YOUR HEALTH


called a ‘killer’ cell. This cell is involved in both destroying abnormal cells in the body, and wiping out viruses and bacteria that get into the blood stream. Of course, one is not saying that by taking regular physical activity, you won’t get cancer, but it will reduce the risk.


Cholesterol: Studies have shown that regular exercise can lower blood cholesterol levels. Specifically, exercise can lower ‘bad’ cholesterol, known as LDL, and raise ‘good’ cholesterol, known as HDL.


Immunity: Studies have shown that people who take moderate, regular exercise are less prone to coughs, colds, sore throats, etc. The immune system is boosted by regular exercise. On the other hand, too much exercise, eg training for and


running several marathons a year can potentially have deleterious effects on one’s immunity.


Mitochondria: These are the power packed structures in our cells that provide us with the energy by which muscles contract. And guess what? Regular exercise stimulates the development of more (and bigger mitochondria) in our muscle cells. So with more energy, we can do more in the day and we feel less tired in doing so.


Mood: Exercise stimulates the release of endorphins in the brain, resulting in improved mood and contentment. I can vouch for this! When working in London and seeing up to fifty patients a day in a general practice, I was starting to feel burnt out. One of my solutions


was to take up running and I subsequently felt much more able to deal with the day to day stresses of the job (my other solution – to quit London – came later!).


Sleep: Insomnia can be helped by regular exercise, as it can help to relax both the mind and body. However one should not attempt sleep within a couple of hours of exercise as one needs time for the mind and body to ‘wind down’.


In summary therefore, taking regular exercise results in huge benefits for our bodies. We feel better and look better and this does wonders for our self-esteem. Exercise should be a priority and part of our every day lives. As Nike says: “Just do it!”


Alcohol is part of all of our lives. Around eighty-five percent of people in the UK drink alcohol, and all of us, whether we drink or not, feel the effects of alcohol on society in one way or another. Andrew Misell of the charity Alcohol Concern looks at the issues, and asks for your views.


Good health? A


lcohol has always played a big part in the life of Britain’s Armed Forces – sometimes positive,


sometimes not so. As early as 1850, the Admiralty found drinking was linked to disciplinary problems, and in recent decades all the Armed Services have taken alcohol misuse much more seriously. Tis has shown itself in the provision of more alcohol-free venues on bases and the disappearance of lunch-time drinks as a part of the military working day.


Surveys have fairly consistently found higher levels of drinking amongst men and women in the Forces than in the civilian population, and a number of reasons have been offered in explanation:


• Drinking together is a traditional way of reinforcing comradeship


• As a stress reliever in response to deployment • Isolation of life on base • Availability of cheap alcohol • Heavy drinking by some women trying to keep up with male colleagues


Alcohol in moderation can help us to socialise and bond with colleagues. But the downsides of overdoing it are clear, in the short-term hangover and the longer term harm to our health. Research published in 2007 by Professor Simon Wessely and his team at King’s College London highlighted both sides of the coin:


www.raf-ff.org.uk “ Alcohol does much more harm to the Armed


Forces, to individuals, to their families, society, yet it doesn’t get talked about...Not only are there high levels of drinking in the Forces, but there is an effect from deployment – people come back and reinstate their drinking at a higher level than before they left. It’s not an easy subject and there’s no obvious answer, because alcohol also has a very positive influence on military culture – units that drink more have better cohesion and higher morale.”


Alcohol Concern is working to promote a healthier relationship with alcohol. We are not an anti-alcohol organisation, but we do want to reduce the harm that alcohol causes when it’s misused. We’d like to know what sort of support around alcohol issues might be useful for Service personnel and their families. That’s why we would like hear your views.


You can help us by taking a few minutes to complete our anonymous on-line survey:www. alcoholconcern.org.uk/forces-survey Or contact us directly on 029 20660248, email: amisell@alcoholconcern.org.uk


What is sensible drinking? Sensible drinking is generally defined as: • For men: 3 to 4 units per day, up to a maximum of 21 units per week


• For women: 2 to 3 units per day, up to a maximum of 14 units per week


A pint of normal strength lager or bitter contains about 2.3 units of alcohol. A standard (175ml)


glass of wine has 2 to 2.5 units. A bottle of wine contains around 10 units, and a shot of spirits is around 1 unit.


What are the rules regarding children? Government advice for children and young people comes from the Chief Medical Officer. An alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option. However, if children drink alcohol, it should not be until at least the age of 15 years. Parents and young people should be aware that drinking, even at age 15 or older, can put your health at risk. If 15 to 17 year olds do consume alcohol, they should do so infrequently and certainly on no more than one day a week and should never exceed recommended adult daily limits.


To find out more about Alcohol Concern, visit www.alcoholconcern.org.uk. For more information on sensible drinking go to www.nhs.uk/alcohol or www.drinkwisewales.org.uk 


Envoy Summer 2011 31


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