Tuesday, May 16, 2017
BEACH METRO NEWS
11
Everyone Has a Story to Tell
Matt trades in the classroom for the storeroom By Lara O’Keefe
MATT WOVERLY didn’t have an easy start in this world. He was only four years old when he experienced his first run-in with death – he was eating a chocolate peanut brownie in kindergarten one afternoon when he suddenly went from being excited to asphyxiated. But the same near-death experience that brought to the surface a slew of health issues was also the one that aroused his interest and passion for improving health through natural methods. Now, at 40 years old, he’s making it his mission to share what he’s learned with others. Woverly learned early that modern medicine could help save him – he was one of the first people in Ontario to have an epi-pen – but he didn’t realize until later in life that there were simple, easy methods of improving his overall health and well-being. “Back then, there was very little knowledge of [allergies],” he said, explaining that he was in the hospital for almost a week after eating the brownie. “I was in this oxygen tent and breathing through tubes. I had needles all in me, and that kind of set off a series of crazy health issues.” Woverly was far from cured when he was finally able to leave the hospital. Instead, he began suffering from atopic dermatitis and ear infections, in addition to severe allergies. Years later, in his early twenties, Woverly went on to become a local high school teacher but he was still suffering from a number of health issues including eczema so severe
PHOTO: LARA O’KEEFE
Matt Woverly at his recently opened Danforth health food store.
he was nearly immobilized. “I’d stand up and it would crack and bleed and I couldn’t really get around,” he said. It was a regular visit to the doctor however, that changed his perception about his health problems. While visiting a new doctor, he requested a prescription for the medication he had been taking for
years to help ease the pain from the eczema. Showing visible shock at the request, Woverly said the doctor began to explain that the type of medication he had been taking since he was a child was the same type of medication used to ease withdrawal symptoms in people who were being weaned off opioids. “So that got me kind of think-
ing… what are the other side effects of these things,” he said. “I started reading a lot of labels and eventually I got rid of a lot of the environmental toxins around me and I started healing.” Woverly admits the results didn’t come overnight but after “years and years my skin got like 90 per cent better [and] I’m walking now,
Dental Matters
News Briefs
Too many antibiotics? Dr. Allan Katchky is a dentist who practises in the East End 416-694-2220
A
ntibiotics have been in use since the 1940’s, and have done much to save lives, improve quality of life and control communicable diseases. In fact, the discovery of antibiotics has been touted as one of the greatest medical advances of the 20th century. Unfortunately, the past century of benefits realized from antibiotic use are at risk of being reversed, due to increasing prevalence of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Affectionately known as ‘superbugs’, these resistant bacteria are difficult to treat, can cause serious illness and can even be life-threatening. Finger-pointing is a useless exercise in this discussion, as physicians, dentists and patients all bear some responsibility for the current situation. The conversation about overprescribing of antibiotics by physicians
and just walking is an amazing thing.” Since then, his passion for health and nutrition has only grown, as has his drive to help others live life to the fullest. “My goal is to help as many people as possible kind of reach their maximum potential and they have to be healthy first in order to do that.” It’s a goal that his wife, Leilani, is also on board with – she is currently finishing her schooling to become a registered holistic nutritionist. Woverly, on the other hand, decided that he would take his teaching out of the classroom and into his new Danforth health food store, Warehouse Organics. “I just spent my whole life researching and philosophizing about food stuff, so I thought doing the store rather than teaching allows me to help people in a way that follows my passion more and I can help people on another level,” he explained. “My wife grew up just south of [the Danforth] and we just live a couple blocks away and we thought, well we would like a health food store in this area so there’s probably other people that would like it too.” While knowledge and understanding of food related allergies and health issues has increased, Woverly said he simply wants to “help people live.” “There’s a lot of stuff out there that’s working to do the opposite,” he said. “And from my perspective, the healthier people are and the better food they’re eating, the better decisions they make, the clearer they think and the better society gets. [And] you know, the more life, the better!”
and dentists is not a new one, but it has recently come into focus again in light of studies published by both the American Medical Association and the American Dental Association in 2016. One of these studies suggests that as many as 30 per cent of all antibiotic prescriptions written in North America in 2016 were unnecessary – a staggering number. And although dentists only account for 10 per cent of all antibiotic prescriptions, dentistry is particularly culpable in the area of preventive antibiotics given prior to dental procedures for patients with certain heart conditions and hip and knee replacements. Recent published guidelines advise that preventive antibiotics are no longer necessary for many of these patients, and yet many patients and surgeons still request them. It is clear that prescribers need to do a much better job in the area of antibiotic stewardship. It is equally clear, however, that the public has a role to play in fixing the problem. The days of paternalistic medicine, where doctor knows best, are long gone. Patients advocate for their own health,
and are generally more comfortable in questioning the advice provided by healthcare professionals. One recent study questioned physicians and dentists about their antibiotic prescribing practices. The study found that in a certain percentage of cases, the prescriber gave a prescription even though they felt it was unnecessary, citing “pressure from the patient.” The authors of the study also point out that it may be more expeditious for a busy practitioner to “write a script” than to take the time to educate the patient. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with the prescriber, but this revelation at least sheds some light on the complexity of the problem, the role of human behaviour and the desire of health care practitioners to satisfy their patients. Antibiotics still play a vitally important role in health care. At the very least, however, physicians and dentists and their patients need to have a frank conversation about the pros and cons of antibiotic use before they are prescribed.
THE BEACH and East Toronto Historical Society hosts its AGM Tuesday, May 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. At the meeting, society president and Beach Triangle expert John Ellis will lead a talk titled “Woodbine Race Track: Impact on the Beach Neighbourhood”. Hosted at the Beaches Branch Library, 2161 Queen St. E. FAIRMOUNT PARK – this year based at Greenwood Park due to work at its home park – hosts its first market of the season Wednesday, May 31 from 3 to 7 p.m. Look for the tents at the corner of Gerrard St. East and Alton Avenue (on the west side of Greenwood Park). As usual, there will be fresh produce, takeaway dinner options, music, and kids activities (now including a splash pad and pool). For more information, visit www.fairmountmarket.ca TO THE chagrin of the Beach Village BIA and Beach residents looking to enjoy a beer and bite in the park, the recent rains upended the association’s Spring to the Beach event. While stores were still open for Moonlight Madness, the animations planned for Queen Street East and Kew Gardens were ultimately cancelled due to weather. The BIA is assessing whether or not it makes financial and logistical sense to reschedule, and in the meantime are busy planning for the busy season, with movie nights in the park set to start in the coming weeks. THE TRUE Davidson Meals on Wheels program needs volunteers to help provide mid-day meals to residents in the Beaches and East Toronto area. Deliveries are made between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday to Friday. For information on this and many other volunteer opportunities, visit www.neighbourhoodlink.org.