Health Matters with Dra. Denise

submitted to FJ April 14, 2019 Magandang araw mga kababayan!   It seems like Spring is finally here, although it’s been teasing us with warm weather for weeks now!  The good thing about this pattern of melts and freezes is that it significantly decreases the risk of flooding in Manitoba and all the risks that go with it. It’s still important to be prepared for that possibility, so let’s talk more about the implications of flooding and what you can do to protect yourself.  First off—flooding is the most common natural disaster in both developing and developed countries, and it is projected to get worse because of Climate Change.   The damaging consequences of floods are not only limited to your property and possessions but can have a lasting effect on your health and wellbeing.   Studies have shown that the stress from going through a flood disaster can last a long time even after the waters have receded.   In addition, the impacts on health aren’t always obvious.   These effects

March 18, 2019 Published in FJ Vol 33, No 06 I feel compelled to write about the tragedy that has rocked our community—the senseless killing of one of our bright young stars, Jaime Adao.   I became physically ill when I read about what had happened, and I ache with a mixture of shock, anger, disbelief, sorrow, fear and, yes, hate--at a world that could be so cruel as to allow this to happen.   I could write about grief/PTSD, self-defense in the face of violent or aggressive person(s), methamphetamine and psychosis—which was purported to be a potential cause/factor in the intruder’s behaviour.   These issues are all related, and there are important health lessons in each area we can learn.   I will start with methemphetamine because it has been an increasing problem in Manitoba in terms of prevalence, misuse, overdoses, deaths, violence and murder.   This is not a drug that only affects those who use the drug; we are in the midst of a crisis that is taking over health care, law