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Seeking Health Information Online: What are the trusted sources

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The internet has provided us with the immense benefit of seeking health information online. This helps us better understand our condition by identifying signs and symptoms to look out for, determining lifestyle modifications that can be implemented to manage the disease, and finding other people’s experiences with the same condition. With that being said, like many things, seeking health information online comes with its own risks. The major risk is finding reliable, accurate, and up-to-date health information. The search for health information online has only gained popularity in recent years, especially post-COVID-19. With the limitations on hospital visits imposed and quarantines in place, people turned towards the internet to seek health information and clear their doubts. Telemedicine peaked during this time, but so did misinformation and false claims. There was plenty of misinformation circulating through social media during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and people being unable to diffe...
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PFA’s ( Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and their Impact on Health

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PFAs are also known as “forever chemicals”. These are man-made chemicals used in industries and consumer products worldwide since the 1940s. PFAs include more than 10,000 man-made substances. These substances are long-lasting and don't break down; when they do decompose, it is at an extremely slow pace. This highlights the beneficial properties of PFA’s, i.e., their long-lasting nature, for which they are widely used. The nature of PFA’s is due to the presence of strong bonds between carbon and fluorine atoms in the structure of PFA’s. This is the strongest bond in chemistry, which makes PFA’s resistant to water and moderate heat, and allows them to last longer in the environment. PFA’s are used in the making of - non-stick pans, takeout / disposable containers, water resistant clothing, water proof cosmetics, feminine hygiene products, nylon clothes like yoga pants, quick dry clothing, stain resistant fabrics, firefighting foams, grease, water and oil resistant products etc. PFA’s...
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Foods that cause Inflammation

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Food is the primary source of nutrition. The type of food you eat can make or break your body. This is not about eating unhealthy food once in a while, but making a poor diet an everyday choice is harmful to your health. Daily consumption of unhealthy foods leads to inflammation within the body. Inflammation occurs when your body tries to fight off any perceived danger. Developing a fever in a flu is inflammation, having an upset stomach or diarrhea after eating bad food is inflammation. Inflammation is the body’s protective mechanism against harm and resolves on its own within a few days, but when this inflammation becomes chronic, that's when it is bad. In chronic inflammation, the body begins to harm itself, and this inflammation goes on for months to years. Chronic inflammation is the causative factor for several diseases. Several autoimmune diseases, like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s disease, etc., stem from chronic inflammation. It also increases the risk...
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The Benefits of Sunshine

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Summers are giving us ample sunshine, so soak up the sunshine while it lasts, as the sunshine provides us with plenty of benefits. The sunshine helps with Vitamin D production, improves mood, and helps with better sleep, improves energy levels, has immense benefits on mental health, lowers blood pressure, strengthens bones, helps with weight loss, boosts immunity, and reduces stress. The sunshine is the primary source of Vitamin D. When skin is exposed to sunlight, Vitamin D is produced in the body. People living in colder regions with less sunshine, and people who spend most of their time indoors, suffer from hypovitaminosis D. This is the deficiency of Vitamin D and is common in most of the population. Hypovitaminosis D is a common health concern in Canada, especially during the winter months. Canadians living in northern latitudes, elderly, infants and children, individuals with darker skin (higher melanin reduces skin’s ability to absorb sunlight) and individuals who spend most of ...
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The Impact of Oral Health on Overall Health and Well-being

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Oral Health may seem like a tiny part of the puzzle, but it has a huge impact on overall health and well-being. The mouth is the beginning of the digestive tract that extends through the body; it is the entry point for nutrition and oxygen. Thus, poor health of the mouth will impact the rest of the body. The mouth contains about six million bacteria, most of which are harmless and are controlled by the body’s defense mechanisms as long as good oral hygiene is maintained. In case of poor oral hygiene, these bacteria may multiply, spread, and flow into the bloodstream and reach various vital organs. The main indicators of poor oral hygiene include bad breath, cavities, tooth sensitivity, gum diseases like bleeding or swollen gums, discoloured or stained teeth, dry mouth, persistent toothaches, and plaque buildup.  If Oral health is not maintained, it may lead to several other health disorders. Poor oral health, especially Periodontitis (gum infection), can lead to the development and...
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Health Literacy and Its Importance

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 Health Literacy includes a basic understanding of health, medicine, and medical issues about you or your family, as well as the ability to understand, research, discuss with your healthcare provider, and make the right health choice. Only when you have health literacy can you make well-informed choices for yourself and your family, which will impact the quality of your life.  Health Literacy is necessary for everyone because at some point or another, our loved ones may need to use healthcare services, and we need to be able to find, understand, and choose among health information and services. In addition to this, taking care of health is a part of everyday life, and Health Literacy can help us prevent health conditions, manage our health problems better, and lead an overall healthy life.  Health Literacy is a determinant of health. Health literacy is associated with age, gender, educational attainment, income and occupation, poverty, racial/ethnic minority status, liter...
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The rise in Alzheimer's Disease

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Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that causes the brain to shrink and brain cells to die. It slowly destroys memory, thinking, behavior, and social skills to the extent that the person loses the ability to perform basic tasks, such as showering and dressing. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of Dementia. The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include - memory loss, forgetting events, personal history, recent conversations, and appointments, inability to learn new things, confusion, getting lost and misplacing things, mood and behavioral changes, etc. Older adults aged 65 years and above are at increased risk for Alzheimer's disease. The risk also increases in individuals with comorbid conditions like hypertension, diabetes, metabolic disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, excessive alcohol consumption, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, head trauma, or a history of head trauma. The risk of Alzheimer's disease is higher in women; about 65% of Alzheimer...
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