For last year’s International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Day, we went into a lot of details exploring Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the differences between FASD and FAS. This year, we will focus on encouraging each other to talk about alcohol consumption in pregnancy and the importance of allowing
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Discussion of bromelain is beginning to gain traction across the Internet as a potential supplement in the fight against covid. Let’s explore what science is currently being explored with regards to it! Bromelain is found in the stems of pineapple and only a small amount can be found in pineapple juice or pineapple fruit, itself. As such, the supplement is best purchased through vitamin or supplement brands. Buyer beware of course as the supplement industries is not heavily regulated like medications might be.
Largely known as a growth factor receptor antagonist Suramin is currently only used in the treatment of river blindness (onchocerciasis) as well as African sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis). This medication is not approved by the USA FDA, but it is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines. Unfortunately, it is not absorbed through the stomach or intestines, so ingesting it will unfortunately not provide the terapeutic that you are hoping for.
A myocardial infarction is a heart attack, plainly put. Myocardial refers to the muscle of the heart and infarction refers to a blockage. In most cases of a heart attack, the blockage refers to a blood clot or other entity blocking the blood vessels that supply blood and nutrients the muscles of the heart. When the muscles of the heart cannot get enough blood supply, areas of the heart lack oxygen and begin to die off as a result. A blockage is not the only cause of a heart attack, but we will focus on this particular cause as it is the most common.
On October 13th, 1989 The United Nation’s General Assembly made a call for an international day to promote risk-awareness and disaster reduction. October 13th was hailed as the “International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.” Disasters can come in many different forms — both natural or artificial. This observed day is dedicated to encouraging a global culture of reducing the risk of disasters. Reducing the risk starts by first identifying potential risks to not only ourselves and our communities, but to the world. This isn’t just a day for ourselves to look at disaster risk reduction, such as preparing our homes for earth quakes, or checking our fire extinguishers, but to see our community and our fellow countries and what risks might be looming.
According to the CDC, around half of people suffering from arthritis are actually younger than you might think with only 49.6% of sufferers being over the age of 65. Arthritis literally stands for “inflammation of the joints:” Arthro refers to joints and itis denotes inflammation. In the spirit of World Arthritis Day on October 12th, let’s talk about the many different kinds of arthritis. We will talk about Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Childhood Arthritis, Lupus, Gout, and Fibromyalgia.
World Homeless Day is an annual day intended to spark conversations about the homeless populations around the world. Unfortunately, our community has suffered a significant rise in the unhoused over the past two years. When the pandemic hit, the ability to work from home made moving to the Comox Valley a desirable plan. Not only were houses cheaper, the population was a gentle number and the activities and views afforded by the valley encouraged many people from the mainland to move over in droves.
One might argue that smiles are not related to health, but they certainly help! We can trick the brain into thinking we are experiencing something humorous or happiness-related and induced a series of hormonal responses. Fake it until you make it sort of thing. What better way to celebrate world smile day than doing your best to make someone else smile.
This title is a tilt of the hat to October 14th’s upcoming World Sight Day, which is celebrated every year on the second Thursday of October. Originally, the day was initiated in 2000 by the Lions Club International Foundation’s SightFirstCampaign. More on that to come on October 14th.
Also known as DMD, dystrophinopathy, and pseudohypertrophic myopathy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy is one of the most frequent forms of congenital genetic conditions. This particular form of muscular dystrophy affects the gene that is in charge of transcribing the protein known as dystrophin. Dystrophin is one of a few proteins that make up our muscles and in Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, the protein is completely missing.