South Okanagan Health Guide 2011

H E A L T H G U I D E 2 0 1 1 P E N T I C T O N W E S T E R N N E W S F E B R U A R Y 2 5 , 2 0 1 1 P A G E 2

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Stress is our body’s reaction to a perceived danger or to an emotional or physical overload.

Even though some level of stress is a normal part of daily life, it should not be present on a continual basis — for the good of your health, there should always be some resolution or release. Here are 15 tips to help you do that:

1. Learn to say no to projects or activities for which you have neither the time nor the energy.

2. At work, get up and stretch from time to time if you’re sitting for long periods.

3. Pet your dog or cat, if you have one. Zootherapy has beneficial effects, particularly on blood pressure.

4. Turn what you might think of as a failure into a constructive learning experience.

5. Turn off your telephone and watch a good movie or get lost in a hobby.

6. When faced with a difficult problem, establish the best and worst

thing that could possibly happen and how you would manage the latter if it became reality.

7. Listen to music or sing.8. Get something done today that

you have been putting off.9. Save errands in town for low-

traffic, non-rush times.10. Make lunches and set out cloth-

ing for the next day before you go to bed.

11. Walk briskly for even just a few minutes.

12. Take a hot bath.13. Take something to read while

you wait, on public transportation, for example.

14. Reduce your caffeine consump-tion.

15. Give yourself an extra 10 min-utes to get to an appointment.

Most of all, it’s important to keep a sense of humour: it will help you cope with daily problems more eas-ily. Try to look for the funny side of a situation.

Take 15 — simple steps to beat stress

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MAKING A CONSCIOUS effort to under-stand the causes of our stress can help us to better manage it, maybe even avoid it.


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Independence means being able to do what you want when you want. As we age, physical activity is an essential factor in staying healthy, independent, and maintaining a good quality of life.

According to the World Health Organization, 60 per cent of seniors are inactive. A sedentary lifestyle can result in deterioration of bone density, muscular strength, flexibility, and car-dio-respiratory capacity. In fact, physical inactivity can be as damaging to our health as smoking: now there’s something to think about!

It’s never too late to become more active. What’s important is to start grad-ually. A few short exercise sessions during the day are as effective as a prolonged session. A healthy diet will also help you to maintain

your muscular strength, your immune system, and your balance. Avoid skip-ping meals, as this can cause weakness and dizziness and increase the risk of falling.

Another important point to keep in mind is safety. Untreated hearing and vision loss can be dangers during physical activity. Always wear prescription and sun glasses and hearing aids.

If necessary, think about using a walking stick or even a walker. Make sure either is properly adjusted to the right height and equipped with rubber end caps. If you’re venturing out onto icy surfaces, wear non-skid soles or crampons and add a crampon to the end of your walking stick to prevent it from slipping. In short, take good care of yourself because a lot of people care about you.

Independence keyto staying healthy

Jupiterimages/THINKSTOCKAS WE GET OLDER, physical activity is essential in order to stay independent and healthy. IN

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X SIMPLE STEPS TO BEAT STRESS ........................... PAGE 2INDEPENDENCE KEY TO HEALTH ....................... PAGE 3INTERIOR HEALTH .................................................. PAGE 4ACTIVITY AND DIET ............................................... PAGE 5PREGNANCY & WEIGHT GAIN ............................. PAGE 6KEEPING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM HEALTHY...... PAGE 7OSNS CHILD DEVELOPMENT ............................... PAGE 8ACTINIC KERATOSIS TREATMENT ....................... PAGE 9INTERNATIONAL FLU STUDY ..............................PAGE 10DEPRESSION & ANXIETY .....................................PAGE 12EYESIGHT / DENTURES ........................................PAGE 14ACUPUNCTURE .....................................................PAGE 15NUTRITION INFORMATION ................................PAGE 16TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEARING .........................PAGE 17TRAINING & EXCERCISE / FOOT RELIEF ...........PAGE 18HEALTHY AGING / LUMINOTHERAPY .............TPAGE 19TIPS TO QUIT SMOKING .....................................PAGE 20HOME CARE OPTIONS ........................................PAGE 21PERIODONTAL (GUM) DISEASE / DEMENTIA ...PAGE 22PHYSIOTHERAPY / HEALTHY FOODS ................PAGE 23


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#210-300 RIVERSIDE DRIVE • PENTICTON, B.C. • V2A 9C9TELEPHONE: 250-487-4400

[email protected] • www.billbarisoffmla.bc.ca

It has been my pleasureto serve the constituency of

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Interior Health is offering a few tips to make 2011 a healthy and safe year for you and your family.

Take steps to prevent falls. In the B.C. Interior falls are the leading cause of injury, hospital-ization and death, as well as trau-matic brain injury. Exercise and losing weight will improve your balance and strength to help you avoid or cope with falls. Stairs are the most frequent site of severe falls. Careful attention to stairway design, visibility and handrails can dramatically reduce your risk. For more information: http://web.me.com/bldguse/Site/Checklist_for_Stairways.html.

Talk to someone if you are having trouble coping. If you feel depressed, anxious or stressed it’s usually helpful to talk about it. Avoid alcohol or other drugs, keep physically active, take action to deal with outstanding issues, and remem-

ber that most problems you are facing now will soon improve. Your family doctor and/or coun-sellors at your local health unit are available to help.

Protect your head — wear your gear. Use a helmet for sports such as downhill skiing, snowboarding, skating, skate-boarding, kayaking and cycling.

Quit smoking. Tobacco has many harmful effects, and causes 28,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths a year in B.C. Quitting is the single best action you can take for your health and the benefits begin almost immediately. For more infor-mation visit www.quitnow.ca or http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcps/tobac-tabac/index-eng.php.

If you drink, do so safely. Watch your intake – regularly drinking more than two stan-dard alcoholic drinks a day for men, and more than one for women, can harm your health.

Binge drinking of more than three drinks for women and four for men on a single occasion increases risk of death, injuries, interpersonal violence, suicide, high blood pressure and other diseases. No alcohol is safest when operating vehicles and during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

Wash your hands often. Germs can spread easily through contact with any surface. Once you get germs on your hands, they are spread by simple acts like rubbing your nose or your eyes. Regular hand washing can help avoid picking up and spreading colds, flu and other viruses.

Get your shots: Immunize your children, get your flu shot every winter and a tetanus shot every 10 years. For more infor-mation, check www.immunizebc.ca.

Eat a healthy diet.

Choosing foods low in salt and fat and avoiding drinks high in sugar will help you maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of conditions such as high blood pressure. Fruits and vege-tables are an essential part of a healthy diet and play an import-ant role in prevention of dis-ease. Contact HealthLink B.C. at 8-1-1 for information and to speak with a dietician.

Get active. There is a dir-ect link between physical activ-ity and lifelong health. Weight bearing activity such as walking and carrying groceries improves your bone strength and increases resistance to injury. Exercise helps prevent heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, dia-betes and obesity.

Learn about your medica-tions. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible side effects of all your prescription and other medications.

Interior Health provides some healthy advice


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Did you know that two-thirds of chil-dren are not active enough to sustain opti-mum growth and development? Many of them also suffer from obesity. Apart from a lack of physical activity, poor eating habits are also at the root of this problem, with many children eating too much pre-packaged food that often has a high fat, salt and calorie content.

Families play a vital role in encour-aging a healthy lifestyle. That is why it is so important to encourage your children to participate in different kinds of physical activity. Restrict the amount of time spent watching television, playing video games and surfing the Web and encourage them to participate in activities around the home, such as raking leaves or shovelling snow.

Be sure to give them healthy snacks as well. Avoid foods with a high fat and low nutrient content, such as chips and donuts, and suggest fruit and raw vegetables instead. Not everything can be handed to children on a silver platter, but healthy, fresh snacks look great on silver.

If children are overweight their family

doctor should be consulted, but be sure to encourage them to become more physic-ally active rather than impose a strict diet. That could result in an unhealthy cycle of weight gain and loss, accompanied by

poor self-image. Physical activity and a healthy diet will help children maintain a healthy weight. It will also help them grow strong bo nes and muscles, resulting in good posture and better balance.

Activity and diet key to a healthy life

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BY SETTING a good example, your children will learn how to live a healthy, active life.


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Weight gain is a nor-mal part of pregnancy, but how much is enough? How much is too much?

This varies from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy, but achieving a healthy balance plays a key role in having a healthy baby.

The A Healthy Baby is Worth the Weight campaign is designed to spread the message about the import-ance of healthy weight gain during pregnancy.

“Many women are afraid to gain weight dur-ing pregnancy,” said Diane Cameron, public health nurse with Interior Health. “It’s important to know that too little weight gain can lead to low birth weight babies. These babies are more likely to have serious

health problems and long-term learning challenges.”

Gaining too much weight during pregnancy can also cause problems for both the mother and baby.

“Too much weight gain during pregnancy can lead to babies having higher than normal birth weights, making delivery more dif-ficult and increasing the need for a caesarean sec-tion,” said Cameron. High birth weight babies are also at increased risk for a number of health problems right after birth and as they grow older.

Weight gain between 25-35 pounds during preg-nancy is generally con-sidered healthy but this can vary slightly from woman to woman. All pregnant women or women con-

sidering having a child should talk to their doctor or midwife to determine how much weight gain is appropriate for them.

The following tips can help women gain the appropriate amount of weight and have a healthy pregnancy:

Eat nutritious foods Reduce stress Stay active Avoid the use of

tobacco and alcoholThe Healthy Baby is

Worth the Weight cam-paign aims to inform the public about the import-ance of healthy weight gain during pregnancy and

provides resource kits to assist doctors, midwives, public health nurses and other health care providers in monitoring and counsel-ling pregnant women about weight gain.

For more information on healthy weight gain dur-ing pregnancy:

Visit www.interior-health.ca, and follow the Choose Health link to the Healthy Pregnancy and Childbirth page

Visit your local pub-lic health unit or speak to your healthcare provider

Call HealthLink BC at 811 to speak with a nurse or dietician

A healthy baby is worth the weight

GAINING TOO MUCH weight during pregnancy can cause prob-lems for both the mother and baby.


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Do you feel as if you’re coming down with the flu?

Keeping your immune system in top shape is essential if you want to fight infections and stay healthy.

An unbalanced diet, in quantity or quality, is one of the major causes of immune deficiency. A se dentary lifestyle, or the opposite, overexertion, are also likely to harm the body and cause it to be more vulnerable to many infectious diseases.

Lack of sleep and the presence of stress are other factors that can weigh in.

Exposure to atmos-pheric pollutants outdoors and as well as indoors, where it’s easy to find

things such as tobacco smoke and mould, should be avoided as much as possible. So should the kind of toxins that are caused by excessive use of cleaning products.

Symptoms of a weakened immune system Chronic fatigue or

lethargy Increased sensitivity

to all types of infections, such as skin eruptions or

continual colds Injuries that are slow

to heal

Take care of your immune system Be sure to sleep as

many hours as your body needs and rest when your body tells you to;

Don’t smoke; Maintain a healthy

weight, determined by your height and build;

Be sure to undergo all the appropriate medical tests for your age group and your particular risk factors;

Only resort to anti-biotics when it’s really necessary and follow dos-age instructions;

Use cleaning prod-ucts that contain as few man-made chemicals as possible.

Take care of your immune system

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CARF has accredited the community

services of the OSNS Child Development

Centre.

“Making a difference in the life of achild with

special needs.”

Referrals with parental or legal guardian consent are accepted. Forms are available from medical offices, hospitals, Public Health Nurses, the Ministry for Children and Family Development, the Infant Development Program, preschools and/or the Child Development Centre.

(250) 492-0295 Toll Free: 1-866-492-0295Fax: 250-492-2164 email: [email protected]

visit our website: www.osns.org

Services are available for children with special needs and are child-focused, family-centered and community-based. Communities served are Summerland, Penticton, Naramata, Kaleden, Okanagan Falls,

Oliver, Osoyoos, Olalla, Keremeos, Cawston, Hedley, Princeton, Coalmont and Tulameen.

Enhancing Children’s Abilities

The OSNS is a not-for-profi t society which relies on fund raising and donations to maintain ourprograms.

CONSULTATION, ASSESSMENT

& TREATMENT IN THE AREAS OF:Child Psychology Occupational TherapyEarly Childhood Education PhysiotherapyAutism Speech/Language

COMMUNITY SERVICES & EDUCATION, SUCH AS:

KINDERPLACE Preschool Parent GroupsResource Lending Library Summer ProgramsDevelopmental Screenings Family Support

British Columbia has the unique opportunity of Child Development Centres (CDC), in a variety of com-munities throughout the province. Each CDC is operated independently by not for pro t Societies and are in-dividually under contract to the prov-ince through the Ministry for Children and Family Development (MCFD). These contracts are to provide ser-vices of Early Intervention to children in the birth to school age population within speci c areas. Here in Pen-ticton, the OSNS Child Development Centre holds this contract for the South Okanagan and Similkameen Region. While some of our young clients have life long disabilities, many have developmental delays or social, psy-chological or emotional issues which

may be short term. Regardless of their individual circumstances Early Inter-vention Services, as identi ed in the OSNS advertisement below, can and do make a difference in the life of a child. These differences carry over to re ect on the child’s family as well. With government sources of fund-ing being the principal nancial sup-port, aided by an enormous amount of fundraising by the OSNS, through planned events and donations, these services are free. Children can be referred to the OSNS by their family or, with pa-rental or guardian consent, through a referral from their doctor, public health nurses, MCFD, the Infant De-velopment Program or preschool set-tings as examples. Referral forms are available from the above mentioned

sources as well as in medical of ces, hospitals or by calling us directly at the Child Development Centre. As our services focus on the birth to school age child, it is important to see them early on. Children can pass through these years so quickly and then the opportunity for intervention can be compromised or even lost. We encourage any inquiry you may have regarding your preschool child, to be made by calling the OSNS Child Development Centre. While we are centrally located in Penticton, our staff are mobile and where circum-stances require them to travel, they do try to accommodate families. Your concerns are important in the life of your children and we are avail-able to help.

The OSNS Child Development Centre“MAKING A DIFFERENCE”


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What is Photodynamic Therapy?Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a special treatment performed with a topical photosensitizing agent called Levulan (5-aminolevulinic acid or ALA) activated with the correct wavelength of light. This is also known as “ALA/PDT treatment.” These treatments remove sun damaged pre-cancerous zones and spots called actinic keratosis. Sun damage, ne lines, and blotchy pigmentation are also improved because of the positive effect of Levulan and the light treatment. ALA/PDT treatment also has the unique ability to minimize pores and reduce oil glands, effectively treating stubborn acne vulgaris, acne rosacea, and improve the appearance of some acne scars.

How much improvement can I expect?Patients with severe sun damaged skin manifested by actinic keratosis, texture, and tone changes including mottled pigmentation and skin laxity may see excellent results. You may also see improvement of large pores and

pitted acne scars. Active acne can improved dramatically.

How many treatments will ittake to see the “Best Results?”

To achieve maximum improvement of pre-cancerous (actinic keratoses) sun damage, skin tone and texture, a series of three treatments 2-4 weeks apart is the most effective. Some patients with only actinic keratoses are happy with just one treatment. More treatments can be done at periodic intervals in the future to maintain the rejuvenated appearance of the skin.

What are the disadvantages?Following PDT, the treated areas can appear red with some peeling for 2-7 days. Some patients have an exuberant response to PDT, and experience marked redness of their skin. Temporary swelling of the lips and around your eyes can occur for a few days. Darker pigmented patches called liver spots can become temporarily darker and then peel off

leaving normal skin. (This usually occurs over seven to ten days). Repeat treatments may be necessary as PDT medicine is not an exact science.

What are the advantages?1. Easier for patients than repeated topical

liquid nitrogen, Efudex (5-FU) or Aldara because the side effects are minimal, rapid healing, and only 1-3 treatments.

2. The ALA/PDT treatment at our clinic is painless versus liquid nitrogen, 5-FU and Aldara.

3. Reduced scarring and improved cosmetic outcome compared with cautery, surgery and Efudex. Liquid nitrogen can leave white spots on your skin.

4. Levulan improves the whole facial area treated creating one colour, texture, and tone rather than just spot treating with liquid nitrogen, cautery and surgery.

In summary, PDT matches the “Ideal Treatment” for actinic damage.

Photodynamic Actinic Keratosis Treatment

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It’s flu season and a number of doctors in B.C. are participating in an international study to find ways to shorten the duration of symptoms and to decrease the risk of potential complica-tions from the flu.

“Certain populations such as children, elderly or ill patients are more vulnerable to life threat-ening complications and anything we can do to fight the spread of flu is important,” said Dr. Jack Kooy.

Flu symptoms include:

mild to severe nasal congestion;

a feeling of fever-ishness or a high fever — often over 100F or 38C;

a headache; aches and pains; severe fatigue and

weakness; dry cough and chest

discomfort; sore throat.

“During flu sea-son the lost time due to absences from school or work are significant and with the risk of spread-ing the infection, it is very important to stay home if you do have the flu,” recommends Dr. Kooy

If you have developed any of the symptoms in the past 36 hours, you may be eligible to par-ticipate in the research study. For more infor-mation call The Medical Arts Health Research Group at 250-493-7286.

Flu study underway

TO YOUR HEALTH —Healthy heart screen-ing, with qualifi ed medical practitioners like Dr. Mark Lawrie, is one of the most popular events at the South Okanagan Health Fair. The fair gets under way on Feb. 25 with a kick-off walk and forum, continuing on Sat-urday with a public health fair exhibition and the screening sessions for prereg-istered participants. More informations available online at www.healthyliving-fair.com.


VOLUNTEER!

Register as a volunteer by e-mail at [email protected] or by calling 778-476-5661, toll free 1-888-576-5661

GET CONNECTED

MEET NEW PEOPLEHELP OTHERS

HAVE FUN

LEARN NEW SKILLS SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE!Go to “I Want to Volunteer” on our website for current volunteer opportunities

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Volunteering fosters a sense of community AND good health

Further more volunteering can:

Research shows that volunteering creates community ties and feelings of being needed and productive.

According to the Canadian Community Health Survey, close to two-thirds of those who felt a very strong or somewhat strong sense of community belonging reported excellent or very good general health.

• Increase your sense of self esteem, self worth and confi dence. • Reduce your heart rate and blood pressure• Create greater feelings of well-being and calm• Boost your immune system and nervous system functioning• Reduce life stresses and overcome social isolation• Off er a sense of control and empowerment• Create new perspectives on ones own problems


Physical symptoms are important in the diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and are often overlooked by pa-tients and family physicians. Depression can worsen the outcome of several physical disorders. Somatic complaints are common in anxiety disorders but may mask depres-sion in particular, cardiac, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and pain symptoms. Most physicians are familiar with the psy-chological symptoms associated with these disorders, but may not pay as much attention to the physical symptoms that are so com-mon in both depression and chronic anxiety disorders. MDD patients often report feel-ings of depression or a lack of interest but as many as two thirds present with somatic symptoms (physical symptoms) only. Most people with psychological problems go to their family doctor with a physical com-plaint rather than recognizing that they have a form of mental distress. Family physicians accurately diagnose depression in 77% of those who present with psychological prob-lems. Among patients who present primar-ily with somatic symptoms, only 22% are accurately diagnosed as being depressed. Depression has a direct impact on a patient’s physical wellbeing. Recent evidence sug-gests a strong link between depression and chronic medical conditions including car-diovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and overall mortality. Part of this effect may be mediated by the effect of depression on re-ducing participation in preventive activities and altering risk factors such as obesity and sedentary lifestyles.Depression and chronic anxiety disorders can present with a multitude of physical symptoms. Headache, fatigue, disturbed sleep, dizziness, chest pain, vague joint/limb pain, vague back/abdominal pain, stomach problems (nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and gas), sexual dysfunction/apa-thy, menstrual problems and headache are common symptoms. The prevalence of depression in a large pop-ulation based health outcomes study was es-timated for those respondents who suffered from chronic physical diseases (angina, arthritis, asthma and diabetes). Depression was identi ed in 9% to 23% of individuals with one or more chronic physical disease. This is signi cantly higher than the likeli-hood of having depression in the absence of a chronic physical disease. Depressed patients have more medical illnesses, emer-

gency room visits, medical hospitalizations and laboratory tests.Major depression, although commonly en-countered in medical populations, are fre-quently under diagnosed and undertreated in patients with cardiovascular disease. Several studies have shown depression is a major risk factor in the development of car-diovascular disease. Up to 43% of patients that visit the emer-gency room with atypical chest pain have a Panic Disorder (PD). Many patients with PD experience shortness of breath as severe as asthma patients, but with normal pulmonary functions. The lifetime prevalence of respi-ratory disease is up to 47% in PD patients. Anxiety co-morbidity with respiratory ill-ness leads to increased steroid and broncho-dilator use, increased number of hospitaliza-tions and a decreased quality of life.

Depression is 2x more prevalent amongst woman with a Body Mass Index (BMI) 30 than with BMI 30. Risk of obesity in adult-hood amongst females increases with num-ber of depressive episodes in adolescence. Frequently, pain is the exclusive complaint of a depressed patient presenting in the primary care system. Compared with non-depressed individuals with chronic pain, individuals with a depressive disorder more frequently assessed their pain as being se-vere to unbearable.Approximately 20-40% of individuals with bromyalgia (FM) have an identi able

mood disorder such as depression or anxi-ety disorder at the time of diagnosis. The lifetime prevalence of depression is 74%, and that of an anxiety disorder is 60% in FM. Evidence suggests that in many cases, the depression and anxiety associated with bromyalgia may be the result of chronic

pain. Depression can have a profound im-

pact on the course of FM. Depression canlead to inactivity and social isolation, result-ing in increased risk for chronic pain anddisability. Non-depressed patients with -bromyalgia tend to be more active. Patientswith both depression and bromyalgia aremore likely to live alone, be inactive and at-tempt suicide.MDD causes more disability than hyperten-sion and diabetes. Depressed patients spentmore time in bed than patients with hyper-tension, diabetes, arthritis or chronic pulmo-nary disease. More people die from MDDthan leukemia. Sexual dysfunction occurs inup to 70% of patients with MDD. MDD may lead to structural changes in thebrain. MDD is associated with a decrease ofhippocampal (area of the brain responsiblefor memory) volume. The duration of thedepressive episode may be a predictor ofhippocampal volume loss. Neurogenesis(the birth of new neurons) continues afterbirth and into adulthood. Neurogenesis isregulated by growth factors. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) keepthe cells alive. BDNF is associated withproduction of new neurons and their growthand development. Exercise and treatmentwith antidepressants can stimulate the pro-duction of BDNF. Medications that stimulate neurogenesis viaother mechanisms than BDNF are currentlybeing developed. Other factors importantin the treatment of MDD are serotonergic(5-HT) or noradrenergic (NE) neurotrans-mission. 5-HT and NE are also involved indirectly modulating pain in the spinal cord. The emergence of the selective serotoninreuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and serotoninnorepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI)antidepressants has improved the treatmentof depression but there is still room for im-provements. Despite signi cant advances inthe treatment of MDD, between 30% and50% of depressed patients have an inad-equate response to the rst antidepressanttherapy. Novel, non-monoaminergic agents mighthave a wider spectrum of ef cacy and beeffective in patients who are unresponsiveto existing monoaminergic antidepressants.Medications working faster and via differ-ent mechanisms such as melatonin, neu-ropeptides and neurohormones are beingstudied. There is an urgent need for newadvances in the pharmacological treatmentof depression.

Physical symptoms in Depressionand Anxiety Disorders:


If you’re feeling sad or isolated,If you’re feeling sad or isolated,call call our clinical research team.our clinical research team.

You may be able to participate in a clinical research study if you suffer from major depression with symptoms that affect your work or daily activities.

You might be able to take part in a clinical research study if you: ■ Are 18 to 70 years old■ Have been diagnosed with a current Major Depressive Episode (MDE) that has lasted at least 2 weeks ■ Have NOT failed to respond to more than two antidepressant medication

There is no cost to study participants for all visits to the study doctor, medical exams, or study medication.

Are you feeling DepressedAre you feeling Depressedand have Chronic Pain?and have Chronic Pain?

“I feel so “I feel so UnhappyUnhappy” “My whole ” “My whole Body AchesBody Aches” “ I’m so ” “ I’m so IrritableIrritable””“I am in so much “I am in so much PainPain” “I feel ” “I feel No PleasureNo Pleasure in life” in life”

“My “My SleepSleep pattern has changed” “I no longer am pattern has changed” “I no longer am InterestedInterested in things” in things”“I feel so “I feel so TiredTired all the time” all the time”

“Everything seems “Everything seems HopelessHopeless” “I can’t get ” “I can’t get Anything DoneAnything Done””

Does this sound like you? If so, you may qualify for a research study of an investigational drug for people with depression and fi bromyalgia. To qualify for this study you must be at least 18 years of age.

For more information on these studies by

Dr. Alexander McIntyrePSYCHIATRIST

Please call Amanda at250-492-0053 or 250-770-0000


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Our precious eyesight is often over-worked in this age of computers and televisions, whose screens we often squint at for hours in poor light condi-tions and without breaks. Eye exam-inations with eye care professionals at regular intervals are advisable to correct computer eye strain and other problems.

Optometrists examine and evaluate the overall health of the eyes, taking into account any of a patient’s med-ical history that might influence his or her eye health. They then measure all the physical aspects of the patient’s eye using instruments and standardized tests and take steps to correct failing sight with optical aids, such as glasses and contact lenses. They also detect diseases and other deformations that can lead to more serious consequences. In the case of a pathology, such as glaucoma or a functional problem, the optometrist will refer the patient to the appropriate healthcare professional.

It is recommended that people of

all ages have vision checkups on a regular basis. Young children might not even notice a deterioration of their sight if it takes place over a long period of time. Similarly, adults past middle

age might find themselves holding the pages of their book farther and far-ther away from their face for several months before they think to go for an eye exam.

Don’t take your eyesight for granted

What is a denturist?Denturists, not to be

confused with dentists, are dental medicine specialists who design and manufac-ture oral prostheses, or den-tures. The work of denturists is to evaluate and determine the optimal solution for their patients; often this is in the form of dentures, which must be custom-made in order to ensure a maximum of comfort for their owners. Dental implants are also part of the denturist’s field of expertise.

This profession requires a great deal of dexterity, as the manufacture and fitting of dentures must be as exact as possible: the positioning has to be natural for the lips and jaws. The entire movement of the mouth’s structure is studied, includ-ing its position at rest and in use. Denturists then take dental imprints and manu-

facture a model according to the collected data. Patients are involved in the process of selecting the size, col-our and shape of the teeth. Once the prosthesis is com-pleted, numerous fittings are required in order to ensure total comfort for the patient.

DENTURISTS SPECIALIZE in the manufacture of dentures and love to see all their pa-tients with dazzling smiles.

Jupiterimages/THINKSTOCKA VISIT to the optometrist allows for the detection of serious anomalies.


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Derived from traditional Chinese medicine, acupunc-ture is a modality of heal-ing that is increasingly rec-ognized by the healthcare system. It fosters the well-being of mind and body and relieves certain types of pain. Following an ancient and perfected technique, licensed acupuncturists insert the tips of very fine needles into precise points on the skin’s surface. These needles are perfectly safe, hygienic, and painless.

Acupuncture therapists place the needles at specif-ic points on fully-dressed patients in such a way as to stimulate the circula-tion of energy in the body. Sessions usually last less than an hour and promote invigoration, relaxation, and specific kinds of healing.

Acupuncturists might also advise clients regarding exercise, diet, and vitamin supplements so that they can optimize their potential for healing.

Other methods are some-times used to relieve a client’s pain, including electric stimulation or moxibustion, where the acupuncture point is stimulated with warmth from nearby smoldering mugwort, an herbaceous plant. Whatever method is used, this discipline treats all types of problems, from digestive discomforts and allergies to infections and obesity. Many acupunctur-ists are open to consulting with prospective clients who simply wish to ask questions about the suitability of the method for the treatment of their maladies.

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As dietitians, we get a lot of questions about healthy eating from people everywhere we go. How can we hope to answer everyone’s nutrition ques-tions in this all-consuming profession (pun intended)? It’s actually easy. We point people towards registered dietitians that are just a phone call away, and to credible nutrition resour-ces that are just a mouse click away.

Dietitian Services at HealthLinkBC:

Just pick up your phone and dial 8-1-1. You can speak to a registered diet-itian from Monday to Friday. If you have just been diagnosed with a con-dition and are not sure what

to eat, if you need answers to nutrition questions like “how much calcium is in spinach?” or “how do I

introduce solid food to my baby?” this free service is a great place to start.

Hundreds of nutrition handouts are available on websites like www.healthlinkbc.ca/dietitian or http://www.dietitians.ca/Your-Health.aspx. And of course Interior Health’s website has lots of great information at www.inter-iorhealth.ca/healthy_eat-ing.aspx

Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating:

You can pick up a regu-lar food guide at a health centre, but it’s more fun to personalize your own. On the internet, search for Health Canada’s Food Guide and then click on the “Make My Food Guide” tool: select the foods and activities you love, and voila — your individual-ized food guide pops up, ready to print and post on your fridge.

If you’re young, not so young, pregnant, vegetar-ian, allergic to milk, or a picky eater — this is your chance to have a food guide that fits your needs.

Food Guide Tracker:Remember those old

fridge posters where you could check off a box each time you ate a healthy food? They’re back. Visit Health Canada’s Food Guide web page http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/ index-eng.php and click on “My Food Guide Servings Tracker”. Trackers are especially great for pregnant women, athletes, waist watchers, and also the elderly who may want a gentle nudge to have more than toast and tea for supper. Kids love checking off the boxes, so these trackers are a real family favourite.

For the Curious:The Center for Science

in the Public Interest’s “Nutrition Action Healthletter” is enthusi-astic about helping read-ers find healthier foods to enjoy while keeping the food industry and policy makers on their toes. Highlights can be found at http://www.cspinet.org/canada/.

For the Very Curious:Passionate foodies can

delve into nutrition and food production news at either NYU Nutrition Professor Marion Nestle’s blog www.foodpolitics.com or by poring over great reports and listening to amazing podcasts from the Yale Rudd Center’s website: http://www.yal-eruddcenter.org/podcasts.aspx.

We hope that some of our favourite things become favourites of yours. Bon appetite.

Cathy Richards is a registered dietitian and works as a com-munity nutritionist in Kelowna with Interior Health.

Some nutrition information to go

CANADA’S FOOD GUIDE helps you eat healthy while still enjoy-ing the foods you love.


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Unlike speech ther-apists, who treat speech and language problems, audiologists specialize in hearing problems.

By carefully evaluating their patients with various audiometric tests, these health care professionals detect and solve any prob-lems linked to hearing in all age groups.

Some problems that might lead clients to an audiologist’s office are tinnitus and hearing loss related to old age or from repeated exposure to loud ambient noises, such as those found at industrial work sites or from music headphones set too loud.

The principal objective of audiologists is to pro-mote the social integration of patients by helping them

maintain their autonomy and through facilitating the

physical dynamics of com-munication. Audiologists

maintain a close relation-ship with their patients in order to support them in understanding the diag-nosed problem and in the establishment of an action plan.

This plan might include prescribing a hearing aid or implementing hearing re-education techniques and alternative communication methods, such as sign lan-guage and lip-reading.

Environmental con-trols are also considered for patients who work in very noisy surroundings, often in large manufactur-ing plants. In these cir-cumstances, audiologists are invaluable advisors in helping to reduce the potential for hearing loss by limiting exposure to noise.

Audiologists can help communication

Jupiterimages/THINKSTOCKWORKING IN CONJUNCTION with speech therapists, audiologists specialize in hearing problems.

DR. TAMARA BROWNE, NATUROPATHIC DOCTORThe Natural Family Health Clinic & Chelation Center

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Dr. Tamara Browne graduated from Bastyr University in Seattle Washington in1996 with a Naturopathic Medical Degree after 7 years of study.She upgrades her education every year and has earned a license to practice Chelation and other injectable and intravenous therapies. She has been in practice for 14 years offering complete natural medicine care from nutrition and supplement advice to herbal medicine, homeopathy, injectable pain relief, and Chelation. She specializes in utilizing advanced lab testing to uncover hidden causes of illness.Naturopathic Doctors have the knowledge to guide you in wellness and prevention using safe, effective, proven protocols. From heart disease, diabetes, and weight management issues to neurological, mental health, digestive, and hormonal issues...we may have the answers you have been looking for.Visit the new clinic in Okanagan Falls for free information and to receive 10% off 10 Chelation treatments this winter!


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A healthy diet is an important first step towards a balanced lifestyle, but don’t forget the benefits of physical fitness. It goes hand in hand with good eating habits.

As well as preventing many health problems, physical exercise is also the ideal remedy for the stress of everyday life. Even though many kinds of sports and physical activities are available in most communities, it can be difficult to build up enough motivation to exercise on a regular basis. A great way to get started is to consult a physical fitness professional who will be able to help you transform exercising into an enjoy-able experience.

A professional trainer can help you draw up a realistic and personalized fit-ness plan. He or she will first evaluate your general state of health and physic-al fitness before designing a workout schedule that takes into consideration your individual needs and the aspects of your lifestyle you wish to improve. You might, for example, want to focus on

toning your muscles for greater endur-ance, building muscle mass for a strong-er appearance, losing weight, or keeping joints and muscles flexible as you age.

If required, these experts are also able to refer their clients to specialists in sport medicine as well as physiother-apists and nutritionists.

Trainer can help shape your fi tness plan

Jupiterimages/THINKSTOCKEXERCISE PROGRAMS are available for all age groups and all levels of fi tness.

Take steps to ease foot painDespite being the body

part that is called on to sup-port our entire weight, we often neglect our feet. It is important to care for them on a regular basis, as our feet are subject to disease, skin and nail problems, muscular pain and bone malforma-tions. Foot pain that remains untreated often leads to ser-ious consequences affecting bone structure and joints.

Podiatrists are health care experts whose clinical work involves identifying certain weaknesses and problems in the feet and designing personalized treatments for clients.

These professionals then prescribe the neces-sary devices to help their patients, such as orthopedic soles, adapted footwear, or other prostheses. They can also support clients who suf-fer from more severe path-ologies and guide them in

the rehabilitative process.For the average per-

son, a case of tendonitis, an ankle sprain brought about by a slip off the curb or an increasingly noticeable shift of the big toe from years of wearing high heels can become a cause for concern. If any of these occur, it is always advisable to consult a podiatrist. He or she will be able to counsel you on the best possible course of treat-ment, which might include shoe inserts, specific exer-cises, or other solutions.

Hemera Technologies/THINKSTOCKPODIATRISTS TREAT all foot-related problems, from common ailments to more serious disorders.


Aging well can be a conscious choice for many people, according to results from the Study of Adult Development, which started almost 70 years ago. Conducted by Harvard Medical School, the Study of Adult Development originally recruited 824 volunteers born between 1910 and 1930. Enough of the group has now survived into old age to identify those life choices which lead to suc-cessful aging.

This study — and others — identify four factors typical of people who enjoy a healthier life as seniors. These include:

Building and main-taining a strong social network;

Engaging in play-

ful and creative activities, including lifelong learn-ing;

Maintaining Physical activity; and

Ensuring good, daily nutrition.

For those who retire in good health, health can actually improve for many people for the first dec-ade post-retirement, pro-vided a healthy lifestyle is maintained. Although people suffer some health challenges and lessening of vision and smell as they age, the decade-old Berlin Aging Study and the MacArthur Study of Aging showed people liv-ing longer with less dis-ability. Many of the seniors studied did not experience a life-changing disability until age 85 or later.

Activity is one key to improved health. It’s never too late to start, as demonstrated by medic-ally-supervised programs which introduced weight-lifting to seniors in their late 80s and 90s. The sessions led to increased strength and muscle mass.

Poor nutrition is another risk for seniors, especially those who live alone. Taste and sense of smell decline with age and can lead to loss of appetite. A study by the National Institute on Aging found single/wid-owed senior men were most at risk for malnutri-tion, followed by single/widowed women.

For some seniors, one solution is a retirement

residence, which com-bines many of the com-ponents of healthy aging into an all-inclusive pack-age. Retirement resi-dences typically provide social networks; activities to encourage learning and creativity; physical activ-ity programs; and attract-ively served, nutritional daily meals. Additional supports can include help with housework and emer-gency call alert systems.

The final component in healthy aging is a positive attitude. Not surprisingly, researchers found seniors with a strong social net-work who were actively engaged in life, physic-ally active, and enjoying good meals were also those most likely to have the most positive attitude.

Factors can help healthy aging

A spotlight on luminotherapyLuminotherapy, or

light therapy, offers many benefits for our bodies and moods. It can give us the opportunity to recharge our batteries during the long, dark months of winter when many of us feel so tired and listless.

Luminotherapy consists of daily exposure to arti-ficial wide-spectrum white light which imitates the soft rays of the sun. It allows us to make up for a lack of natural sunlight, which is so precious to the human body. In concrete terms, the light helps to regulate our bio-logical clocks by increas-ing serotonin production, a neuromodulator linked to mood.

It’s perfect for chasing away the seasonal blues or for countering symp-toms related to wintertime disruptions of our internal

biological clock, such as insomnia, chronic fatigue, or dietary problems.

This therapy is also per-fect for people who work during the night or for those who suffer from jet lag. It can also be a boost for people who work in an enclosed space where they can’t see daylight. An exposure of 15 to 60 minutes per day, ideally as early in the morning as pos-sible, will create a sense of well-being comparable to our feelings on a beautiful sunny day.

It is important to pay attention to the light intensi-ty diffused by your lumino-therapy lamp in order to correctly determine the required length of exposure. So, go ahead and energize your body by giving it a good dose of artificial sun-shine. It’ll lift your spirits.


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Now that you’ve decided to quit smoking, here are a few things you can be doing over the coming days.

Write down your plan for quitting. Include your reasons, potential pitfalls, stages of progress, and how you’ll deal with tempta-tions.

Take a note of the benefits of quitting. Your reasons to quit may include concerns about your health, setting a good example for your children, and improv-ing your relationship with family and friends. You may also wish to keep more of your hard-earned money.

Plan and practice your alternate activities. Drink a glass of water, walk around the block, around the build-ing. Munch on some carrots or celery sticks.

List your concerns about quitting. Next to each concern, write down one or more things you’ll do to overcome the challenge. Don’t feel discouraged by past relapses. Research shows that most smok-ers attempt quitting many times before achieving success and relapses are a normal part of the quit pro-cess. You should know that the Quittin’ Time program allows you to quit as many

times as you like. Learn about and pre-

pare yourself for possible withdrawal symptoms.

Track your smok-ing. Record how much you smoked, where you were when you smoked, who you were with, as well as what you were thinking, feel-ing and doing immediately before, during and after you smoked. Look over your notes after one week to see if you can find any patterns to your smoking.

Think about times you’ve gone without smok-ing. What did you do to keep yourself from smok-

ing? What seemed to be the most helpful? What have you recently accomplished? Could this success help you to change your smoking behaviour?

Remove all ashtrays from sight.

Don’t underestimate the support from family and friends. List the people you can count on to help you. Who can you call for encouragement? Who will help distract you when you have a craving? Who can help you to avoid tempting situations?

Consider who might quit with you. Is your part-ner or child thinking of quitting?

Set a quit date. Pick a date within the next three weeks to begin your life without cigarettes, and put it down in writing. E.g. I have committed to stop smoking on (date). On that day, and on each day after-wards, I will not smoke. I will do whatever it takes to keep this promise so that I can have a new and better life without cigarettes.

Register for the

Quittin’ Time program.Health Canada provides

even more useful informa-tion for people thinking about quitting smoking, and for those already in the mid-dle of the quitting process.

Tips to help you stay quit:

Ask for help. Don’t be shy, post a message in the forums, visit a chat room.

Find a buddy. Someone who will be there to support you through the quitting process.

Do you smoke to deal with stress? Look into new ways of coping; there are many. Tips for dealing with stress can be found on Health Canada.

Think positively. Focus on one day at a time and on each of your achievements.

Four Ds. If you experi-ence cravings, try to: Drink water, Delay, Do something else, and Deep breathing.

Slipping doesn’t mean failure. If you slip, don’t be too hard on yourself. Keep focused on sticking to your quit plan. Each time you try is a success because you’ll learn skills that you can apply to your next attempt. A slip or two does not mean you’ve failed in your effort to quit.

Don’t worry about weight gain. It doesn’t hap-pen to everyone and is often insignificant when it does. Control it by sticking to the same diet you usually eat, choosing low-calorie snacks, and by increasing exercise and physical activ-ity.

Support others. Whether you decide to quit now or not, helping others to reach their quitting smok-ing goals is a good thing to do.

Steps to help you kick the habit

REMOVING ALL ASHTRAYS from sight is one way to help your-self quit smoking


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Home care has become an important part of soci-ety in recent years. With an aging population and overcrowded hospitals, the public health care system increasingly relies on a specific category of health care that can be provided within the patient’s home.

This type of care, which aims to comple-ment the care provided by the patient’s family and friends, is especially effective for those with reduced mobility or who are losing their independ-ence.

Nurses, doctors, social workers, technicians, ther-apists — all branches of the medical profession are involved in a home care plan.

Whether a particular home care service is ori-ented towards daily vis-its, weekly injections, or palliative care, healthcare teams do everything in their power to provide the best possible service with-in this environment that is controlled by the patients and their families.

It is also possible to receive home care support for matters such hygiene and housecleaning, import-ant factors in maintaining an otherwise independent person’s dignity.

Having access to home care improves the quality of life of most patients and allows them to maintain and prolong the positive effects of treatments received in health care institutions.

Home care can offer awide range of services

Jupiterimages/THINKSTOCKHAVING ACCESS to home care improves the quality of life of most patients

Don’t tune out the risksWhen your son or

daughter is listening to their iPod with earbuds, can you hear the music? It might be annoying, but it might also be dangerous for your child. Hearing specialists have noticed an increasing tendency toward tempor-ary or permanent hearing loss in young people who listen to music on iPods and MP3s at volumes that exceed safe levels.

Sound levels are meas-ured as A-weighted deci-bels (dBA). Below 70 dBA, sound is not a risk factor in hearing loss, even with exposure over an extended period of time. At this level, the volume of sound can be compared to the noise heard in a car travelling on a highway, with the windows closed and the radio switched off.

But when sound reaches 85 dBA or more, the risk increases with the length of the period of exposure. That is why many com-panies use this figure as a reference level when limit-ing exposure to noise in the workplace.

In concrete terms, that means that listening to hard rock for 10 minutes at 102 dBA or being exposed for six hours at 86 dBA can lead to serious hearing loss, possibly permanent. In order to reduce these risks, music has to be kept at a safe volume.

Keep in mind that if a person one metre away from you has to shout to be heard, the sound level is probably higher than 85 dBA. Now, there’s a sta-tistic that everyone should hear.


Periodontal diseases, or gum diseases, are bacterial infections that attack and destroy the tissues that sup-port and surround the teeth. Periodontal diseases are risk factors for several other ill-nesses, so a periodontist should be consulted as soon as possible if you suspect you have such an infection.

Having specialized in this domain for two to three years after completing a regular dentistry degree, the periodontist is qualified to treat gingivitis (infec-tion of the gums) as well as periodontitis, which is an advanced gum disease in which the underlying tis-sues, particularly the alveo-lar bone, are affected.

Why worry about gum disease? If these infections are not treated immedi-ately, periodontal diseases increase in severity. In addi-

tion, scientific research has proven that people suffering from periodontal diseases are at more risk of hav-

ing heart disease or a fatal heart attack than people who are not affected. This is because the bacteria that

cause periodontal diseases sometimes form small blood clots which can block arter-ies around the heart where there is an accumulation of fatty deposits.

Expectant mothers suffering from a periodon-tal disease are up to seven times more at risk of giving birth to a premature baby or one with a low birth weight than a mother with healthy gums. What’s more, bleed-ing of the gums, bone loss, and an increase in the depth of the pockets around the teeth are all early signs of diabetes.

There is also a close link between smoking and periodontal diseases. This is because the toxins released by tobacco smoke affect the bacterial composition of the mouth and the immune system’s resistance to peri-odontal bacteria.

An innovative educa-tional program starting in early March will help care-giving family members from Penticton deal with the loss and grief issues associated with dementia.

“The dementia journey requires ongoing adjustment to many changes over a long period of time that result in feelings of loss,” explains project leader Dr. Penny MacCourt, from the Centre on Aging at University of Victoria.

“You are witnessing the progression of your family member’s dementia. The progression results in many changes: in your relation-ship, in shared activities, in roles and responsibilities, in dreams and plans for the future, and in living circum-stances, to name just a few.”

The new Coping with

Transitions program will connect residents with a skilled registered coach with extensive knowledge and experience in counselling caregivers of people with a dementia.

Coaching is being offered in both online and telephone group formats, allowing par-ticipants to share experiences and to learn from each other, says MacCourt.

The choice or phone or online groups provides con-venience, since participants don’t have to leave their homes, and accessibility, which is vital for those living in rural areas.

The format also provides participants with choice of location; they can work from anywhere that has a telephone or an internet connection. And they are assured of full ano-nymity and confidentiality.

Interested caregivers in the Penticton area can choose from four options:

A telephone group run-ning Mondays from March 14 through April 18, from 1:30 to 3 p.m.;

A telephone group run-ning Thursdays from March 17 through April 24, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.;

An online group run-ning Tuesdays from March 8 through April 12 from 9:30 to 11 a.m.;

An online group run-ning Tuesdays from March 8 through April 12 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Interested residents must pre-register for the program by contacting MacCourt toll-free at 1-877-244-0419. She will explain the research pro-ject, answer any questions, and provide assessment forms that are required before the

first meeting.Coping with Transitions

aims to identify tools and strategies for weathering the losses and provide a greater number of options for care-givers to better meet their needs.

“There is relatively little information about grief, or how to address it, associated with progressive cognitive decline or dementia,” says MacCourt.

“Unattended caregiver grief can compound other stressors and increase care-giver distress and negative health consequences.”

Increased access to sup-port will benefit families and may delay the need for place-ment for their family mem-bers with dementia, she says.

The program is supported by the Alzheimer Society of B.C.

Periodontal diseases require timely treatment

Stockbyte/THINKSTOCKPERIODONTAL DISEASES constitute a risk factor for several other illnesses.

Program helps caregivers in dealing with dementia


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Contrary to popular belief, physiotherapy is not limited to rehabilitation ther-apy after a long illness or an accident. In fact, physiother-apists specialize in preven-tion, with the objective of optimizing the use and inte-gration of the human body into daily activities. With the help of specific methods and exercises, physiother-apists work with problems of a muscular, skeletal, and sometimes of a neurological nature.

Physiotherapists are par-ticularly prized by top-level athletes, as their expertise in the movements of the body can be essential to good performance at a competi-tive level. Athletes, who are much more likely to suf-fer injuries than the gen-eral population, also rely on

these professionals for the treatment of repetitive ten-donitis and spinal problems.

It is also advisable for the general public to consult a physiotherapist when an injury occurs. Indeed, these practitioners are equipped to evaluate the overall physic-al state of their patients, diagnose body-mechan-ics problems, and remedy them by determining the root causes of the trouble. Their work often results in huge improvements in their patients’ mobility and independence.

Physiotherapists also work with patients who have experienced physical dysfunctions or handicaps; they develop a personalized therapy in order to increase and improve their motor functions.

On the road to physical fi tness

Jupiterimages/THINKSTOCKPHYSIOTHERAPY is a science whose objective is to re-establish good motor functions.

Food to lift the spiritsAre you feeling down?

Try raising your spirits by choosing healthy foods that boost your serotonin levels and get you feeling good again.

Serotonin is a neurotrans-mitter that regulates several body functions, including the gastrointestinal system, and that also holds the key to our mood. Flax seed, wild fish, free range meat and eggs, buckwheat, and bananas are good ways to naturally boost your serotonin levels. Some say that foods with high carbohydrate content, such as pasta, rice, potatoes, and couscous can also help fight the blues — especially if combined with exercise.

Women who suffer from the discomforts of premen-strual syndrome are often advised to take vitamin B6 supplements. Research has proven that a B6 deficiency

is associated with a decrease of serotonin in the brain, resulting in a feeling of depression and irritability. In order to get enough of this vitamin, women’s diets should include plenty of meats, fish, nuts, grains, as well as wheat germ and leg-umes. Stress, which increas-es magnesium loss, can also lead to mood sensitivities. That means that having fun, laughing, and exercise can help you feel better too.

Good old comfort foods are also great quick-fixes for your mood. Some of your grandmother’s pancakes with maple syrup or your aunt’s homemade chicken soup might help you to feel better for a while. If you have a sweet tooth, make sure your portions of cook-ies and cakes are small and that they’re eaten at meal-times instead of as snacks.


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South Okanagan Health Guide 2011

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