Bowmanville Health Centre
222 King Street East L1C1P6 Bowmanville, ON, Canada

We’ve finally made it to Spring! Soon the grass will be getting greener and buds will start to pop. What's something you're looking forward to as the weather warms up?

Have your little ones been complaining about difficulty reading the board at school? It might be time to book an appointment with an optometrist at Bowmanville Eye Centre! Annual exams are covered by OHIP until 19 years of age, so your children can have picture-perfect vision at no cost.

We may have lost an hour of sleep last night with the time change, but at least it was on a Sunday! Daylight hours are noticeably increasing. It won't be long before the grass is green and flowers are blooming. Isn’t Spring a great time?

In the mood for some takeout to celebrate the end of another work week? Why not skip out on cooking tonight and order in from The Old Newcastle House Taps & Grill. We recommend the chicken parmesan if you haven't tried it yet. Supporting local during these times is so important!

The parking lot at Bowmanville Health Centre is much larger than you may know. If you’re having trouble finding a spot right behind the building, you can drive further East within the parking lot and find many more spots near the laundromat. In fact, if your destination is the East wing, you may find it closer to park there and walk a short distance down King Street. Also, note that there are two entrances and two exits. If traffic is backed up on the West side (St. George), you may find it faster to exit onto King Street East. Enter the driveway beside the East wing and leave from there.

When was the last time you paid a visit to the dentist? If you can't remember, it's time to get in touch with Bowmanville Smiles Dental Centre to book in for your next dental cleaning!

Time for a word about vaccines. Coronavirus vaccinations will increase in availability to more people over the next few months. The first vaccination was created by English doctor Edward Jenner in 1796 to provide immunity against smallpox by exposing patients to cowpox which was not as lethal. Since then, vaccines are the most studied of all scientific and medical procedures. Vaccines induce an immune response in the body. They are safe and an essential building block for herd immunity in which most members of a group are immune to a virus. This means they don’t get sick or infect others, or the illness is not as severe or prolonged because their body knows how to fight it. To get there, the majority of us who are eligible need to get vaccinated.

How was 2020 for you? Sometimes it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but together we will get through this. We all hope that 2021 will bring some relief from the pandemic, and that life will get back to better than normal. Start the new year off right by taking care of yourself and your loved ones. If it’s part of your New Year resolutions, it’s the best one to keep.

Markets by Dream Day in Bowmanville is the perfect way to explore all the local talent in the area while getting some holiday shopping done. Offering goods from over 120 local artisans, ranging from baked goods to home decor pieces, there’s something for everyone on your Christmas list! Browse all the local makers on their website and order ahead of time for curb-side pickup, or visit them in person. Supporting local has never been easier.

We're just over a week away from the big day! If you're looking to do some last minute Christmas shopping, head over to Romancing the Home. A quaint gift store located in downtown Bowmanville, they offer affordable and unique garden, home decor, jewelry, accessories and so much more to get gifts for everyone on your list.

Shopping local is so important especially this year. That's why from now until Christmas, we'll be highlighting some of our (and your) favourite shops and services from Bowmanville and the surrounding area. Let’s help support local this holiday season.

Did you find yourself squinting to read the holiday cards this year? It may be time to get your eyes checked! Bowmanville Eye Centre can help. When was the last time you had your eyes checked?

LifeLabs now only accepts appointments for providing blood, urine samples, etc. Patients will not be able to walk in without previously booking a time. This change is to protect the safety of the patients, the staff, and the building, to increase efficiencies and to reduce waiting times. To book an appointment, visit https://buff.ly/3qHd6nk or call 1 (877) 849-3637 and choose the most convenient date and time for you.

November is Lung Cancer Month in Canada. Various events and fundraisers are scheduled to raise awareness of lung cancer, and to provide more information to help patients, caregivers, families, and friends. Most events are virtual this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, which in itself has brought more attention to our respiratory systems. Given that more than 29,300 Canadians developed lung cancer in 2019, take a breath to learn about what’s coming up at Lung Cancer Canada and get involved: https://buff.ly/35WgRvx

In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10. This milestone in human rights and dignity proclaiming the rights to which everyone is entitled as a human being regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, language, political or other opinions, origin, property, birth or other status. It is the most translated document in the world, available in over 500 languages. The 2020 theme is Recover Better: Stand up for Human Rights referring to the need to build a better world as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

November 14 is World Diabetes Day. Did you know that in 2019, it was estimated that over 425 million people worldwide live with diabetes. Type 2 is more common and is largely the result of excess body weight and lack of physical activity. To help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes and its complications, it is important to try to eat a healthy diet, get at least 30 active minutes a day, and avoid smoking.

LITTLE BUCK has you covered for gifts for the kids this year! With products that are stylish, highly detailed and high quality, their range of items is perfect for your little ones. Offering curb-side pickup, you can have peace of mind knowing you're shopping safely while still helping to support the businesses within our community.

As we enter another year still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the onset of a new, more transmissible version, it bears repeating that we still need to observe the basics. Even though vaccines are on the way to everyone who needs and wants one, we still have to practice doing the right things: a. cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands b. wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water to destroy the virus c. refrain from touching your face especially eyes,... nose and mouth d. wear a mask over your mouth and nose e. maintain at least 2 metres or 6.5 feet of physical distance between yourself and others at all times f. only shop for essentials and take advantage of order ahead and curb-side or store front pick up g. remain local as much as possible to limit exposure h. get tested if you suspect you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone who tested positive i. combine all of these health measures for the utmost protection for yourself and others. See more

Did you know that January is #NationalBloodDonorMonth? During the winter, donations slow down because so many obstacles can get in the way including bad weather. The pandemic has held everyone back, but the need hasn’t decreased. This month consider making an appointment to donate. You could help save a life.

Using exercise, lifestyle counselling, and healthy habit formation as their tools, highly trained exercise physiologists at LIVE WELL Exercise Clinic will work with you to ensure that you have the information and support that you need to become more active and make lasting changes to your health and lifestyle. Providing a warm community full of heart, determination, and perseverance, you will be motivated and inspired by those around you. Whether it is through one of their walking clubs, your small group exercise class, or monthly fun days, LIVE WELL's programs foster a great sense of belonging for members.

Are you still using cotton swabs to clean your ears? Toss those in the garbage! Every year, thousands of Canadians puncture their eardrum by using swabs or sharper objects, such as hair pins or toothpicks to clean out their ears. If you think you have a build up of excessive wax that is affecting your hearing, it's time to book an appointment with an audiologist at Professional Hearing Services.

As the holidays approach, don’t forget to take care of your oral health as you indulge in holiday sweets! Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, as well as maintaining a regular cleaning schedule with the dentist is very important. Staff at Bowmanville Smiles are taking all necessary precautions to maintain the safety of both staff and patients.

Are you finding your stress levels to be elevated over the last few months? Not sure how to deal with these overwhelming emotions? You definitely are not alone. If you're looking for somewhere safe and confidential to help deal with these feelings, therapists and counsellors over at LifeCare Centres are ready to help.

It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (November 1824) is important nonetheless. The objective is to raise awareness about global antimicrobial resistance (it’s getting harder to kill the germs), and to encourage the general public, health workers and policy makers to engage in best practices to avoid spreading drug-resistant infections. This resistance increases when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites are not affected by medications. Viruses are top of mind right now, so ongoing and persistent efforts to decrease the spread (physical distance, masks, hand washing) is paramount.

PARTICIPANTS NEEDED Are you 40 years or older? We are looking for adult participants to complete our study and help contribute to the progression of nutrition m...anagement tools. We are offering $50 for participation. What you will do.... 1) Complete a 3-day food diary where you measure and write down all food and drinks consumed for 3 days (tools are provided) 2) Complete TWO back to back 24-hour urine collections. 3) Complete a series of questionnaires. You can participate if you... 1) Are 40 years old or older 2) Consume a self-selected diet 2) Do NOT have a diagnosis of liver failure, heart failure, kidney disease, preeclampsia, or diagnosis affecting memory 3) Are NOT taking loop diuretics or sglt-2 inhibitors. This study will take approximately 3 hours to complete over a span of 5 days. Participants are able to participate remotely from home/online. Tools to complete the study will be delivered to you and picked up when you are finished. If you would like to learn more or are interested in participating please message us on facebook, email us at [email protected] or call 905-410-2859 to speak with Shannon Brazel who would be happy to answer any of your questions. See more

CMCC Chiropractic Clinic provides shockwave therapy at the Bowmanville Health Center. This therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses sound waves to treat chronic muscle and tendon conditions such as calcific tendonitis, patellar tendinopathy, and plantar fasciitis. To book a new patient appointment today, give us a call at 905.419.2622. Same day appointments and TeleHealth (remote consultations) are available! No referral is necessary.

May we all take a few minutes today to remember those brave soldiers who fought for our country, and those who didn't come back home. Lest we forget.

November 16 to 22 is Digital Health Week. If you are registered with Health Myself (which enables online bookings with specific doctors on the third floor of the west wing), you already know what a powerful tool this is. Check out our home page on https://buff.ly/35D3T7f to see which doctors currently accept online booking. The pandemic has changed the face of private and public health. We expect more virtual and digital health care in future. Even now, 1 in 3 visits with health care professionals are virtual, on the phone or online. Digital health systems provide access to personal health information, faster and more efficient care, and enable virtual visits.

Canada has one of the highest rates of brain tumour in the world. Every day, 27 Canadians are diagnosed with brain cancer or non-malignant tumour. There have been no new discoveries for the past decade. Research and innovation are badly needed. Saturday, October 24 is Brain Cancer Awareness Day in Canada, which kicks off International Brain Tumour Awareness week that runs until Halloween. The hope is to raise awareness, to raise money to help fund research, and to raise hope. Wear a hat, take a selfie, post it on social media using #HatsForHope and tagging @braintumourfdn. You can purchase a Hats for Hope toque to help fund research and support programs. Take part in an event or consider volunteering to make a difference in the life of patients and their families.

Looking for something to do this weekend? What would fall be without a trip to the pumpkin patch? Knox Farm is a local favourite, providing fun for the whole family while enjoying some time outdoors.

It’s Movember once again. It’s a worldwide movement dedicated to the importance of men’s health with a focus on mental health and suicide prevention, the detection and treatment of prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Your fundraising efforts and contributions have gone toward more than 1250 global men’s health projects. Check Canadian events and information at https://buff.ly/2D0aBHe.

Sixteen years ago, October 22 was designated International Stuttering Awareness Day. This complex disorder affects one percent of the world’s population. Help is available to educate people about this issue, work toward prevention in young children, and to discover more about the cause (genetic, developmental, neurophysiology, family dynamics or combinations). Four times as many males than females stutter. Early intervention is the best tool, and it can be managed. A Speech-L...anguage Pathologist can devise and deliver a treatment plan. As most people know, U.S. Presidential hopeful Vice President Joe Biden stutters, as do some of the greatest voices and orators: Winston Churchill, King George VI (The King’s Speech), Marilyn Monroe, Carly Simon, James Earl Jones (Darth Vader), and many more. Stuttering didn’t stop them and it won’t stand in the way of anyone else either. See more

At the Bowmanville Health Centre, we are continuing to take all precautions necessary for keeping our community safe and healthy. We are still asking that all visitors enter through our parking lot entrances at our West, South and East wings. Our St. George and King Street entrance remain closed at this time. Thank you for helping do your part!

Do you find yourself often slipping into a reoccurring depression around the same time every year? You could be dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that typically affects individuals in the fall and winter months. Don’t brush off the feeling every year as just the winter blues. Therapists at LifeCare Centres can help you understand what you’re going through, giving you the direction you need to better get through the colder months.

All the management and staff at Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy are the best. Let them know how you feel on October 20, which is Pharmacy Technician Day #RxTechDay. This is the time to show them how much you appreciate the great work that they do and the service they provide.

Bowmanville Health Centre offers very talented doctors for your overall and specific health care requirements. Dr. Venetia Wijayakumar is a member of the specialist team with a primary focus on geriatrics to support our aging loved ones. It is vitally important to the elderly and their families to maintain good health, increase quality of life, improve interactions with others, boost healthy activities, and plan short- and long-term goals for ongoing care. Dr. Wijaykumar also works to enhance and encourage mobility, manage Polypharmacy (multiple medications), avoid falls, and address cognitive-related issues. Her office is on the third floor of the west wing. Ask your doctor to refer you to Dr. Wijaykumar to support ongoing or developing elderly care needs.

It's time to think about putting up the Christmas Tree! This year, consider supporting one of our local Christmas tree farms. Blackstock Christmas Tree Farm and Powell's Trees are two great options in the area! When it comes to your Christmas tree, do you put up a real one or fake?

Staff at Bowmanville Smiles are doing everything they can to keep patients and staff safe. Here’s what you can expect for your next visit!

Women more than men are susceptible to many different brain disorders, and no one knows why as yet. Women’s Brain Health Initiative (WHBI) focuses on research to combat these lop-sided statistics. December 2 is the second annual Women’s Brain Health Day in Canada to help fund research. Take the memory challenge at https://buff.ly/3fGP0US

Do you suffer from frequent headaches? A visit to the chiropractor might help! The greatest majority of primary headaches are actually associated with muscle tension in the neck. By making chiropractic adjustments to help improve spinal function and alleviate the stress on your system, they can also help alleviate the tension in your muscles causing these tension headaches. To book a new patient appointment today , give us a call at 905.419.2622. Same day appointments and telehealth (remote consultations) are available!

December 1 marks the 32nd anniversary of World AIDS Day, which also launches the start of Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week in Canada. In 2020, six Canadians are still infected with HIV every day, and the numbers are proportionally higher in the Indigenous population and in countries where HIV is endemic. Up to 14% of HIV-infected Canadians remain undetected. Early treatment can save lives, but they don’t even know. The coronavirus pandemic makes things worse by threatening access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care. Increased awareness can help HIV patients to receive the care they need.

Have these last few months taken a toll on your mental health? You're not alone. Counsellors and therapists over at LifeCare Centres understand these times have been tougher than others, which is why they proudly offer a safe place to talk with a professional and caring person, who is trained to help you work through any challenges you may be facing.

Who doesn’t have back pain? Unlike 90% of animals, we have a spine. It’s a great invention, but sometimes it acts up and can be quite debilitating. On October 16 every year, World Spine Day highlights the burdens of spinal pain and disability and emphasizes appropriate physical activity, good posture, responsible lifting (legs not the back), and safe working conditions. More than a billion people around the globe suffer some kind of spinal pain. The coronavirus pandemic has made matters worse as people reduce or avoid physical activity and hunker down. Learn to give your back a break and get back on track.

Now that fall has officially arrived, it's time to partake in some local fall activities! Why not head over to Watson Farms for some apple picking. You could even make some delicious desserts! From Apple Crisp to Candy apples, the options are endless.

When was the last time you had a comprehensive eye exam done? Comprehensive eye care is about more than just clear vision and a change in glasses. Unlike other parts of the body, the eyes do not always hurt when there is something wrong. This is especially the case with glaucoma and early changes in cataracts, diabetic complications, and macular degeneration. This is why regular eye exams are important, allowing your eye care provider to check for any changes in your vision a...nd eye health. This also help them to early detect eye diseases, and can allow your optometrist to take proper measures to slow, or stop any conditions from getting worse. To book your comprehensive eye exam, be sure to contact the Bowmanville Eye Centre.

There’s a 25% chance that those aches, pains and stiff joints are not just from using muscles you haven’t exercised in a while. As we age, it gets harder to recover from those workouts whether in the gym or digging in the backyard. As we get older, the incidence of arthritis increases too. Make it a point to find out more on October 12. It’s World Arthritis Day. There is no known cure at this time, so organizers around the world are working to raise funds for cutting-edge research to put this family of painful diseases behind us.

October 10th is Mental Health Day, something a lot of us don’t take as seriously as we should. Taking care of our mental health is so very important, and nothing to be ashamed of. If you or someone you love is struggling, therapists and counsellors at LifeCare Centres would be more than happy to help.