As important as it is to feel safe at home, that feeling shouldn’t end when you head out the door. You want to feel safe and secure wherever you might be! Whether in your home, walking to your mailbox or going on vacation, there are devices available that give you 24/7 access to help. These on-the-go devices can send an alert when you press a button, sense when you fall and send an automatic alert, and provide direct, two-way communication with a 24/7 Response Center. They are designed to help locate the user in a variety of situations – home or away, indoors and out.  It really is possible to get out there and enjoy life with peace of mind.

Joan Ryan, Nanaimo Lifeline
NanaimoLifeline.ca

What is it and how will you know when you achieve it? Many of us have learned to look outside to what society tells us, whether it be family, friends or the media. From a young age, we have been trained to look up to our elders, do as we are told and mind our manners.  Some of these things are good but some are limiting and don’t encourage us to discover our own truth. As a result, we end up in pain; physical, mental, emotional or spiritual pain, all of which is the body speaking to get our attention. A sense of feeling unfulfilled or overwhelmed is another sign of being out of balance. Fortunately, there is much that we can do to change this. Meditation, massage, essential oils and nutritional supplements can all be incorporated into our lives. Join us at the Wellnessnews Workshop on May 17 where you will receive tools and much more.

Tammy Phye, R.A., EOT, Lifestyle Harmony
LifestyleHarmony.ca

Did you know that any sound exceeding 60 decibels can have a negative impact on your hearing? A music player can reach up to 100 decibels, and at that level, it would only take 15 minutes for you to inflict some damage on your hearing. It is tempting to crank up the volume when you hear a great song, or even if you are in a noisy environment and find it difficult to hear, but your hearing health is too important to sacrifice for a moment of enjoyment. Some music players are equipped with volume locks to warn you of dangerous sound levels and/or to prevent you from turning up the volume to a dangerous level. If you find it hard to hear your music in a noisy place, wait until you are in a quieter environment; you will hear the music better anyway!

Lana Cuddeford, Nanaimo, HearingLife Canada
hearinglifecanada.ca

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is particularly effective in detecting orthopaedic injuries in knees, shoulders, hips, and ankles, and for assessing brain and spinal cord issues.  MRI scans interpreted by radiologists provide essential information to family physicians to form treatment plans. MRI uses a strong magnetic field, radio waves and computer technology to generate detailed diagnostic images.  MRI is non-invasive; there is no harmful radiation as with other forms of imaging. When having an MRI scan, all metallic items must be removed before scanning.  The MRI Technologist will guide you during the 30-45 minute scan to hold still so that quality images, without blurry motion artefacts, can be obtained.  You will be given hearing protections as MRI is noisy but painless. MRIs are performed in a hospital where waiting times can be up to a year or performed very quickly in a private facility.

Nanaimo MRI, Inc.
nanaimomri.ca

1) Keep your mouth clean; Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste; Floss every day.

2) Check your mouth regularly for signs of gum disease: Red, shiny, puffy, sore or sensitive gums; Bleeding when you brush or floss; Bad breath that won’t go away. Signs of oral cancer: Bleeding or open sores that don’t heal; White or red patches; Small lumps and thickening on the sides or bottom of your tongue, the floor or roof of your mouth, the inside of your cheeks, or on your gums.

3) Eat well: Limit foods and beverages containing sugar or carbohydrates; Eat healthy snacks like cheeses, nuts, vegetables, and non-acidic fruits.

4) See your dentist regularly. 48% of Canadians who haven’t seen a dentist in the past year have gum disease. Regular dental exams and professional cleanings are the best way to prevent and detect problems.

Dr. Robert Wolanski, Dentist/Owner, Lakeside Dental Clinic
lakesidedentalclinic.ca

Why is it that some injuries never heal, and go on to become areas of chronic pain and dysfunction? These localized areas fail to heal because of a localized decrease in oxygen utilization. Why does chronic pain and degeneration only occur in joints and ligaments instead of other tissues? And why do people heal so much more reliably when they are young than when they become older? The answer in both cases has to do with decreased oxygen utilization. When there is trauma, the edema and inflammation cause a further localized decrease in oxygen utilization which serves as a foundation for chronic pain and degeneration. The chronic pain leads to a further decrease in oxygen utilization. Break that cycle by the application of ozone therapy which maximizes oxygen absorption, and the cells and tissues can begin to do what they usually do so well – heal themselves.

Dr. Sterling Desmond, Dr. TCM, R.Ac.
EvolveWithDesera.com

Do you know that when you have a problem such as anxiety, depression or personal difficulties, the key to getting unstuck lies in the depth of your subconscious mind? 95% of our problems and issues can be resolved through accessing your subconscious mind. Clinical Hypnotherapy is a brief therapy that uses your subconscious mind to correct imbalanced thinking and remove negative beliefs, thoughts and attitudes. When other therapies have not worked, many people find hypnotherapy to be the key for lifelong change. During hypnotherapy, you reach a state of relaxation. In this state, you are receptive to beneficial suggestions which are given directly to the subconscious mind. One misconception is that a hypnotized person is under the command of the hypnotist. This is not the case; you are in control of yourself at all times and cannot be made to do anything that is against your will. In fact, you gain more control over yourself, your health and your quality of life through hypnotherapy.

Germana Rovinelli, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist
Germana.ca

Growing your own food is a great way to help you eat healthy, stay in shape, save money and enrich your life in many other ways. The main question that every gardener asks themselves is “How can I grow more food?” Here are three tips to help you plan your garden this year: grow vegetables like pole beans, vine tomatoes, and cucumbers vertically up fences and trellises to help save space for other plants. Some vegetables benefit from being grown near each other; such as beans and lettuce, tomatoes and basil, and peas and carrots. This is called companion planting. Adding flowers to your garden will also help to improve yields in your garden. Flowers not only attract pollinators, they also feed predator insects like hoverflies and ladybugs. These insects help protect your garden by consuming pests like aphids and beetles.

Brian Prince, Farmer, Prince Acres CSA
princeacrescsa.com

Approximately 14% of psoriasis sufferers (a chronic skin condition that causes red patches on the body) will develop psoriatic arthritis, a form of inflammatory arthritis. The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis range from mild involvement of the fingers and toes to burning, stiffness and pain in the lower spine and sacrum. When the joints of the toes and ankles are involved deformity may occur which results in pain when weight bearing and discomfort wearing footwear. Custom insoles (orthotics) and extra-depth footwear may offer improved foot comfort by relieving high-pressure areas on the soles of the feet and toes. In some cases, orthotics can be designed to correct joint alignment to reduce ligament strain.  As well, there are shoe modifications that are available to improve shoe comfort or ease walking stress. Ask your doctor for a referral and make an appointment with a Pedorthist to see how orthotics and footwear can relieve your foot pain.

B.D. Mitchell Prosthetics and Orthotics
MitchellPandO.com