Health

5 Things to Know About a Sober House

A sober house is a safe environment where recovering addicts can live after treatment. It offers them support and the chance for new beginnings.

The best sober living homes provide staff who are on-site 24/7 to offer structure and support, enforce house rules, administer breathalyzer and drug tests, as well as create a policy handbook for residents to read and sign.

It’s a safe environment

A sober house provides a safe haven for people in recovery to live. Studies have shown that those living in sober houses tend to have fewer legal issues and are more likely to find employment, which can serve as an encouraging foundation for long-term recovery.

Sober homes are typically situated in neighborhoods with low crime rates and near public transportation, enabling residents to easily get to work or social service appointments.

When selecting a sober house, choose an environment where you can find support from other recovering individuals and gain knowledge about sobriety. These individuals will be willing to listen to your struggles and offer you words of encouragement when needed.

Case managers are there for support and motivation in reaching your objectives, while providing the care and treatment necessary for sobriety. Having such a network can help avoid relapse – one of the greatest threats in recovery.

These professionals collaborate directly with clients, their families, therapists, doctors and other outside resources to guarantee everyone is on the same page and receiving the treatment they require. Furthermore, they offer guidance and support as you create a plan that will lead to sustained sobriety.

While in a sober house, the staff will ensure you live in a secure environment, while holding you accountable for your actions. They will ask you to report any violation of the rules and take necessary action if needed.

Addiction can be a difficult battle, and having strict guidelines in place is an invaluable tool for those struggling with it. Adhering to these guidelines helps maintain a healthy lifestyle and eliminates the urge to use drugs or alcohol.

Another advantage of staying in a sober house is that it is helpful in developing coping skills, such as stress management. Not only will these skills help with everyday problems, but they can be applied at school and work environments as well.

It’s a place to build relationships

One of the benefits of living in a sober house is being surrounded by others going through similar life changes. From making new friends, reconnecting with lost relationships or getting to know your significant other better, these homes provide the ideal atmosphere for people to heal and grow as individuals.

Sober homes can be large or small, from boutique hotels to large complexes. Most have common living areas, shared rooms, kitchens, dining areas and recreational facilities. Furthermore, some provide activities and classes for residents to find new interests.

A sober home can be an excellent place to expand your social circle and meet like-minded individuals who share similar perspectives about life and recovery. It may also serve as a source of motivation when feeling down or overwhelmed. In a sober home, there are plenty of activities you can do in addition to attending meetings.

It’s a place to learn new skills

One of the greatest rewards of sober living is learning new skills that will aid you in life. Setting goals and achieving them are cognitive abilities that will benefit you for lifelong success. Being able to organize a goal into achievable steps and track progress will keep you motivated throughout the process, ultimately leading to achievement of that goal.

Another useful skill is being able to effectively communicate with others in a safe and respectful way. For those in recovery, learning how to communicate effectively with their doctors, family members, and friends is essential for getting the care and treatment that they require.

A sober house is an invaluable opportunity to practice life skills, particularly for those who seeking assistance from experts. Additionally, it provides people with the chance to socialize with like-minded individuals experiencing similar struggles.

Fortunately, many of the best sober houses are conveniently situated near medical facilities and treatment centers. In addition to providing housing, many offer laundry services, communal meals, and recreational activities.

Although sober houses may not be for everyone, it’s worth researching them if you are thinking about making the transition into recovery. Here, you can gain new life skills, form lasting friendships and identify which old habits need to go. For many individuals, this is just the first step on their path toward a brighter sober future.

It’s a place to practice sobriety

Sober houses provide a safe and supportive atmosphere for people in recovery. They serve as transitional homes that enable recovering addicts to develop the necessary skillsets to live independently while working towards sobriety.

Ideally, a sober house should be situated in an area with other individuals in recovery. Furthermore, the staff should have experience and thorough training and the facility should be completely free of drugs and alcohol.

Many sober living homes are staffed with nurses and licensed clinical social workers who offer on-site mental health care. They may conduct group therapy, administer breathalyzers or drug tests to guarantee residents are substance free, as well as host support meetings for residents.

These services are paramount in the recovery process and offer invaluable tools for dealing with relapse. They can teach you how to identify triggers and comprehend why you may find it difficult to stop using substances again.

Therapists can teach you strategies for dealing with difficult circumstances and preventing future relapses. By adhering to a relapse prevention plan created during therapy, you’ll be able to recognize and manage your triggers, helping keep you on track.

Sober house is a structured environment

It is essential to be aware that not all sober houses are alike. Some have stricter requirements than others, so be sure to read through the house rules thoroughly before moving in.

A sober house is a structured environment for those in recovery, with rules and regulations to protect both residents and staff members. These may include no alcohol or drug use, daily chores and curfews, as well as attendance of group meetings.

While sober living can have some issues, such as overcrowding, they remain an integral part of recovery. The structure of sober housing helps recovering addicts focus on their sobriety while giving them time and resources to address personal concerns and find employment.

Sober homes typically require residents to find a job and volunteer in the community, which provides purpose and the chance to make and cultivate new friendships. This pushes residents outside their comfort zone and may spark new interests and hobbies.

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP