Health, Wellness & Safety Magazine Volume 8 Issue 3

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WELLNESS

SAVE THE DATE

HIKING FOR MENTAL HEALTH

July National Injury Prevention Day July 5 World Population Day July 11

By Jonathan Toews

I recently completed my journey of hiking the entire Bruce Trail.

I was a novice hiker, and when I started, I didn't know what I was in for.

I started out using trails as a cyclist. I would race to try to beat my best time. The pursuit was based on speed and moving through nature and trails as quickly as possible.

I reached a point in my life where I experienced some personal turmoil. My life changed dramatically. My marriage ended, and the life I knew was shifting to something I no longer recognized.

Racing no longer suited me. I found myself with the desire to slow down. I went from riding through trails as quickly as I possibly could - with my surroundings blurring past me like I was escaping my problems. My point-of-view was changing. I no longer had to prove to myself or anyone that I could be better or faster. I desired to slow down, and that's when I started to hike.

I found that hiking helped my high anxiety almost immediately.

I was able to take in my surroundings, and my thoughts became clear. I'm someone who experiences high-anxiety. Hiking became my therapy. I was no longer able to push aside my thoughts.

I now value the self-awareness I get by stepping into nature and being one with myself, my mind.

As someone who likes a challenge, I started on a journey to hike the entire Bruce Trail. Running into people on the trail and hearing their stories of completing the 885km trail, end-to-end — I had to do it too.

After a trip to Tobermory and biting off more than I could chew, I got better prepared. Light packing, hiking poles, and appropriate shoes made long hiking distances possible.

With 500km of trail left to go, I partnered with Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC) to raise funds and awareness of how hiking can be incredibly therapeutic for those that suffer from a mood disorder. I started Jonathan's Hike to Defeat Depression with the assistance of MDSC and planned out 12 and 24-hour hikes.

Over five weekends in February and March, I hiked the remaining 500km of the Bruce Trail, all while raising awareness and funds for something that has benefitted me greatly. We are now working on 2018 and evolving to group hiking. We hope to engage people to get outdoors and join us on our next journey.

For more information, search Facebook for Jonathan's Hike to Defeat Depression. HWS The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority is the steward to 7,000 acres of land throughout the Niagara Region, Hamilton, and Haldimand County.

Several conservation areas are located along the Bruce Trail and have hiking trails within. For information on NPCA's hiking trails visit www.npca.ca.

National Drowning Prevention Week July 17 to July 23 International Self-Care Day July 24 World Hepatitis Day July 28

The date, July 24th, symbolizes that the benefits of self-care are experienced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

August The first International Youth Day was observed on August 12th, 2000.

World Breastfeeding Week August 1 to August 7 International Youth Day August 12 World Humanitarian Day August 19

International Overdose Awareness Day August 31

September Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month National Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Awareness Day September 4 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day September 9 Alzheimer’s disease is a fatal disease that eventually affects all aspects of a person’s life: how they think, feel, and act.

World Suicide Prevention Day September 10 World Alzheimer’s Day September 21 Terry Fox Run September 20 World Rabies Day September 28 World Heart Day September 29

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UP FRONT

Sign, Sign – Everywhere A Sign.

SUMMER IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR EVERYONE... The sun is out, the kids are all finished school, and people are making plans for that elusive vacation.

If you missed it—June was also Stroke Awareness Month. Now that might not mean much to you at first glance—but it should. Each year, there are over 50,000 strokes in Canada—or one stroke every 10 minutes. In general terms, a stroke is a sudden seizure that can occur when there’s a blockage of blood flowing to the brain. Strokes can be fatal or disabling so it’s important to recognize the signs of a stroke immediately. These include:

WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Please send your comments, editorial suggestions and feedback to: HWS – Health, Wellness & Safety Magazine 36 Hiscott St., Suite 200 St. Catharines, ON L2R 1C8 tel: 905.646.9366 adam@businesslinkmedia.com www.hwsmag.com

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@HWSmag

Pronounced drooping on either side of the face.

A feeling of weakness, numbness or paralysis along one side of the body that prevents someone from raising their arm.

Slurred speech, the repetition of simple sentences or a difficulty to speak altogether.

If you or someone you know is showing some or all of these signs, call 911 and get medical attention as soon as possible. (Many types of strokes can be treated before permanent damage sets in.) Strokes are the leading cause of disability in Canada and almost 14,000 Canadians die from strokes every year. So don’t wait to become another statistic… Act! Now, on a much happier note —here’s the latest edition of HWS Magazine! In this issue, we have a cover story on Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation (p14).

There’s also a look at the wonders of neurofeedback (p13), a story on the medical volunteers at Not Just Tourists (p18), and a spotlight on stroke survivor Dr. Scott Macpherson (p20).

Want to touch base? Just drop us a line today at adam@businesslinkmedia.com.

Yours in health, Adam Shields President Business Link Media Group

FREE DOWNLOAD! HWSmag app is available in the Apple iTunes Store for your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Visit www.hwsmag.com.

Every family has a story to tell.

That’s where you come in…

Do you have a family-owned and operated business? Or have some expert advice you’d like to share with the Niagara, Hamilton and Halton business communities? If so, we’d like to hear from you.

With our new All in the Family Magazine, we can profile your business, share your expertise or help you explore a wide variety of advertising opportunities. Contact us today. The story is yours to tell.

Be a part of our 2017 issue. Call one of our marketing experts today.

905.646.9366 | info@businesslinkmedia.com | www.allinthefamilymag.ca AITF-Oct1

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2016-09-2

9 9:25 AM

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HEALTH

Lymphedema

By Vivian Dim

THE TERM LYMPHEDEMA REFERS TO when a person presents with chronic abnormal swelling.

The swelling can present anywhere in the body such as the face, trunk, arms and legs and even the genitals. It is treatable but if it is unchecked the swelling can continue leading to increased limb girth, which can apply pressure to other tissue resulting in pain, and reduced ability to carry on daily tasks. On a physical perspective the persistent and increasing swelling may eventually compromise the health of tissue, which appears as skin changes, pitting edema or fibrotic tissue as well as increased susceptibility to infection known as cellulitis. Immediate medical attention should be sought with cellulitis.

Lymphedema is associated with people who have trauma to the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of the immune system and is also responsible for maintaining the fluid balance in the space between the cells. When the system is compromised as with individuals who have had their lymph nodes removed due to cancer treat-

ment, radiation or even an orthopaedic condition, it is unable to do its job effectively and the swelling persists. With individuals with orthopaedic issues, the swelling is linked with the trauma and can be easily managed as the lymphatic system is compromised but intact. However, for individuals post cancer treatment the swelling may not appear for several months or even years, but the need for prevention is always present. Prevention of minor trauma such as sunburns, bug bites or proper nail care are key. (Individuals looking for more information on prevention can also go to www.lymphontario.ca.)

Treatment for lymphedema includes five main practices. The first is education on the condition and prevention. The second is exercise that stimulates the lymphatic system and aids with increase d mobility. The third practice is to reduce the swelling. This includes the above two as well as 1) the hands-on technique of lymphatic drainage as performed by a clinician and 2) the use of short stretch garments. The hands-on technique is gentle and becomes part of the home program. The use of garments has a few different options based on the person’s ability and lifestyle. Once the limb

is reduced, a maintenance garment is applied.

The cost of the garment can be offset by person extended health plans as well as through accessing the Assistive Device Program. (Optimal skin care is the fifth practice.)

Because lymphedema can affect people in a physical, functional and emotion perspective, it is important to have access to associations and clinicians familiar with the condition. However, clients have also spoke of the need for a local lymphedema support group in the Niagara area. If there are enough interested individuals, there is discussion of formally starting up one in the fall of 2017. Those individuals interested should contact Vivian Dim from Arm More Therapy 289.897.8707 or Allison Karnes at Movement Unlimited 905.892.1239 to express their interest. HWS Vivian Dim is a Registered Occupational Therapist BHSc (OT), MClSc (Wound Care), HBSc and the director of Arm More Therapy located in Beamsville and Fonthill (within Movement Unlimited). Please call 289.897.8707 or go to www.armmoretherapy.com if you have any questions about lymphedema or are interested in having an assessment.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

SO YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF THE JOB OF LIVING Rehabilitation services focused on helping individuals achieve independence

PROVIDING ADVANCED TRAINING AND EXPERTISE IN:

• Hand Therapy/Splinting • Stroke Rehabilitation • Lymphedema Therapy • Office Ergonomic Assessment • Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) * ADP Authorizer (compression garments) * Certified Garment Fitter on site

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Beamsville ON

Fleming Building 4413 Ontario Street L0R 1B5

Fonthill, ON 178 HWY 20 L0S 1E0

289.897.8707

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5

CONTENTS

HWS Health, Wellness & Safety Magazine

Locally Owned and Operated Publisher The Business Link Niagara Ltd. 36 Hiscott Street, Suite 200 St. Catharines, ON L2R 1C8 Tel: 905-646-9366 Fax: 905-646-5486 info@BusinessLinkMedia.com www.BusinessLinkMedia.com Co-Publishers Jim Shields, Adam Shields Director of Advertising Dave Martineau Circulation HWS Magazine is published 6 times per year and distributed to health, wellness and safety professionals throughout the Niagara Region.

P18 Not Just Tourists St. Catharines couple helps tourists deliver much-needed medical supplies

Subscription Rates $25 +HST for 6 issues. Send cheque or money order to above address.

Any reproduction or use of the content within this publication without permission is prohibited. Opinions and comments within this publication reflect those of the writers and not necessarily that of The Business Link Niagara Ltd. All advertising accepted is subject to the Publishers’ discretion. The Publishers will not be responsible for damages arising out of errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid for the space occupied by that portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred. Any design, artwork, copyright or typesetting supplied by The Business Link Niagara Ltd. is for the exclusive use of the Publishers. Any other use not authorized is an infringement of copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission of the Publishers.

The approaches described in this publication are not offered as cures, prescriptions, diagnosis, or a means of diagnosis to different conditions. The Publishers assume no responsibility in the correct or incorrect use of this information as a form of treatment without the approval of your doctor.

to Third World countries.

Inside 8 ı A Palliative Approach to Pain & Symptom Management

9 ı Green Cleaning with Essential Oils

For people facing end-of-life care, proper pain-relief is an important part of maintaining dignity.

11 ı Stress & Mental Health— It’s all in your head!

An interview with Dr. Karen Jensen.

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䠀 圀 匀 䄀 倀 倀

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嘀伀䰀唀䴀䔀 㠀 䤀匀匀唀䔀 ㌀

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10 ı Move over 6 pack

Essential oils have become quite the rage, as they should be.

Although nice to look at, your overdeveloped six pack can be part of the problem if you have ongoing back pain or restrictions in movement.

13 ı “NeuroFeedback”

22 ı Seniors on the Move

A natural brain-based teatment for ADHD, PTSD and other disorders.

Senior Move Managers help older people and their families relocate with less stress and less mess.

Cover Story p14 “Hamilton Health Sciences is Ontario’s most comprehensive hospital system, providing a full spectrum of specialized acute and chronic care programs.”

Also Inside 3

Hiking for Mental Health

9

Stuffed zucchini recipe

12

What’s That Ringing?

16

Hospice Winner

17

5 Simple steps to a

Cover: Lana Hardwick with son Grayson, Frank Tousaw, Lori St Onge Photo credit: Lindsay Miller Photography

healthier happier you

20

Road to Recovery

21

Hydrotherapy

24

Cognitive Balance

26

Ask the Expert

This magazine is intended as a general information source only, not as a medical manual. The information given is designed to help you make informed decisions about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for any treatment that may have been prescribed to you by your doctor. If you suspect that you have a medical problem, or if you are pregnant or nursing, we urge you to seek competent medical care. The supplements described in the magazine should not be given to children without the advice of your doctor. If you are taking prescription medications or being treated for a chronic health condition, it is advisable to consult your doctor before taking any supplements.

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PRODUCT PROFILE

Solatube Daylighting Systems These innovative tubular daylighting devices provide a bright natural alternative to traditional skylights.

By Scott Leslie

EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE HEALTHY, happy and productive. And one of the best ways to do just that is to keep your rooms brightly lit― with Solatube Daylighting Systems.

These innovative and easy to install tubular daylighting devices are built right into your roof, allowing natural light to travel through a reflective tunnel and shine into your home or office. Solatubes can be installed in nearly any location―whether it’s an isolated bathroom, an out of the way closet or a dimly lit hall.

With Solatube, you can also add brightness and comfort to your life without all the hassles associated with traditional skylights like leaky frames or fading fabrics and carpets.

Solatube Daylighting Systems are available locally through Niagara Skylights―a division of One Stop Fireplace Shop―on 4332 Drummond Road in Niagara Falls. Here, Niagara

Quality Light – and Quality of Life

Skylights carries a full line of Solatube products for your home or office.

One of Niagara Skylights’ most popular products is the Solatube 160 ISn Daylighting System.

Perfectly suited for any type of room, the 160 ISn comes with a solar-powered NightLight that produces a warm inviting glow for nighttime enjoyment. The Solatube Smart LED System is also a great 24-hour alternative. Built with an energy-efficient LED light option, this unique system automatically switches from natural to LED lighting as daylight fades away, giving you all the light you’ll need―any time, day or night.

There’s even the Solatube 160 DS Daylighting System. Adaptable to any space or size, this system comes with a series of custom ventilation, dimming and nighttime lighting options to suit your every need.

All Solatube products are installed by Niagara Skylights’ certified technicians and come backed by a comprehensive money back guarantee.

Solatubes are a great way to brighten up your home or office―and the health benefits are just as impressive.

Studies show that increased exposure to natural light can help enhance your mental and physical well-being, not to mention boost your energy levels and reduce eye strain. In certain cases, it can also help ease the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder during those dark winter months. Just install a Solatube Daylighting System―and let it brighten your mood. You’ll even feel better knowing you’re saving money on electricity by relying on free, all-natural solar lighting all day long.

Summer is a great time to enjoy the sunshine. But integrating Solatubes into your home or office is an even better way to add a little sunshine to your life. HWS For more information on Solatube Daylighting Systems or to arrange a free in-home consultation, call 289.407.3784 or go to www.niagaraskylights.com.

Let there be light with Certified Installation

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7

HEALTH

A Palliative Approach to Pain and Symptom Management

By Don Fraser

FOR PEOPLE FACING END-OF-LIFE CARE, proper pain-relief is an important part of maintaining dignity.

And when managed well, opioid therapy can be an important part of an overall care plan.

Pain control―which includes different options―can be dealt with effectively, with a person’s alertness maintained.

“This is all about using a complete team approach,” says David Costiniuk, a St. Catharines pharmacist connected to Hospice Niagara. Once a week, Costiniuk joins a group that pulls it together—everything from physician care to nursing, food preparation, respiratory therapy and spiritual needs.

Each patient is assessed on many fronts, with Costiniuk as the point-person for pharmaceutical care. He stresses there’s a misconception about strong pain meds, and corresponding drowsiness for people under palliative care.

“Used properly in pain management, sedation really isn’t an issue,” he says. “We would like to dispel that myth. You start low, and we

take note of any symptoms. Then, it’s a discussion with the patient and the care team, about whether or not the pain is being controlled. You ask the patient, ‘Are you happy where things are, and what can we do now? Through this, their goals are paramount.”

Costiniuk notes it’s not only opioids that can assist a pain-relief regimen―medicines like anti-inflammatories will target other concerns in conditions like cancer.

“It’s all determined by the type, and severity of the pain,” he says.

So how do strong opioids work and what can the side-effects be? Opioids are a family of medications which bind to the opioid receptors in the central nervous system, reducing the perception and response to pain. Side-effects like drowsiness and constipation are usually minimal when they are prescribed and monitored by health professionals experienced in palliative care.

Patients should also take comfort in a tailored approach that care providers take with pain management. They know that one size does not fit all.

Ultimately, any opioid therapy is a respectful conversation with the person affected, Costini-

David Costiniuk, pharmacist and owner at Ontario Street Pharmacy.

uk says. “It’s not only about pain management in palliative care,” he says. “It’s also acknowledging the spiritual and emotional needs, and their legacy. This is a holistic, dignified process.

We are just one piece of that.” HWS Hospice Niagara focuses on improving the quality of life for people living with life-limiting illnesses, death, dying, grief and loss. We rely on community support to provide these programs and services at no cost. For more information, visit hospiceniagara.ca, email info@hospicenigara.ca or call 905.984.8766. Stay connected through Facebook, Twitter and sign-up for our eNewsletter.

Have you gotten your 5 Car Draw tickets yet? Over $197,000 in prizes to be won with NEW CASH PRIZES! Visit 5cardraw.ca for details and a retail location near you or call us at 905-984-8766 to get your tickets today!

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905-984-8766 | 5cardraw.ca Complete Rules and Regulations at Hospice Niagara or 5cardraw.ca. Total value of all (six) prizes is $197,169.87, inclusive of all applicable taxes and other charges. Prizes may not be exactly as shown. Early Bird Prize draw will be conducted at 5:00 p.m., June 18, 2017, at Niagara Square, Niagara Falls, ON. To be eligible, tickets must be purchased by 4:45 p.m. June 18, 2017. Grand Prize draws (five) will be conducted at 6:30 p.m. on August 7, 2017, at Montebello Park, St. Catharines, ON. To be eligible, tickets must be purchased by 6:15 p.m. August 7, 2017. Grand Prize values are as follows: 2017 Toyota Corolla LE $25,120.57, 2017 Honda CR-V LX $32,458.35, 2017 Chevrolet Camaro LS $35,660.26, 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 $43,321.66, 2017 Mazda MX5 RF GT $50,609.03. Only 24,000 tickets will be available. LL#8730.

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NATURAL CLEANING

HEALTHY RECIPE

stuffed

Green

Cleaning with Essential Oils

ZUCCHINI 4 servings Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes

Nutritional information per serving: Calories 119 Protein 6g Sodium 148mg Total fat 6g Cholesterol 5mg Saturated Fat 2g Carbohydrates 11g

INGREDIENTS

By Rachel Epp

ESSENTIAL OILS HAVE BECOME QUITE THE RAGE, as they should be. I first started using essential oils in my diffuser to clean and purify the air in my home. Then I started getting really creative and started dabbing a drop or two onto my forehead to relieve headaches and rubbing it on my hands and smelling them to help with stress. However, my all-time best discovery is using them to clean my home.

I have heard from many people that they do not use essential oils when cleaning because it leaves surfaces “oily.” In some cases, essential oils have been used to moisturize and bring out the shine, only if you use it for that purpose.

For everyday cleaning, essential oils are a great additive as most are natural disinfectants and you won’t be polluting the air with toxic chemicals while you clean. By adding just a few drops, your clothes will smell a little fresher and your home will be a little cleaner. These are my favourite essential oils for cleaning the home:

8 oz mushrooms, diced 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 3 tbsp whole-wheat bread crumbs 2 tbsp parmesan cheese

2

3 tsp 1 1

zucchini, halved, seeds & pulp removed olive oil, divided clove garlic diced small yellow onion, diced

METHOD Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Cut zucchini lengthwise in halves. Scoop out pulp and seeds, leaving a 1/4 inch wall.

In a large sauté pan on medium-high, heat 1 tsp oil. Add garlic, onion and mushrooms. Sauté until mushrooms soften, about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and add remaining olive oil, vinegar, bread crumbs and parmesan cheese. Mix thoroughly.

Spoon an equal amount of stuffing into each zucchini half. Bake on a foil-lined cookie sheet for 15 minutes. HWS This healthy recipe and many others can be found in “The Heart of Your Community Cookbook” available through Heart Niagara. For more information, please email info@heartniagara.com or visit www.heartniagara.com.

Lemon - I have been guilty many times for leaving my wet laundry sitting in the washer for too long. My solution? Add a few drops to the next cycle to get rid of the smell! It has a clean, fresh smell and is naturally antibacterial and antiviral. If you want to make your own disinfectant, lemon is also a great substitute for alcohol or bleach.

Eucalyptus - You can’t go wrong with eucalyptus. It is a natural germicide and odor remover. Try adding a few drops to your soap, laundry detergent, window cleaner and anything else! I have also used it with baking soda to deep clean mattresses, pillows and stuffed animals, as a natural way to eliminate dust mites. As always, if you have a diffuser at home, cleanse the air with eucalyptus and a few of your other essential oil favourites to kill mold in your home.

Peppermint - There are countless uses for peppermint oil. It has a cool, refreshing scent and its antibacterial properties make it great in multi-purpose cleaners and as a natural deodorizer. Try using peppermint in areas that need more focus on disinfecting such as your kitchen and bathroom.

Your possibilities are endless when it comes to cleaning with essential oils! Don’t be afraid to get really creative and try your own combination of scents. With a little more research on your end, you can learn how certain oils can help with any mood – even when it comes to cleaning! HWS Rachel has created her own line of natural cleaning products to fill the gap for natural cleaning products in the market. Using natural ingredients such as coconut oil, distilled vinegar and therapeutic grade essential oils, Rachel hopes to remove all toxic chemicals in each and every home. For more information on the “bare” product line, please contact Miss’es Clean at www.missesclean.ca WWW.HWSMAG.COM

HWS HEALTH, WELLNESS & SAFETY MAGAZINE

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WELLNESS

Do you live in a higher risk area for Lyme disease?

Provided by NewsCanada

WHILE NOT ALL BLACK-LEGGED TICKS CAN CAUSE LYME DISEASE, there has been an increase in the number of areas in Ontario where blacklegged ticks have been identified or are known to exist.

“The number of confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the province has been rising since 2011,” explains Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health. “This is partly due to an expansion of black-legged tick populations to new areas, especially in wooded areas.”

Locations that have established black-legged tick populations include areas in eastern, southwestern, central and northwestern Ontario.

While the probability is low, it’s possible to encounter an infected tick almost anywhere in the province. Black-legged ticks cannot fly, but settle on grass and bushes until they attach themselves to a person or animal. The ticks are known to feed on migratory birds and can be carried throughout the area.

Talk to your healthcare provider or local public health unit and learn more online at ontario.ca/lyme. HWS Article courtesy of www.newscanada.com.

Just Enough. Just for me.

Personalized Pilates.

Move Over 6 pack

By Allison Kares

THE MOST SUPERFICIAL ABDOMINAL MUSCLE, the rectus abdominus (RA), is commonly known as the six pack, due to it’s appearance. Although nice to look at, your overdeveloped six pack can be part of the problem if you have ongoing back pain or restrictions in movement.

The RA is categorized as a part of the superficial myofascial system which create general stabilization and movement. Its action is usually compressive and non-specific. In contrast, the transversus abdominus is a part of the deep myofascial system and can provide joint stabilization when functioning optimally. These two systems should work together to provide balanced and controlled movement with just the right amount of effort to meet the task.

When exercising, targeting the superficial muscles can result in them becoming chronically overactive and increasingly resistant to letting go. Research shows that people with chronic lower back pain struggle with the ability to turn off or relax the more superficial muscles. This leads to inhibition of the deep stabilizing muscles. Often, individuals who experience pain or chronic tightness with simple activities like sitting, standing or walking are using more effort than required from the superficial muscles that results in tension, over tightness and too much tone.

Stability is the body’s ability to use the right amount of effort for the task at hand. The body displays efficient control of posture and movement without bracing or rigidity. Stabilization is a complex interaction between your muscular system, your nervous system and your skeletal system. It requires balancing intra-abdominal pressure to insure your body can resist compressive forces and protect your joints.

An exercise program to address stability will include whole body movements that incorporates balanced activation of both the deep and superficial core muscles. This type of work requires attention on breath which is key in regulating intra-abdominal pressure. Exercises should include focus, concentration and control through precise movement patterns and flowing movement that can stimulate the deep myofascial system and improve its ability to segmentally control the individual levels of the spine.

"Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. Our interpretation of physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind fully capable of naturally, easily, and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure." – Joseph Pilates HWS Allison Kares is the owner of Movement Unlimited Inc. She has been teaching health and fitness programs in the Niagara Region for over 25 years.

Allison has focused her interests on rehabilitative exercise and uses the Pilates method to help those with therapeutic exercise programs to address

ALLISON KARES owner / instructor

905.892.1239 178 Highway #20 West Fonthill, ON

back pain, pelvic floor dysfunction and core control. Her team of expert trainers work collaboratively with local health care practitioners to develop a program that will suit your needs.

www.movementunlimitedinc.com 10

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HEALTH

Stress & Mental Health—It’s not all in your head!

An interview with Dr. Karen Jensen, ND

By Jason Sebeslav

DR. JENSEN RECEIVED HER DEGREE in naturopathic medicine in 1988. She is a well-known lecturer, has written extensively for health magazines and is author of six books. The most recent is Three Brains: How the Heart, Brain and Gut Influence Mental Health and Identity. Dr. Jensen has retired from clinical practice but continues to lecture and write on the naturopathic approach to wellness.

Jason Sebeslav: In the last few years, we’ve begun to learn more about the gut-brain connection, and the importance of the gut for promoting healthy cognition, mood and even stress regulation. The role of the gut is so important that it has been called the “second brain.” But in your book Three Brains, you propose that we actually have a third key player: the heart. Can you tell us more about the connection between these three communication systems?

Karen Jensen (KJ): The brain, heart, and gut obviously perform different physical functions, but they share many similarities and communicate via neurons, hormones and neurotransmitters. For example, the gut produces approximately 95% of the body’s serotonin and 50% of its dopamine, neurotransmitters which act on the nervous system and impact both the heart and the brain. The health of one brain impacts the two others, and vice versa.

JS: So how does the health of the gut and heart impact the brain?

KJ: Research shows that imbalances in gut bacteria are associated with learning disorders, dementias and mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. The heart is also affected by gut bacteria, as probiotics (good bacteria) significantly reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension. Uncontrolled hypertension damages the brain’s structure and

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function, causing accelerated brain aging, decreased cognitive function and increased risk for dementia.

JS: In regard to our three brains, what’s actually happening when we feel stressed?

KJ: We all know how stress caused by work, relationships, financial worries, and emotional ups and downs can make us feel unwell. Stress causes an array of hormonal signals involving the adrenal glands, which are the main stress-reactive organs, as well as structures in the brain called the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. Even small changes in the release of stress hormones have significant effects on health. Chronically elevated stress hormones cause inflammation in the three brains; inflammation can lead to diverse gastrointestinal, mental health and cardiovascular disorders.

JS: Many people don’t quite believe that our emotional states can directly impact our physical states – but the three brain concept certainly seems to support this.

KJ: Yes. The three brains are not only involved in the physical ramifications of stress such as inflammation, but also the mental-emotional stress response.

The brain analyzes and applies logic; the gut-brain teaches us to follow our instinct or “gut feeling”; and the heart-brain senses the world through emotions and feelings and guides us to “follow your heart.”

For instance, the old-age wisdom that it’s possible to die of a broken heart is now medically recognized as “stress cardiomyopathy.” So in today’s busy and stressful world, I think it would benefit everyone if we would take a minute and listen to what each brain is saying to us before we act or speak.

JS: What else can we do to relieve stress throughout the day?

KJ: Take time to breathe, as deep breathing has positive effects on our stress levels. Try to adopt the Attitude of Gratitude, which has been linked to better health, sounder sleep, and less anxiety and depression. Also, pay attention to what goes in your body, by limiting stimulants such as coffee and sugar, and buying organic and free range foods whenever possible.

JS: So nutrition is important in mental health?

KJ: Certainly. Diet, lifestyle and nutritional supple-

ments can optimize the three brain function and restore mental well-being for many mental health disorders. The interactions of the three brains must be considered important components for mental, emotional and physical well-being. This is not an alternative approach – it is fundamental to optimal mental health.

JS: What supplements can we take to support the gut-heart-brain axis?

KJ: The Daily Brain supplement I formulated contains essential nutrients that provide foundational support for all three brains. Rather than wondering which supplements to take or having to purchase 5 or 6 different ones, Daily Brain is a cost-effective, once-a-day packet containing phosphatidylserine to support cognition, curcumin and omega-3s to prevent inflammation, grape seed extract to prevent cellular damage, and probiotics support the gut microbiota. Another is called Stress Less and is very effective in preventing stress-related conditions that affect all three brains.

JS: How does Stress Less work?

KJ: Stress Less contains adaptogens, a category of herbs that improve the body’s response to stress.

Ashwagandha, panax ginseng and rhodiola help reduce stress hormones, improve symptoms of anxiety and depression, and increase energy and concentration. Choline helps support the adrenal stress response, and green tea helps with mood and focus.

JS: Any other final tips for keeping our three brains healthy?

KJ: Remember that your DNA no longer equals your destiny. New research in epigenetics shows that healthy lifestyle choices, stress reduction, and nutritional supplementation influence how our genes are expressed. So if you have a family history of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, or mental disorders, you have considerable control over your future by taking preventative action to ensure your health. HWS Jason Sebeslav is the owner of The Peanut Mill Natural Foods Market, a full-service health and wellness store in St. Catharines. He has worked in the editorial department of alive magazine and his articles have appeared in many natural health publications. For more information about the store, visit www.thepeanutmill.com.

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11

HEALTH

What’s That Ringing?

By Alaina Hillier

www.thevoiceofpelham.ca

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*Limited time offer. See clinic for details.

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HWS HEALTH, WELLNESS & SAFETY MAGAZINE

TINNITUS IS THE PERCEIVED SOUND in the absence of an external stimulus. Tinnitus is experienced by 10-15% of the population and can be described as buzzing, ringing, hissing and many other unformed sounds. The main risk factors leading to tinnitus are: hearing loss, noise exposure, gender, age and stress, to name a few.

The severity of tinnitus can22, vary2016 from individual to individual and even It’s myVOICE, Wednesday June from day to day. Even though tinnitus is common, help is sometimes hard to find. In Niagara, at South Niagara Hearing Clinic, Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, or TRT is now available. There is no cure for tinnitus, but there are management options available. TRT is shown to be the most effective treatment of tinnitus to date.

Some individuals, are able to easily ignore their tinnitus. However for others, it’s a different story. Tinnitus becomes a significant problem for some individuals once strong negative emotions are attached to the phantom auditory perception, causing the mind to focus on the tinnitus. For this reason, intensive counseling is combined with sound therapy. Individuals are taught coping strategies to allow the tinnitus to be seen as a background noise, one with little significance. TRT teaches patients to reclassify their tinnitus into a neutral signal, breaking the negative associations with the tinnitus. For instance, when a family lives beside train tracks, they are able to tune out the passing engine noise as they have no emotional link to the train and do not perceive it as threatening or annoying. At the same time, visitors to the house, who have not trained their minds to classify the sound as a neutral signal, focus on the sound until the train has passed. TRT aims to accomplish something similar in that patients are taught to give less priority to the tinnitus signal until the tinnitus becomes a neutral sound which can be easily ignored.

Sound therapy is also implemented when teaching patients how to habituate to the tinnitus. Sound therapy is any sound the individual introduces into his/her environment which gives them another sound to focus on. When sitting in a quiet environment, individuals tend to hear their tinnitus significantly more because the contrast between the tinnitus and background noise is so significant. However, when we implement sound into our environment, it gives our auditory system another sound to focus on—a sound which is not annoying or bothersome—and we are able to switch our focus from the tinnitus over to the enjoyable sound that has been introduced. Over time, the mind learns to prioritize the environmental sounds and it habituates to the tinnitus.

Tinnitus

may never go away completely, but for most individuals, there are ways to manage it.

It is amazing how the auditory system is capable of adapting. HWS

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South Niagara Hearing Clinic is located at 20 Highway 20 East, Unit 3 in Fonthill.

For more information,

please call 289.897.8666, email alaina@southniagara.com or visit www.southniagarahearing.com.

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Home Child Care.

Expect the Best from Wee Watch. “I want you to keep me safe, and teach me about colours, the alphabet, how to share and so much more.â€? Alaina Hillier Doctor of Audiology, Audiologist Discover Wee Watch for your child. The best home away from Home. #20 HWY 20,905-371-2012 Unit 3, Fonthill • weewatch.com

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BUSINESS ON THE GROW

“Neurofeedback”

is a Natural Brain-based Treatment for ADHD, PTSD and Other Disorders.

By Kathryn Karr

NEUROFEEDBACK IS A BRAIN-BASED TREATMENT delivered by computerized software wherein the individual’s brainwave pattern is fed back to the patient connected to the computer by small sensors, so that they can learn to change their brain towards a healthier pattern, relieving symptoms.

Dr. Terence Semple, a registered psychologist for more than 40 years, and his staff have been offering neurofeedback therapy at his St. Catharines office since 1999. Dr. Semple says that the concept of why this treatment works for a variety of disorders is based on the discovery that our brains have what is called “neuroplasticity” in its function.

This means that the brain can change in both a positive or negative direction, depending on how it is influenced, which results in the corresponding behavioural change. Further demonstrating this concept is what most people commonly know what happens when someone has a stroke. A stroke damages an area of the brain and the rehabilitation concentrates on restoring their physical and mental functioning. What their brain learns to do with consistent therapy is work around the damaged area and new brain areas take over the lost function. Neuroplasticity allows them to learn to walk again and/or speak again by learning a different pathway around the damage.

More common brainwave functioning issues include ADHD or attention-deficit disorders. Here, the child or adult, through heredity or sometimes brain damage, has great difficulty learning to pay attention even to the things they want to pay attention to and remember. Neurofeedback teaches them to permanently learn to focus when they want, or need to, given the specific demands of the situation. For example, they are able to train their brain to pay attention in the classroom and remember what they are being taught both visually and auditorily. On the job, they are able to focus on priorities, take direction from their boss, and follow through on the expectations of the job. They are also able to organize themselves as the training enhances the functioning of the frontal lobes of their brain where the executive functions lie.

When treating ADHD at Dr. Semple’s office, the software is set up to enhance, for example, the faster thinking waves and suppress the slow waves that can cause the individual to wander off in a dreamy state at random, preventing them from paying attention. They then learn effectively how to manage these brainwaves, so that if they want to daydream they still can. If the teacher says, “Now class, pay attention,” they have now learned to shift their brain’s state into a “working/ thinking” state. This ability to shift their brain into what state is being demanded of them, gives them the flexibility to adapt to the situation.

The problem with using medication to treat ADHD is it “drives” the brain when present in the body/bloodstream, creating side effects such as being unable to fall asleep at night or “shut off” their brain to relax when they want to. The beauty of neurofeedback is that it teaches the individual to switch states at will, totally naturally. It is a way of learning to be in control of your brain. Research has shown that the results are maintained long term. Like learning to ride a bike, you never forget.

Neurofeedback is also used to treat imbalances in the brain such as WWW.HWSMAG.COM

depression, post-traumatic stress, and sleep disorders. With a quantitative brainwave measure called “QEEG,” Dr. Semple and his staff are able to see how the brain varies from a standardized brain database, in which areas of the brain and by how much. Some patients have an overactive emotional centre called the “limbic system” that maintains an anxious state, resulting in symptoms of panic or a sleep disorder.

Other people have ruminative worries and depressive thoughts that stem from an asymmetry between the hemispheres causing depression. Some have an amplified pain matrix area of the brain that maintains chronic pain. Whatever the dysfunctional pattern, brain mapping with QEEG can give us a complete look at the activities of the brain and how it is affecting the electrical system. It is this system that controls the re-uptake of neurotransmitters and the chemical system of the brain. The patient’s map indicates which brain areas are abnormal and how to treat the changes needed to regulate their emotional behavior.

People with anxiety, for example, don’t realize how they initially learned to be anxious as a child, or as an adult that had a traumatic experience which led to post-traumatic stress disorder. Whatever the cause, it created a brain pathway that has maintained itself until one learns to return that pathway to a healthy pattern. This is why for example, that veterans have great difficulty letting go of being on guard, or keyed up when they come back home, even though they are aware that they are now safe. It is as if they are still on the battlefield in their brain and body, as this new dysregulated pathway was created by their wartime experience. Neurofeedback allows this pattern to change back to being able to calm themselves at will, reducing or eliminating the triggers that bring on those strong emotions.

Psychology has traditionally used cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) or “talk therapy.” CBT can effectively change the brain’s activities as shown by using imaging and/or functional MRIs used in research, pre- and post-therapy. But for some disorders such as ADHD and autism, you have to have the ability to “pay attention” before CBT can help the individual learn to cope with daily stressors. When the brain is working well, then so much more is possible. HWS Kathryn Karr R.N., B.A. is a biofeedback specialist at Dr. Terence Semple’s office which is located at 50 Lake Street in St. Catharines. (Kathryn is also Dr. Semple’s wife.) For more information on brain-mapping and treatment services or to book an appointment, please call 905.984.6555.

The A.D.D. & BRAIN TREATMENT CENTRE OF NIAGARA Neurofeedback & Rehabilitation treatment for: Children, Adolescents, and Adults.

Specializing in WSIB, MVA, & VETS injuries.

905-984-6555

Dr. Terence Semple Registered Psychologist 50 Lake St., St. Catharines, ON L2R 5X1 tsemple@tmsemplepsychologist.ca

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13

COVER STORY

Success Stories (L to R): Lana Hardwick with son Grayson, Frank Tousaw, and Lori St. Onge.

Health Matters Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation is committed to supporting patients throughout the greater Niagara region— people just like you.

By Scott Leslie

FRANK TOUSAW COULDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY he was feeling so sick. It was the fall of 2013 and the Caistor Centre native was getting weaker all the time. Even his back was beginning to bother him. After a few tests, Frank’s doctor gave him the news he didn’t want to hear. He had cancer.

Frank was sent to the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre for more tests. Here, he learned he had double hit lymphoma (DHL) – one of the rarest and most aggressive forms of cancer around.

“It was a very scary day,” Frank recalls of his diagnosis. “There was so much I had to work through.”

In order to treat Frank’s condition, the Juravinski team contacted cancer centres across Canada and the U.S. for their input and initiated a strong plan of action. That included 84 doses of chemotherapy and an autologous stem cell transplant that used some of Frank’s own stem cells.

Over the next several months, Frank would spend 82 days receiving treatment at Juravinski as an inpatient before his release that August.

Today, Frank is living life to the fullest, and his cancer is still in remission—four years later.

“I got a lot of support from people around me,” Frank says of his can14

HWS HEALTH, WELLNESS & SAFETY MAGAZINE

cer scare. “Juravinski is one of the best cancer treatment centres in North America. I couldn’t have asked for better.”

Frank’s case was a huge success—but it’s just one of thousands of success stories taking place at Hamilton Health Sciences hospitals every year.

Hamilton Health Sciences is a family of world-class health care facilities in the Hamilton area that include Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster Children’s Hospital and Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre, Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre, McMaster University Medical Centre, and St. Peter’s Hospital. Hamilton Health Sciences is Ontario’s most comprehensive hospital system, providing a full spectrum of specialized acute and chronic care programs. These include everything from pediatrics and mental health to cancer and cardiac treatment to orthopedics, geriatrics and rehabilitation services.

Hamilton Health Sciences serves a population of 2.3 million people throughout south-central Ontario including the Niagara Region.

Take Lori St. Onge for instance. Two years ago, the grandmother from Niagara Falls began to feel a dull ache in the centre of her chest. After a battery of tests, a cardiologist discovered Lori had an aortic aneurysm. If left untreated, this weakness in the aortic wall can eventually burst and cause serious internal bleeding. It was a potentially lethal situation.

Lori was quickly referred to Hamilton General Hospital, where she met with a cardiac surgeon. Here, they decided to go ahead with heart surgery before the aneurysm had a chance to tear. The procedure was a complete success, and the damaged part of Lori’s aorta was replaced with a special graft.

Despite the severity of her surgery, Lori didn’t question the medical staff at Hamilton General Hospital for a moment.

“Everybody made me so feel relaxed there,” she explains. “I just trusted everyone. They kept telling me, ‘You’re going to be fine when you’re done.’”

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It took her five days to recover in hospital— but to Lori, the operation was all worth it. Her father and grandfather had both died of heart problems in the past, and Lori feared she was next.

“It was an amazing experience,” Lori says. “I was blown away by the care I got.”

Niagara-based patients that have a severe trauma are often sent to Hamilton General Hospital for treatment. But there are also world-leading institutions in Hamilton like McMaster Children’s Hospital, which is home to the largest neonatal intensive care unit in Ontario and provides specialized care for juvenile patients from across Niagara.

That includes children like Mark and Lana Hardwick’s son Grayson.

Back in the summer of 2014, Lana Hardwick was having difficulty with her pregnancy. Tests showed the Welland resident was suffering from preeclampsia—a serious pregnancy disorder that can be dangerous to both mother and child—and Lana was rushed to McMaster Children’s Hospital.

Days later, Grayson Hardwick was born three months premature via an emergency C-section. Lana came through the operation successfully.

But unfortunately, the Hardwicks’ new son weighed only one pound and 13 ounces, and was suffering from several medical issues. For a start, Grayson had respiratory distress syndrome, and had to be put on a ventilator for the first two months of his life. His intestine was also blocked, which meant an inadequate amount of blood was reaching his bowels.

As a result, Grayson had to undergo a bowel resection, and one third of his intestine was removed. His stomach was closed surgically and he had to be fed directly through his intestine for the next several months.

Grayson would eventually have four major surgeries to correct his intestinal issues, and ended up staying in the neonatal intensive care unit for the better part of a year. But thanks to the specialized care he received at McMaster Children’s Hospital, Grayson is able to eat normally and is now a healthy and happy three-year-old boy.

“We always felt he was in the best hands,” Lana says of their experience. “The doctors were always there for us when we had questions or wanted feedback. We put 100% of our trust in them – and they never let us down.”

Hamilton Health Sciences is committed to providing exceptional specialized health care to its Niagara-based patients. This is often done in conjunction with the local hospitals. But it needs your help.

At Hamilton Health Sciences, there’s a continuous need for funds to cover medical equipment. That can be something as basic as IV poles and beds or more sophisticated equipment - Lana Hardwick like digital ultrasound and NICU ventilators.

Donations are also needed to help fund a number of critical requirements including redevelopment initiatives, vital medical research, and ongoing education for clinical staff.

Hamilton Health Sciences needs your support so it can help patients who need it most.

People like Frank and Lori and Grayson. People just like you.

HWS

We put 100% of our trust in them— and they never let us down.”

Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation is the charitable entity for Hamilton Health Sciences and its family of hospitals. For more information or to make a donation, call 905-522-3863 or visit www.hamiltonhealth.ca.

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HWS HEALTH, WELLNESS & SAFETY MAGAZINE

15

COMMUNITY

An Early Bird win for Garrs and Hospice care in Niagara

Tina Van Egmond, Hospice Niagara; Gord Garr, Early Bird Draw winner; Cheryl Rothwell, Hospice Niagara and Perry Patterson, Hospice Niagara.

By Don Fraser

THE CALL WAS A FATHER’S DAY PRESENT that came out of the blue.

It happened while Gord Garr and his family were enjoying a barbecue outside their north St. Catharines home.

“My wife’s cell phone rang, but she didn’t pick it up in time. We wondered why Hospice Niagara was calling,” Gord recalled.

On June 18th, the family was told they were this year’s Hospice Niagara 5 Car Draw Early Bird winner. They’d be taking home a cool $10,000.

“I was actually kind of shocked on hearing that,” said Gord, who was with his wife Angel and their young children Jazzman, Chloe, Benjamin and toddler Daniel. “And I said to the Hospice person, ‘This is exciting, we’ve got four kids to take care of. This will come in handy.’”

“The money is obviously going to my wife and she’ll take care of it,” the 42-year-old added, with a chuckle, in a follow-up interview.

Mike Gionet and Teresa MacLean were thrilled to realize that they were the volunteers who sold Gord Garr the winning ticket earlier at St. Catharines’ downtown Farmer’s Market as part of a ten-pack.

Buying 5 Car Draw tickets has been a regular tradition for the Garrs, since Angel’s late cousin Randi McCracken was at Hospice Niagara’s Stabler Centre during her final months from cancer, about five years earlier.

“I figured afterward, it would be good idea to buy tickets to help them out a bit,” said Gord. “My father (Gord Sr.) also passed away from lung cancer, the year before that. He died in a hospital, and I’d rather it had been in a place like the residential Hospice.”

“The Stabler Centre is definitely a more comfortable place. I think it’s the next best thing to being at your house,” said Gord who works for

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Emterra, in waste and recycling collection for the Niagara Region municipality. “It has a good thing going and it’s a good cause. The end of somebody’s life is important.”

Angel, a homemaker “very busy with the kids,” will use the $10,000 win to make life a little easier.

The Garrs might also have a second chance at a cash infusion in the coming Grand Prize Draws on August 7. But their real reward is helping maintain Hospice Niagara’s programs and services offered free to Niagara clients.

Services include bereavement support, community palliative care teams, Day Hospices in St. Catharines or Welland, and palliative pain and symptom management. Trained visiting volunteers also lend non-medical support to client homes.

Its flagship facility and most visible presence is The Stabler Centre in St. Catharines, a residential hospice for end-of-life care in a professional, comfy setting.

“I really think there should be more organizations like Hospice Niagara and everything it offers,” Angel said. HWS Hospice Niagara focuses on improving the quality of life for people living with life-limiting illnesses, death, dying, grief and loss. We rely on community support to provide these programs and services at no cost. For more information, visit www.hospiceniagara.ca, email info@hospicenigara.ca or call 905.984.8766. Stay connected through Facebook and Twitter or email news@hospiceniagara.ca to receive our eNewsletter.

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WELLNESS

5 simple steps to a healthier, happier you Provided by NewsCanada

GETTING HEALTHY CAN SOMETIMES FEEL like an impossible feat, and you don't always know where to start. It's important to begin with simple steps that will become habits. Before you know it, they will be a part of your everyday routine and you'll see benefits soon.

1. Keep hydrated. Drinking the recommended eight glasses of water a day helps your body function properly. It keeps you hydrated and eliminates toxins. Take a reusable water bottle to work and keep it on your desk as a reminder to sip throughout the day.

2. Eat colourful food. The more colourful the foods you choose are, the more likely they'll be packed with vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. For example, adding one serving of kiwifruit to your daily diet provides all your vitamin C needs and as much potassium as a medium banana. Cut and scoop kiwis for a tropical sweet

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snack or pair them with other colourful foods for a nutritious meal.

3. Add exercise to your day. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to working out—some like yoga classes, others prefer visiting a gym, some like a long walk after dinner. Discover what works for you and add it to your day in the timeframe that suits your schedule. Remember, if it feels like a chore, it will be harder to build into your regular routine.

4. Rest up. Silence your phone and get a good night's sleep. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep is proven to help your overall well-being. It is important for maintaining hormonal balance, increasing cognition and memory, and aiding in digestion.

5. Repeat. Repetition is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The more you incorporate healthy habits into your everyday, the easier it will become. HWS Article courtesy of www.newscanada.com.

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17

NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Ken Taylor and Lynn Unger.

Not Just Tourists

St. Catharines couple helps tourists deliver much-needed medical supplies to Third World countries.

By Scott Leslie

WHEN YOU’RE PLANNING a big vacation, you might pack some of the bare essentials like a bathing suit and suntan lotion. It’s an entirely different story, however, when you’re volunteering for Not Just Tourists.

Not Just Tourists is a non-profit organization that enlists Canadian tourists to distribute surplus medicine and medical supplies in their luggage to medical practitioners in need in developing nations.

It’s all the brainchild of Ken and Denise Taylor, a married couple from St. Catharines. Back in 1995, Ken and his wife Denise were planning to take a cycling trip through Cuba when they learned that medications were extremely scarce in that country. Many Cubans were dying from minor injuries and illnesses―and they didn’t have to.

A family physician by trade, Ken decided to pack a few pounds of antibiotics in his suitcase and distributed them to the rural doctors there.

After their first delivery, the Taylors learned Canadian tourists were able to bring approximately 22 pounds of medical supplies into Cuba per trip

for humanitarian purposes. So the Taylors and several of their friends returned later that year with even more supplies.

After the success of their initial deliveries, the idea took off. The Taylors began contacting various health care clinics in Niagara for medical surplus. Ken and Denise would eventually convert part of their home into a small warehouse to store these donations which now includes everything from vitamins, gastric medications and inhalers to surgical gloves, syringes and first aid kits.

At Not Just Tourists, the delivery process is a straight-forward one.

Each week, volunteers including doctors, pharmacists and nurses help the Taylors sort through the incoming donations of medicine and supplies. They then prepare each package of supplies before it’s delivered by one of their volunteer tourists. To make sure each delivery gets through customs smoothly, a cover letter is included to explain that it’s a humanitarian package. As confirmation, volunteers also have to obtain a signed letter from the doctor receiving the materials―or a photo of their transaction―and return it to the Taylors.

“It’s quite a rewarding feeling,” Denise says of their deliveries. “People are stunned. They cry―they’re just so surprised. They’ll show our delivery people how their storage cupboards are virtually bare. There’s just nothing there.”

Over the years, the Taylors’ little idea has caught on in a big way. Not Just Tourists now distributes over 20,000 pounds of medical supplies annually, and has expanded its service to 70 countries worldwide. The Taylors also receive a flood of surplus medicines and supplies from various hospitals, pharmacies, doctors’ offices, drug representatives and long-term care facilities across the Niagara Region and Hamilton―and have brought a team of 50 volunteers on board to help them receive and sort their donations. In fact, several other branches of Not Just Tourists have been launched across Canada.

To the Taylors, it’s all part of their dedication to getting medical aid to the people who need it most.

“There are shortages all over the world,” she says. “Right now, we’re sending hundreds of pounds of supplies into Syria via Turkey through UOSSM―a world-wide organization of Syrian born medical people. In addition, a number of Not Just Tourists volunteers take medicine and supplies to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic every year on a humanitarian mission. There’s always a need out there.” HWS To find out more about Not Just Tourists or make a donation, call 905.646.5110, email notjusttourists@gmail.com or go to www.njt-pqt.org.

Carol Reynolds and Denise Taylor with students at a school in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

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INSPIRATION

Truly Awesome

By Shirley Rogers Lazareth

WHEN OUR MOTHER, MOLLY ROGERS, ASKS how old she will be on her next birthday, July 27th, I say “104” to which she usually replies, “That’s awesome!” and shakes her head in disbelief. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren also believe that she herself is awesome, and a force with which to be reckoned.

Why should a little girl born in 1913 in London, England just prior to the First World War be singled out to reach this “awesome” age? She came to Canada in 1919 at the age of six, married at 18, and became a mother at 19.

Molly has always approached life with a positive attitude and I, her older daughter, truly believe this wonderful, positive attitude has contributed to her longevity. She does not “sweat the small stuff.” Her love of family and her pleasant outlook attract others to her. If she has an ache or pain, she “works through it.” She sings softly to amuse herself, and while her sweet voice has lost some of its strength, her memory for lyrics is unequalled. She’s spent her adult life in service to others.

Molly says she’s still In real estate, it is here because the Lord location, location, has not yet called her location. In real home. I like to think life it is attitude, she’s here to serve as a role model for ev- attitude, attitude.” eryone she’s met—but especially to young women who require inner strength for this challenging life. On Molly’s door, I have taped the following sign: “In real estate, it is location, location, location. In real life it is attitude, attitude, attitude.” A positive attitude has always worked well for “Miss Molly.”HWS

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Young chiropractor is back on track after having a close call with a major stroke.

By Dr. Scott Macpherson

DR. SCOTT MACPHERSON thought he was in the best of health. He was always going to the gym. He played soccer a few times a week. He even set a little time aside for his morning jogs.

That’s until the stroke happened.

Scott is a chiropractor and the co-owner of ProActive Chiropractic & Training Centre in St. Catharines along with his wife Dr. Taia Spencer-Yap. Last December, Scott was busy working on one of his patients in a clinic room when he felt a strange numbness rising up his left arm. In moments, he was overcome with a terrible dizziness and lost all feeling in his left leg.

Dr. Scott Macpherson Scott couldn’t believe what was happening.

“I dropped one of my instruments and tried to steady myself,” he says. “I felt kind of weird―but I knew something wasn’t right. I had to take it seriously.”

Taia and the staff at the clinic gave Scott a quick assessment and called 911.

An ambulance arrived within minutes and the paramedics were able to give Scott a full evaluation. Their suspicions were correct. The 36-year-old had suffered a massive stroke.

Scott was rushed to the Greater Niagara General Hospital in Niagara I’m grateful to the Falls where doctors administrated a clot-busting drug known as tissue plashealth teams at both minogen activator or TPA. He showed Niagara Falls and some improvement from the TPA but his medical team was still concerned.

Hamilton hospitals.

Scott’s MRI and CAT scans were showTheir quick and ing signs of deterioration. coordinated actions After consulting with the Central helped me receive South Regional Stroke Network, Scott’s doctor sent him to Hamilton Generthe best possible al Hospital to undergo a special clot care in the shortest removal surgery―one that was only amount of time.” newly available in the area.

- Dr. Scott Macpherson “It didn’t look good,” Scott admits.

“The doctor thought I might be in hospital for two months at that point.”

The following day was a different story, however. Scott was feeling 75% better and began a series of rehabilitation exercises to improve his balance and dexterity. It took Scott a few days to be released from hospital. In a matter of weeks, he’d made a complete recovery.

The St. Catharines resident was incredibly lucky.

“I had the stroke on Wednesday and got out of hospital on Monday,” he says. “I went back to work that Wednesday.”

Today, Scott is working full-time, exercising at the gym, and enjoying the best of health. The doctors credit much of Scott’s incredible recovery to his age and having received professional attention so quickly after his stroke.

“I’m grateful to the health teams at both Niagara Falls and Hamilton hospitals,” Scott says. “Their quick and coordinated actions helped me receive the best possible care in the shortest amount of time.” HWS WWW.HWSMAG.COM

PET HEALTH

HYDROTHERAPY

By Keri Evers, DVM, CCRP

HYDROTHERAPY IS ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE ASPECTS of veterinary rehabilitation medicine. It seems everyone enjoys videos of a dog trotting in an underwater treadmill (UWTM) or a cat in a life jacket swimming around a pool. But, do you really know how these therapies are used and how they may benefit certain patients? It is a great tool for rehab but it is only one of many and it isn’t appropriate for every condition or every patient.

Hydrotherapy is any treatment or exercise performed using water such as relaxing in a hot tub to relax tense/sore muscles, swimming in a pool to exercise muscles without weightbearing, walking on an UWTM to relearn how to walk and even using a hose to relieve edema in a horse’s legs. Water has five properties that make treatments in the water more beneficial to doing them on land:

1

Buoyancy Water places an upward force on the body, which is what allows it to float. This enables patients that are too painful or too weak to carry their full weight to exercise and rebuild their strength more quickly and easily than they could on land. It also enables the therapist to stretch stiff joints and muscles further than they can out of the water.

2

Hydrostatic pressure Step into a pool wearing hip waders and you will feel just how much pressure the water applies to your body. This force helps decrease edema and encourages healing. It also decreases the sensitivity of pain receptors thereby providing pain relief. Unfortunately, it also makes hydrotherapy risky in patients with heart or breathing problems.

ery animal is a good candidate for forms of hydrotherapy which require part of the body to be submerged. If a patient panics and thrashes when it comes into contact with water, the therapy is likely to do more harm than good. Others may refuse to move or still won’t use the affected limb in the water, in which case, hydrotherapy will not be beneficial to them.

Certain medical conditions also preclude patients from getting in the water such as skin infections, bladder infections, diarrhea and urinary or fecal incontinence. Precautions must be taken and animals must be monitored very closely if the have heart disease or breathing difficulties such as laryngeal paralysis. Many patients may require a life jacket as they are not strong enough to keep themselves afloat. This can be useful in fitness patients, too, as it provides added resistance to swimming.

There are benefits and drawbacks to both the UWTM and the swimming pool. The Niagara Canine Conditioning Centre chose to invest in land treadmills and a large swimming pool to allow for more flexibility with treatments, fitness and weight-loss programs. When dogs are on the treadmill, the therapist has full control over the amount of weight the patient is putting through its limbs plus there is sensory (proprioceptive) feedback from the gravitational forces of the limb on the runner. On a land treadmill, it is easier to re-educate the gait by manually positioning each limb at the walk. In the pool, the therapist assists and resists the patient’s movements depending on whether the goal is to increase range of motion in a joint or strengthen limbs or the core.

At the Niagara Canine Conditioning Centre, we offer a full range of therapies including manual therapy, laser, ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation, acupuncture, a large gym with two treadmills and FitPAWS equipment and hydrotherapy in an 18’ x 10’ swimming pool. We are open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; drop by for a tour. We would love to meet you and your dog! HWS For more information on the Niagara Canine Conditioning Centre or to book an appointment, call 289.362.5900, email ncccinfo@cogeco.net or go to www.canineconditioningcentre.ca

3

Viscosity This is the friction that water places against the body and what makes it more difficult to walk in water than on land. It helps increase muscle tone and strength as well as cardiac fitness and it enables weak patients to stand and walk sooner.

4

Fluid dynamics These are various forces created when water moves and they provide more resistance to movement the faster the water moves. Imagine swimming in a regular pool versus one with jets. This allows for a more intense workout for fitness/conditioning patients but is not appropriate for anxious or very weak/poorly muscled animals.

一椀愀最愀爀愀ᤠ猀 伀一䰀夀 昀甀氀氀ⴀ猀攀爀瘀椀挀攀 瀀攀琀 爀攀栀愀戀椀氀椀琀愀琀椀漀渀 昀愀挀椀氀椀琀礀

5

Surface tension This is the force created by water molecules binding together at the surface, creating drag on a limb as it is lifted out of the water. It can be more difficult to step in and out of water rather than walking through water with the limbs completely submerged. It provides the rationale for setting the water level in the UWTM and is useful for patients that tend to drag their paws. The appropriate water level will encourage these animals to lift their paws higher and provides resistance to strengthen their muscles as they do so.

Hydrotherapy is used for relieving pain and stiffness, improving balance and coordination, increasing metabolism/weight loss and a total body workout, which means strengthening most of the muscles as well as improving cardiovascular fitness. It is most commonly used with neurologic patients that are unable to use one or more limbs properly, arthritis, obesity and general fitness/conditioning for pets and athletic/working dogs. However, any painful condition which limits the patient’s activity/ mobility on land may benefit from hydrotherapy. Unfortunately, not evWWW.HWSMAG.COM

䄀琀 ᰠ吀栀攀 䌀攀渀琀爀攀ᴠⰀ 礀漀甀爀 搀漀最 挀愀渀 攀砀攀爀挀椀猀攀 愀氀氀 礀攀愀爀 爀漀甀渀搀℀ 圀攀 氀漀瘀攀 挀愀琀猀Ⰰ 琀漀漀℀

圀攀 愀爀攀 挀漀洀洀椀琀琀攀搀 琀漀 栀攀氀瀀椀渀最 礀漀甀 攀渀樀漀礀 礀漀甀爀 瀀攀琀猀 昀漀爀 愀猀 氀漀渀最 愀猀 瀀漀猀猀椀戀氀攀 戀礀 欀攀攀瀀椀渀最 琀栀攀洀 昀椀琀 愀渀搀 愀挀琀椀瘀攀⸀ 圀栀攀渀 猀椀挀欀 漀爀 椀渀樀甀爀攀搀Ⰰ 眀攀 眀椀氀氀 眀漀爀欀 眀椀琀栀 礀漀甀 琀漀 最攀琀 礀漀甀爀 瀀攀琀 戀愀挀欀 琀漀 搀漀椀渀最 琀栀攀 琀栀椀渀最猀 礀漀甀 氀漀瘀攀 琀漀 搀漀 琀漀最攀琀栀攀爀 愀猀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 愀猀 瀀漀猀猀椀戀氀攀⸀

䌀漀渀猀椀搀攀爀 甀猀 瀀愀爀琀 漀昀 礀漀甀爀 瀀攀琀ᤠ猀 ᰠ儀甀愀氀椀琀礀 漀昀 䰀椀昀攀 䌀愀爀攀 吀攀愀洀⸀ᴠ

㄀㠀㠀 䈀甀渀琀椀渀最 刀漀愀搀Ⰰ 唀渀椀琀 㔀䄀 ∠ ㈀㠀㤀⸀㌀㘀㈀⸀㔀㤀 眀眀眀⸀挀愀渀椀渀攀挀漀渀搀椀琀椀漀渀椀渀最挀攀渀琀爀攀⸀挀愀 HWS HEALTH, WELLNESS & SAFETY MAGAZINE

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BUSINESS PROFILE Moving can be overwhelming at any age. Our goal is to make moving as easy and worry-free as possible, so all our clients have to do is enjoy their new living arrangements.”

- Juanita Greenlaw, owner of Seniors On The Move Niagara

Seniors On The Move staff (L-R): Amy, Sandi, Becky, Sylvia, Erin and Rosemary.

Seniors On The Move Niagara Senior Move Managers help older people and their families relocate with less stress―and less mess.

By Scott Leslie

WHETHER YOU’RE DOWNSIZING or having to move due to an injury or illness, moving can be a huge ordeal. There are boxes to pack, arrangements to make, and a lifetime of memories to sort through or leave behind. It can be an unsettling experience―especially if you’re doing it on your own or for a parent while you’re working full-time. But it doesn’t have to be that complicated. If you want to simplify things, Seniors On The Move is ready to help make the moving process easy.

Established in 2012, Seniors On The Move offers a wide range of services, and specializes in helping seniors downsize or relocate to a new residence with a minimal amount of physical and emotional effort.

“Moving can be overwhelming at any age,” says Juanita Greenlaw, the owner of Seniors On The Move Niagara. “Our goal is to make moving as easy and worry-free as possible, so all our clients have to do is enjoy their new living arrangements.”

To get the job done, Juanita has an experienced crew of eight packing specialists and four movers with a 20 foot trailer as well as access to larger moving vehicles. Seniors On The Move also provides a free one-hour consultation with the client and their family.

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HWS HEALTH, WELLNESS & SAFETY MAGAZINE

“We sit down with them for a bit to talk about why they’re moving,” Juanita explains.

“Sometimes it’s because they no longer want stairs or a spouse has been sick. We do a tour of the house to find out what they’d like to take and what they’re unsure about. We get to know each other so it’s a little more comfortable and that helps reduce their anxiety.”

Juanita says she and her team make a quick floor plan to determine where the client’s belongings will go in their new residence. They also pride themselves on reusing and recycling as much as possible through community programs and charitable organizations.

“Call us crazy but we actually enjoy packing!” Juanita says of their process. “We take the time to photograph the china or curio cabinet and the bedside table, so we can set it up the same way at the new house so it feels like home right from the start.

The real magic happens on moving day when we bring in a team of ladies to unpack the boxes as they come in the door. We make the beds, set everything up, and by suppertime, we’re taking the packing supplies out the door, so our client can just walk in and enjoy without having to live out of boxes for days on end.”

As members of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM), Seniors On The Move is certified, bonded and insured― and has a trustworthy and fully-trained team to help seniors and their families deal with the strains of moving or downsizing.

Seniors On The Move serves the entire Niagara Region―all the way from Fort Erie to Grimsby. But their reach doesn’t end there.

They’ve helped people move back to Niagara from Toronto and Port Credit―or when they move out of town. For long distance moves, they can also send photos of a client’s home to NASMM affiliates almost anywhere in North America so the client’s furnishings will be arranged in a similar way in their new home.

Even though Seniors On The Move specializes in dealing with seniors, it serves clients of all ages. Real estate agents also call for decluttering services prior to listing a home. And the demand shows no signs of stopping. Over 75% of Seniors On The Move’s work currently comes in the form of client referrals.

According to Juanita, they have no desire to slow down either.

“We’ve met such nice people doing this job,” she says. “It’s so rewarding. We really enjoy what we do and I think it shows.” HWS For more information on how Seniors On The Move Niagara can help you, call 905.933.0730, email seniorsonthemoveniagara@gmail.com or go to www.seniorsonthemoveniagara.com.

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WELLNESS

Body Communication and Movement

By Catherine Bradley, DMH, DMAH, BA

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MOVEMENT IS A VERY IMPORTANT part of our daily lives. Movement is something we need on many levels to provide a sense of well being, health, and happiness.

Physically, we need movement to enable mobility. How do you feel when you don’t get up and physically move your body? You begin to feel stiff, sore, easily winded, and sometimes fatigued. This is often felt in the lower body, and in particular the joints-hips, knees, ankles. Just like gears of a clock or the parts of an engine, we need to move those parts or they begin to seize up. Once movement begins, (it sometimes takes a bit for things to run more smoothly and efficiently) that stiffness and uneasiness begins to improve. Exercise is movement, and often what we associate with physical activity. However, exercise does not equate to a gym membership (although it can help engage you.) Exercise means moving, recreationally engaging your body in the rhythm of mental/emotional/spiritual energy that allows your body to communicate with itself to heal, relax, let go and empower. Akin to watching water move, it provides hydration and energy synergistically. The key in the physical realm is mobility. Mobility leads to forward movement in life and in how the body can thrive in health and wellness.

Mentally, we need movement to stimulate us. This allows us to intellectualize including philosophizing/theorizing, reasoning, and logically providing us with strategy in our next move. This sets the stage of conceptualizing the movement. It provides the ability to set goals, make plans, and provide a sense of purpose. This is the “thinking” side of the equation. On the “emotional” side of things, we feel. We feel the difference in ourselves when we accomplish movement, making changes, experiencing stimulation and appreciation, engaging in the moment of how we feel when we are delving into passion, creativity and exercise. We feel energized, excited, happy, and the momentum begins to build. We must engage the mind to be stimulated by the changes we make, the things we participate in and how our cellular body communicates within itself to promote healthy cells, blood flow, organ health, glandular health and hydration. The key in the mental/emotional realm is stimulation.

Spiritually, we need movement to provide purpose and direction in life.

We need connection with self, just as much as with others. When we feel there is no purpose, or lose sight of our direction, enmesh our energy in others, we become sedentary. Importance is to instil creativity. We need creativity as a way of bringing out, sharing from within, a true desire, aspirations, goals and direction with a definitive purpose. For younger folks this could be procreation, but as we age or choose not to conceive children, we must really focus on this component of creation. We are the only species to have the ability to be creative as it is part of our digestion process and our insight. This does not mean we have to take up art classes, more that we participate the creative energy within ourselves—doing without doing. Engage in something that you don’t think about. You just do. It brings joy. It speaks of love. It feels right. It soothes. It makes us feel whole. The key in the spiritual realm is creation.

To summarize movement, it is an essential part of the ability to digest; physically, informationally, and energetically. Movement is an important part of our being. The less we move, the more we become sick, sore, fatigued, unmotivated, depressed, miserable and paralyzed. The key is to feel free; engage creatively and physically simultaneously to synchronize balance within our being. For this allows us to achieve true desire, happiness, and it allows our bodies to promote healthy physiological functions and a sense of well being from within. HWS

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BUSINESS PROFILE

Cognitive Balance Fonthill clinic uses NeurOptimal® neurofeedback training to help its clients function at their best.

Niagara Health nurses receive Nursing Excellence Awards

By Scott Leslie

Provided by Niagara Health System

WHEN MARIA FERRARA’S TWO SONS WERE DIAGNOSED with cancer, the Fonthill resident began suffering terrible bouts of stress and anxiety.

To make matters worse, she was constantly feeling overwhelmed and even though she was getting plenty of sleep, she still felt fatigued and out of sorts.

“It was very hard for our family, seeing the boys struggling with their cancer diagnosis,” she says. “For years, thinking about the boys’ health and their future was like a daily haunting. It affected my physical and mental health.”

Maria tried conventional methods but nothing seemed to work. Fortunately, she discovered NeurOptimal® – a powerful natural, non-invasive neurofeedback program that trains the brain of individuals who feel they are not functioning at their best and want a drug-free approach to feeling and functioning optimally. After undergoing a few sessions in Waterloo, her health improved substantially. In fact, Maria was so impressed that she decided to launch her own NeurOptimal® clinic in Niagara – opening Cognitive Balance in January of 2016.

As a certified NeurOptimal® neurofeedback trainer, Maria offers training to clients looking for changes on a physical, emotional or mental level.

NeurOptimal® is a training system not a treatment. During training sessions, people have reported improvements in symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, concussion syndrome, and chemo brain fog. With NeurOptimal®, some athletes have noticed improvement in their physical performance and mental stamina while students have reported an increase in concentration and focus.

During each session, clients are seated comfortably in a chair with a few sensors attached to their head. These sensors feed the electrical patterns from their brain to the NeurOptimal® system, while clients listen to music for 33 minutes. During subsequent sessions, Maria monitors and tracks the client’s progression. Clients typically notice improvements within 10 to 15 sessions. In some cases, it may take longer for the brain to re-train itself and more sessions may be required.

NeurOptimal® neurofeedback has been around for 17 years and is incredibly safe with no side effects. In fact, Maria says some people continue coming in for neurofeedback training on a monthly or bi-monthly basis.

“It’s just like exercising,” she says. “It helps keep your brain and central nervous system in tip-top shape. I’ve witnessed consistent improvements in the people who have come to train with me, and I get great satisfaction from seeing people happy and healthy for the first time in a long time. Seeing their lives transform – and knowing I was able to be a part of that – is amazing.” HWS

THIS YEAR’S NURSING EXCELLENCE AWARD NOMINEES represent an outstanding group of Niagara Health professionals who go over and above for our patients every single day. The many stories of compassion, innovation and leadership we received made it extremely difficult to choose the award recipients.

“Thank you to all of our incredible nurses who exemplify what it means to provide extraordinary caring for our patients and their loved ones,” says Derek McNally, Niagara Health executive vice president client services and chief nursing executive. “The work and leadership of our nurses is inspiring and truly makes a difference in the lives of everyone who comes through our doors.”

We are delighted to announce this year’s 19 award recipients in eight award categories.

Congratulations to the following nurses:

For more information or to book an appointment, call 905.892.9068, email aferrara1@cogeco.ca or go to www.cognitivebalance.ca.

RESTORE THE BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE

Extraordinary Care Excellence in Patient and Family Care: Colleen Bredin | Nurse Practitioner | St. Catharines Site • Jeanette Bulgin | Registered Nurse, Patient Care Manager | St. Catharines Site • Sherry Interisano | Registered Nurse | Welland Site • Andrea (Andy) Johnson | Registered Practical Nurse | St. Catharines Site • Jennifer Law | Registered Nurse, Patient Care Manager | Greater Niagara General Site • Meaghan Marigomen | Registered Nurse | St. Catharines Site • Heidi Seehagel | Registered Practical Nurse | Welland Site Excellence in Advanced Practice Nursing: Donald Versluis | Nurse Practitioner | St. Catharines Site Extraordinary Teams Excellence in Nursing Leadership: Kim McNaughton | Registered Nurse, Patient Services Manager | Greater Niagara General Site • Remo Petraroia | Registered Practical Nurse | Welland Hospital Site Excellence in Intra and Inter-professional Collaboration: Lisa Hildebrand | Registered Nurse, Patient Care Manager | St. Catharines Site • Amanda Symington | Nurse Practitioner | St. Catharines Site Extraordinary Future Rising Star: Victor Chiu | Registered Nurse, Patient Care Manager | Welland Site • Natalie Doucet | Registered Nurse, Nurse Educator | St. Catharines Site • Kaitlyn Hemphill | Registered Nurse | Welland Site • Teresa Lawson | Registered Nurse | Greater Niagara General Site Excellence in Student Preceptorship: Jade Gill | Registered Nurse | St. Catharines Site Extraordinary Innovation

905.892.9068 • aferrara1@cogeco.ca • www.cognitivebalance.ca •

Excellence in Nursing and/or Patient Education: Karen James | Registered Nurse, Nurse Educator | Greater Niagara General Site Excellence in Promoting Nursing Informatics and/or Information Technology into Practice: Nancy Flight | Registered Nurse | St. Catharines Site

For more information please contact Steven Gallagher, communications specialist, at 905.378.4647 ext. 43879 or steven.gallagher@niagarahealth.on.ca.

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HWS HEALTH, WELLNESS & SAFETY MAGAZINE

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INSPIRATION

Living With COPD The Breath of Life

By Shirley Lazareth

IT IS WITH US FROM THE BEGINNING UNTIL THE END of our journey here on Earth. It is our ability to take it from the air—which we cannot see but only feel—that we must have to live—oxygen.

Consider then the ability to take this precious substance but not to expel it completely. Those who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which encompasses emphysema and acute bronchitis, asthma and cystic fibrosis, to name a few, know this inability well. They live with it daily.

These are my observations as I watch my 58-year-old daughter cope with COPD. This is her story.

Jane has come home to live with us. She has left her adopted province—British Columbia. She has left her home, her job, her friends—but most importantly, her beautiful daughter and has given up her independence.

Now, those are all negative aspects of this disease. So how does Jayne make life worthwhile? How does she cope with this disease which has plagued her for the past seven years? I believe it all begins with attitude which has to remain positive. Compassionate and caring family and friends, diet, a strong supportive medical team, and faith in the future. Jayne has all of the above. She has learned to ration her time, talk when she can, rest often, watch her favourite T.V.

shows, text or Facetime her daughter daily, enjoy simple household chores like folding laundry or petting and feeding a hungry cat. She takes her medications religiously and her oxygen as needed. Bathing is difficult so a tub bath with a chair and handheld shower hose help.

Choice of clothes is important so she can dress more easily and not struggle with tight outfits. She tries to use her walker to exercise, usually indoors for a short jaunts as a windy day wreaks havoc with her breathing. Jokingly, Jayne has named her walker “Jayne’s Train” as suggested by her daughter. Laughter, truly, is the best medicine.

Our trips out are usually of a medical nature, or to shop for necessities but Jayne is looking forward to her nana’s 104th birthday when family from Florida, British Columbia, Coldwater and Mississauga will arrive. In addition, many family and friends from nearby will celebrate with us.

Live goes on, and as a dear friend Carrol always said, “It is what it is.” This is a one way street. There is only one way to go and that is forward. Jayne’s dad and I will be here with Jayne, and for Jayne, every step of the way. HWS

Mobility Means Everything Northend Mobility provides the equipment you require to get in and out of your vehicle or home.

We sell, install and service all our vehicle and home mobility equipment.

Home Accessibility

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Northend Mobility is your local licensed dealer for: BraunAbility, Savaria, Bruno Independent Living Aids, Howell Venture Ltd., Sure-Lok, and Q'Straint.

301 Aqueduct St., Welland ON Hours: Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm

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Conversion Vans WWW.HWSMAG.COM

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HWS HEALTH, WELLNESS & SAFETY MAGAZINE

25

HEALTH

ASK THE EXPERT Your hearing.

Use it or lose it.

By Mike Pihura

AFTER FITTING PATIENTS with hearing aids and doing follow-ups most people tell me, “I should have done this sooner.”

This is a significant statement since it confirms that hearing aids do work (despite what others may tell you).

Hearing loss is invisible. Untreated hearing loss can cause a lot of problems for you. Your social life can suffer because your hearing loss could embarrass you. Your work performance and enjoyment of leisure activities could also be affected. So to keep yourself in a comfort zone, you will begin to avoid those “difficult” situations.

This is not a good approach.

When your hearing begins to decline, your brain will be receiving less than “optimal” information. It will get lazy and forget certain sounds―like the wind, children or birds. This is called auditory deprivation. When you delay doing something about this, your brain gets used to this silent world. Years later, when you finally resort to using hearing aids, the process is more difficult because the brain needs to re-wire itself just to hear everyday “normal”sounds.

If you were found to have high blood pressure or high cholesterol―would you delay doing something about it for years? Similarly, if you needed a tooth filling or eyeglasses, would you put it off?

Hearing aids today are state-of-the-art digital mini-computers and most are invisible.

“Use it or loose it” is very true when it comes to hearing. Your ears detect the information, but your brain makes sense of this information. If you don’t keep the hearing in your brain stimulated – they deteriorate, plain and simple.

And, although retraining the brain is possible―it is hard work and requires time and patience. So, as with most health issues, the earlier you act on it the better. HWS

PEDORTHIST EXPERT

ELIO’S CUSTOM SOLUTION REVIVES JOYS OF WALKING PLEASURES PROBLEM Veronica R., a patient at Elio’s Foot Comfort Centre, suffered from drop foot and severe nerve damage in her left leg. These impairments forced Veronica to wear a special ankle and foot brace; however, the thickness of this brace made it almost impossible for Veronica to find shoes that fit her properly. This Rob DiFelice fitting challenge caused Veronica to have mobility isOwner/Operator sues, as well as increased pain. Veronica was facing a Elio’s Foot Comfort Centre dilemma with this situation; she wanted to enjoy her life by being able to walk as normally as possible without having to worry about her shoe fitting issue. After doing some research, Veronica turned to Elio’s Foot Comfort Centre for a custom solution to this problem.

SOLUTION: Technicians at Elio’s Foot Comfort Centre provided a custom shoe assessment for Veronica. They also casted her feet with a 3D Laser Scanner in order to capture an accurate image of each of her feet. The technicians captured the 3D image of Veronica’s left foot while she was wearing her ankle brace so that her custom shoes would properly accommodate her brace. This technique insured accurate space inside the left custom shoe, which created an exact fit for Veronica. Another important factor for Veronica was the weight of her shoes. Elio’s technicians were able to design her shoes in such a way that they were the lightest and most comfortable shoes she had ever worn.

RESULT: Today, Veronica is able to walk in comfort because Elio’s was able to provide her with a proper custom shoe to go along with her ankle brace. Veronica is able to walk more frequently, and for longer periods of time than she has been able to in years. Her custom shoes have given her more confidence and helped her on her way to back to pain-free walking. HWS Located at 9 Front Street, South, Thorold // 905.227.4215 info@eliosfootcomfort.com // www.eliosfootcomfort.com

We were spending too much time in the kitchen.

Ordering meals has put the focus back on enjoying our retirement.

Mike Pihura is the owner/audiologist at Family Hearing Clinic located at 33 Lakeshore Road in St. Catharines. For more information, call 905.938.2479 or

Get delicious, frozen meals, soups and desserts delivered directly to your home.

go to www.familyhearing.ca.

FAMILY HEARING CLINIC

Request your free NEW Spring Menu Catalogue Today!

Trust your hearing to an audiologist

Mike Pihura, B.S., M.S., AuD Doctor of Audiology Owner 33 Lakeshore Rd. (at Lake St.) St. Catharines

Call for appointment

905-938-2479 www.familyhearing.ca

26

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27

Custom Solution Turns Pain Into Comfort cing Solution ra B & s e o h S Custom to Elio’s Foot nica R. turned

t and resident, Vero tion for her foo A Niagara Falls lu so a f o ch ar e in se the best Comfort Centr made shoe was m o st cu A s. ankle problem se she onica R. becau solution for Ver CUSTOM SHOES race that b e kl an e Th t. and drop foo r was FOR HARD TO FIT required to wea Veronica R. was at th uting factor PROBLEM FEET another contrib ng able to ei b m o fr er h prevented footwear. nology, e of the art tech at st d se u ts lis image Elio’s Specia to capture a 3D , er n an sc r se del to including a la d a proper mo te ea cr ’s io El . et stom shoes of Veronica’s fe shoes. These cu e ad m m o st race and produce cu ate her ankle b d o m m co ac were able to f her pain. an she relieve some o more easily th k al w to le ab a R. is ithout pain.

Today, Veronic aily activities w d ys jo en e Sh has in years.

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