Health
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The Negative Effects of Alcohol
While alcohol is widely popular and considered socially acceptable, it can still have dangerous effects on people’s health. From a physical standpoint, alcohol can lead to dehydration, weight gain, and damage to the internal organs; in addition to having a psychological impact. When it comes to physical health consequences, the most common is dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it causes an increase in urination. This can cause dehydration, which can lead to fatigue, headaches, and other physical symptoms. As the body becomes increasingly dehydrated, it becomes more difficult for the cells to function and for the brain to process information. As a result, people can become weak, dizzy,…
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Dry February
“Dry Feb” is a fundraiser that challenges individuals to abstain from drinking alcohol for the entire month of February as well as raises funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. The initiative has become increasingly popular over the years, as people look for ways to improve their health and wellness, and is a fantastic way to reset your relationship with alcohol. Many participants report feeling healthier, more in control, and better able to make healthier decisions after taking part – such as focusing on things like exercise, meditation, or socializing. Many who take part in Dry Feb find that it helps them break bad habits and build healthier ones. For example,…
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Taking Care of Your Mental Health
Mental health refers to a person’s emotional and psychological well-being. Mental illness is an umbrella term used to describe any type of mental health condition that affects a person’s mental or emotional well-being. Common types of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); while other mental health conditions include obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorders and phobias. All of these can affect a person’s overall sense of wellbeing, impacting their ability to work, study, interact with others and handle everyday activities. Mental health is important at all stages of life; from childhood and adolescence all the way through to adulthood. Over the…
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Types of Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive form of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. It is the most common form of dementia, and is ranked among the top 10 leading causes of death in Canada. It is is a complex disease, and there are several different types that can be diagnosed. The first type of Alzheimer’s is known as early-onset Alzheimer’s, which is diagnosed in people under the age of 65. Early-onset Alzheimer’s is relatively rare, but it is typically more aggressive, and can have a significant impact on a person’s daily life. The second type of Alzheimer’s is late-onset Alzheimer’s. This is the most common type of Alzheimer’s that…
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Benefits of Vitamin E
Vitamin E is considered a fat-soluble vitamin. It acts as an antioxidant and protects cells from damage that is caused by free radicals, which are compounds that form when our bodies convert what we eat into energy. One of the most common uses for Vitamin E is to prevent or treat certain diseases and illnesses, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and cancer (including lung cancer, oral cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, prostate cancer, and pancreatic cancer), as well as fight inflammation, balance hormones, and reduce PMS symptoms (such as cramping, cravings, and even anxiety.) Some people also use Vitamin E for diseases of the brain and…
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Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
Dementia is a term that means loss of memory and other cognitive functions, which interfere with activities of daily living. Living with any form of dementia can take a toll on the patient and caregivers. It can come as a shock, and it will be a moment of crisis where strong support is needed. Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, accounts for 60 to 80 percent of cases in Canada and generally affects more seniors than any other age group. Alzheimer’s occurs when the brain cells and connections die, affecting the ability to think coherently and remember things both in the long and short-term. Currently, there is no cure…
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Clinic and Emergency Room Visits During COVID-19
One of the most common concerns that people have as a result of COVID-19 is whether or not it is still considered safe to visit the ER for other maladies unrelated to the virus. Prior to COVID-19 being declared a public health emergency by our officials back in March of 2020, British Columbia saw as many as 6,559 visits to ERs across the province in just one day. However, just one month later, on April 6th, 2020, that number dropped to approximately 2,995 ER visits. While this ultimately shows that people were doing what they needed to be doing by staying home – and that the system, as a whole,…
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Managing Stress and Anxiety During COVID-19
Stress and anxiety are two things that most people have experienced in their lives at some point or another. While there are certain things that we can do in effort to prevent them from being daily re-occurrences in our lives, there are also times when the stress and anxiety we live through is often brought on by things we don’t have any control over. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic. As a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the number of Canadians that are experiencing a decline in their psychological health – including not just an increase in stress and anxiety, but also an…
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What Are Antibodies?
When bacteria, viruses and other types of microbes invade your body and try to make you sick, your immune system kicks into gear and fights hard to protect you. One of the ways in which your immune system does this is through the production of antibodies, which are stored in your immunoglobulin protein and are produced when they react with things such as protein antigens, including infectious organisms, toxins, and even pollen. Produced antibodies will then locate and attack these antigens. Types of Antibodies There are four different types of antibodies to make note of, each of which come with their own set of roles and responsibilities. These include: •…
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Reducing Back-to-School Anxiety
For some kids and teenagers, returning to school can also come along with a lot of stress and anxiety. In many cases, that back-to-school anxiety is often associated with things such as being away from parents or other family members (especially for younger children who are starting full-time school for the first time), or having to go to a brand new school (for example, transitioning from elementary school to high school, or moving to a new neighbourhood and having to go to a new school as a result.) There are also cases where children may be bullied in school in the past and might have fears about returning. In addition…