14
Wednesday, March 18, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
SPRD offers wilderness first aid course
Dental health has a
profound effect on heart
Chances are, you know that
heart disease is the leading
cause of death in the United
States. And whether or not
you choose to incorporate pre-
ventative measures into your
lifestyle, you also know that
diet, exercise, not smoking,
reducing your stress levels,
and more can reduce your risk
of experiencing heart disease.
What you probably don’t
realize is that brushing your
teeth, flossing, and seeing
your dentist regularly can
also have a profound effect on
your coronary health.
“Understandably, you
might be surprised by—and
somewhat skeptical about—
this information,” says
Thomas E. Levy, MD, JD,
coauthor along with Robert
Kulacz, DDS, of “The Toxic
Tooth: How a root canal could
be making you sick.”
“It’s natural to assume that
the work of your dentist and
your cardiologist would never
have a reason to overlap. But
more and more, scientific
research is confirming that
dental disease is a definitive
risk factor for cardiovascular
disease.”
Dr. Kulacz explains the
link between dental health
and heart health: “There are
numerous sources of oral
infection, including gum dis-
ease (periodontitis) and tooth
decay. Even root canal-treated
teeth, which are assumed to be
“safe,” remain infected even
after the root canal procedure
is performed.
“But whatever the source,
the bacteria and toxins from
oral infections eventually
spread throughout the body
via the bloodstream and pro-
liferate at distant sites such
as the coronary arteries,” he
said. “Over time, they cause
tissue damage, disrupt cel-
lular function, and drain the
body’s antioxidant stores. The
inflammation caused by oral
disease can also initiate or
worsen systemic diseases like
heart disease.”
Consider the following:
• Current research suggests
that 50 percent of heart attacks
may be triggered by an infec-
tion in the mouth.
• Increasingly, heart sur-
geons are ordering an oral
See deNtaL HeaLtH on page 16
Sisters Park & Recreation
District (SPRD) is set to host
a Wilderness First Aid (WFA)
course Saturday and Sunday,
May 2 and 3 at the Coffield
Center (SPRD facility at the
west end of the Sisters High
School parking lot).
Presented by the
Wilderness Medicine Institute
(WMI), this course will cover
the basics of how to perform
first aid to anyone in the out-
doors and more advanced top-
ics such as dislocation reduc-
tion and epinephrine admin-
istration. The Wilderness
Medicine Institute is a nation-
ally renowned medical educa-
tion provider. Participants in
the program can receive col-
lege credit upon completing
the class.
According to SPRD
Program Assistant Kelly
Crowther, “It’s great to be
able to offer a program from
WMI to our community. They
really are the leaders in out-
door medicine and will bene-
fit the outdoor-minded Sisters
community.”
Primarily designed for
those frequenting the out-
doors, the WFA course is ideal
for outdoor leaders. Sisters
High School IEE Interns have
used this course to become
certified to pre-
pare themselves
for leading groups
in the outdoors.
Many outdoor
professionals such
as raft and ski
guides, wildland
firefighters, trip
leaders, and camp
counselors also
utilize this class as
part of employee-
required train-
ing. Additionally,
the course can be
advantageous for
those who want
to be prepared for
emergency situ-
ations in the out-
doors with friends.
photo proviDeD
Participants in
the class should Learn to deal with the bumps and bruises — and
expect both indoor worse — of backcountry adventure.
and outdoor learn-
ing environments. While the scenarios, moulage (stage
indoors, participants will blood) is used and students
learn how to assess a patient, are asked to dress wounds and
treat spine and head injuries, perform CPR on mannequins.
The cost of the course is
heat and cold injuries, light-
ning injuries, anaphylaxis, the $200 which, according to
basics of wound management, SPRD, is the lowest price
and altitude sickness. Outdoor course in the Central Oregon
scenarios will be incorporated area. Registrations are being
into the class to give students taken at SPRD by calling
a hands-on learning experi- 541-549-2091 and at www.
ence. To add to the realism of sistersrecreation.com.
Meaningful Medicine
naturopathic Treatments
& Counseling
Anxiety • Depression
Chronic Body Symptoms
Kim Hapke N.D. | 971-409-0908
www.meaningfulmedicine.com
Sisters Art Works Building
You’ve been getting massages to help relieve pain
and stress. It helps — but only for a short while.
What’s going on?
“Usually that means that there’s deeper stress in
their lives,” says Dr. Kim Hapke, ND, of Meaningful
Medicine. “Massage is great, but then we send them
out to deal with the same stresses over and over
again.”
Dr. Hapke does bodywork that includes mas-
sage using flower essences. These can help balance
out your emotional state — much like essential oils,
but they’re OK for the scent-sensitive.
This kind of bodywork can establish or re-estab-
lish your mind-body connection and your body
awareness, so you are better able to understand the
impact of stress both on your emotions and on your
physical well-being — which are, after all, inextri-
cably linked.
Visit Dr. Hapke and discover how you can find a
more peaceful, balanced and healthful way of living.
SPRD
255 Programs
25
Something for everyone!
S
SistersRecreation.com
Si
View activities & classes
and register online!
541-549-2091 1750 W. Mckinney Butte Rd.
Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD)
increasingly caters to a broad demographic —
including older citizens.
Shannon Rackowski teaches several exercise
classes for seniors that are specifically geared to
meet their needs, such as improving balance and
connecting cognitive exercise with movement.
Shannon also leads excursions for seniors to local
destinations. For many seniors who either do not
drive or limit their driving, these excursions open up
Central Oregon for them to explore. The excursions
have included trips to Faith, Hope and Charity
Vineyards; The High Desert Museum; and an
excursion to view Christmas lights at Eagle Crest.
SPRD opens its facility each Wednesday from
1 to 4 p.m. for senior activities through SAGE
(Senior Activities, Gatherings & Experiences). The
group offers activities ranging from board-games to
crafts. SPRD’s senior programs include: Stretch &
Flex; Walk with Ease; Indoor Walking; Dancing to
the Oldies; Pickle Ball; Seniors Self-Defense and
more.