Health&Wellness by Tania MacWilliam

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Mayo Clinic

By Tania MacWilliam

A world leader in research and healthcare, offers acupuncture treatments for chronic pain.

Imagine waking up in pain every day for more than 20 years.

Headache & Pain Relief Centre

Not just a headache

A Toronto clinic offering headache and chronic pain relief.

Jennifer Hovestadt was hospitalized for her first migraine at the age of 14 where she spent four weeks undergoing testing and treatments. Every day since has been a struggle for the 36-yearold. Making plans with her friends is not possible when her only focus is pain. Not only does pain affect her social life, but her livelihood.

Migraine information Here are the common characteristics and potential triggers of a migraine, as outlined by the Mayo Clinic: Symptoms Acupuncture needles in place for arthritis.

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

“Sometimes I only work a couple of days a week,” she said. “Sometimes only a couple of hours in a week.”

Nausea and/or vomiting

It isn’t just a headache. Migraines are an often debilitating condition that can leave people reliant on medication for their entire lives. A 2010 Statistics Canada health report showed that among Canadians ages 12 to 44, 1.8 million reported suffering from chronic migraines.

Sensitivity to light and sounds

Hovestadt has tried prescription medications, but nothing offered her relief.

Intense pounding or throbbing pain

“I have tried everything else,” she said. “I just take Tylenol 3. The other medications don’t work.” What was worse was the side effects.

Usually localized to one side of the head

“I’ve put on so much weight from the other medications,” said the Cambridge resident.

Blurred vision

Looking for relief When prescription drugs, such as Zomig and Imitrex, no longer offer relief, many sufferers turn to acupuncture as an endof-line treatment option. Fed up with the effects of pain and medications, Hovestadt decided to attend a seminar at the Ontario Migraine Clinic in Georgetown. Brendan Cleary, founder of clinic, initially opened Ah-Shi Acupuncture in 1997 and treated a number of ailments. Finding that his assessments worked exceptionally well with migraines, he opened the Ontario Migraine Clinic two years later.

Dizziness or lightheadedness Triggers Changes in sleep patterns Skipped meals

Clients receive multiple treatments, spaced at about 90 minutes apart, reducing the need for frequent visits. This is especially helpful to those who travel great distances, says Cleary.

"I knew I couldn't keep popping Tylenol for the rest of my life."

Bright lights, loud noises, or strong odors Estrogen level change/fluctuation

As an acupuncture practitioner, Cleary has to work doubly hard at explaining assessments and treatments to prospective patients.

Stress and anxiety

“Western medicine, it’s everywhere and we’re familiar with it, so we rarely question it,” said Cleary.

Barometric pressure changes

Peter Berardi was skeptical at first, but at the urging of family members who have witnessed his agony for decades, he decided to seek treatment from Cleary.

Red wine

“I knew I couldn’t keep popping Tylenol for the rest of my life,” he said. “My liver wouldn’t take it.”

Caffeine (too much or withdrawal)

The Peterborough man has lived with migraines since he was a teenager. Simple pleasures, like going out to dinner with his wife, became unbearable. “Someone would drop their fork or knife on the china plate,” he said. “It would be like someone banging cymbals up against my head.” Committed to treatment, he travelled for his weekly appointments for about five months, even in snowstorms. Now 66, he

Foods that contain nitrates, such as hot dogs and lunch meats Foods that contain MSG (monosodium

Committed to treatment, he travelled for his weekly appointments for about five months, even in snowstorms. Now 66, he no longer gets migraines. Living a pain-free life is an obvious ideal, but if you experience a sudden migraine, there are people who understand and can help.

Getting help on campus Tracy O’Donnell, the charge nurse at Sheridan College’s Davis Campus, knows all too well how migraines can affect people. “They’re usually pretty bad,” she said. “By the time they get to us they’re in quite a lot of pain. A lot of the times they’re barfing, very sensitive to light, just having a really rough time.” Students who are struck with migraine pain can visit Health Services for solace. There is a quiet rest area with a bed where students can recover. “We do what we can to get them to feel better.” Nurses are limited on what they can offer, she said. They can’t give out prescription medication, but if on site, the doctor can give injectable anti-nausea medication. Migraine medication, such as Imitrex, is sometimes available in the college’s medicine cabinet for doctors to give in extreme cases, she said. Doctors are usually on site about four days per week for scheduled appointments. Headaches are a common ailment, but if you are experiencing persistent pain with visual disturbances or nausea, experts advise it might be a migraine. Seek medical attention and don’t worry about being perceived as a hypochondriac. “I felt like, ‘OK, I’m not crazy,’ ” said Hovestadt. “When I say I have a headache every day, I’m not the only one.”

Pain-free Peter Berardi.

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

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MSG (monosodium glutamate) Foods that contain tyramine, such as aged cheeses and soy products Aspartame

Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials "Because of the side-effects of long-term drug therapy for pain and the risks of dependence, acupuncture analgesia can be regarded as the method of choice for treating many chronically painful conditions."

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12-01-29 11:45 PM

3 GIRLS 1 COLUMN

NEWS

Environmental Working Group

Know thy food

Experts who pore over legal documents, government data and scientific studies in combination with their own laboratory tests to “expose threats to your health and the environment.”

By Tania MacWilliam Jan. 26, 2012

Chances are you’re not thinking about where the chicken comes from while nibbling on those sauce slathered wings. But you should, say animal cruelty activists.

Ontario Fresh Connecting local producers to local consumers.

A California chicken hatchery is facing a lawsuit for animal abuse, according to an article in the Huffington Post. Horrific video footage shows unwanted chicks being drowned in a bucket of waste and shoved down a disposal drain with a stick while still alive. This hatchery supplies chicks to various farms and the meat eventually ends up on a dinner plate.

Organic Produce So you’re not a meat eater. Learn which fruits and vegetables you should get organically and those you can take a pass on.

The Dirty Dozen The most contaminated fruits and veggies: Apples Celery Strawberries Peaches Spinach Nectarines Imported grapes Sweet bell peppers Potatoes Domestic blueberries Lettuce Kale/collard greens

If the humane treatment of livestock is something you consider when selecting your meat, you might want to get to know where it comes from. Chef Damian Wills, of Wills & Co. Fine Food Market in Burlington, sources most of his products from local farmers. “It’s actually quite difficult to source local and naturally raised [livestock],” he said. “They’re small farms and they don’t have the manpower and marketing knowledge to get their names out there.” Wills does a lot of legwork by researching the web, attending events and networking. Most of In addition to barnyard animals Mark and Tania Veenstra have, three his contacts are from word of horses and four Border Collies: mom, dad and two puppies. mouth. For example, he may call up his pig supplier and ask for recommendations for a lamb farmer. His network builds with each connection he makes.

The Clean 15 The least contaminated fruits and veggies:

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

Not only is it important for Wills to know where his product comes from, he wants his patrons to know, too.

Meet your local farmers Wills & Co.’s pork is supplied by the Boar & Chick, a family run farm located in the hamlet of Troy, Ont. One Saturday, he brought the owners of the farm, husband and wife team Mark and Tania Veenstra, to dine at his restaurant. They sat among the diners who were served pork from their farm and in turn were available to answer questions. “It was a real connection from farm to table,” said Wills.

Onions Sweet corn Pineapples Avocado Asparagus Sweet peas Mangoes Eggplant Domestic cantaloupe Kiwi Cabbage Watermelon Sweet potatoes Grapfruit Mushrooms

Videos of factory farm cruelty Undercover video footage of CalCruz Hatcheries - WARNING: Graphic footage

By building a trusting relationship with those who supply your meat, you are able to discern the type of treatment their livestock receives. The Veenstras pride themselves on their transparent operation and frequently welcome visitors to their farm to see how it is run and the living conditions of their livestock. “We try to put our animals in a position so they’re in their natural environment,” said Tania Veenstra. The Veenstra’s farm is primarily a pig farm but they do keep sheep, cows and chickens for eggs. “Our goal is to be more traditional,” she said. “Like how early settlers lived who needed to provide for themselves. They had mixed farms. They had pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, cattle.” Chatting with hundreds of people at farmers' markets gives the Veenstras a good idea of what people are looking for in their meat. They say their customers care about where their food comes from, and how it is being raised. “I find that the trend towards organic is being replaced now by this idea of naturally raising things,” said Mark. What seems to be the most important to them is that the animals are leading a comfortable existence, Tania says. http://sheridansunonline.sheridanc.on.ca/jan_26_2012/news_farm_macwilliam.html

Martha Stewart speaks out against cruelty to farm animals - WARNING: Graphic footage Page 1 of 3

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12-01-29 11:45 PM

What seems to be the most important to them is that the animals are leading a comfortable existence, Tania says.

Graphic footage

Selected food-related documentaries Highlighting health, political, social and economic issues. King Corn Food, Inc. Earthlings Supersize Me Black Coffee

The Boar & Chick Photo gallery from a day on the farm

These piglets are the youngest at five weeks old.

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

“That’s one thing that they like to hear, that we’ve got happy animals,” said Tania. “Our pigs have got space to run around. They’re not in a stressful environment. They’ve always got fresh food, fresh water, good bedding. They’re not overcrowded, for the most part,” said Tania. “In the winter you can’t help but have smaller conditions.” The barn offers ample space for the pigs and sheep to buckle down for the winter, while the heartier cows and horses are free to brave all seasons outdoors. The chickens are housed in the upper portion of the barn, wandering freely in their enclosure. They will get to peck away outside with the rest of their barn mates once the weather warms up. How the Boar & Chick operates is not typical of conventional farming practices. You can’t call up a factory farm and ask to see how stressful the animal’s environment is.

The Veenstras have five breeding sows and a boar.

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

These piglets were born around Halloween 2011.

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

While called the Boar & Chick, they only don’t have any chickens for meat at the moment.

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

These chickens are of all ages and are only for eggs.

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

The Veenstras are confident that the care they give their livestock provides them with the least possible stress. This includes how the animals are fed. “Not that we want to slag on conventional pork producers, the reality is that the market is demanding fast, cheap food,” said Mark. “So they really cork the feed to these animals to put the weight on fast enough. Those guys are three months from the day the pig is born to the day it goes to market.” Unlike conventional farmers, Tania feeds the animals twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. This means it takes two to three times longer to grow their pigs. “We’re 10 months, 11 months from farrow to finish,” said Mark.

Things to consider before you eat The humane treatment of animals is not just for personal, ethical reasons. Wills believes that there is a direct connection between animal treatment and the quality of the product. “The care and attention that the animals are treated with is what makes the product, itself, better,” he said. Wills does not favour factory farming where living conditions are crowded and antibiotics are unnecessarily given to animals as blanket treatments. “By having better living conditions to begin with, you don’t have to pretreat a non-sick animal with antibiotics,” he said. “In terms of [antibiotics] affecting the quality of the meat, you’ll never taste a difference. But you’re gonna taste the difference because of the way that they were raised.” Wills is also concerned with how the growth hormones and antibiotics given to livestock affect consumers of the meat. “We’re consuming meat that’s already tainted with antibiotic treatment,” he said. “The issue is that the antibiotics remain in the meat.”

"What is really happening to these poor animals?" Consumers need to think about their health in a different way, Laurie Burrows, a holistic nutritionist and founder of Thyme To Thrive Holistic Nutrition, says. It’s not just about eating too much saturated fat; it’s about finding out what else might be in that cut of meat. “When you’re constantly giving animals antibiotics because they are living in such poor quarters, we are now becoming antibiotic resistant,” said Burrows. Burrows, who also works at the Institute for Hormonal Health in Oakville, says that we are taking in everything that goes through the animals and it can have an impact on us. Elevated levels of hormones, like estrogen, are seen in those who consume the meat of animals given growth hormones, she says. “One of the main things we’re seeing is women especially, and men, coming in with massive hormonal imbalances,” she said. “So now we’ve got this resurgence of breast cancer and prostate cancer which are hormonal cancers and you have to wonder what is going on. It’s gotta be something we’re taking in.” Then you add cortisol, a hormone released by animals that are being raised in a stressful environment and unethically slaughtered, to the cocktail of what we are ingesting, she says.

The Veenstras are babysitting two of their neighbours'

“Its about being responsible. What is really happening to these poor animals? Ethically it’s important, but even moreso, looking at what we’re putting in our body and how our

Longhorns, but have two Dexters of their own that they adopted from a farmer friend that closed up shop.

http://sheridansunonline.sheridanc.on.ca/jan_26_2012/news_farm_macwilliam.html

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

Page 2 of 3

The Sheridan Sun Online

12-01-29 11:45 PM

closed up shop.

putting in our body and how our body is reacting,” said Burrows. With every bite we take we are trusting that farmers have treated these animals well, says Burrows. “What I tell my clients, and I’m adamant about it, is if you’re going to eat meat you’ve got to turn to naturally raised meat,” she said. “Yes, it’s more expensive, but we don’t eat meat every day so financially it works out perfectly Their first attempt at raising meat chickens was halted by a cold spell but they will try again. fine. We alternate with fish, vegetarian dishes.

Along with the cows, PHOTO BY they also took in TANIA MACWILLIAM these sheep.

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

“For me it’s the choice between buying a Coach purse and feeding my family great food and not having to worry about what I’m putting into their bodies. It’s all about choices.” Their sheep are PHOTO BY Jacobs and TANIA Jacob/Texal crosses. MACWILLIAM

Mark Veenstra chopping the wood used to keep their home fires burning.

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Canadian Running Magazine for everything running related.

Learn to run By Tania MacWilliam

Live Life Outdoors

It was after his mother died that Carmine Naccarato decided it was time for a life change. He took up the clarinet, got a dog and started running.

In support of the Michael J. Fox foundation and Parkinson Society Canada.

Running Room

“I decided there was more to life than working, coming home, sitting on the couch and watching TV,” said the Oakville resident.

Retail store and training centre.

The rundown

So he made his way down to a local Running Room store and signed up for a learn-to-run clinic. Ten weeks later he was able to run five kilometres non-stop.

Here are some tips to help you get you off the couch and on your feet:

While running has been a popular activity for decades, it has become trendy in recent years, with pedestrians competing with runners for sidewalk space.

Set realistic goals You aren’t going to be able to run a marathon if you’ve never gotten off your couch. Pace yourself.

“The numbers of people who are running now is staggering,” said Eric Darcy, a certified triathlon coach at Absolute Endurance Training and Therapy in Toronto. Weight loss is a common reason why running is on the rise, but some runners' beginnings come from tragedy.

(From front) Karen Becker of Oakville, Jason Hammerschmidt of Oakville and Matthew Okell of Port Credit out for a training run.

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

Do your research Seek out advice by browsing running websites and the sports section of your local library.

Like Naccarato, Matthew Okell lost a family member. Founder of Live Life Outdoors, Okell, lost his grandfather to Parkinson’s and now runs in his honour.

Learn to run - Sign up for a local run clinic

“Live Life Outdoors is a concept that I hatched about two years ago. My grandfather had Parkinson’s and what I wanted to do was make a bit of a difference,” said Okell.

Avoid injury - Get strong and stay limber by joining a gym or taking up yoga.

Last year he completed a cross-country cycle run as part of Team Fox for Parkinson’s research. His latest challenge is running 12 marathons in 12 months to help raise money for the cause. Stories like Naccarato’s and Okell’s are abundant in the world of running. Illness and death makes us examine our own mortality and often inspires us to make the most of our short lives. But sometimes there’s a less tragic story behind the drive to run. Darcy was looking to snap out of a fitness rut. “I was tired of just going to the gym,” he said. “So one day I just decided, 'I’m going to train myself to do a 5K throughout the winter,' Did my 5K and that didn’t become enough, so it became 10K and it just started going up.” But before you lace up your running shoes there are a few things to consider. “If you’re used to being on the couch for the past 15, 20 years and all of a sudden you wake up and go ‘I feel like running a marathon next month,’ you’re definitely going to be in for a rude awakening,” said Darcy. “That’s where a lot of injuries come in to play.” If you are a running neophyte the best thing you can do is get informed, said Darcy. Seek counsel from a variety of experienced sources, including coaches, books and even Google. “Google is a great one,” he says. “It’s amazing what you can find there.” Run clinics are another way to help prepare you. They usually start beginners at a one-to-one ratio: Running for one minute then walking for one minute, eventually working up to longer intervals.

“Anybody can run. All you really need is a good pair of shoes.” This introduction to running will provide a solid foundation to ensure a runner succeeds, says Dick Wilks, a running coach at Health Quarters, a therapy and fitness centre in Burlington. “Nine times out of 10 I find people that try and go out without any guidance fail because they get discouraged,” he said. “They say to themselves, ‘I can’t do this.’ The problem is not that they can’t do it, they don’t know how to do it.” Wilks’ coaching credo is, “I want everyone to succeed.” So his walk-run programs are individualized to the ability and comfort of each runner. “That flexibility ensures success because the runner isn’t discouraged. That’s key to any coach who’s working with athletes.” He starts runners off with a walk interval that is longer than the run segment. For example, a three-minute walk followed by running for one minute. From there he observes the ability of the runners and adjusts the program to accommodate their needs.

Have fun - Focus on finishing, not speed. Enjoy yourself!

needs. “If somebody’s got the courage to say, ‘I’m getting off the couch today and I’m gonna start to be a runner,’ if they’ve got that kind of courage, then they have to be really listened to and watched and make sure they’re succeeding.” The idea of running for the first time can be intimidating. No one wants to be the straggler, huffing and puffing at the back of the pack. That kind of embarrassment is enough to make anyone hightail it back to their couch. So a novice runner needs to find a program that fits. “There’s no point in putting them in a general program. A lot of them will not be able to do it and they’ll stop.”

Prevent injuries It’s not just injured pride that runners risk by not getting professional guidance. Running can cause physical injuries. Hamstring and calf strains are the most common. A good way to prevent injuries is to begin strengthening and stretching activities, says Mihira Lakshman, editor-in-chief of Canadian Running magazine and a longtime runner. “Core strength workouts, yoga, going to the gym, all those things really help your body posture and improves your running form,” he said. And an improved running form can prevent injuries, Lakshman says. While muscle strains are the most common injury beginners risk, it’s not only beginners who risk getting injured. “As you get more advanced there are more kinds of injuries you can run into,” he said. “Lead runners get hurt probably more often than beginner runners because there’s a wider range of risks that they have. They get into stress fractures and broken bones because of the amount of running that they are doing and the type of speed and pounding that they have.” Another way to avoid injury is to make sure you have proper footwear. “Knees [injuries] are common. Shin splints are common,” said Darcy. “A lot of it is overuse. And a lot of it can be avoided by making sure you have the proper footwear.” Each runner has different stability requirements so head down to a speciality shoe store and get properly fitted. It’s your best investment and you don’t go through as many pairs as you would think. “It varies from shoe company to shoe company, and on the runner,” he said. “But if somebody is running three times a week for half an hour, [they] can probably get, comfortably, seven or eight months out of a pair of shoes.”

Stay safe His last bit of advice is to plan a safe route. Especially in the winter months when it gets darker much earlier. And if you are gearing up for a charity race, pay less attention to your goal time and focus more on finishing. “It’s no fun running if you’re uncomfortable,” said Wilks. "So go with your friends, go slow and enjoy yourself.” Running can be a social activity and the group dynamic of a run clinic can be motivating. It can also hold you accountable. “If you don’t show up everybody asks you, ‘Where were you? Why weren’t you here? Is everything OK?’” said Naccarato. “When you’re running with other people you don’t want to let them down, so you want to show up.” There will be days you feel like throwing in the towel, but just remember that coveted runner’s high. “Keep with it no matter how hard it gets, ‘cause no matter how lousy you feel, how bad of a day, after you go for a run you always feel better,” said Naccarato It’s clear that running isn’t going to fade in popularity any time soon. “It’s a great form of exercise and once you find that runner’s high it’s a blast,” said Darcy. Running is an accessible activity and can be relatively inexpensive. It doesn’t require any equipment and can be done anywhere. “Anybody can run,” said Naccarato. “All you really need is a good pair of shoes.”

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Just breathe By Tania MacWilliam

It’s 6 a.m. and you’re awakened by the blaring of your alarm clock. Ahead of you lies a day much like the previous one - filled with deadlines, long lectures and a string of text messages from your significant other reminding you that, “We need to talk.” Being caught in this endless cycle of groundhog days can leave you stressed and unable to focus. So you rely on a steady supply of coffee and sheer willpower to get through your days. Many people try to ignore what is PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM Sara Bernard, 27, a second-year advertising student, causing them stress, hoping it will crashing after a long day. just go away. Avoidance is something Kanchan Kurichh, a counsellor at Sheridan's Davis Campus, commonly sees among students who are experiencing stress.

Let Deepak Chopra guide you through a session of mindful meditation in this video.

Counselling resources Links for counselling resources listed by related issue.

Get organized You can feel less overwhelmed when your life is organized. Here are some tips from Sheridan’s counselling services to help balance your life:

“They try to forget about it,” she said. “Sleeping, trying to avoid the issues, using the Internet too much, or drinking or drugs, to escape from the issues, and just letting it build up.”

Get up 15 minutes earlier.

Whether you are student or a surgeon, stress is something that affects us all. It can come from trying to balance family life, relationships, workload and finances.

Prepare for the morning the night before.

Eating well, staying active and getting enough sleep are the basic things we understand can ward off stress. But when these preventive measures fail, where do we turn? In a guide for relief workers who help tsunami disaster affected communities, The World Health Organization suggests using meditation to cope with stress. While most of us are not witnesses to constant devastation, we can still benefit from the same coping techniques.

What you can do There are many ways to cope, Kurichh said. “It could be using stress management like progressive relaxation or deep breathing exercises.” Mindfulness meditation, which means not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, will be discussed in a new support group that just began this past Tuesday at the Davis Campus. “It’s a group for students who are experiencing feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxiety, depression, loneliness,” she said. “They talk with other students and they gain support, but we also go through and teach them some basics of mindfulness and meditation and how to challenge negative thinking.” Students will learn to breathe with their diaphragm and become more aware of their thoughts, focusing on the present moment. “That’s the basic skills of meditation, just being in the here and now.”

"All you have to do is take four breaths.” Keeping things in perspective can help manage stress, says Anne Ferguson, a holistic therapist at Elemental Therapies in Burlington. “It’s not what’s going on around you, it’s your perception of what’s going on around you,” she said.

How stress makes you sick How we react to stress can make you sick so it’s important to learn to separate reality from perception. Then you can see clearly what the real issues are and do what you must to address them. “Stress is one of the biggest causes of chronic illness so it’s very important that you deal with it,” she said. “Stress in the mind-body connection is interpreted by the body as fight or flight. Your body is not growing when it’s in the state of protection.” This is true of Sara Bernard, a second-year advertising student who is plagued by stress. One day after she had enough, she rolled up the windows of her car and screamed at the top of her lungs.

Use a personal daytimer to keep track of important dates. Make to-do lists and prioritize them into three categories - Must do, should do or could do. Break large assignments into manageable chunks. When time is tight, decide how much time to spend in relation to how many marks the assignment or test is worth.

Manage your stress Stress reduction and management strategies from Sheridan counselling services: Avoid relying on chemical aids like caffeine Don't rely on your memory...write it down Stop negative self-talk Say "no" more often Avoid negative people Ask for help

And her overwhelming stress is accompanied by a list of physical ailments. Use deep breathing “It [stress] makes me nauseous. It makes me tired. It gives me headaches,” said the 27-year-old. Talk / write / draw Seeking alternative ways to manage her stress, she decided to check out the campus gym. Laugh – use humor “They offer yoga and Zumba,” she said. “But some of the classes are at the most ridiculous times. They’re right smack in the middle of the day. And honestly, when you have assignments and you’re on a deadline you don’t really have time to leave for an hour to go do yoga.”

Exercise Eat appropriately

leave for an hour to go do yoga.”

Eat appropriately

Still unsatisfied with her stress management, she tried meditation, but not knowing how to do it properly left her frustrated.

Listen to music

When people say they can’t meditate it usually means they are overwhelmed by all the thoughts going through their heads, said Anna Taneburgo, a former social services instructor at Sheridan, and now a holistic therapist with her own private practice, Whole Healing.

Get seven to nine hours sleep per night

“They think it means shutting down the mind but that's not what meditation is,” she said. “Meditation is just being aware of what is happening moment by moment. Both within you and around you.”

Listen to your body. It will tell you when to slow down.

Taneburgo says the single most powerful thing a student can do is learn to meditate. A requirement of learning is being able to concentrate and pay attention. In this way, meditation can help you succeed in school. “We're not trained to listen to our bodies,” said Taneburgo. “We are taught to be very goal-oriented and to push on.” That is why it is so important to take breaks when spending long hours studying or working.

Sara feeling zen.

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

Davis Campus students interested in taking part in group therapy can visit room H152C on Tuesdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. on a drop-in basis.

“Why do we give people coffee breaks at work?” said Taneburgo. “Why do we give them lunch breaks? Notice how coffee breaks are about 90 minutes from the beginning of the day and then lunch is about 90 minutes after a coffee break?”

Students at the Trafalgar Campus can visit room B103 to access similar services.

If the idea of going into deep meditation doesn’t appeal to you, even taking a few slow breaths can help. “That’s why meditation is so fantastic at helping people de-stress,” said Ferguson. “Because of the breathing down. All you have to do is take four breaths.”

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Accessing Sheridan group therapy

Taneburgo recommends applying psychotherapist and author of The 20 Minute Break, Ernest Rossi’s 90-20-90 minute productivity hypothesis which suggests that humans work more efficiently and experience less stress if they take a 20-minute break after every 90 minutes of productivity.

It’s the downtime that we all really need to reduce stress. Recognizing when our necks start to tense and when we are beginning to lose focus, said Taneburgo.

Home

When you feel anxiety or stress building, take a time out and do something to reenergize yourself.

New from the Sheridan Sun Online HEALTH & WELLNESS

How hearing works

Listen up

By Tania MacWilliam Oct. 20, 2011 Thursday is Halloween pub night at Sheridan’s Marquee, but before you dance the night away, you better make sure you’ve brought protection.

The Hearing Foundation of Canada

Uh, bring ear plugs.

A national nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating the devastating effects of hearing loss.

Loud music in night clubs and at rock concerts has been measured between 110 and 115 decibels - the same as a power saw and sandblaster, respectively. As little as one minute of unprotected exposure at that level can be damaging to your hearing.

Safe use of iPods For important information about avoiding hearing loss, see the Product Information Guide

Normal conversation is around 60 decibels and does not pose any risk.

Set your iPod to prevent hearing loss:

“There is something called ‘the dose,’" said Marshall Chasin, an audiologist and researcher. “That is, we can be [safely] exposed to Small venue concerts can expose hundreds of 85 decibels for 40 hours a week.” people to damaging sound levels. Phoenix Concert

Information and instructions for setting volume limit* on iPod touch, care of Apple: PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

Theatre, Toronto.

For each three decibel increment, exposure time is cut in half: 88 decibels = 20 hours a week, 91 decibels = 10 hours a week, 94 decibels = five hours a week, and so on. If you are going to be exposed to more than that 85 decibels for 40 hours a week he recommends wearing hearing protection. Wearing ear plugs can increase the time you can be exposed to higher decibel levels. To help you choose the right pair, most are labelled with their added decibel protection.

“Give your ears a little bit of a rest.” Noise exposure at work John Kotsiopoulos is head of security at Sneaky Dee's concert venue in Toronto and has worked in night clubs for more than 20 years. He now has noise-induced hearing loss, bad enough that he has difficulty hearing regular conversation. Maintaining communication among security is a key part of the job. Ear plugs from a couple of decades ago muffled safe sound levels which meant having to remove them to engage in conversation. “Back then it was kinda hard when you had the ear plugs in and you had the old-style mics, they were just like a little speaker on your shoulder,” said the 38-year-old. “So if you had the ear plugs in you could barely hear them talking to you. You were more or less waiting for a vibration and you were reaching for the ear plugs.” When he first started out in club security he would be stationed near the speakers. Now he secures the outside queue, and while his hearing is no longer being harmed, the effects from previous damage make it harder for him to do his job. “It's part of my job to hear when people are talking,” he said. “You know, they try to hand off IDs to each other and they're whispering back and forth.”

Choose Music > Volume Limit and drag the slider to adjust the maximum volume. Tap Lock Volume Limit to assign a code to prevent the setting from being changed. *Setting a volume limit only affects the volume of music (including podcasts and audiobooks) and videos (including rented movies), and only when headphones, earphones, or speakers are connected to the headphones port on iPod touch.

Tips to avoiding noiseinduced hearing loss: Gael Hannan, a board director at the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association, shares these tips to help you preserve your hearing. Turn your music down. (Set a volume limit on your MP3 device.) Reduce the time you are exposed to noise. Stay are far back from the source of noise as possible. (Opt for over-theear headphones instead of ear buds.) Wear hearing protection. (Some are clear so they are not as noticeable.)

Common decibel levels List compiled from information on makeitlouder.com 0 db - The quietest sound a human ear can make out. 40 db - A whisper. 60 db - Normal conversation. 85 db - The beginning of hearing damage. 100 db - Normal average car stereo at maximum volume. 120 -130 db - Front row at a rock concert. Trafalgar Campus security officers Jeremy Pestell and Fentahun Chekol at Marquee pub.

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

126 -130 db - Typical professional D.J. System (nearly as much as a

and Fentahun Chekol at Marquee pub.

Jeremy Pestell, a Sheridan Community and Justice Services graduate, has been working in around loud music for the last three years and feels his hearing has deteriorated as a result. He works security at the Davis and Trafalgar Campus pubs as well as nightclub security on weekends. Even though he notices some hearing loss, he isn’t too concerned with the possibility of losing his hearing entirely. “Here [Marquee] it’s not normally too bad, because I have an ear piece for communication between staff,” said the 20-yearold. “So that blocks out one ear. I do find that my left ear is worse than my right.” When working concert security, he is often posted right beside the speakers. To counter any potential damage from close exposure, he tries to avoid loud music in his leisure time. Along with working concert, night club and Sheridan pub security, Pestell is also exposed to constant noise from equipment while working in the Trafalgar Campus’ kitchen, where he is head cook. Besides appliance noise, there is a lot of yelling.

Appliance alarms and yelling staff are hard on Jeremy Pestell’s hearing.

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

He doesn't really wear ear plugs because he finds they hinder communication with patrons and staff, especially in the kitchen. “Security guards at a rock concert or bartenders at a bar can wear hearing protection that will take the sound level to a non-damaging level but still allow them to hear their patrons,” said Chasin.

Keeping music in your life Technological advancements have led to better hearing protection. Custom-fitted specialty ear plugs can be costly, but lower cost, ready-fit options are available. The average person probably won’t wear ear plugs regularly, but this doesn’t mean you have to stop listening to loud music. Just moderate your exposure. And yes, you can still blast your iPod. “There’s nothing wrong with using your MP3 player, as long as you do it in moderation,” said Chasin. “The rule of thumb is the 80:90 rule: Eighty per cent volume for 90 minutes a day is your maximum.” So if you’re listening to your favourite song, turn up the volume and enjoy it thoroughly. “Just turn it back down to 80 per cent or less on the volume control wheel when it’s over.” The same goes for concert and nightclub frequenters. “There’s nothing inherently wrong with going to a rock concert,” Chasin said. Going to a pub on Friday nights won’t hurt you if you’re only there for an hour or two without protection. Just don’t do other things that week that are particularly noisy. Have someone else mow the lawn on Saturday morning. “Give your ears a little bit of a rest.”

Dance your cares away, but don’t forget your ear plugs, at Trafalgar Campus Marquee pub.

PHOTO BY MICHEAUX SPENCER

D.J. System (nearly as much as a jet engine blast). For full list, visit makeitlouder.com

Helpful tools Curious about just how loud that sound is? Test it out with the decibel meter app for iPhone and iPad. If you are hard of hearing and attend a Canadian post-secondary institution, you can get your lecture recordings transcribed through Liberated Learning.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

University Health Network: Sleep Lab/Disorders Clinic

Sleep well

By Tania MacWilliam

Get assessed for sleep disorders by professionals.

If you aren't getting the recommended eight hours of slumber each night, you are among the millions of Canadians facing sleep deprivation.

The Mayo Clinic's seven tips to better sleep Seven steps to a good night's rest.

Sleep tips from Halton Region Tips for a restful night.

An estimated 3.3 million Canadians reported not getting enough shut-eye, with nearly 600,000 averaging less than five hours a night, according to the most recent Canadian community health survey, conducted by Statistics Canada.

Sleep tips from Peel Public Health Here are eight tips to ensure a good night's rest: 1. Make sleep a priority. 2. Don’t disturb your circadian rhythm:

“If you don’t get enough sleep, one of the obvious things is unintentionally PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM Hitting the books on an early Monday morning. Amanda falling asleep during the Panozzo, 18, a second-year Accounting student. day or nodding off or falling asleep while driving,” said Dr. Bob Nosal, Halton Region's medical officer of health. With mid-terms less than two weeks away, many college students will be pulling all-nighters and the result could be difficulty concentrating, he said. So cramming before a test may be counterproductive. If not being well rested has you nodding off in class, you aren't benefiting from the lecture, he said. This will leave you unprepared for your tests and can be detrimental to your success. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control released a study in September that associated lack of sleep with increased alcohol and drug use, as well as heightened sexual activity and suicidal thoughts in American teens. Those concerns don’t stop in adulthood and certainly not at the border. In fact, the Statistics Canada health survey showed similar associations. “The studies from the CDC and the association of all those different points, they’re interesting,” said Nosal. It doesn’t necessarily mean lack of sleep causes these behaviours, he said.

Effects of sleep loss There have also been links between lack of sleep and the prevalence of high blood pressure and diabetes, Nosal said in a telephone interview. But he cautions these are just associations, and one does not necessarily cause the other. Still, insufficient sleep can carry other deadly consequences. Safe driving requires attention to detail, something Nosal says is compromised without adequate nighttime rest. Missing your ZZZs can put a damper on your education in another way – it can make you sick. “You're more susceptible to infections, especially things like viruses and bacteria, flus and colds,” said Tracy O'Donnell, charge nurse at Sheridan's Davis Campus. “Not only are you too tired to come to school but now you're too sick to come to school. So you can miss out on a lot of your classes.”

Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends and vacations. 3. Exercise: Regular exercise is known to improve sleeping habits, however, do not exercise too close to bedtime as it may then be difficult to fall asleep. 4. Don’t lie in bed awake: If you cannot fall asleep or get back to sleep, get up and do something that will help you relax until you feel sleepy again. 5. Limit alcohol, nicotine and caffeine: Nicotine and caffeine are stimulants that take many hours to be eliminated from the body. 6. Don’t eat/drink, then go to bed: Eating and/or drinking too close to bedtime can prevent a restful sleep. Try to avoid both for at least a few hours before going to bed. 7. Make your bedroom comfortable: Make sure the room is dark and quiet and the temperature of the room is comfortable. Think about setting limits on children and pets sleeping with you. Save your bedroom only for sleeping and sex. 8. Improve air quality: Airborne allergens call trigger allergies and asthma which then affect sleep.

Sheridan Counselling Services Something keeping you up at night? Counselling services are confidential and available to Sheridan students at no cost. Drop-in hours

Monday morning studying, Sheridan's Trafalgar Campus Learning Commons.

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

If you've passed your test and head out for a celebratory drink, you risk losing sleep another way. Alcohol can

Trafalgar Campus: Monday to Friday, 11a.m. to 2 p.m. Room: B103 Davis Campus: Monday to Friday, 11a.m. to 2 p.m. Room: B230

If you've passed your test and head out for a celebratory drink, you risk losing sleep another way. Alcohol can interfere with your nighttime siesta. “You might pass out or go to bed but you're not actually going into REM sleep, or deep sleep, when you're under the influence of alcohol or other drugs,” she said. “So you're not getting a proper rest.” Most times, the night doesn't end after last call. Heading out to a late-night munch-fest after the party's over can hamper your sleep, she said, especially partaking in greasy food, which can give you indigestion. You wake up the next morning and realize you have a three-hour lecture to sit through. There's something you should know before you pop the tab on your favourite energy drink. Sensitivity to ingredients like caffeine can keep you up all night. “A lot of times these days students are trying to take energy boosting drinks so they can function throughout the day and study late into the night,” she said. “It's just going to mess with their sleep.” It's not only the drinks marketed as energy boosters that keep the sandman away. “Caffeine, just regular caffeine,” she said. “Coke and Pepsi and tea and coffee. Some people if they have a drink of coffee after three o'clock [in the afternoon], it's going to keep them awake all night.”

What you can do If getting a good night's rest has become a concern, it might be wise to seek professional help, said Quynn Morehouse, a counsellor at Sheridan's Davis Campus. “Professionals are there to assess and figure out what's the best way to proceed,” she said. “Depending on the severity and how long it's been going on, a course of counselling or therapy can be very beneficial.” There are some simple ways to get to the land of Wynken, Blynken and Nod. For example, create a routine, said O'Donnell. She recommends going to bed at the same time each night, and waking up at the same time each morning. She also favours progressive relaxation techniques, which can help you relax before bed. Nurses at Sheridan's health services can help you learn how. White noise might also help you fall asleep and stay asleep, by drowning out street noise or a snoring bedmate. If you've tried it all and still feel like a zombie, you might need medical intervention, especially if you're considering trying to self-medicate, suggests O'Donnell. “We really try to steer them away from selfmedicating, even with Hard at work. Silvia Muic, 18, a first-year Advertising PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM over-the-counter sleeping student. pills,” she said. “It's better to have an actual doctor maybe take a look at you and find out if there's an underlying reason that you can't sleep.”

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Hazel McCallion Campus: Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Student Service Centre Counselling groups Share the Journey: For students who are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, worried or alone. Connect with other students in a clinical group setting and share in our frank, open discussions. Davis: Just show up! Room B231 Tuesdays, noon to1:30 p.m. orcContact Kanchan Kurichh kanchan.kurichh@sheridanc.on.ca Trafalgar: Just Show up! Room B103 Mondays, 4 p.m. To 5:30 p.m. or Thursdays, noon to1:30 p.m. or contact Nancy Harries nancy.harries@sheridanc.on.ca RealTalk: For students who are living in residence or are friends with someone who does. Join in group activities and discussions on a variety of topics from self defense, body image, sex, drugs and alcohol. Davis: Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Residence Conference Centre. Contact: Fiona Edwards Fiona.edwards@sheridanc.on.ca Trafalgar: Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Residence Conference Centre Contact: Cheryl Cnoop-Koopmans cheryl.cnoopkoopmans@sheridanc.on.ca

HEALTH & WELLNESS

How to use the Bobble

Water woes By Tania MacWilliam Nov. 03, 2011

We're approaching a new flu season and are washing our hands to prevent illness, but are you washing out your water bottle? The average adult’s body weight is up to 60 per cent water and experts recommend that we drink eight glasses of the refreshing liquid each day.

Lifesaver Bottle If you are on a backpacking weekend, take one of these speciality water filtration bottles with you.

To make sure they are meeting their daily requirements, many people take water bottles to work, school and to the gym, and more people are opting for reusable types to save a few bucks and to help the environment.

Drink up The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise how to meet your daily fluid needs.

We are fortunate to have potable water to refill our bottles -- but not washing them out regularly could make you sick. “Bacteria can grow in distilled water,” said Dr. Charles Gerba, a professor with the department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science at the University of Arizona. “Most people don't know that. No matter how crisp or clear the water, bacteria can grow in it.”

Getting the water you need. Most of your water needs are met through the water and beverages you drink.

Bacteria can use carbon from the air, and the plasticizers that make plastic flexible, to survive, Gerba said. Introduce more diverse nutrients and bacteria are in for a feast. When you take a drink, reflux can occur. This is also known as Connor keeps hydrated on the field by drinking two full bottles an hour before a “back-washing.” game.

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

“That's a source of nutrient material from your mouth back into the reservoir bottle,” said Richard Holley, professor and head of the department of Food Science at the University of Manitoba. “That can stick to the walls and serve as a starting material for low numbers of bacteria.” Even small numbers of harmful bacterium can cause gastrointestinal upset, and while it is possible to get very ill by drinking from a dirty water bottle, you may only get a little diarrhea, Holley said.

Hygenic handling While harmful bacteria can be transferred from our mouths, the culprits can also come from our hands. “To some extent you can say, 'Well OK, if only I use my water bottle then at least it's only my bacteria,' except of course if your hands have been touching other people,” said Dr. Allison McGeer, a microbiologist and infectious disease consultant at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital. You wash your hands on a regular basis, but you should also be washing your bottle, McGeer said. “If you don't wash it [bottle], but you wash your hands, then you kind of wasted washing your hands,” she said. Connor Dotson, a 14-year-old soccer player with the Milton Dragons, drinks from a reusable water container because he believes single-use plastic bottles are bad for the environment. There is also a more practical reason for his choice. “Once I go onto the field I normally just leave it [bottle] on the bench,” he said. But if he was using a regular water bottle, “It could easily get mixed up with somebody else's.” Reusable bottles are easier to identify than the generic single-use ones. Connor's bottle makes it less likely his teammates will grab it and take a swig.

“The worst water bottles are the sports bottles.” Water-bottle bacteria may do little more than have you running to the rest-room frequently, but it can also spread the flu, said McGeer. Yet, she warned, there's a potentially more dangerous bacteria that could easily be transmitted via water bottles. You can contract MRSA.

You can get some fluid through the foods you eat. For example, broth soups and other foods that are 85 per cent to 95 per cent water such as celery, tomatoes, oranges, and melons. What water does for you. Water helps your body: Keep its temperature normal. Lubricate and cushion your joints. Protect your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues. Get rid of wastes through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements. Why drink enough water? You need water to replace what your body loses through normal, everyday functions. Of course, you lose water when you go to the bathroom or sweat, and you even lose small amounts of water when you exhale. You need to replace this lost water to prevent dehydration. Your body also needs more water when you are: In hot climates.

contract MRSA.

More physically active.

Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, a superbug, is an antibiotic-resistant bacteria most known for being picked up in hospitals, but is can also be acquired in the community.

Running a fever.

Choosing the right bottle As people become more germ-conscious they are gravitating toward products promising a fresher drinking experience. The Bobble water bottle, available at trendy American Apparel clothing stores, is designed with a replaceable popup spout with an attached carbon filter. The bottles cost about $15 and are meant for 300 refills, or two months of use. “Carbon filters are actually really good places for bacteria to grow,” said McGeer. While the cartridges remove things that change taste, they don't actually remove bacteria, she said, and since the filters aren't really washable, the bacteria level in the water is likely worse than not using a filter at all. You don't need a fancy water bottle. Reusable water bottles can be reasonably priced and are even available for $1 at discount stores. This is also preferable over refilling onetime use bottles. According to the FAQs about bottled water on Health Canada’s website, single-use bottles shouldn't be reused as there is a risk for bacteria to grow if not cleaned properly. Health Canada suggests wide-necked, reusable bottles as they are easier to wash with hot soapy water between uses. “The worst water bottles are the sports bottles,” said Gerba. “The ones where you push it shut with your finger and you can pop it open again. Those tend to get contaminated more with fecal bacteria if you don't wash your hands completely.” Coliform bacteria, or fecal bacteria, is found more often in those types of bottles than any other reusable bottles, said Gerba. They are also harder to clean. “The more you reuse it the more bacteria you tend to get in them,” he said. “I'd avoid the push down button type if I could.”

Having diarrhea or vomiting. To help you stay hydrated during prolonged physical activity, drink fluids while doing the activity and consume several glasses of water or other fluid after the physical activity is completed. Also, when you are participating in vigorous physical activity, it's important to drink before you even feel thirsty. Thirst is a signal that your body is on the way to dehydration. How to increase your intake. If you think you're not getting enough water each day, the following tips may help: Carry a water bottle for easy access when you are at work or running errands. Freeze some freezersafe water bottles. Take one with you for ice-cold water all day long. Choose water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages. This can also help with weight management. Substituting water for one 591 ml bottle of sugar-sweetened soft drink will save you about 240 calories. Choose water instead of other beverages when eating out. Generally, you will save money and reduce calories. Give your water a little pizzazz by adding a wedge of lime or lemon. This may improve the taste, and you just might drink more water than you usually do.

The water Bobble comes with a replaceable carbon filter good for 300 refills, or two months of use.

PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM

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Study: Social Skills Not Good Grades Linked with Lifelong Happiness

By TANIA MACWILLIAM | iVillage Canada – Fri, 31 Aug, 2012 10:53 AM EDT

Don’t fret if your kids didn’t make the honour roll their future wellbeing doesn’t depend on it. According to the Journal of Happiness Studies, academic achievement has less impact on adult wellbeing than we might think. The study followed just more than 800 children over a 32year period, exploring the role of academic achievement and social development on future adult wellbeing. For the purpose of this study, wellbeing is defined as a combination of a sense of coherence, positive coping strategies, social engagement and selfperceived strengths. More from iVillage.ca: 10 Ways Recess Can Help Your Child Do Better in School 11 Signs Your Child May Not be Happy at School Unschooling: Why My Kids Will Have an Amazing Childhood Not Going to School The Best Real Mom Advice on the First Day of School Out the Door, On Time! 12 Strategies for Speeding Up Your Mornings The results showed a strong link between social connectedness and overall adult happiness. The findings suggest that parents should focus their attention on helping their children develop social skills. Parent can do this by encouraging their children to participate in social activities such as youth groups and sporting clubs. But isn’t it important that our children do well in school? Apparently, academic achievement has little effect on adult well being, according to the authors of the study, associate professor Craig Olsson from Deakin University and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Australia, and his colleagues.

I admittedly was never overly stressed about my kids getting straight A’s. Of course I expected them to do their best, but I also encouraged them to forge strong bonds with classmates. As a shy kid myself, I had a hard time making friends. I did have a few, but I never really “fit in” so I didn’t want my children to go through that same painful experience. When we held our little bundles of joy in our arms for the first time we made a multitude of wishes on their behalf: We wished for their health and future success, but most of all we wished for their happiness. We promised to do our part to help them succeed in life. We would attend all their ball games and sit through all their school performances; we’d read to them, limit their screen time and help them with their homework. I started out with good intentions when my girls were wee ones. They were signed up for every activity imaginable (with great aspirations of becoming Olympic gymnasts and figure skaters). They went to singing lessons and piano lessons; the list goes on. But life got in the way, as it sometimes does, and sacrifices needed to be made to preserve my sanity family harmony. And most of all, they missed their friends. So we spent less time driving to practices, and a little more time just hanging out together. They did remain in organized activities, but not as many, and not so much that it took time away from their friends. They’d have them over to “study” but most times they’d just be chatting, as they often did during class as evidenced by their average marks and that was OK with me. As long as they were happy (and not failing), I was happy for them. For now, my 11yearold’s organized activities are limited to soccer and karate, and she has no ambitions to be a star goalie, or ninja, quite yet. I hazard a guess that it’s okay at this age to not have her life mapped out. And my 17yearold, who has double aspirations of being a starving special effects artist and musician, spends equal time talking to friends and honing her craft (AKA jamming with friends and creating videos to share on YouTube). While my kids aren’t the highest performing students in their class, (not for their lack of ability) they do have a healthy set of social skills. And this may be more important to their future happiness than being scholars. Connect with iVillage.ca: Find us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! Sign up for iVillage Canada Newsletters

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Too Young to be Infertile? What you Need to Know

By TANIA MACWILLIAM | iVillage Canada – Fri, 31 Aug, 2012 10:53 AM EDT

Pressing snooze on your biological clock could not only cost you financially, but emotionally as well. More than half of universityaged young adults believe that fertility begins to decline at a later age than it really does, according to a recent U.K study. More from iVillage.ca: 19 Things We Wish We’d Known About Infertility IVF & Infertility Clinic Costs Across Canada How Much Are We Paying to Get Pregnant? A New Fertility Test is Changing Women’s Lives Celebs Who Struggled to Get Pregnant Got a Friend Trying to Conceive? Here Are 12 Things Not to Say The Globe and Mail reported results from the journal, Human Reproduction, citing that 67 per cent of women and 81 per cent of men think that female fertility greatly declines after age 40; when in reality there is a marked decrease from age 35. A 2010 Canadian study showed that women on the other side of the pond believed the same thing. Many from the U.K study believed that the drop zone is later still, with 31 per cent of women and 52 per cent of men thinking that the chances of natural conception don’t decrease until after age 44. The study also reveals that success rates for assistedreproductive technologies are being vastly overestimated – with reproductive specialists being expected to perform miracles. While researchers can’t put their finger on the reason for this misinformation, experts speculate that it’s because doctors aren’t being proactive by discussing their patient’s fertility until it becomes a concern. In addition, it is believed that celebrity stories, such as that of Kelly Preston, who gave birth to her son when she was 48, are skewing the perception that healthy fertility is the norm at any age.

I was only in my 20s when I was diagnosed with secondary infertility. After many rounds of Clomid (medication used to induce ovulation) and a miscarriage, two years later I was finally pregnant. And although I am happy to have a healthy second child, I don’t forget everything my family went through in the process. Had I been prepared for this possibility, I might have handled it a lot better. Similarly, those without accurate information about their fertility face the possibility of a long, expensive and emotional journey on the road to having children – that is if they even want them. It’s not fair to assume every woman wishes to bear offspring. And some still may wish to invest in their independence and focus on their career before focusing on having children. Different strokes for different folks, and all that. Let’s address a woman’s right to choose. After all, part of what the feminist movement was about was taking control of our fertility. Thank you birth control pill! But to truly take control we must have full knowledge of our body’s capabilities and limitations. Information about the realities of female fertility needs to be readily, and widely, available. It should be discussed in sexeducation classes and brought up by family physicians in young adulthood. The question needs to be raised early. “Might you ever want to have children?” If the answer is yes, then “Here are the things you need to know.” However, should the fear that an aging woman’s ovaries might shrivel up, leaving her barren, pressure her to start considering having children she may never want? It’s the archaic notion that a woman isn’t living up to her Godgiven purpose if she isn’t procreating that causes so much stress. Should she have to compromise her current desires in order to live up to society’s expectations further down the road? These are the things a woman must deal with simply because she was born with a uterus. Pressure is coming in from all sides – “Have a baby in your twenties or risk not having them at all,” and “You better hold off on having a baby until you establish a career because old women in the workplace aren’t desirable.” Then you have the pressure to remain childless because you might use too many sick days thanks to your little snotnosed, germ factories. You risk demotion, and possibly termination, leaving you with the financial hardship you were trying to avoid to begin with. It’s so often about the money, but that isn’t the only cost. Putting the price of fertility treatments aside, (for example, just one round of IVF can cost as much as $15,000) the true price a woman pays comes in the form of emotional turmoil. While family doctors have some psychological training, it doesn’t replace a good old fashioned therapist. Yes, women should be offered a fertility consultation by their doctors to discuss their biology once they reach the prime age of fertility. But the most important service they should be offered is a referral to a therapist who specializes in working with women who are considering when, and if, to have children. Connect with iVillage.ca: Find us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! Sign up for iVillage Canada Newsletters

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By TANIA MACWILLIAM The boogeyman has no power under the sheets of your parents' bed. As a child I had frequent nightmares and would end up knocking on mom's door at least weekly. I always felt safer under my mom's protection. But could this have led to weight issues in my adulthood? A Danish research study claims that children who wake up in the middle of the night and are welcomed into their parent's bed are less likely to be obese than their stayinyourownbed counterparts. The findings showed that children who were not allowed into the parental bed after nighttime waking were three times more likely to become obese than those who were turned away, citing that feelings of security can prevent obesity. Yet, previous research showed the opposite to be true, as poor sleep quality can lead to obesity. This conflicting information can be confusing. Should we turn our kids away at the door or welcome them in? What's scarier, the boogeyman or the possibility of becoming the Fword (fat)?

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As an adult I have allowed my tykes into my bed when they had a scary dream. But while they are getting their forty winks on my queensize mattress, sharing a bed with "tossers" does not lend itself to a restful slumber. I never considered the possibility that this may be making my twiggy girls fat.

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