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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 12, 2002)
Page A6 _______________________ ï î o r t l a n i » ( ß b s e r u c r ____________________________________________ June 12,2002 ■^formative or if it’s nev/s saw babty you pr0 Students Make Healthy Living Video Production shines light on risk factors for cardiovascular disease HOLLA! A PROGRAM OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HEALTH COALITION, Inc. 2S00 N. Vancouver Avenue, Suite 100, 97227; 503 413-1850 Students at Jefferson High School act out skits for a cable television show to educate their peers and younger kids about preventing cardiovascular disease, the number one killer o f African Americans in Oregon. Jefferson and Benson high school students are targeting their peers with a life saving message about heart disease and stroke. The teenagers produced a video at Jefferson High School last week entitled “From the Heart” which takes aim at pre venting cardiovascular disease by reducing risks among Afri can Americans. The video will be submitted to cable channels for broadcast. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of Afri can Americans in Oregon. In fact, in the U.S., blacks are twice as likely as whites to die from stroke and almost one and a half times as likely to die from a heart attack. The students acted out skits in the video, similar to those seen on popular comedy shows like Saturday Night Live, to cover topics related to cardio vascular disease and risk fac tors like nutrition, physical ac tivity, diabetes, high blood pres sure and smoking. “The students are using their creativity to educate their peers about important health issues and they hope their efforts will ultim ately help save lives,” said Karen Gress o f the African A m eri can Health Coalition. The coalition is the group behind the video and part o f a wider intervention project for children and teenagers called Healthy Options for Living Longer Actively (HOLLA!). T he o rg a n iz a tio n was formed in Oregon earlier this year as part o f a federal grant to promote community health with racial and ethnic ap- proaches to making life saving changes in the African Ameri can Community over a three- year period o f time. The coalition is also spon soring an intervention program for adults called “Looking Tight, Livin’ Right,” by using existing relationships between beauty and barbershop operators and their clients to promote healthy behaviors. A third intervention program by the coalition targets low- income African Americans en rolled in the Oregon Health Plan by using targeted mail ings containing health infor mation. All o f the efforts are de signed to link African Ameri cans to preventative clinical services and other resources known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Father’s Day Cards Promote Health Did you know that African American men have the highest prostate cancer incidence rates in the world and are twice as likely to die from prostate can cer as other American men? Because this disease af fects so many, the American Cancer Society is encouraging men and their families to ob- tain the most accurate and up- to-date information possible about prostate cancer, so they can make informed decisions about their long-term health care. To coincide with Father’s Day, June 16, the American Cancer Society has developed a series o f cards, which in New Cardiac Procedure Available cludes an insert that can be returned to the society request ing more information about prostate cancer. A limit of two o f these spe cial Father’s Day cards are free to anyone who calls the Portland office o f the Ameri can Cancer Society and re quests them at 503-295-6422. Healthy Options for Living Longer Actively (HOLLA!) is a peer education project for high school students. Students from Benson and Jefferson High Schools will be trained as Community Youth Health Advocates to deliver heart disease prevention messages to their peers. HOLLA students will also produce and star in a health promotion video, "From the Heart", which will be aired on local television channels. Sponsored by the C e n te r s f o r D is e a s e C o n tr o l a n d P r e v e n tio n and made possible in part by Legacy Emanuel. PSU-RRI and the Department of Human Services. "Thanks for clearing the air at work, Oregon.” I can remember days where I could see the smoke In my office hanging near the ceiling tiles. But with the Oregon Smokefree Workplace Law. It's a thing of the past. No more dirty ashtrays. No more butts in the sink. And no more secondhand smoke. Because now smoking doesn't work in Oregon. And I’m breathing a lot easier. If you’ve got questions, please contact us: Dr. Todd Caulfieds (left) o f Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, assisted by technician Scott Warme, uses a beta-emitting wire to deliver targeted radiation to stop cells from re-blocking previously treated arteries in a heart patient. The Providence Heart Institute now offers the new procedure, called intravascular radiotherapy or brachytherapy, a minimally invasive therapy for patients with heart disease. Information About The Law • Toll-free 1-866-621-6107 • www.healthoregon.org/tobacco • Your county health department Oregon Tobacco Qultiine • 1-877-27O-STOP • 1-877-2NO-FUME (Spanish) • TTY: 1-877-777-6534 It you have a disability and need the material In an alternate format, call 5 0 3-73 1-4 273 (TTY: 5 0 3-73 1-4 031 ). Classes for Chronic Health Sufferers People suffering from chronic conditions, such as arthritis, dia betes, lymphedema or heart dis ease, can learn to manage symp toms, lessen fatigue and reduce frustration through a class at Kaiser Permanente called Liv ing Well With Chronic Health Problems. The class will m eet on M ondays from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. July 22 through Aug. 26 at K aiser Perm anente’s In terstate Medical Office Cen tral, 3500 N. Interstate Ave. The course carries an $18 fee. There is no need to be a K aiser Perm anente health plan m em ber. To enroll, call 503-286-6816. IT’S OREGON LAW. O regon D epartment O f H uman S ervices
