Health Archives - Queen's Journal

Being healthy isn’t about perfection, especially in a pandemic

Written on February 26, 2021. Posted in Editorials.

Like everything else, healthy eating has been further complicated by the pandemic. Maintaining our health-inspired habits is important, but by no means demands perfection—especially now. Doctors are urging parents not to sweat their kids’ “pandemic pounds,” citing the negative body image that often...

Uprooting ‘hustle culture’ and its toxic byproducts

Written on February 5, 2021. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

I attended a competitive high school where I took AP classes, made honour roll every year, and graduated with awards—but competition wasn’t limited to academic achievement. My peers competed for the worst sleep deprivation and greatest caffeine dependence, as if tired eyes and trembling hands were...

Regrowing my foreskin

Written on January 22, 2021. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

This article discusses depression, suicidal thinking, and sexual assault and may be triggering for some readers. The Canadian Mental Health Association Crisis Line can be reached at 1-800-875-6213. “You know it’s extremely common, right?” That’s what a psychiatrist said to me last summer when I admitted...

I thought I’d outgrown my eating disorder. I was wrong.

Written on January 15, 2021. Posted in Lifestyle, Postscript.

This article discusses eating disorders and may be triggering for some readers. The Canadian Mental Health Association Crisis Line can be reached at 1-800-875-6213. The story goes that if you put a frog in a pot of boiling water, it will instantly leap out. However, if you put a frog in a pot filled...

A mask-wearer’s guide to clean skin

Written on September 29, 2020. Posted in Lifestyle, Student Life.

I’ve always been fortunate enough to have relatively clear skin. Other than the odd pimple, I never really had an issue with acne or dryness. This year, I’ve had to search for more products to help clear my pores and cleanse my face. Is it a coincidence that I’ve also had to wear a face covering every...

What Trump's proposed ban on flavoured vaping products should mean for Canadians

Written on September 27, 2019. Posted in Lifestyle, Pop Culture.

I still remember when a big vape cloud descended over my high school. The nicotine vaping trend was everywhere: in bathrooms, on walks home, and of course, all over social media. In hindsight, the huge spike in vaping among adolescents seems inevitable. It was fun. All you had to do was take a...

Spreading vaping-related illness chokes up young people’s futures

Written on September 24, 2019. Posted in Editorials.

The recent outbreak of respiratory illnesses borne from what’s known as the “vaping crisis” has health officials concerned about the dangers of nicotine and cannabis vaporizers. Still, not enough is being done to keep the potentially life-threatening products out of young Canadians’ hands. Several...

Loneliness is as surmountable as it is common

Written on March 5, 2019. Posted in Editorials.

Loneliness is pervasive. It impacts everybody regardless of personality type, number of friends, or amount of socializing. And if left ignored, it can exacerbate declining mental and physical health. At Queen’s, where students pride themselves on their accomplishments and activities, it can be difficult...

Educating parents key to public health

Written on February 14, 2019. Posted in Editorials.

As the anti-vaccination movement sweeps North America and leaves preventable diseases unaddressed, it’s critical parents learn how to protect their children. Parents’ fears of vaccines are nothing new, but organized opposition against vaccinations is on the rise due to extensive misinformation...

How the Movember Foundation became most effective promoter of men’s mental health

Written on November 6, 2018. Posted in Lifestyle, Student Life.

On Oct. 10, the Movember Foundation released a campaign called “Man of More Words” along with a short video stressing the importance of vocal mental health support. The video was short, humorous, and relatable to many—above all, though, it served as a reminder that the Movember Foundation’s approach...

Women's magazines promote women's public health

Written on September 7, 2018. Posted in Editorials.

Women’s health and government policy go hand-in-hand. In a year that highlighted gendered abuses, women’s magazines have provided essential information. In the past year, the value of women’s magazines has become more evident than ever. The volatile political climate in the United States has seeped...

The liquor industry needs to work with alcohol consumption experiments, not against them

Written on January 15, 2018. Posted in Editorials.

With the limited resources that come with a population of just under 36,000 people, it’s not surprising that even a hint of a lawsuit from the Canadian liquor industry players was enough to snuff out an experiment like the one recently held in the Yukon. In the fall, the Canadian government financed...

Embracing the "rabbit food" life

Written on October 24, 2017. Posted in Lifestyle.

This past Thanksgiving weekend marked my third year as a vegetarian. I started my transition when I came to Queen’s in 2014. I fully became one by early October of the same year. While the vegetarian life isn’t for everyone, people’s reluctance often comes from their belief that they won’t be able...

My invisible friend ED

Written on October 13, 2017. Posted in Lifestyle.

This article talks about eating disorders and might be triggering for some readers. Let’s get one thing straight — eating disorders aren’t diets. The pervasiveness of conversations surrounding food and body image at Queen’s encourages an ignorance that has very serious repercussions for those who...

Queen’s unveils new cardiopulmonary research facility

Written on October 13, 2017. Posted in News.

With $7.7 million provided by the provincial and federal governments, the University unveiled the new Queen’s CardioPulmonary Unit (QCPU) on Oct. 6. The Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science and the Canada Foundation for Innovation funded the translational medicine research facility,...

Green tea takes over the world

Written on October 5, 2017. Posted in Lifestyle.

Have you noticed lately that all your favourite foods are turning green? First it was your tea, then your smoothies and now your donuts. What is the culprit of this food revolution? The answer is matcha. Matcha is a fine powder made from ground green tea leaves that is traditionally dissolved into...

Connections made between Queen's and Iqaluit

Written on March 17, 2017. Posted in News.

While Week 8 of this semester likely saw many students camped out in libraries, Justine Aman was having a unique learning opportunity outside the walls of campus. The third year sociology student spent March 8 to 12 in Iqaluit, Nunavut at the Arctic Youth Ambassador Caucus. Alongside 24 peers from...

Breaking down to hormones

Written on March 17, 2017. Posted in Lifestyle.

Soy is one of the cheapest and easiest proteins on the market, often used as a replacement for meat by vegetarians and vegans. But there are many claims dogging the heels of this food about it’s potential health effects. The debate over the health benefits and adverse effects of soy products isn’t...

Racquet sports can save your life

Written on March 10, 2017. Posted in Lifestyle.

When you think of fitness, what do you see? Is it someone running in a park, someone doing yoga, someone lifting weights at the gym or someone playing sports? It may be time to think again. Forbes magazine recently rated squash as the healthiest sport in the world. Now, who would’ve thought of that? A...

Oils for your every need

Written on February 14, 2017. Posted in Lifestyle.

We’ve all heard about the Internet’s obsession with coconut oil. It seems to do everything from cure acne to doubling as shaving cream. Before you get a Costco-sized tub, it’s important to note that different oils have different purposes in the kitchen. Based on their smoke point, flavour and other...

Living with an invisible disability

Written on January 27, 2017. Posted in Lifestyle.

For the average Queen’s student, typing or writing notes during class isn’t something they have to stress about. Two years ago, it wouldn’t have been something I stressed about either. Starting off my adult years, most of my concerns were centered on being independent, making friends and attending...

S&M: First time fears

Written on January 20, 2017. Posted in Lifestyle.

I’m a fourth year girl and am still a virgin. I know it’s not a huge deal as I’ve never had a long-term relationship, but I’m tired of being embarrassed by it and am just ready to get it over with. However, I’m scared if I tell a one night stand they’ll be totally freaked out and leave — but I’ve...

The psychology of unfulfilled resolutions

Written on January 20, 2017. Posted in Lifestyle.

It’s Day 20 of the new year… have you kept your resolutions? Did they work? Did the turning of the calendar year make any change at all? Here’s the scoop. Fewer than 10 per cent of people keep their resolutions long-term, according to a Statistics Brain Research Institute survey conducted this year. But...

My week using a fitness tracker

Written on January 13, 2017. Posted in Lifestyle.

As someone who occasionally polishes off family-sized bags of chips without help, spending a week tracking what I ate wasn’t something I was looking forward to. I started this fitness app challenge with the goal of finding motivation to eat better and exercise and I found the cons outweighed the...

The benefits of the great outdoors

Written on October 18, 2016. Posted in Lifestyle.

There’s a personal benefit to being in the great outdoors, other than an adventurous-looking social media feed. Along with exercise, being outdoors has been known to relieve symptoms of depression, reduce stress, increase vitality and restore calm minds. According to the World Health Organization...

Stop hitting the snooze button

Written on October 14, 2016. Posted in Lifestyle.

The average human will sleep for one third of their lifetime. If you live for 90 years, that’s 30 years asleep. Have you ever felt like there’s not enough time in a day for forty winks, or find yourself using the phrase, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead?” In some cases, it would be useful to have developed...

New director of Student Wellness Services talks plans for future

Written on October 6, 2016. Posted in News.

Jennifer Dods was appointed the new Executive Director of Student Wellness Services (SWS) this spring, following the retirement of long-time director Mike Condra last summer. At the time she was hired, a study published by the Ontario University and College Health Association (OUCHA) surveyed 25,000...

Drinking responsibly, every morning

Written on September 16, 2016. Posted in Lifestyle.

Coffee: a six letter word that can determine your productivity or personality for the day. It changes your wakefulness, mood and cognition to such an extent that it’s considered the most readily consumed psychoactive drug in the world. Coffee is an unregulated drug that can have some wonderful effects,...

My obsession with perfection

Written on September 9, 2016. Posted in Lifestyle.

Four years ago, I was admitted to the eating disorder unit at Sick Kids Hospital. It would be easy to lie and say that my battle with mental illness started a few months before I was sent to the hospital. Truthfully, it was something I had suffered with for years, but accepting it as a reality was...

Board of Trustees set to vote on $87.5 million Wellness Centre project

Written on July 14, 2016. Posted in News.

During the July 14 meeting of the Queen’s Board of Trustees, over $100 million in University funds will be discussed — and potentially approved — for major capital projects. On the recommendation of the Queen’s University Planning Committee and the Capital Assets and Finance Committee, the Board...

Tag: Health

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