FEBRUARY 1, 2017
Health & Wellness Center closures
• Monday, Feb. 20 – Tribal Chiefs' Day (all day)
February is National Heart Month
If you have diabetes, you are at higher risk for having heart disease.
There are several risk factors for heart disease. Many can be prevented
or controlled. Here are ways you can reduce your risk for heart disease:
Talk to Your Health Care Provider about Heart Disease
Share your health history. Get your blood pressure and cholesterol
checked. Ask if taking an aspirin daily is right for you.
Control Your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart disease. If your
blood pressure or cholesterol is high, take steps to lower it. Take small
steps to eat healthier foods. Get more exercise. Take your blood pressure
and cholesterol medications as prescribed.
Eat Healthy Foods
What you eat has a big effect on your heart health. When planning your
meals and snacks, try to:
• Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Check the labels on your food and choose those with the lowest sodium.
Too much sodium can increase your blood pressure.
• Limit foods with high amounts of saturated fats, trans fat and choles-
terol. You can find this information on nutrition facts labels.
• Cook at home more often. Whenever possible, choose foods that are
low in sodium or have no salt added. Limit sauces, mixes and "instant"
products.
Get Moving
Obesity can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. Being phys-
ically active most days of the week will help keep you at a healthy weight,
and will help lower high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Try to walk
at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. For example, you could take
a brisk 10-minute walk, three times a day, five days a week.
Use Tobacco in Traditional Ways Only
Smoking and chewing tobacco greatly increase your risk for heart disease.
If you smoke or chew, get help to quit. If you don’t smoke or chew, don't
start. Try to avoid secondhand smoke.
Remember Your ABCs
An easy way to remember how to reduce your risk for heart disease is to
remember “ABCs.” Talk to your health care provider about heart health
ABCs. The heart health ABCs will help you avoid heart disease and live
a longer, healthier life:
• Appropriate aspirin therapy for those who need it;
• Blood pressure control;
• Cholesterol management;
• Smoking/chewing cessation.
For more information on how to have a healthy heart, contact your
health care provider.
Adapted from information found at www.millionhearts.hhs.gov
Dental health awareness
news for 2017
What is Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)?
• SDF is an antibiotic liquid approved by the Food and Drug Ad-
ministration in January 2016 for use on cavities to stop tooth
decay and reduce sensitivity for patients who are not candidates
for restoration dentistry due to age or medical history.
• Pain-free; no need to anesthetize the mouth to apply.
• It is applied every six to 12 months.
• Treatment with SDF does not eliminate the need for dental fill-
ings or crowns to repair function or aesthetics.
• Should not be used if (1) you are allergic to silver or (2) there are
painful sores, raw areas on your gums (i.e. ulcerative gingivitis)
or anywhere in your mouth (i.e. stomatitis).
• Risks include staining of the affected area; it leaves a permanent
“little black scar.”
• After four to six weeks, it is possible to place a tooth-colored filling
without the need for local anesthesia.
Sources: Dr. Jeremy Horst (UC San Francisco Dental Center)
S moke S ignals
17
Discontinuing IBH Services
for Skookum Health
Assistance Program
Please remember that if you are in need of mental health or alcohol
and drug treatment, you need to call Shasta Customer Service for an
in-network provider before receiving services.
Do not call IBH. This information was recently ran in Smoke Signals
and provided in a letter from Shasta Administrative Services with your
new Skookum Health Assistance Program cards mailed in December.
If you did not receive your new card, please contact Shasta Customer
Service at 1-800-880-5877.
If you have questions, please call Tresa Mercier, 503-879-2008, or
Barbara Steere, 503-879-2487.
Mumps news
Dear Tribal community:
Health officials in Washington state have confirmed an outbreak of
mumps. There are now more than 100 cases in eastern and western Wash-
ington. While Oregon has not confirmed an outbreak, there was a signif-
icant increase in reported mumps cases from three in 2015 to 25 in 2016.
What is mumps?
Mumps is a contagious disease spread by contact with someone who is
sick or someone who has the virus but is not yet feeling sick. It has the
potential to cause serious long-term health problems, including brain
damage and hearing loss.
How do you get mumps?
Mumps is spread by being in contact with someone who has the virus.
People who do not yet feel sick, but have the virus, can spread the disease.
What can you do?
The symptoms include fever, headache, loss of appetite and fatigue. Also,
mumps can cause swelling of the neck, cheeks, jaw, testicles or ovaries.
If you or a family member has symptoms or if you have contact with
someone who is sick or gets sick, call your Tribal clinic or primary care
provider. Do not go to the clinic or provider’s office until you talk to them
first. Follow your health care provider’s instructions and stay home and
avoid contact with others until you have received guidance from your
health care provider. Rest and drink lots of fluids.
How do you prevent getting mumps?
The best way to prevent getting mumps is to be vaccinated. Call your
Tribal clinic to primary care provider.
Additional information at www.cdc.gov/mumps/
Safety first!
For the safety of our Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center patients
and staff during inclement weather, please call before traveling to your
appointments. We don’t want you travelling if we are not open.
Please call 503-879-5211 for up-to-date, weather-related closures
or delays. You can sign-up and receive emergency alerts and severe
weather warnings that could affect you or your family. Just go to www.
grandronde.org to sign up.
Join our nursing staff in the Clinic’s Atrium
Tuesday Feb. 14, 2017
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Blood Pressure Checks, Heart Health Information, Prizes