Women are more vulnerable to alcohols adverse consequences and alcohol has a profound impact on women’s health compared to men. Although, alcohol’s link to breast cancer is the most well known and documented in the research literature, the consequences to our overall health, including heart and liver disease is extremely high for women, of every age, who have three or more drinks per week. Women’s bodies contain proportionately less water and more fat than a man’s. Water dilutes alcohol and fat retains it, so organs are exposed to higher concentrations of alcohol for longer periods of time. At any given dose, our blood alcohol levels will be higher than a man’s, even taking into account differences in body weight. As a result one drink for a woman is roughly equivalent to two drinks for a man. As women age their bodies contain even less water and more fat, so blood alcohol levels rise even faster. Also, women absorb and metabolize alcohol differently than men. This difference is due to variations in the amount of the enzyme responsible for metabolizing alcohol. Women have less of this enzyme in their stomach, small intestine and liver. As 30% of alcohol goes through the stomach directly into the blood stream this means that the alcohol goes through the bloodstream to all cells of the body less diluted and in higher concentrations.
Community News
HEALTH ALERT
DID YOU KNOW: The National Advisory Group has published new guidelines on the number of drinks consumed each week, and the increased risk of alcohol related health issues. The International Agency for Research for decades have classified Alcohol as a #1 preventable Carcinogenic to humans, behind Tobacco and Asbestos– especially for women! Alcohol use in Canada causes nearly $7,000 cases of cancer deaths each year in Canada. The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), who advises the Canadian government on alcohol consumption, has drastically reduced what is considered low-risk drinking. Previous guidelines indicated 10 drinks a week for women and 15 for men. The new proposed guidelines now indicate that more than 6 drinks per week leads to increased risk of a host of health issues. The new proposed guidelines suggest that the health risks become “increasingly high” when someone has six or more drinks per week.
Who We Are
SRWC is a unique, welcoming, recovery-oriented community, accompanying individuals, families and friends affected by substance abuse in their journey towards recovery. We offer, group individual, couples counselling, and family counselling and education programs during the day and evening, co-ed and gender specific programs and support for individuals and their
families. The Access Program for those awaiting a program of their choice, Exploring Options participating in a recovery plan, gender specific Continuing Recovery Program, or our
co-ed evening Work Sober Program focusing on recovery maintenance. We support your recovery by offering you the services you and your family need in your recovery journey.
Build Your Mental Hygiene at Work
Your level of mental fitness can often determine your ability to deal with stressful situations, thrive through change and ultimately, perform at your best. We know it’s important but how many of us commit time every day as we do with our physical hygiene? Here are a few mental hygiene practices you can incorporate into your day and/or encourage others at work to practice. Just try one at a time! 1) Do a round of gratitude at each meeting 2) Write down one thing you achieved and felt great about each day. 3) Practice acceptance of what you don’t like, but can’t change.
Men’s Health
Although November is a great yearly reminder to think about prostate, testicular and mental health, men should be focusing on their physical and mental well-being every month. It’s important for men to take charge of their own health. A good first step is to find out how well your body is functioning so you can target any areas that need assistance. One of the best ways to accomplish this is through nutritional testing and supplementation. If an area is found to be weak or underperforming, specific, natural formulations can be taken to boost and maximize your body’s ability to function optimally, so you can have a better quality of life every month.
Tree of Lights
The BRHC Foundation’s Annual Tree of Lights campaign will run through the month of December. You can memorialize or honour someone special this holiday season. For a minimum $15 donation (tax receipt will be issued) the Foundation will:
• Hang a personalized tag in memory or honour of a loved one on the “Tree of Lights” located in the BRHC atrium.
• Turn on the lights on the evergreens that are located in the traffic loop at BRHC.
In Your Community
The Backyard on Aberdeen offers a beautiful space to host events of all kinds, including meetings, celebrations of life, and weddings. The venue provides many amenities to make your event worry-free, including harvest or round tables, full tableware and decorations, audio-visual equipment, a fully licensed banquet hall, and a beautifully landscaped backyard. The Backyard on Aberdeen is also happy to prepare menu items for pick up or delivery. Venue rental fees are waived for events with more than 100 guests. For more information or to book your event, visit TheBackyardOnAberdeen.ca or call 204-520-0812.
Tips for Clearing Congestion
Stuffy sinuses? Here are some things you can do now to feel and breathe better: Hook up a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer and feel the relief a bit of moisture can provide. Try adding a couple of drops of peppermint or eucalyptus oil to the water. If you have neither humidifier nor vaporizer, take a steamy shower or try using a saline nasal spray or doing some nasal “irrigation” using a neti pot or nasal syringe. Drink plenty of fluids. Maintaining optimum hydration levels can help thin the mucus in your nasal passages, pushing the fluids out of your nose and decreasing the pressure in your sinuses.
Get Your Mouth Checked!
An oral health exam is critical to the maintenance of your overall wellbeing. You should have your mouth checked at least once a year for prevention and treatment of any ailments. Even if you don’t have any live teeth, it’s important to make sure there are no signs of infections or early signs of cancer, growths, or cysts, and that your dentures are fitting you well. Leaving problems untreated usually leads to pain, periodontal disease, or tooth loss, and could make treatment more difficult, so it’s best to deal with problems early, or, if possible, prevent them.
The Many Benefits of Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be used to help with symptom relief from a variety of health conditions. Some examples include: 1) Musculoskeletal pain – acupuncture can help with all kinds of musculoskeletal pain, including spastic or painful muscle from trauma, as well as joint pain, sciatica, and tendonitis. 2) Hormone imbalance – acupuncture may decrease symptoms related to infertility, menstruation, and menopause by assisting with hormone balance restoration. 3) Mood disorders – acupuncture can be an effective way to cope with depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. 4) Sleep disorders – acupuncture can help with insomnia, snoring, and sleep apnea.
Are You Iron Deficient?
Iron deficiency knows no boundaries – from women (it is estimated that up to 26% of reproductive aged women are iron deficient), to athletes, the elderly, and vegetarians – shortage of this mineral is widespread. Iron is an essential element for the body, and when it’s low, energy levels decrease. Other tell-tale symptoms include: weakness, pale skin, dark under-eye circles, brittle hair and nails, shortness of breath, and cold hands and feet. Think you may be deficient? Try a natural liquid iron supplement. It will help fight back against iron deficiency by promoting the formation of healthy red blood cells. Visit a LifeSmart clinic and talk to the Pharmacist about your options!
