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13 | Wednesday, April 3, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Ask the Professionals The Maids Home Services Q: My home makes me sniffle. What should I do? A: Use these tips to cope with allergies and prevent sneezing and discomfort: · Thoroughly clean places where molds flourish, like drain pans under your refrigerator, old flowerpots and shower curtains. · Encase box springs, mattresses and pillows in allergy-proof covers to keep dust ­ and dust mites - away. · Clean and service air conditioning units to remove pollen and other allergens trapped during prior use. · Always wash bedding in hot water (at least 130 F) to kill dust mites and launder every one to two weeks. · Dust regularly. Wear a mask if you are allergic to dust and replace dusting cloths often to prevent dust transfer from one piece of furniture to the next. · Stay away from dustwands, brooms and feather dusters. These tools merely move dirt and dust around. Vacuum all surfaces thoroughly, preferably with a HEPA-filter vacuum, catching dust on baseboards, high ledges, upholstery and ceiling fans. · Restrict your pets' movement to as few rooms as possible, especially with regards to bedrooms. Frequently dampwipe feeding areas and launder bedding often. Community Justice Programs Q: What are the benefits of having offenders receive a Community Service Order as part of their sentencing? A: The Community Service Order Program at ADAPT is a rehabilitative sentencing option where the individual is required to take responsibility for their actions by performing a specific number of hours of volunteer work for the community in which they reside. One of the goals of the Community Service Order program is to have the community actively participate in the criminal justice system. The work performed by the individual provides them with the opportunity to make reparation to the community, gain new skills and confidence, and develop new leisure activities. Often, participants will also develop positive friendships and community supports. This helps the participant to feel more connected to the community in which they live and supports a rehabilitative approach. Q: I have been taking Warfarin (Coumadin) for 4 years. It started when I was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation. I have been told that Pradaxa is a better blood thinner. Should I switch? My Cardiologist is ok with me switching, but did not go out of his way to recommend the switch. I was also wondering if Pradaxa side effects were more serious than Warfarin's? A: Both Pradaxa and Warfarin are anticoagulants. These bloodthinning medicines help to stop clots by targeting factors your blood needs to form clots. For patients who have had a hard time keeping their INR within the target range, clinical trials show that Pradaxa may prevent more strokes than Warfarin in patients with Atrial Fibrillation. The major benefit is that patients on Pradaxa do not need monitoring or INR checks like those taking Coumadin. There are also no dietary restrictions required when taking Pradaxa. Both Pradaxa and Coumadin are very similar in regards to bleeding risk as a possible side effect. One of the major side effects of Pradaxa is heartburn. About 30% of patients in clinical studies experienced indigestion or heartburn due to Pradaxa. These side effects can be minimized if Pradaxa is taken with a meal or an effective heartburn medication which you can speak to your doctor or pharmacist about. Pradaxa also costs much more than generic Warfarin, but the actual cost may work out to be similar when the costs of Warfarin monitoring is added. -- Robert Nashat, Pharm.D, CDE For more information, or to make an appointment, please call the ADAPT Intake Coordinator 340 Kerr Street, Oakville, ON L6K 3B8 Established 2006 | 1200 Speers Road Unit 10 Oakville L6L 2X4 905.845.9923 | pat@maidshomeservices.com | www.themaids.com 905-847-6547 x 0 | www.haltonadapt.org www.leonpharmacy.com 905-845-2811 905.257.3452 Lori Paton - RN, RRT 728 Burloak Drive Salima Kassam Reg. Chiropodist How Do I Know If My Loved One Needs Help? 905-632-1414 M.Sc.S., Au.D, Reg CASLPO Doctor of Audiology Annick Ménard Q: I have a heel spur. What is that and how is it treated? A: A heel spur is the result of over-stretching a particular Q: If I had a hearing problem, would I know about it? Unopened mail or past due bills Poor grooming/ personal hygiene, soiled clothing Mishandled medications Loss of appetite or changes in cooking/eating habits Spoiled/outdated food in fridge or little food in house Reluctance to socialize and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities Difficulty concentrating, memory loss, poor judgment Personality changes, irritability, persistent fatigue Difficulty walking or recent falls Our talent is caring. www.nursenextdoor.com muscle on the bottom of the foot, called the plantar fascia. When the muscle is constantly over-stretched (for example, with each step you take), your body develops thickened tissue where the plantar fascia attaches to the bone in your heel. Having this thickened tissue underneath your heel becomes painful with every step and can even be painful with the first step taken in the morning. Typically heel spurs develop over time or when a new activity (power walking, jogging or running) is started. Treatment of heel spurs involves visiting a Chiropodist for a full lower leg examination, specifically a gait analysis to see if the position of your foot while walking is overstretching/straining the muscles on the bottom of your foot. Your Chiropodist will evaluate your footwear, advise you on specific footwear do's and don'ts for your foot type and may even suggest Custom Made Foot Orthotics. Custom Made Foot Orthotics are inserts that correctly align your foot so as not to over stretch/strain the muscles on the bottom of your foot. Call to schedule your appointment today at 905-632-1414. A: Hearing loss often develops unnoticeably over several years. Most people compensate for the very gradual changes by asking others to repeat, turn the TV up louder, possibly even reading lips. Allowed to continue, these habits mistakenly make you believe there is no problem, or that it has gone away. If you suspect your hearing has declined, it's time to take action. The next step is to seek out a hearing care professional who will give you a thorough evaluation, will explain the results and make any recommendations based on your hearing test, personal history, and specific needs. Stay tuned for our next article: What to look for in choosing a hearing care professional. 289.837.1137 2387 Trafalgar Road, Oakville www.pureaudiology.ca