Advice for Life Blog

Most people don’t worry about what they eat. However, food allergies are serious and potentially life-threatening. Allergic reactions to food can occur without warning, are alarming and uncomfortable. Allergic reactions can range from mild reactions to anaphylactic shock which can lead to death. Even trace exposure to these food allergens may be fatal.    Food

Hypertension contributes to the leading cause of death in the world. This silent killer is directly linked to heart disease, stroke, and organ damage. You win if you can catch this stalker before harm is done.   Almost 25% of Canadians over the age of 20 have hypertension, and many are not aware they have

Asthma can affect you at any age and is the third most common chronic disease in Canada. Breathe easy, when properly managed, asthma is a mere nuisance for most, but if not managed it can be very severe. Asthma attacks can kill.    Symptoms of asthma can vary and may change over time.  Symptoms may

Contact dermatitis is when you touch something that causes redness or rash to appear on your skin. It can be itchy, irritating, tender or blister, but isn’t contagious nor a serious condition. It is caused by contact with something (an allergen or irritant) that your body thinks is bad. Common allergens include perfume, plants, jewelry,

No – don’t eat there!  Are there places you know to avoid, certain cooks, restaurants or food?  Ever wonder why it only bothers you and not others? Do you have a sensitive gut and need to run to the loo?  Perhaps your sensitivity has a label, irritable bowel syndrome.   Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects

Are you prepared for combat?  Immunization is the way to fortify your personal defenses.  As with any battle, knowing your enemy is your best defense.  It is no different when it comes to our bodies. It is as natural as breastfeeding when a mother passes important antibodies to the baby.  After infancy, we can produce

Pharmacy has come a long way.  From the practice of providing herbs and compounding remedies, to assessing medication use and providing injections.  The focus from medicine in pharmacy now has expanded to work with other health practitioners, to ensure efficient access for you to pursue wellness, health care, and services.   The education of pharmacists

Our eyes are generally pretty good at taking care of themselves.  However, eye care should be part of your regular routine. Vision will decline with age, but we can prevent damage and slow the decline.  Take time to perform daily care for your eyes, and continue to take in the wonders that sight can bring.

Feeling miserable with a cold?  Has someone in your family struck down with the cold?  You can’t cure the common cold, but when should you seek professional advice?   Symptoms of a cold generally improve after 3 days, but some symptoms such as congestion and coughing may persist much longer.  Generally, a cold will resolve

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression.  With winter it’s not uncommon to feel a bit down. However, winter blues should be taken seriously if it affects your daily activities, or you feel depressed beyond a few days.  Mood changes that are causing problems at home or work, feeling unusually tired, having depressive