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.
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.
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.
Meet Dr. Robert Hogarth
Dr. Hogarth has been helping patients feel better since 2014. He is a graduate of the Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary and the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine at Boston University. Dr. Hogarth is a member of various professional organizations such as the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, the Academy of General Dentistry, the Holistic Dental Association, and the International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine. His interests include metal-free dentistry, zirconia implants, TMJ dysfunction/myofascial pain treatment and sleep therapy. Fontana and Red Light Laser therapy, Oxone and PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) are some common tools he uses in his treatments.
Moms in Recovery
Are you a mom or expectant mom in recovery? Our Continuing Recovery for Mothers and Expectant Mothers program offers:
• Stress reduction and healthy living advice for women
• Building connections and bonding through whole-health recovery
• Help to navigate systems like CFS, EIA, Probation, etc.
Pay it Forward
Your help is vital to saving lives. Be a hero today. Donations of money or time can make a big difference to a small local charity like SRWC Wellness Centre. For over 25 years, SRWC has helped people from all walk of life find their personal recovery path. SRWC supports recovery and harm reduction for substance abuse, addictions, and other mental health issues. You can donate over the phone by calling SRWC at 204-956-6650 ext. 101, by Visa, or mail a check or a money order to: St. Raphael Wellness Centre Inc. 2nd floor, 225 Vaughan Street Winnipeg, MB, R3C 1T7. Donations can also be completed online.
Did You Know?
For every person experiencing a substance abuse problem, on average, at least six others are affected – partners, spouses, children, parents, friends, employers, and co-workers. Although family members, friends, employers and co-workers are often in the best position to intervene, on average, significant others do not seek direct help for their loved ones substance abuse or addiction problem for at least nine years. Those affected by a significant other’s substance abuse, may themselves experience significant physical, emotional, social and spiritual stressors. Some commonly experience anxiety, depression, and feelings of hopelessness when trying to deal with their loved one.