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Beware What Is In The Air
Hi Everybody!
The Doctors are back with your most recent coronavirus update! In today’s video, Dr. Oommen and Dr. Di Liello discuss habits to keep up your health at home, aerosol transmission of COVID-19 between individuals and which masks are most effective and why we must continue to wear them.
What are aerosols, you may ask? Aerosols are tiny droplets that float and remain in the air over longer courses of time. You know how you can still smell your mother’s perfume an hour after she’s left? Yes, those are aerosols! Wearing a mask limits aerosols released from talking, coughing and sneezing, so that we don’t have to worry about inhaling them.
Tune in to learn more about the science behind every day coronavirus transmission risks, and for a complimentary Muhammad Ali impression from Dr. Oommen!
If you have any questions about the coronavirus or the reintegration into your community amidst the Pandemic, we encourage you to send them to us through info@cardiogenix.ca. And most importantly, if you believe that you are showing symptoms or may have come in contact with someone with COVID-19, please call the info-coronavirus line at 1-877-644-4545.
Stay safe everyone!
Your Cardiogenix Team
#Coronavirus #COVID_19 #Pandemix #Health #Hygiene #Aerosol
Not a Fan of the Tan
Now that summertime is here and the sun is coming in hot, it is time to get real about sunscreen. Yes, sunscreen! The skin protection agent that many people love to hate. Also known as sunblock, sunscreen is highly recommended by dermatologists to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays by reducing your overall ultraviolet (UV) exposure thus decreasing your risk of skin cancer, sun damage, and signs of aging. Melanoma skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in young adults ( 20 to 39 years old), so whether you love sunscreen or tend to avoid it, finding the right one for you is essential for maintaining healthy skin!
To test your sunscreen knowledge, we’d like to play a game of “Two Truths, One Lie”… Can you guess which one of the following statements is false?
1. Even if it is cloudy, you still need to protect your skin with SPF.
2. Sunscreen loses its effectiveness with sweat and when in water – therefore you must reapply every two hours when spending prolonged time outdoors.
3. It is recommended to wear sunscreen on all exposed skin even in the winter time.
Did you make your guess?
Truth is – these are all FACTS! No matter the weather or time of year, your skin needs protection from the sun. Up to 80% of the sun’s harmful UV rays will make their way to your skin through clouds and environmental factors such as snow, sand and water reflect these rays which increase their intensity. You should also apply your sunscreen 15 minutes before sun exposure for the best results!
Which SPF do I choose?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The number indicated on the packaging of your sunscreen tells you how long the sun’s UVB rays will take to redden your skin if you apply it as directed compared with the amount of time without sunscreen. If you use an SPF 30 product properly, it would take you 30 times longer to burn than if you did not use any.
SPF 15 is ideal for occasional sun exposure and every day wear like when walking your dog or commuting to work whereas SPF 30 or higher is necessary for extended activity outside like going for a run or a hike, swimming, or working outdoors. Outdoor workers are 2.5 to 3.5 times more likely to develop skin cancer, so slather it on!
Finding the Right Sunscreen for You
Once you determine the right SPF for you, Dermatologists recommend choosing a sunscreen that claims to be “Broad Spectrum”, meaning that it protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays, as well as water resistant. No sunscreen is waterproof, but when labeled water resistant, they do last longer against sweating and swimming.
With those details in mind, you can then choose a sunscreen for your skin type whether you have dry skin, oily skin, acne-prone skin or sensitive skin.
Now some of you may be thinking, “Well I don’t need sunscreen, I’ve never gotten a sunburn!” It is true that fair-skinned folks are indeed likely to absorb more solar energy than dark-skinned people under the same conditions, but everybody can get skin cancer regardless of your skin color, age, or gender. It is important to know your skin and family history as well as the effects of any medications you may take. Certain medications or skin disorders can increase your photosensitivity no matter your skin type. If you have any doubt about your skin’s sensitivity, we recommend speaking to your Dermatologist. Putting your best skin forward is worth it!
You Missed a Spot!
There’s more to covering up than just your arms and legs! Commonly forgotten yet important areas to protect when applying sunscreen include ears, nose, lips, the back of your neck, hands, the top of your feet, along your hairline and any exposed skin on your head due to balding or thinning hair. These areas tend to burn the fastest and are more prone to developing melanoma since we can’t see them and often forget to protect them.
Other Skin Protection Factors
Sunscreen is not 100% sun proof without taking some extra precautions. In order to best protect your skin, Dermatologists also recommend :
1. Wearing Protective Clothing : Anything from wide brim hats and sunglasses to a light long sleeved shirt and pants can help shield your skin from harmful UV rays.
For those who remember the Slip, Slop, Slap skin cancer awareness campaign from the 80’s, to protect your skin, you have to:
Slip on a shirt,
Slop on your sunscreen,
Slap on a hat!
2. Seeking Shaded Areas : It is especially recommended to stay out of the sun when it is at its strongest between 10AM and 4PM.
3. Avoiding Tanning Beds : Tanning beds emit 15x more UV rays than the sun and can increase your odds of developing melanoma skin cancer by a whopping 75%! If you are aiming for that golden glow, opt for alternative self-tanning products rather than tanning beds.
4. Getting your Vitamin D through foods and vitamins rather than overdoing the sunlight.
Is Sunscreen Toxic?
There is a myth floating around that sunscreen is more toxic than ultraviolet rays, but this is not true. If your skin does react negatively to a certain brand of sunscreen, like any other product, it is best to find something with different ingredients.
Going Green
As we all know, anything that ends up in the ocean that is not meant to be there poses a threat to our ocean’s wildlife, particularly to our coral reefs. If you are looking for more reef and skin friendly sunscreen variants, we recommend looking for products that do not contain oxybenzone, octinoxate, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben or butylparaben. These are all ingredients used as preservatives or UV ray absorbents that do more harm than good. Additionally, opting for cream sunscreens rather than aerosol sunscreens is also a great way to avoid spraying inhalable microscopic pollutants into the air as well!
Fun in the Sun
All in all, the safest way to enjoy the sun is by purchasing a water-resistant-broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and applying it to all exposed skin, no matter the weather. For the best results, apply your sunscreen at least 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapply around every two hours if you are sweating or swimming.
Now that you have a complete arsenal of skin protection tools, you’re ready to get outdoors and have some worry free fun in the sun!
Stay Safe Everyone!
Accidents Happen!
Hello Everyone,
“Accidents happen!” This is something that we’ve all told ourselves at one point or another. But what if this accident was more life threatening than a bump or a bruise?
Did you know that fully preventable injuries take the lives of more Canadian children than disease, and more youth than all other causes combined? What if someone you love is choking, do you know how to administer the heimlich maneuver? Accidents do happen, and are often completely unavoidable… or are they?
As a medical clinic, we often treat cases of unexpected injuries and accidents that are indeed unpredictable, but also preventable. Although we don’t think of it everyday, it is important to remain vigilant and informed on how to prevent certain injuries and how to act quickly when they do occur, and this begins in the home!
Parents of young children know better than anyone that danger is just around the corner and that it is best not to be paranoid, but rather to be prepared! Today is National Injury Prevention Day, the perfect moment to reflect upon and learn about day-to-day risks.
Parachute is Canada’s national injury prevention charity that works to prevent serious and fatal injuries through education. We invite you all, no matter your age, to visit Parachute’s website to learn how to prevent a long list of injuries ranging from more common accidents such as falls, concussions, and burns to more severe scenarios such as road accidents, drowning, and even vacation safety. Remember, prevention is the key to a long and healthy life!
Click Here for Parachute’s Resources for Injury Prevention
Stay Safe Everyone!
Pandemic Fatigue is Real, and so is COVID-19
Hi Everybody,
We understand… News about COVID-19 can be exhausting and overwhelming. You’re likely tired of hearing about it and wish to just move on as if nothing is happening… Pandemic fatigue is real, but so are the risks of acting as if there is no Pandemic at all. Today, Dr. Oommen and Dr. Di Liello review the coronavirus situation in Quebec and delve further into why we must continue to wear our masks and keep our distance from others.
Businesses have reopened with the economy in mind – not your health. Our main focus as a private healthcare clinic is to keep our patients and their loved ones safe. This not only requires more cautious physical interactions with our patients, but we also must continue to pass on the message that we all have to stay vigilant about our everyday behaviours.
We encourage you to speak to the coronavirus skeptics in your circle about the risks and to express your concern for their health and for the health of others. It can be difficult to remain socially distant with the increasing social pressure to pretend as though there is no virus at all, but we must remember that every single person plays an active role in maintaining public health during these times.
Thank you everyone for tuning in! If you have any questions about the coronavirus or the reintegration into your community amidst the Pandemic, we encourage you to send them to us through info@cardiogenix.ca. And most importantly, if you believe that you are showing symptoms or may have come in contact with someone with COVID-19, please call the info-coronavirus line at 1-877-644-4545.
Stay safe everyone!
Your Cardiogenix Team
https://youtu.be/597KehBc_s4
#Coronavirus #COVID_19 #Pandemic # Safety # Prevention #Health #PandemicFatigue #SocialDistancing
Addressing the Issue
Today, Dr. Oommen and Dr. Di Liello continue the discussion on the COVID-19 Pandemic, but would first like to address another significant issue in our community.
The ongoing events are weighing heavily on the hearts of our team, and we know that silence is not the answer. There is no space for racism and violence.
As a medical clinic, we wish for everyone’s well-being as we continue to fight against injustice as safely as possible. For those partaking in the protests, we highly encourage the use of masks, gloves and social distancing as means to protect yourself and your peers as you work together towards a better world. Fortunately, we live in a time where every single one of us has a voice through social media and great things can still be achieved even while socially distanced.
In this segment, the Doctors also address the loosening of the government’s restrictions on social gatherings and as Dr. Oommen puts it, the decreasing of confinement simply means that we must increase our guard. We are still in the midst of a global health crisis and we urge everyone to continue your coronavirus safety practices more than ever to avoid prolonging and worsening the spread of COVID-19.
As Canadians, we cannot neglect that we also have a long way to go, and we must look into what we can actively do to help on our end. We encourage you all to continue to educate yourselves and others on racism and continue to spread awareness and change.
Stay safe everyone, and thank you for those who are actively paving the way to a better and more just world.
Your Cardiogenix Team
https://youtu.be/2c5TsUN-wts
The Antibody Question
Good day Everyone,
Dr. Oommen and Dr. Di Liello are back and ready to discuss the most recent COVID-19 topic that everyone is talking about: antibody testing. As you may have heard, Health Canada has recently approved one antibody test in Canada and with this has come a surge of questions. Who can get tested? Where can we get it? These are all relevant concerns that our Doctors answer by first explaining how immunity and antibodies work as well as how to proceed once this testing becomes available to us.
Did you know… Not everybody who gets the coronavirus develops antibodies? Dr. Oommen and Dr. Di Liello felt it was necessary to explain how this works as there are still many misconceptions about this novel coronavirus.
One important fact to retain from this video is that whether you are tested positive, negative, or not tested at all for coronavirus antibodies, it is important to continue to keep socially distanced, wear a mask, and continue to practice basic hygiene by washing your hands often and not touching your face.
Thank you everyone for tuning in! If you have more questions about the coronavirus, we encourage you to send them to us through info@cardiogenix.ca. And most importantly, if you believe that you are showing symptoms or may have come in contact with someone with COVID-19, please call the info-coronavirus line at 1-877-644-4545.
Stay safe everyone!
Your Cardiogenix Team
Got Cabin Fever?
Hi Everyone!
This evening, Dr. Oommen and Dr. Di Liello provide healthy ways to alleviate the feeling of “cabin fever” while under quarantine and address the issue of unhealthy coping mechanisms that can surface during isolation.
Cabin fever during quarantine can affect people in many different ways, primarily through restlessness, irritability, claustrophobia, anxiety and depression. If you are currently dealing with these symptoms, you can rest assured that these feelings are normal and can be dealt with.
An important note to take from this video is to not compare your quarantine experience to someone else’s as everyone’s living situation is entirely different. Making and taking time for yourself, and living in the moment, one day at a time, is the best way to alleviate any negative feelings.
Thank you all for watching and for the many kind messages!
We encourage you to send us more questions at info@cardiogenix.ca, but most importantly, if you believe that you are showing symptoms or may have come in contact with someone with COVID-19, please call the info-coronavirus line at 1-877-644-4545.
Stay safe everyone!
Your Cardiogenix Team
#Coronavirus #CabinFever #COVID-19 #Pandemic #Cardiogenix #PrivateHealtcare
A Moment To Reflect
Hello Everyone!
On behalf of Dr. Oommen, Dr. Di Liello and the whole Cardiogenix Team, we would like to share a moment of calm and reflection on this current situation we are living through. As Dr. Di Liello said, it is amazing that so many people are finding the time to better themselves while confined to their home, but for those who aren’t doing so well, that is normal and quite okay too.
Together, we will see brighter days because together, we will get through this.
We encourage you to send us questions at info@cardiogenix.ca, but most importantly, if you believe that you are showing symptoms or may have come in contact with someone with COVID-19, please call the info-coronavirus line at 1-877-644-4545.
Stay safe everyone!
Your Cardiogenix Team
#Cardiogenix #Coronavirus #COVID-19 #Pandemic #Healthcare #Private #FamilyMedicine
Clean Too Much? Clean Too Little?
Welcome back Everyone!
As a response to a viewer’s question on whether or not we can over sanitize our homes and if this can negatively affect our immune system, Dr. Oommen and Dr. Di Liello delve into how our immune system develops from childhood into adulthood. They also address your concerns about current statistics in the news and whether or not the eventual COVID-19 vaccine will replace the current flu vaccine.
As you all have probably noticed now that we have been in self-isolation for the past few weeks, preparing our meals at home has become an important part of our daily routines. In this segment, the Doctors also share some nutritional tips and tricks for maintaining healthy eating habits at home. Dr. Oommen uses a great example from Okinawa, Japan emphasizing that we should only eat until around 80% full to avoid overeating… Watch at the end where he even surprises Dr. Di Liello with his Japanese skills!
Thank you all for watching! We appreciate every comment and question that we receive and encourage you to send us more questions at info@cardiogenix.ca, but most importantly, if you believe that you are showing symptoms or may have come in contact with someone with COVID-19, please call the info-coronavirus line at 1-877-644-4545.
As always, stay safe, happy and healthy everyone!
Your Cardiogenix Family
#Pandemic #Coronavirus #COVID_19 #Virus #Cardiogenix #FamilyMedicine #PrivateHealtcare #Healthcare