http://www.bowmanvillehealthcentre.ca/

Bowmanville Health Centre, 222 King Street East, Bowmanville, ON (2026)

02/07/2026

We’re proud to introduce our team of skilled, compassionate optometrists—and to welcome Dr. Akanya Sivakumar to our practice! 👁️✨

Our doctors provide comprehensive eye care for patients of all ages, combining trusted expertise with flexible access when you need it most.

Meet our optometrists:
• Dr. Diana Le: Family eye care, contact lenses and ocular disease
• Dr. Briana Baron: Pediatric care, myopia control, and family practice
• Dr. Akanya Sivakumar: Ocular disease, dry eye and pediatric optometry (fluent in Tamil & English)

Why walk-in eye care matters:
Eye emergencies don’t wait. Sudden vision changes, infections, injuries, flashes, floaters, or painful red eyes need prompt attention—and we’re here to help.

🗓 Walk-ins: Mondays and Fridays
📞 905-623-4333
📍 Ground floor, south wing across from the parking lot entrance

Comprehensive care. Trusted expertise. Walk-in convenience.

01/27/2026

Mental health matters just as much as physical health. 💚

We wouldn’t ignore a broken bone or persistent pain, and we shouldn’t ignore stress, anxiety, burnout, or emotional struggles either. Mental health is a vital part of overall well-being, and taking care of it is a sign of strength, not weakness.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, know this: help is available, and you don’t have to wait until things feel unmanageable. Support can make a real difference, whether you need guidance, coping strategies, or someone to talk to.

At LifeCare Centres, compassionate, professional support is available to help you navigate life’s challenges and prioritize your mental wellness. Call 905.231.2273. They are located on the third floor of the east wing in Suite 302.

You’re not alone. Help is here. And your mental health is worth caring for — today and every day. 💙

01/23/2026

Know your emergency health care options in Durham Region 🚑

Being prepared matters. If you have a family doctor, start there when possible. Many now offer phone or virtual visits. For urgent situations, however, other options may be more appropriate.

Call 911 or go to the emergency room for:
• Chest pain or trouble breathing
• Signs of stroke
• Loss of consciousness
• Severe dehydration, seizures, poisoning
• Broken bones or deep wounds
• Fever in infants under 3 months
• Life- or limb-threatening emergencies

Urgent Care or Walk-In Clinics are often best for:
• Minor cuts, sprains, infections
• Earaches and eye injuries

🪪 A valid Ontario Health Card is required. Some tests not covered by OHIP may require payment in cash.

Knowing where to go helps you get the right care, faster.

01/21/2026

Meet Elizabeth Blackwell, the woman who changed medicine forever. 🩺

Born in 1821, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States, at a time when women weren’t even welcome in medical schools.

In fact, after being rejected everywhere else, she was admitted to Geneva Medical College in New York because male students voted yes as a joke. She had the last laugh—graduating first in her class in 1849.

Her motivation? A dying friend once told her that a female doctor would have made her suffering more bearable. Elizabeth listened—and turned that moment into a lifelong mission.

She went on to:
• Co-found the New York Infirmary for Women and Children
• Open a medical college for women when others shut them out
• Become the first woman on the UK medical register
• Help establish the London School of Medicine for Women
• Champion public health with a simple belief: “Prevention is better than cure.”

Her legacy still shapes medicine today. From the Elizabeth Blackwell Medal to her induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, and even a statue unveiled in her honour in 2025. Her impact endures.

Elizabeth Blackwell didn’t just break barriers. She built doors…and held them open.

01/14/2026

👂Hearing isn’t just about sound.🦻

It’s about connection: laughing with friends, following conversations, hearing your name called, and feeling confident in social settings. It’s a precious gift, and one that’s often taken for granted until it starts to fade.

When hearing loss goes unnoticed or untreated, it can lead to frustration, isolation, and even depression. Many people begin to withdraw, avoiding gatherings, struggling in conversations, or feeling embarrassed to ask others to repeat themselves.

And here’s the part that’s easy to overlook: On average, people wait 7 years after noticing hearing problems before seeking help. That’s seven years of missed moments.

If you find yourself avoiding social situations, feeling left out of conversations, or turning up the volume more than you used to, it’s time for a hearing test. Early testing can protect your hearing, improve the quality of life, and help you stay connected to the world around you.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Preserve the sounds that matter most.

📞 Call Amplifon Clinic Bowmanville at 905-623-1994 to learn more about your ears and your hearing.
📍 They are located on the ground floor of the south wing, just to the left of the south wing door from the parking lot.

Because hearing well means living fully.

01/12/2026

New year. New goals. Same old weight-loss myths? 🇨🇦

If you’re new to weight loss, skip the quick fixes. Science shows they usually backfire—and most people regain the weight (and then some).

The truth? Weight loss is hard. Not because you’re weak, but because your body is biologically wired to resist it. That’s why crash diets and extreme workouts don’t last.

The good news: research shows that even a 5% reduction in body weight can improve blood pressure, cholesterol, sleep, inflammation, and overall health, benefits that matter for Canadians of all ages.

So what actually works in the first few months?

✔️ Focus on small, sustainable changes (think years, not weeks).
✔️ Set realistic goals. Health markers matter more than the scale.
✔️ Lift weights to protect muscle and boost metabolism.
✔️ Move more in ways you enjoy: walking, skating, gardening, team sports.
✔️ Fuel your body, especially with protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole foods.
✔️ Expect plateaus; they’re normal, not a sign of failure.

Weight loss isn’t a one-time fix. It’s more like managing blood pressure—ongoing, flexible, and personal.

Slow, steady, and sustainable beats fast and frustrating — every time. 🍁💪

For expert help from a team of fitness, health and wellness coaches with medically proven results, get in touch with LIVE WELL Exercise Clinic. Call 289.276.1415 or email bowmanville@livewellclinic.ca to schedule a free guest session and discover the key to weight management and all its related benefits. Feel safe and supported in your quest for better health.

They are located on the lower level of the east wing.

01/10/2026

“Feed a cold, starve a fever.”

We’ve all heard it, but is it actually true? 🤧 Since so many of us are going through this right now, we really want to know the best approach.

Short answer: nope.
Longer answer: it sounds old-school because it is old-school, like Middle Ages old.

The idea dates back to 1574, when people believed illnesses came in two varieties:
• Colds, which needed fuel (food)
• Fevers, which needed deprivation

The logic? Eating “fueled the fire” of the body, and starving it would cool things down. Spoiler alert: medicine has come a long way since then.

What we know now:

✔️ Viruses cause colds and flu.
✔️ There’s no cure — your immune system does the work.
✔️ The best treatment is rest, fluids, and nourishment.

When you’re sick, your body burns more energy fighting infection. Fever raises metabolism. Sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea all cause fluid loss. That’s why hydration is critical.

💧 Drink plenty of fluids.
🥣 Eat light, nourishing foods.
🍲 Yes, chicken soup helps—not magically, but because it hydrates, nourishes, and the steam helps loosen congestion.
☕ Skip alcohol and go easy on caffeine (they dehydrate you).
🚰 Sip slowly if your stomach is unsettled.

And while there’s no vaccine for the common cold, flu shots can reduce severity and duration if you do get sick.

Bottom line:
Don’t starve yourself.
Don’t force food either.
Rest, hydrate, and let your immune system do its thing.

Your body knows what it’s doing—it just needs a little support. 💪🫖

01/07/2026

The festive season of giving may be over, but the need for blood, plasma, stem cell, and organ donors never takes a holiday.

Donation levels often dip during the busy holiday season, yet hospitals and patients rely on a steady, year-round supply. Right now, some blood type inventories are critically low, and every eligible donor can make a life-saving difference.

Appointments are open, and donating is easier than you may think. If you’re able, please consider rolling up your sleeve and helping someone in need.

👉 Visit Canadian Blood Services to learn more, confirm your eligibility, and book an appointment: https://www.blood.ca/en

A small act from you can mean a lifeline and a lifetime for someone else.

🩸🅾️🅰️🅱️🆎🩸

01/05/2026

🚗 We’ve expanded—and parking just got easier! 🎉

Great news! We’ve added 85 new parking spaces to the east side of our existing lot, making visits smoother and stress-free.

That means:
✔️ Less time searching for a spot
✔️ Less congestion
✔️ Less frustration
✔️ Easier access overall

We’ve also added a new east exit and reconfigured the entrance, making it quicker and more convenient to come and go. The latest exit terminal accepts vouchers, credit cards, and debit payments—and for those parked in the new east section in particular, it’s now the fastest and least busy way out.

🚦 Tip: If you park on the east side, we recommend using the new exit instead of the west-side St. George Street exit for a smoother experience.

The existing west-side entrance and exit, and the south-side exit, remain for your convenience.

More space. Better flow. Easier visits.

01/04/2026

**Louis Braille was born on this day in 1821.**⁠
⁠
After being blinded in a childhood accident, he refused to let that loss define the limits of his future. Instead, he transformed not only his own life, but the world.
⁠
By age 15, Louis Braille had created the tactile reading and writing system that now bears his name. Today, Braille comprises 63 combinations of six raised dots and has been adapted into hundreds of languages. This brilliant yet straightforward system enables people who are blind or low-vision to read books, navigate buildings, use elevators, cross intersections, access public information, and engage fully with written language.⁠
⁠
World Braille Day is a celebration of inclusion, accessibility, and the right of every person to access information independently. It’s a reminder that when we design our world to be more accessible, we make it better for everyone.
⁠
If you’d like to help support Braille literacy and make accessible reading materials available to more Canadians, you can donate here:
https://www.brailleliteracycanada.ca/en/donate

Here’s to Louis Braille—whose innovation continues to open doors, expand opportunities, and change lives.

01/04/2026

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away”—but why? 🍎

It’s not just an old saying. The phrase dates back to the 1800s (“Eat an apple going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread”), and while apples won’t replace your doctor, they do pack some impressive health benefits.

In one tidy, portable package, apples deliver:
✨ Fibre
✨ Vitamins and minerals
✨ Antioxidants
✨ Blood-sugar–friendly carbs (when eaten with the skin!)

They’re far healthier when eaten whole rather than juiced, and they pair beautifully with peanut butter for extra protein and healthy fats. Great in salads too. Ooh la la!

What the research says:
✔️ May reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke (thank you, flavonoids)
✔️ Linked to lower blood pressure and reduced inflammation
✔️ Associated with a reduced risk of several digestive-tract cancers
✔️ Promote fullness—helping with healthy weight management
✔️ May support bone density and reduce osteoporosis risk
✔️ Linked to slower cognitive decline and healthier aging
✔️ May reduce asthma risk and help manage cholesterol
✔️ Associated with lower type 2 diabetes risk

Of course, like anything, moderation matters—too many can cause gas or bloating, and they’re not ideal for very low-carb diets.

But for most of us?
A crisp apple is one delicious step toward better health. 🍎🍏

01/01/2026

✨ Happy New Year’s Day! ✨

A brand-new year has arrived—twelve fresh months, 365 open pages, and endless opportunities waiting to be written.

Today isn’t just the start of a calendar year. It’s a moment to pause, reflect, and remind ourselves that progress doesn’t come from perfection—it comes from showing up, trying again, and choosing growth one step at a time.

As we step into this new chapter, may we carry forward the lessons that shaped us, release what no longer serves us, and welcome possibility with open hands.

Whether your hopes for the year are bold and ambitious or quiet and personal, may you find the courage to pursue them and the resilience to keep going when things get tough.

Here’s to fresh starts. To hope renewed. To small wins and big dreams.

Here’s to a year filled with purpose, kindness, possibility, and good health.

Happy New Year—let’s make it one to be proud of. 🎉✨

Bowmanville Health Centre

02/07/2026

01/27/2026

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