Author Archives: admin

Predicting Active Disease in IBD

Most  patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are familiar with certain blood and stool tests that can assess how active their bowel disease is. One such test is the fecal calprotectin test ( Fcal for short). Calprotectin is a protein found in … Continue reading

Posted in The Charlton Centre | Leave a comment

Are dry eyes and dry mouth related?

People with autoimmune conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus may also complain of dry eyes and mouth. This combination of symptoms is known as Sjogren’s (SHOW-grins) syndrome, which is also an immune system disorder. The glands in the mouth … Continue reading

Posted in The Charlton Centre | Leave a comment

Fashion and Psoriasis

For people living psoriasis, consideration is often given to the fabrics that will cause the least skin irritation.  Cotton is most often recommended because it is considered the most breathable.  Silk is another possible choice as it tends to be soft … Continue reading

Posted in The Charlton Centre | Leave a comment

#WiseWordsWednesday: Project ECHO

Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a collaborative model of medical education that empowers all types of health care professionals to provide better care to more people in their own communities. Wait times to see specialists can be lengthy and those … Continue reading

Posted in The Charlton Centre | Leave a comment

The many benefits of medical marijuana

Medical marijuana can be very beneficial for a variety of conditions and is most commonly used to combat issues such as pain management, epilepsy, and more. Medical marijuana is highly regulated by Health Canada for its purity, lack of any fungal … Continue reading

Posted in The Charlton Centre | Leave a comment

Fatigue and Psoriasis

Fatigue can be caused by many factors from low levels of iron or vitamin B12 to low thyroid function.  However, feeling fatigued can be a complaint of people suffering with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in whom these levels are normal. … Continue reading

Posted in The Charlton Centre | Leave a comment

Moisturizing and Psoriasis

Moisturizing the skin is one of the hallmarks of psoriasis treatment. Choose a  moisturizer that is free from perfumes and is endorsed by the Canadian Dermatology Association. Multiple applications may be needed each day especially in cold dry weather. The … Continue reading

Posted in The Charlton Centre | Leave a comment

New Educational Program available for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Over the last couple of years, Arthritis Consumer Experts have been diligently working on an educational program for people living with rheumatoid arthritis. They have developed an online educational program, JointHealth Education, which helps patients better communicate with their rheumatologist and … Continue reading

Posted in The Charlton Centre | Leave a comment

Stress and Autoimmune Disorders

Hormonal, environmental, genetic, and immunological factors are all important considerations in autoimmune diseases. Approximately 50% of all trigger factors are unknown. “Many retrospective studies found that a high proportion (up to 80%) of patients reported uncommon emotional stress before disease … Continue reading

Posted in The Charlton Centre | Leave a comment

Can pharmacists administer vaccines?

In December of 2016, pharmacists  in the province of Ontario who have received injection training were given the authority by the Minister of Health to administer additional vaccines. Until this time, pharmacists could only administer the annual flu shot. From … Continue reading

Posted in The Charlton Centre | Leave a comment