Bringing Hope to Mental Health Challenges
Mood and mental health challenges affect many of us, either personally or with those we know. The Canadian Mental Health Association estimates that “in any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness.” Not only that but they further state that “by age 40, about 50% of the […]
6 Ways to Reduce Stress and Improve Health
Life is full of transitions and challenges. Keeping our minds and bodies strong can help us navigate life with grace. Here are the six strategies that my most resilient patients use in their lives. See if there are some gems in here for you. Keep things in perspectiveWe can deal with a lot more than […]
Finding Calm within the Storm
Life is full of twist and turns, good days and bad days, change and uncertainty. These are the things we cannot change. What we can change is how we deal with all the ups and downs of life. We can face our fears and work through them as best we can. We can call upon […]
Healing Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury
Every year about 200,000 Canadians suffer concussions. Sports injuries and car accidents are two common causes of brain injuries, but for seniors, falls are a common cause. The good news is that the brain can usually recover from minor concussions within a short time. But for multiple concussions or more traumatic brain injuries, the path […]
How to be an EMPOWERED Patient
Medical science now shows that when patients are empowered to play an active role in their health care, they are more invested in the process, which results in greater health. Medical education is redefining the doctor-patient relationship as one that respects the patient as an intelligent participant in health care decisions. The old doctor-patient relationship […]
Alzheimer's Prevention and Treatment
Our brains are made up of an intricately interconnected web of neurons, run by electrical impulses that jump from cell to cell across gaps called synapses. Chemical messengers help transmit those impulses, and this symphony of cells, chemicals and electricity results in all the thoughts, feelings and bodily functions that make us who we are. […]
Help for Anxiety – Naturally
Anxiety is certainly part of the human condition. We are, after all, animals with very few physical defences, so we need an alarm system to keep us safe. The physical responses to fear make us ready to run from predators, fight back, or in some cases freeze and “play dead”. When that normal fear response […]
Eight Important Lab Tests You Should Know About
Many of us go to the doctor and just get the basic blood work they recommend. We may or may not hear back from the doctor regarding the results. I recommend that patients take a more active role in their health by learning about blood tests and getting copies of their results. (Locally, Lifelabs offers […]
Memory: Solutions for "Senior's Moments"
It’s important that as people age they find ways to keep both their bodies and minds sharp. In my years of medical practice, I have witnessed patients who experience the anxiety that comes when they recognize that their memory is failing. Whether they are forgetting where they put their keys more often, are having trouble […]
The Gut / Brain Connection
Have you ever had a ”gut wrenching experience?” Have you felt butterflies in your stomach, or had a “gut feeling?” We all have experienced the influence that our thoughts and feelings can have on our stomach, but research is now showing that our guts can influence our mood, behaviour and thinking more that we had […]