P age A5
T he P ortland O bserver • M ay 4,1994
Local Hospital To Host Important
Digestive Health Program
Interactive Program Available to Area Residents
Legancy Emanuel Hospital, Port­
land, OR, will be one of over 60
hospitals in the United States selected
to sponsor a live program about di­
gestive health via satellite. The pro­
gram , “Partnerships for Better Diges­
tive Health,” will be held at Emanuel
Hospital & Health Center. It will pro­
vide attendees an opportunity to in­
teract with the nation’s leading phy­
sician experts about four digestive
disorders - heartburn, ulcers, colon
cancer, and irritable bowel syndrome
- and about maintaining good diges­
tive health.
“Partnerships for Better Diges­
tive Health” is developed an co-spon­
sored by the Glaxo Institute for Di­
gestive Health (GIDH) and the Ameri­
can Gastroenterological Association
(AGA).
Educational Program Open to all
The 90-minute program will be
broadcast nationwide form the site of
the annual meeting of the American
Gastroenterological Association in
New Orleans Wednesday, May 18,
1994, at 7:00 PM Mountain time
(6:00 PM Pacific time). Registration
information may be obtained by call­
ing 1-800-544-5481.
Traditionally, May has been
known as “Digestive Health Aware­
ness Month,” a good time to empha­
size digestive health education. The
program will be open to anyone who
is interested in maintaining and im­
proving their digestive health. At­
tendees will receive complimentary
educational materials including di­
gestion-friendly recipes and tips for a
healthier digestive lifestyle.
“Since its founding in 1991, the
Glaxo Institute for Digestive Health
has been dedicated to increasing
awareness of good digestive health
among the general public,” says Dav id
Earnest, M.D..chairman of theGIDH
and professor of internal medicine at
the University of Arizona Health Sci­
ences Center, Tucson. “Satellite tech­
nology enables us to bring this impor­
tant information to a greater number
of people.”
Panel of Experts
The speakers include distin­
guished authorities in digestive health:
Stanley Benjamin, M.D., profes­
sor of medicine at Georgetown Uni­
versity, Washington, DC, will present
the latest information on colon can­
cer, the second-most prevalent from
of cancer.
Stephen Brunton, M.D., clinical
Allergies? Fight Back!
Allergy season is in full swing,
but there's no need to suffer. Plenty of
old and new medicines fight aller­
gies. More important, there are strat­
egies for avoiding the substances that
trigger allergic reactions. Here are
the latest facts to help keep distress to
a minimum.
Allergies - principally “hay fe­
ver” caused by pollen - affect be­
tween 35 and 50 million Americans.
They are a major cause of missed
school days, and account for about 10
percent of all doctor visits, according
to the May 1994 Reader’s Digest.
You’re probably having an aller­
gic reaction - not just suffering form
a cold or flu -- when you have no
fever, the mucus in your nose is clear,
your nose and throat itch, and the
symptoms don ’ t get dramatically bet­
ter or worse over a number of days.
Don’t be fooled by the season. In
addition to the pollens th at attack
during w arm er months, many other
nt icroscopic enem ies lay siege year-
round, including dust-m ite d ro p ­
pings, anim al d an d er and mold
spores. H ere’s how to fight back:
1. Watch how you exercise. Your
lungs take in more air when you work
out, so you’ re exposed to more pollen.
When pollen is at its worst, exercise
indoors. ExCrciseoutdoorsafterarain
shower, when the air is washed of
pollen.
2. Avoid irritants. Some sub­
stances cause the blood vessels of the
nose to expand.
Irritants include alcohol, ciga­
rette smoke, perfumes, hair sprays,
bug sprays, chlorine and fragrances
in laundry detergents.
3. Plan ahead for trips. When
returning to places where you once
professor of medicine at the Univer­
sity of California at Irvine, will pro­
vide important information on heart-
bum and gastroesophageal reflux dis­
ease, which is one of the most com­
mon disorders of the digestive tract.
Seymour Sabesin, M.D., profes­
sor of medicine at Rush-Presbyte-
rian-ST. L uke’s M edical Center,
Chicago, IL, will discuss the current
medical opinion about peptic ulcers.
Dr. Earnest will share the latest
information on irritable bowel syn­
drome, a common and chronic intes­
tinal disorder.
“T he
A m erican
G astroenterological A ssociation
firmly believes that good health is
best achieved through a partnership
between the health care professional
and a well-educated patient,” says
Don W. Powell, M.D., president of
the AGA, and program moderator.
“Our ongoing efforts with the GIDH
to bring the best, most complete infor­
mation to the public are doing a great
deal to help build this partnership.”
Program Sponsors Share Educa­
tional Goals
“Partnerships for Better Diges­
tive Health is part of an ongoing effort
by the GIDH and AGA to increase
patient awareness. Other activities
sponsored by The Glaxo Institute for
Digestive Health and the American
Gastroenterological Association in­
clude the development of compre­
hensive educational materials on di­
gestive health for consumers and
healthcare professionals.
The Glaxo Institute for Digestive
health was founded in 1991 to sup­
port independent scientific research r
in digestive disease and to increase
public awareness about digestive
health. To date, the GIDH has awarded
more than $2.25 million in research
grants. The GIDH also sponsors na­
tionwide public education initiatives
to raise awareness about common di­
gestive disorders.
T he
A m erican
G astroenterological A ssociation,
founded in 1897, is one of the oldest
medical specialty societies in the coun­
try. Its 7,200 members are physicians
and scientists who specialize in clini­
cal practice, research and educaiton
related to digestive disease and the
gastrointestinal system.
HEALTH
New Strategies For Outpatient Care
(NU) - The much-debated national
iealth-care crisis is creating an un­
eliain future for many specialized
are patients such as those with men-
al or chemical dependency problems.
“Treating the patient’s depen-
lence on drugs or alcohol has be-
ome a challenge, given the restric-
ions of insurance companies and
nanaged care organizations” such
is health maintenance organizations
HMOs), said David Shurgin. presi-
lent of the East Coast-based National
Recovery Institute (NRI).
Costs and changing insurance re­
quirements have forced many men­
tal health and chemical dependency
hospitals out of business.
NRI has responded with innovative
outpatient-weighted programs at its two
centers in New York and Florida.
The institute's mix of mental
health and chemical dependency
treatment for adults and geriatrics,
including detoxification care, reha­
bilitation, partial hospitalization for
mental health and substance abuse
are typically not addressed in present
health-care reform proposals. So
similar hospitals are likely to follow
NRI’s approach.
NRI’s strategy involves working
Shopping for Car Care —
(NU) - According to a poll of ASE-
certified Master Auto Technicians,
motorists can extend the life of their
vehicles by up to 50 percent through
routine maintenance as prescribed in
the owner’s manual. Here are some
tips from the non-profit National In­
stitute for Automotive Service Excel­
lence (ASE) on finding a good auto­
motive repair establishment:
• Start shopping for a repair facil­
ity before you need one.
• Ask friends and colleagues for
recommendations; consult local con­
sumer organizations.
• Arrange for alternate transpor­
tation — that way, you will not feel
forced to choose a shop based solely
on location.
Free Vision
Screenings
Available
For All Ages
: m onths and older
rildren and adults
ree vision screcn-
f a com m unity ser-
sponsored by the
e rs ity C o lle g e o f
tm ily V ision C cn-
hc p u b lic, the Fam -
• Repair shops are seldom hospi­
tal clean, so look instead for an over­
all orderliness and modem, well-kept
equipment in the service bays. Check
out the parking lot, too — it’s a good
sign if you see some vehicles equal
in value to yours.
• Look for a courteous, professional
staff, with a communicative service
writer willing to answer your questions.
• Ask if the repair facility spe­
cializes and if it usually handles your
type of repair work on your make
and model.
• Look for signs of professional­
ism in the customer service area, such
as civic, community or customer ser­
vice awards.
• Look for qualified technicians.
ily V ision C enters are located in
dow ntow n P ortland, F orest Grove
and N orth P ortland.
T hese vision screenings p ro ­
vide im portant inform ation re ­
lated to clarity o f vision, health o f
the eyes, and how well the eyes
are coordinating. S creenings take
about 30 m inutes to com plete and
do not cause discom fort. S creen ­
ings do not take the place o f a
thorough vision exam ination.
Vision screenings are p articu ­
larly beneficial for young c h il­
dren w hose learning sk ills, such
as reading and w riting, depend
on clear vision, good eye health
directly with insurance companies
to provide the type of programs that
are effective as well as appropriate
for the needs of the patient.
For example, many insurers no
longer offer unconditional 28-day in­
patient stays for people with chemi­
cal dependencies. So NRI developed
programs that allow a patient to go to
work and sleep at home. In addition
to allowing family interaction and sup­
port. this approach makes patients re­
sponsible for their own treatment.
NRI's changes have made indem­
nity payers, as well as managed care
organizations, willing to use the fa­
cility. For more information on NRI
programs, call 1-800-SOBER-02.
Ten Tips
as evidenced by trade school diplo­
mas, certificates of advanced course
work and certification by the Na­
tional Institute for Automotive Ser­
vice Excellence. ASE-certified tech­
nicians wear a blue and white insig­
nia and carry credentials listing their
exact area(s) of expertise, while em­
ployers often display the ASE sign
and post their technicians’ creden­
tials in the customer waiting area.
• Understand the policies regard­
ing labor rates, diagnostic fees, guar­
antees, returned parts, etc. Keep a
log of your repairs and service; keep
all paperwork.
• If possible, start off with minor
repairs — if you’re satisfied with the
results, return for bigger jobs as nec­
essary.
and the ability for the eyes to
w ork together as a team . Infants
and ch ild re n , and their p aren ts,
arc often unaw are of the e x is t­
ence of vision or eye health p ro b ­
lem s. As a re su lt, ch ild ren with
undetected visual disorders often
experience a decrease in c la ss­
room perform ance and se lf-e s­
teem before the problem is id en ti­
fied and corrected.
For scheduling a free vision
screening, p lease co n tact the P a ­
cific U niversity F am ily V ision
C enter in your area: dow ntow n
P o rtla n d , 2 2 4 -2 3 2 3 ; F o re st
G rove, 357-5800; and N orth P o rt­
land, 240-5319.
wheezed and sneezed, beware. Anti­
bodies you stored up can lie in wait for
long periods. When traveling to new
places, check with an allergist in the
area to see what allergens are likely to
be prevalent
4. Clean the car. Keep your car
dust-free by vacuuming carpets, mats
and heater and air-conditioning out­
lets. Ban smoking and keep windows
closed.
5. Use common sense about pets.
If you can’t bear to get rid of a cat or
dog, at least keep them out of the
bedroom and bathe them regularly.
Even so, your sneezing may continue
for a while because the animal’s dan­
der is likely to remain in carpets and
upholstery for months.
6. Dust-proof your house. Rugs,
wool throws, heavy curtains, down
bedding and overstuffed chairs are
havens for dust mites and other aller­
gens. Consider having bare wood
floors, washable slipcovers and win­
dow shades. Use airtight plastic pil­
low and mattress covers. Launder
linens and blankets weekly in hot
water; dust mites die at 130 degrees
Fahrenheit.
7. Condition the air. Mold spores
and dust mites thrive in humid condi­
tions, so keep humidity inside your
home below 50 percent. If you use a
dehumidifier, empty the water-col­
lecting pan daily and wash it with
household cleaner or vinegar to get
rid of mold. Keep house plants -
which boost humidity and can harbor
mold - to a minimum, and ban them
from the bedroom.
8. Zero in on what ails you. To
determine exactly what you’re aller­
gic to, sec an allergist. In the most
common test, tiny drops of various
allergens are placed on the back or
forearm, then a pinprick is made in
the middle o f each drop to let the
allergen seep into the skin. If any of
the pinpricks cause a red, itchy hive
within 15 minutes or so, an allergic
reaction is indicated.
9. Fight back. Antihistam ines are
the most widely used defense. Over-
the-counter brands can make you
drowsy; nonsedating ones are avail­
able by prescription only.
If your allergy is particularly bad,
start taking antihistamines a week or
so before the pollen that bothers you
comes into season. “Antihistamines
act as a preventive,” explains Dr.
Donald Leung, head of the Division
of Pediatric Allergy at Denver’s Na­
tional Jewish Center. “If you fail to
take them regularly, the histamine
will be released, and the drug w on’t
work as well.”
Allergy sufferers frequently re­
sort to decongestants too, but they’re
not effective long-term. To help re­
lieve severe congestion and remove
irritating allergens from your nose,
rinse nasail passages with a light salt­
water solution. If symptoms persist,
your doctor may prescribe a nasal
steroid.
10. Take a shot at a remedy.
Shots purposely expose the patient to
regulated doses of an allergen. This
induces the immune system to grow
accustomed to the substance and stop
fighting i t Typically, a person gets
injected with a mixture of substances
to which he is allergic once a week for
several months, then once a month
for another year or more. Eventually,
the patient’s allergies may diminish
enough so he can get by with little or
no medication.
Mother's Day is May 8
SISTERS OE PROVIDENCE HEALTH SYSTEM
n
We make
it easy
to choose
good health.
When you choose your health insurance, choose the
Good Health Plan. It's a simple choice that provides
convenient access to the health care you need:
• affordable health insurance
• choose your own doctor
• convenient access to services
• Sisters of Providence hospitals: St. Vincent,
Providence, Providence Milwaukie, Providence
Seaside and Newberg Community Hospital.
Call us today for more information. Because good
health is a good choice.
GOOD HEALTH PLAN
Our mission: your health.
(503) 280-7500
1-800-878-4445
SISTERS OF
PROVIDENCE
HEALTH SYSTEM