Popcorn Q&A: “Am I Drinking Too Much Alcohol?”

According to the World Health Organization, Canadians drink more alcohol per capita than the worldwide average. Alcohol is the ingredient found in different beverages, such as wine, beer, and spirits. When these (and other types of) alcoholic beverages are consumed, it goes from the blood stream through to the stomach and small intestine, and then travels to the brain. Once it reaches the brain, it acts as a mind-altering (or psychoactive) drug that can make one feel relaxed, but also alters the way one thinks and behaves. When consumed in smaller amounts, alcohol can make one feel more talkative and feel less anxious in social settings; however, when it’s consumed in larger quantities, it can ultimately decrease our inhibitions and decision-making abilities, as well as affect things like coordination, balance, and even vision. That being said, just as medications affect everyone differently, not everyone who consumes alcohol will be affected by it in the same way, either. For example, your blood alcohol content (BAC) level will often depend on your body size and gender. Women tend to have a naturally higher percentage of body fat than man, making alcohol more concentrated in a woman’s bloodstream, while men have a greater ration of muscle than fat, meaning alcohol is more diluted in their body. How alcohol affects you will also depend on your previous experiences with alcohol as well as your present mood and emotions at the time of consumption.

How Much Alcohol Can I Drink?

When it comes to how much alcohol one should or shouldn’t be drinking, this also depends on gender. For males, it’s recommended that they consume no more than 14 alcoholic beverages per week, or 4 per day; while women should limit themselves to no more than 9 alcoholic beverages per week, or 2 per day.

Why Do People Turn to Alcohol?

As for why people choose to drink alcohol, there are many different reasons. Commonly, alcohol is consumed as part of celebrating a special occasion, such as someone’s birthday or a wedding; while others might turn to alcohol on a more regular basis (and sometimes for much more concerning reasons, such as having experienced trauma or going through other personal hardships, such as financial problems or family matters (i.e. divorce.), or if they are experiencing mental health issues, such as depression.)

How Do I Know If I’m Drinking Too Much?

If you think you’re drinking too much alcohol, then it can be a good idea to look back and consider the reasons why you drink. If you drink as a result of stress, this could be a sign that you are, in fact, consuming too much alcohol and for the wrong reasons. Another example of determining whether or not you’re drinking too much is going by the CAGE questionnaire – a screening tool that is commonly used to determine excessive drinking and alcoholism.

C = Have you ever felt like you need to cut down on your drinking?
A = Do you ever feel annoyed when people criticize you for your drinking habits?
G = Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking?
E = Have you ever felt you needed a drink (known as an “eye-opener”) first thing in the morning to help calm your nerves or prepare you for the day?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you could have a problem with alcoholism.

Signs of Alcohol Intoxication

• Flushed (red) skin, particularly the face
• Fatigue
• Impaired judgement/reduced inhibitions
• Decreased attention span
• Slurred speech
• Staggering
• Blurred vision
• Slow reflexes
• Poor muscle control
• Blackouts (sign of severe intoxication)

SCREENING FOR ALCOHOL

Your physician may choose to run further screening tests on you to assess your alcohol use, in addition to checking for potential liver damage, as well as monitor any changes in your alcohol consumption. If liver damage is detected this is also a red flag and indicator of excessive alcohol consumption.

World Health Organization Recognizes Compulsive Sexual Behaviour as Mental Disorder

 

For the first time, the World Health Organization is recognizing compulsive sexual behaviour as a mental disorder – referring to it as Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder or CSBD.

According to ICD-11 criteria, CSBD is characterized as a persistent pattern of failure to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses (see Impulse Control Disorders), urges resulting in repetitive sexual behaviour, and those repetitive sexual activities becoming the focal point of a person’s life to the point where they begin to neglect their health and personal care, as well as have a lack of responsibility and initiative, and continued repetitive sexual behaviour despite any adverse consequences. In order for an individual to be recognized as having CSBD, they must exhibit the aforementioned behaviours for a period of 6 months or more, as well as have problems with personal relationships, such as family and friendships, as well as educational and occupational problems (i.e. poor grades and/or decreased work performance, failure to meet deadlines, etc.)

Behaviours that are commonly associated with CSBD include practicing unsafe sex, having multiple sexual partners, exhibitionism and voyeurism. Individuals with CSBD will have an inability to contain their sexual urges as well as an inability to respect the boundaries of other, feel emotional detachment to their sexual partners, and even feelings of guilt and shame. Many people with CSBD will be aware of their urges and the fact that they are uncontrollable.

As mentioned above, there are also many consequences that can arise as a result of compulsive sexual behaviour, such as dissolution of marriage, financial problems, legal problems, unwanted pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases or infections. While the terms sexually transmitted diseases and sexually transmitted infections are often interchangeable, they technically mean different things. An individual that has been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection means that it has not yet developed into a disease. For example, Human Papillomavirus – also known as HPV. A woman can be a carrier of the virus without any symptoms. If a woman develops cervical cancer as a result of HPV, it is then that she has an STD (as cancer is a disease.) The same goes for conditions like gonorrhea or chlamydia if they develop into Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID.) To break it down more easily, a sexually transmitted infection occurs when microbes, viruses or bacteria enter into the body and multiply, and it is considered a sexually transmitted infection when the body function or structure begins to disrupt and when signs or symptoms are present. In short, a sexually transmitted infection is typically the first step of a sexually transmitted disease. Because many sexually transmitted infections often begin with no symptoms at all, individuals may not even be aware that they have one, which is why getting tested for an STI is so crucial. If an STI is cause by a bacterial infection and detected early enough, they can usually be cured with antibiotics.

While what causes compulsive sexual behaviour and other impulse disorders (i.e. gambling) remains unclear, it is thought that they may be a combination of changes in the brain’s pathways, an imbalance of natural brain chemicals, as well as certain conditions that affect the brain. When it comes to treating compulsive sexual behaviour, patients can benefit from seeking therapy – whether it’s in group sessions (such as Sex Addicts Anonymous) or one on one with a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist. In addition, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has also been known to be quite helpful in the treatment of CSBD. SSRI medications (such as Prozac, Paxil and Celexa) have also been shown to decrease compulsive urges. While this can be an uncomfortable and embarrassing subject of conversation, one should never feel ashamed to reach out for help if they need it.

Don’t Eat Romaine Lettuce, CDC Warns

If you recently purchased romaine lettuce, you might want to think twice before eating it. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also known as the CDC, has issued a strong warning urging all Americans to avoid consumption of the leafy green vegetable, and instead says you should throw it out or take it back to your point of purchase for a refund due to fears of E. coli contamination.

This latest warning comes just three months after the initial outbreak that caused as many as 53 people to become ill, killing 2; and while there had been no new cases reported since December, and the risk of developing E. coli was considered to be quite low, some grocery stores and restaurant chains across North America decided to voluntarily pull romaine lettuce from their store shelves and off their menus out of an abundance of caution. However, following new information coming to light in recent days, the CDC now says the outbreak has expanded to at least 16 states and sickened at least 60 people, including 8 inmates from the same Alaskan jail. Hardest hit states in this most recent outbreak include Pennsylvania, with 12 reported cases, and Idaho, with 10.

While the exact source of the contamination has yet to be identified, health officials say the information they’ve received thus far suggests that the contaminated lettuce was most likely grown in Yuma, Arizona. However, if you’re unsure of the specific source of your lettuce, the CDC says consumers should avoid it all together – even if you’ve already eaten it and have had no ill effects – as it can take anywhere from 24 hours to 7 days until symptoms will present themselves. The most common symptoms associated with E. coli that you need to watch out for include abdominal pain and/or cramps, gas, severe or bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Other complications can also arise, such as decreased urine output or bloody urine, pale skin, fatigue, dehydration, and fever. If any of these symptoms develop, or if your symptoms worsen or persist, you should seek immediate medical attention, as failure to treat an E. coli infection could be fatal – though the chance of this happening is typically quite rare, and in most cases an E. coli infection will get better on its own as long as you make sure you’re getting plenty of rest and drinking plenty of water. If you’re not getting enough fluids, you may require them needing to be administered to you intravenously. You may also need to be prescribed antiemetic medication, such as Zofran, to help relieve the nausea and vomiting.

Now you’re probably wondering what this outbreak means for Canadians. Well, there’s some good news to share. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadians are free to consume romaine lettuce without worry. That being said, Dr. Ali Ghahary still recommends taking the appropriate measures to ensure that your lettuce is well washed prior to serving and consumption, and that you don’t store lettuce in your fridge any longer than 7 days.

Menopause

Menopause, often referred to as “the change of life,” occurs when a woman has not had a period for approximately 1 year, therefore marking the end of their childbearing years. Typically, menopause affects women around the age of 50, but can occur in women as early as their mid-40s as well as those who are already well into their 50s. Every body acts and reacts differently. Most of the time menopause isn’t something to worry about as far as your health is concerned, as it is a natural part of the aging process. However, it can be a startling transition for some, so it’s important to have a general idea as to what you can expect.

First, it’s important to know what actually causes menopause. Menopause is caused by a change in a female’s hormone and reproductive system. As a woman ages, so does their egg supply, therefore their body will not ovulate as frequently. This can result in the fluctuation of your hormone levels which can cause changes with you periods. Eventually, both the estrogen and progesterone levels in your body will drop, to the point where your menstrual cycle eventually stops all together. Next, you’ll also want to know the symptoms that can be associated with menopause. These include hot flashes, headaches, insomnia, behavioural and/or emotional changes (for example, you may develop mood swings, feel depressed, grouchy, or feel more anxious than usual), memory problems, vaginal dryness, and heart palpitations. Many women going through menopause will have very few or very mild symptoms, while the symptoms can be so severe for others that it may disrupt their ability to carry out day-to-day activities. During the first year of menopause the symptoms may worsen or persist longer than usually, though the hormone levels do eventually even out which means the symptoms should improve or go away all together. As mentioned, menopause is a normal part of a woman’s aging process. However, certain medical treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy can also trigger menopause, so it’s important to be prepared for the possibility of that happening and address any concerns you might have with your family physician.

There are no tests that can diagnose menopause; however, if your symptoms do happen to be severe then you should seek medical treatment just to be sure nothing else is going on with your health. If you find your symptoms difficult to deal with, there are certain things that Dr. Ali Ghahary recommends trying – lifestyle being the main focus. This includes making a conscious effort to eat well by ensuring you have a nutritious diet that is low in carbohydrates, low in saturated fats, and includes more things like fruits and vegetables, fish, beans, fibre, grains, and low or non-fat dairy products. Things like caffeine and alcohol can also make symptoms of menopause worse, so you should limit these. If you’re a smoker, quitting can actually reduce hot flashes. Quitting smoking also has many other health benefits, which you can read more about by clicking here. If you find that making a few lifestyle changes isn’t doing much to improve your symptoms, prescription medication is another option. Low-dose birth control may be considered before menopause, while low-dose hormone therapy may be considered after menopause; antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can also be prescribed to help improve the mood.

For a list of other common health concerns that can affect women, click here.