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October • 2021 The power of positive, solution-based journalism.
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Healthy Breathing is Vital to a Healthy Pregnancy
Download a free Asthma Action Plan
lunghealth.ca/pregnancy
The Lung Health Foundation urges pregnant Canadians with asthma to get an “Asthma Action Plan.” Healthy breathing is vital to a healthy pregnancy. That’s the message the Lung Health Foundation wants to convey to expectant parents living with asthma. During pregnancy, symptoms get worse for about one-third of asthma patients, leaving them vulnerable to flare-ups and attacks that can affect the health of mother and baby. There’s no way to predict how your body will respond, so it’s best to aim for proper asthma control as soon as possible. Poorly controlled asthma during pregnancy has been connected with an increased risk of developing pre-eclampsia—high blood pressure that can harm the mother’s organs and keep the baby from getting enough blood and oxygen. Poorly controlled maternal asthma can also result in lower birth weight. Some studies suggest that babies born at lower weights are more likely to develop asthma themselves. “Our intent isn’t to frighten pregnant Canadians who are liv-
ing with asthma,” says George Habib, Lung Health Foundation President and CEO. “The news is overwhelmingly positive. With good asthma control, adverse outcomes can be avoidable. And, with the right tools, good asthma control is in reach for all Canadians, through all of life’s stages.” A key component of maintaining good asthma control is using an Asthma Action Plan before, during, and after pregnancy. An Asthma Action Plan is a personalized guide that details what medicine the patient needs to take, when to take them, and how to adjust them if symptoms get out of control. Having an Asthma Action Plan in place can improve quality of life and give patients better control over their asthma. According to the Lung Health Foundation, only 22 percent of the approximately three million Canadians with asthma have an Asthma Action Plan in place. Fewer than half take their medications as prescribed. “Our goal is to ensure that no one loses a loved one to asthma. We believe that reaching fam-
ilies during this key season of life could lead to better lifelong asthma control for parents and kids alike,” adds Habib. The Lung Health Foundation’s advice doesn’t stop there. Pregnant people can boost their breathing through other simple interventions on the Foundation’s Asthma-Safe Pregnancy Checklist, including vaccination against infectious respiratory disease. Both influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are considered safe during pregnancy. Getting the vaccines during pregnancy can also transfer protection to the baby. The Lung Health Foundation urges Canadians living with asthma who are pregnant, planning to be, or postpartum, to download an Asthma Action Plan and explore the full Asthma-Safe Pregnancy Checklist. After all, pregnant people are breathing for two (at least!). To download an Asthma Action Plan and an Asthma-Safe Pregnancy Checklist, visit lunghealth.ca/pregnancy
ALLIE MURRAY
For far too long, the fashion industry has been lacking one important thing: disability-friendly clothing. Now, brands are stepping up to create and offer adaptive clothing, striving to make the fashion world fun and inclusive for all. Disability-friendly clothing has been dubbed as adaptive fashion, utilizing designs that are easier for those with disabilities or caregivers, such as rear-closures, velcro, softer fabrics for comfort for wheelchair users, and more. These three brands are pulling on real-life challenges that they themselves, and others worldwide, struggle with every day, showcasing the importance (and style!) of adaptive fashion.
adaptive clothing to as many people as possible so that everyone can live in comfort, style, dignity, and empowerment. Within the enormous and ever-expanding fashion world, there are relatively few options for those in our global community that identify as living with a physical disability. The IZ Adaptive timeless classics have the day-to-day physical realities of their customers at the forefront of their thinking, from the cut of the revolutionary Game Changer Collection to the Ease-of-Dress and seated fit of the outerwear.
ABILITEE What started as a side project that founder Marta Elena Cortez-Neavel took on while applying to medical school turned into an adaptive clothing IZ ADAPTIVE IZ Adaptive was born of brand that took the world by creative passion, love, and the storm. She was inspired to recognition that there is a great start an adaptive clothing line for infants by her friend who need in the world for stylish, well-fitting, comfortable clothes worked as a pediatric surgeon for people who are living with for babies with medical devices. Blending her love for fashion physical disabilities. and passion and knowledge in At IZ Adaptive, it’s their the medical field, Marta created mission to provide timeless and
Abilitee Adaptive Wear, offering adaptive fashion for disabled infants, children, and adults. “Everyone who was facing clothing-related challenges as a result of their disability could benefit from clothing designed with their preferences and needs in mind,” she explained. “And many people were asking for this, but the market wasn’t responding in a meaningful way.” Abilitee paved the way for its own brand, which relaunched with new items earlier this year, as well as secured a partnership with American Eagle’s Aerie, releasing a collaboration with the brand and named their with multiple other conditions, including a stoma that was attached Adaptive Brand Partner. to her stomach to release waste. UNHIDDEN CLOTHING “Every time the doctors came After becoming disabled in her round, she had to remove all her clothing, usually in front of 20s, Victoria Jenkins noticed a gap in clothing for those a team of doctors,” Jenkins exwith disabilities. After chatting plained. “She couldn’t access her with other patients during her own stoma, arm line, or chest hospital stay in 2016, Jenkins port without removing clothing realized that clothing for people or exposing herself in some way.” This story inspired Jenkins with disabilities was uncomfortable in more ways than one. to create Unhidden Clothing, Jenkins met another patient who producing a variety of clothes had survived cancer and was left specially adapted for all conditions
© IZ ADAPTIVE
Fashion Forward: Leaving No One Behind
and abilities, including dresses with double layers for tubes and ports, shirts with magnetic or velcro sleeve openings, and much more. In the U.K., where Unhidden Clothing is based, one in five people have a disability, but have limited representation or access to products to help them live a more equal and comfortable life. Disability activists, including Jenkins, are calling on brands to be more inclusive and accessible. All brands available internationally. ADVERTORIAL
Operation Raise A Flag at Sunnybrook thanks to our Veterans. You have an opportunity now to send your message of gratitude to Sunnybrook’s Veterans by visiting raiseaflag.ca They answered the call of duty, offering their lives to secure our freedom. Now is the
time to thank our Veterans for keeping Canada strong and free. Please send a message of appreciation to our Veterans today. We can’t tell you how many smiles your kind words will bring to the wonderful men and women in Sunnybrook’s care.
Perhaps someone you love is cared for here at Sunnybrook. Perhaps you’d like to send a message of thanks in honour of your own beloved Veteran. It’s a very rewarding way to pay tribute to Canada’s Veterans, by saying thank you this
© SUNNYBROOK
On November 11th, in the early hours of the morning, dressed in their military best, our Veterans will awake to a sea of Canadian flags. A team of volunteers will have planted over 30,000 flags, blanketing the grounds. It’s truly magical and is important to our Veterans. Each of those flags sends a message: We thank you, we honour you, and we recognize your bravery and sacrifice, and the sacrifice of others who never returned home. At Sunnybrook’s Veterans Centre, Remembrance Day is a meaningful and deeply important day for more than 300 Second World War, Korean War, and Cold War Veterans who live here—the brave men and women who sacrificed so much for our country. When our Veterans view the field of flags, they will know that Canadians truly support them. We can never do enough to show our gratitude for all they have done for us—which is why we invite you, our caring community, to send a message of
ANTHONY (TONY) MASTROMATTEO
MARY JARVIS
MEL STORRIER
Remembrance Day. Their bravery changed our world—now it’s our turn to make a difference in theirs. Please give our Canadian Veterans the hero’s salute they deserve at raiseaflag.ca ABOUT SUNNYBROOK VETERANS CENTRE: At Sunnybrook Veterans Centre, our staff ensure that every Veteran we care for spends their time in comfort with the best medical equipment and most compassionate care possible. We plan our care with the Veteran and family to achieve what they consider to be their best life experience. Community support allows Sunnybrook to offer various programs that keep our Veterans engaged, active, and connected. These programs range from the Raise a Flag Ceremony, musical events, dinners with family and friends, pet therapy, virtual visits, to granting heartfelt wishes that enable our Veterans to realize their hopes and dreams.
This Remembrance Day you can send a message of thanks to our Veterans, the courageous men and women who served our country in the name of peace and freedom. Their bravery changed our world – now it’s your turn to make a difference in theirs.
Visit raiseaflag.ca today. 11266-SBF-RAF-BannerAd-r1.indd 1
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