Community News
Medical Emergency Hearing Loss

There are many causes of sensorineural hearing loss, including noise exposure, aging, exposure to ototoxic medication, head trauma and illness. Typically hearing loss declines gradually over time, however in cases of sporadic hearing loss it is important to seek immediate assessment to ensure the best treatment plan is established.

With the help of Oksana Melnichuk, a Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioner (RHIP) at NexGen Hearing, we have compiled a list of symptoms that could suggest the need for urgent medical intervention.

1. Sudden Hearing Loss

A Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL) occurs when there is a significant decline in hearing over a 72 hour window. This condition commonly affects only one ear and may present independent of other symptoms or in combination with a feeling of aural fullness, tinnitus and/or dizziness. A sudden decline in hearing requires immediate medical intervention to ensure treatment can be provided in a timely manner. Treatment should be received within 48 hours of the onset of a SSHL. An untreated SSHL can significantly impact an individual’s communication abilities and quality of life.

2. Fluctuating hearing loss

Fluctuating hearing loss can occur as a result of several different conditions, such as Ménière’s disease (MD), autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED), head trauma, and/or ototoxic medications. It can occur in individuals with normal hearing or individuals who already present with hearing loss. The fluctuation may be noted in one ear or both and may occur on an irregular basis. It is important to contact your physician if you notice hearing fluctuations to establish the cause and treatment plan.

3. Tinnitus

Tinnitus is not a condition itself, but rather a symptom of another condition. Causes of tinnitus can range from prolonged exposure to loud sounds, aging, injuries to the head and neck, certain medications and/or other medical conditions such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease to name a few. Tinnitus is often described as a ringing in the ears; however, it can also be described as buzzing, hissing, chirping, whistling, etc. The sound can be intermittent or continuous and can vary in loudness. While there is no cure for tinnitus, some individuals find the perception of tinnitus can be reduced with the use of external masking devices. Medical treatment should be sought if tinnitus leads to an increase in stress, sleep disturbances, is pulsatile, and/or perceived in one ear only.

4. Ear discharge

The discharge of earwax from the ear canal is a normal occurrence, however if blood or fluid is noted medical intervention should be obtained as it may be indicative of a more serious medical condition, such as infection, trauma to the ear canal, middle ear space and/or skull bone and/or swimmer’s ear. If left untreated discharge from the ear can lead to reduced hearing abilities, discomfort and/or damage to the structures of the middle ear.

The staff at NexGen Hearing are dedicated to working alongside other health care professionals to ensure all patients receive timely access to care, information, and assistive technology.

If you or a loved one is currently or has experienced one or more of the above symptoms, please contact your local NexGen Hearing during business hours and advise you need an urgent diagnostic hearing assessment. If it is outside of normal business hours, please visit the Hospital Emergency Room for urgent assessment.

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.

Gratitude is Very Powerful

October is Thanksgiving month in Canada. Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude and thankfulness. Being grateful for what you have is very powerful. Gratitude is consistently connected with greater happiness, it helps people feel more positive emotions and improves health. Practicing Gratitude is high vibrational energy. When you are grateful you attract higher positive energies. Writing daily in a Gratitude Journal assists in raising these positive vibrations. A Certified Body/Emotion Code Practitioner can help you release unprocessed negative (trapped) emotions that will assist you in being grateful and help you to attract positive energy.

Why Men’s Vigor?

We understand. Sexual health and performance is a topic that men are reluctant to talk about. Research states that 40% of men have experienced some sort of sexual performance anxiety by the age of 30, and that percentage often increases with age. We all want to feel strong, confident and have intimacy with our partner. While drug therapy is the typical approach to treating inadequate blood flow, it only provides a quick fix solution and does not address the underlying physical condition. Men’s Vigor is a way to get back in the game safely and effectively. No drugs, no surgery, no downtime. Health Canada Approved.

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.

Move Your Lymph To Help Your Body Detox

Are you doing all the right things and still don’t feel well? The lymphatic system is an integral part of your body’s detox mechanism and its proper functioning is essential for your body to be able to drain toxins. There are some easy steps you can take to support your lymph. *Drink good quality, pure water. *Wear loose-fitting clothes. *MOVE. Your lymphatic fluid moves when your body moves. Unlike the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump. Low-intensity, sustained exercise is amazing. Go for a walk, swim, get into gardening, bounce on a trampoline! Your lymphatic system will appreciate it.

Enriching Quality of Life by Helping Others

Did you know that when you greet each day with a sense of purpose and meaning, your mental health and overall well-being improves? One of the fastest ways to move beyond feelings of worry or anxiety is to be of service to others. Charities like SOS would not be what they are today without the selflessness of volunteers and the benevolence of donors. Strong communities enrich the quality of life for all of us. To learn how your donation of time or resources can help others, contact us or come by our Community Services Centre in Parksville.

3D Healing for Trauma

When a traumatic event happens, emotional information is created and then stored in two places – as a memory in our brain and as an emotion/feeling in the body! Stored and unprocessed emotional trauma is the root cause of many health issues as proven in numerous scientific clinical research studies around the world. The energetic stored negative emotion can be easily removed without pain through the use of a new 3D-Healing application based on Quantum Hypnotherapy. If you experienced a traumatic event, seek help. PTSD can be resolved so that life can continue to be in a happy place.

Focus on What You Want

When someone heads towards their goals, versus trying to move away or reduce something, the outcome is more positively directed. By looking to something rewarding, success has a better chance of taking place. It also helps to focus on what you want to bring into being, as opposed to dwelling on what you don’t want anymore. A positive attitude is very powerful. When you have a positive attitude, negative thoughts are much less likely to come to mind. Positive thinking can help to control stress and also improve health.

Our Bodies Need Antioxidants

A balanced diet is important for providing the nutrients our cells need on a daily basis. In spite of an otherwise healthy diet, exposure to toxins and sunlight may result in cell damage caused by free radicals. We may be able to slow cell damage by increasing the amount of antioxidants in our diet. The antioxidant capacities of foods are measured on a scale called the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) scale. High on the ORAC scale are berries, including blueberries, raspberries, pomegranates, strawberries, and goji berries. At the top of the scale is the Aronia berry – a fabulous source of antioxidants.

Health Fun Facts

You don’t actually breathe through both nostrils at the same time.
Human noses can remember 50,000 different scents.
Humans share 60% of their DNA with bananas.