a' * January 2Ù, 1988, Portland Observer, Page 5 Faire, Forum to Highlight Health Awareness Week Health Watch by Steven Bailey, N.D. Natural Alternatives to the A ID S /A R C Conditions In the past articles of this series, I have defined AIDS, discussed symp toms, and discussed testing and transmission of AIDS. The remainder of the series will focus on what we can do to strengthen our resistance to and/or our response to illness. Healthy Life-Style In one sense, our life style is all encompassing. It represents our dietary habits, our stress management, exercise and social activities. For the pur pose of this article, "life style" refers to our social attitudes and activities. I will discuss nutrition, stress management and exercise as individual topics. It is well recognized that the vast majority of initial AIDS cases were found in individuals who practiced very poor life styles. The homosexual population initially at risk involved a sub set of highly promiscuous indivi duals (estimates of an average of greater than 200 separate sexual partners per year). I.V. drug users also represent a very unhealthy life style. Only the hemophilliacs who got AIDS through contaminated blood supplies showed no real departure from healthy living habits. We are now witnessing the emergence of another group, these being prostitutes and highly promis cuous, heterosexual individuals. There is a common element among all these groups, including the hemophilliacs. This is, that on the average, these groups all show weakened and depressed immune systems. The Center for Disease Controfl (CDC) openly admits that infection by the HIV virus requires an already-weakened immune system. Homosexual Promiscuity This life-style is probably the single, highest risk for contracting AIDS. There are a number of reasons for this high risk: 1) With any promiscuous behavior, we are dramatically increasing the number of times that we are exposed to a wide variety of infectious organ isms. These include: syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, hepatitis, non-specific bacterium, and a wide variety of other funguses, viruses and bacterium. The common response of Americans has been antibiotic or drug therapies for their numerous infections, rather than alterations of sexual practices. Many antibiotics actually depress white blood cell production in humans. A secondary aspect of immune health is that with drug therapy our immune system does not have the opportunity to complete a curative response. 2) Anal intercourse in one of the most physically abrasive forms of sexual contact. As such, small lesions (cuts) often occur, which gives micro organisms a direct access to the blood stream (an important component of "Take Health to Heart - Take Action" will be the theme of Health Awareness Week Jan. 26-28 at Mt. Hood Community Colelge, when 32 local agencies and health-related organizations participate in a Health Faire and Forum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the MHCC College Cen ter. Admission is free and open to the public. Over 30 booths will be featured at the Health Faire, providing com prehensive health information rang ing from heart disease and AIDS prevention to healthful foods and exercises. In addition, community members will be able to take advan tage of a number of health-screen ing activities provided at the faire. Blood pressure checks, blood sugar evaluations, shoulder massages, body composition screenings, can cer risk appraisals and vision and hearing screening will be available at no cost. A cholesterol check and a Lifestyle Risk Evaluation by Portland Adventist Medical Center will be offered at nominal fees. To complement the health faire, a series of talks on key health con cepts and issues will highlight the Health Forum in the College Center lake Room. Presentations by local health experts will begin hourly from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. The Forum schedule Jan. 26 will be "Birth Control," featuring Becky Post of Planned Parenthood, at 10 a.m.; "Living Healthy: Fact or AIDS infection). 3) A final component of risk involves a more subtle area now being refer red to as "psycho-neuro-immunology." We will go into this at greater depth later, but basically this involves the relationship between how we think and feel and our physical immune system. The frequent low self-esteem asso ciated with most promiscuous individuals coupled with the homophobia of America and resultant difficulties that homosexual, bi sexual and lesbian individuals have being openly accepted in society, cannot help but worsen our immune strength. I.V. Drug Use There are two parts to this story: 1) Weakened immune systems: The use of street drugs involves a num ber of factors that weaken the immune system. Stimulant use often is coup led with a dramatic decrease in food intake. Other drug users also show poor nutritional habits. Drug users as a whole show greater incidence of many infectious conditions, especially hepatitis. The factors of frequent infections mentioned above are also relevant here. 2) Shared needles: As mentioned earlier, AIDS infections primarily re quire a weakened immune systemd and a method of transferring the virus from one individual to another. Sharing a dirty needle is as good a way to spread the virus as any. No matter what your sexual preference, if you are exchanging fluids or sharing a needle with someone that you are not 100% certain is free of AIDS, YOU ARE AT RISK. Please take AIDS seriously and practice a Fiction," by P. Rothfels, M.D., of Good Samaritan Immediate Care Center at 11 a.m.; Fran Smith of Comprehensive Options for Drug Abusers (CODA) speaking on "Cop ing With Change" at noon; and "W hat's Left to Eat" by the Oregon Dairy Council at 1 p.m. On Wednesday, Jan. 27, Liz Gardner of the Cascade Athletic Club will talk about "Exercise and Fitness" at 10 and 11 a.m.; a re presentative from the Cascade AIDS Project will speak on "AIDS Awareness" at noon; and "N utri tion" will be offered by dietitian Jan Peiffer of Mount Hood Medical Center at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, will begin witn "Taking Control of Risk Factors," presented by MHCC wellness advo cate Stan Nystul using American Cancer Society information; follow ed by Kelly Johnson of the Good Samaritan Immediate Care Center at 11 a.m. covering "Nutrition and Weight Control;" a representative from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine speaking on "Staying Healthy Under Pressure: Illness Prevention" at noon; and "Cardiac Risk Factors" by Donna Guthrie of Mounty Hood Medical Center at 1 p.m. Health Awareness Week is spon sored by MHCC's Health and Well ness Center. For more details call college health coordinator Adrienne Anderson at 667-7600. School Exclusions For Immunizations Begins in Oregon child to remain in school or day care center. Signed written evi dence of the date of each dose of each vaccine that the students re ceived is required to be on file at the school or day care. Vaccines that are required for at tendance are: Polio, Measeles, Mumps, Rubella, and Tetanus/ Diphtheria containing vaccines. Vaccines are available at private physicians offices and county health departments. All public and private schools and certified day care centers in Oregon are currently reviewing immuniza tion records to make sure each child in attendance is properly immu nized. Those children with no im munization records or incomplete records will be receiving exclusion orders from the county health de partments by February 3, 1988. Parents will have until February 17, 1988, to provide evidence of their child's immunization record or obtain the needed vaccines for the Help End Violence Against Women & Children Every 18 seconds a woman is beaten. Every 3 seconds a women is raped. One in three female children and one is six or seven male children will be sexually abused by age 15. You Can Help! by becoming in formed about violence against w o men and children, by saying no to violence in your life, by sharing what you've learned with others, and by becoming a volunteer for Bradley-Angle House, an organiza tion of women committed to ending violence against women and child ren. Join us for our next volunteer training, January 26, 1988. For more information, call 281-3540 or 230-9026. We can end violence against w o men and children. and Beauty Supplies Sale & Restyling healthy life-style. Alternative Care Before I begin the final "cook book" section(s) on Natural Alternatives to the AIDS/ARC condition, I would like to discuss what the various forms ^ îg ïa n d of alternative care are: "Alternative" is defined as "the choice between possibilities" (Web ster's II, New Revised Dictionary), but, when used in "alternative medicine , it is generally accepted to mean "non-orthodox" forms of care, with the term "orthodox" referring to the predominant practice of M.D.'s. Alternative forms of care include: acupuncture, Chinese medicine, her bal medicine, nutritional therapeutics, homeopathy, chiropractic and a wide array of psycho-social practitioners. Acupuncture: The system of using needles to puncture the skin as a treatment for disease or illness. Today this includes the substitution of elec tric stiumlation for the needling. Acupuncture cannot be separated from the field of Chinese medicine, which includes the use of herbs combined with Chinese diagnosis and acu puncture. Nutritional Therapeutics: The application of nutrients (vitamins, minerals, foods and fluids) for the improvement of health. Homeopathy: "A system of medical treatment based on the use of small quantities of drugs that in large amounts produce symptoms resem bling the disease being treated." (Webster's II, New Revised Dictionary). Chiropractic: A system of therapy in which body structures, as in the spinal column, are manipulated." (Webster's II, New Revised Dictionary) I MRS. C’s WIGS WEAVING HAIR $18.50 ft up a 6t”i» CsS'f* P'Oprmor or by th e ft $4 & up BULK H UM AN HAIR $23.95 ft up WIG STYLING $7.50 & up Featuring wigs by NAOMI SIMS, ANDRE DOL’OI AS, NATALIE COLE & MICHAEL WEEKS BRAIDS $2 95 (Long or specialty styles slightly higher I Bonnie M RS. C ’s WIGS .E. Frem ont ♦ ♦ 2 8 1 -6 5 2 5 A Mon. 0 F IN Tue«. thru tot. 11:90 AM to S:00 FM I I I ♦ J Eva Gabor • Born Free Rene of Paris • Andre Douglas Zurv and more • Carefree Store Hours 10:00a.m. 'til6:00p.m . Monday Thru Saturday PORTLAND OBSERVER “ The Eyes and Ears of the Community 288-0033 ’ 1105 N .E. B ro a d w a y (across from Safeway Lloyd Center) T el. 282-1664 •GOOD NEWS • GOOD NEWS • ALL PROFESSIONAL HAIRSTYLISTS!!! The Regional Editor for SALON TOMORROW LONNIE JENKINS will be visiting your salon for interviews concerning 1 H l C A L IF O R N I A )■ B o o i o )l»O So be p rep ared For further information, contact Lonnie 283-4123 CALENDAR Taxpayer Assistance The Oregon Department of Re venue will provide a toll-free number for tax assistance from Jan. 4 - April 30. 1988, 8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Portland: 243-2833; Salem: 371- 2244; elsewhere in Oregon: 1-800- 356-4222. Black Single Women's Support Group Group will be informal focusing on day-to-day problems and concerns Group will be limited to 10 single females. Northeast YWCA. Call Barbara, 284 8803 Under the A cid Cloud: Posters by the Children of Quebec Today, children are faced with many frightening issues; among them the threat of acid rain. The children of rural Quebec face this issue everyday and have illustrated their concerns in an exhibit called, "Under the Acid Clouds," on dis play at OMSI, Friday, Jan. 15 thru Feb.12th. "In Defense of Free Speech and Privacy Rights" Discussion The internationally endorsed Free way Hall Case's fight against the new McCarthyism will be discussed, on video, by two defendants. Port land case supporters will answer questions on how this case effects working women, unionists, people of color, activists and lesbians and gays. Join Radical Women in dis cussion on Thursday, January 21, 6:30 p.m., Multnomah County Cen tral Library, 801 S.W. 10th Avenue. Call 249-8067. Wheelchair acces sible. Volunteers Needed N.E. Elderly need you. Volunteer for transportation, visiting, chores, weatherization, respite or escort. Project Linkage Volunteer Organi zation, Jan. 21, 1988, 7:30-9:00 p.m. Call 249-8215. CPR and First A id Classes The following Red Cross-sponsored and instructed classes will be offer ed at Emanuel Hospital, 2801 N. Gantenbein: CRP: Saturday, Janu ary 16, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., cost $15; First Aid: Saturday, January 23, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., cost $20. "Eyes On The Prize: Awaken ings 1954 1956" to Air on PBS KOAP (PBS) will air "Eyes On The Prize: Awakenings 1954-1956" de tailing discrimination in post-WWII America, with special attention to a lynching trial in Mississippi and the bus boycott in Montgomery, Ala bama, Monday, Jan. 25, 9:00 p.m. "Searching For Justice" to Air KOAP (PBS) will air "Searching For Justice” Monday, Jan. 25 at 10:00 p.m. Columnist Carl Row^n ex plores major constitutional issues of our times — the death penalty, abortion, and desegregation. Calcium ft Osteoporosis Class "Calcium & Osteoporosis" is a course that explains the impact cal cium has on general nutrition, and the contribution calcium makes to healthy bones, posture and energy for life. Osteoporosis is a dege nerative bone condition that makes the body's bones become brittle with age. It is found most frequent ly in women, but not exclusively. The class will be held from 7-8:30 p.m., Jan. 26 at Emanuel Hospital, 2801 N. Gantenbein Ave., Portland, in Room 1075. Info: 280-4284. te le tta « Of 'the » c W » ». ».-»• • #. a » ,« ¿ to '- « k . . < *• •it./? ¿4* Multnomah County Library Albina Branch 3605 NE 15th, 221-7701: Jan. 28, 4 p.m. "School Daze With Miss Nelson". The Snapdragon Flayers present creative dramatics and sto ries. Kids Day O ff: W hat To Do Jan. 29 is a day off for students in Portland Public Schools. Hang ing around the shopping malls is one option for them, but Portland Parks and Recreation has sugges tions that are definitely more inter esting. "School's Out —Play Day", Peninsula Park Community Center, 6400 N. Albina. Beat the winter blues with activities planned around a summer theme. Included are games, crafts, tournaments, and a snack. For ages 6-12. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fee is $2. Multnomah County Library North Portland Branch 512 N. Killingsworth, 221-7702: Saturday, Jan. 30 , 2:30 p.m., film: "Benjamin Walks the Dog," "The Beast of Monsieur Racine," "The Day the Colors Wents Away." - for kids. Storytime for preschool ers: Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Ages 3-5; and 11:15 a.m., age 2 with parents. For Adults: Jan. 30, 10:30 to noon. "Afro-American Health Issues." Local health-care professionals will lead the discus sion. Poetry Workshop at PCC Oregon's Ambassador of poetry, Penny Avila, author of several books and past poetry editor for the Oregonian, will be the feature pre senter at a poetry workshop hosted by The Cascade Poets of the Ore gon State Poetry Association and the Cascade Cultural Affairs Com mittee. The workshop will take place at PCC Cascade Campus, 705 N. Killingsworth, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Cascade Hall, Room B 47. The cost is $5. There will be a question and answer period in the afternoon. Please bring a sack lunch. Info: 283-3682 after 6 p.m. M u ltnom ah C ounty Library St. Johns Branch For Kids: Saturday, Jan. 30, film: "Best Horse," "The Bird Who Is a Clown," "Just Say Hie!". Story time for preschoolers: Fridays at 11:00a.m., ages3-5. Gxanà O pening The » • : Z > O tti« . ... V Z r'-:'/; ?' V . • > • ’■ •• .•• j • * ■ f * . -, ■fVPÇ, (pKii f a 5v z - p