In 2018 we find ourselves battling an opioid crisis that has been years in the making. Opioids are drugs that act on the nervous system to relieve pain and were originally derived from opium but now also include synthetic preparations. In the mid-1990s, their use by physicians was heavily promoted… Continue reading
It seems that the message that mental health is a serious and pervasive issue across the country is beginning to be heard, and that is good news. It’s hard to address a problem you don’t recognize. We’ve heard the statistics that one in five in Ontario will experience a mental… Continue reading
In Thunder Bay, my public health colleagues have warned customers of two colonic cleansing locations to get tested for hepatitis B and C – infections that can be transmitted when instruments are not disinfected properly. But this warning, and the media investigations into this practice of instilling large quantities of… Continue reading
In August, 2015, the medical testing and services company LifeLabs established an office and opened their doors to Township residents. They set up shop on the 2nd floor of the Old Millbrook School on Dufferin Street, Millbrook, in a room equipped with a sink and potable water adjacent to washroom… Continue reading
Walking barefoot in the sand may be a liberating experience here in the Kawarthas, but beware of parasites if that beach is somewhere in the tropics. Recent headlines about tourists to the Dominican Republic who contracted larva migrans from their beach exposure serve as reminder that travel carries its risks… Continue reading
Among the more popular New Year’s resolutions are ones focused on improving one’s health. That usually means signing up for an exercise program, joining a gym or adding physical activities to the daily To Do list. Physical health is not the only health item requiring our attention. These days we… Continue reading
As life expectancy extends, so does the time spent in a less functional body. Long term care homes like Centennial Place seek ways to help their residents as they adapt to the inevitable physical and mental decline as centenary birthday celebrations become more common. While there are many challenges facing… Continue reading
It’s official. Flu season has begun in Canada, with Influenza A H3N2 in the lead as the strain causing the most illnesses. H3N2 tends to be a more severe influenza, and fortunately has been included in the flu vaccine this year. So if you haven’t been immunized yet, take… Continue reading
For many, Christmas is definitely NOT the most wonderful time of the year, and the demand for help with depression and anxiety spikes during the winter months. The wait times for support are long- a recent call to a psychiatrist was met with the news that there were 100 names… Continue reading
