Alcohol can be our heart’s biggest enemy

When I first moved to London, one of the first things that really shocked me about life in the UK was the British drinking culture. In my head, I had pictured English people very well-mannered, reserved and sophisticated, completely different from those infamous British youngsters who love visiting my country during the summer – especially the island of Corfu, which has become a regular English destination for partying – and drink everything that can be found in liquid form in bars and nightclubs. Don’t get me wrong though. The British are of course well-mannered and elegant, but maybe not so much after 7pm, when the local pubs are starting to serve pints of beer and Jack Daniels on the rocks.

In the beginning, I found it almost scary how pervasive alcohol is in the British and Irish society, to the point where I cannot imagine anymore a social occasion with my British friends, where alcohol is not part of it in some form or other. It just feels like English social life revolves around alcohol.

The worst part however, is the huge peer pressure to drink and ‘be merry’. And if you decide not to drink, then you are labelled ‘boring’ and not willing to ‘live life on the edge’ and have fun.

I have tried for years now to tell my friends that there are so many more things we can do in our 20s than getting drunk and being sick and embarrassing. Cinema, sports, dancing, cooking. You can do all of these things and more without needing to be intoxicated.

I have always tried to show them how harmful alcohol can be for our mental and physical health and how poisonous it is for our bodies. But I always get the same old answer: “a little bit of alcohol here and there can be fun and good for you.”

I remember even when I was a child my grandpa used to drink a glass of red wine with his lunch every single day and when I used to ask him repeatedly why he did so, he used to say that “a glass of wine every day is very good for your heart.” As I was only a kid, the smell of alcohol annoyed me and I always wanted to prove him wrong, but I just did not know how.

A few days ago, I was very happy (and kind of satisfied in a strange way) to read about a new, revolutionary research from the American College of Cardiology, which proved that excess alcohol intake is one of the many causes of serious heart conditions.

Alcohol has been mainly associated with liver damage. However, it appears that it also increases the risk of heart arrhythmia, stroke and heart failure, as much as hypertension, diabetes, smoking and obesity do. Furthermore, the study concluded that the reduction of alcohol consumption can decrease cardiac arrests.

The research, which was led by Dr. Gregory Marcus at the Department of Cardiology at the University of California in San Francisco, took into consideration the analysis of the medical database of 14.7 million patients over the age of 21, out of whom 268,000 (about 1.8%) consumed vast amounts of alcohol daily.

By processing all the data, the researchers found that heavy alcohol use is associated with double the risk of atrial fibrillation, as well as increased risks of heart attack and congestive heart failure. Instead, they reported, that complete abstinence from alcohol could lead to tens of thousands fewer chances and incidents of heart disease.

I contacted myself various doctors on their social media to found out more about their views on the topic:

Dr. Krumhol, cardiologist and medicine teacher said that “older studies have shown that moderate levels of alcohol consumption can help the heart, as they raise our high density lipoprotein (HDL), which is easier known as the ‘good’ cholesterol. Antioxidants are substances that can be found in certain alcoholic drinks, which also help protecting from artery damage. So definitely, the results of the recent ACC research are coming to change a lot of the things we thought we knew and show that we need to decrease alcohol consumption as much as we can, to reduce any chances of hurting our heart. People who avoid drinking are winning in this case.”

Cardiologist and researcher, Dr. A. Banerjee, strongly emphasised on how bad alcohol can be not only for our hearts, but also for our whole bodies: “Have you ever wondered why we vomit after we drink too much alcohol? That’s because alcohol is a poison and our bodies are trying to save us by removing alcohol through vomiting. It can be harmful for many of our organs and heavy drinking especially weakens the heart muscle and causes cardiomyopathy, which means that the heart cannot pump blood properly to the rest of the body and veins, which can then result to premature death.”

“Many people think that even drinking a little is good for our heart, but studies have shown the exact opposite. We only have one heart and we should take  care of it, before it abandons us” Dr. Banerjee added.

Finally, my views on alcohol and how harmful it can be have received scientific confirmation.

Now the tables have turned and I am the one who can put pressure on my friends to stop drinking and enjoy ‘living life on the edge’ without alcohol.

I realise however, that no matter how hard I try to persuade them, alcohol is part of their culture, a very big part of their lives and they will most likely keep drinking, getting drunk and eventually being sick. I think that alcohol is a topic on which general agreement is almost impossible to achieve. I have come to the conclusion that actually only a few people drink because they enjoy the taste of a drink and most people drink to overcome their social awkwardness and anxiety, and be more friendly and merry. I feel that everyone perceives drinking differently and young British people might see it as harmless, because the environment in which they see alcohol being consumed, consists of fun and happiness with friends and family.

Although I might not win in my attempt to change my friends’ minds, I now have an excuse to avoid drinking myself and no one can blame me nor judge me and call me ‘boring’.

At least, I have another big reason to annoy my British friends when they go out and drink and I can encourage them to indulge in other healthier habits and non-alcoholic beverages.

I also have finally an example and a scientific proof to show my dear grandpa that he was actually wrong when he said everyday at the kitchen table that alcohol is good. Shame though that he passed away 14 years ago of heart failure and I never told him.

Pokémon Go: Good or Bad for our health?

Mega crazy frenzy has been caused all around the world since the release of the mobile game Pokémon Go, which was recently named the most downloaded phone application of 2016.

As soon as it launched, Pokémon Go managed to reawaken the imagination of all the Pokémon fans and recover the nostalgic memories of the whole 90’s generation. Within its first week of release, the game was downloaded over 10 million times on the App Store and grossed $440 million globally. It has since gathered over 30 million active users worldwide and as Apple Inc. said in a recent press release, it has become a “cultural phenomenon”.

The mobile game is based on the Japanese media franchise Pokémon – derived from Pocket Monsters – which was created in 1995 by Nintendo and Game Freak, and it urges its players to take to the streets and identify, catch and train tiny virtual creatures.

The interesting fact about Pokémon Go is that it is an “open-world” game and it is connected to the real world. By using the camera and the GPS service of the mobile phone, the game requires players to leave their homes, walk outside and chase Pokémon that can be found in different locations. The aim of the game is to battle other Pokémon trainers and catch all of the 150 Pokémon. It also enhances social interaction and encourages the community of users to meet with nearby players in public places, socialise and make new friends – a factor that makes the game different from other video games which are usually played by the user alone.

Besides the fun side of the game, Pokémon Go seems to also have a direct positive effect on human health as it increases physical activity and creates an impulse for users to ‘peel off’ from their normal static position and begin to walk considerable distances.

Yael Maxwell, Senior Associate News Editor for the TCTMD, believes that the game can offer multiple benefits to players, because “it has great potential to improve the health of people who do not exercise and lead sedentary lifestyles. There are many players who need to diet, walk more and become healthier and this game is designed to make people want to exercise.”

“It is strange, but now with Pokémon Go, we exercise more than just our thumb’s swiping skills. Only two weeks after the game was released, millions of people started jogging, walking and stampeding their way through neighbourhoods to catch the mythical creatures” added Mss Maxwell.

The American Heart Association also reported that numerous players were not familiar with the Pokémon franchise before and did not tend to exercise regularly, but since its introduction to the world, “Pokémon Go has been getting players physically moving in the real world, a change from the stereotypical stationary screen time usually associated with gaming. People get up from their sofas and walk many miles, especially in parks and green areas, so that they can find the rarest Pokémon.”

On the other hand, the game has also been quite notorious for leading its players into dangerous and remote locations, while they are trying to track down new Pokémon.

Many video game creators emphasise that great care is required when playing Pokémon Go, as there have already been several reports of accidents from players. Doctors suggest that it is very easy for users to lose their sense of environment or run in unknown places to catch Pokémon, especially during night-time. They also warn that parents are highly advised to accompany their children when they are playing Pokémon Go outside.

Michael O’Riordan, medical journalist for the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, mentions that “Pokémon Go has many pros and cons and is definitely being looked at by many health organisations at the moment, in an attempt to fight obesity, diabetes, etc. My own personal opinion about the game is mixed. It’s good to get people moving and exercising, but it’s not so great to bump up ‘screen’ time even more.”

According to Syracuse NY Local News, over 90 incidents of injuries and deaths that are associated with Pokémon Go have been reported over the last six months. Many teenagers were robbed and attacked at gunpoint when playing the game, while other users crashed their cars because they were playing and driving at the same time. Groups of players had serious bloody knife fights over game disputes and disagreements and more recently, two players declared that they were sexually assaulted by other ‘fake’ players, who pretended to play the game.

Cassandra Warrender, 21, a South-African psychology student, says that “initially the game made me go out a lot and I met many cool people at different Poké stops. Now whenever I naturally leave the house, I open the game and play. I certainly do not feel that it is distracting or dangerous at all. It’s just the equivalent of texting someone while walking. I think there have been accidents, because people acted foolishly and immaturely. It’s a game, but at the end of the day it requires a certain level of attention. It’s honestly just a fun thing to do when you are going somewhere or while you are sitting on the tube and have nothing else to do.”

Besides making headlines for accidents, the Pokémon application has been praised by many for giving a spark of awareness about historic monuments around the world, which are considered important landmarks in the game, such as the statue of Louis B. Russell – the 34^th heart transplant recipient – which is located in Dallas.

The AHA also claimed that “it is very important that Pokémon Go inspires other companies to develop games, which involve physical activity and constant movement that is tracked by a GPS. We are hopeful that in the future more phone apps will motivate users to exercise, be healthy and of course stay safe.”

For more information about the AHA and how Pokémon Go can affect our health please visit: (http://news.heart.org/?s=pokemon+go&lang=ICL_LANGUAGE_CODE)

The girl with the invisible illness

She seems very different from what I pictured her to be.

“What a sassy, funny character!” I think as we sit down for the interview.

She looks nothing less than the picture of health. But, that is only what my eyes can see.

Charlotte, Lottie as her friends call her, suffers from Hypermobility EDS (Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome), a rare genetic condition, which causes the joints of her body to be loose and unstable, which can lead to dislocations.

I imagine that her life must differ a lot from other people’s.

“I love animals!” she says while playing with her cat.

“Animals can cheer you up when you feel low. Is that crazy animal lady side of me coming through?” she says laughing, and that breaks the ice between us.

I start asking her questions about her illness.

“EDS has changed my life dramatically. Nothing has been the same.”

“It has ruined a lot of dreams, but opened new amazing doors!” she says with excitement.

At the age of 16, Lottie was diagnosed with joint hypermobility. However, she reveals, it was a relief to finally have a diagnosis.

“It was hell not knowing what was going on with my body. A diagnosis gave me a sense of direction. However, it was also gutting to learn that there isn’t a cure for it.”

“When you are diagnosed you feel so alone, but then you join communities and get to know so many people that have it. Suddenly it doesn’t seem so rare!” she says with a smile.

All her life, Lottie has been suffering from pains and aches. However, it was not until

February 2014 that she became dramatically ill and debilitated from the condition.

“My life is so different from most people my age. I need help around the house doing most things. I use a wheelchair all the time and my joints can dislocate whenever, making every day and moment highly unpredictable”, she says.

“I am unable to work or go out alone. I have to plan everything ahead. If parking is available, accessibility, crowds. I can’t pop to my local shop when I run out of milk. I have to wait until someone is with me.”

I ask her how her illness affected the people around her.

 She replies with disappointment: “Some friends walked away.”

“It was also very difficult for my family to understand my needs. They tried to get me to do a lot of stuff I wasn’t capable of doing, assuming it was for the best. It just made me feel worse.”

“However”, she continues “I don’t know what I would do without them. They have been so supportive. They have kept my spirits high and made me feel like anything is still possible.”

She keeps describing her life to me and I quickly realise that Lottie has managed to come to terms with her situation.

“I am a strong believer that you are only given what you are strong enough to deal with.” she says.

“I am one of the very few that have been unfortunate to have EDS, however I am strong enough to handle it. Someone else who is less capable, it would be a lot harder for them, so I am thankful that it is me and not them.” she adds.

As she is talking I notice that Lottie does not look any different from other girls her age.

She has the same interests like any other 21-year-old in the world. She just wants to enjoy her life, but at the same time she is very mature, very independent and she wants to help people with similar problems.

“My condition is invisible, so to the naked eye no-one would know what is wrong with me. I have been victim to verbal abuse when I am out for walking differently and being in a wheelchair.” she says with a bitter tone in her voice.

Through YouTube videos and her social media, Lottie has been trying to raise awareness about bullying, for the last few years.

“I feel that the bullies are the people who have something wrong with them. Bullying kills, literally!” she adds with emphasis.

“I know people who have taken their own life because of bullying.”

Later, I ask her about what makes her happy, her dreams and aspirations.

She wishes to lead a normal life, with her family, her pets and her long term goal is to get married and if possible have a child.

“Me and my boyfriend have been together for 5 years. He has sacrificed so much for me and he still makes me feel like I am the most beautiful, amazing girl in the world.” she says with happiness.

Revealing her plans for the future she says: “I am focusing on raising awareness for chronic illnesses and getting our voices heard. Soon I will be launching my own charity.”

As we finish our interview I think that it is absolutely admirable and praiseworthy how Lottie has overcome her difficulties.

Talking to her really makes me reconsider my own life and appreciate all the things I have.

Before I go, I ask her for one last piece of advice.

 She replies: “Never be afraid to be the person you really want to be. The only person who can make you 100% happy is yourself, so always believe in yourself and don’t allow the thoughts of others to control your actions.”

If you wish to learn more about Lottie or get in touch with her and help her raise awareness, follow her on her social media:

www.edslottie.com

facebook.com/edslottie

youtube.com/edslottie

@edslottie