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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
The Public Health Agency of Canada was created in 2004 to “promote and protect the health of Canadians through leadership, partnership, innovation, and action in public health”. The SARS outbreak of 2003 was the primary motivation behind the creation of this agency, as it was clear that Canada needed a strategy to maintain the good [...]
We in North America live the most luxurious lifestyles the world has ever seen. We make more money than we ever have, we have access to almost unlimited credit, we have large houses and at least one car per household, and almost everything the world has to offer is available to us. Unfortunately, it turns [...]
In 1995, the Vancouver region set a goal to divert 50% of its waste from the dump by 2000. With the development of many waste reduction programs, this goal was met and by 2007 55% of all the waste generated by Vancouver-area households went somewhere other than the dump. However, as the population of the [...]
Do YOU know where your food comes from? At the turn of the last century – a mere 100 years ago – most of the people in North America lived in rural areas, and more than 40% of the population were farmers. Today, those numbers have decreased significantly and will continue to decrease as globalization [...]
Consider the following: You arrive at a party and discover someone wearing a piece of clothing identical to yours. You are eating in a restaurant with some friends when the waiter accidentally spills a drink on you. An old friend calls you in the middle of the night, just to talk. Do you: a) [...]
It’s Flu Season – Stay Healthy! Different strains of Influenza kill between 2000 – 8000 Canadians every year. ‘Swine Flu’, or novel H1N1 flu virus, is a new strain of flu that emerged in Canada in April of this year, and is currently the cause of a global flu pandemic. The World Health Organization [...]
The nights are getting longer, darker, and rainier as winter gets closer. At this time of year, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists need to be extra vigilant about visibility. It is your responsibility as a cyclist, runner, or walker to make sure you are visible to motorists. Wear light coloured and reflective clothing, walk on the [...]
The incidence of musculoskeletal problems increases as people age. In Canada, 30% of seniors over age 75 reported being in pain, and 47% of people over age 65 have been diagnosed with arthritis or rheumatism. Osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and joint diseases are also very common in seniors, and are the primary cause of severe long-term pain [...]
As a result of extensive education and training, chiropractors are capable of diagnosing and treating a wide range of spinal and peripheral musculoskeletal disorders. Individuals with musculoskeletal disorders experience pain, lose physical function, and have a reduced quality of life in not only the physical domain, but as well in social and mental functioning. The [...]
With spring here, a few of us will be looking for some antihistamines for our allergies or painkillers/anti-inflammatories for those aches and pains from gardening. Here is some information you might want to know before you use those over the counter (OTC) medications. Although mild and relatively uncommon, interactions involving OTC drugs can produce unwanted [...]
Numerous studies have suggested that regular vigorous exercise reduces inflammation – a condition that is predictive of cardiovascular diseases. Inflammation, which is measured by a marker called C-reactive protein, or CRP, causes redness, pain and swelling, and can damage the inner lining of arteries. Clots from arteries can break off and block the flow of [...]
Heart disease is now the leading cause of death for Canadian women. Unfortunately, many women are unaware of this serious health concern. Even more worrisome is the fact that doctors also seem to be unaware of the risk that heart disease poses to women, and do not treat women with cardiac symptoms as aggressively as [...]
January 16th – 22nd is Healthy Weight Week. It is a time to celebrate healthy lifestyles that last a lifetime and prevent eating and weight problems. It’s a welcome change from the dieting that typically begins the New Year! Healthy Weight Week is a time to start eating well, living our lives in healthy ways, [...]
Author: Claire Sowerbutt If you’re contemplating going on a diet or altering your eating habits – and you’re a woman – beware the high protein mantra. While high protein diets have been shown to work for weight loss, protein – specifically animal protein – contains acid. When eaten in large amounts, without sufficient quantities [...]
The nonprescription oral pain relievers that line the aisles in your local drugstore aren’t all the same. But they fall into two main categories: Pain relievers that decrease inflammation. Often called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), this group includes medications with aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. Pain relievers that don’t decrease inflammation. The active ingredient in [...]
Claire Sowerbutt You know that old wives’ tale about cod liver oil being good for your joints? Well, it’s been proven true by scientists atCardiffUniversity, inWales. It turns out that cod liver oil can slow or reverse the deterioration of joint cartilage that occurs in arthritis, in particular osteoarthritis. Cartilage is found in your joints [...]
Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. Blood pressure rises and falls during the day. When blood pressure stays elevated over time, it is called high blood pressure. The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard [...]
November is Diabetes Awareness month. With an increasing rate of adult onset diabetes found at younger ages, here are some important facts you might want to know. More than two million Canadians have diabetes. Approximately 80% of people with diabetes will die as a result of heart disease or stroke. Canadian adults with diabetes are [...]
Tea has risen to a new standard – it appears to be very good for you. Previous research has associated tea drinking with lowered rates of heart disease and cancer (see Running & FitNews, March 2001). This new study attributes significantly higher bone density to lifetime tea drinkers. Over a thousand men and women were [...]
Not Just a Woman’s Disease Author: Dr. Art Hister This is going to surprise a lot of you, but osteoporosis is not just a woman’s disease. We all know, of course, or at least we should that osteoporosis is a major cause of disability and death in women. About 20 % of women who [...]
Having a healthy heart (aka lowering your bad cholesterol) can be easy and tasty. According to a report in the British Medical Journal, here are seven foods that are shown to lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and other heart disease risk factors. When working all seven into your diet, you can cut your risk of heart [...]
The cold and flu season typically lasts from early fall until early spring, and it is now upon us. If you have yet to experience one this fall, here are some tips that might keep the cold bug at bay! Wash your hands! It is not necessary to use an antibacterial soap every time, yet [...]
Pain Not Necessary for Health and Fitness, but Walking Is Women who lift weights will get bulky muscles. Women don’t have enough testosterone to develop large, bulky muscles. Strength training will not cause women to build muscles, although steroids might. Spot reducing is possible. It’s simply not possible to “burn off” fat in one [...]
Carrying heavy backpacks on a continual basis can cause stress to the growing spinal column which could lead to future pain and health problems. To prevent back and neck pain from an overloaded backpack, it is important to recognize the correct way to choose, pack, lift and carry a backpack. When choosing a backpack, ensure [...]
May 12th is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. It is estimated that approximately 3-6% of the population has Fibromyalgia. A higher percentage of women between the ages of 20 to 50 are affected. Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic disorder characterized by tenderness in localized areas of the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips sometimes referred to as tender [...]
With February being Heart Month, here is some information to protect you and help combat heart disease. A new study suggests young men with Type-A personalities should ease up on the hostility to avoid developing high blood pressure. Researchers investigated which psychological and social factors raise the long-term chances of hypertension, a major risk [...]
C-reactive protein (CRP) is part of the inflammatory reaction in the body. Recent research shows that having high blood test levels of CRP increases one’s risk for heart attack and stroke twice as much as having high cholesterol does. CRP measures inflammation, the same part of the body’s immune reaction that protects you from infection [...]
Heart disease may be the leading cause of death for both men and women, but it doesn’t mean you have to accept it as your fate. Although you lack the power to change some risk factors – such as family history, age, and race – there are some key heart disease prevention steps you can [...]
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue which leads to increased bone fragility and risk of fracture. Osteoporosis is known as the “silent thief” because bone loss occurs without symptoms. So what can we do to help prevent this disease from becoming our reality? A healthful diet with [...]
April is Cancer Awareness Month. Cancer is second only to heart disease as the cause of death among Canadians. Here is some information that will help you decrease your risk of cancer by controlling your weight. Studies have shown that being overweight triggers high levels of the hormones leptin and estrogen. Excess hormones can spur [...]
Always – 3 Often – 2 Rarely – 1 Never – 0 Answer each of the following with the above ratings. Fill in the appropriate point value in the space provided. I do 30 minutes of moderate cardiovascular exercise 5 times/week. _____ I eat at least 8 servings of fruits or vegetables daily. _____ I [...]