These days, the word “health” has countless definitions, from the physical to the psychological, and everything in between, depending on an individual’s concerns and goals. At the end of the day, quality of life and general well-being come in a multitude of ways.
We’ve kept that diversity of needs in mind as we put together the 2020/21 Best Health Guide for our readers in Burnaby. From community health services to medical professionals, advice on getting active and ideas about nutritious food, we’ve got it covered in these pages.
Whether you’re just starting to explore a new healthier life, or you’re well on your way, we hope this guide will help you explore, discover and learn – and most of all, inspire you –to continue down the path.
From our hands to yours, we welcome you to explore the 2020/21 Best Health Guide.
Lara Graham Publisher
When dining out, patrons trust that restaurant staff has taken all necessary precautions to ensure a safe experience for customers. Restaurants are bound by strict food handling and cleanliness regulations and undergo periodic inspections to make sure they are in compliance. Many restaurants also post their health grades in visible places for patrons to see. Despite the best health practices and ramped-up sanitation in recent months, some individuals may still have concerns about whether COVID-19 can be transmitted through the handling or consumption of restaurant fare.
GET THE FACTS ABOUT DINING OUT AND COVID-19
Currently, there is no evidence that food is associated with the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Similarly, the risk of infection from food products, food packaging or bags is also thought to be very low. No cases have been identified where infection originated by handling food-related items or shopping bags.
“No cases have been identified where infection originated by handling food-related items or shopping bags.”
To set the record straight, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Government of Canada note that the risk of getting COVID-19 from food handled or consumed from restaurants and takeout meals is believed to be very low.
Should anyone experience gastrointestinal distress after eating food, GI viruses like norovirus and hepatitis A or bacteria like E. coli and salmonella are typically to blame. SARSCo-V-2, which causes COVID-19, is a respiratory virus. It cannot grow on food; it requires a living host like a person or animal to multiply.
The Environmental Protection Agency regulates water treatment plants to ensure that treated water is safe to drink. The COVID-19 virus also has not been found in drinking water.
While COVID-19 is highly unlikely to be spread from consuming or handling food, it’s still essential to prioritize hygiene and follow sanitation practices when going to a restaurant.
• Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food and food packaging. Wash hands before using your hands to eat handheld foods, like sandwiches or burgers.
• Use common cleaning and disinfection products to wipe down tables and chairs that are shared by the public.
• Consider bringing your own reusable or disposable flatware as an added precaution. Opt for wrapped drinking straws instead of drinking directly from a glass.
• Keep your distance from other people while dining, even outside.
• Follow regulations regarding wearing a non-medical mask or face covering.
There is no evidence that restaurant food can transmit COVID-19. People who want to enjoy a meal at a restaurant can do so with the proper precautions in place.
BURNABY
ACUpUNCTURE
ARTESANA ACUpUNCTURE
308-4885 Kingsway
Burnaby V5H 4T2
778-892-7207
AURORA INTEGRATIVE mEDICAL
4212 Dawson St
Burnaby V5C 0B8
604-558-2288
BACk TO wELLNESS
114 - 1899 Rosser Ave
Burnaby V5C 6R5
604-639-6393
BG ACUpUNCTURE
203 - 5679 Imperial St
Burnaby V5J 1G1
604-620-1908
BURNABY ACUpUNCTURE
207 - 6411 Nelson Ave
Burnaby V5H 4H3
604-437-5828
HIGHGATE SpORTS & wELLNESS
4 - 6975 Kingsway
Burnaby V5E 1E5
604-527-7246
mEDSpA HEALTH CENTRE
1 – 4361 Kingsway
Burnaby V5H 1Z9
604-439-1604
pURE BALANCE
ACUpUNCTURE & TCm CLINIC
6540 Burlington Ave
Burnaby V5H 4G3
604-438-8178
TOTAL THERApY, REHABILITATION & wELLNESS
4162 Dawson St
Burnaby V5C 0A4
604-437-9355
TOTAL THERApY, REHABILITATION & wELLNESS
4665 Central Blvd
Burnaby V5H 4J5
604-620-9700
UNIHEALTH NORTH BURNABY
280 - 9600 Cameron St.
Burnaby V3J 7N3
604-415-5388
wONDER pOINT
wELLNESS CENTRE
4071 Kingsway
Burnaby V5H 1Y9
604-336-0783
YOON CLINIC
207 - 6125 Sussex Ave
Burnaby V5H 4G1
604-568-8253
ALCOHOL ADDICTION INFO & TREATmENT
ALCOHOLICS ANONYmOUS
7638 Sixth St
Burnaby V3N 3M5
778-397-8933
ALLIANCE mEDICAL mONITORING
303 - 4180 Lougheed Hwy
Burnaby V5C 6A7
604-558-0030
BURNABY ADDICTION SERVICES (BURNABY HOSp)
3935 Kincaid St
Burnaby V5G 2X6
604-453-1900
CHARLFORD HOUSE
PO Box 44077
Burnaby V5B 4Y2
604-420-6601
SAGE COUNSELLING & ADDICTION SERVICES
303 – 4180 Lougheed Hwy
Burnaby V5C 6A7
604-558-0090
ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
ACU-BRIDGE CLINIC
5238 Irmin St
Burnaby V5J 1Y7
604-432-7209
pATH TO wELLNESS
202 - 7460 Edmonds St
Burnaby V3N 1B2
604-726-0684
TOkYO ACUpRESSURE
101 - 5623 Imperial St
Burnaby V5J 1G1
604-438-8979
AUDIOLOGISTS
AIm INSTRUmENTATION
5232 Irmin St Burnaby V5J 1Y7 604-438-3033
BURNABY HEARING CENTRE
605 - 4980 Kingsway Burnaby V5H 4K7 877-965-6272
HEARINGLIFE
BURNABY CAmERON
255 - 9600 Cameron St Burnaby V3J 7N3 1-888-439-1207
HEARINGLIFE
BURNABY HASTINGS
4121 Hastings Street Burnaby V5C 2J3 1-888-439-1248
100 - 4585 Canada way Burnaby V5C 4L6 604-681-5656
pREmIER DIAGNOSTIC HEALTH CENTRE
300 - 3185 Willingdon Green Burnaby V5G 4P3 604-678-9115
REFRESH NATURAL HEALTH & COLON THERApY 113 - 3823 Henning Dr Burnaby V5C 6P3 604-294-3117
SAVE ON FOODS pHARmACY (CAmERON) 3433 North Rd Burnaby V3J 0A9 604-415-5111
SAVE ON FOODS pHARmACY (mARkET CROSSING) 7501 Market Crossing Burnaby V5J 0A3 604-433-6314
SAVE ON FOODS pHARmACY (wILLINGDON)
4469 Kingsway Burnaby V5H 2A1
604-437-3220
HEARING AIDS
ACOUSTICA HEARING AID
4564 Dawson St Burnaby V5C 4C1
604-294-1080
ALLIANCE HEARING 105-7315 Edmonds St Burnaby V3N 1A7
604-526-1110
AIm INSTRUmENTATION
5232 Irmin St
Burnaby V5J 1Y7
604-438-3033
BURNABY HEARING CENTRE
605 - 4980 Kingsway Burnaby V5H 4K7 877-965-6272
HEARING LIFE CANADA
255 - 9600 Cameron St Burnaby V3J 7N3 1-888-439-1207
BURNABY
VOLUNTEER SAFELY DURING THE pANDEmIC
The global pandemic that begin in late 2019 and continued into 2020 changed many aspects of life as the world knew it, and that includes volunteering. Social distancing measures and stay-at-home mandates from state and local governments discouraged people from leaving their homes, while various health organizations warned aging men and women to stay home as much as possible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age. In recognition of that threat, many retirees who were heavily involved in volunteering prior to the pandemic were forced to cease working as volunteers, which could have a negative effect on their mental health as the pandemic continues. A report from the Mayo Clinic Health System noted that adults over age 60 experienced greater life satisfaction and greater positive changes in their perceived health as a result of volunteering.
Many people have continued to volunteer during the pandemic, and those that want to do so can take these steps to make sure their efforts to give back are as safe as possible.
• Speak with your physician first. Any-
one, but especially seniors, who wants to volunteer during the pandemic should discuss those aspirations with their physicians prior to offering their services to charitable organizations. Doctors can discuss the acute and chronic threats posed by the COVID-19 virus and examine each individual’s medical history to help potential volunteers decide if working with a local charity is safe. In addition, doctors can check patients for COVID-19 symptoms and even have them tested to make sure they won’t be putting anyone in danger should they decide to volunteer.
• Contact the organization prior to volunteering. Some organizations may not be allowing potentially at-risk volunteers to perform in-person tasks. Contact the organization you hope to work with prior to signing up to confirm your eligibility, but also to discuss the safety protocols they’ve put in place to protect the health of their volunteers.
• Monitor your own health. If you’ve signed up to volunteer, it’s vital that you monitor your own health. Health officials believe the COVID-19 virus has spread so rapidly for a number of reasons, including the likelihood that many people have had the virus but shown no symptoms.
Charitable organizations will no doubt assess the health of each volunteer when they show up to work, but volunteers also should make such assessments on their own. Check your temperature each day and familiarize yourself with the symptoms of COVID-19. If you suspect you are unwell or are even slightly under the weather, contact the charity and tell them you won’t be showing up that day. Operating with an abundance of caution during the pandemic can save lives.
• Consider virtual volunteering. Virtual volunteering is a safe way to give back that won’t expose volunteers or others to the COVID-19 virus. Charitable organizations need behind-the-scenes help just as much as they need volunteers with their boots on the ground. Virtual volunteers can help with fundraising efforts and event planning, but also help charities overcome the logistical challenges of operating and meeting their missions during the pandemic.
Prior to volunteering during the pandemic, prospective volunteers can follow numerous steps to ensure volunteering is safe, both for them and the people they’re trying to help.
HOw TO
TAkE A
mORE ACTIVE ROLE IN YOUR pERSONAL HEALTH
The role individuals play in their own health care became more prominent in 2020. As a global pandemic forced people from all walks of life to prioritize their personal health each time they left their homes, many individuals sought ways to take a more active role in their health care.
Proactive health care has long been touted by medical professionals, though many people still don’t take such recommendations to heart. In fact, a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that as much as 75 percent of health care spending in the United States is reactive in nature, meaning that money is going toward treating conditions and diseases rather than preventing them from occurring in the first place.
Taking an active role in your own health care is easier than people may think. And the benefits of such a proactive approach are numerous, including a reduced risk for various diseases.
• Schedule annual physicals. Annual physicals are one of the simplest and most effective ways for individuals to take active roles in their personal health. Many health insurance plans cover annual physical exams at no cost to policy holders, and these examinations can uncover issues even when individuals are not feeling any symptoms. Annual physicals also provide great opportunities for individuals to discuss diet and healthy lifestyle choices with their physicians in relaxed settings.
• Learn about the preventive services that are right for you. Individuals should speak with their physicians about which services are recommended for individuals in their situations. Screening guidelines are often age-based, but they also take personal history and family history into account. For example, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends all adults between the ages of 50 and 75 be screened for colorectal cancer, but the frequency of those
screenings will depend on each individual’s personal risk and which screening test they choose.
• Embrace physical activity. The DHHS notes that regular physical activity increases a person’s chances of living a longer, healthier life. In addition, the CDC says regular physical activity reduces a person’s risk for chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, various types of cancer, and even mood disorders like depression and anxiety. Access to fitness facilities may be limited or unavailable during the pandemic, but that should not deter people from exercising regularly. Walking, jogging, hiking, and cycling are great forms of cardiovascular exercise that have been linked to a host of health benefits.
A proactive approach to personal health is simple and effective, potentially helping people reduce their risk for a variety of diseases and conditions.
