Breast milk is the best food to help your baby to grow and develop. It is custom-made by each mother for her own baby, and contains the perfect amount of protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins and minerals. Remarkably, as your baby grows, your milk will also change to keep up with your baby’s needs. Human milk is also easier than formula for your baby to digest, which means less mess and fuss!
Breast milk contains valuable antibodies that help prevent disease and may reduce the risk of your baby developing allergies. After birth, your first milk, called Colostrum, offers vital early protection and helps to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria by coating your baby’s digestive system. This early protection is even more important if your baby is born prematurely. Benefits to Mom Research suggests that breastfeeding provides a measure of protection against breast cancer, ovarian cancer and weak bones later in life. Your body uses calories to produce milk, so breastfeeding can help you to gradually lose weight gained during pregnancy. Exclusive breastfeeding may also delay the return of menstruation for at least a little while. Breast milk is always safe, fresh and exactly the right temperature. It’s ready for baby at a moment’s notice, and you don’t have to heat it, boil water, or sterilize bottles. This makes night time feedings a lot easier. Since breast milk is always with you, travelling and shopping with your baby is simpler, with no equipment to carry or refrigeration needed. Breastfeeding Support Breastfeeding is natural, but it may take up to six weeks or longer to establish, so don’t give up! Advice and support are available from your midwife/primary care provider and/or public health unit. They have experience with the challenges you may be facing and will understand how you feel. Everyone can offer encouragement so mothers feel supported to breastfeed anytime, anywhere. The Temagami Medical Centre and Family Health Team welcomes and encourages breastfeeding on our premises. We have a designated breastfeeding area with a special comfy chair available for breastfeeding mothers (provided by the Timiskaming Health Unit). Please feel free to enquire at the front desk. The Temagami Medical Centre and Family Health Team… committed to keeping you as healthy as possible! Picnic and BBQ season bring lots of opportunities for outdoor fun with family and friends, but with the warm weather also comes opportunities for foodborne bacteria to thrive. As food heats up in the summer temperatures, bacteria can quickly multiply.
Pack and Transport Food Safely
Safe Grilling Tips
Outdoor Hand Cleaning If you don’t have access to running water, use a water jug, some soap, and paper towels or consider using moist disposable towelettes for cleaning your hands. Protect yourself and your family and practice safe food handling! The Temagami Medical Centre and Family Health Team ... committed to keeping you as healthy as possible! Most people are fairly healthy, but as we age, we are faced with challenges, choices and risks specifically in relation to food, alcohol, tobacco and inactive lifestyles. Unfortunately, the common result of these choices is obesity, physical inactivity, tobacco use, alcohol abuse and unhealthy diets. All of these things contribute to today’s epidemic of heart attacks and strokes, cancers, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and other diseases.
The good news is that it’s possible to reduce your risk by adjusting your lifestyle and taking better care of yourself. Self-Care includes:
Is self-care hard to do? Absolutely – some elements definitely are, such as quitting smoking. Small steps in a positive direction are the best way to achieve long-lasting results. If you are a patient of the Temagami Family Health Team and would like to see our dietitian, our mental health worker, our respiratory therapist or one of our primary care providers, please feel free to call the office at (705) 569-3244 to schedule an appointment. Preventative Health Care – the Easiest Way to Protect Your Future! Nobody wants to stay inside when the sun’s shining. So when you’re outside, be safe and protect yourself and your family from getting too much sun.
Sun Safety Tips:
Preventative Health Care – the Easiest Way to Protect Your Future! How does age affect your driving?
Everyone ages differently so there is no hard and fast cut off as to when someone should stop driving. As we age, things like decreased vision, impaired hearing, slowed motor reflexes, and worsening health conditions can become a problem. Aging also tends to result in a reduction of strength, coordination and flexibility which can impact your ability to safely control a motor vehicle. For example:
Check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/temagamifamilyhealthteam for exercises and stretches that are important to the daily activities of living and maintaining independence. Safety tips for older drivers: Getting older does not automatically mean a total loss of driving ability. There are many things you can do to continue driving safely, including staying on top of your health. Regular check-ups are critical to keeping you in the best possible driving shape.
Know your limitations: If a driving situation makes you uncomfortable, don’t do it. Many of us voluntarily begin to make changes in our driving practices as we get older by:
If you are a patient of the Temagami Family Health Team and would like to speak to your primary care provider about driving concerns, please call (705) 569-3244 to schedule an appointment. Committed to keeping you as healthy as possible! What is the Pneumonia Vaccine (Pneumovax)?
Pneumococcal Disease (PD) is an infection caused by a type of bacteria (streptococcus pneumonia). When this bug invades the body, it can lead to serious illness, such as pneumonia. But the bacteria can also cause blood poisoning and meningitis, which is inflammation of the tissues around the brain and spinal cord. PD bacteria can travel through the air and spread by close contact, through sneezing, coughing or kissing. It can also be picked up from surfaces and objects. The most common signs and symptoms are fever, chills, sweat, aches and pains, and headaches. Who Should Get the Vaccine? People 65 and older and those with conditions that affect the immune system, such as:
About eight out of 10 cases occur in these high-risk groups. The vaccine protects against 65% of people. Vaccination also makes the disease milder for those who may catch it. Five Tips for Reducing Your Risk of contracting PD: 1. If you are 65 or older or in the risk group noted above, see your primary care provider about getting the vaccine. 2. Wash your hands 3. Be active 4. Get enough sleep, as this can help to keep your immune system strong 5. Have regular follow up visits with your primary care provider. If you are a patient of the Temagami Family Health Team and would like to have the pneumonia vaccine, please call the office to schedule an appointment. Committed to keeping you as healthy as possible! One of the main causes of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet radiation, or UV rays. UV rays are invisible, and are produced by the sun and tanning lamps. Most often, skin cancer is the result of overexposure. Most cases of skin cancer are preventable. You can reduce your risk of getting skin cancer by taking some simple but important steps. To avoid the harmful effects of UV rays, everyone should:
Remember that babies and children are at greater risk than adults because of their more sensitive skin. Talk to your health care provider about any changes to your skin like:
Preventative Health Care – the Easiest Way to Protect Your Future!
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AuthorEllen Ibey Archives
August 2022
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