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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 19, 2017)
16 Wednesday, April 19, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Is alcohol increasing your health risks? By Dr. Kim Hapke Correspondent April is Alcohol Awareness Month and a good time to examine the possible effects that alcohol may be having in our lives. Most people are aware that alcohol can be detrimen- tal to their health. Many also have encountered people in their lives who are dependent on alcohol which is a serious health condition. Yet 9 of 10 people who drink excessively are not alcohol-dependent. In between low-risk drinkers and alcohol depen- dence there are many people whose drinking puts them at increased risk of harm from alcohol use. As individual awareness of the harm of excess alco- hol seems high, the numbers of what alcohol is still doing on a societal level are surpris- ing. In the U.S. the monetary cost of excessive alcohol use reached $249 billion in 2010. These costs are due to things like loss of workplace pro- ductivity, healthcare costs, collisions and criminal justice costs. But tracking money is a cold way to look at a situ- ation that has a tragic human cost. The Center for Disease Control states that from 2006- 2010, excessive alcohol use accounted for nearly one in 10 deaths among U.S. adults aged 20-64. And excessive drinking does not just take a few years off; it shortened the life of those who died by an average of 30 years. So, what constitutes low- risk use of alcohol? Adult male limits are no more than four drinks a day and no more than 14 drinks a week. Neither amount can be exceeded in a week to consti- tute low risk. For women and adults over 65 the limits are no more than three drinks a day and no more than seven drinks in a week. Low risk intake can still be a problem if it is combined with certain medications, or if one suf- fers from certain health con- ditions. Any intake by those under 21 or pregnant women is considered excessive. Let’s also increase aware- ness of what constitutes a drink: One drink is 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine and 1.5 ounces of dis- tilled spirits. Be aware that regular beer is about 5 percent alcohol. Some brews have over 11 percent, putting their alcohol content closer to that of wine. With wine, please note large wine glasses hold much more than 5 ounces. In fact, 5 ounces will look skimpy in a big glass, and your server will pour more to keep you happy. One in three adults fall into a higher risk intake cate- gory. At this level of drinking we cannot say for each person that alcohol is an issue but we can ask, is it a problem? One pattern of risk is to exceed the daily high amount on a sporadic basis, often called binge drinking. Dangerous health events like alcohol poisoning can hap- pen in situations when a lot of alcohol is imbibed in a short amount of time. Risk of injuries, motor vehicle crashes, violence, and sui- cide are seriously increased under the influence of alco- hol. Exceeding daily amounts means changes in judgment and coordination that are inherently risky. Many of the risks with alcohol occur at lower doses taken over a longer period of time. Long-term health issues that can result include an increased risk of liver dis- ease, heart disease, stroke, bleeding from the stomach, increased incidence of sexu- ally transmitted infections and several types of cancer including breast, colon and liver cancer. These risks are harder to determine and involve individual biochemical and genetic factors as well as lifestyle factors. Regularly seeing your physician and getting basic lab work done as well as being aware of how alcohol makes you feel and being open to input from those closest to you can give you clues as to whether drink- ing is creating issues for your health. It is common to con- sciously or unconsciously self-medicate with alcohol. Depression, pain and sleep issues seem at least tempo- rarily helped by a drink. In reality however, each of these issues can be worsened by alcohol. Alcohol is a central ner- vous system depressant and can create or exacerbate depression. Alcohol com- bined with pain medication can increase sedation or risk of bleeding, and alcohol exacerbates the sleep issues common with chronic pain. ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/EVGENYB Alcohol may help people fall asleep faster but the quality of sleep is worse. Alcohol inter- feres with REM sleep and can affect breathing, worsening or creating episodes of sleep apnea. Know that alcohol is not the best coping strategy for these conditions and look for healthier pain, mood and stress management techniques. A healthy relationship with alcohol will look dif- ferent depending on the individual. Understanding the risks inherent in certain intake amounts as well as growing awareness of one’s bodily response to alcohol gives information from which to make better choices for health. HEALTHY & DELICIOUS! Angeline’s Bakery & Café SOMETHING FOR EVERY DIETARY NEED! GLUTEN-FREE | DAIRY-FREE | VEGAN | RAW • Creative selection of lunch entrées and soups • Fresh handcrafted baked goods daily • Organic fresh fruit & vegetable juices • Green smoothies e s 121 W. Main Ave. 541-549-9122 k www.AngelinesBakery.com More and more people are trying to eat a more healthful diet. Angeline’s Bakery & Café has built a reputation across Central Oregon for providing delicious and healthful meals and treats that every- one can enjoy. But we all get pressed for time, and you can’t always put together the meal you’d like to. Don’t resort to junk food and empty calories. You can order for pickup or order up fresh juice to grab and go. At Angeline’s Bakery & Café, speed and convenience doesn’t mean sacrificing quality or taste. It means you get to enjoy great food that meets your dietary goals — and tastes great — while you’re on the run! Angeline’s can also offer you the pieces to put together your own meals — whether it’s gluten-free bread, raw crackers, cashew cheese or a salad to go. Even a raging sweet-tooth can be satisfied — with the good stuff! Step & Spine Physical Therapy Bring your physical therapy prescription to us! COMMON CONDITIONS WE TREAT: Back Pain Whiplash Pre- & Post-Surgery Shoulder Pain Vertigo Stroke Side Eff ects Knee Pain Sprained Ankle Concussion On The Job Injury Headaches Sciatica Bend ● Redmond ● Sisters Physical therapists can be your first line of defense when it comes to preventing or coping with injury. Don’t just ignore that nagging pain — listen to your body and visit Step & Spine Physical Therapy at the first sign of a problem. The therapists there can give you an evaluation and let you know just what you’re dealing with and the best course of action to take care of it quickly and get back into action. Early action gives you your best chance of full recovery. Perhaps you sim- ply need to modify your activity; perhaps you need to learn some exercises to prevent a recurrence. It doesn’t have to be a torn ACL to merit a visit. Step & Spine Physical Therapy can help you whether you are a young athlete or a retired senior who wants to enjoy your garden without twinges and pain.