Reading Time: 3 minutes When you even hear the word “hemorrhoids” you probably wince with discomfort. With treatment, however, you can be comfortable and prevent complications. Hemorrhoids or piles are very common, with about 75 per cent of the population being affected, most notably adults between 45 and 65 years old. Hemorrhoids are inflamed and swollen veins in the […] Read more
Guide Health: Uhh… all about hemorrhoids
Guide Health: The aches and pains of arthritis
There are two types of arthritis. If you have the condition, which one are you and how is it best treated?
Reading Time: 3 minutes It can seem inevitable that if you live long enough, of course you’ll be affected by arthritis, but it isn’t always so. Arthritis is an inflammatory condition of the joints which makes movement painful and difficult, but it occurs in two types; rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis involves the immune system, with about one […] Read more
Guide Health: Breathing easier with your inhaler
Many types are available, but many people don't use their inhaler correctly
Reading Time: 3 minutes Being unable to catch your breath is certainly scary, and unhealthy. While you may think of asthma as the most common cause of breathing problems, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD accounts for most shortness of breath among older people. It is estimated that 1.5 million Canadians have a COPD diagnosis, but an equal number […] Read more
Guide Health: Which iron is the right iron?
Symptoms of iron deficiency and choosing the right supplement for your needs
Reading Time: 3 minutes You need iron in your body for your red blood cells to have enough hemoglobin to carry oxygen through the blood system to your cells. A reduced number of red blood cells (i.e. erythrocytes) is called anemia. Iron-deficient anemia is the result of low iron levels. Your body contains about 3.5 grams of iron, of […] Read more
Guide Health: Smart sun exposure
Avoiding repeated exposure to harmful UV rays can help you avoid serious skin damage
Reading Time: 3 minutes Being outdoors is part of day-to-day life in the summer, but you need to be smart about your sun exposure. You may experience nothing more than a tan, but more serious skin effects can occur such as sunburn, sun-aged skin, and even skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers in Canada, […] Read more
Guide Health: Drugs and pregnancy: To take or not to take?
List any medications you are taking and discuss with your doctor prior to conception
Reading Time: 2 minutes For pregnant women, taking drugs can be a real concern. They may need the drug to control or treat a condition, but there can be a balancing act between their health and their baby’s safety. It is estimated that two to three per cent of babies are born with birth defects which can range from […] Read more
Guide Health: Reducing your risk of hearing loss
Hearing loss does increase with age, but that doesn’t mean it’s inevitable. These steps can help provide lifelong hearing protection
Reading Time: 3 minutes The number of times you say “Pardon me” may be the only sign you have that your hearing has gradually lessened. It happens with age, but even so, it’s important to recognize there are steps you can take to reduce your risk and to maximize your hearing. About 10 per cent of all Canadians have […] Read more
Guide Health: Topical corticosteroids — use them wisely
Before opting for topical corticosteroids, be sure to check for any environmental factors that may be causing your rash
Reading Time: 3 minutes Steroids in the body are normally produced by your pituitary gland and regulate your body’s growth and functioning. They have a common carbon-based structure and range from substances like estrogen and testosterone to cortisol and prednisone. First identified in the late 1850s, oral formulations were developed by 1933 and topical versions by 1973. Topical corticosteroids […] Read more
Guide Health: Eye drops — just a little drop will do it!
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you’ve ever had to use an eye drop, or if you do use eye drops regularly, it is important to use them properly to get the most benefit. Keeping your eyes healthy is a lifelong activity, and using eye drops correctly is a key component. Eyesight is a valuable, irreplaceable sense. Even so, however, […] Read more
Guide Health: Are you at risk for tuberculosis?
The risk of contracting tuberculosis is small, however, about 1,600 new cases are reported in Canada each year
Reading Time: 3 minutes Often simply called TB, tuberculosis also used to be called “consumption” and you are probably familiar with the symptoms from movies and books. These symptoms include a long-lasting cough, chest pain, coughing up blood, and weakness. In 1926, health reports cited tuberculosis as the cause of one out of every 13 deaths. Historically, it was […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
