Doctors Manitoba urges healthy habits

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This article was published 10/06/2022 (1365 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A new online resource aimed at revitalizing the overall health of Manitobans has been made available by Doctors Manitoba.

Live Healthy Manitoba includes advice from local physicians on eating healthier, being more active, reconnecting with friends and family and prioritizing sufficient sleep, said Dr. Candace Bradshaw, president of Doctors Manitoba, on a conference call Friday afternoon.

“The research is very clear. For many Manitobans, the pandemic has made it harder to focus on healthy living, and it’s disrupted much of the routine screenings and medical monitoring that help prevent diseases or catch health issues earlier.”

A survey conducted by the association in May shows 39 per cent of 1,054 respondents reported their health habits and activities becoming worse over the pandemic.

Bradshaw wasn’t able to provide examples of which activities and habits got worse.

Thirty-one per cent of respondents also reported delaying seeking care during the pandemic.

The result, Bradshaw explained, is doctors and physicians weren’t able to identify diseases that were in early stages.

“Some concerning things we’re seeing is patients presenting later in stages of disease that we would have preferred to catch,” she said.

“This is going to create more of a backlog potentially unless we’re able to open up more services.”

The province announced in April it would devote $110 million to improving surgical backlogs. The backlog has since plateaued but Bradshaw wasn’t ready to say it will be smooth sailing going forward.

“I have to say we’re optimistic, but things can change. We’re monitoring it all the time.”

Bradshaw, a family physician, also emphasized the importance of people dedicating an in-person appointment with a doctor or physician to check on mental health.

“It’s not just physical health where you need a baseline check,” she said.

Doctors will look at how people are sleeping, eating and functioning at work or school to help determine a first step toward revitalizing someone’s help, she explained.

“It doesn’t always mean coming to your doctor means you have to walk away with a prescription.

“We can start with some basic things like getting more fresh air, eating better or physical activity, then we’ll go from there.”

Bradshaw said Doctors Manitoba hasn’t directed specific efforts to anyone 18 and under, but is in ongoing talks with the Canadian Pediatric Society and the Manitoba Pediatric Society.

The City of Brandon has numerous events coming down the pike in what is expected to be a summer where “things are coming back to normal.”

Perry Roque, director of parks and recreation services for the city, didn’t reserve his elation while talking about the return of new and existing activities for the residents of Brandon.

The youth activity centre at the East End Community Centre runs from July 4 to Aug. 25, in what will be an opportunity for kids to interact with each other once again while parents can drop them off and have time to achieve their own fitness goals.

Events such as basketball tournaments at Parkdale park, outdoor music entertainment and ninja warrior training will grace the Wheat City this summer, as well.

“We’re looking at ways to get people to re-connect and get them out of their homes,” Roque said. “This is the kind of programming the community has told us they’d like to see.”

The Miracle Gro best garden contest returns this summer, and Roque hopes it will be an opportunity for adults to get outside more.

“Health doesn’t always mean ‘I have to go out for a 30 min walk,’” he said.

“I always like to think we were always doing these healthy events but now we have the opportunity to bring them back and bring back more.”

Information on upcoming events is available at brandon.ca/recreation.

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