lanuary 23, 2008
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Page B2
H ealth
ÍERS
more physical education time.
How to deal with overweight
children in class is something that’s
on the minds of future gym teach­
ers, too.
Wade said she walks a fine line
when instructing her students: “I
don’t want to push anyone past
what they’re capable of doing, but
I don’t want them to take it too
easy.”
As the morning light poured in
from the windows in her gym, she
asked her sixth-graders: “How are
you graded in this class?” A cho­
rus of replies comes quickly: “Ef­
fort.”
Physical Education Classes Evolve
It's now about
individuals
(AP) - With music pumping in
the background, the kids in Terry
W ade's physical education class
are in constant motion, going from
sit-ups to jumping jacks to curls
with light weights.
After their 45-minute session,
the sixth-graders who are sweating
the most, or as Wade cal Is it, "burn­
ing butter," get stickers.
"My main goal and emphasis is
getting these kids up and moving,”
said W ade, w ho te a c h e s at
N o rth ric h E le m e n ta ry in the
Richardson school district in sub­
urban Dallas. "It's ‘Can this kid do
this fora lifetime?' I don'tcare how
good they are. I care if they're hav­
ing fun."
Instead of team sports, Wade
and o th er physical education
teachers across the country are
focusing more on individual activi­
ties that students can incorporate
into their li ves long after their school
days are over.
Experts say the shift also helps
gym teachers include children who
are struggling with their weight.
With individual activities, over­
weight students can work at their
own pace, and not be left on the
sidelines. And they can take part in
lo w er im pact a c tiv itie s like
weightlifting, yoga or martial arts.
Steve Jefferies, head of the de­
partment of health, human perfor­
mance and nutrition at Central
FE BR U AR Y 20, 2008
W ash in g to n
U n iv ersity
in
Ellensburg, Wash., is a fan of trea­
sure hunts and other activities that
students can do without realizing
they are getting exercise. That shifts
the focus to finding things, not the
half-mile walk to get there, he said.
"Y ou've got to find something
that each individual person en­
joys,” said Jefferies, who also runs
a website to help physical educa­
tion teachers keep up with the lat­
est developments.
Gym teachers also are placing a
greater emphasis on general health
and nutrition, said Craig Buschner,
president of the National Associa­
tion for Sport and Physical Educa­
tion.
“This field had to make changes.
It’s not about dodge ball and it’s
not about duck-duck-goose,” said
Buschner. He added that the obe­
sity epidemic has helped educators
make a case that students need
Payton Brenham, 12, takes
direction from Terry Wade
during a physical education
class in Richardson, Texas.
Experts say that P.E. classes
have evolved to focus less
on team sports and more on
individual recreation activi­
ties. (AP photo)
! Shirley Nanette
*
w/The Mel Brown Quartet
@ Jim m y M ak’s
221 NW 10th Avenue
Portland, OR
8pm /doors open at 7pm
KMHD 89.1 FM Presents in Celebration of
Black History & Women’s History Month
SHIRLEY NANETTE with
The Mel Brown Quartet
Recording Live @ JIMMY MAK’S
Tickets $25 each
Available at www.brownpapertickets.com,
online at KMHD.FM or at 503-491-7271
Car + Home =
BIG S A V IN G S
See me lor Car and Home Insurance and save.
STATE FARM
F
INSURANCE
Michael David Holton. Agent
7223 SW Macadam Avenue
Portland. OR 97219 3076
Bus 503 517 9090
For Your Health
J une P otter A costa
As I write this, the writ­
ers strike drags on, with no
indication of lessening the
self-righteous, stubborn
stance of both sides.
Another strike in the
summer of 1974, when I was just 50,
enraged me. but became the instru­
ment of my recovery from hyper­
tension, high blood pressure.
I had already been diagnosed
with moderate hypertension and
was on medication that depressed
me. At that time, inclined toward
depression. I certainly didn't need
any additional depressive side ef­
fect from a drug.
Even earlier, in 1966, I was on
disability insurance and argued with
my physician(adearman. Dr. David
Brobeek. whom I ended up know­
ing for 40 years before his death),
refusing to take the meds he pre­
scribed - Serpasil.
Fast forward to that summer of
1974, when I lived in South Central
Los Angeles and worked down­
town.
I had an old ear, hut would never
by
How I Conquered High Blood Pressure
have driven it downtown.
Then the Los Angeles bus
drivers went on strike! I
was furious with them,
hut it turned out to he the
best thing to happen - at
least, for me.
Two of the suburban bus lines,
Gardena and Torrance, ran express
lines into downtown L.A. Tocatch
them, I was obliged to walk about
two miles in the early a.m. to get to
the last pickup stop and walk again
another two miles in late afternoon
to get home.
After a few days of all that walk­
ing, I was felling so good-sleeping
like a baby, face cool, no swelling of
my hands or ankles, heart-rate
steady and strong.
I bet my blood pressure had
dropped to normal I thought, I
stopped the meds, still felt great.
Then I made an appointment with
my longtime doctor. Dr. Brobeek.
Officially, my blood pressure was
normal, without medication of any
kind. As it is today, at going on 84!
The average reading is under 120
systolic, under 70 diastolic.
learn about the influence of diet on cancer. This four-part series begins
Thursday, Feb. 21 from6:30to8:30p.m.;toregister,call503-256-4000.
Free G laucom a Screenings — Devers Eye Institute will conduct free
visual field screenings as part of national Glaucoma Awareness Month.
The tests are scheduled Friday. Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the
Legacy Emanuel Hospital atrium and Tuesday, Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. to
2 p.m. at the legacy Good Samarian Hospital main lobby.
Newborn Care — Saturday, Feb. 16, from noon to 5 p.m., expectant
I IKK A G OOD NEIGHBOR, SIAI E HARM IS I HERE,
Providing Insurance and lin a n c ia l Services
meat or flesh of any kind. I gave up
eating once-living creatures about
four years ago - not for health
reasons. Rather, for philosophical
reasons.
Yet, I c m still open a can of cat
food for my kitty - meat, or fish or
poultry, with no compunction. He
is a carnivore and I accept that.
We human beings have enor­
mous power to make ourselves ill or
conversely make and keep our­
selves well. I’m a fanatic about the
mind and body connection.
Unfortunately, the pharmaceu­
tical industry and the healthcare
industry do their best to keep us
fearful. There's the endless stream
of messages of fear from radio and
TV about some affliction and the
right med for it. They need to keep
us just sick enough to require their
services.
1 do take aspirin for my arthritis,
up to 8 a day, as recommended by
my son, Steve, a physician here in
Portland.
So my message to all you good
people is: Move. Walk! Stop and
smell the flowers!
H ealth W atch
G ro o v in ' a New Weight: W om en Only - Thursdays. Jan. 24 through
March 13, from 6:30 to8:30p.m., women will team up with dietitians and
fitness specialists; in a fun motivating environment to conquer food,
weight and body issues. To register, call 503-574-6595.
Bus 503 517 9090 la x 503-445 1366
I am a passionate believer in
exercise. Our bodies were made to
move.
As well, I do deep breathing. 20
deep breathes every day. Take a
deep breath, hold it as long as com­
fortable and then breathe out.
I've also learned how to cope
with stress. O f course, there is good
stress and bad stress. If I feel I’m
beginning to be agitated, for any
reason, I simply stop what I'm do­
ing and go outside or cuddle my
cat. Hogie, or turn on some music.
It works!
We are told that African Ameri­
cans suffer unduly from high blood
pressure or hypertension. The rea­
sons are not clear, but there is stress
in having been or continuing to be
victimsofthe white power structure.
Excess salt in the diet is another
matter. I haven't used table salt in
years though 1 still eat salted pea­
nuts and use canned foods with
salt in them. O ne's taste for salt can
change.
I eat a normal, healthy diet with
plenty of fruits and vegetables. I
don’t rule anything out - except
Infant/Child CPR and First Aid - Friday, Feb. I from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m..
the Youth Employment Institute, 1704 N.E. 26th Ave., will host this great
training class. Fee $52. To register, call 503-888-2756.
THE
SPINAXOLUMN
V ascular Screening - Thursday,
Feb. 2. Providence Health and
Vascular Institute, 4805 N.E.
Glisan, will host the all-day screen­
ing event in recognition of Ameri­
can Heart Month. $100 screening
fee. To register, call 503-216-2088.
parents will learn tips and techniques for caring for their newborn; $45
fee per couple. To register, call 503-574-6595.
For Big Brothers & Big Sister-To-Be -Saturday, Feb. 16, from 10 to
11 a.m., special sibling class for children ages 3 to 6 helping to prepare
for their role as an older sibling; $20 fee (2 adults, 1 child). To register,
call 503-574-6595.
Becom ing Sm oke-Free, Staying Sm oke-Free -M ondays, Jan. 28 and
Feb. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m., gain freedom from nicotine addiction through
practical guidance and ongoing support; $40 fee. To register, call 503-
2564000.
W eight M anagem ent for C hildren and Teens — Wednesday, Jan. 30,
6:30 to 8 p.m. parents and teens will learn healthy eating lifestyle
changes with dietician Julie Stahl. To register, contact 503-335-3500.
Helping Babies C om m unicate Before They Can Walk - Wednesday,
Jan. 30.9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Dawn Prochovnioc, creator of SmallTalk
Learning, will teach the class teaching sign language to infants. To
register, call 503-335-3500.
An ongoing senes of questions and answers about America’s natural healing profession
Dr. Billy R. Flowers
Part 2: CHIROPRACTORS: Just how qualified
are they to take care of your health?
. I know that
• physicians need
four fu ll years of
medical school to
become doctors. H ow
much training do
Chiropractors
actually get?
Q
A
* h 41« wing*minder-graduate
• co lle g e tra in in g , C h ir o ­
p ra cto rs m ust also c o m p le te
e x trem ely d e m a n d in g fo ur-year
curriculum. B ythetim ew egraduate,
weverveervedadegree« #ci wnpetency
inanati wny, chemistry, hocterk >l< igy,
toxicology, pathology, physiology,
diagni»is and x-ray. In fact, tixlay’s
any d o c to r g raduating from m edical
school. M ost im portantly foryou, we
also spend four full years studying the
s p in e , jo in t r e l a tio n s h ip s an d
adjustm ent pnxedures. W h a t’smore,
C hiropractors stay up to d ate w ith the
latest h e a lth care d ev elo p m en ts by
attendingon-gi ling seminars.
»W ill my health
* insurance help me
an
pay for Chiropractic
care?
Q
A
Flowers' Chiropractic Office
2124 NE Hancock,
•
E h n irs< tgi » e m in e n t appn jvedclasses
Phone: (5 0 3 ) 2 8 7 -5 5 0 4
T
Thursday, Feb. 7, from6:30to7:30
p.m., take a moment for your heart
in this free educational series to
take charge of your heart and vas­
cular health with health experts.
To register, call 503-574-6595.
9 It v a rie s from o n e
• in su ra n c e c a rrie r to
another. But for many people,
Take Time for Your Heart - Sat­
C hiropractic care is covered.
urday, Feb. 9, from 11 a.m.to4p.m„
C heck w ith your com pany’s
the Clackamas Town Center, will
personnel departm ent. O r feel
host this free expo with blood-
free to call us. In fact, for answers
pressure checks and expert ad­
to anyquestions you might have
vice to improve heart health.
about your health, just call us at
the number below.
T x ti w < ,t ( Tun ipractk have astnany
in th ese h e a lth -re la te d sub jects as
Food Myth Busters: ( iood Nutri­
tion for a H eart-H ealthy Life —
Portland O regon97212
Sm oke-Free Support G roup — meets Mondays, 7 to 8 p.m. For more
information, call 503-256-4000.
Vegetarian Starter Kit - Healthy vegetarian eating made easier with
informational resources, samples, coupons and delicious recipes. Kits
are $7.50each (includes shipping). Toorder, call 503-256-4000.
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 503-256-4000to register.
B irthingN aturally-BeginningTuesday,Feb.5,from 5:30to8:30p.m .,
six-week series preparing new parents-to-be to experience as natural a
birth experience as possible. To register, call 503-256-4000.
Feeling Forgetful; W om en and
O steoporosis Screening - An ultrasound bone-density screening
M emory Loss--Monday, Feb. 11,
from 7 to 8:30 p.m.. a neurologist
will help women to sort out simple
memory loss from something pos­
sibly more serious at this free
women’s wellness forum. To reg-
ister.call 503-574-6595.
with personalized education; fee $30. To schedule an appointment, call
503-261-6611.
Food for Life: A Ciniking and
Nutrition Series - Through cook­
ing demonstrations and samples,
M am m ography Screening - Early detection is a key factor in the
prevention of breast cancer. Call 503-251-6137 to schedule your high-
tech. soft-touch mammogram.
M anaging C hronic H epatitis C - Third Wednesday of each month at
5 p.m., the informative session led by a registered nurse to help manage
side effects of medications and dosage preparations and administra­
tion: doctors referral required. To register, call 503-251 -6313.