Reading Time: 3 minutes Balance depends upon co-ordination between the nervous system and the senses. It’s a complex interaction. Eyesight provides input about the surroundings. Skin, muscles and joints tell us about the body’s position and our orientation in space, and the inner ear’s vestibular system tells us about equilibrium, spatial position and rotation or linear movement. When the […] Read more
Guide Health: Vertigo — a moving experience of dizziness
Nearly 1.5 million Canadians have been diagnosed with vertigo
Guide Health: Dealing with dizziness and vertigo
Knowing what causes dizziness is the first step in preventing it
Reading Time: 2 minutes Dizziness involves a group of symptoms. There can be lightheadedness, a sensation of spinning, and even fainting. You have probably felt these sensations. None of them are pleasant! Vertigo is a more technical term. It refers to a feeling of motion when there is none, or an exaggerated sensation of motion in response to movement. […] 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: Watch your balance while on sleep medications
Benzodiazepines used for sleeplessness and anxiety can make you prone to falling
Reading Time: 3 minutes Benzodiazepines are a large group of drugs that work through the nervous system to reduce anxiety and alleviate sleeplessness. Common members include diazepam, oxazepam, lorazepam, temazepam and alzprazolam. First discovered in the 1950s, they were observed to have “taming” effects on several animal species, with the effects in monkeys leading to clinical trials in humans. […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
