/oss/taxonomy/term/2701/all en /oss/article/medical/canadas-new-guidelines-are-right-alcohol-isnt-good-you <hr /> <p><em>This article was originally posted in the <a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-new-guidelines-reflect-fact-that-alcohol-isnt-good-for-you">Montreal Gazette.</a></em></p> <hr /> <p>Many people had strong reactions to the Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction’s new guidelines for drinking alcohol. For some, alcohol is inextricably linked to their social habits, while others invoked the health benefits of “moderate” alcohol consumption, especially the cardioprotective benefits of red wine.</p> Fri, 27 Jan 2023 11:00:00 +0000 Christopher Labos MD, MSc 9370 at /oss /oss/article/medical-did-you-know/jansporting-when-it-saves-lives-and-when-it-doesnt <p>Back to school season usually evokes the image of new supplies — coloured highlighters, clean lab coats and lined paper, all packed nicely into students’ backpacks. On university campuses, however, backpacks may play another role. It has become increasingly popular to use backpacks as a first aid tool when it comes to alcohol intoxication.</p> Fri, 23 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +0000 Cat Wang, B.Sc. 9241 at /oss /oss/article/health/why-do-i-pee-so-much <hr /> <p class="note"><strong>Take-home message:</strong><br /> -Peeing more than eight times in a day could be the sign of an overactive bladder.<br /> -Many things can make you pee too much, including diuretics, diabetes, diet and age.<br /> -Medications that relax the bladder, physiotherapy, diet and behavioral changes can all help you pee less.</p> Wed, 18 Aug 2021 23:07:57 +0000 Gaia Remerowski, MS, Science Journalism 8809 at /oss /oss/article/health/halitosis-how-it-happens-and-how-help <p>Halitosis or chronic bad breath is very common, affecting <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3633265/">up to 50% of the general population.</a> Unlike onion or morning breath, halitosis is a condition that persists and is not remedied by breath mints or mouthwash. Though the occasional bout is common, those with chronic halitosis may endure embarrassment, lack self-confidence and see social relationships suffer. Often, people are unaware of the problem with others reluctant to tell them lest causing discomfort.</p> Fri, 30 Apr 2021 21:10:05 +0000 Mark Grossman BSc, DDS, Contributor 8717 at /oss /oss/article/am-i-drunk-hungry-or-both-alcohol-appetite-stimulant <p> </p> <hr /> <p><em>This article was first published in</em><span> </span><a href="https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/am-i-drunk-hungry-or-both-alcohol-as-an-appetite-stimulant/">The Skeptical Inquirer.</a></p> Fri, 25 Dec 2020 17:00:00 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 8535 at /oss /oss/article/health/can-you-be-drunk-without-drinking <p>It all started with a stomach exploding in Uganda. It’s the case that’s often cited as launching the saga of a fringe diagnosis: <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2090274/">a five-year-old boy in 1946</a> was being treated for a chronic bacterial infection and he complained of abdominal pain. When surgeons operated, they discovered a significant tear in his stomach from which fluid and gas were pouring out. And there was a penetrating smell of alcohol. The child unfortunately did not survive.</p><p></p> <p></p><p> </p> Tue, 17 Dec 2019 17:22:56 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 8053 at /oss /oss/article/health/curing-hangover <p>First off, let’s examine why you may feel so gross the morning after a night of drinks. The culprits are acetaldehyde and formaldehyde.</p> Thu, 12 Dec 2019 20:54:48 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8051 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-health/beer-liquor <p>Have you ever heard the saying "beer before liquor never been sicker"? Or “liquor before beer, you’re in the clear”? What about “grape or grain but never the twain”? Well, it turns out that there might be some truth to at least some of these adages.</p> <p>There are a few factors to consider here.</p> Thu, 06 Jun 2019 19:07:06 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7791 at /oss /oss/article/health/when-best-time-drink-water <p> A friend forwarded me an interesting facebook post that claimed that the best time to drink water was just before going to bed. Upon careful reflection, it seems to me that this would be the worst possible time to drink water unless you really enjoy waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.</p> Wed, 20 Feb 2019 15:46:55 +0000 Christopher Labos MD, MSc 7601 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/do-fish-drink <p>Our bodies and fishes’ (yes, fishes is a <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fishes">grammatically correct</a> plural form of fish) bodies as well need water. Without it, the chemical reactions that take place constantly in our bodies would have no solvent and we would die.</p> <p>Nonetheless, it seems silly that an underwater creature should have to drink. Can’t they just, I don’t know, absorb it or something?</p> <p>Kind of.</p> Thu, 04 Oct 2018 18:19:07 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7383 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-history/breathalyzer-there-was-drunkometer <p><span>The idea of a mechanism to measure the alcohol a person has consumed dates back quite far.</span></p> Wed, 04 Jul 2018 15:14:18 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 7158 at /oss /oss/article/health-quackery/can-you-prevent-your-next-hangover-using-thrive <p><strong>Update:</strong> The product is now called <a href="https://cheershealth.com">Cheers</a>. The company behind it is offering podcast sponsorship deals, so you may hear about it quite a bit.</p> Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:34:53 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 7153 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/did-you-know-breathalyzers-dont-directly-measure-your-blood-alcohol-concentration <p><span>The term “alcohol” to a chemist  means an organic compound that contains an OH group, but as far as the public is concerned “alcohol” refers to one specific compound, namely, ethanol. It is ethanol that we consume in wine or beer, and when we measure blood alcohol content (BAC), we’re really measuring blood ethanol content.</span></p> Sun, 11 Mar 2018 17:54:14 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6960 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/how-much-alcohol-alcohol <p>In most of the world alcohol content is measured <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_by_volume#Alcohol_by_weight">by volume</a>. This gives us the familiar 12.5% on the side of a wine bottle. But what does this percentage really mean? </p> Wed, 24 Jan 2018 14:03:06 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6900 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-health-supplements-you-asked/you-asked-can-smart-drinking-pill-reduce-risk-drinking-alcohol <p>The jury is out on whether drinking small amounts of alcohol is beneficial or detrimental. Some studies suggest a drink a day may be good for the heart. On the other hand, alcohol is a known carcinogen linked to cancers of the mouth, esophagus and breast. But when it comes to consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, the verdict is in. Liver damage, hypertension, neuropathies, seizures, gout, pancreatitis and dementia are all possible consequences of too much alcohol. And then of course there is the problem of impaired driving and life destruction due to addiction.</p> Wed, 31 Dec 2014 01:07:14 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2226 at /oss