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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 2007)
Page B2 December5, 2007 œ*!l ^Jnrtlanò (©bscruer H ealth MATTERS Kids Lose Coverage with Parents W hen parents lose their health eare coverage, their children can also becom e uninsured, a state w ide survey o f O regon families has found Researchers at Oregon Health & Science U niversity and the O ffice for Oregon Health Policy and R esearch con d u cted the survey to see w hat happened to children after the 2003 cutbacks in the O regon Health Plan. T he study, published recently in the online edition o f Health Services Research, found that in 2003, O regon cut coverage for adults in its M edicaid program, called the Oregon Health Plan. Shortly after the cutbacks, more than 50,000 low -incom e adults lost their coverage. High Blood Pressure, Alzheimer’s Linked Pittsburgh, who led the study. About 50 million Americans have hypertension, in which the blood circulates through the ar teries with too much force, ac cording to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The condition increases the risk for heart attack, stroke and aneu rysm. “This study demonstrates that good vascular health is also good for the brain,” said Oscar Lopez of the University of Pittsburgh, who also worked on the study. (AP) — Having high blood pressure reduces blood flow in the brains of Alzheimer’s pa tients, making them more vul nerable to the effects of the disease, according to a new study. Researchers used a magnetic resonance imaging technique to measure blood flow in the brains of 68 older adults. They found cerebral blood flow was sub stantially decreased in all pa tients with high blood pressure and was the low est in Alzheimer’s patients with high blood pressure. “What we think may be hap pening is hypertension reflects an extra hit to the brain," said Cyrus Raji of the University of H ealth W atch A doctor checks the blood pressure o f a patient at a Los Ange les clinic. C a rd ia c-R eh a b E x ercise C la sses - A m edically M a m m o g ra p h y S creen in g — Early detection is a key factor in the prevention o f breast cancer. Call 503-251-6137 to schedule your high-tech, soft- touch mammogram. supervised exercise program for people dealing with heart conditions. For more infonnation, call 5O3-25I-626O. T reatm en t O p tio n s for J oin t an d A rth ritis P ain - O steo p o ro sis S creen in g - An ultrasound bone density screening with personalized education; fee $30. T o schedule an appointm ent, call 5 0 3 -2 6 1- 6611. - Thursday, Dec. 20, from 6:30-8 p.m., learn about treatm ent options for degenerative joint disease, including total hip- or knee-replacem ent surgery, exercise and medication regimes. Call 503-692-2411 to register for this free class. L eg A lert S creen in g -- Cheek for peripheral arte rial disease with this safe, sim ple screening using ankle and arm blood pressure. The fee is $40. To schedule an appointm ent, call 503-251 -6137. M atern ity W ater W o rk o u t - Helping new moms regain muscle tone, strength and flexibility, all in the support and freedom of the water. Call 503-256- 40(X) for more i nform ation. S tro k e A lert S creen in g - Cheek your carotid C P R -In itia l C o u rse fo r H ea lth ca re P ro v id ers -- P a ren tin g C la sses - N ew borns d o n ’t com e with W ednesday, Dee. 12, from 6 to 11 p.m., this course is for participants com pleting the course will re ceive acertification card for healthcare profession als: $60 fee. To register, call 503-335-3500. instruction m anuals but parents and parents-to-be can learn about a variety o f topics from pain and childbirth to breastfeeding to infant CPR and much more. Foraschedule of events, call 503-574-6595 or visit: providenee.org/classes. arteries with a painless ultrasound to assess your risk; fee $40. To schedule a screening, call 503-251 - 6137. N ew b orn C are - Tuesday, Dee. 18, from 6 to 9 p.m., learn what to expect and how to care for your new baby; $45 fee percouple. To register,call 503-256- 4000. T en d erfo o t C a r e — Treat your feet with a soak, nai I trim , buffing and m assage from a licensed nurse at one o f six clinics or at your home. Call 503-251 -6303 for more information. A ctiv e L ivin g E very D ay -- Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 15, the “evidence-based" national 20-week program changing A m erica's outlook on physical activity (not an exercise class) will spark a new way o f thinking. To register, call 503-241-0359. N u tritio n a l S em in a rs — New Seasons M arket is presenting a series o f nutritional sem inars at vari ous store locations along with a nutritional help lin e . For m o re in f o rm a tio n , e m a il aksthenutritionist@ new seasonsm arket.com . M a tern ity O rien ta tio n -- Thursdays, D ec. 6, and Dec. 20, this free class will hclpto familiari zecxpect- ant parents with the M aternity Unit and answ er any question they may have. For more inform ation, call 503-574-6595. C a n cer R esource C en ter -- Providence St. Vincent M edical Center and the A m erican Red Cross have joined forces to create the first in-hospital resource center providing books, printed material, com puter access and more for individuals and fam ilies deal ing with cancer. The center isopcn M onday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eree B ody B a sics -- This physician-recom m ended class is appropriate for all ages and health condi tions. Plan to attend this one-session class and learn the sim ple guidelines for safe exercises, in cluding stretching. Call 503-256-4000 to register. B erea v em en t S u p p o rt - A bereavem ent support group m eets each second and fourth Tuesday, from lO to 11:30a m .T o le a m m o re ,c a ll503-251- 6192, extension 5670. B etter B rea th ers - An asthm a educational sup port group m eets on the first Tuesday o f the month from 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. at Adventist M edical Center. For more information, call 503-251 -6830. C h ro n ic Pain S u p p o rt G r o u p - meets the first S en io r A ero b ics — A low -im pact w orkout geared W ednesday at 4 to 5:30 p.m. and the third W ednes day o f each month, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. For more infonnation, call 503-256-4000. specifically tow ard seniors. Call 503-449-0783 for current schedule. H eart T a lk S u p p o rt G ro u p - meets on the second V eg eta ria n S ta rter K it - H ealthy vegetarian eat M onday o f each month; from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information,call 503-251 -6260. ing m ade easier with inform ational resources, sam ples, coupons and delicious recipes. Kits are $7.50 each (includes shipping). T o order, call 503- 2564000. S m o k e-F ree S u p p o rt G ro u p - meets every M on d ay ,7 to8p.m . For more information, call 503-256- 4000. THE Health Officials Promote Vaccines Children need flu defense too Oregon public-health officials this week are renewing their push to get both adults and chil dren vaccinated against influ enza. “A flu shot or nasal spray is an easy way to protect your self and your loved ones from the misery of flu,” said Lorraine Duncan, immun zation m an ager in the Oregon Depart ment of Human Services. “ It prevents you from infecting others, which is important if you have close contact with people for whom the flu might be especially dangerous such as the elderly, people with a chronic illness, and infants or young children.” Oregon received a record number of 1.25 million doses of flu vaccine this fall. “There is plenty of vaccine available, and influenza season typically doesn't peak until Feb ruary,” Duncan said. “Getting vaccinated in Novem ber or December and even beyond will offer protection from the flu.” Duncan stressed that it’s im portant for children and those Sexual Diseases Set Record (AP) — More than 1 million cases of chlam ydia were re ported in the United States last year — the most ever reported for a sexually trans mitted disease, federal health officials said Tuesday. Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Preven tion said they think better and more intensive screening ac counts for much of the in crease, but added that chlam y dia was not the only sexually transmitted disease on the rise. G onorrhea rates are jum p ing again after hitting a record low, and an increasing num ber o f cases are caused by a “ su perbug” version that is much more resistant to com mon antibiotics. Syphilis is rising, too. The rate of congenital syphilis — which can deform or kill ba bies — rose for the first time in 15 years. “ Hopefully we will not see Staff and volunteers from the M ultnom ah C ounty Senior Health Insurance Benefits As sistance program will conduct neighborhoodenrollment events to help individuals compare Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. The annual enrollment period began Nov. 15 and continues through Dec. 31. People with Medicare are encouraged to find a plan that fits their needs, but it takes re search to sort through the op tions. “ It's wise to assume your plan has changed, and read it carefully to compare costs,” says Janet Bowman, Multnomah County SHIBA coordinator. “ Before choosing a different plan, find out: will my doctor accept it? Will it cover what 1 need? Get the answers before you sign up." People who have questions may call their plan or 1-800- Dentures Worth Smiling About! SPINACOLUW An ongoing senes of questions and answers about Amenca's natural healing profession Dr. Billy R. Flowers : C ould my golf swing hurt my back? QA : People who exercise regu larly and p erform stre tc h ing and stren g th en in g exercise are less likely to injure their backs. T h e ir s u p p o r tin g m uscles, such as their stom ach, h a m strin g s, and g lu te a ls are stro n g e ra n d m ore flexible from reg u la r cond itio n in g . However, people who play golf or racquet sports are more prone to injuries because o f the frequent twisting and bending m otions. And casual athletes could be more at risk for injuries as well; depending on their level o f fitness. Most inju ries o f these types respond well to conservative chiropractic treat ments. A chiropractor can show you how to prevent these injuries with proper conditioning and tech nique. this turn into a trend,” said Dr. Khalil Ghanem, an infectious diseases specialist at Johns Hopkins U niversity’s School of medicine. The CDC releases a report each year on chlam ydia, gon orrhea and syphilis, three dis e a se s c a u se d by se x u ally transm itted bacteria. C hlam ydiaisthe most com mon. Nearly 1,031,000 cases were reported last year, up from 976,000 the year before. Medicare Drug Part D Explained i Part 34. Osteoperosis and Bone Loss Reversal who have close contact with them to get vaccinated. Each year, more than 20,0(X) children under age 5 nationally are hos pitalized as a result of influenza. The nasal-sp ray vaccine FluMist is a good alternative to the injectable vaccine for any one who is healthy and between ages of 2 and 49. Influenza is characterized by abrupt onset of high fever, head ache, sore throat, cough and muscle aches. Unlikeothercom- mon respiratory illnesses, it is associated with extreme fatigue and loss of appetite lasting sev eral days. • Professional Services • Affordable Prices • Payment Plans: O A C • Over 20 years experience • Full & Partial Dentures • Natural Appearance • Full Service Lab • Accepting Oregon Health Plan MEDICARE. To make an appointment at one of the following enrollment invents, contact Multnomah County Aging and Disability Services Helpline at 503-988- 3648: Thursday, Nov. 29 at the Midland Library, Friday, Nov. 30 at the Hollywood Library, Dec. 6 at the St. Johns Library, Dec. 13 at the Midland Library, Dec. 14 at the Hollywood Li brary and Dec. 17 at the Gresham Library. L eg a l N o tic e s I D cnturisi Need to publish a court document or notice? Need an affidavit of publication quickly and efficiently? Please fax or e-mail your notice for a free price quote! Flowers' Chiropractic Office 503-230-0207 Fax: 5 0 3 -2 8 8 -0 0 1 5 2124 N.E. Hancock Street, Portland Oregon 97212 1020 NE 2nd Ave., Suite 205 O ff M L K on NE Multnomah Phone: (503) 287-5504 Melanie Block, L.D. Free parking I e-mall: classlfieds@portlandobserver.com The Portland Observer