HEALTH & WELLNESS by Peter Semchism 11 Ways to have a happy, healthy holiday Sponsored by Greenhills Pharmacy by Peter Semchism 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 The holidays can be a hectic and stressful time. That’s all the more reason to keep our health and wellness goals front and centre. In this season of giving, the best gift we can give ourselves is the gift of self-care. That’s because putting our health and wellness first allows us to replenish our energy reserves and build mental resilience. Here are some ways to take the stress out of the season and Bundle up for a walk around your neighbourhood to see all the twinkling lights, build a snowman or have a fun snowball fight with family and friends. A few minutes in the sunshine also raises vitamin D levels and is good for our bones, heart, and holiday mood. Plus, it will boost your mood and your immune system. Sleep well Peter Semchism add more joy. Get moving 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 Getting a good night’s sleep will not only help you dream of sugar plums, but it will also help you to rest and rejuvenate to be at your best this holiday season. A decent amount of shut-eye at any time of the year puts you in a better mood and sharpens your memory and focus. In the long term, adequate rest also helps lower your risk of heart disease. Give thanks Practice an attitude of gratitude. Write down the things you are grateful for, and let your friends, family members, co-workers, and colleagues know how much you appreciate them, even if by a simple text message. A few kind words can go a long way in making the holidays merry and bright for everyone. Get creativ e The holidays don’t need to take a toll on your health and pocketbook. Thoughtful gifts are often less expensive. So, get creative and see if your family and friends would want to do an alternative to traditional gifts, like sharing gifts of homemade food or spending time together. It will help everyone stick to their budget and release stress. Do a digital detox Put away the laptop and your phone and enjoy a day without distraction. A quick digital detox is a great opportunity to reduce stress and focus more on interaction with others. Spend time baking and decorating holiday cookies, cuddling with your kids and pets, or playing in the snow. Spending fewer hours in front of a screen will help make this the most wonderful time of the year for you and your family. Eat healthy 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 ementia Could Happen to Anyone… ecause Everyone Ages. e Facts Peter Semchism
2335 Main St., East, London • 519-652-9066
To advertise here, please contact Gloria@villagerpublications.com 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 You can’t properly care for others if you don’t care for yourself first. Spoil yourself with some “me time.” Read a book. Get pampered with a massage or manicure. Set a half hour or so 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 A lot of holiday customs are centred around food but it’s best to enjoy holiday sweets and treats in moderation. Choose fresh fruit as a substitute for candy and limit fats, salt, and sugary foods. In other words, dig out the popcorn for a family movie night; just go easy on the toppings. Indulge 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 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 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. advertise here please contact Gloria@VillagerPublications.com Issue 45
each day for yoga or meditation. Inhale the festive fun and exhale the stressors. You’re worth it! Have fun Play has been shown to release endorphins, improve brain function, and stimulate creativity. Build a snow fort. Play a game. Have a dance party in your living room — and rock around the tree with your kids to the jingle bell rock. Give to others Do your part to keep the spirit of giving alive this season. Contribute to a food bank, a homeless shelter or mental wellness centre that could use your help this year. Charity does your heart good and helps increase social connections. Don’t have a lot of extra cash to give? Offer your time. Volunteering in person can be just as, if not more, helpful for some organizations in need. Let it go Focus only on what you can control. Don’t beat yourself up when you skip a workout or worry when you can’t find everything on your child’s wish list. De-stressing and recharging your batteries are the best ways to truly enjoy the season. Listen to musi c Create a relaxing playlist of favourite holiday tunes and listen while you wrap your gifts or trim your tree. It’ll raise your spirits and chase away those seasonal blues. Warm wishes for a healthy, happy holiday season. And take good care of yourselves. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Lambeth Villager • December 2024 • Page 11 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 he 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 th of the individual and their family. Peter Semchism is a Pharmacist at Greenhills Pharmac information card: Reduce the risk of wandering and gett viding a pocket card with the person’s name, address, a ber. safety: Make your home environment as safe as possi furniture in the same place, removing clutter, installing cine cabinets, and setting the water heater at a low tempe scalding. There is no treatment that can “cure” Alzheimer’s diseas medication that can halt or reverse the brain damage cau ever, there are medications that can relieve symptoms the progression of the disease. Medications such as astigmine, and galantamine may be used to slow down Prevention of stroke is important for vascular dementia. I 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 reduc and anxiety. speaking slowly and calmly: Present one thought or i time. Lambeth Villager Page 7
June 2020
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