As we head into the holiday season and emerge from Covid restrictions, our gambling habits may have been stretched beyond our usual boundaries. Gambling or sports betting to make money is always dangerous, as is gambling to escape our day-to-day preoccupations. If you are not sure if your gambling habits fall within healthy playing guidelines, check Canada’s Low-Risk Gambling Guidelines at GamblingGuideLines.ca. Using the 1-4-2 formula can help contextualize your play: No more than 1% of your income, a Maximum of 4 days per month and Only 2 types of gameplay. If you’re unsure, check out the self-assessment tool.
Community News
Do Hearing Aids Hurt?
Hearing aids are highly valuable for people who have hearing loss, but it can be an overwhelming process to find the right fit. One of the most important things to know before you begin the search for your new device is that they should feel natural on your ears.
Finding the right fit can take some time, but there is support available for your journey and the results will be life-changing.
Should Hearing Aids Hurt Your Ears?
The short answer is no, hearing aids shouldn’t hurt your ears. Hearing aids should be comfortable. They are designed to improve your quality of life, so there should be no discomfort or pain associated with them.
The best way to ensure your hearing aids are comfortable is by getting them fitted by an audiologist or RHIP. They will conduct several tests and assessments to confirm your hearing aids are the correct size, structure, and type.
There are four types of hearing aids including behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-canal (ITC), in-the-ear (ITE), and receiver-in-canal (RIC). All of them have their unique benefits, so meeting with a professional to discuss which one is right for you is the key to finding the perfect fit.
If your hearing aids aren’t fitted properly, they can cause discomfort.
Getting Used to Your Hearing Aids
Although it may take some time to get used to your hearing aids, wearing them should never cause you pain. It’s important to take it slow when you’re adjusting to new hearing aids. We suggest wearing your new hearing aids for about four hours a day. Sometimes people dive right in and wear their new hearing aids for 14 hours straight, but this can cause irritation to your skin.
Allow the skin around your hearing aid to adjust to the device. It can take up to a week to get accustomed to the feeling of your new hearing aids, but taking breaks will help ease the process.
If you have previously worn hearing aids and are trying out a new pair, another option is to alternate between the new and old pairs throughout the day. With regular care and maintenance, your hearing aids can last five years or more, so it is a good idea to prepare yourself appropriately.
Every hearing aid feels a little different, so giving yourself the time to get used to something new is important.
What Could Be Causing Pain?
Sometimes hearing aids feel perfect when they’re being fitted, but they don’t feel right after you’ve left the hearing clinic. It is likely that all they need is a slight adjustment.
If you notice a specific area where your hearing aids are rubbing and causing discomfort, you should see a professional to make any necessary changes. Sometimes it takes a little bit of extra work to get the perfect fit, and that’s okay.
Another potential cause for pain is that the hearing aids simply aren’t placed properly. A misplaced hearing aid can cause pain because of pressure in unwanted areas. Consider practicing how to place and remove it, as demonstrated by your hearing professional during your fitting appointment.
You could also be feeling some pain if you’re not cleaning your hearing aid properly. Following the cleaning instructions for your specific model will decrease your chances of getting an ear infection, bacterial growth, and irritation. These issues are extremely painful but avoidable with proper sanitization and maintenance.
If you’ve developed a rash, it’s possible you have an allergy to the materials of the hearing aid. These allergies are rare, but a hearing aid specialist will be able to provide you with alternative options to ensure you are using the device that’s right for you.
Finding Comfort With Your Hearing Aids
Your hearing aids should be completely comfortable. Audiologists and hearing professionals at NexGen Hearing are passionate, dedicated and experienced, and they’re here to help you find the perfect fit.
NexGen Hearing offers free hearing tests and hearing aid consultations, hearing aid fittings and sales. To book an appointment at one of our 45+ clinics in the BC Interior, Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, click here or call 1-877-606-6671.
Book Club
Burnout – The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle – By Emily Nagoski PhD and Amelia Nagoski DMA. This ground-breaking book explains why women experience burnout differently than men—and provides a simple, practical plan to help women minimize stress, manage emotions, and live a more joyful life. With the help of eye-opening science, prescriptive advice, and helpful worksheets and exercises, all women will find something transformative in these pages—and will be empowered to create positive change.
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.
Profile: AJ Pedal Wheelchair
Whether your mobility has been impacted by Parkinson’s, MS, a stroke, or knee or hip trouble, the AJ Pedal Wheelchair is designed to get you moving again. Like a bike, it’s powered by you – so you can reconnect with your body, rebuild muscle tone and improve your cardiovascular system. Designed to maneuver in tight spaces, the AJ rides easily into elevators, buildings and shopping centres. More robust than a wheelchair, the AJ allows you to pedal through parks, along sidewalks and even ride public transit. Each AJ is hand built in Victoria, BC, using durable materials for a safe and sturdy ride.
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.
Stay Active to Maintain Health
Being physically active can help with injury prevention, maintain health and improve mobility. If we don’t use our muscles or move our joints, we can “rust” just like a piece of machinery that is left to sit idle. Being active does not necessarily mean lifting heavy weights or running a marathon. It can be as simple as performing gentle prescribed exercises, mobility drills, and active release stretches that can help us maintain mobility and prevent injury. Making small changes in our routine can have huge impacts on whole-body health, the healing process and general well-being. Contact us – we can help you get started.
Time to Nurture Ourselves
Oh, what a beautiful fall! As I watch the leaves drop I am reminded to slow down. Mother Earth is so wise. It is a time for nurturing ourselves as we ready for the winter months. Unfortunately, our busy lives have lost the rhythm of mother earth. We have become detached, distracted, and for many depressed and anxious by the chaos in our present world. We have forgotten what is true and what is provided for us all to embrace. Peace of mind, joy, and freedom from fear and pain is your birthright. Embrace the power within you, nurture your resilience, your immunity, and your connection to truth. Let’s talk. Let’s celebrate.
Sleep Changes & The Elderly
Seniors who wake up more often during the night and earlier in the morning, usually have a harder time falling asleep, and spend less time in deep, dreamless sleep. Some measures to help you sleep better include: 1) Eat a light bedtime snack. 2) Avoid caffeine for at least 3 or 4 hours before bed. 3) Avoid napping during the day. 4) Exercise regularly, but not within 3 hours of bedtime. 5) Practice relaxation techniques at bedtime. 6) Don’t watch TV or use devices while in bed. 7) Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
Profile: Heart to Home Meals
Heart to Home Meals delivers delicious, nutritious meals right to your door. The company’s team of experts has developed a wide-ranging menu to suit many tastes, dietary needs, and lifestyles, including high-protein, low carbohydrates and/or saturated fat, low sodium, high fibre, vegetarian, and no added sugar options. Heart to Home Meals has a useful diet coding system to help you choose meals that are right for you. Meals also come in mini versions (for smaller appetites), hearty versions (for larger appetites), as well as minced or pureed options. It’s as easy as ordering online or by phone!
Meet the BC-Grown Aronia Berry
The Aronia berry is dark purple, about the size of a blueberry, with three times the anti-oxidants. Its outstanding nutritional and pharmacological properties are well documented. Aronia berries contain high levels of antioxidants which research has shown may help in reducing inflammation, free radical damage, and blood glucose in diabetics. Local BC Aronia berries are available frozen to make wonderful smoothies. You can also purchase delicious local Aronia berry juice, jams and bottles of vinegar. When dried, they are excellent in cereal, trail mix and salads. Aronia Berries Are Antioxidant Gold™
