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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 1985)
Page 8. Portland Observer, January 30,1986 Stress management We all experience stress on a daily basis. W e experience it in physical, emotional and mental activities. How we individually respond to our stresses can dramatically influence our health and well-being. Some forms o f stress, such as ex ercise may improve our overall health, yet when stress exceeds our ability to respond to its effects our own health will weaken. Stress is defined in D o r land's M ed ica l D ic tio n a ry as " th e sum o f all non specific phenomena elicited by adverse external influences including dam age and d efen se ." Early symptom s o f inadequate re sponse to stress may include many o f the fo llo w in g : fatig ue, nervous i r rita b ility , exhaustion, tension, en doctrine imbalances, increased suc- ce p t.ib ility to infection s, digestive disturbances (including loss o f appe tite) and anxiety. M any people think o f stress in terms o f negative events such as a death in the fa m ily , illness, w ork deadlines, exam in atio ns, etc ., yet positive events such as promotions, a new home, marriage, etc., may often be equ ally stressful. Stress is ever present, and w hile we can w ork to m in im ize or prevent unnecessary stress, our own ability to respond to stress is an important component of giKxl health. Our individual responses to stress vary considerably, but on a chemical level the b od y’ s responses to stress fo llo w a fa irly com m on pathw ay. Initially the chemical response to stress is the release o f increased hormones from the adrenal glands. These hor mones activate the "fig h t or flig h t" response o f the sympathetic nervous system As the sympathetic system influences our in te rn al chem istry, our " fig h t or flig h t" response leads to an increase in energy and a de pression o f the normal functions of digestion. This short term increase in energy is similar to burning the candle at both ends (while we feel a subjec- Uve increase in energy, we are actually using stored energy with an eventual loss o f reserves and the onset o f fa tigue, e tc .). W h ile this sh o rt-term increase in energy serves to save lives in acute emergencies, those ind ivid uals w ho inadequately respond to stress on a daily basis face an eventual crisis related to the depletion o f our stored energy and the damage inher ent with the effects of stress. Stress management programs are emerging nearly as fast as is our aware ness o f the ill effects o f stress. C u r rent areas o f stress management in clude exercise, bio-feedback, n utrì- ’ t p *** • and stress that we so often accept in our lives. ‘As we learn of “ type A ” personali ties, and the associated increase in cardiovascular disease in these people, we can easily see the ounce o f pre vention’ s value in preventing future illness associated with the day-to-day management o f stress. Type A per sonalities are only a small example of the detriments o f unhandled stress. The benefits o f exercise, good nutri tion and stress management are far greater than most people realize, and d efinitely beyond the space a ffo rd ed in this article. 7' £ ‘ a tz Small Sides, Oven Roast Or Barbecue, Delicious! / *»> / / Save Up To 39c Per Pound, No Limit r & V- 48-0unce Wesson Oil •S v. * Pure Vegetable Oil, No Cholesterol V N.E. health clinics to consolidate The Health Services Division, D e partment of Human Services of M u lt nomah County announced today that rem odeling has begun on a health center in N .E . Portland to replace two current locations The IK.600 square leet location at 5129 N I Union Ave , in the Walnut Park Building, will consolidate the cur rent health clinic kicalcd at 5022 N Van couver Ave., and the Sabin Clinic lo cated at 1601 N .l IS th A ve. I he re modeling is set lor 120 days with a inove-m planned l<* May I9K5 | inane- ing (or the remodeling was arranged by Urban Equities. Inc Ironi I incoln Sas ings and I oan, and the Portland I level adrenal function, the B vitamins are needed fo r energy p ro du ctio n and carbohydrate metabolism, B6 is help ful in ad re n a l-in fla m m a to ry co n di tions. Muscle tension may be helped w ith regular exercise and also w ith massage. As we hold our tension in our muscles, the circulation to these areas is diminished and stiffness and pain often result. Bio-feedback can help us to learn some o f the subtle physiologic changes (skin tem pera ture, skin tension, e tc .) that occur with our responses to stress. Relaxa tion and m editatio n m ay serve Io dim in ish the accum ulated tension Pork Black nurses hold meeting The National Black Nurses' Asso ciation, Inc. announces its Thirteenth N atio n al Institute and C onference. August R - 11. I9R5, to be held at the M arriott’s Pavilion Hotel, One Broad way. Downtown St. Louis, Missouri. The theme for the conference is " H e a lth Care in the Year 2000: Im pact on the Role of the Nurse." The conlerence w ill address the socio-economic, political and c u l tural changes w ithin the context o f healthcare. For further in fo rm a tio n contact: National Black Nurses' Association, In c ., S ad a ko S . Holm es, Executive D irecto r, P O . Box IRISH, Boston, M A 0 21IH (telephone 617-266-97 0Î) tion, relaxation and meditation M o d erate exercise is very im p o rta n t to prepare your body for physical as well as emotional stress. It must be stressed that exercise to the point o f exhaustion is not beneficial. Your exercise pro gram should be at a level (hat allows your energy level to re tu rn shortly after the c o m p letio n o f the w o rk . As I'v e said in earlier articles, begin with slight increases in time and amount o f exercise rather than a sudden in tense change in activity level. Nutrition plays an essential rote in a number o f stress related functions. Vitamin C is helpful in supporting the 8-Pack 7-Up Or R.C. Reg Or R.C 100 Reg Or Diet Rile. 16-0unce Bottles Cheerios Or Wheaties Cereal 15 To 18-0unce Box, Great In The Morn Limit r limit Case of 8 . . . $15.89 Plus Dep. In Ore. Case of 24 . . . $39.99 2-Pound Medium Cheddar 40-Pound Blue Mtn. Dog Food Colgate Pump Toothpaste FRESH Lucerne Premium Quality Cheese Instant Mix Or Braised Chunks limit Limit 4.9-Oz. Regular Or 4.5-Ounce Gel (fim cn i I om nn ssion I he Northeast area is the area ol the county currently most in need ol medical services to the pool I lie two clinics can now handle approximately 2,I 'l l visits per monih I I k - new lucility will permit an increase m visits due to nxxecllcxiiveuwot space. Self-defense classes slated d The Portland Police Bureau's Sex ual Assault Prevention program will offer its monthly, 9-hour “ W om an strength" self defense classes in Feb ruary at the following locations: North luesdays, February 5, 12, and 19, 6 JO - 9 10 p m , St John's < iimmunity ( enter, R427 N ( cntral D o w nto w n: W ednesdays, Feb ruary 6, 11, and 20, 6 10 9 10 p m , lustice ( enter, 1111 SW 2nd. 14th FI. The classes arc tree and arc avail able to women and girls age 11 and up I hose registering must be able to attend all three sessions of the class. Assertiveness is emphasized and sur vival level street-Iig h tm g s k i l l s are taught ( all 796-1119 Bu. Save Up To 47« On 3 Bunches Save Up To $1.40 Save Up To 40‘ SAFEW AY C O U P O N No. 1 Potatoes All-Purpose, Bake, Boil Or Fry Nutritious! Save Up To $5.00 First Coupon Good 1/30 Thru 2/5/85 1 w< D e s i g n e r Towels 10 99 Bounty, 2-Ply, 92-Ct. At Lloyd Center. St. Johns. Interstate 4 Port. Blvd Or Union 4 Ainsworth It »♦' erne SAFEW AY — — — \ «mx ' SAFEWAY Ad Prices Good Wed., 1/30 Thru Tues., 2/5/85 Only At Safeways At Lloyd Center, St. Johns, 5920 N.E. Union Or 6400 N. Interstate. Sales Limited To Retail Quantities. No Sales To Dealers. RB
