“Each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn.” ― Mahatma Gandhi Lack of sleep and chronic pain can be so closely related that it is hard to say which happens first. Lack of sleep can bring on stress and fatigue, which can develop [...]
The knee can be injured from a variety of sports due to excessive or unaccustomed forces resulting in traumatic injuries like ligament sprains, cartilage tears, fractures, and dislocations. Overuse injuries are more commonly found in the knee, and account for 40% of all overuse injuries in the body. The more common knee injuries include patellar [...]
Keeping active is important for the health of your body, but did you know that it also plays a role in the health of your brain? Research suggests that a healthy lifestyle helps the brain maintain connections and even build new ones, helping you stay mentally sharp as you age. Although it is still not [...]
April has arrived to kick-off the first annual Run Canada Month! The weather is warming up and it is a great time to lace-up and get started. Observe and cheer on the 55,000 Sun Run participants on April 15th and get inspired! Because baby, we were born to run. It is hard to ignore recent [...]
Traction (stretching the spine) has often been used as a means of relieving pressure on the nerves and joints due to disc problems, spinal degeneration or mechanical (joint) neck and back pain. Cervical traction, when included with manual therapy and neck exercises, has shown to contribute to overall improvement in patients with arm pain due [...]
Compared to other colours, green foods are packed with some of the best health benefits: powerful antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Green foods have been shown to help reduce high blood pressure, lower your “bad” cholesterol, accelerate wound-healing and improve immune functions. They even give you better looking skin, hair and nails! Avocados – They are [...]
Arm and leg discomfort may be a result of the neck and low back respectively. Radicular pain from nerve compression or irritation can be a result of disc problems or spinal degeneration. This may also cause tingling or numbness, sharp pain, loss of sensation, arm or leg weakness and loss of reflexes. The different patterns [...]
Heart disease and stroke takes 1 in 3 Canadians before their time and is the #1 killer of women. February is Heart Month, and this being a leap year, we have an extra day to raise awareness and start improving our lifestyle to fight the disease! Having just one of the following four risk factors [...]
The shoulder joint is a common site of injury due to its increased mobility. This makes it unstable and prone to injury, and accounts for 8-13% of all athletic injuries. Acute traumatic shoulder injuries include separation, dislocation, tears, and fracture. Chronic shoulder injuries due to repetitive movements are likely from overhead activities (e.g. painting ceilings, [...]
Get A Running Start It is that time again … a new year, full of new plans, new directions and new goals. To optimize the success in realizing your new goals: Be specific. Believe in yourself! Visualize the outcome. Often goals are made too general (e.g. “Get in shape”) and too difficult to tackle. Perhaps [...]
It’s December and 2011 is coming to a close Another 12 months of highs, (middles) and lows: It was the Year of the Rabbit, ‘wascally’ and fun…? Hope it was a good one for you – second to none! The Official Opposition became the NDP BC-ers said, “No!” (or “Yes”?) to scrap the HST. Team [...]
Happy All-Inclusive Holidays! Diwali – (between mid-October and mid-November) “The Festival of Lights” is celebrated by families performing traditional activities together in their homes, by both Hindus and Jains. St. Nicholas Day – (December 6) Children in many European countries (eg. Belgium and the Netherlands) celebrate the legends of this saint, also known as Sinterklaas, [...]
Don’t Let a Fall Get You Down Older Canadians have a higher risk of falling and each year, 1 in 3 Canadians over the age of 65 will fall. These often have serious consequences with injuries that may have a lasting impact on the quality of life. However, there are many ways to be proactive [...]
Put Your Best Foot Forward One out of every three Canadians who is 65 or older and living independently, will fall. This becomes one out of every two by the age of 80. In 25% of these falls, serious injury occurs. Elderly people falling accounts for a high incidence of fractures and hospitalization. Hip [...]
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women and it is estimated that more than 23,000 women in Canada will be diagnosed with the disease this year. Regular exercise and a diet that is low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables are two effective ways of preventing breast cancer. Exercise is [...]
Let’s Eat! People who eat together with family or friends tend to make better food choices and have increased nutrient intakes. Although it can take extra time and careful planning, gathering regularly at the dinner table for nutritious meals helps create well-being and a happy home. It does not have to be as eventful and [...]
Low back pain (LBP) has been estimated to affect approximately 30% of the adult population, and as many as 50% of those over the age of 65 years. For those over the age of 65, a specific form of low back pain which can also produce lower extremity symptoms and significantly affect quality of life [...]
It is unclear what factors might increase one’s risk in developing dementia or Alzheimer’s, which affects 13 percent of people over 65. Generally, modern medicine has emphasized that what is good for the body is good for the brain. A recent study at Dalhousie University which was published in the latest Neurology journal, has found [...]
What is Reiki? Reiki (pronounced “Ray-Kee”) is an energy healing practice which originated in Japan. Practitioners use the life-force energy or “ki” all around us and are able to pass it on to re-awaken the natural healing process in others by focusing the energy on the areas where it is most needed. Reiki is a [...]
There are many reasons why people volunteer. If you can find the time, the benefits can be immeasurable – to you, your family, and especially, your community: Connects you to others. Volunteering helps you connect with your community, make new friends, broaden your support network and improve your social skills. If you volunteer as a [...]
Anne and Eugene are volunteering as Medical Co-Directors for Burnaby 2012 BC Seniors Games, August 21 – 25. This year’s games are taking place August 16 – 20 in West Kootenay. Burnaby is looking for volunteers! Find out more at: www.tourismburnaby.com/volunteer
The recovery of soft tissue (muscles, tendons or ligaments) injuries involves inflammation, regeneration, and remodelling. The healing times of different injury types are mainly dependent on the blood supply of the specific injured tissue. Delay in healing times of soft tissue injuries can be due to age, location of injury, delayed treatment, incorrect diagnosis, incorrect [...]
Healthy, hearty, summer-flavoured fare with a dose of Omega-3! Original Recipe Yield: 4 servings Ingredients 1 (16 ounce) package extra firm tofu 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 egg white 1 tablespoon barbeque sauce 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 cup barbeque sauce Directions Drain tofu, and slice into strips. Place [...]
Pain is a warning sign telling us that something is wrong and should be addressed. It shouldn’t be ignored (pushing the body past its limit), blocked (transcutaneous nerve stimulation, aka TENS), nor turned off (pain medications). Ideally, the underlying cause is found and dealt with. The severity of pain does not necessarily tell us how [...]
Well, it was a wild ride all the way to Game 7, but in the end we couldn’t bring it home. The fan support and enthusiasm was sensational, and we must give our boys in blue credit for working hard and persevering. Perseverance is the key to success: Have a clear goal and relate it [...]
Although the weather is not really cooperating and hockey is still on (Go Canucks!), warm months and fresh produce are around the corner. Not only are local fruit and vegetables cheaper to buy, they are tastier, easy to prepare and help build a sustainable community food system. Local farmers’ markets usually offer a wide variety [...]
May is Arthritis Awareness Month Arthritis literally means joint inflammation. It is not a single disease, but refers to a group of more than 100 rheumatic diseases and other conditions that can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, which [...]
Recent studies show that long periods of sitting cause serious physiological responses that are related to chronic disease and premature death. The average Canadian is immobile 9.5 hours a day. People who stood up frequently were found to be fitter, leaner and with smaller waistlines. And it was how often they stood that mattered, not [...]
妙手回春 妙 MIAO – magic (clever, healing) 手 SHOU – hands 回 HUI – restore 春 CHUN – spring (youth & health) This ancient Chinese proverb is an honour bestowed upon a medical professional with considerable skills. Hands that heal can bring us back to youthful health! Spring is a time of refreshing and reviving [...]
People arrive at our office presenting with a variety of painful – or in some way problematic – body parts. We use a detailed history and physical examination to properly diagnose and treat both the current and the underlying cause. When investigating neck pain or stiffness, we look at our modern postures, which can lead [...]
Feeling the End-of-Winter Blahs? Tired of the rain? Stuck in a rut? Try something new! Start simply to shake things up: wake up 15 minutes earlier and enjoy a hearty breakfast. Get off the Sky Train one stop early and walk home. Cook a dinner with farro and pancetta. Take a class. Join a Sun [...]
Mama always told us to “sit up straight!”, but little did she know it puts unnecessary strain on our backs, contributing to lower back pain. Research finds that the best sitting position is leaning back, at about 135 degrees. In a study at a hospital in Aberdeen, Scotland, volunteers with healthy backs assumed three different [...]
Lumbar disc herniation is a displacement of disc material which then presses on nerves. The occurrence of disc herniations is rare (1 – 5%) compared to mechanical low back pain. Symptoms of disc herniation include: leg pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or increased symptoms with coughing, sneezing or straining. It’s found mainly among people age 30 [...]
Approximately 80% of Canadians will experience low back pain in their lifetime. 90% of back pain is “mechanical” in nature and will improve within 4 to 12 weeks. Mechanical low back pain is typically aggravated and relieved by specific positions and activities. Pain may refer to the buttocks or thighs. Although this form of back [...]
Did you know …? 60-80% of the population will experience at least one back pain episode in their lifetime. Occupational back pain is the most common and costly work-related injury. 65% of the population will experience neck pain at some point in their lifetime. This could be related to a history of whiplash injury, headache, [...]
It’s December 2010, how was the year for you? Another grey hair, an extra pound or two? 12 months in a flash, it all goes by so fast. Seems like long ago, but these are from the recent past: The Olympics were grand and set a special tone in balmy Vancouver, the podium we did [...]
Every year at this time it can be such a task to stick to your fitness and diet regime. Holiday parties, rich foods, visiting relatives and snow can all interrupt and cause problems with how hard you’ve worked all year! But if you plan and prepare, you can make sure the holidays don’t knock you [...]
The Secret to Long Life … “Red meat and gin.” ~ Julia Child (1912 – 2004), on what her longevity is attributed to. Most of us would like to live a long and happy life. It’s really not a secret anymore. We’ve seen the studies, know what’s good for us, and although it seems trite, [...]
November is Diabetes Awareness Month 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes. It is one of the most preventable diseases, but it is still growing at an alarming rate. If you have prediabetes (slightly elevated blood sugar levels that often become diabetes within 10 years), you likely don’t even know it. Having diabetes can [...]
Put on your flannels and get cozy, because the first step to weight loss is a good night’s sleep. This is what a recent study at the University of Chicago has shown. When 10 healthy, but overweight, subjects had eight hours of sleep (consuming 90% of what they normally needed to maintain their weight without [...]
World Osteoporosis Day: October 20th, 2010 Close to 2 million Canadians suffer from osteoporosis, a disease which weakens your bones and makes them more likely to break. Bone is constantly changing: cells called osteoclasts remove bone, while osteoblasts form bone. In normal bone, these two actions are balanced. In osteoporotic bone, osteoclasts remove bone more [...]
Coinciding with the fall harvest, World Vegetarian Day occurs on October 1st to kick-off Vegetarian Awareness Month. The North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) aims to give support to its members, affiliated groups and vegetarians in general, while also educating the public on how vegetarianism benefits humans, other animals and the earth. Non-vegetarians are welcome to [...]
Meditation is a valuable exercise. Just as exercising our muscles makes them stronger, more coordinated and have better muscle memory, our brains have the capacity to continuously grow stronger and healthier throughout our life. Exercising our brain causes structural and functional changes when it is challenged. Challenging the brain results in an increased number of [...]
Chronic sleep loss due to the combination of voluntary bedtime restriction and poor quality of sleep is an endemic condition in modern society. It is not just the amount of time in bed that’s important; difficulty getting to sleep or disturbed, restless sleep can also create a significant sleep debt. Sleep has a huge role [...]
Vitamin D has long been considered an important component of health as it contributes to the absorption of calcium in the gut and helps maintain correct levels of calcium and other components required for normal bone health, reducing the risk of osteoporosis. New research has also linked Vitamin D to reducing the risk of breast, [...]
Helping You Get Back in the Game Did you know that the College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences (Canada) is granted royal designation? Canada’s Governor General Michaelle Jean recommended that Her Majesty grant the royal title to the college after it met stringent criteria, including its devotion to scientific causes and the field of sports health [...]
In dealing with pain relief, NSAIDs (Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, similar to ibuprofen), have been found to cause undesirable side effects such as gastritis and early gastric erosion. Alternatively, much research supports the use of omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) to block inflammatory responses. Without those unwanted side effects, omega-3s are a much safer choice to [...]
Summer is here and so is the abundance of delicious, fresh and local fruit. Here is a list of some favourites and what goodness they bring to your health (Enjoy!): Blueberries – Contain more antioxidants than any other fruit, which help to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, reduce damage by age-accelerating free radicals [...]
When pursing any new activity or continuing with your regular ones, knowing the risks and taking precautions can avoid undesirable effects such as injuries that can sideline you from your goals. Running is a great way to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle while preventing or reducing the risks of numerous physical health concerns. Unfortunately, [...]
The Times, They Are A-Changin’ Change is one of the few things in life that is inevitable. It is the nature of things to change – in fact, change is inherent to survival. With change usually comes stress from new routines, unknowns, and apprehension about the future. Even little changes, such as changing banks, can [...]