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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 1998)
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M A R C H 25, 1998 h&Gcicncc h b m b h m Legacy Helps Caregivers Take Care of Themselves Fosamax Prevented and Treated Osteoporosis Study Shows The m edicine Fosam ax astating outcome for millions of (alendronate sodium) both treated people who depend on steroids to and prevented the bone-thinning dis control serious diseases including ease osteoporosis in men and women asthma and COPD,” said Ronald who had or were at risk for it because Emkey, M.D., investigator o f the ofthe glucocorticoids (steroids) they study and director o f The Bone Re took for asthma or chronic obstruc search Center o f The Reading tive pulmonary disease (COPD), ac Hospital and Medical Center, cording to new data presented at the West Reading, PA. “This new annual meeting o f the American research offers a promising solu Academy of Allergy, Asthma and tion in helping to prevent and Immunology (A AAAI). reverse osteoporosis in men and About 30 million Americans have women of all ages who need to diseases that often required treat take steroid medications.” ment with steroids. O f these, more “Although the study was not than 4 million Americans take ste powered to detect fracture risk roid drugs to control asthma and other reductions, the study showed a diseases characterized by shortness trend with Fosamax and those on ofbreath (COPD). Bone loss is rapid placebo in these studies. Despite in people who take steroids-they can the concomitant use of steroids lose up to 10% of their bone mineral and the extensive use o f aspirin density (BMD) in the first year of and NSAIDS, medications that treatment alone, with much o f the are known to cause G1 side ef bone loss occurring within weeks to fects, there was no difference in months after starting treatment. In the rate of esophageal adverse fact, 11 % of those who have taken events and peptic ulcers between steroids for at least one year for people treated with Fosamax and asthma suffer spine fractures. Ac those given placebo. cording to epidemiological studies, To receive maximum benetit from the risk of fracture from osteoporosis Fosamax and to reduce the potential doubles with each 10% o f BMD lost. for esophageal irritation, patients B M D is an indicator ofbone strength. must take the medicine upon waking In this study, men and women for the day at least 30 minutes before treated with Fosamax stopped bone the first food, beverage or other medi loss and increase bone mineral den cation ofthe day with a full glass of sity (BMD) at the spine and hip, two water(six to eight ounces) only. After common sites o f osteoporotic frac swallowing Fosamax, patients must ture. not lie down and should stay fully “For more than 40 years, os upright (sitting or standing) for at teoporosis has been avoidable, dev least 30 minutes and until after first food ofthe day. Patients should not chew or suck on the tablets. Osteoporosis is a bone-thinning d i sease th at I eads to 1.8 mil- Legacy Health System has de veloped an innovative educational program to give caregivers the skills to take care of themselves. “T a k in g C a r e o f Y ou : P o w e r fu l T o o ls fo r C a r e g i v i n g ” is de signed to aid those who c a re lio n fractures per year in the United States alone. The disease costs the U.S. health care system $13.8 billion annually. Fosamax was cleared in 1995 for the treatment of osteoporosis in post menopausal women and Paget’s dis ease and in 1997 for prevention of osteoporosis in post menopausal women. Fosamax is marketed by Merck & Co., Inc. for loved ones with stroke, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s Disease. Participants range in age from spouses caring for husbands or wives, adult children caring for parents, and friends who help care for neighbors. The next series will be held during April and May at five locations throughout the Portland metropolitan area as well as in the Redmond, Bend, Ashland and Grants Pass areas. The course is free thanks to a generous grant form the Meyer Memorial Trust. “Our program is modeled after Stanford University’s successful chronic Disease Self-Management Program,” states Leslie C'ongleton, pro- I gram manager. “ Participants are instructed by trained lead ers, many o f us experienced caregivers ourselves who have successfully adopted the tech niques we teach." The six-week class meets once a week for two and one- half hours. Convenient day and evening classes are avail able. Participants develop their own personalized action plans and goals as they cover a vari ety o f topics, including: •Tools to help reduce stress * How to communicate effec tively with other family mem bers, their doctor, and service pro viders •The importance of self care •How to reduce guilt, anger and depression •Relaxation techniques •How to approach tough deci sions St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church in Gresham, Oregon, recently hosted the program’s pilot class. “Testing the model and incorporating our team’s high degree of skill and knowledge of care giving has pro vided an exciting laboratory for all involved,” adds Congelton. Participants also were very en thusiastic with the results. Edythe H ansen, w hose husband has Alzheimer’s, was battling guilt and depression that caring for a loved one can bring. “As I look back, I realize I was on the verge of de pression,” state Hansen. “By tak ing this class, I now take care of myself by doing for myself. I’ve learned how to retain and balance my hobbies and the joys of living with taking excellent care o f my husband.” Registration for the April/May series is required by April 3, 1998. For specific dates, times and loca tions to register for the Portland area classes, call 503-335-3500. For classes outside Portland, call 503-413-7032. Fight The Fear: Self-Defense For Every Woman Join us for the next Fight The Fear self-defense classes for women and teen girls. Located at One With Heart in Southeast Portland, Satur day workshops are held 11 am-4pm and full six-week courses meet Mon days and Wednesdays from 7:30- 9pm. In the classes, girls and women learn practical physical and verbal self-defense skills taught by certified women’s self-defense instructors. Also learn strategies for preventing threats to your personal safety as well as information about assailant’s pre-assaultive behavior. The next workshop will be held Saturday, May 30th. The next 6 week course begins March 30th. For more information please con tact Antonia or Michelle, One With Heart Physical Fitness With Purpose, 231-1999 A female kangaroo will not give birth to a joey ( baby), if she has an older joey still In the pouch. Once the older joey leaves the pouch (usually within 8 months), the kangaroo will give birth within a day. Tobacco-tax increase helps Oregon As the Oregon Health Plan be gins its fifth year this month, it is preparing to bring an estim ated 27,700 pregnant women, college students, and children and teen agers under M edicaid coverage financed by a 1996 voter ap proved increase in the state to bacco tax. These new Oregon Health Plan m embers will join about 335,000 current members and increase the share o f state resid en ts w ith health insurance, now about 89%. The health p lan ’s M edicaid pro gram covers both O regonians on public assistance and the w ork ing poor. These are scheduled changes in M edicaid coverage, all fi nanced by the tobacco tax in crease: •B eginning March I, an e sti mated 1,800 additional pregnant women will be eligible for the health plan. To qualify, a preg nant woman and her family could have an incom e o f up to $ 2 2 ,6 6 1, or 170% o f the federal poverty level. •S in c e J a n .l, an estim ated 1,700 college students form low- incom e fam ilies have been eli gible for the health plan if they qualify for federal Pell Grants and have been uninsured for at least six m onths. •In July, up to 16,800 children will become eligible for the health plan as a result o f the federal Children’s Health Insurance Pro gram, or CHIP, which Congress au thorized to deliver coverage to more low-income children. Another 7,400 children and their families who al ready qualify for the health plan, but don’t currently participate, also are expected to enroll. fabric Depot THE LARGEST, MOST COMPLETE RETAIL FABRIC STORE IN THE WEST M arch 2 7 th ro u g h 2 8 ,1 9 9 8 STARTS TODAY! 300,000 Oregonians will Breathe Easier May 30th 8th Annual “Reach the Beach” Clean Air Bicycle Challenge The American Lung Association of Oregon is holding its 8th annual “Reach the Beach” Clear Air Bicycle Challenge on S a tu r d a y , M a y 3 0 , 1998. Participants form the begin ner to the seasoned cyclist are invited to join an expected 1500 Northwest- emers on one o f four different bi cycle routes through breathtaking scenery. Thanks to the support of our presenting sponsor, Portland General Electric, and other spon sors, this year’s Reach the Beach promises to be another great day for families, neighbors, corporate teams, and friends old and new. Proceeds support medical research and pro grams benefiting 300,000 Orego nians with asthma and other lung disease, and help ensure healthy air for future generations. Riders can choose a route -start ing from Portland, Salem, Amity, or Grand Ronde—to best fit their abil ity. Courses wind through lush Willamette Valley farms and vine yards and the majestic coast range forest. The G rand Ronde route covers terrain especially for m oun tain bikers. Rest stops with food, water, and medical and mechanical services support participants along the way. All the routes end in Pacific City, where beautiful Cape Kiwanda and Haystack Rock are the backdrop to a finish festival with food and entertainment. Biking isn’t the only way to join the fun. Volunteers are welcome to help make the event a great success again this year. For more informa tion, call the Lung Association at 503-246-1997or I -800-LUNG-USA in Oregon. Special Sale! 2 Days O nly Fri, & Sat., March 27-28 Extended Hours: Saturday Open til 9PM European Flower Reduces Wrinkles On the sun-drenched fields of Spain, European dermatologists have found a rare flower that has remark able skin smoothing powers. It’s a special strain o f a chamomile flower that’s unusually rich in three compo nents— Levomenol, flavonoids and essential oils. Clinical studies have shown that this European chamomile can dra matically reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Example: A recent study, conducted under controlled protocol at the Dermatological Clinic o f the University o f Bonn, Germany, re vealed specific smoothing effects of the chamomile on skin which had been damaged by UV radiation. Is this the world’s best kept beauty secret? For more information and a sample, contact Paul Ross at I -800- 226-6227 extension 102. Teen Tobacco Facts: 4 0 off 1. Joe Camel may be on the way out, but his deadly legacy remains. Since the Joe campaign started in 1988, C am el’s share o f the illegal children’s market increased from one-half percent (0.5) to 32.8 percent. (“T h e U.S. Surgeon General’s report for kids about smoking.”) 2. Each day another 3 ,000 young persons become smokers, according to D r. D avid Kessler, former commissioner o f the U.S. Food and D rug Administration. 3. In 1996, approximately 2 8% o f 1 lth-grade students in Oregon considered themselves smokers. Most smokers start before they are 18 (from an Oregon H ealth Division survey), ALL FABRIC 4. C urrently, 3 0 % o f smokers say they started by the age o f 15 (from an Oregon Health Division survey). 5. M ore than 6,00 0 Oregonians die each year form tobacco-related diseases, according to the L im ited to stock on hand! Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. BF, SURE TO CHECK O l !R STORE FOR “MANAGER'S SPECIALS” 6. 6 1 ,3 4 0 Oregon children currently under age 18 will die prematurely form tobacco-related •D is o w s is not .trrh 1,1 Tecial purchase«>r previously Jiscmmted i t marked down items, 327 thru) 2898. ““ disease. (C D C projection) 7. 2 3.6 % o f 11 grade boys in Oregon currently use smokeless tobacco. (19 96 Oregon Public School D rug Use Survey) N & / 8. H a lf o f all adolescent smokers and one quarter o f adolescent nonsmokers own at least one promotional item from a tobacco company. (1992 Gallup Survey) / “ RFTAII HOI RS MOV» RI l)i«F.im-‘)iio,iin s \ l l R IM ‘HIMm "pm SI M).U IlHio.ini-’ pin 1 84 SÎAHK STHFF1 ? K * U HOI I SAI I HOI RS: MOVIRI " Aiiam-s $o,im SAM KI>\> 9 1Hi.im-spm si M)AV 11 im.im-ipin RETAIL-WHOLESALE 700 S.E. 122nd Ave. Portland, OR 252-9530 Visit our website at svww.fabriedepot.com 1-800-392-3376 | |
