issue 30 // volume 40 life & style // 11 Stop HIV & hep C now: The ABCs on Hepatitis Andrea Arscott Columnist n light of World Hepatitis Day, which was celebrated on the July 28, it seems fitting to spread awareness on hepatitis. You may think you know a lot about the illness—which causes liver damage—but depending on where you get the information from, there’s a good chance it’s been stretched like a sticky piece of bubble gum. Get your facts straight and : : through blood, as well as : semen, vaginal fluids, and : other body fluids. The : BCCDC recommends getting : immunized as the vaccine is 95 : per cent effective in preventing : hep B. Ask your doctor about : getting the Twinrix shots, : which are a series of three : injections given over a period chew on this instead. First of all, there are many forms of the hepatitis virus, but the three most common ones are A, B, and C. Most people are immunized for hep A and B, but there’s no immunization for hep C. Hep A is transmitted when people who have the : virus use the washroom, don’t : wash their hands properly, and : prepare food for you to eat. So, : just to be clear, it’s passed by : faecal to oral routes (butt to : mouth action). It may also be : contracted through water, ice : cubes, and shellfish that’s been: : contaminated by sewage. This is : : why we avoid consuming these : substances while vacationing : in places such as Mexico. It’s : also the reason you should get : immunized before heading : overseas. Hep B is transmitted Taking 1t down anotch » The consequences of caffeine consumption Jennafer Freeman, The Western Gazette LONDON (NUW) —Although : many students rely on caffeine : to help keep awake and alert, they don’t always recognize the : harm in caffeine consumption, : or take into consideration the alternatives that exist. “Caffeine has been shown to enhance performance, improve concentration, enhance alertness, and reduce fatigue,” says Christine Dol, registered nurse (RN) Dol has worked as a RN Practical Nursing program at Fanshawe College. Despite the positive effects that caffeine has been proven to produce, Dol adds, “Caffeine also causes dehydration, nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, digestive discomfort, and abnormal heart rhythm in larger quantities.” Dol explains that caffeine amounts vary in the many different foods and beverages found in our daily diets. When it comes to comparing coffee and energy drinks, Dol explains that it’s not a matter of which is better or worse, it’s a matter of understanding which drinks contain more caffeine that others. According to Lisa who specializes in nutritional development, the maximum : of six months that prevent hep : Aand B. If you can’t afford the : vaccine, you may be eligible to : receive it for free from the Youth : : Clinic or the Adult Community : Clinic at the Purpose Society in : New West. If you’re planning : a trip and youre getting all your vaccinations from the : Vancouver Travel Clinic, : they ask that you book an : appointment at least four to six : weeks in advance of travelling. Hepatitis C is a little more serious because there’s no : vaccine and treatment only : acts as a cure for some people. : Everyone reacts differently, : and according to the Canadian : Liver Foundation, hep C is : the leading cause of liver : transplants in Canada. The : virus is transmitted through : blood to blood contact. Taking : this into consideration, spend a ? minute thinking about how you : dosage of caffeine that is said : to be safe for consumption is : 400 mg per day. The effective : dose used in most studies is : roughly a cup of coffee, which : is about 100 mg. “For most people, if they since 1983 and now teaches the inate more nam tina at aumy : one time it can actually have : a U-shaped curve,” Cianfrini : says. “They will be jittery or : can’t concentrate. So getting in : : 100 mg ata time or about acup : : of coffee is likely beneficial.” : Energy drinks don’t havea : : constant caffeine content, with : : some containing up to 300 mg : of caffeine or more, which is : alot for one sitting. Energy : drinks also usually contain a : high amount of sugar as well as many other additives. “T often caution against : using energy drinks because of : : the high amounts of caffeine : and sugar in them,” Cianfrini : says. “One of the main : : problems with energy drinks is : : often times students use them : with alcohol. We know that there’s a lot of very negative Cianfrini, a registered dietician : ae pian go ues : with that, so I caution against doing so.” When it comes to sleep : deprivation, Dol explains : that as a stimulant, excessive : caffeine can lead to irritability, : nervousness, and loss of sleep. : For her, the only way to remain : alert throughout the night is : to receive adequate rest. “For certain, seven to : eight hours of uninterrupted : sleep is the healthiest way to stay awake and alert the following day,’ Dol says. “Sleep : is restorative for the body and : the mind.” Cianfrini agrees that caffeine can have a major effect : ona student’s sleep cycle. “For most people, having : caffeine after 2 or 3 p.m. is : going to really affect their : sleep that night and their : performance the next day,” Cianfrini says. “It’s a bit of : a vicious circle. Consuming : good foods, making sure : youre well-rested, and eating well to make sure youre giving : your brain the nutrients it : needs to work properly is more : important than relying on caffeine.” : might get hep C. What risky : activities could involve sharing : someone else’s blood? Or, how could you get someone’s blood The most common ways include sharing snorting : equipment to snort cocaine, : sharing needles to inject : drugs, and sharing glass : pipes to smoke crack. Less : common ways include : sharing toothbrushes, razors, : OF Manicure equipment, : contaminated piercing and : tattoo equipment, and ink. : Sharing any item that could : have blood on it can be risky. : You can’t be sure of a person's : health status, especially if you : only know the person from : partying or recreational drug : use. Now, let’s talk about sex. You may think you can contract : hep C from sex. The truth is : the risk is low. Because hep C is : transmitted through blood-to- : blood contact, there would have : to be blood involved. So, if you : into one of your body openings? : : unprotected sex with a female : partner during her menstrual : period, there could be a risk if : your partner has hep C. If you : don’t know your partner well, : practise safer sex, and usea : condom. have rough unprotected sex or Get immunized. Get tested. : Wear a condom. To get tested for hep C, HIV, and STIs, make an appointment : at the New Westminster Health : Unit by calling 604-777-6740. : Ask for free condoms or come : down to the Purpose Society : at 40 Begbie Street to get : some! You can also get your : questions answered by emailing : sexyquestions@purposesociety. : org L&S Listed: 10 things you absolutely have to do before summer ends (if you haven't already) f you've been holed up in the lab all term working your butt off on condensed classes, or cooped up in Douglas College’s air conditioned classrooms during the daylight hours, chances are both your tan and your bucket list need some work now that exams are grinding to a halt. Here’s our list of 10 essential summer activities to get you started! 1. Shotgun a beer. 3. Watch the sunset—and then watch the sunrise. 4. Start a lemonade stand and hustle your neighbours out of all their money. 5. Go ona Slip ‘N’ Slide—maybe the 1,000-foot one that is reportedly going to be hitting Vancouver's streets sometime soon. 9. Go to Playland (even though it kind of sucks). 10. Have a romantic fling.