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Celebrating the Season While Sustaining Your Health
With the arrival of December, it’s a pivotal time to prioritize our health. With the holiday season fast approaching, striking a balance between festive indulgences and maintaining a healthy lifestyle becomes crucial. This comprehensive guide provides a detailed 5-point checklist to help you navigate the winter months with vitality and joy. Staying Flu-Free: A Proactive Approach The winter season coincides with a rise in flu cases, making it imperative to adopt preventive measures. Vaccination remains the most effective defense against influenza. The flu shot, widely available across Canada, is tailored annually to combat the most prevalent strains. Besides vaccination, simple yet effective hygiene practices can significantly reduce the risk of…
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Holiday Health Hazards
While this is the time of year for cheer and celebration, there are also certain things about the holidays that can pose serious risks to your health. As mentioned in a previous article, during the holidays we tend to overindulge – whether it’s on sweet treats or going for second or third servings of that ham or turkey dinner, the holiday season usually tends to be the most common time of year when people might pack on a few extra pounds. Hence, it’s also the most common time of year for people to make weight loss one of their New Year’s resolutions. While it’s okay to have the odd chocolate…
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Managing Holiday Stress and Depression
The first step to coping with holiday stress, anxiety, or depression is to acknowledge your feelings. It’s perfectly okay not to feel okay. Bottling up emotions can often intensify feelings of stress or sadness. If you’re grieving the loss of a loved one during the holidays, remember that it’s a natural response. Grief is personal, and you’re not alone—many others are navigating similar feelings. Recognizing and validating your emotions is a critical part of the healing process. Holidays often bring families together, which can sometimes lead to tension or conflict. If family dynamics are adding to your stress, try to minimize negative interactions. Save sensitive conversations for another time, and…
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Preventing Weight Gain Over the Holiday Season
The holiday season is notorious for indulging in sweet tweets and other foods we should typically stay away from – or, at the very least, only have in moderation. Eating too much of the foods that are considered bad for us (i.e. cookies, fruit cake and other baked goods that are high in sugar and carbohydrates) can cause us to gain a few extra pounds, but there are still ways that you can enjoy the holiday season without worrying about it impacting your waistline or your general health. For whatever reason, we always tend to eat more food over the holidays. A friend or family member might bring over a…
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Men’s Mental Health
There have been many discussions surrounding mental health, mental illness, and the need for increased awareness. However, as many as 40% of men will avoid discussions about their mental health. In Canada alone, 75% of all suicides are men. Globally, a man will die from suicide every minute. As for why men won’t talk about mental health, the reasons vary. Some want to try to deal with it on their own, they don’t want to be a burden on anyone else, while others say they’re simply too embarrassed and afraid to admit they need the help. In addition, there’s also the negative stigma that still surrounds mental illness to this…
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Preterm Birth: What to Know
An estimated 390,000 babies are born each year across Canada. While the average gestation period that is required in order for a baby to fully grow and develop is 40 weeks, there are cases where babies are born at less than 37 weeks. This is referred to as premature or preterm birth, which accounts for approximately 7.8% of births in the country. On a global scale, an estimated 15 million babies are born prematurely, with over a million of them not surviving. While there have been many strides made over the years in terms of survival rates in babies born under 37 weeks and with doctors being able to do…
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Lung Cancer Signs and Symptoms
Lung cancer is one of the most significant health challenges facing Canadians today, with over 32,000 individuals receiving a diagnosis each year. This staggering number underscores the urgency of understanding, preventing, and treating this complex disease. Lung cancer knows no boundaries, affecting men and women, young and old, smokers and non-smokers alike. It is a stark reminder that, as long as we have lungs, we are all at risk. While tobacco use remains the leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for the majority of cases, it is not the sole contributor. Environmental factors, such as exposure to radon gas, second-hand smoke, and air pollution, also play a role, as does…
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National Addictions Awareness Week
National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW) serves as a pivotal opportunity for Canadians to come together and address the complex and far-reaching impacts of alcohol and other drug-related harms. With its roots in raising awareness and fostering dialogue, this annual event encourages individuals, communities, and organizations across the country to learn more about the critical importance of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. By engaging in meaningful conversations and sharing diverse perspectives, NAAW not only shines a spotlight on the challenges associated with substance use but also highlights innovative solutions that can drive positive change at both individual and societal levels. This year’s theme, Forging Connections, underscores the vital role that…
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Understanding Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms
Pancreatic cancer, often referred to as a “silent killer,” is one of the most challenging and aggressive forms of cancer that can affect individuals in Canada and around the world. This year alone, it is estimated that approximately 7,100 Canadians will receive the life-altering diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, a figure that underscores the urgent need for greater awareness, earlier detection, and more effective treatment options. The pancreas, a vital organ tucked deep within the abdomen, plays a crucial role in both digestion and blood sugar regulation by producing enzymes that help break down food and hormones like insulin that control glucose levels. Unfortunately, this essential organ’s deep-seated location and its…
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Crohn’s and Colitis
Crohn’s disease and colitis, often grouped under the umbrella term ‘inflammatory bowel diseases’ (IBD), represent a significant challenge in the field of gastroenterology. Despite their prevalence and impact, misconceptions and uncertainties about these conditions persist. This article aims to demystify Crohn’s and colitis, delving into their pathophysiology, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and the lived experiences of those affected. At the core, Crohn’s disease and Colitis are chronic conditions characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, they exhibit distinct patterns of inflammation and affected areas. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the GI tract, from mouth to anus, but commonly targets the end of the small intestine and the…
