“Cha-may weeya
Medicine Talk
Siletz
Community
Tooth Talk
It’s World Breastfeeding Month
by Linda Kreutzer, RDH
In celebration of
World Breastfeeding
Month in August,
those of us at the Siletz
Clinic who support
your breastfeeding
efforts would like to
hear from you and
your family.
We ask that you
please complete the
following statement and share your breastfeeding experience with us. Please mail
it to Siletz Clinic, P.O. Box 320, Siletz, OR 97380.
You’ll be entered into our drawing and if selected, your entry will be featured
in the next issue of Siletz News'.
Gum Problems Linked to Stroke, Heart Disease
Research is now ongoing in the
dental world concerning the link
between bacteria found in the mouth
and heart problems. The idea is
amazing! How can having an unhealthy
mouth cause heart disease?
Researchers are trying to prove a
definite connection. It’s bacteria that’s
the link between disease of the gums
and disease of other parts of our bodies,
including the heart and brain.
The first thing to understand is the
nature of bacteria. It tends to travel in
our bloodstream, usually coming from
an outside source. Bacteria is every
where, and doesn’t cause a problem for
us unless it gets in our bodies in large
amounts where it shouldn't be.
For instance, if you have a cut on
your finger and you don't keep it clean,
it becomes infected. Bacteria causes the
infection because it can enter our blood.
Thank goodness our immune system
usually can kill the tiny bacteria
“invaders,” keeping the infected area
small and under control.
What if there was so much bacteria
that our body’s immune system just
couldn’t fight it off? We would feel tired
and sick all the time. If our health isn’t
so good to begin with, large amounts
of bacteria constantly in our blood
stream are not a good thing.
Where can the largest amounts of
the nastiest bacteria be found? In the
human mouth, especially an adult
mouth with large amounts of plaque,
pockets (diseased areas), and bleeding.
The bacteria found in periodontal
disease (formerly known as pyorrhea)
are known to destroy tissue and even
the bone that holds our teeth in our
mouths. It’s extremely toxic.
An infection around every tooth
(that’s what gum disease is) covers a
large area of approximately 3 inches by
8 inches. All that infected area is
covered with bacterial plaque. It's well
known that this nasty bacteria gets into
the human blood supply.
Our blood supply is pumped
through our hearts 60 to 90 times per
minute. That’s a lot of bacteria in our
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heart. What if the heart is already
starting to get sick? What if the arteries
in our brains are becoming clogged?
Adding insult to injury by adding tons
of toxic bacteria to these areas is asking
for trouble. Science and medicine are
close to proving that gum disease and
medical conditions, including stroke
and heart disease, are related.
It’s enough to make you want to
make a dental appointment to find out
if dental disease is a problem for you.
Warning signs include bleeding and
puffy gums, bad breath, and large
amounts of tarter and plaque on the
teeth. Smoking cigarettes also heightens
the risk for periodontitis (pyorrhea).
Having gum disease does not mean that
heart disease or stroke is going to
happen. It just puts you more at risk.
Lower your risk for developing
heart disease (clogged arteries) by
quitting smoking, exercising daily,
eating healthy, and visiting your dentist
and dental hygienist on a regular basis.
The thing I love/loved best about breastfeeding my child is/was ...
Name : Phone :
By signing this form, you are giving the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
of Oregon consent to use your quote in Siletz News. Thank you.
Signature:
Moms and Babies Breastfeeding Circle
2nd Tuesday of each month, 6 - 7:30 p.m.,
Housing Department Conference Room
CHS Clarifies Current Priority Funding Level
Mission Statement: To ensure
services are available at the end of the
calendar year, Contract Health Services
(CHS) manages money by fluctuating
services to stay within the budgeted
level of funds. You may experience your
care being deferred due the level of
spending occurring in CHS.
Priority I: Emergent/Acutely
Urgent Care Services
Definition: Diagnostic or thera
peutic services that are necessary to
prevent the immediate death or serious
impairment of the health of the
individual, and which, because of the
threat to the life or health of the
individual, necessitate the use of the
most accessible health care available
and capable of furnishing such service.
Diagnosis and treatment of injuries or
medical conditions that, if left
untreated, would result in uncertain but
potentially grave outcomes.
August 2003
Priority II: Preventive
Care Services
Definition: Primary health care that
is aimed at the prevention of disease or
disability. This includes services proven
effective in avoiding an occurrence
(primary prevention) and services
proven effective in mitigating the
consequences of an illness or condition
(secondary prevention). Level II
services are available at most IHS or
tribal facilities.
Priority III: Primary and
Secondary Care Services
Definition: Inpatient and outpatient
care services that involve the treatment
of prevalent illness or conditions that
have a significant impact on morbidity
and mortality. This involves treatment
for conditions that may be delayed
without progressive loss of function or
risk of life, limb, or senses. It includes
services that may not be available at
many IHS facilities and/or may require
specialty consultation.
Priority IV: Chronic Tertiary and
Extended Care Services
Definition: Inpatient and outpatient
care services that 1) are not essential
for initial/emergent diagnosis or
therapy, 2) have less impact on
mortality than morbidity, or 3) are high
cost, are elective, and often require
tertiary care facilities. These services
are not readily available from direct
care IHS or tribal facilities. Careful case
management by the CHS Gatekeeping
Review Committee is a requirement, as
is monitoring by the medical officer or
his/her designee. Depending on cost,
the referral may require concurrence by
the clinical/medical director.
The Siletz CHS program is
currently approving services at level II.