Hearing (relationship) aid

Hearing loss for one, hearing problem for two

Written with Miriam Kolacevic, Audiologist (C), MSc. Reg. CASLPO

It’s nothing short of a mood killer when your sweet nothings go from a whisper to a shout on Valentine’s Day. When someone has hearing loss, both halves of the couple have a hearing problem.

Hearing keeps us connected socially. It’s how we learn, work, and build intimacy. So while the ear’s functionality may not be a sole cause of relationship tension, consider supporting your relationship by removing the strain hearing loss can cause.

Those with hearing loss can feel cut off or depleted by the energy that is required to stay engaged. Meanwhile, the partner of a loved one with hearing loss may become the “human hearing aid”, who interprets and repeats conversations.

Embracing technology and building a support network

Devices are smaller and more sophisticated than ever before.  They are prescription-fitted with microchip technology to each person’s hearing loss; and re-programmed to compensate for any additional hearing loss in the future. Noise-cancellation technology can lower the background noise automatically making it more comfortable to hear in noisy environments.

Research from Galaxy Research and an Australian hearing organization found 84 percent of new hearing aid users reported easier communication, while 75 percent of respondents said their loved ones no longer had to shout to be heard.

As an audiologist at Medcan, Miriam Kolacevic enjoys counselling as much as performing hearing tests and prescribing hearing devices.

Under 50? Have a colon?

A U.S. study on colorectal cancer suggests earlier screening for younger adults

Photo by loly galina on Unsplash

Written by Jeffrey L. Axler, MD, FRCP(C). Edited by Tania Haas

The January 2016 study published in the medical journal Cancer found that one in seven, or 14 percent, of colon and rectal cancers in the U.S. are diagnosed in patients younger than the age of 50. That’s the age when most Americans (and Canadians) are advised to begin routine screenings. The authors of the study suggested U.S. adults may want to consider screening earlier. Critics of the study said the yield of screening will be low since young people are less likely to get colorectal cancer than older people.

At the end of the day, it’s all about choice. You are in control of your own health and you have the option to get screened when it is right for you.

Canadians and colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada, the second leading cause of cancer death in men, and the third in women.

The good news: colorectal cancer is one of the most responsive cancers to early treatment, with a five-year survival rate of 90 percent. Even better, when a polyp is detected early (a polyp is the small growth on the lining of colon or rectum), your medical team can stop the cancer before it starts.

Younger Canadians and colon cancer

In Ontario, 8.8 percent of all male colorectal cancer cases occur in men under age 50. The statistics are similar for Ontario women. Individuals in these age groups are generally not eligible for provincially-funded screening unless they have symptoms or have an affected first degree relative.  This is interesting since U.S. screening guidelines start at age 45 for certain high-risk groups. These groups have lower cancer rates than certain populations in Ontario, even though the province’s screening guidelines* remain at 50.

Medcan respectfully maintains its position as a destination for early cancer detection with colonoscopies for individuals above and below age 50.

How to conquer your colonoscopy

Here are a few tips to help you prepare for the experience:

Better prep, better visibility for your doctor. This means there is a better chance you will find something, if there is something to be found.

No need to overdo the laxatives. The quantity of laxatives has decreased significantly in recent years: only three 5 ounce servings.

They are more tolerable now, too. Most clients don’t find the taste to be unpleasant. Sucking on a hard candy or rinsing with mouthwash can also make it more palatable.

You can drink a beer. You’ll have to drink at least two liters of clear liquid while taking the laxatives like apple juice, sports drinks or any drink you can see through (that’s not red). If you’d like to enjoy a beer or glass of white wine, that’s okay. But one is enough as the prep will dehydrate you.

Your nurse loves to talk polyps. We welcome all sorts of questions as you prepare ahead of the procedure.

*New guidelines, do they apply to you?

The screening guidelines for Canadians under the age of 50 with a family history (first degree relative) is every five years, with initial screening recommended 10 years prior to the age the first degree relative was diagnosed.

The updated guidelines released last month in the Canadian Medical Association Journal apply to adults ages 50 to 74 and recommend patients undergo fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) every two years, or a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 years (this procedure reviews only the lower portion of the colon and rectum, whereas a colonoscopy reviews the entire colon).

Outlook: DNA technology

We are monitoring the development of emerging technologies, including non-invasive colon cancer screening tests based on stool DNA, which may address the inconsistencies and unreliability of the FOBT. At this time, in terms of prevention, a colonoscopy remains the gold standard for all ages.

Jeffrey L. Axler, MD, FRCP(C) is the Director of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy.

Studies ReferencedAbdelsattar, Zaid M., Sandra L. Wong, Scott E. Regenbogen, Diana M. Jomaa, Karin M. Hardiman and Samantha Hendren.  Jan 25, 2016. “Colorectal cancer outcomes and treatment patterns in patients too young for average-risk screening.” CANCER, Vol. 122, Issue 6, 929–934.

Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care. Feb 22, 2016. “Recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer in primary care.” Canadian Medical Association Journal, Vol. 188, No. 5, 340-348.

The value of flavour

It’s time to take back flavour and, in doing so, our well-being

Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash

Written by Stefania Palmeri, MHSc., Registered Dietitian, Edited by Tania Haas

As much as we know certain foods are better than others, we gravitate to food that tastes good. Flavour is a huge driver behind our choices. Before the evolution of processed food and other modern agricultural practices, food that tasted good was also good for us nutritionally. But in the past 80 years, real food has lost flavour and synthetic additives have hijacked our brain and taste buds.

I became more aware of this issue when I attended a University of Toronto seminar on nutritional science. Mark Schatzker, the award-winning journalist of The Dorito Effect, provided an eye-opening exposé on why we crave what we do.  His arguments were so compelling that it went on to spur a dietitian-wide book club at Medcan.

Schatzker says that flavour is nature’s way of telling us what is nutritionally valuable – he calls this concept nutritional wisdom.  Flavour molecules are associated with certain nutrients, which our body uses as a map to guide us back to what we need.  But with the growth of ultra-processed foods, our bodies have lost this wisdom. We now crave flavours that are linked to foods of no value. Grapes, for example are nutritious, but grape soda is not.  As a species, we are lost and confused.

Pledge to eat more flavourful food

While we may feel the odds are stacked against us, there are ways we can reclaim flavour – and the nutrition we need for our well being:

Detox slowly from the junk and read labels

Many unhelpful food cravings are acquired and you can like healthier options in time.  If salt and sugar are an issue for you, reduce their intake gradually. The less you have, the less you crave.  Read labels to avoid artificial sweeteners and flavours.  It’s unfair competition to pit fruit against an artificial sweetener, which can be up to 600 times chemically sweeter than sugar.

Purchase heirloom fruits and vegetables

Heirloom fruits and vegetables have been farmed using open-pollination instead of intentional hybrid/cross-breeding techniques.  Through natural selection, the strongest genes are carried forward, resulting in a variety of flavours and colours.  Try heirloom tomatoes or heirloom purple carrots for a different spin on a salad – see if you can taste the difference.

Spice things up

Herbs and spices contain secondary plant compounds, which are chemicals that protect plants from parasites, insects, and animals. These chemicals, although toxic to some organisms, are advantageous to us and help ward off damage to our cells.  Oregano has strong antibiotic and antifungal properties; rosemary and thyme marinades can reduce cancer-causing compounds, such as HCAs and PHAs found in charred and grilled meats.  As Hippocrates is quoted as saying, let food be thy medicine.

Each March, the Dietitians of Canada celebrate nutrition month.  This year’s theme is to take the 100-meal journey, transforming small, sustainable changes into life-long, healthy behaviours.

Stefania Palmeri, registered dietitian at Medcan, has a soft spot for homegrown tomatoes and homemade tomato sauce.  

From Sedentary Desk Jockey to CrossFit Champ

Meet Tim (age 51, Executive)

Health and Wellness Goals:  Tim wanted to lower his cholesterol and blood pressure levels without medication. He also wanted to avoid having surgery to relieve severe shoulder pain.

“I was working long hours, entertaining and going to business dinners. Life gets in the way and time passes. Soon, 10 years of that lifestyle catches up to you. When I came to Medcan, I felt like I was at a crossroads. I was heading toward a life that required surgery and beta blockers, or I could try another route. That’s what I chose.”

Medcan Strategy:  Develop a personalized fitness-centred regime, supplemented by nutrition counseling and naturopathic guidance.

Tim started by working out twice a week with Medcan Fitness personal trainer, who helped him work on the fundamentals and mechanics of strength training. As a Type A personality, Tim had a tendency to push himself in ways that could cause injury. With his trainer, Tim learned ways to increase strength in his shoulder and correct muscle imbalances without hurting himself. Over the next three years, his workouts incorporated more progressions and challenging workouts.

Follow-up sessions with a Medcan registered dietitian and the naturopathic doctor provided guidance on a diet to help him keep his lost weight off, cholesterol levels down, gain more energy and diminish the pain and discomfort he was feeling in his joints.

“It’s just amazing how my body reacted positively over the years. I introduced fitness and different eating habits gradually over time, which was the best way for me. I was able to maintain and sustain it. Along with the convenient downtown location close to work, the personal trainers at Medcan have a wide array of expertise, which I’ve relied on during different parts of my training.”

Outcomes:

• Blood pressure or cholesterol medication is no longer recommended

• No longer in need of shoulder surgery

• Diminished joint pain and inflammation

• Over 50% loss in body fat in three years

• Waist shrunk by six inches

• Increased fitness level and frequency of physical activity, including more strength, tennis and CrossFit

• Improved sleep

Aside from the obvious physical transformation, Tim started seeing incredible improvement on the tennis court and at the gym. This new found energy, strength and endurance inspired him to push his own expectations of what he was capable of achieving. He started playing tennis at a much more competitive level, and decided to enroll in regular CrossFit competitions. On the court and at the judged competitions, Tim, often the oldest guy in the room, not only matched the younger guys’ skills, but sometimes even beat them. Many of his peers started to ask him about his regime, wondering how to emulate him as they age.

“There’s been a snowball effect among my friends and family too. I tell them it doesn’t come easy and there will be roadblocks but it is possible.  My 12-year-old nephew says he wants to be as strong as me. Whenever we’re at a restaurant he tells the waitress that he’ll have what I’m having.”