Doctors Keeler, Young, McLurg and Miller Family Practice

01/20/2026

🤧 Sinus Infection or a Cold? Let’s Bust Some Myths

MYTH: Sinus symptoms usually mean a bacterial infection
FACT: Most sinus symptoms are caused by viruses, not bacteria

MYTH: Green mucus = antibiotics
FACT: Mucus colour changes are normal in viral infections

MYTH: Antibiotics help most sinus infections
FACT: Antibiotics do not treat viruses and can cause harm when not needed

When do we think about bacterial sinusitis?

✔️ Symptoms last >10 days without improvement
✔️ Severe facial pain or high fever
✔️ Getting better — then suddenly worse again

🇨🇦 Antibiotic stewardship matters
Using antibiotics only when truly needed helps:
• Protect you from side effects
• Keep antibiotics effective for serious infections
• Fight antibiotic resistance in Canada

Bottom line:
Most sinus symptoms get better with time and supportive care — not antibiotics.

01/14/2026

Free webinar January 27, 5-6pm with internal medicine and obesity medicine specialist Dr. Ali Zentner!

Dr Zentner practices in Vancouver, and if you have never heard her talk on weight gain in midlife before , get ready!

She’s amazing: funny, tons of energy, and an expert.

Scan the QR code to register.

Sit back, learn and enjoy.

01/11/2026

Myth-Busting – Cold vs Flu vs Pneumonia

Myth #1: “It’s just a bad cold.”
👉 Reality:

A cold usually causes a runny nose, sore throat, and mild cough. It can last 2-3 weeks.

Influenza (the flu) hits harder and faster: fever, body aches, headache, extreme fatigue.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs and can be serious or life-threatening.

Myth #2: “If I have a fever, and green phlegm, I must need antibiotics.”
👉 Reality:

Colds and flu are viral → antibiotics do not help. Color of mucus doesn't matter.

Pneumonia may be bacterial or viral → some cases require antibiotics, but this needs a medical assessment.

Myth #3: “The flu is just a worse cold.”
👉 Reality:

The flu is sudden and severe, often putting people in bed for days.

It can lead to serious complications requiring hospitalization like pneumonia, especially in older adults, children, pregnant patients, and those with chronic conditions. Luckily, most can be prevented by a flu shot.

Myth #4: “If I can breathe, it can’t be pneumonia.”
👉 Reality:

Pneumonia can cause persistent high fever, loss of appetite and energy, shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid breathing, and worsening cough. If you have these symptoms, call us for a same day, in person examination.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Cold vs Flu vs Pneumonia — What’s the Difference?

SYMPTOM: Cold | Influenza (Flu) | Pneumonia

Onset Gradual | Sudden | Gradual or sudden

Fever Rare or mild | Common | Common

Body aches Mild/none | Severe | Variable

Fatigue. Mild | Extreme | Moderate-severe

Cough Mild | Dry or wet | Often productive

Shortness of breath No | Sometimes | Common

Chest pain. No | No | Often present

Treatment Rest, fluids, time | Rest, fluids ± antivirals | Medical assessment; antibiotics sometimes needed

When to seek care:
🚨 Shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, blue lips → urgent care
📞 Fever >3 days, worsening symptoms, or higher-risk patients → book an appointment

01/10/2026

Blood Pressure Myths — Let’s Clear Them Up

Myth #1: “I’d feel it if my blood pressure was high.”
➡️ False. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. Many people feel completely well.

Myth #2: “It’s just stress or a bad day.”
➡️ Sometimes — but not always. One high reading can happen, but repeated high readings mean true hypertension and shouldn’t be ignored.

Myth #3: “I eat well, so I can’t have high blood pressure.”
➡️ False. Blood pressure is often genetic. Healthy habits help, but many people still need medication.

Myth #4: “Medication means I failed.”
➡️ Not at all. Blood pressure medication is common, safe, and prevents heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.

Myth #5: “If my blood pressure is normal now, I’m cured.”
➡️ Usually not. Blood pressure often rises again if treatment is stopped.

What actually matters:
✔️ Accurate readings
✔️ Trends over time
✔️ Treating early to prevent long-term damage

If you’ve had high readings at home or in clinic, please book a visit to review them. Managing blood pressure is about prevention — not blame.

01/10/2026

In-Person vs Virtual Appointments: What to Book and When

Virtual (phone/video) visits are helpful for many concerns — but some issues must be assessed in person to ensure safe and appropriate care.

Please book an in-person appointment for:
• Any new skin concern (rashes, moles, changing lesions)
• Any new injury (sprains, fractures, pain after a fall)
• Workplace injuries
• Motor vehicle accident assessments

These visits require a hands-on physical examination, and often measurements, imaging requests, or documentation that cannot be done safely by phone or video.

Virtual visits are best for:
• Follow-ups of known issues
• Medication renewals
• Reviewing results
• Stable concerns where no physical exam is needed

Booking the right type of visit helps us care for you properly and avoids delays or repeat appointments. If you’re unsure which to book, our staff are happy to help. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

01/09/2026

Are you planning your next travel adventure, and needing travel medicine advice?

You need to know that MSP does not cover this kind of health care. These services are considered preventive for travel purposes, which fall outside the scope of "medically necessary" services covered by the provincial plan.

What You Need to Know:

Consultation Fees: You are responsible for the full cost of the consultation (usually about $100) with a travel medicine specialist or at a travel clinic.

Vaccines and Medications: The costs for most travel vaccines (e.g., Hepatitis A/B, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Malaria prevention prescriptions) are not covered by MSP and must be paid out-of-pocket.

Some Exceptions: MSP does cover some routine or childhood vaccinations, such as for influenza, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), tetanus, and varicella, even if administered at a travel clinic.

Private Insurance: Your private or employer-sponsored extended health insurance plan may reimburse you for some or all of the costs of extra travel vaccines and prescriptions. It is recommended to contact your insurance provider directly to confirm your specific coverage details.
Travel Insurance: MSP provides very limited coverage for medical emergencies outside of B.C. or Canada, so purchasing comprehensive travel medical insurance is strongly recommended for any trip abroad.

Travel smart. Expert advice and prescriptions needed are your responsibility, and not covered by MSP.

01/07/2026

Are you over 50 and interested in learning about ways to connect with others, and how to stay healthy and independent?

There’s a free lecture on this topic, Thursday afternoon January 22 at Cedar Hill rec center:

Contact Saanich Parks and recreation for details and registration 😊

01/02/2026

Do you have kids under 4 years old ?

Dr. Melissa Gansner, and Dr Jasmina Kobiljski, two Victoria psychiatrists, are running a zoom CBT skills group for New Parents starting Wednesday January 21st.
There are still spaces available.

You can find the course information on the website: https://mind-space.ca/

Here is more info about the group:

This 10-week 105 min group is for participants with young children (4 years old and younger). It provides support and teaches skills to manage symptoms of postpartum anxiety and depression, such as learning distress tolerance skills, mindfulness skills, and exploring how our thoughts and behaviors affect our mental health.

If you’re interested, discuss it with your family doctor, who will then send in a referral to the program. Its covered by MSP 😊

Mind Space: mental health skills education for BC residents, offering groups to learn practical skills for managing anxiety, depression, ADHD and parenting.

12/16/2025

Why specialist referrals take time — and why an in-person visit matters

Many patients are surprised to learn that a referral to a specialist is not a simple administrative request. It is a careful, step-by-step medical process designed to make sure you receive the right care, from the right specialist, at the right time.
Before a referral can be made, your family doctor usually needs to:

-See you in person to perform a proper physical examination

-Clarify the diagnosis and assess severity and risk

-Order and review initial tests (bloodwork, imaging, swabs, etc.)

-Try appropriate first-line treatments, when recommended by medical guidelines

-Document findings and results in writing so the specialist has meaningful information to work with

Specialists rely on this information to decide:

-Whether the referral is appropriate

-How urgently you need to be seen

-What type of specialist or clinic is best for your concern

Without this groundwork, referrals are often declined, delayed, or returned, which ultimately slows down your care.

A special note about requests for dermatology referrals:

Dermatology referrals almost always require an in-person skin examination. Many skin conditions look similar but have very different causes and treatments, and accurate assessment usually depends on:

-Direct visualization of the skin

-Assessing texture, distribution, and pattern

-Sometimes using a dermatoscope or taking measurements

For this reason, dermatology referrals cannot usually be made during phone or virtual visits, even if the concern seems straightforward.

Bottom line:

Referrals are not gatekeeping or paperwork delays — they are a medical safety process. In-person visits help ensure your referral is appropriate, complete, and more likely to be accepted, so you get the best possible specialist care with the least delay.

12/14/2025

Are you approaching menopause, or a few years into it?

Wondering where to start with accurate information?

Have a read here for an excellent introduction, from a group of Canadian gynecologist experts:

Discover trusted resources on menopause symptoms, treatments, and hormone therapy. Learn how to navigate this phase with expert guidance. Explore more.

12/13/2025

💊 Statins: Myth-Busting FAQ

Myth 1: “If I need a statin, it means I didn’t eat well enough.”

Fact:
For most people, high cholesterol is largely genetic. Diet and exercise help, but they often can’t fully overcome inherited cholesterol metabolism. Statins treat biology — not behavior.

Myth 2: “I should be able to fix my cholesterol with diet alone.”

Fact:
Healthy eating typically lowers LDL cholesterol by about 5–15%. Many patients need a larger reduction to meaningfully lower heart attack and stroke risk. Statins help achieve that safely.

Myth 3: “Statins are dangerous.”

Fact:
Statins are among the most studied medications in the world and have been used for decades. For most people, they are very safe. Your clinician monitors labs and symptoms to ensure ongoing safety.

Myth 4: “Everyone who takes statins gets muscle pain.”

Fact:
Most people do not develop muscle symptoms. When muscle aches occur, they are usually mild, reversible, and often improve with dose changes or switching statins.

Myth 5: “Statins damage the liver.”

Fact:
Serious liver injury from statins is very rare. Mild lab changes can occur and are monitored. Statins are considered safe even for many people with stable liver conditions.

Myth 6: “Once I start a statin, I’ll be on it forever.”

Fact:
Statins work only while you take them, similar to blood pressure medications. The decision to continue is always revisited and based on your personal risk, preferences, and response.

Myth 7: “Statins are only for people who already had a heart attack.”

Fact:
Statins are used for both prevention (to reduce future risk) and treatment (after heart disease is diagnosed). The goal is protecting long-term heart and brain health.

Myth 8: “Natural supplements work just as well.”

Fact:
Most supplements lower cholesterol far less than statins and lack strong evidence that they reduce heart attacks or strokes. “Natural” does not always mean safer or more effective.

🩺 The Take-Home Message

Statins are a proven way to reduce cardiovascular risk when genetics keep cholesterol high.
They are supportive, preventive, and personalized — not a sign of failure.

12/13/2025

Most people think high cholesterol is caused by diet.

The truth? Genetics usually matter more.

Your DNA strongly influences how your body handles cholesterol—often more than what’s on your plate. Healthy eating helps, but it mostly can’t overcome genetic wiring.

If your cholesterol is high despite good eating habits, it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. It means your body may need extra help to keep your cholesterol low and prevent plaque buildup.

Health is biology + lifestyle — not willpower.