The state of your mouth can offer valuable insights into your dental, oral and overall health. Here are some things to watch for: 1) Bleeding when you brush your gums could be a sign of gum disease. 2) Sugar sensitivity usually indicates a cavity, but cold sensitivity might just indicate that a change of toothpaste is needed. Heat sensitivity could be more serious. 3) Bad breath can be caused by poor oral hygiene, but sometimes by a throat infection. A good electric toothbrush, flossing and scraping your tongue all help, and be sure to see your dentist regularly!
Community News
Boosting Your Brainpower
Brain function is vital to your quality of life. Whether you have an injured brain, an aging brain, or a perfectly healthy brain that you want to make even better, there are numerous tools available to help boost your brainpower. The interdisciplinary team at Broken Squirrel Wellness is passionate about brain health and can prescribe a variety of options to suit your needs. We have everything from mindfulness and meditation to somatics and yoga classes supplemented by mental health therapies and nutritional practices to support happy, healthy neurons (and a happy, healthy YOU). Come check us out at the Collective Building at 445 10th Street or at BrokenSquirrel.ca
Wealth & Well-Being
“The Living Market” Podcast.
Inflation. Volatility. Bears and Bulls. There’s a lot to unpack in the markets – especially right now. IG Wealth Management presents its new “The Living Market” podcast, where host Philip Petursson, Chief Investment Strategist at IG Wealth Management, brings clarity to the markets by sharing his views on the trends dominating the investment landscape and how they impact your financial life. Each week, join Philip for a five-minute episode as he breaks down current market trends and navigates “The Living Market”. Subscribe to “The Living Market” through your favourite podcast app, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or visit the IG website.
Impact of Gambling Advertising
According to a recent study* in the National Library of Medicine, people with gambling problems report more exposure to and impact from gambling advertising. The study revealed that problem gambling was associated with increased perceived advertising impact on gambling involvement and awareness of gambling. It also revealed that internet advertising was the strongest predictor of perceived advertising impact on gambling involvement and TV advertising was the strongest predictor of advertising impact on knowledge of gambling forms, operators and awareness of gambling. If you need support, we are here. (* “Relationships Between Exposure to Different Gambling Advertising Types, Advertising Impact and Problem Gambling”)
Karen Hlady, VI Gaming Support, VIGamingSupport.ca
Caring for the Dying
Janet O’Dell is an End of Life Practitioner, or Death Doula, who is highly trained in skills that involve providing practical, psychological, social, and spiritual support for the dying, and their loved ones and caregivers. Janet works to advocate for and provide guidance and support to those who are facing the end of their life, and their families. Discussions may include end of life documents, options and preferences for end of life medical choices, and how to create a sacred space and peaceful setting wherever someone may want to be at the end of their life and with whom.
Low-Fee Counselling Without the Waitlist!
If you need counselling support now but are unable to pay a private rate, why not consider an intern counselling service? Intern counsellors have completed their graduate studies and can work with clients on a wide variety of challenges including burnout, stress/anger management, anxiety, and depression. For a rate of $40/hr, our intern counsellor can see children, youth, adults, and couples. Whether online, in person, or any day/time that works for you, our intern counsellor is available.
Ask The Expert
Q: The lenses in my glasses used to get dark in the sunlight but they don’t seem to work any longer, what’s going on?
A: It’s very rare, but sometimes photochromic lenses degrade over time and can’t be fixed. If you bought them in the last couple of years they might still be under warranty for replacement.
Business Profile: Initio Medical
Located in Vancouver, INITIO is Western Canada’s only private PET/CT diagnostic scan facility committed to providing immediate PET/CT scans and results supporting patient-centred care. All referrals are booked promptly with quick turnaround on results, as timing of PET/CT screening matters to help prevent or catch disease before it’s too late. PET/CT scans assist with: CANCER – detecting cancer, revealing cancer spread, confirming cancer treatment effectiveness, and finding a cancer recurrence. BRAIN DISORDERS – ALZHEIMER’S by confirming possible Alzheimer’s diagnosis, clarifying early diagnosis of dementia, and altering treatment options. HEART DISEASE – Confirming cardiac sarcoidosis presence/recurrence. For life-changing diagnostic information that helps physician treatment planning, you can count on INITIO for immediate PET/CT scan appointments and results. Physician referral required. Further info online at initiomedical.ca. Why wait? KNOW. NOW.
Do I Have Hearing Loss?
Unlike vision loss where people tend to promptly seek assistance by wearing glasses, hearing loss tends to be ignored, become rationalized by age or is blamed on others for not speaking clearly enough.
Hearing loss is common for many people throughout Canada. According to the Stats Canada Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS), 6% of adults over the age of 55 report limitations as a result of hearing loss and this number increases to nearly 36% of adults aged 75 and older. In total, this works out to roughly 966,000 Canadians who are willing to report awareness of hearing loss (and that’s not considering those who are possibly in denial).
Many people are simply unaware of the signs and symptoms of hearing loss, the benefits of early detection and intervention, and what resources are available. In order to reduce the likelihood of a hearing loss going undetected, being ignored, and left untreated, here is what you can watch for:
Is there a problem?: The most common signs of hearing loss are needing repetition, turning the volume up on the television, difficulty hearing on the telephone, difficulty hearing clearly, difficulty hearing in background noise, and failing to hear common household sounds like the doorbell. Schedule a hearing test: Annual hearing testing is recommended for adults over the age of 55, even if they do not suspect a hearing loss. Hearing test results are medical records and, as such, are kept on file for 7 years. These results can be used as a baseline to compare with any future hearing evaluations. The best thing is that hearing testing is complimentary and does not require a referral from your family doctor or ENT specialist. Investigate available resources: While hearing aids are often recommended to treat hearing loss, there are other helpful devices that you may not have considered. For example, amplified telephones boost the volume of incoming calls and can often be adjusted for tone and customized for your hearing loss. TV devices amplified alarm clocks and alerting systems for doorbells and smoke detectors are also available.
If you believe that your parents, grandparents, or friends are suffering from a hearing loss (see hearing loss and parents for more), the best thing you can do for them is to speak up and, if necessary, help them choose a hearing care provider to work with them on their individual needs. For more information on hearing loss and available resources, or to take a free online hearing test, visit www.mainlandhearing.com.
Contributed by Dr. Susan Marynewich, Au.D., RAUD, RHIP
Get Mobile!
Do more of what you want – when you want. If you ever find yourself waiting around for people to assist you with daily tasks and errands, a mobility scooter could allow you to take matters into your own hands. Confinement can be the most depressing situation that restricted mobility individuals can experience. Nobody wants to stay inside for a long time, especially when it isn’t necessary. Battery powered scooters have come a long way and are now more affordable than ever. They provide the freedom to get around, they conserve physical energy, and they also provide you access to places you may not have previously been able to go.
Questions for Your Denturist
Getting your dentures fitted for the first time? Some important questions to ask your denturist include: 1) What precautions should I take when wearing dentures? 2) What kind of dentures are available? 3) How much do dentures cost? 4) Does it hurt to get dentures fitted? 5) How often will I need checkups? 6) How do I take care of my dentures? 7) Will dentures cause problems when eating? 8) Is it OK to sleep in my dentures? Knowing how to care for and get used to your dentures will help you maintain and enjoy them for years to come!
