October 10, 2007
Page B2
H ealth W atch
lrrvgular Heartbeat -- Thursday. Oct. 11. from 6:30 io 7:30 p.m.. at 9205
S.W. Barnes Road, take a moment for this free class titled "How to Keep
a Steady Rhythm.” To register, call 503-574-6595.
Healthy Kids Fair - Saturday, Oct. 13, from 10 a m. to 2 p.m., bring the
kids to this free event to introduce children to hands-on health and
safety tips. Call 503-692-2656 for more information.
Don't Let Colds & Flu Catch you--Tuesday. Oct 16,from I to2p.m..
learn the early warning signs and symptoms with L isa Shaver, N.D.,
at Everyday Wellness, 1033 S.W. Yamhill, fee S5.VisitOasisnet.org or
call 503-241 -3059 for more information.
Birthing Naturally -- Thursday, Oct. 25 begins the six-w eek series for
couples wanting toexperience natural childbirth. Fee is $80 per couple,
with early registration recommended by calling 503-256-4000.
Cancer Care Resources — Monday. Oct. 15. begins the six-week
seminar to assist individuals living with cancer to have a productive
and positive experience while dealing with the disease. For more
information, call 503-528-5236.
Parenting Classes — Newborns don’t come with instruction manuals
but parents and parents-to-be can learn about a v ariety of topics from
pain and childbirth, to breastfeeding, to infant CPR and much more.
For a schedule of events, call 503-574-6595 or v isit: providence.org/
classes.
Dealing with Anger — Monday, Oct. 15. learn to identity your triggers
and techniques to deal with anger in this two-session class charging
$ 10. To register, call 503-335-3500.
Cancer Resource Center — Prov idence St. Vincent Medical Center
and the American Red Cross hav e joined forces to create the first in-
hospital resource center providing btwks. printed material, computer
access and more for individuals and families dealing with cancer. 1 he
center is open Monday through Thursday. 9 a.m. to 4 p in.
Aerobics and More — For a healthy body, you need a complete body
workout; including aerobics. Pilates and more designed lor all ages.
Call Cathey at Adventist Medical Center, 503-449-4000, for a schedule.
Free Body Basics - This physician-recommended class is appropriate
for all ages and health conditions. Plan to attend this one-session class
and learn the simple guidelines for safe exercises, including stretching.
Call 503-256-4000 to register.
Bereavement Support — A bereavement support group meets each
second and fourth Tuesdays, from lOto 11:30 a.m. To learn more, call
503-251 -6 192, extension 5670.
Better Breathers - An asthma educational support group meets on
the first Tuesday of the month from 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. at Adventist
Medical Center. For more information, call 503-251 -6830.
Chronic Pain Support Group — meets the first Wednesday at 4 to 5:30
p.m. and the third Wednesday of each month, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Call
503-256-40M for more information.
Heart Talk Support Group meets— on the 2nd Monday of each month,
from 6 to 8 p.m. Call 503-251-6260 for more information.
Smoke-Free Support Group —meets Mondays. 7 to 8 p.m..call 503-
256-4000, for more information.
H ealth MATTERS
Scanners Find Hidden Heart Disease
But test has downsides
(A P) — W hat if your do cto r could
sw ipe a w and o v er your neck and reveal
w hether you have hidden heart disease?
T hat is now possible in places o th er
than the sickbay o f the starship E nter­
prise.
Miniature ultrasound machines are start­
ing tom aketheirw ayintoordinary doctors'
offices, where they may someday be as
com m on as stethoscopes and EKGs. A
pocket-sized one weighing less than tw o
pounds hit the market last week.
Som e o f these devices can m ake im ­
ages o f neck arteries, w hich o ffe r a
"window" to heart arteries that cannot
easily be seen. If the neck vessels are
clogged, doctors know that those around
the heart probably are. too, and that
treatm ent or m ore testing is needed.
T he new ultrasound m achines offer a
relatively cheap, painless w ay to screen
people with no sym ptom s o f heart prob­
lem s for signs o f hidden trouble.
Is that a good thing?
M any doctors say yes, because for
one-third o f heart disease sufferers, the
Study Links Pregnancy and Depression
A new K aiser Perm anente
study, the first com prehensive
survey o f m aternal depression,
show s that m ore than one in
seven w om en are depressed at
so m e tim e d u rin g th e n in e
m onths before becom ing preg­
nant. during pregnancy, or in
the nine m onths a fte r c h ild ­
birth.
T he study also found that
BOMECOMING
CELEBRATION
Friday, October 12
Honoring the
50th Anniversary
'57 & '5 8 State
Football Champs
featu rin g
MEL
RENFRO
• --------------------------------------------------------------------•
2pm: Tailgater
7pm: Game w/group
photo at halftime
9pm: Sock Hop
~ For more information call
I
503-331-7507
nearly th ree-q u arters o f w om en
w ho e x p e rie n c ed p o stp artu m
d epression w ere also depressed
before becom ing pregnant.
"These findings show we need
to pay more attention to depres­
sion before pregnancy," said Dr.
Evelyn W hitlock, senior investi­
gator at the Kaiser Permanente
C enter for Health Research and
co-author o f the study. “ Doc-
tors and the public tend to focus
more on postpartum depression
because o f the huge gap between
a new m other's joyful expecta­
tions and the crushing reality o f
depression."
T he co nsequences o f p o st­
partum depression, which affects
400,000 women in the United
States, can be devastating. It can
inhibit a w om an’s ability to bond
with her infant, relate to the child's
father, and perform daily activi­
ties.
“W hile postpartum depression
clearly is an important concern,”
W hitlock added, “we also need
to consider the mental health and
treatm ent needs o f the m any
women who are depressed right
before or during their pregnan­
cies.”
Flu Shots Significantly Improve Health
Lower rates of
hospitalization
A lu m ni & C om m un ity
An ultrasound device for imaging the heart is
starting to be used for taking images of
arteries to determine risk of heart disease.
(AP photo)
first sym ptom is dropping dead o f a heart
attack. Finding these people early and
treating them could save lives. T he test
m ay be especially good for w om en, w ho
often have few traditional signs.
But there are potential dow nsides to
m ore people doing this testing w ithout
extensive training. Suddenly, sm all-tow n
fam ily doctors could see scary-looking
artery buildups and rush to treat som e
that m ight never be life-threatening.
A nd w hile patients w ho see the pic­
tures m ay be m otivated to quit sm oking,
lose w eight or go on cholesterol drugs,
som e m ight suffer side effects from un­
necessary treatm ent.
U ltrasounds also are being advertised
directly to c o n su m e rs— the latest "peace
o f m ind" test like w hole-body C T scans
and M R Is. Som e drugm akers are pro­
m oting w ider testing because it could
boost cholesterol pill sales.
A m erican H eart A ssociation says test­
ing w ith traditional ultrasound m achines
can help certain patients, but does not
endorse w idespread screening w ith the
sm all devices because p ro o f o f benefit is
lacking.
(A P) — Flu season is almost
here, and a new study finds that
skipping that annual flu shot could
have serious consequences for
older people.
The 10-year study o f seniors
included those from the Portland
area. It found that vaccination
against influenza was associated
with a 27 percent decrease in the
risk o f hospitalization for influ­
enza or pneum onia — a com m on
com plication o f the flu. The risk
o f death fell 48 percent.
Roughly 60 percent o f adults
o lder than 65 are vaccinated
against influenza each year, ac­
cording to the federal Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention,
well below the national goal o f 90
percent.
M anufacturers have shipped
more than 400,000 doses o f in­
fluenza vaccine to Oregon, and
health officials want high-risk
gro u p s to protect them selves
against the virus.
The elderly are more at risk o f
serious com plications from the
flu because they are more likely
to suffer from chronic lung or
h e a rt p ro b le m s , sa id G ary
O x m a n , h e a lth o f f ic e r fo r
M ultnom ah, W ashington and
Clackam as counties.
An estim ated 450 Oregonians
die o f influenza each year, ac­
cording to the O regon Health
Division. Each year, between 5
THE
SPINAtCOLUMN
An ongoing senes of questions and answers about Americas natural healing profession
Dr. Billy R. Flowers
Part 7. CHILDREN & CHIROPRACTIC:
Start off early in life for a lifetime of health
: When will my children he
old enough to benefit from
seeing Chiropractor?
: Actually, there are more rea
sons for children to see a Chi­
ropractor regularly than there
: Children of Chiropractors for adults. First of all, because of
often receive their first spi­ their activities in school and out,
children naturally take more spills
nal adjustments the day they are
born. Using special techniques than an average adult. This is one
lor infants. Chiropractors are able of the most common reasons people
to correct spinal misalignments bring their children to a Chiroprac­
caused by the traumatic and turn­ tor. But the best reason of all is so
ing of childbirth. W hat's more, that with regular Chiropractic care.
w e're frequently able to alleviate
infant problems like colic that of­
ten keeps both babies and par­
ents up all night.
Q
A
A
children can develop a nearly per­
fect spine. Not only to help them
do better in school, but to gain
are
increased strength, health and
vitality throughout their adult
lives. To find out all the ways
Chiropractic can help your chil­
dren experience a lifetime of good
health, please call us at the num­
ber below.
Flowers' Chiropractic Office
: / have a friend who takes
her children to a Chiro­
practor even when they aren't
sick. Why would she do this?
Q
2124 NE Hancock,
Caring for an older relative can
take its toll on caregivers in a
variety o f subtle or obvious ways.
A com m unity education class at
the M ayw ood cam pus o f Mt.
Hood Com m unity College will
help address these issues.
“ P o w e rfu l
T o o ls
fo r
C areg iv in g " (H O M 5C A ) will
teach caregivers how to take care
o f themselves, whether they are
taking care o f a parent, spouse or
friend who lives at home, in a
nursing home or across the coun­
try. An optional book is available
for $25.
To register, visit m hcc.edu.
Advertise with diversity in
Phone: (503) 287-5504
Jl" P o r t latti» (D b te ru rr
Call 503-288-003 3
USPS 959-680 ___________________________________
4 7 4 7 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland. OR 97211
Pi hi . i s h m : Charles H. Washington
EniTOK.Michael L eig h to n
D o m im n o s M s s / o . i k : M ark W a sh in g to n
C k h t i v i D i u k t o k : P aul N e u fe ld t
AiwmTisise,: K athy L in d e r
O fnct M\sse,m: Sharon S p a rry
H i pok 11 k : Raymond Rend lemon
iu io k i s -C hu
Free Class for
Caregivers
Portland Oregon 97212
Cl" IJnrtktnh fflb&cxtowc Established 1970
I
percent and 20 percent o f the
U.S. population gets the flu, and
about 36,000 people die, accord­
ing to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
The CD C recom m ends seek­
ing vaccinations in O ctober or
Novem ber.
Influenza, a contagious respi­
ratory disease caused by a virus
that changes year to year, is char­
acterized by high fever, head­
ache, sore throat, cough and
muscle aches. It can be spread
through contact with an infected
person a day before that person
experiences any symptoms, and
it is contagious for as long as five
days after sym ptom s appear.
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