When blood pressure is too high, extra stress is put on the walls of the arteries as well as on various organs of the body. Blood pressure is the force pushing against your artery walls as the blood moves through the vessels. Blood pressure is measured at two points. 1. When the heart contracts, pushing blood into the vessels and the pressure is greatest (called systolic pressure) and, 2. Between heart beats when the pressure is lowest (called diastolic pressure). Together, these measurements make up your blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is considered a reading that is less than 120/80 mmHg.

Problems that may result from high blood pressure, higher than what is considered normal are: stroke or mini stroke; vision loss called retinopathy, which is damage to the retina of the eye; heart attack; kidney disease and PAD peripheral arterial disease that affects large arteries in the arms and legs.

Studies have produced evidence that a low-salt diet certainly helps in keeping your blood pressure down. Consider limiting your intake of certain kinds of very salty foods. Help to better control your blood pressure by considering some healthy lifestyle changes.

• Maintain an ideal body weight

• Get regular exercise

• Eat a healthy diet

• Reduce the amount of salt in your diet

• Quit smoking

• Have cholesterol and blood sugar checked

Learn more about high blood pressure by speaking with your doctor or pharmacist.

When we have our health, it allows us so much more. Healthy body, healthy mind, is a fabulous old saying and a simple reminder of the balance we can sometimes forget to bring to ourselves. When we find ourselves searching for ways to create a peace of mind, to ease the days’ stresses and perhaps some anxiety; experts say, mediating and yoga are high on the list. Breathing exercises too can be very beneficial.

Mediating is a mind relaxing exercise designed for all ages. Sit in a quiet space focusing on the skin below your nose and above your lip. Feel the sensations of your breathing. Find and aim for 15 minutes a day, building up to an hour.
Yoga for the most part, is a program of physical fitness. An ideal exercise as we age when joint health becomes important.
Breathing just right? Good chances are that our breathing techniques aren’t just right. Inhale slowly and deeply through the nose. A healthy inhale takes about five seconds. Exhale slowly through the mouth. Empty your lungs completely. Good breathers focus more on thorough exhalation than on inhalation.

Just Move It
There are times for planning and there are times for doing. Get feeling your best! Are you feeling happy? Sad? Anxious? Calm? Annoyed? Pleased? Confused? Go Outside! Going outside and getting active may help you to feel your best. Chances are you’ll have a great time, and depending on your latitude, dress warmly.

Get Inspired
There’s something for everyone! Where in your community are indoor pools, outdoor pools, steam rooms, sauna, squash courts, racquetball and basketball, Yoga classes, swimming lessons, art classes, and maybe little dance? So what are you waiting for? Get inspired!

Speak to and ask your doctor what your target cholesterol levels are. Knowing your current and target levels is an important part of managing your cholesterol.

Main Cholesterols are:

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is often called ‘bad’ cholesterol because it collects on the walls of blood vessels (arteries) carrying oxygen to the heart. It is more likely to cause health problems by blocking blood vessels.

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is often called ‘good’ cholesterol because it seems to protect arteries against heart disease by clearing extra cholesterol (or bad) out of your blood vessels.

Total cholesterol (TC) is a measure of all of the cholesterol in your body, both good and bad.

On a whole, we do hear a lot of negative things about cholesterol, but to remember, that our bodies actually require a certain amount to survive. Your liver makes about 80% of the cholesterol in your body and the rest comes from the foods we consume.

Try to detect what lifestyle or change in lifestyle affects your cholesterol. These suggestions of lifestyle changes may help you manage your cholesterol levels:

• Make heart-healthy food choices, improve your diet

• If you smoke, try quitting

• Maintain a healthy body weight

• Add physical activity to your day, select an activity appropriate to your age and general health

Studies show and experts say that reaching healthy cholesterol targets can greatly reduce the risk of heart disease.

Your body can get vitamin D one of two ways: ingestion of supplements and vitamin D rich foods, or through sun-exposure. Many foods are enhanced with vitamin D, but getting out in the sun can fulfill the need for this important vitamin and at the same time offer the opportunity for fresh air and exercise. During the winter months, while it may be difficult to get outdoors, the fun you can have and health benefits you can garner from being outdoors make the effort worthwhile!

Visit the sites below to find trails and parks in your area where you can absorb some vitamin D while enjoying fresh air and exercise.

Essential Links:

Canada Trails offers detailed descriptions and reviews of hiking, biking and cross-country skiing trails across Canada.
www.canadatrails.ca/hiking

Visit Canada’s National Parks at the link below to find a listing of major parks across the country.
www.pc.gc.ca/progs/np-pn/index_E.asp

Canada Food Guide’s information on vitamin D for people over 50 can be found here:
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/context/evid-fond/vita_d-eng.php

The Canadian Cancer Society has details about vitamin D and its benefits, which can be found here:
http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/Prevention/Use%20SunSense/Vitamin%20D.aspx?sc_lang=en

Ah, the number of times I’ve heard this question!  Over the course of my career, I’ve had parents and teens, couples and singles all questioning the need for counseling.  My response has varied and I would propose that reading through one of the books below as a couple might help to clear the air and increase communication.

That being said, we must realize that we humans have feelings that are illogical.  No matter how intelligent we are, once we are in a negative pattern of poor communication it can be difficult to improve our interactive skills without assistance.

Oftentimes, arguing and fighting can feel like running in circles.  This is because we are not sharing our needs and feelings in a way that our partner understands.  An objective outsider can help to break existing cycles and guide us in forming new patterns that will lead to better relationships.

Books our staff recommends:
The Five Love Languages 
Dr. Gary Chapman (www.fivelovelanguages.com)
Helps couples to understand how they communicate and what trigger words can shut down a conversation.

Men are from Mars, women are from Venus
Dr. John Gray (www.marsvenus.com)
Offers an in-depth look at the communication styles of men and women.

Marriage Fitness and Marriage 911
Dr. Mort Fertel (www.marriagemax.com)
Marriage 911 is a program designed specifically for marriages in crisis, due to infidelity, money conflicts, emotional neglect and the list goes on.

Relationship Rescue: A seven-step strategy for reconnecting with your partner
Dr. Phil McGraw (www.drphil.com)
Dr. Phil leads couples through practical activities that will help to refocus and reconnect with your partner.

Below are the five warning signs and an acronym for detecting a stroke. Visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s website site for more information and important downloads.

Five Warning Signs of Stroke:

• Weakness - Sudden loss of strength or sudden numbness in the face, arm or leg, even if temporary.
• Trouble speaking - Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding or sudden confusion, even if temporary.
• Vision problems - Sudden trouble with vision, even if temporary.
• Headache - Sudden severe and unusual headache.
• Dizziness - Sudden loss of balance, especially with any of the above signs.

Acronym for Detecting a Stroke (FAST):

Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?
Arms – Ask the person to hold out their arms. Can they hold them level or are they uneven?
Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Is their speech slurred? Can they repeat the sentence properly?
Time – A stroke is treatable, so it is essential to get emergency medical care immediately. Call 9-1-1.

Links:
Heart and Stroke Foundation – Main Site

Heart and Stroke Foundation – Risk Assessment Questionnaire

Heart and Stroke Foundation – Emergency Wallet Card

My Story:

I had the great pleasure of growing up a klutz. Walking into walls, knocking over the milk glass at the dinner table, having absolutely no coordination, but many broken bones to prove my klutziness: this was my childhood.

Jump forward twenty years: I was sitting in my doctor’s office one day, waiting for the results of my latest x-ray, flipping through a health care magazine when I came across an article on Candida overgrowth syndrome. As I skimmed the article and then carefully read through the list of symptoms, I became more and more excited. The picture being painted was a picture of my life. From my lack of coordination, chronic colds, constant fatigue but nights full of restless tossing and turning, this was a story I could relate to.

I showed the article to my doctor and explained what I had read. She was very supportive and sent me to a nutritionist, who worked with me to plan a diet I could follow. I cut out all ‘bad’ foods that encouraged the growth of yeast and embarked on a two-month trial period. Those two months changed my life. I now sleep a solid eight hours a night, am rarely sick and haven’t broken a bone in seven years.

If this sounds like you, or someone you know, read on for a change that could renew your life!

What is it?

Candidiasis is an overgrowth of yeast in one’s system. Candida yeast is found in everyone, but can grow out of control, causing numerous health issues. While this fungal infection is found most frequently in immunocompromised people, Candida overgrowth can affect anyone, regardless of other health issues.

The Candida yeast that lives in our bowels feeds on sugar, vinegar and other fermented foods. The yeast can grow out of control, taxing the immune system, which can lead to illnesses and other symptoms.

Symptoms:

• Weakened immune system

• Poor coordination

• Irritability

• Digestive problems

• Confusion

• Fatigue

• Vaginal yeast infection

• Difficulty sleeping

• Headaches

• Cravings for foods with sugar and vinegar

Diagnosis:

Your doctor, naturopath or nutritionist will be able to help you properly diagnose this disease. Naturopathic or alternative medicine doctors may be more open to considering Candidiasis as a potential diagnosis.

Alternately, you can try following one of the Candida cleanse diets that can be found on one of the websites listed below.

Treatment:

There are a variety of medical and natural treatments for Candidiasis. A drastic change in diet, cutting out all foods that encourage the growth of yeast and taking yeast-inhibiting vitamins, such as Garlic Oil and Capryllic Acid, made a radical difference in my life. I encourage you to check out one of the websites listed below and consult a health care professional to start your recovery.

Links:

• www.candidadiet.com

• www.wholeapproach.com