Victoria Clinic Discusses Health Guidelines for Tattooing

Victoria clinic discusses health guidelines for tattooing, starting with the fact that tattoos arose from a rich cultural history dating back 5,000 years.  The purpose of tattooing has varies from culture to culture.  Before you start  any tattoo, wait until you know exactly what you want permanently inked onto your skin; why you want it, where you want it, and exactly what it means to you.

The best way to pick a tattoo artist is to get a recommendation from a friend or acquaintance who’s had a positive experience working with a local artist. Otherwise, consider group review resources like Yelp.

Victoria Clinic Discusses Health Guidelines for Tattooing

Photo Credit: tattooswithmeaning.org

Insist on a consultation with the artist that will be doing your tattoo before the actual tattooing begins.   You want to talk with this person,  to see if you click,  and to discuss  issues such as your art, placement, the amount of time it will take, and the fee.

You need to insist on a viewing the the facility’s sterilization equipment and procedures.  You need to be shown that the tools are completely clean and safe by being shown an autoclave, sterilized needles, fresh latex gloves, and all necessary ink and equipment laid out on a clean work area. The artist should remove all sterilized equipment from its packaging in front of you, if not walk away.

How much it will hurt will depend on placement, size, complexity, and your own personal pain threshold. Tattoos placed over bones and tendons (spine, neck, back of ankle), on body parts with relatively little padding (feet, hands, joints), and anywhere with loads of nerve endings (nipples, fingers, face) will be the most painful.

Victoria clinic discusses health guidelines for tattooing with an informative booklet that covers informed consent, premises, and operation, preparation, and handling of instruments and equipment, pigments (dyes or inks), infection control, waste disposal, personal service workers, and post-tattooing skin care.

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Introduction to Buddhist Meditation | Drop-in Class

Introduction to Buddhist Meditation     A Beautiful World From Within      

Diversified Health Clinic, at The Mosaic 1063 Fort Street, Victoria, BC    with Rebecca Hanson

Introduction to Buddhist Meditation

Introduction to Buddhist Meditation is designed for people who have busy schedules and who want to make quick progress toward a happier and more peaceful life. Each 60 minute class is designed to bring our mind to a peaceful state. If our mind is peaceful, we will be free from worries and mental discomfort and so we will experience true happiness and relaxation.  But if our mind is not peaceful, we will find it very difficult to be happy and relaxed even if we are living in the very best conditions.

 Each class includes guided meditation, practical instruction and discussion. These classes are suitable for everyone, whether new to meditation or looking to deepen your meditation experience. We meditate sitting on chairs, but you are welcome to bring your own mat and/or cushion if you prefer.

Introduction to Buddism

Feb. 6,       Class 1) What is Meditation?
Feb. 13      Class 2) Where Does Happiness Come From?
Feb. 20      Class 3) The Nature and Function of the Mind
Feb. 27      Class 4) What Disturbs our Mind
March 5     Class 5) Cooling our Anger

Times: Monday from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Start date: Monday, February 6, 2012
Drop in fee: $10

Rebecca Hanson is a member of the Foundation Program at Bodhichitta Buddhist Centre and is currently teaching introductory meditation classes in Victoria. She brings to her teaching a life-long interest in personal growth, the practical experience of raising a family, and her many years of professional training. She is well known for the clarity with which she teaches and her open and friendly manner.

Bodhichitta Buddhist Centre   #5-3281 Linwood Ave, Victoria, BC  V8X 1E5
Phone 250-592-7164   Email: info@MeditateInVictoria.org   Website: www.MeditateInVictoiria.org

Founder & Spiritual Director: Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Principal Teacher:     Gen Kelsang Zopa  

A Member of the New Kadampa Tradition — International Kadampa Buddhist Union
Charitable Reg. Number: 80250 9349 RRR0001

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Victoria Public Health Knows That Loneliness Has A Genetic Link To Illness

Victoria public health knows that loneliness has a genetic link to illness and that lonely people are more likely to get sick and die young because it affects their immune systems, according to new research.

Scientist at the University of California looked at the DNA of isolated people and found that chronically lonely people have distinct patterns of genetic activity, almost all of it involving the immune system.

Much like the age old question which came first the chicken or the egg, the study does not show which came first – the loneliness or the physical traits. Study author Steve Cole, a molecular biologist at the University of California said: “This study shows that the biological impact of social isolation reaches down into some of our most basic internal processes – the activity of our genes.”

Victoria Public Health Knows That Loneliness Has A Genetic Link To Illness

Photo Credit: discovermagazine.com

American scientists used a “gene chip” to look at the DNA of isolated people and found that those who described themselves as chronically lonely had weaker immune systems.

Their findings were remarkable – All 22,000 human genes were studied and compared, and 209 stood out in the loneliest people.

“These 200 genes weren’t sort of a random mishmash of genes. They were part of a highly suspicious conspiracy of genes. A big fraction of them seemed to be involved in the basic immune response to tissue damage,” Cole said. (The report has been published in the journal of Genome Biology).

The findings suggest that the loneliest people had unhealthy levels of chronic inflammation, which has been associated with heart and artery disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and other ills. Victoria Public Health knows that loneliness has a genetic link to illness, so the first step is to start talking about how you feel and take steps to let people into your lives.

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Our Health Clinic Answers the Question, What is Chronic Back Injury?

Our health clinic answers the question, What is Chronic Back Injury?  A healthy back is straight, moves easily and is free of pain. When there is pain in any area of the back for a very long period of time, this is called chronic back injury, or chronic back pain.

The most common area for chronic back injury is the lower back; also called the lumbar spine.

Back pain is usually defined as either acute or chronic. Doctors may diagnose low back pain as acute if it lasts less than a month and is not caused by serious medical conditions. If the pain persists, it is considered chronic back injury, also called chronic back pain. This constitutes only 1% to 5% of back pain cases.

Our Health Clinic Answers the Question, What is Chronic Back Injury?
Chronic Back pain

Herniated discs are also a common source of back pain. Inside each disc is a jelly-like substance and 80% of the disc is water, which makes it very elastic. A disc does not contain any blood and relies on nearby blood vessels to keep it nourished. A herniated disc occurs when the cartilage between the vertebrae tears. As a result the cartilage and its contents will bulge out from between the vertebrae, often putting pressure on the nerves in the area.

How Common is Chronic Back Pain?

  • Almost 20 million (2 in 3) Canadians will have at least one episode of back pain in their lifetime.
  • 600,000 (1 in 50) Canadians will be disabled by it.
  • Chronic back injury occurs in both men and women.
  • It can affect people of any age, but older people are more likely to have chronic back pain.

Back pain is the most prevalent medical disorder in industrialized societies.

What are the Warning Signs of Chronic Back Injury?

  • If you have pain in the back that lasts for longer than a few days but less than a month this is called acute back injury.
  • If the pain lasts longer than month this is called chronic back injury.
  • The pain can be anywhere in the back. It can be in one area only or spread across a wide area.
  • Your back might be stiff and the muscles swollen. This combination of pain, stiffness and swelling is called inflammation.
  • Some injuries will cause muscles spasms in the back, and pain or weakness in a leg.

Back pain can develop anywhere from the neck to the lower spine. The pain can be localized or spread across a wide area and radiate from a central point. Muscle spasms may occur at the site of the pain. Some people also get pain or weakness in a leg as a result of back injury.

What causes Chronic Back Injury?

  • Many times the cause of chronic back injury is not known.
  • Poor posture is the most common cause of back pain.
  • Injury due to lifting heavy objects is also a frequent cause of back pain.
  • Being overweight and not exercising enough can increase your risk of back injury.
  • If your back is weak you can get back pain when you get upset or feel stressed.
  • Some types of arthritis can cause chronic back pain.

How to avoid Chronic Back Injury;

  • Be kind to your body. After doing heavy work, or doing the same task over and over, stop and rest.
  • Use your back, arms and legs in safe ways to avoid putting stress on joints.
  • When you lift a heavy item keep it as close to your body as possible. Keep your back straight and use your legs to do the lifting.
  • Use helpful devices such as a cart to carry your grocery bags.
  • Maintain a healthy weight to avoid putting extra stress on your joints.
  • Be aware of your posture and be sure to stand and sit straight.
  • Wear proper walking shoes that support your feet and help keep your back and legs straight.
  • Sleep on a firm mattress and support your neck properly with pillows. Do not sleep on your stomach as this can strain your neck.

Receiving regular maintenance treatments from your health practitioner is a great preventative measure; so when our health clinic answers the question, What is Chronic Back Injury? You will already know how to avoid this condition.

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Physiotherapy can help to improve balance and prevent falls | physiotherapy victoria bc

Yes, Physiotherapy can help to improve balance and prevent falls.

It’s the time of the year in Victoria that brings challenges to those who have balance and mobility issues: there could be ice or snow or puddles on any particular day.  And with the shorter, colder days, many people’s overall fitness declines because they are not able or not motivated to get outside and move around.  All of these elements combine to increase the likelihood of sustaining an injury from a fall.  Of course a physiotherapist can help to treat any of these injuries, but a physiotherapist can also help to prevent falls from happening in the first place!

According to a recent study by Muir et al, over twenty risk factors for falling have been identified, but there are five major factors, with an increased number of these risk factors exponentially increasing the risk of falling:

  1. A history of recent falls
  2. Functional lower extremity strength: the ability to stand up from a seated position in a chair without using the chair arms
  3. An unsteady gait
  4. Impaired balance
  5. Taking four or more prescription medications

rehab clinic victoria bcThe physiotherapists at Diversified Health are trained to assess joint mobility, muscular strength, balance and gait patterns.  Part of their assessment is to identify deficits and come up with a program to improve such key issues as quadriceps and gluteus (thigh and buttock) strength. They will advise you on which specific strength, mobility and balance exercises would be most beneficial for you, and will make suggestions on functional ways to work on these exercises at home or at the gym, with safety being the top priority.

At Diversified Health, some specific exercises you might be shown include wall squats, bridging, or outer hip strengthening.  You might use tools such as balance boards, BOSU balls, the Vibe machine, and various other cardio or weight equipment.

If you are considering using a mobility aid such as a walker or a cane, we can help you decide which one is right for you and how to properly adjust it.   If you would like to stop by the clinic, the practitioners would be happy to give you a free assessment of the fit of your cane or walker.

Our physiotherapists also educate regarding footwear, posture and general activity / exercise, and help you come up with a plan to incorporate all three kinds of physical activity: strength and balance exercises; endurance exercises; and flexibility exercises.

Physiotherapy can help to improve balance and prevent falls | physiotherapy victoria bc, so please call Sandra Hardy at 250-382-0018 and book your free assessment.

Researched and written by Sandra Hardy M.P.T.

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