A pril 3, 1996 • T he P oriland O bserver
New Stroke Drug Announced
Dr Wayne Clark, director o f the
Oregon Stroke Center at Oregon
H ealth Sciences University, an ­
nounced an experimental drug that
may save brain cells in stroke vic­
tims.
According to findings, the drug,
citicloine, is superior to the only oth­
er emergency stoke treatments avai I-
able because it can be given many
hours after symptoms start. Tissue-
plasmalogen activator (TPA), the
other emergency treatment, is effec­
tive only in the first three hours. The
new drug has no serious side effects
while TPA causes bleeding in the
brain o f some patients.
Clark is an investigator in the study
that included about 250 stroke pa­
tients at 22 centers.
“It is so safe it can be given up to
24 hours after a stroke,” Clark said.
I think it will be an important break­
through ”
Patients tend to worsen after a
stroke because o f the breakdown o f
dy ing brain cells. Citicoline prevents
toxic substances from accumulating
and provides the nerve cells with the
materials needed to repair them ­
selves. Additional studies are planned
at four Portland hospitals in about a
month
Kaiser Offers Health Education
Managing Stress and Anxiety a
program that helps deal with the pres­
sures o f life is one o f the spring health
education programs offered through
Kaiser Permanente. Theclass will be
held Wednesdays from 6;30 to 8:30
p m. April 24 through June 12 at
Kaiser Permanente s Central Inter­
state Medical Office, 3600 N. Inter-
state
The second. Overcoming Depres­
sion and Low Self-Esteem, teaches
skills to reduce mild depression and
improve self-image. It is scheduled
on Thursday s from 6:30 to 8:30 p in
April 25 through June 20 at the Cen­
tral Interstate Medical Office.
Dealing with Anger is a program
PSVMC Offers Men’s
Support Group
For Grief And Loss
Men’s Group for Dealing with Grief and Loss
6 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays
April 2 through May 7
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
9205 S. W. Barnes Road (use main
hospital entrance)
Details: A six-week support groupfor men dealing
with g r ie f and loss will meet weekly to explore the
nature oj g rie f and the experience o f death in their
lives. They will discuss key personal strengths that
can he used during their personal journey hack to
wholeness after the death o f a loved one. Pre regis­
tration is required. The cost is $10. For registration
or more information, call 291-2261.
that helps with the successful man­
agement of angry and aggressive feel­
ings in positive ways. Sessions are
Saturdays from 9 to 11 a m. at Bess
Kaiser M edical C enter 5505 N.
Greely Ave.
Participants must register 10 days
before classes start. For more infor­
mation call 286-6816.
New Findings On Heart Disease
Researchers Explore Why More Blacks Die
It has long been known that
blacks are more likely to die form
heart disease than whites, but a new
study provides new insights into
why.
Researchers from Duke Univer­
sity followed upon 12,402 patients
-- 10 percent o f them black - at
their hospital who had blockages in
their heart arteries, the major un­
derlying cause o f heart disease.
After five years, 27 percent o f
the black patients had died com­
pared to 20 percent o f whites, a 35
percent difference in mortality.
"The effects o f socioeconomic
status can explain only a minor part
ofthe difference,” Dr Eric Peterson
said Wednesday.
Peterson’s study explored three
possible reasons. Black people delay
going to the doctor so their heart
disease is likely to be worse. Blacks
have more underlying diseases, and
blacks are less likely to get bypass
surgery or angioplasty
The severity o f the disease was
not a reason. Blacks went to the
doctor earl ier when they began to get
chest pains, and they have less exten­
sive blockages than whites.
However, blacks were up to two
times more likely to have high blood
pressure or diabetes, which makes
heart trouble tougher to treat.
These diseases accounted for
about one-half to two-thirds o f the
increased mortality.
They also saw that blacks were 40
percent less likely to get angioplasty
or bypass surgery. This explained
about 25 percent o f the increased
risk o f death.
T he p ro c e d u re s are e x p e n ­
sive, but in surance is not the
sole reason. P atients at veterans
h o sp itals and those co v ered by
M edicare are still less likely to
have the treatm ents.
“Some feel that culturally blacks
are less likely to accept such invasive
procedures such as bypass surgery
or angioplasty,” said Charles Curry
o f Howard University. “Others feel
that maybe the doctors are not good
at communicating to many black
patients the need for surgery. Some
say most o f the cardiologists are
white and maybe blacks are less
likely to trust them.”
Warming Up To Allergic Rhinitis This Spring
I r) /> t trees
r-aûr are
or.i Ui
■ J 4 I». and J .L
The
budding
the — Il
flow­
ers are in full bloom - unfortunately.
Spring may also herald the return o f
your sneezing, runny nose and nasal
congestion.
Y ou’re not alone -- more than 40
million Americans suffer from aller­
gic rhinitis, more commonly known
as hay fever.
“Allergic rhinitis is a very com ­
mon, and easily treated condition,
yet it often is mistaken for a common
cold, or not treated at all,” explains
Michael Kaliner, M.D., Medical Di­
rector, Institute for Asthma and Al­
lergy at Washington Hospital Cen­
ter, Washington, DC. “Unlike the
common cold, allergic rhinitis usual­
ly occurs at the same time each year,
during peak pollen season. Early
preparation for allergies and a prop­
er treatment regimen are essential to
overcoming allergic rhinitis.”
.
To help you chart a course o f
Topical anti-allergy medica­
relief this spring, here is a list o f
tions: Topical anti-allergy medica­
various treatments available.
tions are administered intranasally
A ntihistam ines: Antihistamines
and can be used prophylactically to
block the effects o f histamine, which
pre vent al lergy symptoms before they
can cause symptoms o f runny nose,
occur.
sneezing and itchy, watery eyes. Anti­
Topical decongestants: Applied
histamines can be
intranasally, topi­
purchased over-
cal decongestants
th e-counter or
reduce nasal con­
prescribed by a
gestion by con­
physician, and
s tric tin g b lo o d
are available in
vessels. Topical
sedating and non­
d e c o n g e s ta n ts
-Michael Kaliner, M.D
sedating forms.
sh o u ld only be
Decongestants: Decongestants re­
used for a few days at a time, since
lieve nasal congestion by shrinking the
extended use may result in irritation
nasal blood vessels, which reduces
or rebound congestion.
swellingandpromotesdrainage. Many
Topical corticosteroids: Topical
antihistamines allergy medications
corticosteroids are powerful intrana­
contain decongestants in combination
sal medications that reduce and pre­
with antihistamines and can be pur­
vent inflammation. Some physicians
chased over-the-counter.
and patients hesitate to prescribe and
"Allergic rhinitis is a
very common, and
easily treated
condition, ”
<3ïi je ^Jortlani) (©bserüer
UJOlcOITIOS
T h € K orcrn A merican G roccry A ssociation
Alberta Street Market, 915 N.C. Alberta
281- 6388
use topical corticosteroids for aller­
gic rhinitis, and opt for less potent
m edications. H ow ever, a recent
study,. Conducted at Georgetown
University Medica Center, shows that
dexamethasone sodium phosphate
nasal aerosol (Dexacort Turbinaire),
effectively treats allergic rhinitis,
without adverse side effects, such as
adrenocortical suppression.
“Since avoiding allergic rhinitis
triggers - tree and grass pollen - is
next to impossible during Spring, it
is important for the allergy sufferers
to take the necessary steps to prevent
symptoms from interfering with sleep,
work and other day-to-day activi­
ties,” says Dr. Kaliner
If allergic rhinitis is making your
Spring the sneezin’ season, see your
physician, who can better determine
the source o f your discomfort and set
a proper course o f treatment.
of
O rcgon
Dekum Food Market, 800 N.C. Dekum
Owner: Sonny Kim
283-1240
Boston Market, 726 N.€. Killingsworth
282- 6776
Ainsworth Market, 5949 N.C. 30th
281-0479
Prescott Corner Market, 1460 N.C. Prescott
284-7418
King Food Mart, 3510 N.C. MIK ßlvd.
281-0357
285-8006
KC2 Food Market, 1301 N.C. Dekum
289-7430
Owner: Tom Choi
Sunny's Market, 5020 N. Interstate
Owners: Gil S. Kim 5t Jung Jo Kim
283-1240
UJe R pprcciatc Y our B usincss and S upport
T hank Y ou