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Are your holiday decorations making you sick!

Are your holiday decorations making you sick! During the winter months most of us spend more time indoors, which exposes us to allergens and irritants like dust mites, pet dander, and household cleaners; and for individuals who suffer from allergies, this can make their lives miserable.

For most of us, the holiday decorations are up for several weeks during December collecting dust and mold spores and then are placed back in their boxes , only to collect more dust the next year.

To keep the allergens to a minimum, take the artificial greenery, including the tree, outside and give it a good shake (or vacuum) before packing it away.  Be sure to remove the dust from all other holiday decorations, with a quick wipe with a damp cloth.

Besides dust mites, mold spores can cause additional problems for allergy suffers, because mold spores can grow anywhere that has moisture and oxygen.

Here are some suggestions to keep mold and dust allergies in check during the winter months.

~Turn on exhaust fans when taking a shower to reduce humidity. When using a humidifier or dehumidifier make sure that you maintain an indoor humidity level of 30 – 40 percent.

~Use a HEPA vacuum to reduce pet allergens and remove dust mites.

~Change the furnace filters regularly, this will help prevent the recirculation of indoor pollutants such as dust mites.

~Wash sheets, including the pillow cases and pajamas in hot water to kill dust mites.

~Wash your hands after playing with pets, and avoid having your pets sleep on the bed.

~Check for signs of mold and identify areas that smell musty or may be at risk for mold growth, such as shower curtain or window frames.

If the allergy symptoms continue, talk to your health care practitioner about treatment options.

During the winter months, make a commitment to vacuum and dust at least twice a week, change the bed linen once a week, change your pillowcase twice a week, use eco-friendly cleaners and brush your pets 3 to 4 times a week. This commitment will keep the allergens in your home to a minimum, and ensure that your home is a happy and healthy place this holiday season.

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Registered Massage Therapist Career

health care career victoria

Diversified Health is actively seeking to add an additional Registered Massage Therapist.

Our clinic is located in the heart of downtown Victoria, in the iconic Mosaic Building at 1063 Fort Street. We are a multi-disciplined clinic with Chiropractors, Physiotherapists, Registered Massage Therapist and Acupuncturists.

The successful RMT will be a motivated and self-disciplined, with a sincere desire to develop an extensive client base, including the local community and in-house patients. We have a growing case load of highly active clientele, ranging from everyday individuals all the way up to high level Athletes.

Your ability to build rapport with patients and practitioners, combined with the opportunity to work alongside experienced team members, will ensure your success.

Our Clinic’s hours are, Monday-Friday 8:00 – 6:00 and Saturday 9:00 – 4:00 and this is a Tuesday to Saturday position. We provide all reception services, patient billing, website, and inclusion in our advertising & marketing, as well as social media.  All practitioner supplies for the room will be provided by the clinic, including linens, oils, and massage tables.

Compensation:  Fair, percentage based contract.

Either drop of your resume in person to 1063 Fort Street or send it to: cscott@diversifiedhealth.ca

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Changing the World in Your Pyjamas!

changing the world in your pyjamasOne of the greatest lessons you can teach your children is to always give more than you take. A great place to start, is to help a charity. This is an opportunity to make the holidays more meaningful for your family and teach your kids about giving back to the community.

First, find charities that are right for your family. Think of something you’ve read about that’s affected you, or an idea you’d really like to promote. You’re more likely to continue giving if you feel a connection to the cause. The charity you choose can be at the local, regional or national level.

Then decide what you’re going to do for this charity, donate money, time, or help with fundraising. Be creative…(that’s where the pajamas come in)

You can give to a charity and make a difference in the world from your computer, iPhone, or laptop. By clicking certain links online, you can help give to those in need. There are companies that make revenue from advertising on these charity pages. Advertisers pay per click, so you really are helping someone else by clicking the links or playing the games. Here are some examples to get you started!

care2.com –  one of the choices is – 100% of the donations raised go directly to the Jane Goodall Institute, which runs sanctuaries in Africa where orphaned chimpanzees can be cared for and given the chance to live reasonably full lives in spacious conditions.

charitii.com – This organization has dozens of “click charities” to choose from, such as a donation of 10 square inches of rainforest for each click.

freerice.com – For each answer you get right, they donate 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. Simply by answering trivia questions about word definitions you can make a difference.

So the next time you and your kids are caught in traffic or waiting for that commercial to end before the family movie starts…think about change the world in your pyjamas….it’s only a click away!

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Tips to choosing a health plan | victoria health services

health care plan optionsThere are many things to consider when choosing a plan. The more you know and understand what options are available, the more likely you are to find the right plan for you. Consider the following to help guide your decision when choosing coverage.

  1.  Do you have all the coverage you need?
    Provincial government health plans, (MSP and PharmaCare), cover only the basic medical needs such as a visit to your physician or hospital care. Supplementary health coverage includes medical services and supplies NOT covered by your provincial health care plans. This includes coverage for prescription drugs, medical equipment and supplies, select services from registered medical practitioners, vision care, dental care and more.
  2. Why do you need coverage even if you’re healthy?
    You need to obtain coverage before any unforeseen future accident or sickness since most individual health plans don’t cover the costs for conditions you have or may have had for a period of time prior to purchase.
  3. Does the health plan cover you while traveling?
    Even if your health plan includes some travel coverage, in most cases, it may not provide enough financial protection in the event of a serious illness or injury. Travel coverage can be purchased on its own and gives you the option to include additional travel coverage which provides up to $5 million in coverage and it pays first, before your health plan.
  4. Are you looking for dental coverage only?
    Individual plans also provide coverage for gaps that may exist in your employer sponsored health plan.
  5. What is the health insurer’s reputation for service?
    The service your benefit provider provides is as important as the benefits you choose. Are they known for quick and hassle-free claim payments? How friendly and professional are their representatives? Do they offer easy-to-use self-service? Do your homework and shop around. Seek advice before purchasing a health plan.
  6. Be sure to consider all of your options carefully
    You’re looking for a plan to help protect you and your family from the unexpected costs of health care. You want a plan that provides the coverage that you’re looking for — at a reasonable cost.

* Diversified Health offers the service of direct billing for your health treatments, so you have one less chore to deal with.

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Lunch Time Fitness Class

Join Dr. Tanya Crowle in this 45 minute interval training fitness class focused on core strength,

which will increase your metabolism and help you burn fat.

This class is perfect for lunchtime, and all levels of fitness will be accommodated.

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This series starts Tuesday,  December 4th  and runs until Thursday, December 20th

Register for 1 class or the whole series in the month of December

Tuesdays & Thursdays from 12:15 pm to 1:00 pm

Classes are $20.00 per session

Instructor – Dr. Tanya Crowle

Tanya’s emphasis is on personal & group fitness.  For her own workouts she enjoys running, HIIT (high intensity interval training), weightlifting, kickboxing, yoga, and Pilates all of which she implements in her specialized boot-camp classes.

Space is limited so pre-registration is a must!

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Victoria Teen Explains How to Catch Some ZZZZZZZ!

Victoria Teen Explains How to Catch Some ZZZZZZZ!It’s very important to get enough sleep every night and as a teenager I know it can be very hard to do.  Taking this into consideration, I thought sharing some tips on how to get a good night sleep would be appropriate.

A good way to get a better sleep is to keep a regular sleep schedule.  The easiest way to accomplish this is to simply have a set time for when you go to bed and for when you wake up.  If you’re planning on changing either of these times, makes small changes each day, say fifteen minutes difference, to allow your body to adjust. This will keep your circadian rhythm working in good order and make it much easier to get sleep.  You can also regulate your sleep cycle naturally by increasing and decreasing light exposure over the period of the day.

During day light hours, you should try and let as much light into your workspace or home as possible. You could even try keeping your sunglasses off to let light onto your face; spending more time outside during the day is helpful too.  At night or when you’re planning on going to sleep you should turn your television and computer off.  Lots of people like to have the television on in the background while they are falling asleep, but this has a risk of stimulating the mind rather than relaxing it.  It is better to read from a book than from something with a back-light such as an eReader or an iPad, as that sends the light directly onto your face.  Also, when it’s finally time to go to bed make sure the lights are off.  The darker it is the better you’ll sleep (unless you happen to be afraid of the dark) so try and keep curtains drawn over the windows or if you want you could invest in a sleep mask to go over your eyes.

Keeping noise down or masking sounds that can’t be controlled can help to keep you relaxed, try using a fan or earplugs.  It is also helpful to keep the room you are sleeping in cool and make sure that your bed is comfortable.  Try straightening the sheets out right before you go to bed as this can make it even more comfortable.  It’s also important to keep the bed for just sleep, this tells your brain that when you lie down on your bed it’s time for sleep.

Written by Hadley Parsons (Grade 9)

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Orthotic FAQ | Advanced Health Care Products Victoria

Orthotic FAQ | Advanced Health Care Products VictoriaA custom orthotic is a biomechanical medical appliance designed to align the foot and ankle into the most anatomically efficient position.  Orthotics work by decreasing high-pressure areas, stabilizing foot alignment and cushioning the foot.

Custom orthotics reduce stress and strain on your body by bringing your feet back into proper alignment by re-aligning the foot and redirecting / reducing certain motion that take place during the gait cycle.

The longer you wear your orthotics, the more benefit you will get out of them. If your daily activities require that you change your footwear; you should have a second pair of orthotics designed for that specific activity.  The type of orthotic depends on many factors including lifestyle, athletic activities (i.e., walking, running), foot type, and the problems that are being encountered.  Remember that the orthotics will not permanently change your anatomy and will only “work” when you are standing or walking on them.

Custom orthotics are used to relieve symptoms of common injuries, such as plantar fasciitis, over-pronation, under-pronation,  and various foot and ankle injuries, as well as helping individuals with diabetes or arthritis. Orthotics complement other treatments such as physiotherapy and chiropractic.

The symptoms of poor foot mechanics can include any one of the following:

  • Localized foot pain
  • Bunions, hammer toes
  • Arch/heel pain
  • Leg/knee pain
  • Hip or back pain – even neck pain

Custom orthotics work to realign the structure of your foot, so you may feel pressure in some areas of the orthotic. When you start wearing your orthotics, it is normal for the orthotics to feel strange; however, properly fitted orthotics should not cause any new pain, blistering or redness.

Keep in mind that your shoes act as a foundation for the foot and provide a stable base for an orthotic to sit on. It is important to wear appropriate footwear, as the footwear itself is part of the treatment.  A foot orthotic can be rendered ineffective by placing it in an inferior shoe or runner.

Although symptomatic relief will not occur over night, consistently wearing your orthotics for a period of time will realign your foot, allow healing to occur and help position your foot so you will be using the right muscles at the right time, minimizing fatigue and allowing your muscles to be used more efficiently.

Talk to your health care practitioner and see if you are a good candidate for custom orthotics.

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Leg Pain & Treatment Options | Chiropractic Victoria BC

Leg Pain & Treatment Options | Chiropractic Victoria BCLeg pain can range from a mild irritation to an unbearable pain that makes it difficult to complete any day-to-day activities. Leg pain can take many different forms, from a dull ache to searing pain. Other symptoms that may also occur are a pins-and-needle sensation, numbness or weakness.

Leg pain can be caused by a problem in the leg, but often it starts with a problem in the lower back, where the sciatic nerve originates, and then travels down,  along the path of the nerve. For this reason, if you have leg/foot pain, or leg/foot weakness or numbness, you should have a health care practitioner include an examination of the lower back.

When a nerve root in the lower spine is irritated (sciatica) you can experience a searing pain that starts in the lower back area and radiates down to the leg. Sciatic pain can be a constant or intermittent pain, and for many people this pain can be excruciating and debilitating. Spinal decompression treatments can bring relief for this type of back pain.

Numbness can be another symptom of leg ”pain” and is frequently caused by a pinched nerve.  Numbness coming from a low back problem can interfere with movement, balance, level of fatigue and can be a symptom of something more serious such as MS or a stroke. Both chiropractic and physiotherapy can treat a pinched nerve.

If you sit or stand for long periods of time and you have leg pain, you might suffer from positional leg pain (spinal stenosis/facet joint, which is a problem of anatomy in the low back) this pain can usually be relieved by simply changing your positions.  You can also alleviate these symptoms by bending over, or with gentle stretching.

Other causes of leg pain can be due to either over-pronation/under-pronation of the foot; which can cause added stress on your leg and back muscles. A gait scan of your feet will diagnosis if you are a candidate for orthotics.

The types of leg pain experienced can vary widely from patient to patient, so it is important that you seek a diagnosis from a trusted health care practitioner.

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