Our Summer 2016 Newsletter

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Summer 2016 Newsletter

June is Stroke Awareness Month

Exercise and Stroke Correlation

One of the main risk factors for having a stroke is having unmanaged high blood pressure. One of the benefits of being physically active (at least 150 minutes per week) on a regular basis is lowering blood pressure. There is a correlation between staying active and reducing your risk of  a stroke.

Regular exercise helps keep arteries elastic (flexible), even in older people. This, in turn, ensures good blood flow and normal blood pressure. Sedentary people (those who do not engage in regular physical activity) have a 35% greater risk of developing high blood pressure than those who are physically active.

When people suffer from a stroke, it is usually recommended to take part in a rehabilitation program involving regular exercise sessions. This helps in recovery and can help prevent another stroke from happening.

Activity such as walking, bending and stretching are forms of exercise that can help strengthen your body and keep it flexible. Mild exercise, which should be done every day, can take the form of a short walk or a simple activity like sweeping the floor. Stretching exercises, such as extending the arms or bending the torso, should be done regularly. Moving weakened or paralyzed body parts can be done while seated or lying down. Swimming is another beneficial exercise if the pool is accessible and a helper is available. 

Fatigue while exercising is to be expected. You can modify these programs to accommodate for fatigue or other conditions. Avoid overexertion and pain.

Simple stretching routines can be very effective in post stroke rehabilitation in order to improve range of motion. Regular strength and balance exercises help with bone strength and health are very beneficial.  Keeping a strong core is important in order to maintain balance and promote an upright posture.

If you are not exercising regularly you should consider getting started. Any amount of increased activity is a positive change  and will start providing health benefits immediately. 

Corinne Cutler is an Exercise Specialist at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network.

June is Stroke Awareness Month

When you or someone around you is experiencing these signs, call an ambulance to get help. Do not drive yourself to the hospital as the Paramedic has the skills and equipment to treat you. This is vitally important as the quicker you can get help, the better the outcome can be. 

What is the difference between a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) and a stroke?  Both are medical emergencies and require you to be seen by a medical professional. A TIA is caused by a small clot that briefly blocks an artery that leads to your brain. It is sometimes called a mini-stroke or warning stroke. TIA symptoms might last only a few minutes or hours. No lasting damage occurs, but TIAs are an important warning that a more serious stroke may occur soon. A stroke happens when blood stops flowing to any part of your brain. This interruption causes damage to the brain cells which cannot be repaired or replaced. The effects of your stroke depend on the part of the brain that was damaged and the amount of damage done.

For more information, please visit www.heartandstroke.ca

Cherie deBoer is a Registered Nurse at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network. 

National Nursing Week

May 9-15 marks National Nursing Week in Canada.

National Nursing Week highlights nurses' contributions to quality patient care, including primary care, research and innovations and provides nurses with an opportunity to celebrate their profession. This is an opportunity to remind Albertans why they trust registered nurses and to demonstrate credibility.

The Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network celebrates our nurses and we thank them for their dedication to our patients - thank you Carla and Cherie!

Carla Moore, Primary Care Nurse, Geriatrics

Cherie deBoer, PCN Registered Nurse

Primary health care support in Edmonton and area for evacuees from Fort McMurray and surrounding areas

EDMONTON, May 5, 2016 /CNW/ - The Edmonton area Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and their affiliated clinics are able to help those displaced by the fires in Northern Alberta with their primary health care needs.

For Immediate & Temporary Needs

1. Prescription and Prescription Refills: The easiest step is to visit the closest community pharmacy for most prescriptions or refills. Those who may require narcotics, or controlled drugs containing opiates or benzodiazepines will need to consult with a doctor.
   
2. Short term health care needs: Family doctors working out of hundreds of clinics throughout Edmonton are concerned and willing to help those impacted by the fire. Find a full list of PCN affiliated clinics near you at www.pcnpmo.ca/findadoctor. If you are experiencing difficulty finding a family doctor, please contact Health Link at 811.

Longer Term or More Complex NeedsFor those with a chronic health disease, require mental health support or end up permanently relocating, there are 292 family doctors in Edmonton and the surrounding area who are accepting new patients. To find a doctor, visit www.edmontonareadocs.ca where you can sort by postal code, or by language or gender of the doctor. If you are experiencing difficulties in finding a family doctor who will see you, please contact Health Link at 811.

"Our hearts go out to those affected by the tragedy in Fort McMurray and surrounding area," says Dr. Justin Balko, PCN Physician Leads Executive, Edmonton Zone. "We are here to help look after your health care needs."

Primary Care Networks are joint ventures between family doctors and Alberta Health Services and exist to provide better healthcare supports and programs for patients.

Edmonton Zone PCNs: Alberta Heartland PCN, Edmonton North PCN, Edmonton Southside PCN, Edmonton Oliver PCN, Edmonton West PCN, Leduc Beaumont Devon PCN, St. Albert and Sturgeon PCN, Sherwood Park and Strathcona County PCN, and Westview PCN.

SOURCE Primary Care Network Program Management Office

Image with caption: "Primary Care Network Program Management Office (CNW Group/Primary Care Network Program Management Office)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160505_C4543_PHOTO_EN_684140.jpg  

For further information: For media enquiries please contact: Alexis Caddy, Manager, Communications, Primary Care Networks Program Management Office, Telephone: 780.863.9481, Email: alexis.caddy@pcnpmo.ca

Get Out Get Active starts Monday!

It's time to Get Out (and) Get Active! Join our 6 week activity challenge and win awesome prizes just for tracking your activity! Activity can be walking, swimming, yoga, playing baseball - anything that keeps you active! Our website will convert activity into steps and you will virtually walk around Costa Rica between April 25 - June 5

Everyone who signs up will receive a 6 visit pass voucher to one of our partner facilities. Those who consistently track there activity will be eligible to win a weekly prize and those who complete the challenge will have the chance to win 1 of 3 grand prizes!

See the website for a list of all the prizes to be won.

Join our PCN on Monday, April 25th for a walk around Alexandra Park in Leduc. Meet at the steps of the Leduc Library at 12:15pm. All those who attend will have their name put in a draw and one lucky person will win a pair of urban walking poles! We will also be hosting two webinars next week on walking poles. Register for the webinars, here. (select the webinar you want to attend by clicking the drop down menu on the date shown.)

Complete list of GOGA activities near you.

Using walking poles when walking not only offers support, but it increases the amount of calories you burn. See the Urban Poling page to read about health benefits of using walking poles.

If you still need to register for GOGA, click the register button and start getting active!

New website design allows for online registration!

Have you check out our new website yet? Our template got a much needed upgrade recently.

You can book an appointment at either the Leduc or Beaumont After-Hours Clinics by clicking the circled link:

One of the coolest features is that you can now book online for any of our classes or workshops! 

Or scroll down to see the upcoming events on the Events Calendar:

We would love to hear what you think of our new website. Drop us a line at info@lbdpcn.com