April 16 2021 Category: General, Patient Stories

 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Workshop

April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month which recognizes the 13 - 20% of Canadians (approximately 5 - 7.5 million individuals) who are living with IBS. To meet a need identified within the PCN's patient population, we have expanded the virtual workshops to now include a session focused on managing irritable bowel syndrome. This free two-hour long session, which starts in May, will focus on: Understanding personal and common triggers The brain-gut connection How IBS is diagn…

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March 22 2021 Category: General, Patient Stories, Tips & Tricks

 

March is nutrition month

Nutrition Month is a good time to remember eating a well-balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health. The COVID-19 pandemic had made good nutrition more challenging to many because of reduced income or changes in routines due to physical distancing. Here are some resources to help: Top tips for eating healthy during the COVID pandemic Buying groceries on a budget Making food last longer by using leftovers Top five tips for planning your meals Calgary Foothills PC…

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January 12 2021 Category: General, Patient Stories

 

Simple changes for a healthier 2021

After a difficult year, making positive changes in 2021 may feel overwhelming. But if improving your health and wellness is on your mind, consider some smaller steps to start down the path to a healthier lifestyle this year. Increase your activity Many of us have often thought about adding ‘being more active’ to our New Year’s resolutions list. It may sound easy enough, but we can struggle to achieve it. Here are some tips that can make your resolution more sustainable. Start Sma…

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September 11 2020 Category: General, Patient Stories

 

COMPASS for the Caregiver workshop

The PCN's COMPASS for the Caregiver workshop will return in a virtual setting on Friday, October 9. The program, which teaches all variety of caregivers how to care for themselves, has been revised to a four-week course. Attendees will learn how to manage stress, balance relationships and navigate the journey of being a caregiver. All PCN virtual workshops give participants the opportunity to benefit from group learning and ask questions during the interactive sessions. Register online…

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August 06 2020 Category: General, Patient Stories

World Breastfeeding Week

April 02 2020 Category: Patient Stories

 

Your family doctor is here for you

Whether it is in person, over the phone or via video your family doctor’s clinic is open and here to support you. Your family doctor knows you best and can help get you the care you need. Contact your family doctor to find out if an in-person or virtual appointment is right for you. If you have symptoms related to COVID-19 do the self-assessment at ahs.ca/covid. If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911.

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March 25 2020 Category: Patient Stories

 

Hearts for health care workers

What began as a loving gesture to post hearts on their door to show solidarity and support for her husband, an emergency room doctor in the Boston area, has become a viral movement worldwide. “I wanted to find a way to let health care workers know that we see them, we are here for them and they are supported and loved,” says Tanya Russell who began the Hearts for Healthcare Workers Facebook group. Within weeks the group has grown to over 50,000 members with people posting photos of the…

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August 01 2019 Category: General, Patient Stories

Breastfeeding support helps children thrive

April 08 2019 Category: General, Patient Stories

 

Getting help: Family doctors to provide opioid treatments and support

Family doctors to provide much-needed opioid treatments and support Albertans from every walk of life struggle with opioid dependency. They are your neighbours, your friends and your co-workers. They’re not just those who have struggled with chronic mental health issues or homelessness. It doesn’t matter if opioids are prescription medications or street drugs; opioid use disorder can affect people taking either. Consequences may include strained or broken relationships, injury, dise…

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December 16 2018 Category: General, Patient Stories

 

The importance of continuity of care

Seeing your family doctor regularly can lead to better health and even life-saving care Continuity of care means your family doctor is with you every step of your care journey, working to do what's best for your health. It prevents tests from being duplicated and allows results to be reviewed promptly with your health history in mind. It also means that you commit to seeing your doctor regularly. For 69-year-old Stephen Nichol, continuity of care probably saved his life. In early 2018, he …

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September 07 2018 Category: General, Patient Stories

 

Working together to meet community needs

Sometimes life throws curveballs, and you’re not sure what to do. It could be an aching shoulder, stress from your job, a financial problem—or all of the above. Your medical home can help. A main goal of the Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in the Calgary area is to understand and respond to your needs. Here are some of the community programs and services they offer. Calgary Foothills PCN: Help with housing Calgary West Central PCN: Primary care when you need it Calgary Rural PCN: Providing…

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June 07 2018 Category: General, Patient Stories

 

Living well with pain

We’ve all felt pain and we’ve all felt the relief of its passing. But for people living with chronic pain relief is often brief, if at all. In broad terms, pain is an unpleasant sensation in your body that makes you want to stop or change your behaviour. In the case of chronic pain, the jabs, throbbing and spasms can persist even after the initial injury heals. In some cases, the cause may not be known. The experience of pain is different for everyone, making it difficult to diagnose and …

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May 15 2017 Category: General, Patient Stories

 

Changing the course of prediabetes

Changing the course of prediabetes Improving your diet can improve your health When Dennis Christensen was diagnosed with prediabetes just over a year ago, he felt sluggish and tired all the time, and weighed 250 pounds. “It scared the heck out of me,” he says. “I know a lot of people with diabetes and I know what it can do to you.” Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease where the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin (a hormone that regulates how much sugar is in your blood) or…

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March 13 2017 Category: General, Patient Stories, Tips & Tricks

 

Eating your way to good health

Eating your way to good health By Jennifer Allford Getting the right advice about food Cheryl Aitkens was trying to choose healthy foods and leave less healthy foods on the grocery store shelf. But it was tougher than she expected—what to do about fat-free yogurt that’s loaded with sugar? And some advice she read was confusing. “You read so much and everybody has an opinion,” she says. “I want to take better care of myself and I wanted the truth and I wanted someone to point me i…

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January 03 2017 Category: General, Patient Stories, Tips & Tricks

 

5 tips to a healthy pregnancy weight, and food cravings

Start thinking about healthy eating and your weight well before you decide to have a baby. A healthy weight and eating well makes it easier for you to conceive and sets you up for good eating habits during your pregnancy. The tips and tricks below show you how to consume the ideal amount of food in pregnancy to keep you and your baby healthy. Watch the video (3:08) to get started. 1.      Know Your BMI: The amount of weight you should gain during your pregnancy depends on …

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