Patient Education Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Plattsville Natural Health Clinic

West Nile Virus – What You Need to Know

July 22, 2015 by elisha

Unfortunately, West Nile Virus is a concern in Ontario, and, as such, you should be aware of what you are up against.

Background Information

West Nile Virus is transmitted by Mosquitos. Not all mosquitos carry West Nile Virus, but they are the vector by which this condition is transmitted to humans. As a result, the Public Health Agency keeps weekly reports on how many cases of human disease exist for the week during the current summer. As of July 11, 2015, there have been no reported diseases in humans in Ontario for the summer. I would hope that this information would bring some relief to most.

Signs and Symptoms

Majority of people infected by West Nile Virus, 80%, do not develop any symptoms. The problem arises in the other 20% of people who do have some symptoms. These symptoms tend to be quite mild and mimic that of influenza. The symptoms include headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. However, the individual normally recovers completely, but may experience fatigue and weakness for weeks or months after. Unfortunately, some individuals, under 1%, are not so fortunate and may develop more serious symptoms, which include inflammation of the brain. This inflammation in the brain (also known as meningitis or encephalitis) can cause tremors, seizures, paralysis, and disorientation. Most of the individuals who are impacted by the more serious complications will recover within weeks to months. However, 10% of those impacted with serious symptoms (the under 1% who contract West Nile Virus), may die from the complications. Individuals who are more susceptible to these more serious consequences include those over 60 years old; and persons with cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and organ transplants. Many of these conditions are conditions where one’s immune system are compromised.

What can you do to minimize risk?

In order to minimize risk, it is important to first diminish risk. In order to decrease the risk of being bit by a mosquito carrying West Nile Virus, one should use mosquito repellent (whatever form that may take) and keep covered in light coloured clothing. In addition, in order to diminish risk, it is important to improve the immune system health and maintain good health overall. In addition, if there are any stagnant pools of water on your property, it would be beneficial to empty them. For more information on how to boost your immune system to prevent illness, please consult your Naturopathic Doctor for more information.

Have you benefitted from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Elisha Cook via the contact portion of this website.

Source: CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Public Health Ontario

The Importance of Consulting Your Naturopathic Doctor for Supplement Advice

July 14, 2015 by elisha

As most of you may know, I have been studying in order to obtain my license to practice as a Naturopathic Doctor in Ontario. As a result, I have had the opportunity to become more familiar with the side effects of many of the conventional and natural therapies. Yes, I did say side effects of natural therapies. It may come as a surprise to many, but natural therapies that are available may have some side effects that need to be known. Many individuals treat supplementing with nutraceuticals as if there are no potential ill effects from doing so. Unbeknownst to them, this is much like hearing a clunk in your car, and looking online for the solution, then fixing it yourself. Many steps are missed when this type of approach is made. For example: what is the quality of the part you are putting into the car, what if you put the part in wrong, are there extra parts that need to be changed or altered in order for the new part to function at its best, is the source a credible one for you to receive your information, and the list goes on. That being said, one should not simply look up their symptoms on – line, and supplement accordingly. Much like you would consult a mechanic for repairs to your vehicle, you should do the same in regards to “repairs to your body”. Whether it is a naturopathic doctor or another health care provider, their advice should be sought when it comes to taking supplements or changing doses in general. In addition, when discussing medications or supplements, it is important to be transparent and honest with your various health care providers about all forms of treatment that you are receiving. This mindset when dealing with health care providers ensure medications and supplements do not interact and cause you harm, and also ensures that you receive the most appropriate guidance in regards to your health.

In order to bring some context to the discussion, we will take a look at Aloe Vera Gel. The internet has been useful in discussing the beneficial effect of aloe vera gel on the digestive system and how it can aid in the digestive process, gastritis, irritable bowel disease, etc. However, individuals may not realize that this impact on digestion could also cause other medications to have decreased absorption if taken around the same time. As a result, it is best to seek the advice of health care providers such as a Naturopathic Doctor in order to guarantee that supplements are taken correctly. In addition, many do not realize that aloe vera gel can have an additive effect with medications for diabetes or increased blood sugars. So, if someone was taking diabetic medication and aloe vera gel, they could become quite dizzy or worse, unconsciousness, and lead to a medical emergency. As one can see, it is important to discuss all supplements with your Naturopathic Doctor or health care provider. A Naturopathic Doctor has had at least 8 years of training, which can provide a great deal of information, much beyond that of a google search.

Have you benefitted from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Training of Naturopathic Doctors

June 9, 2015 by elisha

Throughout my training and practice of Naturopathic Medicine, I have encountered many people who were surprised to find that Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) not only used a Stethoscope, but were also trained to diagnose different conditions. As a result, I wanted to clear the air on how Naturopathic doctors are trained, and how they might compare to other health care providers.

Requirements to be a Naturopathic Doctor

In order to enter Post graduate training to become a naturopathic doctor, one needs to have graduated from a three to four year university program. Typically, it is required to have had pre – medical sciences in that training, with specific courses in biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, psychology, and biochemistry. With these requirements being met, and an application being received and reviewed, an individual may receive an interview from the college. This interview involves questioning about ethical dilemmas and reasons for wanting to enter the program.

As long as the individual is accepted into the program, they will then begin their four year training. Once the training is complete, which includes 4,500 hours of classroom training and 1,500 hours of clinical experience, the individual is then required to pass NPLEX board exams.

Once license is obtained, the individual will be able to retain this licence with appropriate continuing medical education training on a regular basis.

Below is a chart distributed through the AANMC, which compares the hours of training between various health care professions. As one can see, MDs and NDs have very similar amounts of training as health care providers.

Source: http://aanmc.org/schools/comparing_nd_md_curricula/

Training of Naturopathic Doctors

In the naturopathic specific education, individuals are trained in basic sciences, clinical disciplines (including diagnostics, radiology, laboratory diagnosis, and naturopathic assessment), naturopathic disciplines (including clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, hydrotherapy, naturopathic manipulation, and lifestyle counselling), and clinical experience (including treating patients under the supervision of a registered naturopathic doctor).

What all of this means is that Naturopathic Doctors are trained to diagnose different medical conditions, similar to what your medical doctor might diagnose. NDs are also able to read and interpret lab work, similar to your medical doctor. That being said, you could say that NDs are highly skilled and trained health care providers. Below I have provided a chart that was distributed by the AANMC, which compares the training of Naturopathic Doctors versus Medical Doctors and how they may differ.

Source: http://aanmc.org/schools/comparing_nd_md_curricula/

Another difference in training between MDs and NDs is in regards to residency. Both professions have 4 years of training, but in regards to the residency, It is mandatory for MDs but not for NDs due to the lack of available residencies available for NDs. In addition, NDs and MDs are trained to treat and look at patient cases differently. That being said, this blog is not meant to prove that NDs are equal or superior to MDs, but to provide more information as to what your ND is qualified to do. With the training that a naturopathic doctor is given, they are able to help you with all of your primary care needs, and are able to distinguish when referral to your MD or other health care providers may be necessary (for example when you might need antibiotics). The primary health care needs may include treatment of such conditions and symptoms as fatigue, high blood pressure, depression, diabetes, asthma, allergies, anxiety, pain, constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, bloating, indigestion, menstrual problems, acne, psoriasis, arthritis, and the list goes on. If you have any more questions about what your Naturopathic Doctor can do for you please do not hesitate to contact me (Elisha Cook) through the contact portion of this website.

Have you benefitted from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Source: http://aanmc.org/schools/comparing_nd_md_curricula/

Health Benefits of Sun Exposure

May 26, 2015 by elisha

Many public health campaigns are aimed at reducing sun exposure to address potential skin cancer risks and concerns. However, completely abstaining from sun exposure in general could be more detrimental to your health than good. As with many of the recommendations I give, everything in moderation. That being said, 10-15 minutes of direct sun exposure (including not having sun glasses on but obviously not looking directly into the sun) can have many different health benefits. Please be aware that this timing might be different for individuals who are sun – sensitive or those taking medications that increase your sensitivity to the sun. It is also important to use sun protection when the UV index is above 3.

This blog serves to provide you, my readers, with some information on how your health may improve from soaking up some sun.

Vitamin D Production

It is difficult to talk about sunlight exposure without talking about vitamin D. Our bodies need sunlight in order to produce vitamin D, which could benefit many conditions including depression, cancer, colds, illness, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), immune functioning.

Improved Sleep

With adequate sun exposure, we allow the natural processes and hormone regulation in our bodies to take place, specifically for melatonin. When we are exposed to sunlight (or artificial light) in the mornings, we are able to produce melatonin sooner in the evening, leading to an easier time falling asleep at night. This has been shown to be beneficial for insomnia, premenstrual syndrome, and SAD.

Mood Enhancement

Neurotransmitters are also impacted by sunlight, specifically serotonin. Serotinin is what I like to call a “happy neurotransmitter”. It helps to elevate mood and bring about mental clarity in general when it is in adequate supply. Serotonin is directly impacted by melatonin, and so, serotonin becomes higher when we receive enough sunlight exposure. As a result, the serotonin received could help with depression, SAD, poor energy, and poor concentration.

Immune System Regulation

Sun exposure can aid the immune system through many different mechanisms. Ultimately it helps the immune system remove immune cells that might attack your own body (self – reactive T cells) and thus prevent or help with the management of autoimmune conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis, Vitiligo, Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, and some forms of Hypothyroidism.

Decrease Oxidative Stress

Though too much sun exposure can cause oxidative stress, adequate amounts can help limit oxidative stress. This can help with gene repair and limit DNA damage.

Increase Endorphins

Direct sun exposure has also shown to increase blood levels of endorphins, which could help to decrease pain and improve mood overall.

Have you benefitted from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, please contact Elisha Cook at the Contact portion of the website for more information.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2290997/