stress Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Kingston Integrated Healthcare Inc.

Introducing Our 4- Week Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Course

Written by Lindsay Dupuis, MA, CCC on April 18, 2017. Posted in Blog, Programs and Events.

Did you know that, according to Statistics Canada, nearly a quarter of all Canadian adults rate their daily stress levels as moderate to high? And, did you know that stress accounts for lower quality of life and can have significant negative impacts on your physical and mental health?

If ongoing stress is playing a role in your life, or if you would otherwise like to practice slowing down the fast pace of your busy world, then this is the course for you!

Join Lindsay Dupuis, Mental Health Counsellor, for this 4-week course in which you will learn how to take control of your mind and gain energy back through a series of educational lessons and guided meditations…

Start Your Day off Right with this 10-Minute Morning Routine

Written by Lindsay Dupuis, MA, CCC on April 1, 2017. Posted in Blog, Newsletters.

(4 min read) Everyone has a morning routine as unique as the house they live in.

Some are long and complex. Others are quick and to the point. I’d be willing to bet, though, that just about everyone’s morning routine involves making themselves look more presentable. Showers wash away flat morning hair, toothpaste strips away bad breath, make-up covers flaws, and clothing camouflages bodily imperfections. For a society that values physical appearances, many of us make this a priority in order to put our best faces forward.

Allergies From Stress

Written by Dr. Sonya Nobbe, ND on March 3, 2017. Posted in Blog, Newsletters.

Ever wonder why your seasonal allergies vary in intensity from year to year? What makes them so much worse this year compared to last season? It’s not as simple as environmental fluctuations that change how plants bloom. Your immune reactions against otherwise harmless things like pollen fluctuate and adapt according to what else is happening in your body. And unlike the growing season, your body’s reaction to this environmental stressor is one thing you have more control over than traditionally considered.

Are Your Hormones Making You Tired?

Written by Dr. Angela Hunt, ND, MSCP on March 1, 2017. Posted in Blog, Newsletters.

sore throat, shown red, keep handed, isolated on white background

Fatigue and low energy is one of the most common concerns that patients come to see me for. Sometimes the fatigue is a new symptom but for the majority of people, it is something they have been struggling with for years. In many cases it presents itself gradually, like a slow but steady decline. Now they find themselves with so little energy they can’t do the activities that they want and it is affecting their quality of life. There are many different root causes for low energy but one’s hormonal state is usually a major player. I want to briefly cover two hormonal issues that can lead to low energy.

De-Stressing The Holidays

Written by Dr. Angela Hunt, ND, MSCP on December 1, 2016. Posted in Blog, Newsletters.

Post-holiday season, usually around mid-January, I have patients coming into my clinic showing signs of extreme fatigue and exhaustion. They sigh, “The holidays just wiped me out and I have no energy left”. Their immune systems are weak, they have gained a few extra pounds and barely have enough stamina to put the holiday decorations away. Sound familiar? Avoid a holiday melt-down this year by following these simple pro-active suggestions.

Menopause: Navigating it Naturally

Written by Dr. Angela Hunt, ND, MSCP on September 5, 2016. Posted in Blog.

Let us start this off by reminding everyone that menopause is NOT a disease but a natural cycle in a woman’s life. This life cycle can be a bit rough for some, but there are ways to navigate through it more easily. The definition of menopause is one full year without any menstruation[i]. It is important to note that numerous women start to experience menopausal symptoms even before their period has completely stopped, a time called “peri-menopause”. Peri-menopause can start up to a decade before menstruation stops, making this whole process a drawn out affair. I want to cover some of the natural options women have for managing symptoms during their menopausal years but first, let’s review the most common symptoms.

Top Seasonal Allergy Tips

Written by Dr. Sonya Nobbe, ND on July 25, 2016. Posted in Blog, Newsletters.

Young woman blowing nose

The immune system is one of our most precious resources for good health. Seasonal allergy symptoms are an indication of an overactive immune response against harmless pollens and are a useful sign that our immune system requires some support. Here are some simple strategies to reduce your seasonal allergy symptoms and improve your immune system health.

Managing Stress Around the Holidays

Written by KIHC on December 1, 2014. Posted in Blog, Newsletters.

By Holly WhiteKnight, ND

It’s that time of year again. Parking lots are packed, stores are blaring holiday music and your schedule may be packed with gatherings and endless holiday engagements. Even for those who love and fully embrace the season, it can be a stress filled time of year. The holidays can also be a sensitive time for many, especially those who have lost a loved one or those who suffer from depression. Here are some ways to set yourself up for the most relaxed and present holiday season yet:

– Try to prevent stress and depression in the first place. It is often difficult to stop and backtrack when at the peak of holiday stress. Know yourself and reflect on past holiday stressors or depression triggers, jot them down and come up with ways to avoid them this year or tackle them from a different angle. Be thoughtful and deliberate, choosing to spend your time in meaningful ways and to eliminate irrelevant tasks. Get your holiday armour ready, whatever it may be: a polite excuse to get you out of a dreaded commitment, a long walk after a congested family meal to have some alone time (maybe Fido really needed to have some extra sniffs!). If you suffer from depression,

Thinking Outside the Box: Holiday Gift Giving

Written by KIHC on December 3, 2013. Posted in Blog, Newsletters.

Dr. Christina Vlahopoulos, ND

The Holiday Season is quickly coming and not only is the goose getting fat, but so are the wallets of all the giant retailors across this country. Over the last few years, I have noticed that gift giving and all the hustle and bustle that surrounds it, has become more stressful than it needs to be. Somewhere along the way, we forget why we are purchasing that small item as a gesture of gratitude and instead fight over the last toy in the store. So, as with anything, age has brought me more wisdom about how I show my gratitude to those I care about, especially at this time of the year. In sharing these ideas, and other Holiday gift giving suggestions, my hope is that it might inspire you to think a little differently about how you show your gratitude this Holiday Season.

Mould: What does it mean for indoor air quality?

Written by KIHC on March 3, 2013. Posted in Blog, Newsletters.

~ Dr. Christina Vlahopoulos, ND, MSc (cand.)

With spring just around the corner it means we will start opening windows to let the fresh air in. It is also a very damp time of year with a lot of rain – for those who suffer from mould allergies, it can be challenging. There is a lot of strong evidence suggesting that dampness outside can change indoor air quality. But how does moisture make us sick? Unfortunately it is not the water and rain that make us sick, but rather they create the perfect environment and conditions for mould to grow.

Mould spores can be found everywhere – from food to drywall to leaf litter and the soil on the ground. In fact, mould and the enzymes they secrete, are needed for the normal breakdown and decay of organic material. But the problem begins when there are higher concentrations of mould indoors than outdoors. The problem gets worse when the perfect conditions are met for it to grow. All mould needs is increased moisture or water accumulation and/or the indoor relative humidity level to be above 60% – the higher the moisture content, the faster the mould growth. The greater the mould growth, the higher the risk for poor indoor air quality and the greater the chance of breathing problems or other respiratory illnesses.

One type of mould called “black toxic mould”

Tag: stress