Reading Time: 2 minutes Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. According to Arthritis Canada, about one in seven adult Canadians are affected. Slightly more women than men are affected, although it is unclear why. It is also thought that metabolic diseases may contribute because of their association with inflammation, although this too is unclear. Osteoarthritis is considered […] Read more
Guide Health: The ache of osteoarthritis
Individuals who use their joints a lot — i.e. farmers — can be at higher risk
Guide Health: All inhalers are not equal
Inhalers are great tools for delivering your medication just where it’s needed, but they must be used correctly, which too few people do
Reading Time: 2 minutes It makes sense that inhalers are used to control the symptoms of asthma, bronchitis and emphysema because inhalers deliver their medication right into the lungs where the breathing problems occur. Inhaled medication has long been used to alleviate various lung conditions, but the first actual inhaler was introduced in 1982. It was the familiar blue […] Read more
Guide Health: A little dab will do you
A little can go a long way when it comes to topical medications
Reading Time: 3 minutes The saying “a little dab will do you” really is true when it comes to applying creams and ointments to your skin. These creams are termed topical agents because they are applied directly to your skin where they act. At any one time, it is estimated that 75 per cent of Canadians are using a […] Read more
Guide Health: Guarding your eyesight against glaucoma
An estimated half of patients with eye drops don’t remember to use them, or don’t use them correctly
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you’re young, glaucoma may not even make it on to the list of health conditions that you’re at all concerned about. As you age, however, your thinking will change, especially if you experience the eyesight loss associated with glaucoma! Worldwide, glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness, and according to CNIB about 250,000 Canadians […] Read more
Guide Health: Prescription drugs and expiration dates
Hmmm… you’ve got a headache, but your only bottle of acetaminophen is expired
Reading Time: 2 minutes An expiry date is the date after which you should no longer use a product, whether that product is a drug, a grocery store item or anything else. The product can no longer be guaranteed as fresh, stable, safe or, very importantly, 100 per cent potent. Drug expiry dates are carefully calculated by drug manufacturers […] Read more
Guide Health: Your bowel – don’t take it for granted
Yes, your bowel habits are very personal, but get your symptoms checked sooner, not later
Reading Time: 2 minutes You don’t really think about your bowel until something goes wrong like constipation or diarrhea. Your digestive tract includes everything from your mouth to your rectum, but often the word “bowel” is meant to be your small and large intestine. The small intestine is made up of three parts, specifically the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, […] Read more
Guide Health: The scoop on cannabis
Check with your health care providers before using cannabis for any medical condition
Reading Time: 2 minutes We all know by now that cannabis is legal for recreational use in Canada. We also know there are still a number of restrictions and limitations on its use, and we know how to find out exactly what these are. However, we also hear claims about therapeutic uses for cannabis and about its effectiveness and […] Read more
Guide Health: Your nose – nothing to sneeze at
Reading Time: 3 minutes We all take our noses for granted. We breathe through them and smell odours with them, but you really only notice them when your’s doesn’t work well. Yes, you can breathe through your mouth, but you miss the warming and filtering of the air that your nose normally provides. And you may miss being able […] Read more
Guide Health: Toe nail fungus is not a pretty thing
Eliminating toe nail fungus takes patience and persistence, but it rarely clears up on its own
Reading Time: 2 minutes Toe nail fungal infections are difficult to treat and for some people can result in discomfort, pain and even disfigurement. But that doesn’t mean you have no options. More scientifically called onychomycosis, the condition affects about seven per cent of Canadians at any one time, although the number may be higher because people may not […] Read more
Guide Health: Exposed to Lyme disease
The number of diagnosed cases in Canada is climbing, and so is the geographic area at risk
Reading Time: 2 minutes One of the hazards of outdoor activity is exposure to insects, and one of the insect-like species out there is the black-legged or deer tick (ixodid tick), which can carry Lyme disease. The name originates from Old Lyme, Connecticut, the place where the disease was first identified in the late 1980s. Recently, the incidence of […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
