Thank you to everyone who dropped by to say hello during the Mt. Pleasant Fall Fair! The beautiful weather seemed to draw out tonnes of people. It was fun to chat with neighbours and enjoy the festivities. All in all, I would say the day was a great success!
Starting this month, we have a new Registered Massage Therapist joining the Lifewise Team. Please give a warm welcome to Michelle Mohamed when you are in the office next. Michelle will be available for appointments on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2-8pm. If you are interested booking an appointment, please give Mark or Neive a call at the front desk – they will be happy to help you set up a time.
Hope everyone is enjoying this lovely, mild autumn!
Yours In Health,
Dr. Karen Baker
Friday, October 5, 2012
Enlightening Facts about Sleep!
Dr. Karen Baker, BSc, DC
Having trouble sleeping lately? The real problem could be light and your exposure to it at the proper times of day to ensure a full restful night’s sleep.
The body’s biological clock, which regulates our sleep-wake cycles, is strongly affected by light, especially bright light such as sunlight.
Many shift workers have problems sleeping because their work schedules conflict with their bodies’ natural sleep-wake cycle cues. Melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain, affects both our desire to sleep and the quality of our sleep. Darkness enhances melatonin production, while light inhibits it. Therefore, shift workers may experience extreme drowsiness at work and suffer from insomnia when they actually settle down to get some sleep during daylight hours.
The same is true for many elderly people who do not get outdoors much and therefore, lack an adequate amount of light each day. One of the major health complaints for the over 65 population is difficulty sleeping. Brightening the level of light in their homes during the day and early evening hours may alleviate the major cause of their sleep distress!
Because bright lights can disturb the normal production of melatonin, and interfere with your ability to get a good night’s sleep, make sure your bedroom is completely dark. Use light-blocking shades, lined curtains or even an eye mask to block out all light, including a night light and bright clock radio lights, because even a dime-sized area of light shining anywhere on the body can affect the production of melatonin and interfere with restful sleep!
Dr. Karen Baker, BSc, DC
Having trouble sleeping lately? The real problem could be light and your exposure to it at the proper times of day to ensure a full restful night’s sleep.
The body’s biological clock, which regulates our sleep-wake cycles, is strongly affected by light, especially bright light such as sunlight.
Many shift workers have problems sleeping because their work schedules conflict with their bodies’ natural sleep-wake cycle cues. Melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain, affects both our desire to sleep and the quality of our sleep. Darkness enhances melatonin production, while light inhibits it. Therefore, shift workers may experience extreme drowsiness at work and suffer from insomnia when they actually settle down to get some sleep during daylight hours.
The same is true for many elderly people who do not get outdoors much and therefore, lack an adequate amount of light each day. One of the major health complaints for the over 65 population is difficulty sleeping. Brightening the level of light in their homes during the day and early evening hours may alleviate the major cause of their sleep distress!
Because bright lights can disturb the normal production of melatonin, and interfere with your ability to get a good night’s sleep, make sure your bedroom is completely dark. Use light-blocking shades, lined curtains or even an eye mask to block out all light, including a night light and bright clock radio lights, because even a dime-sized area of light shining anywhere on the body can affect the production of melatonin and interfere with restful sleep!
Immune System Down? Try a Massage!
Dennis Newhook, RMT
Researchers from the Cedars-Sinai Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences in Los Angeles have recently published a study investigating the effects of massage therapy on the immune system - their findings were promising. Although the study size was small, results indicated that this area warrants further investigation.
In this study, subjects received 45 minutes of massage therapy; afterwards blood taken before and after the treatment was compared. This analysis showed reduced blood levels of cortisol and arginine vasopressin (a hormone linked to cortisol release) following treatment. Elevated cortisol plays a huge role in the stress response. It can also lead to elevated blood glucose levels (involved in diabetes), decreased bone formation (a factor in osteoporosis), and decreased immunity.
Study participants were also found to have decreased levels of cytokines following treatment. Cytokines are proteins released by white blood cells when the body is under stress or senses danger. Reduced levels of cytokines play a role in helping people manage inflammatory or autoimmune conditions in which the body's immune system overreacts, and the body begins attacking itself.
We already knew that massage can help improve circulation, alleviate muscle tension and pain, and is a great relaxation technique; now, it looks as though the benefits are even more significant..
This study was published in the October issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Did you know CANADIAN researchers are also investigating the effects of massage and other complementary treatments? You can read more about the Holistic Health Research Foundation of Canada on their website: www.holistichealthresearch.ca.
Dennis Newhook, RMT
Researchers from the Cedars-Sinai Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences in Los Angeles have recently published a study investigating the effects of massage therapy on the immune system - their findings were promising. Although the study size was small, results indicated that this area warrants further investigation.
In this study, subjects received 45 minutes of massage therapy; afterwards blood taken before and after the treatment was compared. This analysis showed reduced blood levels of cortisol and arginine vasopressin (a hormone linked to cortisol release) following treatment. Elevated cortisol plays a huge role in the stress response. It can also lead to elevated blood glucose levels (involved in diabetes), decreased bone formation (a factor in osteoporosis), and decreased immunity.
Study participants were also found to have decreased levels of cytokines following treatment. Cytokines are proteins released by white blood cells when the body is under stress or senses danger. Reduced levels of cytokines play a role in helping people manage inflammatory or autoimmune conditions in which the body's immune system overreacts, and the body begins attacking itself.
We already knew that massage can help improve circulation, alleviate muscle tension and pain, and is a great relaxation technique; now, it looks as though the benefits are even more significant..
This study was published in the October issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Did you know CANADIAN researchers are also investigating the effects of massage and other complementary treatments? You can read more about the Holistic Health Research Foundation of Canada on their website: www.holistichealthresearch.ca.
Why Children Need Outdoor Playtime
Dr. Karen Baker, BSc, DC
Children and adolescents spend far fewer hours playing outside than they did in past decades. Free time, which was once filled with hours of unstructured play in the backyard or park, is now consumed by structured sports and inside sedentary activities such as TV, video games, computers and the Internet.
Think that unstructured outdoor play is just all fun and games or a waste of time? Think again! Scientists are discovering that outside free play offers immense benefits for a child’s growing mind and body. Benefits include decreased risks of cancer, heart disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obesity and depression.
Outdoor free time also appears to slash incidences of colds and flu.
Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Penn., stress the importance of encouraging young children, especially preschoolers, to engage in ‘active, unstructured, outdoor play.’
Parents and daycare providers should use language and words that engage children in physically active outdoor play involving movement. To this end, experts suggest using the word ‘play’ with preschoolers to encourage movement and exercise.
Outdoor play should be encouraged not only for its effects on physical health, but also for its benefit to a child’s well-being. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2005; 159:46).
Dr. Karen Baker, BSc, DC
Children and adolescents spend far fewer hours playing outside than they did in past decades. Free time, which was once filled with hours of unstructured play in the backyard or park, is now consumed by structured sports and inside sedentary activities such as TV, video games, computers and the Internet.
Think that unstructured outdoor play is just all fun and games or a waste of time? Think again! Scientists are discovering that outside free play offers immense benefits for a child’s growing mind and body. Benefits include decreased risks of cancer, heart disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obesity and depression.
Outdoor free time also appears to slash incidences of colds and flu.
Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Penn., stress the importance of encouraging young children, especially preschoolers, to engage in ‘active, unstructured, outdoor play.’
Parents and daycare providers should use language and words that engage children in physically active outdoor play involving movement. To this end, experts suggest using the word ‘play’ with preschoolers to encourage movement and exercise.
Outdoor play should be encouraged not only for its effects on physical health, but also for its benefit to a child’s well-being. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2005; 159:46).
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