Health and Wellness Blog

Where to find reliable health information in other languages?

Living in an information explosion age like today, our challenge is not having limited access to information, but "separating the wheat from the chaff". For example, googling "diabetes", yields up 333 millions hits (as of May 3rd, 2012). So which ones can you trust?  If you are looking for a recipe for banana cake, it is ok to just take a look at the first couple of them. But if it's your health, you can't take it so lightly. Fortunately, there is help! Sites like MedlinePlus, and the Medical Library Association's website_ tell you how to find and evaluate health information on the web.

As for reliable free online health information in other languages than English, here are some useful sites:

• Canadian Cancer Society: Cancer information in other languages
• Heart and Stroke Foundation: Multilingual resources
• MedlinePlus: Health Information in Multiple Languages
• nnlm.gov: Consumer Health Information in Many Lanugages Resources
• NSW Multicultural Communication Services: Resources by language
• Stanford Health Library: Multilingual Health Information
• Tufts University: Selected Patient Information Resources in Asian Languages (SPIRAL)
• University Health Network: Resources in Other Languages - Multilingual

Moreover, don't forget your Toronto Public Library! To find out which branches have your language collection, click here.

Or you can search our catalogue and order the materials you want before you go. Here is how to search the Toronto Public Library website for multilingual materials.

There are two different ways to search.

The easiest way is to search in your own language. For example, to find some Chinese diabetes materials, _ simply type Hanyu Pinyin Tang Niao Bing in the search box from our library home page, and click Search. 20 results turn up (as of May 3rd, 2012).

Another way is to search in English for materials in your language, here is how to:

1. click Advanced search (it's on top of our home page, right next to the Search button)
2. type keywords/subject in the search box (leave All fields unchanged),
3. select Type of material that you prefer (books, movies & video, audiobooks, etc.)
4. select Language 
5. select appropriate branch from At library branch (we have 98 branches) You can select any one from the list but since we have limited multilingual materials, it's better not to limit this at all. If an item is not available in your branch, _ it can be transferred to your local branch for pick-up. So it's best to select any branch
6. select Age level (children/Teen/Adult)
7. select Include [Reference Materials (in-library only)/Circulating Materials (take-home)/Fiction-Books/ Non-Fiction Books]
8. click Search

Here is an example: a customer wants to find some Chinese materials on diabetes in the Toronto Public Library that she/ he can borrow.

Go to Advanced search, type "diabetes" (leave All fields unchanged), choose "any type" from Type, choose "Chinese" from Language, choose "any branch" from At library branch,  choose "Adult+Teen+Children" from Age level, choose "Circulating Materials (take-home)+Non-Fiction Books", then click Search. Viola! 17 items (as of May 3rd, 2012) show up.

Look through the 17 items and choose the one you want to borrow. Then click the green button Place Hold under each item to reserve them (If you didn't log in to your account before the search, you will be asked for your library and PIN number), then choose the branch from which you want to pick up the materials, finally click Place Hold again.

Then just relax and wait for the Library's notification (phone/email). Normally it takes 4-5 business days for the material to be transferred from branch to branch (if the material is available in the branch). Upon the notification, you got 7 days to pick-up your items.

Never too early to take good care of yourself - teen health

According to Statistics Canada and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more people die from heart disease and cancer than any other disease and condition. What's more, these two share a common cause - smoking.

A bad habit like smoking which you pick up mindlessly when you are young might worsen your health and even cost you your life later on (seriously!!! ). The good news is - it is preventable if you start to take care of yourself early.

The key is to

• understand your body (you are its owner!), and know how it works
• foster good behaviour/habits
• adopt a healthy lifestyle suitable for you as early as possible
• talk to your parents or health care provider if you have any concerns

And check out some books from the Toronto Public Library to inform yourself:

    

More free online information for you:

• MedlinePlus: Puberty, Teen Development,  Teen Health, Teen Sexual Health
• HealthyChildren.org: Teen
• TeensHealth.org: For Teens

Therapeutic Benefits of Pets

Pets provide some very important therapeutic benefits including:

• Calming influence, help to relieve stress
• Boosting confidence and self-esteem especially in children
• Mental stimulation and entertainment -- animals increase communication, laughter and play
• Help develop nurturing skills and empathy with animals and humans
• Provide unconditional love

Animal-assisted (pet) therapy can be used in a variety of settings including the home, nursing homes, retirement residences, hospitals, schools, and prisons.

 

 

Looking for a therapy cat or dog to visit?  Go to Therapeutic Paws of Canada or the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Services.

Read more about Pet Therapy from Healthline or About Animal-Assisted Therapy from the American Humane Association.

Check out the Library's recent books about the benefits of pet therapy.  To see which branch has a copy of the book and to place a hold, click on the title or cover link;

 

Love at First Bark	You Had Me at Woof	Tails of Recovery

Animal-Assisted Therapy	Play Therapy with Kids and Canines	A Friend Like Henry

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

 
Traditional Chinese Medicine includes a number of key components such as:

• The theory of Yin-Yang -- two opposing but complementary forces
• Qi energy or vital energy that circulates in the body
• Five elements including fire, earth, metal, water and earth

Practitioners use these concepts to construct individualized treatments that may consist of:

• Herbal medicines
• Acupuncture
• Qi Gong

Read the Introduction to TCM from the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia for a good explanation of the concepts and treatment modalities.

Read If You Are Thinking About Using TCM from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

TCM practitioners are not currently regulated in Ontario. To learn more about TCM in Ontario, read the For Public page on the Transitional Council of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario web site. 

Read A Brief History of Qigong by Yang, Jwing-Ming at Acupuncture.Com.

For information about acupuncture including the conditions or diseases for which it is done and the benefits and risks, read  Acupuncture from the Mayo Clinic or About Acupuncture from the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute.

For a list of acupuncturists and their qualifications in the Greater Toronto Area go to The Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Association of Canada site.

Check out the Library's recent books about Traditional Chinese Medicine including qi gong and acupuncture for more information.  To see which branch has a copy of the book and to place a hold, click on the title or cover link:

The Chinese Medicine Bible	Total Health the Chinese Way	Inner Beauty

Chi gong: the Ancient Chinese Way to Health	Dragon and Tiger Medical Qigong	Heal Yourself with Qigong

Getting to Know You: a Physician Explains How Acupuncture Helps You Be the Best You	Is Acupuncture Right for You?

How to Talk with Your Doctor

 
We all have to visit our doctor's office at some point in our life. Nobody likes it - in fact, I don't know anyone who enjoys to see a doctor at all. It's just something we have to do, especially as we are getting older.

Research shows that patients who have a good relationship with their doctor receive better care and are happier with the care they receive.

So your health is not just in your doctor's hands but in your own as well. Here are some tips on how to improve your relationship with your doctor and get the best health care possible from your doctor. 

Prepare for your visit:

• Make a list of concerns
• Take information with you
• Make sure you can see and hear as well as possible
• Consider bringing a family member or friend
• Find an interpreter if you know you’ll need one
• Plan to update the doctor on what has happened since your last visit

 Ask questions:

• Ask every time you don't understand something.
• If you have questions before the appointment, write them down and ask them during the exam. Be sure to list the most important questions first to make sure they get answered.
• Tell your doctor if you need more time to talk about something.

For in-depth information, check out some books from the Toronto Public Library on your topic:

More information on patient-doctor relationship:

• MedlinePlus: Talking With Your Doctor
• National Institute on Aging (US): Talking With Your Doctor: A Guide for Older People
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario: Complaints
• Government of Canada: Patient's Bill of Rights

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve and result in vision loss and  blindness. It's the second most common cause of vision loss in seniors in Canada.

There are different types of glaucoma. The most common one is open-angle glaucoma (more than 250,000 Canadians have it). Most glaucomas involve the drainage system within the eye: the fluid drains too slowly out of the eye - when the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises glaucoma occurs. If the pressure isn't controlled, it may cause damage to the optic nerve and other parts of the eye.

Anyone can develop glaucoma, although some people are at higher risk than others. Glaucoma risk factors include:

• Elevated internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure)
• Age
• Ethnic background
• Family history of glaucoma
• Medical conditions
• Other eye conditions
• Nearsightedness
• Prolonged corticosteroid use

Glaucoma has no symptoms at first. People with open-angle glaucoma will slowly lose their peripheral (side) vision without treatment - they seem to be looking through a tunnel (tunnel vision). Over time, straight-ahead vision may decrease until no vision remains.

There is no cure for glaucoma. If it is detected early, glaucoma can be managed before irreversible vison loss occurs. For high risk people after age 35, it is recommended to have eye exam every year or two. Glaucoma treatments include medicines, laser trabeculoplasty, conventional surgery, or a combination of any of these.

Check out some books and DVD from the Toronto Public Library on your topic:

 

More information on your topic:

• CNIB: Glaucoma
• MedlinePlus: Glaucoma
• National Eye Institute: Facts About Glaucoma
• Glaucoma Research Foundation: Diagnostic Tests, Alternative Medicine
• Glaucoma Foundation: Doctor I Have a Question about Glaucoma: A Guide for Patients and Their Families, How Glaucoma is Treated
  
  

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

 Age-related macular degeneration (AMD, also called macular degeneration) is the leading cause of vision loss in North America - it affects one million Canadians and 10 millions Americans.  

 We need central vision to see objects clearly and to do common daily tasks such as reading and driving. AMD is a disease associated with aging that slowly destroys sharp, central vision.

 What causes AMD? Age is the greatest risk factor - people over age 60 are at a higher risk than other age groups. Other factors include: smoking, obesity, race, family history, and gender.

There are two types of AMD: dry and wet.

Dry AMD is more common. It is associated with drusen (small yellow deposits) in the macula. Dry AMD causes the macula to lose its function. The most common symptom of dry AMD is blurred central vision that deteriorates gradually. Dry AMD has three stages: early, intermediate, and advanced. Once dry AMD reaches the advanced stage, no treatment can prevent vision loss. However, treatment can delay and possibly prevent intermediate AMD from progressing to the advanced stage.

Wet AMD accounts for about 15% of all cases of the disease. In wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels beneath the macula start to leak fluid, causing the retina to become distorted. A common symptom of wet AMD is that straight lines appear wavy, and central vision degrades quickly. Wet AMD can be treated with laser surgery, photodynamic therapy, and injections into the eye.

There is no cure for AMD yet, so early detection is very important. If in doubt, talk to your doctor. The earlier AMD is diagnosed, the greater the chances of preventing vision loss.

Your lifestyle can also make a difference in reducing your risk of developing AMD, for example:

• Eat a healthy diet high in green leafy vegetables and fish.
• Don't smoke.
• Maintain normal blood pressure.
• Watch your weight.
• Exercise

 Borrow some books and DVD from the Toronto Public Library on your topic:

    


More information on age-related macular degeneration:

• AMD Alliance International: Rehabilitation
• CNIB: Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
• Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology: Acupuncture for Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Antioxidant Supplements and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
• mayoclinic.com: Dry macular degeneration, Wet macular degeneration
• MedlinePlus: Macular Degeneration
• National Eye Institute: Age-Related Macular Degeneration: What You Should Know

Bedwetting

Children are usually ready to use a potty around 12-24 months. Most are fully toilet trained by age 4, but  there's no target date for developing complete bladder control. Bed-wetting remains a problem for only about 15 percent of children by age 5.

What causes bedwetting? No expert knows the answer yet. A mix of the following factors may play a role:

• A small bladder
• Inability to recognize a full bladder
• A hormone imbalance
• Stress
• Urinary tract infection
• Sleep apnea
• Diabetes
• Chronic constipation
• Anatomical defect

How to help your child? Keep in mind that your child's bedwetting isn't voluntary - don't punish him or her. Help your child with some simple steps: skipping drink before bedtime, using the washroom before bed, etc.

If your child is 7 years old or older and wets the bed more than two or three times in a week, a doctor may be able to help. If both day and night wetting occur after age 5, your child should see a doctor before age 7.

Treatments include waiting (many children overcome bedwetting naturally without treatment as they grow older), dietary modification, moisture alarms, medications, and bladder training.

Borrow some books from the Toronto Public Library on your topic:

 

      

More information on bedwetting:

• familydoctor.org: Enuresis (Bed-Wetting)
• KidsHealth: Bedwetting
• MedBroadcast: Bedwetting
• MedlinePlus: Bedwetting
• National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: What I need to know about My Child’s Bedwetting

Menopause

Menopause is a normal stop in a woman’s menstrual period and fertility. It usually occurs after age 45 because the woman's ovary stops producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone. The average age of a woman having her last period is 51. However some women have their last period in their forties, and some have it later in their fifties.

Some common changes and symptoms of menopause include:

• Changes in periods (they may be shorter or longer, heavier or lighter, or have more or less time in between)
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Trouble sleeping through the night
• Vaginal dryness
• Mood changes
• Hair loss or thinning on the head, more hair growth on the face

The 4 stages of menopause transition are:

• Premenopause
• Perimenopause
• Menopause
• Postmenopause

Treatment options are:

• Hormone Replacement Therapy
• Menopause Drugs
• Alternative Therapy: Menopausal symptoms and CAM, Bio-Identicals: sorting myths from facts, Black cohosh

Borrow some books from the Toronto Public Library on your topic:

    
  

More information on menopause:

• Health Canada: The Safe Use of Natural Health Products During Menopause
• MedlinePlus: Menopause
• New York Times: Times Health Guide - Menopause
• North American Menopause Society: Information for Consumers
• Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada: menopauseandu.ca

Ahh-choo...sorry, it's allergy!

 “Aaaaaaaahh-choo!”

“You OK?”

“Emm… It's only my allergy!”

We are all familiar with this kind of scenario. A survey commissioned by Johnson & Johnson suggests that as many as 10 million Canadians (1 in 3 Canadians) may suffer allergy symptoms. Canadians are not alone: 50 million Americans (1 in 5 Americans) also suffer from various types of allergies.

Allergy is so common, so what exactly is it? An allergy is a reaction of your immune system to something (allergen) that does not bother most other people, for example: pollen, dust mites, mold spores, pet dander, food, insect stings, and medicines, etc.

If you are genetically predisposed for allergy, your immune system misidentifies one of these harmless foreign substances as an invader when you are first time exposed to it, and produces large numbers of IgE antibodies to attack the allergen. These antibodies attach to mast cells which are scattered throughout the skin and respiratory tract. Now you have become sensitized to this particular allergen.

Next time, when you encounter the same allergen again, it binds directly to the IgE antibody stuck to the outside of mast cells. This causes the mast cells to release chemicals called histamines - Histamines are responsible for causing many of the symptoms associated with allergies: runny nose, sneezing, itching, rashes, swelling, etc.

While most allergies won't kill you except the life-threatening severe reaction called anaphylaxis, they sure can make you feel bad. Allergies aren't curable, so prevention is the key. Check out these simple things that you can do to avoid the allergens at home, work, school, and outdoors. Or, when you can't avoid the unavoidable, you still have other options: use medications or allergy shots (immunotherapy)  to relieve or control your symptoms.

Borrow some books from the Toronto Public Library to educate yourself:

      

 

More Information on allergy:

• MedlinePlus: Allergy
• New York Online Access Health (NOAH): Allergies
• Allergy/Asthma Information Association: Allergy
• The Weather Network: Pollen Forecast