Pollution is one of the biggest concerns when it comes to our environment. As humans, we’re actually responsible for most of the pollution that gets released into the environment. What we don’t realize, however, is that breathing in all that pollution can actually have a detrimental impact on our health. Air pollution can be classified into two types: Visible or invisible. Things like smoke, dust and haze are considered “visible” pollutants and can oftentimes be smelled, while other pollutants like carbon monoxide are considered “invisible” as they are without color and odour. Another common example of air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels. For example, oil, coal, as well…

Smoking Statistics There are as many as 1 billion smokers worldwide. According to a health survey released by Statistics Canada, an estimated 17.7 percent (or approximately 5.3 million) of Canadians are smokers, beginning as early as age 12. While smoking rates have been falling steadily in Canada over the last few years, it’s still an urgent problem that needs to be addressed. Smoking kills more than 37,000 Canadians each year. In fact, smoking causes more deaths every year than HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle accidents and firearm-related incidents combined. Smoking and Cancer While some think that lung cancer is one of the only types of cancer directly…

Do you suffer from cold hands or feet? Do you digest food slowly? Do you develop frequent headaches? What about general body aches and pains? All of this could be due to a lack of circulation. Circulation can affect many different aspects of our health, and it is important because it helps keep the blood flowing as well as supplies oxygen to the brain and other areas of our bodies, which is what allows us to be able to function. First, we’ll take a look at some of the most common reasons why we might have poor circulation. They include: • Lack of exercise • Obesity • Poor diet •…

It’s no secret that tobacco is one of the most harmful things for your body. If you smoke cigarettes, you’re putting yourself at risk of a multitude of health problems – including everything from changes to the skin, discolouration of the teeth and/or tooth decay, as well as severe respiratory problems such as asthma, pneumonia, emphysema, and lung cancer. In fact, smoking is directly responsible for nearly 85% of lung cancer-related deaths, and as many as 80% of deaths due to COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.) The unfortunate thing about smoking is that once you start, it’s difficult to stop. This is because tobacco contains nicotine, which is addictive. The…

If you’re developing unexplained illnesses, suffer from asthma and notice an increase in frequency of symptoms (i.e. wheezing), as well as noticing other allergic-like reactions, this could be an indicator of mold being the culprit. While mold-related reactions are more common in the spring and summer months, they can occur at any time – especially if you happen to live in a building where mold is present, or there has been previous mold damage. Symptoms of mold sensitivity or mold allergy are very similar to symptoms that one would experience if they suffered from hay fever; such as sneezing, coughing/throat irritation, nasal congestion, runny nose, and red, itchy and/or watery…

Certain fragrances are something that are part of our everyday lives – whether it’s things like perfumes, air fresheners and other scented products (i.e., cosmetics, detergents), flowers, or different air pollutants and chemicals (i.e., cleaning products, pesticides, etcetera.) These are all things that we live with day to day, and for many people they will not be bothersome. However, for some individuals, they can wreak havoc and become disruptive to the point where their health may be affected. The most common reactions that someone will have as a result of fragrance sensitivity are often respiratory or skin-related in nature. Respiratory-related reactions may include: • Nasal congestion • Runny nose •…