25 minute read
Knowledge is Power
Recent breast implant surgery a valuable learning experience for Ridgeway resident.
By Alyssa Doherty
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As women, we’re inundated with images of how the female body should look. If we don’t like our body, we can nip it, tuck it, inject it and change it. So that’s what I did.
In 2009, I chose breast augmentation. It seemed like a relatively safe and common solution. So common that over 300,000 women annually make the same choice. So safe that consultations like mine only highlighted the side effects associated with the anaesthesia. I trusted my surgeon that there was no harm done so I got breast implants.
In late 2018, however, I learned that breast implant–associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) cancer can be associated with textured implants. Since this was the type of implant used in my augmentation, alarm bells went off. Add to this was the symptoms I was experiencing. My right breast was swollen and tender, and I had a constant deep-seated body itch and night sweats that would soak a mattress.
After addressing my concerns with my surgeon, he assured me the symptoms were unrelated to BIA-ALCL and that the associated cancer was rare. But my symptoms weren’t resolved so I sought a second opinion with my family doctor who sent me for an MRI. Fluid along my right breast was discovered but I had few other answers. Next, I found a Facebook support group for BIA-ALCL and for breast implant failure. These groups were filled with women sharing similar firsthand stories. The possibility of developing complications with implants was much greater than I had anticipated. I exhaustively researched all the articles, medical journals, FDA and Health Canada documentation I could find associated with breast implants, all describing a wide range of risks. Risks that were not discussed with me during my 2009 consultation.
I knew what I had to do. Through the guidance and support of these women online, I was directed to the right plastic surgeon and the proper testing. In May of 2019, I had my implants removed just as Allergan textured breast implants were being recalled by Health Canada. I had the chance to examine them. My right implant showed a sizeable tear and a silicone gel bleed, which I’ve since learned is very common and likely the cause of my symptoms. Symptoms that immediately improved upon their removal.
Throughout my search for answers, I discovered that unfortunately, medical professionals are not always up to speed with the dangers that exist. Prior to my explant surgery, there were 22 confirmed cases of BIA-ALCL reported to Health Canada. Today there are 106. Prior to my explant, the risk of developing BIA-ALCL was thought to be 1:300,000. Today that risk falls somewhere between 1:443 and 1:3,345. In July, the FDA imposed a class one recall on Allergan textured breast implants, as they can cause harm, cancer and death. Thirty-three deaths have been confirmed worldwide. These are not rare numbers, these are emerging.
I’ve since learned that removal doesn’t guarantee I won’t develop this cancer. If I’d been informed of risks as severe as these, as lifealtering, as life-threatening, I would’ve declined implants. Today I’m thankful for my improving health and the women who have supported me online. I also appreciate the newfound ability I have to see beyond the projected images of how a woman should look, to see me: someone who is willing to do the research, educate herself and advocate for her own health and the health of others. HWS
Alyssa Doherty is the owner and operator of the Ridgeway Massage Therapy Clinic. She is an advocate of good health practices and believes in helping empower women to make more educated choices when it comes to their health and their bodies.
A Balance of Tears and Laughter
By Sylvia Somerville
Yesterday, I was a young girl standing on the street in front of my house, bare-footed, wearing a thread bare pair of blue pedal pushers and a pale yellow t-shirt, playing “Red Rover, Red Rover” with neighbourhood friends. When the streetlights came on, it was bedtime
The next morning, I woke up and I was a senior! At least that is how it feels. Where did the time go?
I am proud and happy to be a senior. Many people think seniors are just old people. Seniors are young at heart, more active than many younger people and full of wisdom and knowledge. We have seen and experienced more than most have or ever will. Age is only a number. We enjoyed the days when milk, bread and blocks of ice were delivered by horse and wagon. Now we share the expectations of people one day travelling to another planet to live. Wow! Just take a moment and think about that.
Life is very different today – and in many ways exactly the same. (A contradiction to be sure!) This life journey we all share is filled with tears and laughter, sometimes difficult experiences. The loss of a loved one or spouse, health issues and other daily challenges can be devastating and sometimes you think it is too much to endure. The days, weeks and months are swallowed up in nothingness. You may find you lose track of
life. It feels like you are lost in a heavy fog. The days, nights, weeks and months just drift away. You don’t know if it is night or day and quite frankly, you don’t care.
I am speaking about my personal experience. When my husband passed away, I thought my life was over. I felt a lion had ripped out a piece of my heart. I was giving up. I was sure there was nothing here for me anymore. I am sharing this with hopes to inspire and encourage others who have or may be going through this same heartbreak.
My family and the amazing friends in my life were there to help me find my way back to happiness and joy. The key to taking the giant step back to a fulfilling life is to reach out. Talk to your family and friends. Tell them how you feel and share your dark thoughts and shattered heart. I can honestly say before you know it, you will find the “you” left behind during whatever trauma interrupted your journey.
I am sharing a bit of my life’s journey because I want everyone from seniors to younger people to never give up on themselves or on others. Never give up on your dreams. Life is a precious gift! In the issues to come, I will be speaking with other seniors and bringing you their stories and experiences about life, happiness and wisdom. I hope these stories will inspire everyone and give you a balance of tears and laughter. HWS
Sylvia Somerville is a lifelong resident of Niagara Falls, and a writer and illustrator of children’s books. Her first book was published in 1977. Sylvia enjoys wildlife, cycling, photography and living life to the fullest.
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Naloxone SAVES LIVES
New complimentary kits a simple and effective way to treat someone suffering from an opioid overdose.
By Scott Leslie
Have you ever heard of a “naloxone kit”? If not, it’s time you did.
For the uninitiated, a Naloxone kit is a medication that’s used to revive the victim of an opioid overdose until medical help can arrive.
According to Sean Simpson, a pharmacist and the owner of Simpson’s Pharmasave in Niagara-on-the-Lake, naloxone is saving lives. It might even save your own.
“They’re suitable for people who use opioids,” he says, “but it’s also a good idea for people who are close to them. Or people who might interact with opioid users in their workplace.”
Often used to treat pain, opioid drugs come in a variety of forms including codeine, morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone and diacetylmorphine. These medications work by acting on specific receptors in the brain and the central nervous system. Unfortunately, opioids are also highly addictive – and are often taken illicitly by users in order to get high or self-treat their pain condition.
It’s easy to detect an opioid overdose. Here, a victim can exhibit various symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, clammy skin, trouble breathing, passing out or falling into a comatose state. A dose of naloxone will stop the opioid from becoming attached to the brain’s receptors and temporarily reverse the effects of the overdose. However, caregivers may still need to give the victim additional doses of naloxone until an ambulance team arrives.
Naloxone kits are available at pharmacies across Niagara as part of the new Ontario Naloxone Pharmacy Program. They’re also free. All you have to do is present your health card and a pharmacist will give you all the training you need to operate your kit.
Each naloxone kit comes with two Naloxone devices. The government originally introduced naloxone in injectable form but it’s now available in a more convenient and easy-to-use nasal spray. (Naloxone will typically expire in 18 to 24 months so it’s important to replace your kit on a regular basis.)
Although naloxone kits are widely available, Sean says it’s a good idea to contact your local pharmacist ahead of time and make sure there’s a kit in stock.
“We’d love to be able to provide a kit at a moment’s notice,” he explains. “But many pharmacies can get busy keeping up with the day-to-day. In our case, we keep one in stock at all times. But we always order one for the next business day, if we’re out of stock.”
Studies show that there’s been a steady growth in the use of naloxone kits – and the timing couldn’t be better. Opioid overdoses are still a troubling issue here in Niagara. In the first half of 2019, Niagara’s emergency departments had to handle 480 cases of opioid overdose – or approximately 80 patients a month – and about 40 people died as a result. As a result, Niagara currently has the second highest overdose rate in Ontario after Brantford.
Naloxone kits have yet to catch on like the universal first-aid kit. Still, Sean feels it’s essential for users, public facilities and business owners to have access to one in case of emergency.
“It’s potentially life saving therapy,” he says. “Having one in the event to potentially save a life is a good idea for everyone.”HWS
Fast Facts
WAYS TO AVOID A POTENTIAL OPIOID OVERDOSE:
• Take opioids only as prescribed by your doctor.
• Review all opioids with your pharmacist so you can minimize and taper off their use.
• Store all opioids in a locked cabinet so they’re out of the reach of children.
Eating Smart Can Be Easy
By Katherine Hoeller A common problem we almost all face as we age is a diminishing appetite. Too often, the response is to simply reduce the portion size of the meals we have always eaten or, sometimes, skip meals. Neither one should be regarded as a smart or healthy option.
One of the biggest challenges facing health experts treating seniors is getting them to appreciate the need to take a fresh approach towards their dietary needs as they age.
As we get older, it is necessary to modify our diet to ensure we can maintain a healthy lifestyle. That includes eating foods that have more nutrients and are better suited to our bodies.
Three areas to consider when looking at your diet are carbohydrates, protein and fibre.
When it comes to carbs, we need to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, so try to spread your intake throughout the day. As we age, our muscle mass declines so we need to increase our levels of protein. And don’t overlook the need to adopt a high fibre diet – along with plenty of water.
One of the benefits of selecting from Heart to Home Meals is that it caters for almost all dietary needs. These are meals that are specially designed for seniors and offer the correct nutrients. The meals come in three portion sizes (mini, regular or hearty) so most appetites can be satisfied.
There is growing evidence about the health benefits of frozen foods but one of the greatest 2363 Niagara 7.25 x 4.84 1-844-714-0333
lifestyle rewards for seniors is the convenience. You chose when you want to have your meal and what you want to eat. Seniors who want to maintain an independent lifestyle are only restricted by what they have ordered and is in their freezer.
With no contracts and free delivery, this is a service that makes life a little easier for seniors and also offers their loved one’s peace of mind that good quality food is always available. HWS
Katherine Hoeller is the Niagara Region Franchisee for Heart to Home Meals. For more information on Heart to Home Meals, please call 1.844.714.0333 or visit www.hearttohomemeals.ca.
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Making a Difference in Health Care
Provided by Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation
Nobody expects to be diagnosed with a life-threatening illness or plans to become seriously injured in a motor-vehicle accident. Expectant mothers cannot foresee unexpected complications to their pregnancy and seniors cannot predict when they will slip on the ice and break a hip. Yet these things happen to people in your community every day. It could be a family member or friend. It could even be you.
Excellence in health care is vital for everyone. At some point in our lives, we all rely on the expertise of doctors, nurses, therapists and other specialists for various forms of health care. That is why the diverse range of health care services available through Hamilton Health Sciences is so vital to helping our loved ones and neighbours thrive in communities throughout the region.
Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation is an essential partner in providing that specialized care. The Foundation raises funds to support the purchase of medical equipment and patient amenities, innovative research initiatives, essential redevelopment of clinical care spaces, and the education and training of health care providers. While operating costs are funded by the government, equipment costs are not.
Local hospitals always play an important role in health care and many excellent services are available in the Niagara Region. However, within the Golden Horseshoe, many of the highly specialized clinical services are available only at Hamilton Health Sciences. Serving a population of more than 2.3 million people throughout southcentral Ontario, Hamilton Health Sciences is a regional and provincial leader in many areas of health care.
For example, Hamilton General Hospital is renowned for its trauma and burn treatment, stroke and neurosciences, and rehabilitation programs. Ontario’s highest-volume integrated stroke program and an intensive rehabilitation centre are based at the site, which is also home to the leading cardiac surgery program in Ontario.
Cancer programs are also vital to the health of the region. Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre is the only site in the region treating all cancers in adults. It is also home to the region’s only stem cell transplant, acute leukemia and blood cancer programs. A comprehensive cancer clinical trials program is housed at its Escarpment Cancer Research Institute. Children and youth in our communities often have specialized health care needs that differ from those of adults. McMaster Children’s Hospital is the second largest provider of inpatient pediatric services in
Ontario. The site is home to Canada’s largest Neonatal Intensive Care Unit including supportive maternal care, the country’s largest child and youth mental health program, and the only pediatric trauma centre in the region.
A range of specialized outpatient services also operate at Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre, as part of McMaster Children’s Hospital. At its shared home with the hospital, McMaster University Medical Centre offers a wide range of women’s reproductive health services including care for high-risk pregnancies.
Another member of the Hamilton Health Sciences family is St. Peter’s Hospital, which is home to Canada’s largest adult inpatient Palliative Care Program and the Centre for Healthy Aging. St. Peter’s Hospital provides inpatient, outpatient, and community-based programs and services for patients of all ages who have unique requirements associated with medically complex care needs, behavioural health, restorative care and palliative care.
Whether you are a newborn taking your first breaths or a senior enjoying the golden years, Hamilton Health Sciences is committed to providing the spectrum of health care services required throughout the various stages of life. HWS
Your support as a donor can make a significant impact on the lives of family and friends who may need that highly specialized care. Please make your donation at hamiltonhealth.ca/donate today.
DONATE TODAY
Your support helps enable vital health care for patients throughout south-central Ontario.
Visit hamiltonhealth.ca or call 905-522-3863
Old-Fashioned Mustard Plaster
If you or a family member have a bad head or chest cold, you can try this remedy without having to run out to the pharmacy to get an over-the-counter medication.
INGREDIENTS: •One tablespoon of Keens mustard (dry) •Two tablespoons of flour
DIRECTIONS:
• Mix the mustard and flour on a cotton tea towel and add (only) hot tap water to make a paste. • Spread the paste on the tea towel and fold it up in a long fold. • Now place the tea towel on your chest and watch carefully until the skin starts to turn pink. At that point, take the towel and place it on your back. (Follow the same routine.)
Make sure you keep away from drafts and stay warm. You’ll sweat a lot but by morning, your chest and head should be open.
- Rhonda G., St. Catharines
Do you have an old-time remedy that’s been in your family for generations? Know something that’s more effective than over-the-counter meds? Got a simple cure-all that works every time? We want to hear about it!
The Mysteries of Mustard
By Scott Leslie
Here’s something that might surprise you – yellow mustard is one of the healthiest condiments around! It’s a good source of nutrients like iron and magnesium. It can help enhance your digestion and boost your immunity.
But the healing properties of mustard was no secret in ancient times. Centuries ago, mustard was first used to treat a whole host of ailments by the Egyptians, Chinese and Sumerians. The Romans even claimed mustard could cure everything from toothaches to snakebites.
It wasn’t until the fifth century B.C. that the Greek physician Hippocrates developed mustard plaster as a treatment for heart conditions and rheumatism. By the 19th and early 20th centuries, mustard plasters had become a valuable defense against all sorts of illnesses, injuries and diseases – particularly out in the country where doctors were few and far between. When U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was shot in 1865, the first doctors to reach him even tried using mustard plaster on the mortally wounded president in order to increase blood circulation and prolong his life.
Today, mustard plasters aren’t the popular cure-all they once were. But if you’re looking to take the moxie out of that nasty chest cold, mustard plasters are still the way to go! HWS
YOGA & YOU
The benefits of integrating yoga into your daily life are powerful and rewarding.
By Alyssa Coman
My true dive into yoga began almost 10 years ago now when I was looking for an alternative to my regular gym workout and a way to destress after a long workday. I soon realized that my yoga mat was the perfect place to find that sense of contentment, selfawareness and the ever-alluring mind-body connection.
A few years later, I took my practice even further and enrolled in teacher training, hoping to deepen my level of expertise. However, the more I learned as a yogi, the more my intention turned towards teaching and sharing the discipline I love with others.
As a teacher, I like to remind my students that yoga will always meet them where they are that day. It’s never a “one size fits all” linear practice. Every person is on a different journey and I try to guide my students to honour their path in their own way and at their own pace.
Here are just a few benefits to integrating yoga into your daily life.
Overall Fitness Whether you practice yoga once or a few times a week, it’s likely you will start to feel an improvement in your muscle strength, flexibility and balance as well as a boost of endurance. Each time you’re met with a challenging new pose, persevering through the discomfort fosters personal empowerment.
Mindfulness Yoga is known for its ability to soothe tension in the body and ease the incessant chatter of the mind. As a teacher, I guide my students through poses with our breath, moving from one pose to the next with every inhale and exhale. When thoughts arise and try to distract you from your practice, it’s important to bring your awareness back to the breath. As your practice grows, you will slowly notice a shift in your awareness and how it blends into your daily life. This is where you begin living in the tune of yoga on and off your mat.
Positive Body Image Yoga can transform harsh beliefs into compassion, self-acceptance and peace. Through your yoga journey, you will cultivate a better appreciation of your body and as a result, be less critical of it. The goal is not to perfect the pose. The practice is not to perform or compete with your neighbour. By respecting the physical and emotional sensations, we ultimately express appreciation toward our bodies. HWS
MEDI-C PLUS: I BET MY LIFE ON IT An interview with W. Gifford-Jones, MD By Jason Sebeslav
W. Gifford-Jones, MD is a graduate of The University of Toronto and the Harvard Medical School. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and the author of many books. His medical column “The Doctor Game” has been published for many years in Canadian newspapers, and across the U.S. and Europe. Dr. Gifford-Jones has visited The Peanut Mill Natural Foods Market in St. Catharines and talked to customers and staff about many aspects of health, including heart disease.
Jason Sebeslav: Dr. Gifford-Jones, in many of your columns over the years, you’ve been critical of mainstream medicine’s close-minded approach to heart disease - particularly its focus on cholesterol and prescribing drugs to lower it. W. Gifford-Jones, MD: Prescription drugs have a bad track record for causing serious side effects, serious complications and killing patients. The widespread use of cholesterol-lowering drugs (CLDs) has caused liver and kidney disease, muscle degeneration, emotional disorders and is linked to certain cancers and unfortunately deaths. Common sense tells me it’s better to lower blood cholesterol by chewing almonds, getting more dietary fiber, exercising, taking Medi-C Plus and even having a pre-dinner cocktail (if you’re a moderate drinker). I’ve also found that Sytrinol, a safe natural remedy consisting of plant sterols, can lower total blood cholesterol, decrease bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol. Why not try these natural remedies before resorting to CLDs?
JS: You did exactly that! You’ve written about your own health crisis with coronary artery disease (CAD), and how you chose a rather unconventional therapy after meeting Linus Pauling, the Nobel Prize-winning vitamin C researcher. WGJ: I had the privilege to interview Dr. Linus Pauling on two occasions. The most important thing he told me was that animals make their own vitamin C and that humans lost this genetic ability ages ago. He believed this defect set the stage for the current epidemic of coronary heart disease. Because of these convincing meetings with Pauling and other researchers, I decided to take vitamin C and the amino acid lysine, rather than CLDs, following a coronary attack about 20 years ago. In retrospect, this was a risky decision. Cardiologists said my decision was sheer madness. But I believed that the prescription of CLDs is driven largely by money, not by science. Then, luckily, Dr. Sydney Bush in England proved that high doses of vitamin C and lysine can prevent and reverse blocked coronary arteries. So, in retrospect, I made the right decision, even on incomplete evidence! Due to this discovery, I asked Preferred Nutrition to produce Medi-C Plus, a powder containing high doses of C and lysine. So as often happens in life, one thing led to another.
JS: Is Medi-C Plus beneficial even for those adults without an existing cardiovascular condition, but perhaps a family history of heart problems? WGJ: Since there’s no way for most people to know if arterial plaque or atherosclerosis is present, any time is the prime time to start Medi-C Plus. This safe, effective natural remedy should be looked upon as an insurance policy to circumvent cardiovascular disease long before it starts. You will only know that it works when you reach 95 years of age and haven’t suffered from a coronary, stroke or other cardiovascular complications.
JS: In your opinion, what are some of the other key factors in preventing or addressing cardiovascular issues? WGJ: There are several. I often remind patients that medicine is not like religion. I’m told that in religion one can commit several sins and at life’s end a loving God, if you repent, will forgive you. Medicine has no loving God, so you reap what you’ve sown. The sooner in life that you start a healthy lifestyle the more likely you are to live a long, healthy life. This means watching calories, moderate exercise, eating a healthy diet and tossing cigarettes away. I also believe too many people today have developed “Pill-itis.” It’s the taking of drugs they don’t need, such as minor painkillers, which have a deleterious affect on the liver and kidneys. As the comic-strip character Pogo once remarked, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” HWS
Jason Sebeslav is the owner of The Peanut Mill Natural Foods Market, a health and wellness store in St. Catharines. He has worked in the editorial department of alive magazine and his articles have appeared in many natural health publications. For more information about the store, visit www.thepeanutmill.com
Lysine for heart health”
W. Gifford-Jones, MD
Simply dissolve powder in water or juice. Also available in capsules.
“19 years ago after my own coronary attack I started on a regimen of high doses of Vitamin C and Lysine. I am now 95 and glad I did!”
~ W. Gifford-Jones, MD
“Medi-C Plus helped me get over the flu and back to work in record time!”
~ P.Z. (Contractor) “I took Medi-C Plus for shingles and felt much better in 10 days.” ~ G.H. (Firefighter)
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By Scott Leslie Just The Facts! Test your knowledge of the following health, wellness and safety minutiae.
1) Which of the following old wives’ tales has absolutely no basis in fact?
a) Eating carrots is a good way to improve your eyesight. b) An apple a day keeps the doctor away. c) Drinking coffee will stunt your growth. d) A long arduous labour means you’re going to have a baby boy. e) Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
2) Trapper John M.D. was a medical drama that ran on CBS from 1979 to 1986. The part of Trapper John was played by actor Pernell Roberts – perhaps best known for his role as Adam Cartwright in the long-running TV western Bonanza. But Trapper John, M.D. itself was actually a spin-off of the classic ‘70s film ____________.
a) Every Which Way But Loose b) Three Days of the Condor c) Marathon Man d) M*A*S*H* e) The China Syndrome
3) Brown sugar is better for you than white sugar.
a) yes b) no c) yes but the difference is negligible d) no but it is a great Rolling Stones song 4) Underneath the human nose is a small indent that runs to the top of the upper lip. This often overlooked part of the body is known as ____________.
a) the philtrum b) the mentolabial sulcus c) the uvula d) the Little Dipper e) it has no real name
5) Donuts aren’t good for us – but we still keep eating them. Canada currently has the largest concentration of donut shops in the world. What country boasts the second largest?
a) Guatemala b) Japan c) Finland d) The U.S. e) France
6) Male pattern baldness has been around since the beginning of time. If you’ve lost your hair and need a new hairstyle, you might advise your barber to start cutting your hair like ____________.
a) Margaret Atwood b) David Suzuki c) Justin Trudeau d) Peter Mansbridge
Answers: 1. c) 2. d) 3. c) 4. a) 5. b) 6. d)
