Community News
Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain

When determining how to treat back and pelvic pain, many health professions focus on what hurts, rather than on why it hurts. Physiotherapists often look at back and pelvic pain in terms of how those regions function to gain a better understanding of the causes behind pain in those areas. The team at Diane Lee & Associates uses a novel approach that combines manual therapy and dry needling to release tight muscles and stiff joints followed by motor learning, using real-time ultrasound for biofeedback, and movement training. This combined whole body approach teaches the patient how to use their body in a more efficient way to avoid problematic habits in the future.

Summer Brain Care

It’s hard to focus on serious things like learning and exercising your brain when there’s so much summer fun to be had, but it’s important for students with learning difficulties to keep up with training their brain. This can be done by participating in many fun, yet important, activities, such as playing board games, building things with Lego, socializing, and taking on new challenges that are just above a student’s capacity. Focusing on wellness can also keep the brain healthy, so exercising, getting enough sleep, finding quiet time, eating healthy foods, and drinking enough water are equally important.

Meet Your Practitioner

Dr. Shelin Tkatch earned her MD at the University of British Columbia and went on to complete her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Alberta. She opened her White Rock/South Surrey practice in 2000 and serves as the Medical Director for Grandview Gynecology and MD Wellness Solutions. In 2013, she earned a Diploma in Dermatology from Cardiff University, Wales. This unique blend of education and experience allows her to deliver excellence in office-based cosmetic dermatology and women’s health procedures. Dr. Tkatch is backed by a team of professionals, including Dr. Ruth Abrahams, Sharon Vandecasteyen, RN, Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist, and certified medical aestheticians. Great skin – let us show you how.

Words to Live By

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. ~ George Bernard Shaw

Book Club: Why Can’t I Get Better?

Solving the Mystery of Lyme and Chronic Disease by Dr. Richard Horowitz. Lyme disease and its related conditions are incredibly complicated. Different patients can have completely different sets of symptoms. And treatments that work for some patients might not help others at all. Through his years of working with more than 12,000 Lyme disease patients—many of whom had failed several treatments before they even came to see him—Dr. Richard Horowitz has developed a new way of looking at the complex factors that embody this disease. LymeDisease.org

Words to Live By

“You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes every day – unless you’re too busy; then you should sit and meditate for an hour.” Zen Proverb

Clean Eating: Chocolate Cherry Chia Pudding

INGREDIENTS: 1 1/2 cup non-dairy milk, 1/4 cup chia seeds (look for powdered chia seeds if you want a smooth texture), 3 tablespoons raw cacao powder, 2-3 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey, 1/2 cup cherries, pitted and sliced. DIRECTIONS: In a bowl, stir together milk, chia seeds, raw cacao and maple syrup and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Just before serving, separate into 4 serving dishes, top with sliced cherries and garnish with raw cacao chips, dark chocolate shavings and extra whole cherries and enjoy! (Recipe adapted from Purella.com)

Living with Diabetes

Are you living with diabetes and struggling with low energy, numbness and tingling, low libido and poor blood sugar management? Is improving your HbA1C important to you? Did you know that better regulation of blood sugar, improved insulin sensitivity, balanced eating, and nutritional status can determine how well you live with diabetes? A Naturopathic approach includes proper diet and use of supplements, and sometimes IV nutrient therapy. These can play a role in managing symptoms, but the key is an individualized treatment plan that includes a thorough investigation of lab work, and possible use of specialized testing.

Plan for the Unexpected

Are you planning to travel this summer? Do you have the right medical insurance? It’s important to ensure you’re covered for unexpected expenses that might result from an accident, illness, or injury while you’re away. When you’re dealing with a health issue away from home, you don’t want to be worrying about having to pay for treatment. It’s a good idea to get travel medical insurance even just for short day trips to the U.S., as you never know what might happen. Your insurance advisor can help you find the right travel medical insurance for you and your family.

What is an Adjustment?

An adjustment is a unique form of joint manipulation that is specific to chiropractic. Trauma and repetitive bad posture (from sitting and using technology) can cause the joints of the spine to become misaligned (“a subluxation”), which damages muscles, ligaments, cartilage, and nerves. This eventually results in stiffness, achiness, pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. A Doctor of Chiropractic is trained to detect and correct these subluxations with a chiropractic adjustment. The adjustment is tailored to each patient and gently directs the joint into a more neutral position to take pressure off damaged tissues and allow the body to heal.

Benefits of Companionship

Whether it is a close friendship or an intimate relationship, social interaction is needed to prevent health decline in seniors. Loneliness is a risk factor for functional decline in adults over the age of 60. Something as simple as a friendship can enhance aging hearts and strengthen the immune system. Companionship can decrease the physical risk of disease by lowering blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol. The psychological benefits include increased self-esteem, decreased stress, and a sense of belonging. Older adults can also benefit from having a pet. Dogs, in particular, can open seniors up to new activities and interests.