(NC)-Being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease is perhaps one of the most overwhelming and life-altering moments one might ever experience. There are so many questions and concerns running through your mind - how is Parkinson's disease going to change your life and the lives of the loved ones around you?

Fortunately, you are not alone. Today there are 100,000 Canadians who share the experience of living with the debilitating effects of Parkinson's disease - a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder that slowly robs people of their independence. People with Parkinson's disease face a daily reality of living with symptoms such as tremors, slowness, stiffness, impaired balance, difficulty walking, fatigue and weakness.

Parkinson's disease doesn't have to be isolating. For many, support groups can provide hope, encouragement and a sense of community. Joining a support group is easy and the benefits to your psychological and physical well-being are numerous.

Support groups can offer:

• Useful information about local services and knowledgeable Parkinson's health professionals,

• Advice on how to cope with the illness, education about treatment, friendship and a safe place to talk with others who understand what you're going through, and

• Help for particular groups of people living with Parkinson's disease such as newly-diagnosed, young onset Parkinson's, caregivers and older adults.

Denise Murphy, RN with the Health Science Centre's Movement Disorder Clinic in Newfoundland, says her interaction with Parkinson's patients inspires her to devote as much time as she can to the fight against Parkinson's disease. "The people I meet constantly amaze me with their strength and what they achieve," she says.

Parkinson Society Canada and its Regional Partners can connect you with one of the many support groups across the country. They can also provide help for those looking to start a new support group. For more information, visit www.parkinson.ca or call 1-800-565-3000.

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Mosquitoes are prolific breeders, with hundreds and thousands "born" each day during peak times. The good news is there are new environmentally safe and effective ways to keep mosquitoes at bay and help reclaim living and/or recreational space.

While the trusty ultraviolet or black light bug zappers are a popular choice, few realize that the germs and bacteria carried by the mosquitoes - including West Nile virus - can be splattered up to six feet. In addition, their "kill rate" is relatively low.

AquaBac (www.afaenvironment.com), an environmentally safe larvicide that uses natural bacteria, helps homeowners stop mosquitoes before they start. Simply sprinkle it in popular breeding grounds such as eaves troughs and rain barrels (mosquitoes love standing water) to destroy mosquito larvae before they develop into full-fledged adulthood.

If you didn't catch them in time, BugEater (www.nobugbites.com), a new technology from Australia is designed to break the breeding cycle, can destroy mosquitoes - and other biting insects - more safely, and at a much more impressive rate than zappers. For use indoors or outdoors, the BugEater uses a black light to attract insects which are then blown down into a tray of biologically safe solution where they drown.

While the battle against mosquitoes is never-ending, using safe and effective alternatives that have proven to keep infestations at bay is worth the effort.

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"You hear about outdoor air pollution all of the time but many people don't stop to think about the quality of the air inside their homes or offices," says Loring who now uses an air purifier in her home because she was concerned about indoor air quality.

The fact is that the indoor air quality in the home could have been much worse than the air quality outdoors. This Spring, when allergy and asthma season peaks, Dr. Milos Krajny, an allergy/asthma specialist in Toronto, is counselling Canadians on reducing the levels of indoor air pollutants in their homes in turn, creating a cleaner and healthier environment for their families.

"Many people are unaware of the risks associated with poor indoor air quality and what it means to the environment inside their homes and more importantly, their health," says Dr. Krajny.

There are a number of steps that Canadians can take to help improve the quality of their indoor air as well as aid in preventing allergy and asthma symptoms from worsening, including:

• Regularly airing out closed spaces such as bathrooms and closets
• Dust rooms on a weekly basis using a damp (not a dry) cloth
• Reduce or discard the number of items in the home that are likely to collect dust, dust mites and dander
• Reduce the number of indoor plants
• Change and clean air filters in heating and air conditioning systems on a regular basis
• Use a dehumidifier to eliminate as much excess moisture in the air as possible.

In addition to following these tips, homeowners should also use High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) purifiers, which clean indoor air and eliminate up to 99.97per cent of all dust and air particles. In fact, HEPA filters will not only reduce the levels of air pollution found in the home, but will also help to reduce allergy and asthma symptoms, recurring colds and persistent coughs.

"With the use of an air purifier, the air in my home definitely changed. I feel much more comfortable and my asthma symptoms have lessened significantly while working in a room where I spend much of my time," says Loring.

More information on air purifiers can be found at: www.bionaire.com.

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