Thursday February 6th/ 2008

12:10: The Health Roundup with Jay McQueen.

12:15: It’s about time we check in and see what spring will behold over at Shalom Village.
Guest: Pat Morden, CEO of Shalom Village. 905.528.5377 x 229

12:20: Get crackin’! No, not with eggs, we’re talking about your back! Our favourite chiropractors over on Locke Street are here!
Guests: Dr. Kathryn Wheatley and Dr. Jim Lamontagne, Regent Health and Chiropractic Centre. (in-studio)

12:35: Daylight savings time (DST) kicks in this Saturday night Sunday morning at 2am and although many enjoy the fact that it will be lighter, later, the time shift can leave many people dragging. We should already be taking steps minimize the effect of what essentially is jetlag.
Guest: Dr. David Higgins, Head of the Sleep Disorders Clinic over at St. Joseph’s HealthCare Hamilton. 905-522-1155 ext. 35922

12:45: Rexall Pharmacy segment.
Guest: Irene.
Cold and Flu Comfort
Flu Report, by The Weather Network : Hamilton is reported to have very high activity! Very High is considered over 15% of the population. Data is collected on a weekly basis and is distributed by Surveillance Data Inc.
Is it a cold or flu? The Flu also called influenza is a respiratory infection caused by a number of viruses. The viruses pass through the air and enter your body though your nose or mouth. Between 5% to 20% of people in Canada get the flu each year. The flu can be serious or even deadly for the elderly, newborn babies and people with certain chronic illnesses. Symptoms of the flu come on suddenly and are worse than those of the common cold. They may include:

• Body or muscle aches
• Chills
• Cough
• Fever
• Headache
• Sore throat

Colds rarely cause fever or headaches. The Flu almost never causes an upset stomach. The “stomach flu” isn’t a flu at all but gastroenteritis. One way of avoiding the Flu, is to get a yearly flu vaccine. If you get the Flu you health care provider, may prescribe you medicine, to help fight infection and lesson symptoms. Practitioners of alternative medicine have crusaded for a long time against the overuse of decongestants. Their argument is that elevated temperatures and mucus production are the body’s own ways of dealing with the cold and should not be interfered with. A cold is primarily a viral attack and the body responds by producing immune system stimulants that are responsible for temperature and inflammation. This causes dilation of blood capillaries so that more blood, heat and antigens flow to the battle zone. Congestion occurs because of the swelling of the nasal passages and the increase in production of mucus.

Relief from your Symptoms:

• Cleanse the system of toxins, switch to a diet of alkaline fruits, like pineapple, grapefruit.
• Regular hip baths, steam facials, you can add eucalyptus oil to water.
• People who take zinc lozenges reduce the length of their colds by 42% ( researched through Cleveland Clinic in Ohio)
• Build immunity, rest and more rest! ( stress is a immune-compromiser factor)
• Ginger is an excellent remedy
• Severe flu headaches can be eased by applying the mild paste of mustard or nutmeg on the forehead.

Know when to call in sick ! Don’t’ go to work when you should be at home getting over whatever it is you have! Germs love your hands and co-excising with your fellow employees.

Nadine Janacek
Blog Reporter Rexall #202