Menu

Healthy Dal

Working towards a healthier Dalhousie

Follow!

Archives for activity

Tips for Staying Sharp as we Age

Leave a Comment

While some changes to our mental faculties are inevitable as we age, there are steps we can take to minimize their impact. This post from Psychology Today focuses on lifestyle changes and strategies that are under our control and that can help us to stay sharp as we age.  They emphasize four steps:

  1. Prioritize sleep – Sleep is not only essential for physical health, but it’s also critical to our cognitive functioning and our mental well-being.
  2. Get moving – Exercise, especially cardiovascular exercise that elevates the heart rate, gets the blood flowing, and increases oxygen delivery throughout the body and brain.
  3. Be social – Strong social networks are linked to well-being across a number of metrics, including both physical and mental health, and can help us to be resilient when we encounter stressors or setbacks.
  4. Exercise your brain – The way to strengthen the brain? Use it, and give it challenges.  Don’t just stick with familiar tasks.

Read the full post HERE.

Fitness, vegetables, and hydration: how much is enough?

1 Comment

How much fitness is enough?exercise-outside-woman-stock-today-150427-tease_72497df9c4ab67a1d1a016b22206a5af.today-inline-large

  • 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical exercise per week OR 25-30 minutes per day
    • Studies have shown that getting 150 minutes of activity weekly has positive impacts on over 25 chronic health conditions
    • Some of the biggest positive impacts have been on decreasing risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, colon and breast cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, depression, and metabolic syndrome
    • Mental health benefits include improvements in intellectual functioning, anxiety reduction, well-being, confidence, and sexual satisfaction

What kind of hydration and nutrition is necessary?

  • 9-13 cups of clean water per day
    • Hydration plays a key role in mood and cognitive functions, such as alertness, concentration, and short term memory481194973
    • Water helps flush toxins out of vital organs and helps deliver nutrients throughout one’s body
  • 6-8 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
    • A Canadian study in 2010 showed that only 41% of individuals ate 5 or more vegetables per day
    • Eating well, which includes consuming the high levels of vitamins and minerals in fruits and vegetables, can boost energy and the immune system

This information is reproduced with permission from www.vendurawellness.com.

The Pain Support Group

Leave a Comment

Hello blog readers (and I hope you are out there!)

So, for a variety of reasons, I will admit to my personal skeptism about support groups.   However, from the exploration of resources for people with Pain,  I came to the understanding they can indeed have value.

Why do I say that? I very recently had my first experience as part of a support group (and I didn’t even know it was happening!).  To make a long story short, to prepare for the possibility of being directly involved with a group on campus, I attended a facilitators workshop for group leaders and a conference for health care professionals. I am still trying to digest what I learned and the stories that I heard!! One thing  stood out – it was a community effort. As the contributors were sharing, I could see a vision for a working support group unfold.

The support group leaders came from different backgrounds, experiences and geographic locations. Their individual and collective journeys of Chronic Pain filled with heartbreak and triumph, anger and frustration, gratitude and humor.  This strong group of leaders talked of issues with treatments, wait times, sleep, injury, relationships, careers, quality of life, stigma and more.  Some had great successes with their groups, some less so.  But I personally felt overwhelming support, warmth and welcome in the most non-judgmental way.  (Hmmm, maybe they are on to something here??)

After much careful thought and consideration and as a follow-up to the events taking place in November,  we (Dalhousie HR) are launching a support group for Chronic Pain. The group will be shaped much like the one that’s on-campus for Caregivers (See Today@Dal: http://www.dal.ca/news/2016/05/25/dal-recognizes-caregivers-with-appreciation-day.html ). A portion of the group’s time together will be sharing for constructive support, with the remainder allotted to a guest speaker to present on a relevant topic. Much of how the sessions evolve will depend on the group’s interests.  Confidentiality is expected by all  – a support group is a safe space.

Learn more and register at: https://events-tm.dal.ca/workshop.php?id=1901.

Work Well,

Angela

PS Check out the Enviromental Health and Safety Expo https://www.dal.ca/news/today/2016/10/24/2nd_annual_environmental_health___safety_expo.html.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working With Pain – On Campus Learning Events

Leave a Comment

Hello all,

I’m super pleased to share the following learning event, being held on campus on November 2.  It is in partnership with the Dalhousie Pain Group and the Action Atlantic Pain Society.

Human Resources is conducting a learning session for faculty and staff facing challenges with Pain on November 2 from 12:00pm – 1:30pm in the Student Union Building, Room 224. Participants in this session will be presented with information and resources to better understand what pain is, how it may manifest in the body and options available to address the physical effects. Approaches for self-care and methods of coping will be discussed, as well as improving communication with health care providers. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions directly to the session leaders. The goal is to empower people with pain to make better decisions to better address obstacles.

For more information on the event and to register, please visit: https://events-tm.dal.ca/workshop.php?id=1825.

Keep watch for other events related to Pain Management, such as the Food-Pain connection, throughout the month of November.

Work Well,

Angela

Links: Dalhousie Pain Group: http://medicine.dal.ca/research/pain-group.html

Action Atllantic Pain Society: http://actionatlantic.blogspot.ca/

TOP