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What Your Heart Rate Tells You
Your heart is, essentially, what keeps you alive. Without a heartbeat, there is no you. As for your heart rate itself, there are many things that it can tell you about your health both at rest and during physical activity – including your aerobic capacity, as well as whether you are at risk of a heart attack. When it comes to what your “normal” heart rate should be, it varies from person to person and will often fluctuate (either by speeding up or slowing down) depending on your activities throughout the day. That being said, your heart rate should never be too high or too low. In order to determine…
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Disorders of the Digestive System
The digestive system is a collection of organs that work together in getting food in and out of your body. These organs include the mouth, salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, pancreas, small intestine, liver, colon, rectum and anus. Symptoms associated with the digestive system include the occasional nausea, upset stomach and heartburn, to more severe, life-threatening disorders. Such disorders usually have unknown causes and are complex with subtle symptoms. While some may be generic, they may also develop due to a number of different factors including fatigue, stress, diet, smoking and alcohol abuse. Diagnostic testing, including laboratory tests, medical imaging and endoscopic procedures may be necessary to diagnose certain disorders.…
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Why Are You Always Feeling Cold?
Aside from winter weather having an impact on body temperature, there are a few different conditions that can cause you to feel chilled more often than usual, including: Iron Deficiency Iron deficiency is something that is common in many individuals, especially women with their periods. In order for our red blood cells to be able to function properly and carry oxygen around the body, iron is required. However, being iron deficient can have a significant impact on this process, which can cause symptoms such as chills, fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, and pale skin. Iron deficiency is usually diagnosed via a blood test. If it’s confirmed that you are…
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Relieving Irritated Skin
Millions of Canadians live with or have had a skin condition in their lifetime. 20% of Canadians live with acne, while 3 million Canadians have been diagnosed with rosacea and/or psoriasis. Another common condition of the skin is skin dryness, flakiness and/or itching. While eczema is something that is often characterized by these same symptoms, they can also be the result of a change in weather and temperature – particularly in the fall and winter months. When there is a decrease in temperature, there is also a decrease in the skin’s moisture content. This can then lead to the skin becoming dry, irritated and itchy, flaky, and you can even…
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Tips to Living a Happy, Healthy Life
We all want to live the happiest, healthiest life possible. As a physician, I encourage people to make healthy lifestyle choices; including healthy eating habits, regular physical activity, and smoking cessation. By not eating healthy, not staying fit, and smoking, you are not taking care of your body – and in order to be happy, we also need to be healthy. When we think of the word “diet” we often correlate that to weight loss. However, weight loss and weight management are not the only benefits of healthy eating. While it is definitely part of it, the food you eat can also play a significant role in other aspects of…
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Common Food Allergies
Food allergies have become an increasing health concern in Canada over the years, with as many as 2.5 million Canadians suffering from at least 1 common food allergy. The highest incidence of food allergies is found in children. Below is a look at some of the most common food allergens according to Health Canada: Peanuts: The most common food allergy, especially in children, is a peanut allergy (affecting 2 in 100.) Peanut allergies have become so severe that some schools have banned peanuts or products containing peanuts all together, and is considered a “priority” allergen that must be listed on all ingredient labels if manufactured in a facility that also…
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What Causes Hair Loss?
When it comes to hair thinning and hair loss, it isn’t just a natural part of the aging process – it’s also a natural cycle of our hair growth, rest, shedding and replacement process. In fact, we can shed anywhere from 50 to 100 hairs in a single day. That being said, there are certain medical conditions that can also attribute to the loss of hair, including hormonal changes (i.e., pregnancy, childbirth and menopause), certain medical conditions (i.e. thyroid disease, alopecia areata, scalp infections, lichen planus, stress/anxiety, vitamin deficiencies, dandruff/eczema), and medications (such as those used to treat cancer, high blood pressure, heart problems, arthritis, and depression.) Hair loss can cause…
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Managing Psoriasis in Colder Weather
With the winter season not too far off, cooler temperatures and a change in the weather will soon follow suit – and the colder the season, the drier, itchier and inflamed the skin can become. Psoriasis, a common autoimmune disorder that affects as many as 1 million Canadians and 125 million individuals, manifests itself as a skin problem. With Psoriasis, skin may feel itchy and/or sore and appear scaly and/or red. While the exact cause of Psoriasis is unknown, a combination of genetics and certain triggers (such as stress) are likely to play a part in the disorder; and while family physicians may need to prescribe medication to individuals with…
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What is Insomnia?
Insomnia, the most common sleep disorder, affects up to 40 percent of the Canadian population with more than 30 percent of adults suffering from this condition. If left untreated, insomnia can affect your quality of life as well as your performance at school and/or work. “Insomnia” itself is a broad term that includes several different types of sleeping disorders. The most common forms of sleeping disorders that individuals are diagnosed with include acute insomnia, chronic insomnia, and transient insomnia. It is a condition that can affect people of all ages, especially adult women, and may have various causes such as stress, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, as well as consumption of…
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Types of Arthritis
There are an estimated 350 million people living with arthritis worldwide. In Canada, there are more than 4 and a half million people living with some form of the inflammatory disease. There are many different forms of arthritis, though the most common include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and gout. While all types of arthritis cause pain, they differ based on the nature of the disease. For example, osteoarthritis is a degenerative form of the disease as a result of wear and tear on the joints, while rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disorder that results in painful joints throughout the body. First, we’ll start with osteoarthritis (also sometimes referred…