Safe alcohol consumption

• The MAXIMUM recommended alcohol intake is:

• 14 drinks per week for men (no more than 4 at a time)

• 9 drinks per week for women (no more than 3 at a time)

• Ask the doctor if you have any questions about these recommendations!

Safe alcohol consumption

• Consuming more alcohol than recommended can lead to higher risk of:

• Heart disease

• Liver failure

• High blood pressure

• Pancreatitis

• Breast, colon and esophageal cancer

For every visit...

• Bring all of your medications and your health card!!

• Check before your visit if you need any medications for the next 3 months

• We can renew them at your visit!

• Remember, no phone renewals

Next time you’re in hospital...

• Let them know that Dr. Elia is now your family doctor

• It helps us make sure that when Dr. Komar officially retires, your reports will still come to us

• If we ordered a test or a referral, and you haven’t heard about it after a couple weeks...

• Call the office to double-check the status!

• Never assume that it’s normal to wait months to hear back

• We want to see you to go over all blood-work and tests we order!

• Don’t assume that no news is good news

Trouble with mood?• If you enjoy reading, we have a

book list for self-help related to depression, anxiety, stress, eating disorders, relationship problems, etc.

• Ask Dr. Elia or Dr. Komar for a copy of the list

If you drink, don’t drive

• In 2012, Dr. Dana Winterburn was killed by a drunk driver on Oxford St.

• She was a cherished mentor of Dr. Elia

• There is never any excuse for drinking and driving, always think about the lives that could be affected

Are you on omega-3 pills?

• Many studies have shown NO benefit to omega-3 supplementation

• There IS a benefit though to eating fatty fish at least twice a week, including salmon, mackerel, etc.

What is the Mediterranean diet?

• Involves a plant-based diet, cooking with extra-virgin olive oil, reducing saturated fats and eating daily nuts (almonds, walnuts or peanuts)

• It is the diet that has consistently had the MOST health benefit in many studies

If you receive a vaccination elsewhere...

• Let us know about it!

• We would like to keep your records always up to date!

Disposing of your diabetes needles?

• Never throw these in your garbage

• Bring them to your local pharmacy who will dispose of them for you!

We are strongly committed to maintaining your privacy at all times.

Please notify us should you be concerned at any point about your privacy or the privacy of others

during your clinic visit.

Quackwatch• Quackwatch is a terrific website

dedicated to revealing health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies and misconduct

• I use it as one of my first resources when I read something fishy on the Internet

Child with asthma?• The first few weeks of the school

year have the highest risk of asthma exacerbation

• Using their regular puffers is especially important during this time

•Teenage children of parents who smoke are twice as likely to become smokers themselves

Food allergy testing

• “Food allergy testing” is being offered at many local labs

• This testing for specific antibodies is NOT recommended because it is not a reliable measure of actual clinical allergy

• Don’t waste your money!

Family dinners

• Eating family dinners together on a nightly basis has been shown to improve rates of obesity and improve overall mental health for all family members

Regular blood donor?

• Ask us about testing for iron deficiency, because this is more common in regular blood donors

• We want you to donate, but to be safe while doing it

The Diet Fix

• “The Diet Fix” by Yoni Freedhoff discusses why diets fail, and gives practical advice for maintaining lifestyle changes

• Highly recommended!

Take the supplement-ectomy challenge!

• Ask Dr. Elia which supplements of yours are unnecessary

• Calculate the amount you will save between now and next December, and donate it to charity next holiday season!