, usually between the ages of 3-5 or 8-12. Recent studies have found a high incidence of these ‘growing pains’ in children with flat feet. As your child’s body weight increases with the rapid growth, their foot arches may not be strong enough to maintain that extra weight. The arches may flatten under the strain. If this happens the muscles of the calves and legs have to work harder. Correcting the arches with either off-the-shelf or custom foot orthotics can help ease some of the muscle soreness. When combined with warm massage, increased fluid intake, stretching, and ensuring that stable, supportive footwear is worn throughout the day, you can greatly ease your child’s discomfort.

Diane Calder BScKIN, Pedorthist, B.D. Mitchell Prosthetics and Orthotics
MitchellPandO.com

Get an MRI to find out what’s wrong!

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

Wellnessnews Workshops

We offer workshops on a variety of topics including alternative medicine, nutrition, healing, healthy weight-loss and more. Admission is free and most workshops are 60 – 90 minutes in length. Sign up today to view upcoming workshops and receive information on new events as they are posted.

Next workshop: May 17, “Journey to Wholeness: Body, Mind and Spirit.”

Teresa Ostman
Meetup.com/Wellnessnews

Dementia Signs and Symptoms

Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s, which accounts for 60-80 percent of cases. The greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer’s are 65 and older.  Symptoms to watch for with your loved ones include; memory loss, communication and language difficulties, inability to focus and pay attention, poor reasoning and judgment and changes in visual perception. A successful way to help is to focus on the Eden Philosophy.  The philosophy is to eliminate loneliness, helplessness and boredom with a focus on wellness rather than illness. When an individual’s ability to contribute is recognized, the years to come can be a time of meaningful active and satisfying personal growth.

Lianne Ketcheson, Nanaimo Memory and Complex Care
NanaimoMemoryCare.com