10 great reasons for women to quit smoking to improve their overall health
1.
2.
3.
You’ll breathe easier.
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Smoking adds to the risk of
chronic coughs, bronchitis and
asthma. It also can hurt your
lungs, leading to emphysema and
other serious lung diseases.
most cases of lung cancer. Quitting
lowers your risk of lung cancer.
4.
Your heart will thank you.
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Smoking is a major cause of heart
disease in women. Heart disease is
the No. 1 cause of death in the Unit
ed States. Smoking also is a leading
cause of stroke - the No. 3 cause of
death in the United States.
5.
6.
You’ll lower your risk of cancer.
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Lung cancer is the leading type of
cancer in women. Smoking causes
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Your menstrual cycle may improve.
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If you suffer from irregular men
strual cycles, mood swings or
cramps around the time of your
period, quitting may help.
7.
You’ll reduce your risk of osteoporosis.
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Quitting will lower your risk of
osteoporosis and help your bones
stay stronger.
8.
You may have a healthier pregnancy.
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Quitting before you become preg
nant or while pregnant will lower
your risk of having a premature
birth or low-birth-weight baby.
9.
You will dramatically reduce
your newborn’s risk of sudden
infant death syndrome (SIDS).
women actually lose weight. By
eating a balanced diet and increas
ing your amount of exercise, you
can lower the chance of gaining
weight while you quit.
You’ll protect your family from sec
ondhand smoke.
•
Secondhand smoke is a serious
health risk for all members of the
family, but it’s especially danger
ous for children.
Your skin and teeth will be healthier.
•
Smoking causes premature wrin
kles, which can make you look
older, and yellow teeth and con
tributes to gum disease.
You can quit without gaining weight.
•
On average, smokers who quit gain
only about 5 to 10 pounds. Some
10. You can do it!
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Quitting may be hard, but the
benefits are worth it. It can take
people two, three or more tries
to quit for good. So if you have
trouble at first, don’t give up!
Tasha Mason, Tobacco Prevention and
Education Coordinator
541-444-9659 or 800-648-0449, ext.
1659; or tasham@ctsi.nsn.us
Oregon Quit Line - 800.QUIT.NOW
Santa visits
Siletz Tribal Head Start and the
Tenas lllahee Childcare Center
Dec. 16,2010
Photos by Natasha Kavanaugh
Angel Oleman visits with
Santa (left) in the Head Start
classroom. Daisy Fisher and
her daughter, Maycee (right),
check out the goodie bag from
Santa at the child care center.
HFHCP, continued------
nouncements of a “prize” the elderly
person has won but must pay money
to claim, solicitation of contributions
by phony charities, investment fraud
and magazine subscription sales.
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Health care fraud and abuse.
Health care fraud and abuse is carried
out by unethical doctors, nurses and
hospital personnel as well as by other
professional care providers. Exam
ples of this type of abuse include not
providing health care but charging for
it, overcharging or double-billing for
medical care or services, getting kick-
backs for referrals to other provid
ers or for prescribing certain drugs,
over-medicating or under-medicating,
recommending fraudulent remedies
for illnesses or other medical condi
tions and Medicaid fraud.
What are the signs and symptoms
of Elder abuse? At first, you might not
recognize or take seriously signs of Elder
abuse. They may appear to be symptoms
of dementia or signs of the elderly person’s
frailty, or caregivers may explain them to
you that way. In fact, many of the signs and
symptoms of Elder abuse do overlap with
the symptoms of mental deterioration, but
that doesn’t mean you should dismiss them
on the caregiver’s say-so.
In many cases, the symptoms or
signs are very obvious that something
is not right. In other cases, the signs and
symptoms are extremely subtle or almost
non-existent.
HFHCP, continued------
The following often can be warning
signs of some kind of Elder abuse. It
should be noted that the existence of any
one or more of the following physical
warning signs does not necessarily mean
that abuse has occurred or is occurring.
Instead, the following should be treated as
signs that diligent attention or investiga
tion could be needed:
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Frequent arguments or tension be
tween the caregiver and the elderly
person and/or changes in personality
or behavior in the Elder
Sudden changes in personal hygiene,
such as poor skin condition, uncombed
or matted hair with patches of hair
missing or having a bleeding scalp;
being unkempt, dirty or foul-smelling
Any untreated medical condition,
including bed sores, sprains, disloca
tions or broken bones
Broken eyeglasses or frames
Being malnourished or dehydrated or
experiencing sudden weight loss
Having torn or bloody clothing or
undergarments
Having scratches, blisters, lacerations
or possible pinch marks
Unexplained bruises or welts; bums
that might be caused by scalding
water, cigarettes or restraints
Injuries that are incompatible with the
explanations provided
Injuries that reflect an outline of an ob
ject, for example, a belt, cord or hand
Significant withdrawals from the El-
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der’s bank accounts or sudden changes
in the Elder’s financial condition
Items or cash missing from the
Elder’s household
Suspicious changes in wills, power of
attorney, titles or policies as’well as
the addition of names to the Elder’s
signature cards
Unpaid bills or lack of medical care
although the Elder has enough money
to pay for them
Financial activity the Elder could not
have done, such as an ATM withdrawal
when the account holder is bedridden
Duplicate bills for the same medical
service or device, or evidence of inad
equate care when bills are paid in full
Evidence of over-medication or
under-medication
The caregiver’s refusal to allow you to
see the Elder alone or in private
It’s difficult to take care of a senior
when he or she has many different needs,
but one must remember that it’s also dif
ficult to be elderly when age brings with
it infirmities and a dependence on others.
Both the demands of care giving and the
Elder’s needs can create situations in
which abuse is more likely to occur.
Several factors concerning the Elders
themselves, while they don’t excuse
abuse, influence whether they are at
greater risk for abuse:
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The intensity of the elderly person's
illness or dementia
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Social isolation, i.e., the Elder and the
caregiver are alone together almost
all of the time
The Elder’s role, at an earlier time, as
an abusive parent or spouse
A history of domestic violence in
the home
The Elder’s own tendency toward
verbal or physical abuse
Many non-professional caregivers,
such as spouses, adult children, other
relatives and friends, find taking care of
an Elder to be satisfying and enriching.
But the responsibilities and demands of
Elder care giving, which tend to escalate
as the Elder’s condition deteriorates, also
can be extremely stressful. The stress of
Elder care can lead to mental and physi
cal health problems that make caregivers
burn out, becoming impatient and unable
to keep from lashing out against the Elders
in their care.
If you are an Elder who is being
abused, neglected or exploited, please tell
at least one person - your doctor, a friend
or a family member whom you trust - or
call the police. Elder abuse is a crime and
needs to be reported to someone.
If you suspect an Elder is being
abused, call April Bender, Tribal Elders’
Program coordinator, at 541-444-8225
or 800-922-1399, ext. 1225; or Rebecca
Williams, Tribal programs manager, at
541-444-8220 or 800-922-1399, ext.
1220, and report the suspected abuse.
January 2011
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Siletz News
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11