Symptoms offer clues in telling cold and flu apart

 We've all heard someone mention that they have a touch of the flu. But was it the flu, or was it a really bad cold? It can be difficult to tell them apart as symptoms can be very similar. While the common cold can make you feel really sick, the

Sleep Apnea? How controlling your blood sugar could help

 Robert, 45, is a business consultant and lives with his wife Susan and two children in Greely, Ottawa. About a year ago, he visited his family physician due to problems with his sleep. He explained to the doctor that for that last three months he had been waking up in the

The Gluten Free Diet: Why it Might Not be Helping You

 I have lost count of the number of clients at Ottawa Holistic Wellness that I have advised to go on a gluten free diet because I determined it would help their symptoms. For the vast majority, it was a positive experience. Their long-term chronic symptoms disappeared. For the minority, the

Heartburn: is medication your right option?

 Paul is a policy analyst working for the Government of Canada in Ottawa. With recent cut backs in his department his work load has been significantly higher over the last two years. About six months ago he began to notice what he described as heartburn. At first it was mild

Is Online Gambling Addictive?

 What is a Gambling Addiction? Gambling addiction can also be known as compulsive gambling. It is an impulse-control disorder where people are unable to control their urge to gamble, even if they see there are negative effects to gambling. Problem gamblers will continue to gamble regardless of their situation--whether they

Man’s Best Friend and Life Saver: Relieving the Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with Service Dogs

 PHOTO CREDIT: Sylvain Chartrand The bridge was high enough with sharp rocks beneath that ensured death would be imminent.  He carefully tucked his suicide note between the lamp and photo frame next to his friend’s favourite TV chair and headed out into the bitter night towards the bridge that he envisioned would

Healthwise: Are you treating the symptoms or the cause?

 I once knew a man who complained of chronic headaches. He managed his ailment with multiple daily doses of acetaminophen or ibuprofen.  After months of suffering, he lamented the state of his health over lunch.  We questioned the fellow and came to identify the fact that he never drank water.

Healthwise: Living with anxiety and depression

 I am honoured to be welcomed as the new Accredited Health Blogger for Ottawa Life Magazine. For my first post as such, I have decided to explore an illness that affects a significant number of adults: anxiety and depression. Because of this particular time of year, and given the recent

Are we taking too many pills?

 By Jennifer Paterson More Canadians are taking prescription medicine than ever before. Many busy people believe in the don't-think-twice, pop-it-in-your-mouth, "magic bullet" cure for all illness and disease. Total drug expenditures per Canadian were tallied at $681 in 2004 — up almost 8 per cent from 2003, according to a