BT Calgary Blogs

Ok call me a keener, but I’m already outfit planning for the Calgary Stampede this year.  It’s the 100th anniversary!  Better look cute.

So there’s a really cool contest for all of ya’ll fashionistas where $10,000 is up for grabs including a shopping spree at The Core!

All you have to do is head to the COREshopping Facebook page and upload a photo of yourself in your most contemporary, sophisticated Stampede style to the Contest tab.  I did a little pre-shop to get some good examples of contemporary Stampede Style – not that I always shop with my cameraman but there’s nothing wrong with squeezing a little shopping into the work day!

On June 18th, our panel of celebrity judges will choose the three finalists who uploaded the photo that best represents contemporary Stampede style. The public will vote for their favorite finalist, and the winner of the $10,000 grand prize package will be announced at our Stampede Fashion Show on July 4!  Giddyup!

Anyway we’re looking for outfits like this one – gorgeous lace dress, accessories, and belt from BCBG – just post your pics like this and you could win $10,000!

CALGARY WEATHER
TODAY: 12, Partly Cloudy (WIND: South 10)
TONIGHT: +2, Partly Cloudy
FRIDAY: 15, Partly Cloudy
>Temperatures rise – and sunshine dominates over the next several days….Top up that propane – and get ready to be “Grillin’ Like a Villain” through the weekend!!!
-Meteorologist Andrew Schultz ( twitter: @AndrewSchultzWX )

Mac owners have long bragged about the fact that they don’t need to have antivirus software installed to keep them safe from viruses and malware. That is starting to change.

Late last week the Flashback virus made its way across the globe affecting nearly 600,000 Mac computers, most of them in the US. So how can you tell if you’re infected?

In the early stages the only way to find out was to manually enter commands into the Terminal which can be intimidating for some. Thankfully there is an easier way.

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Lots of fun stuff today including a reason to grab another coffee! Yay!

So many people suffer from migraines in Calgary and now there’s research to suggest these people may want to exercise regularly.  A recent Swedish study found three, 40 minutes workouts a week, or regular relaxation therapy worked just as well as daily migraine drugs. And of course with any kind of medication comes side effects. However, with exercise the side effects are all good! Regular work outs will help to improve your overall health and wellness and help you to manage your stress.

If you’re staying in hotel is easier than ever to get a work out in! Some Westin hotels and resorts across the country now let you reserve a room  outfitted with a treadmill, stationary bike or other fitness equipment. Even the Hyatt Regency right here in Calgary can send up a yoga mat and they have classes on their in-room TVs. The Hotel Omni Mont-Royal in Montreal too offers “get fit kits” that include a mat, set of weights and resistance band for working out in the comfort of your hotel room.

This one I love. Coffee lovers if you’re feeling a little blue, you might want to reach for another java. A recent US study tracked more than 50 thousand women over 10 years and found those who consumed two or more cups of coffee a day were 15 to 20 percent less likely to develop depression. The suggestion is to take a time out, sit down and really savour that second cup for an ultimate hit of happiness.

It all goes back to that idea of taking a moment for yourself each day to de-stress and enjoy the little things in life. It’s good for your health!

Rosacea is very common. It affects up to 15 percent of the Caucasian population though it’s seen in most ethnicities. The most common kind is often known as “rosy cheeks.” These people flush usually in response to certain triggers like alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods and heat. This frequent flushing often causes broken blood vessels in the skin.

The second kind of rosacea looks a lot like acne, it’s characterized by redness along with pustules.

The final kind of rosacea is the least common and is characterized by the bulbous nose usually found on men.

Rosacea can be very challenging to live with. People who suffer from it often say they feel self-conscious about their appearance which affects their self esteem and confidence. Unfortunately there is no cure for rosacea but the good news is dermatologists can certainly treat the manifestation of the condition.

I spoke with Dermatologist Dr. Greg Storwick about rosacea. He says there’s no reason for people to suffer. For those with the flushing rosacea he says with certain lasers he can take down that flush by 50 to 80 percent. And for those who have the flushing that has caused broken blood vessels, he can use a laser and pretty much get rid of the redness altogether. Storwick says people can also change their lifestyle to avoid their triggers, but he suggests enjoying life and coming in for treatment every couple of years or as needed. 

For those with the pustules, Dr. Storwick says these patients would benefit from medical therapy. He suggests oral antibiotics for a few weeks, specifically of the tetracycline family.

Dr. Storwick says while there is no cure for this disease, he says there is no reason to live with the consequences. He also says a little flush is a good thing!

For more information on rosacea, there is a National Rosacea Society out of the States:

http://www.rosacea.org

In Health News today, another warning about delaying child bearing.  The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada says waiting until over the age of 32 to have kids increases the risk of infertility, pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Babies don’t learn how to talk just from listening to you. New research suggests they’re likely reading your lips! Scientists out of Florida Atlantic University say at around 6 months of age babies shift from that intense eye gaze of early infancy to studying mouths when people talk.

And, are you having trouble losing weight? Try changing your dishes. Research published in the in the journal Appetite says people who ate off of red plates ate 40 percent less food.

Half of all women will have one at some point in their lives…. a urinary tract infection also known as a bladder infection.

These infections are very common … in fact, they’re the second most common infection in the body and one of the most common reasons women will go to their family doctor.

A UTI occurs when bacteria travel from the urethra, the short tube that takes urine from the bladder out, up to the bladder. This infection causes some nasty symptoms including a frequent need to pee as well as burning and pain when peeing. The urine may also be cloudy, have blood in it and smell foul.

The most common way a UTI is diagnosed is by going to a family doctor, peeing in a cup, where a urinalysis will determine if there are white blood cells present.  This can usually be done right in the doctor’s office. Antibiotics are most often prescribed and the infection will likely go away.

However, some women will experience recurrent infections…. up to 3 or 4 a year. I spoke with Urogynecologist Dr. Magali Robert about UTIs. She says these women need to have a family doctor so these infections can be tracked. It’s also important to make sure the symptoms aren’t some other kind of issue. Docs should also check for anatomical problems, or whether a woman is able to empty her bladder properly. Docs also need to determine if the patient is clearing the infection each time or whether they’re merely suppressing symptoms and it’s the same infection causing problems.

And for some women, it may not be a question of antibiotics. Dr. Robert says patients approaching menopause are predisposed to UTIs because their estrogen levels are dropping leaving the tissues of the urethra dry and more susceptible to infection. These women may benefit from estrogen therapy.

Young women may benefit from taking cranberries… either supplements or juice. If they find they’re getting UTIs directly related to sex, they may be prescribed antibiotics to take right around the time they’re having sex.

All women will benefit from staying well hydrated says Dr. Robert. She says water helps to flush out the urethra making it harder for bacteria to set up shop.

I do want to point out that men do get urinary tract infections as well… just not as often… only in about 10 percent of cases.

I could write so much more… but if you are getting UTIs make sure you talk openly to your doctor about what will work for you. It may also help to investigate some naturopathic options to help prevent getting another infection.

It’s the first ever World Prematurity Day. This is a push to help us understand how important it is to prevent pre-term births. Alberta in fact, has the highest rate of premature births in the country – about 9 in every 100 births.

A normal pregnancy is 40 weeks long, any baby born 37 weeks and on is considered full term. Premature babies are those born between 22 weeks and 37 weeks. Seventy percent of premature births happen between 34 and 37 weeks. The earlier a baby is born, of course, the more problems they’ll face. Even in the 34 to 37 week range babies will likely face respiratory problems, central nervous system problems and learning disabilities later in life. Those infants born even earlier are looking at damage to the brain, eyes, gut and lungs. It’s a multi-system impact.

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Does it ever feel like your preschooler is just not listening to you? Or do you feel like they never do what you ask? Well, perhaps we could be communicating with them more effectively. I say “we ” of course because I’m the mother of a 2 and three year old! And getting them to do what you want can certainly be a challenge!

So, lucky for me, I have a job where I can just call up a Registered Speech Language Pathologist for some advice. I interviewed Lisa Lindland. She has some great tips!

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Lots of interesting tidbits in the news this week!

We’ve heard in the past that medications to control high blood pressure in pregnant women might lead to birth defects in the baby. However new research suggests it may be the high blood pressure itself that’s the problem.

Researchers in California examined data on almost half a million women from 1995 to 2008  and found compared to women without high blood pressure, those with the condition were more likely to have babies with congenital heart, brain, or spinal cord defects, regardless of whether they were taking blood pressure medications, or no meds at all.

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