Lifelines About 36 per cent of Irish women do not consume enough calcium, 56 per cent fail to meet their iron requirements and very few of child-bearing age meet their folate needs, according to the National Dairy Council.
It is hosting an information evening on nutrition and stress management for women on May 15th at 7 p.m. in the Davenport Hotel, Merrion Square, Dublin.
Admission, payable at the door, will be €5, with all proceeds going to Women's Aid.
For further details contact the National Dairy Council at tel: 01-6169726.
St John's Wort side-effects
Two cases of contraceptive failure in women who were taking St John's Wort at the same time as a combined oral contraceptive has been reported by Sweden's Medical Products Agency.
There have been no interactions documented between the progesterone-only-pill and the alternative medicine.
Caution is still advised due to the limited information on the drug interaction profile of St John's Wort. Other potential drug interactions involving St John's Wort include, anticonvulsants, digoxin, warfarin and theophylline.
Gay spouse support
Following a feature article entitled "My Husband is Gay", which appeared in this newspaper on Friday, April 26th, concerning the trauma that women feel when their husbands "come out", many spouses in this situation contacted the Marriage and Relationships Counselling Service (MRCS).
For some, this was the first time they had ever sought help.
The creation of a new support group for straight spouses of gay people, the first in the country, is now well underway.
The MRCS will facilitate the first meeting on Wednesday, May 22nd, at 7.15 p.m., at its premises at 38 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2.
For further information call the MRCS at 01-6785256.
Car-crash trauma
Those who come through a car crash uninjured are usually thanking their lucky stars for quite some time afterwards.
However, US therapists, Diane Poole Heller and her husband, Laurence S. Heller, claim that even in minor car accidents we hold physical trauma in our bodies which can lead to all sorts of physical and psychological symptoms.
The Hellers have written Crash Course, "a self-healing guide to auto accident, trauma and recovery" (North Atlantic Books) and Laurence Heller will visit Ireland next week to talk about the book.
He will also describe a technique known as somatic experiencing, used to release such tensions for those still suffering from the after-effects of car crashes.
The seminars take place in Bow Street Centre, Dublin 8, on Monday, May 13th, from 7 p.m. -10 p.m. and in the Metropole Hotel, Cork, on Tuesday, May 14th, from 7 p.m.-10 p.m.
Cost €35. Tel: 021-4877120.
Multiple births
Support during and after pregnancy for the parents of twins, triplets and more, the importance of maintaining your relationship and coping with educational needs are the issues which will be discussed at the Irish Multiple Births Association conference on Saturday.
Speakers include Australian multiple birth researcher David Hay, nurse, author and mother of twins Judi Linney, and Accord counsellors Penny Wilson and Mary Quinn.
The conference begins at 9 a.m. in Moran's Red Cow Hotel, Naas Road, Dublin. Admission €15 (members)/€20 (non-members).
For further information, tel: 01-8749056.
Preventing diabetes
The Diabetes Federation annual exercise awareness programme goes ahead at the weekend with walks and cycles planned throughout the country.
The federation is keen that everyone recognises the symptoms of diabetes - extreme thirst, excessive tiredness and the need to pass urine frequently - and realise that getting enough exercise and not being overweight are preventative measures.
For details of specific events, tel: 1850 909 909, e-mail info@diabetes.ie. See also www.diabetes.ie.
Lifelines is compiled by Dr Muiris Houston and Sylvia Thompson
lifelines@irish-times.ie