Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of the brain. It is a condition in which a person engages in use of a substance or in a behaviour for which the rewarding effects provide a compelling incentive to repeatedly pursue the behaviour, despite detrimental consequences. There is scientific evidence that the addictive substances and behaviours share a key neurobiological feature—they intensely activate brain pathways of reward and reinforcement, many of which involve the neurotransmitter dopamine. Studies show that there are genetic factors, making some people more susceptible to addiction. Are you or someone you love suffering from addiction and looking for help?
Success Stories: Ocean Chiropractic & Orthotics
“I see Dr. Johnson at Ocean Chiropractic for regular chiropractic treatments and asked him one day about my sore feet. I have advanced bunions and he suggested I try custom rehabilitative orthotics to keep my bunions from progressing. He took the time to explain how they worked and what I needed to do to help strengthen my feet! I would highly recommend talking to Dr. Pat about how orthotics could help you.” – Marilyn O.
Time to Reflect and Take Stock
Fall is my favourite time of year, I know many of you feel the same way. It’s a season both of reflection and of action, as the change of season often brings a change of activities. It’s also a time of ‘getting back to business’ for many and a good time to turn ones attention to financial planning matters. Given the state of global affairs, it would also be a good time to do a detailed review of your investments. This year has (until recently) seen spectacular returns across many asset classes, what comes next is never certain.
A Fresh Perspective
While setbacks are discouraging, they are a normal part of every healing process. Remember that ‘bad days’ are temporary, and with time and effort, you will take steps forward again. In the meantime, use ‘bad days’ as an opportunity to reflect on how far you’ve come. This used to be your everyday state. The fact that you no longer feel this way all the time proves your body is capable of improving! Similarly, use the ‘good days’ as inspiration and hope for what’s to come. Eventually, that good day will be your new normal.
Choosing the Right Sunscreen
Sunscreen is one of the most important daily steps you can take to protect the health and beauty of your skin, and there are two main types. Physical sunscreens contain the natural minerals zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to create a barrier between your skin and the sun. These products don’t absorb into the skin and are ideal for children and those with sensitive skin. Chemical sunscreens contain ingredients such as Avobenzone and Octinoxate that are absorbed by the skin and create a chemical reaction to change UV rays into heat that is then released from the skin. Chemical sunscreens are safe for most people who don’t have sensitivities. Choose a high-quality product with an SPF of at least 30 and use it daily, including on cloudy days, to lower your risk of skin cancer and help prevent wrinkles. Great skin at any age – Let us show you how!
Chiropractic Care is Simple
Modern life is filled with opportunities that cause misalignment in the joints of the spine. Sitting, bending, lifting, trauma, and poor posture while using computers and mobile phones can all cause strain on the neck and back. This strain can damage the soft tissues of the spine, including the delicate nervous system that is housed within. So, what happens when your spine becomes misaligned? Neck pain, back pain, headaches, sciatica, and more. But sometimes pain doesn’t occur until the damage accumulates. Chiropractic can help to gently re-align, reduce strain, and restore function to this delicate spinal system. When was the last time you had your spine examined by a doctor of chiropractic?
What is Lifestyle Medicine?
Processed food, sedentary lives, lack of sleep, unceasing stress, dissolving relationships, and collapse of purpose take a massive toll on our health and enjoyment from life. Most healthcare costs are linked to lifestyle-related diseases and nearly all top causes of death are due to chronic conditions. Lifestyle medicine combines an acknowledgment of these facts with evidence that lifestyle interventions such as nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress reduction, and smoking cessation can prevent, manage, and reverse disease. Using evidence-based medical assessments and leveraging personal health coaching, lifestyle medicine can help people take control of their health and optimize long-term vitality.
Surgery for ACL Injuries
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is commonly seen in sports such as soccer, rugby, and skiing. Although many individuals initially recover well, the ongoing instability often prevents return to sports and leads to further knee injury, and the risk of developing future osteoarthritis becomes increased. Bracing is rarely sufficient. Surgical reconstruction performed early, within 3-6 weeks, helps to minimize the risk of further injury. ACL surgery should be treated as an urgent matter: assessment, diagnosis, and surgery can usually be completed within a few weeks. The athlete, elite, or weekend-warrior can then start early rehabilitation to maximize the benefits of the knee reconstruction.
Gaining the Mental Edge
Athletes are always looking to get into “the zone” – a balance of attention, concentration, and confidence. Quick thinking is crucial to making decisions that can be the difference between winning and losing a game. Neurofeedback is a tool that allows for identifying the areas of an athlete’s brain that are responsible for mental flexibility, task switching, and rapid decision-making. This allows an athlete to control how their brain reacts to stress, which in turn can help achieve peak performance. Neurofeedback training can help an athlete increase their cognitive abilities, while reducing the white noise of distractions around them.
Using an SI Belt
A sacroiliac belt (SI belt) used during the training part of your physiotherapy program is often recommended for both pain relief and support of the sacroiliac joints and/or pubic symphysis. SI belts are used as an adjunct during core muscle training and act both to provide mechanical support and sensory input to remind the brain which muscle(s) need ‘waking up’. Your physiotherapist can perform a couple of simple tests to determine whether an SI belt is recommended for you. Diane Lee’s patented Pelvic Support belt will help support your pelvis specifically where it is needed the most during your training period.
After-School Brain Boost
Not all learning has to happen during school hours. If your child seems to have to put more effort into their schoolwork than their peers do, an after-school program could give them the extra brain boost they need. Additional time spent strengthening the brain can help it to change and grow through the principle of neuroplasticity. This can increase your child’s self-esteem and social connections. After-school programs that strengthen the brain’s capacity for learning increase the brain’s efficiency, which makes school less tiring and keeps your child focused and on track to be their academic best.


