HEALTH & WELLNESS by Peter Semchism Happy Healthy Holidays! Sponsored by Greenhills Pharmacy by Peter Semchism During the holiday season, many of us find it challenging to maintain healthy habits. Here’s HEALTH & WELLNESS by Peter Semchism
To all our Customers, Thank you for all your support throughout the year. Seasons Greetings & Best Wishes for the New Year From all the team at
Dementia Could Happen to Anyone… Because Everyone Ages. The Facts how to get through the season in good form. Savour the flavours of the season – without overdoing it! Peter Semchism The rush of the winter holidays can make it challenging to stick to good nutritional habits. Many things can divert us from our best intentions. All sorts of social events, tempting treats, last-minute shopping excursions, travelling out of town... these holiday extras may interfere with our regular eating habits and derail a healthy diet. This season, try out these tips for healthful and happy holiday feasting. Pace yourself Holiday treats are often delicious – but not nutritious. At social events, try to pace yourself when faced with tempting goodies. Seek out healthier food choices, such as the fresh fruit or veggie tray. Allow yourself to partake of a couple of the “naughtier” holiday delicacies, but do so in moderation. Opt for a small portion, take your time, and really savour each bit of the richer, sweeter treats. The slower you eat, the fuller and more satisfied you will feel. ementia Could Happen to Anyone… ecause Everyone Ages. e Facts Peter Semchism
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Page 12 Lambeth Villager • December 2025 Treatment of dementia may depend on the specific cause. Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease usually involves treating the declining memory and gradually worsening behavioural symptoms with a range of medications increasing irritability, anxiety, depression, confusion, and restlessness increasing communication and language difficulties (forgetting words or substituting incorrect words) changes in personality, behaviour, or mood decreasing ability to focus and pay attention inability to plan and carry out tasks that require multiple steps (e.g. pay - ing bills). To be diagnosed with dementia, the symptoms must be severe enough to affect a person’s independence and their ability to perform everyday activities. Symptoms of dementia can vary depending on the cause. For example, people with Lewy body dementia often have long-lasting visual hallu- cinations. Some forms of dementia also tend to affect people younger than others and progress faster. Treatment and Prevention Dementia is not a specific disease, but a general term that describes a gradual decline of mental ability that affects your intellectual and social skills to the point where daily life becomes difficult. Dementia can affect your memory, language skills and decision-making ability; impair your judgment and make you feel disoriented; and it may also affect your personality. Dementia can be caused by many diseases that affect the brain. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Others in- clude vascular, Lewy body, frontotemporal and mixed dementia. Types of dementia differ based on underlying causes and can affect specific symptoms and how it progresses. Symptoms and Complications Many of us often experience forgetfulness. We may forget where we put the car keys or repeat the same story to a friend or family member. These behaviours are usually caused by the information overload of our busy, stressful lives – it doesn’t mean that we’re developing dementia. As people age, they may experience memory changes such as slowing of information processing. This type of change is normal and doesn’t interfere with day-to-day functioning. By contrast, dementia is disabling and not a normal part of aging. Although dementia often presents itself differently from person to per- son, common symptoms include: gradual loss of memory of recent events and lack of ability to learn new things increasing tendency to repeat oneself, misplacing objects, becoming confused and lost in familiar places slow disintegration of judgment and reasoning abilities ementia is not a specific disease, but a general term that describes a adual decline of mental ability that affects your intellectual and social ills to the point where daily life becomes difficult. Dementia can affect ur memory, language skills and decision-making ability; impair your dgment and make you feel disoriented; and it may also affect your rsonality. ementia can be caused by many diseases that affect the brain. The ost common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Others in- ude vascular, Lewy body, frontotemporal and mixed dementia. Types dementia differ based on underlying causes and can affect specific mptoms and how it progresses. mptoms and Complications any of us often experience forgetfulness. We may forget where we t the car keys or repeat the same story to a friend or family member. ese behaviours are usually caused by the information overload of our sy, stressful lives – it doesn’t mean that we’re developing dementia. people age, they may experience memory changes such as slowing information processing. This type of change is normal and doesn’t erfere with day-to-day functioning. By contrast, dementia is disabling d not a normal part of aging. hough dementia often presents itself differently from person to per- n, common symptoms include: adual loss of memory of recent events and lack of ability to learn new ngs creasing tendency to repeat oneself, misplacing objects, becoming nfused and lost in familiar places ow disintegration of judgment and reasoning abilities Alcohol: be holiday smart Cutting back on drinking is a common New Year’s resolution. Holiday parties are full of socializing, yummy treats, and often a bit more alcohol than many of us are used to. With all the social events and toasting to the New Year, some of us can lose track of how much alcohol we’ve consumed. Head into this holiday season with heightened alcohol awareness and beat the January resolution rush. While at parties, pace your intake of drinks. Wait an hour between drinks, and make sure you have something to eat so that you are not drinking on an empty stomach. Having food in your stomach will help slow the effects of alcohol intoxication. Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. And watch out for that bowl of holiday punch, which may pack more punch than you’d expect. Women tend to be smaller than men and have a slightly slower metabolism. These factors can cause women to reach a higher blood alcohol concentration than men for the same number of drinks. Limit your drinks accordingly! Always use your best judgment and moderate those “glasses of good cheer.” Your body will thank you for it... and you might be able to check off one item from your list of resolutions. Active living for the holidays Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow? Whether you’re a fan of the white stuff or not, it’ll be hard for many of us to avoid the snow Gloria@VillagerPublications.com creasing irritability, anxiety, depression, confusion, and restlessness creasing communication and language difficulties (forgetting words or bstituting incorrect words) anges in personality, behaviour, or mood creasing ability to focus and pay attention ability to plan and carry out tasks that require multiple steps (e.g. pay - g bills). be diagnosed with dementia, the symptoms must be severe enough affect a person’s independence and their ability to perform everyday tivities. mptoms of dementia can vary depending on the cause. For example, ople with Lewy body dementia often have long-lasting visual hallu- nations. Some forms of dementia also tend to affect people younger an others and progress faster. eatment and Prevention eatment of dementia may depend on the specific cause. Treatment of zheimer’s disease usually involves treating the declining memory and adually worsening behavioural symptoms with a range of medications hich may also be used in other forms of dementia), including: gnitive enhancing agents nquilizers tidepressants tianxiety medications ticonvulsants advertise here please contact Issue 45
June 2020 Always keep in mind that we are here for you and your needs. Please feel free to give us a call. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your health or medications, you can reach us at 519-652-9066 Peter Semchism is a Pharmacist at Greenhills Pharmacy in Lambeth. Lambeth Villager Page 7 Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium, which helps keep your bones and muscles healthy and strong. Some Canadians may not consume enough of this essential nutrient and it can be harder to get vitamin D from sun exposure during the late fall and winter. Your pharmacist can provide advice on whether a daily supplement may be a good option for you. We’re more than a place to pick up prescriptions—we’re your health partners. this winter. Rather than hibernating until spring, embrace the fun, festive, seasonal spirit and take part in some winter fitness. You could gather your family and friends and make winter fitness a group thing. Or you could head out into the snow with only yourself and a playful, adventurous attitude. Either way, find a place for fitness in your holiday schedule. Physical activity can help relieve stress and burn off some of those holiday indulgences. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time, or even be particularly strenuous. Evidence shows that even low-intensity exercise has health benefits. Keep in mind that while physical activity offers a range of health rewards, everyone should proceed at their own pace. If you have been habitually physically inactive, start slowly and gradually add on daily to the amount of exercise you do. If you have health concerns, speak to your health professional about the level or type of activity that is right for you. Ask Your Pharmacist Q: I’m flying to a foreign country on vacation this winter. What is the best way to travel with my medications? A: If you’re travelling this holiday season and take prescription medication, start by making sure you take everything you’ll need while you’re away. Speak with your pharmacist ahead of time to get your refills ready and to check if you need to have any vaccinations before you go. It’s helpful to carry a list of your medications (full drug names and doses) with you in case of emergency. If you take any medications or have medical devices that require special handling or refrigeration, ask your pharmacist to recommend the best options for safe carrying and storage. It’s recommended that you keep your medications in your carry-on bag in their original, labelled containers, just in case your luggage is delayed or goes missing. Health Tip
There is no treatment that can “cure” Alzheimer’s disease, nor are there medication that can halt or reverse the brain damage caused by it. How- ever, there are medications that can relieve symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease. Medications such as donepezil*, riv- astigmine, and galantamine may be used to slow down memory loss. Prevention of stroke is important for vascular dementia. If you have high blood pressure or cholesterol, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), or have had a stroke, you should seek continued treatment for these conditions to prevent future strokes. The key to caring for and helping people with dementia is to focus on the many activities the person can still do safely. Encourage a person with dementia to continue daily routines and maintain social relationships as much as possible. Help them maintain a healthy lifestyle through exer- cise, proper nutrition, and fluid intake. Special diets and supplements are generally unnecessary. If you are caring for someone with dementia, the following may be help- ful: reminders: Provide written lists of things to do including times, places, and phone numbers to help the person complete the task. structure and stability: Minimize undue noise and disturbances to re- duce anxiety. establish routines: Daily and bedtime routines can reduce disorientation and anxiety. speaking slowly and calmly: Present one thought or instruction at a time. information card: Reduce the risk of wandering and getting lost by pro- viding a pocket card with the person’s name, address, and phone num- ber. safety: Make your home environment as safe as possible by keeping furniture in the same place, removing clutter, installing locks on medi- cine cabinets, and setting the water heater at a low temperature to avoid scalding. driving: Don’t allow someone with dementia to drive a vehicle. Drive them or arrange for rides wherever they need to go. Caring for someone with dementia can be difficult. It requires under - standing, patience, and compassion. Joining an Alzheimer’s disease caregiver’s support group in your community may be helpful. Be prepared for the eventuality that your loved one’s condition will dete- riorate over time and additional full-time personal care may be needed. In some situations, placement in a nursing home is in the best interests of the individual and their family. Peter Semchism is a Pharmacist at Greenhills Pharmacy in Lambeth.
There is no treatment that can “cure” Alzheimer’s disease medication that can halt or reverse the brain damage cau ever, there are medications that can relieve symptoms a the progression of the disease. Medications such as d astigmine, and galantamine may be used to slow down m Prevention of stroke is important for vascular dementia. If blood pressure or cholesterol, transient ischemic attacks had a stroke, you should seek continued treatment for th to prevent future strokes. The key to caring for and helping people with dementia is many activities the person can still do safely. Encourage dementia to continue daily routines and maintain social r much as possible. Help them maintain a healthy lifestyle cise, proper nutrition, and fluid intake. Special diets an are generally unnecessary. If you are caring for someone with dementia, the followin ful: reminders: Provide written lists of things to do including and phone numbers to help the person complete the tas structure and stability: Minimize undue noise and distu duce anxiety. establish routines: Daily and bedtime routines can reduce and anxiety. speaking slowly and calmly: Present one thought or in time. information card: Reduce the risk of wandering and getti viding a pocket card with the person’s name, address, an ber. safety: Make your home environment as safe as possib furniture in the same place, removing clutter, installing cine cabinets, and setting the water heater at a low tempe scalding. driving: Don’t allow someone with dementia to drive a them or arrange for rides wherever they need to go. Caring for someone with dementia can be difficult. It r standing, patience, and compassion. Joining an Alzhe caregiver’s support group in your community may be hel Be prepared for the eventuality that your loved one’s con riorate over time and additional full-time personal care m In some situations, placement in a nursing home is in the of the individual and their family. Peter Semchism is a Pharmacist at Greenhills Pharmacy
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