We’re now all too familiar with the common symptoms of COVID-19: a fever, dry cough, and fatigue. Some people also experience aches and pains, a sore throat, and loss of taste or smell. Sufferers with mild illness might expect to get better after a few weeks. But there’s mounting evidence this isn’t the case, and […]
Why it’s important to know how fluids move
COVID-19 has sharply brought into focus the impact of respiratory infectious diseases on humanity. It has also shown that the greatest defense against health crises is government policy that is strongly rooted in science. In an attempt to contain the spread of the disease many governments have implemented policies that prevent physical interaction. This has […]
As a music therapist, I know a good song can get you through lockdown
In these challenging times of fear and isolation it is difficult to comprehend the sheer scale of the mental health crisis we face. People are detached from friends, family, work and the world outside their homes. As a music therapist I have also had to adapt to make sure those who are in need are […]
How to know if your pandemic drinking is getting out of hand, and what to do about it
A glass of wine or beer is a relaxing way to end the day, but in these times of COVID-19 stress, is it possible to drink a little too much? Casual drinking could tipple into something more if we aren’t mindful of it, said psychologist Becky Ponting, a University of Alberta counsellor who often helps […]
Pain, but not as we know it: Neuropathic pain and the immune system
There are three main types of pain: nociceptive pain, the type we’re most familiar with, from bee stings and ankle strains to inflammatory arthritis. There’s neuropathic pain, arising from damage to the peripheral nervous system or the brain itself due to disease or injury. Then there are functional pain disorders arising from complex organic dysfunction, […]