What is Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a degenerative disorder that affects the brain. It destroys brain cells, breaking down neural connections and causing memory, behavior, and mental function to deteriorate. AD affects people in different ways. Sometimes, the disease progresses gradually, leaving major cognitive functions such as reasoning and memory intact for several
Have you experienced potential symptoms of Alzheimer’s? Are you concerned for a close friend or loved one? Mild lapses in memory are a normal part of the aging process. If you have a word on the tip of your tongue and then remember it a short while later, it could be a sign that your
During the 2013-2014 flu season, approximately one-third of Canadians aged 12 and over protected themselves from the flu by getting a flu shot. The flu vaccine is the best way to protect against the flu—statistics suggest that getting it can lower your chances of contracting the influenza virus by 50-60% when there is a good match between the
Flu season is upon us, and with it comes the need to make an informed decision about the flu shot. The influenza vaccine is effective, safe, and easy to access. In Canada, it has been shown to reduce visits to the doctor, hospitalizations, and deaths among high-risk adults. Don’t let the following myths get in
It’s fall, and influenza season is in full swing. Perhaps you’ve already noticed colleagues, relatives, or acquaintances falling ill. Maybe someone in your house is showing the first symptoms of a cold or flu. How are you going to avoid getting sick? While there’s no way to guarantee you won’t get the flu this season,
Do you know the difference between the common cold and the flu? While these illnesses both affect your respiratory system and share a handful of symptoms in common, they’re not the same. When you or someone you care for falls sick, you may not know how to tell the difference. So, does it matter? The
Not all types of influenza are created equal. Some types will give you milder symptoms, while others can leave you seriously sick. Keep reading to learn about the different types of influenza and understand what you can do to protect yourself. What is the flu? Also known as influenza, the flu is a respiratory
Down with the flu? Getting sick is something that most of us try to avoid at all costs, by getting a flu shot every year, washing our hands, and avoiding friends and acquaintances who are sick. Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to avoid catching the flu. When the virus finds a way into your body,
Chances are you’ve heard conflicting information about dietary fats. Take butter, for instance. Butter was once in everyone’s bad books. It was so bad for us, in fact, that margarine was the recommended substitute for people trying to avoid saturated fats. Margarine has since been called “deadly” for health, while butter appears to be making
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. That means getting active—in spurts of ten minutes or more—on most days of the week. Not only can physical activity dramatically reduce stress levels, boost energy, and improve the quality of your sleep