It’s important to routinely check your animals for ticks, particularly if you live in high-risk areas or have recently visited one. Vets have access to a reliable blood test so if your vet suggests testing for Lyme, it’s a good idea. Dogs can be vaccinated against Lyme disease, but the vaccine is relatively new and somewhat controversial. Common symptoms include arthritis (sudden lameness), pain, fever, lack of appetite, dehydration, inactivity and swollen lymph nodes and joints. Lyme disease in cats is rare, but not unheard-of. Lyme disease is also very common in horses. Some studies show that 50% of horses in high-risk areas will contract Lyme disease over their lifetime. Horses are at a higher risk than other animals because ticks often go unnoticed. It’s difficult to accurately diagnose animals with Lyme disease. Be sure to follow-up with your vet right away if your pet’s condition doesn’t improve.
Community News
IQ and Nutrition
What if you could increase your child’s IQ with nutrition? Inhabitants of a tiny island off the coast of Japan have the highest IQ scores in the world and produce seven times as many geniuses as any other place in the world. Seniors living there don’t seem to struggle with cognitive decline either. The secret: DHA, an essential fatty acid found in fish, krill, squid and some algae. The brain is made mostly of fat, 60% of which is DHA. DHA is found in mother’s milk and has long been recognized as aiding IQ scores in children. Almost everyone nowadays is deficient in DHA. This may be one of the reasons for the increased rates of ADHD, learning disabilities and autism as well as increasing rates of Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related cognitive problems.
Dr. Anke Zimmermann, ND, drzimmermann.org
Financial Fitness
In May, we honour mothers on a special day but know in our hearts that we need to honour their shaping of our lives all year long. Quite often it was mom that planned the budgets for clothes and food while dad took care of other expenses. Mom helped us decided whether the birthday money should be spent or saved for a specific item. It was mom who wanted us to be good to ourselves – especially when we left home to find our way in the world. She wanted us to make sure we met our basic expenses like rent, hydro, phone and groceries before the concerts, eating out and the latest of everything. Mom placed ‘needs’ above ‘wants’ and we should do the same. How often do you puzzle over a spending decision and think back to advice from Mom? Or better yet, do you call her?
Doris Minervini, Abakhan & Associates Inc., Abakhan.com
Have You Tried Hypnotherapy?
We have two parts to our mind, the conscious mind, and the subconscious mind. The conscious part of our mind makes up 5-10% of our potential mind power. Our subconscious makes up 90 to 95% of our potential mind power, where our core values and belief systems stem from, where creativity and emotions are generated, and where long term memories are stored. Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic tool that uses hypnosis and allows the conscious mind and the subconscious mind to work together to use all the potential power of your mind to achieve goals, change unwanted behaviors and beliefs, and resolve inner conflicts. Hypnosis allows direct access to the subconscious and can alter unwanted or outdated beliefs which results in positive changes physically, mentally and emotionally. It is imperative to change or alter what is in our subconscious mind, or understand it in order to facilitate positive, lasting change.
Scott Metcalf, C.H.t, RCCH, ABeautifulMindHypnotherapy.com
Healthy Communication for Couples
Do you want to communicate better with someone? When we are clear with ourselves and others, our relationships can thrive. But clear communication is not always easy! We can feel attacked, defensive, hurt, overwhelmed, enraged, or shut down. We don’t always feel heard, or know what we want. So much happens when we try to talk. Couples often find some discussions tricky. And it’s not always clear what the issue is. Is it the dirty kitchen or is it about getting respect? Is it sex or is it about making an emotional connection? Or both? The different interpretations can create friction. Is your communication working for you? Counselling can help you say what you want and feel heard. Good communication can improve your trust in yourself and in your relationship. Counselling provides a safe and non-judgmental place to find ways to communicate more effectively.
Mary Munro, MaryMunro.ca
Feeding Tips for Cats
Many of the most common feline diseases diagnosed these days are linked to how and what we feed our cats. In the wild, cats will eat multiple small meals throughout the day that are high in protein and fat, and low in carbohydrates. But that’s not all. These cats have to work to get their food. This is quite unlike a typical house cat’s diet and exercise regime. Many cats that eat dry food have access to it all day long, setting them up for obesity. Your indoor kitty is probably profoundly bored and unchallenged by its bottomless food bowl. A new study shows that making cats work for food helps to keep them mentally stimulated, as well as in good physical shape. Food puzzles can be purchased at pet supply stores, or try making one yourself! Cut a few holes in an empty bottle, place some kibble in it, and watch them get to work!
Happy Paws Pet Food, HappyPaws.ca
TMJ – The Hidden Imposter
Do you suffer from headaches or earaches? Do you have a stiff neck and upper back? What about on-going stomach issues, anxiety or depression? Dissimilar as all these issues might sound, the root cause may be your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. Known as “the hidden imposter” for the way it mimics other syndromes, TMJ disorder is not only very common, it’s also often misdiagnosed. The TMJ is the hinge where the jawbone connects to the skull. Factors that can cause TMJ issues include misalignment of the jaw or teeth; physical trauma, such as whiplash or dental work; degenerative diseases; or, most commonly, tension resulting in teeth clenching or grinding. While actual joint pain may or may not occur, typically symptoms manifest elsewhere in the body and include migraines, earaches or tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hip and pelvic pain and muscle soreness in the upper body. Because of these diverse symptoms, correct diagnosis is often overlooked while treatment doesn’t deal with the underlying problem.
Dr. Brigitte Tetrault, Courtenay Healing Centre, CourtenayHealing.ca
Ask The Expert
Q: I’ve suffered from allergies this spring that really made my eyes water and itch, as well as my nose and sinuses. Everything seems better now except for my eyes, they still feel sandy. What’s going on?
A: This is very common. While you may have had some temporary springtime ocular allergies, your condition evolved into some persistent irritation. It’d be a good idea to treat your eyelids with a warm compress for a few minutes every night to clear out the glands which are necessary to lubricate your eyes. Rubbing your eyes from allergies can introduce even more bacteria to the area. A hot moist washcloth is good to use, but a heating pad or mask can hold the heat longer. Oftentimes, extra lubrication from eye drops is helpful. Relief is usually slow-going. It can take several weeks (or even months) before the eyes start to feel normal, so diligence is key.
Dr. Alex Kennedy, MosaicVisionCare.com
Fat Gain from Fructose
Sugar (sucrose) and high fructose corn syrup contain two molecules: glucose and fructose. Glucose is absolutely vital to life and is an integral part of our metabolism. Fructose, however, is very different. This molecule is not a natural part of metabolism and humans do not produce it. In fact, very few cells in the body can make use of it except liver cells. There it gets turned into fat, which is then secreted into the blood. When people eat a diet that is high in fructose, the liver gets overloaded and starts turning the fructose into fat. This leads to increased food intake and decreased fat burning. Sugar sets up an extremely powerful biochemical drive to make you eat more, burn less, and gain fat. Managing your fructose intake is important, as trying to exert willpower over this powerful drive can be next to impossible.
Alma Naranjo, Success Weight Loss, SuccessWeightLoss.ca
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, MitchellPandO.com
New Business Spotlight
There is an exciting new business in the Comox Valley! Scavenger Hunt Adventure Tours is all about solving clues, searching for hidden items, exploring under-appreciated places, as well as getting people outdoors for fun and healthy recreation. Activities range from single day themed scavenger hunts to private parties, corporate events and multi-day getaways. Mother and son team, Jackie West and Tyler Meggitt combine their talents and draw upon their respective career and life experiences to deliver a diverse selection of staged and themed adventure tours that put a new spin on the well-known Scavenger Hunt. Jackie looks forward to working alongside her youngest son Tyler as they get creative together to deliver some fresh fun and games to locals and visitors alike. From day tours promoting awareness of local businesses and landmarks to week long road trips, there is plenty of fun and adventure in store for you.
Jackie West, scavenger-hunt-adventure-tours.ca
