I nt P ortland O bserver • A ugust 21, 1996 P age A 7 H ealth ffiGCLfirr À iitffflllG (1 HÉflLTHIER CORPtUniTM The board o f directors o f Center for Com m unity Mental Health [C C M H ] rose from its annual meet­ ing last April with a new plan to help create a healthier North/Northeast community. Already, C C M H is responding to the mental health care needs o f North Portland inner-city neighbor­ hoods with a host o f preventative and therapeutic programs. The plan announced by the non­ profit agency’s board chairperson Margot Allen seeks increased part­ nership and support from the pub­ lic. It also embraces new and cre­ ative ways o f problem-solving. Changes in managed care have caused the mental health care center to streamline operations and con­ solidate services into a more effi­ cient continuum. “C C M H has responded by com­ bining our children and youth pro­ grams into family services and our substances abuse and adult outpa­ tient services into adult services," the agency’s executive director, Car­ ol R. Chism, said. C C M H relies heavily on volun­ tary donations from well wishers to fulfill its commitment to over 400 clients. The Center provides treatment services for children and their fam­ ilies, support services for adults, treatment programs for adolescents, mental health support, and chemi­ cal dependency treatment pro­ grams. After 3 years o f operation, the agency regrettably closed the door o f its transitional living facility for chemically dependent women and their children because o f lack o f funding. Over the years, the facility served a home to about 39 women and 53 children. Five drug-free ba­ bies were also bom at the house during that time. “ We w ill work to expand our collaborations and seek varied re­ sources for continuing our work. We need every dollar we can get. We want to respond quickly to these needs,” says Chism. lood pressure awareness by J oey Mt rphy Over 50 m illion adults in the U S have high blood pressure. Ifthat doesn’t alarm you, it should. High blood pressure, or hyperten­ sion, is easy to cure, but if ignored can lead to serious health problems, O H S U nurse practitioner Veronica Legg said. Studies also show that minorities are more susceptible to hyperten­ sion, Legg said Hypertension is more common in the Southeastern U S then in the rest o f the nation. High blood pressure can be nor­ mal even in healthy individuals. It’s when elevated blood pressure levels become consistent that a physician w ill diagnose hypertension Blood pressure rises naturally with physical activity, excitement, fear, or emotional stress, but such eleva- tions are usually transient. There are a number o f risk factors for hypertension. Some are unavoid­ able, like an inherited tendency for hypertension, race, old age and sex, Legg said. In young adulthood and early middle age, high blood pressure occurs more frequently in men than in women; thereafter the reverse is true. However, there are also a number o f "changeable" risk factors, Legg said. They include a sedentary lifestyle, overweightness, excessive alcohol consumption, too much salt and not enough calcium Legg said. Consequencesofhigh blood pres­ sure vary. Legg said hypertension can lead to eye damage, heart en­ largement, kidney damage and “car- diovascular incidence.” It causes ath­ erosclerosis, or hardening o f the ar­ teries, which contributes to heart attack and stroke She recom m ended “ k e e p in g good control o f your blood pres­ sure.” C hecking your blood pres­ Make Self Care A Priority Making a personal commitment to take time o ut for you may mean reshuffling priorities. With our unique roles as mother, wife, sisters, career women - and sometimes all of the above - our schedule is already full. Cherish’your body for the great g ift th a t it is, and give it the best o f care. It is recommended th a t women 4 0 and older get annual health exams. Early detection saves lives. Advertise For Diversity Advertise In