omen 's il’1 IJnrtlauh ©hseruer W I IIS ’K )R Y March 19. 2 0 0 8 Page B5 H ealth MATTERS Look for Whole Grains for Heart Health The nutrients and fiber help with weight loss C utting calories helps people lose weight, but doing so by filling upon w hole grains may he particularly heart-healthy, new research suggests. In a study o f obese adults at risk of heart disease, researchers found that those who trimmed calories and increased their whole- grain intake shed m ore belly fat and low ­ ered their blood levels o f C- reactive pro­ tein orC R P . C R P is a m arker o f chronic, low -level inflam m ation in the blood vessels, and both abdom inal fat and CRP, in excess, art- linked to heart attack and stroke. ’ In contrast, dieters in the study who mainly ate refined grains, like white bread, were able to lose weight, but they trim m ed less fat from the m iddle and show ed no change in CRP. The findings offer yet more incentive for A m ericans to opt for whole grains over highly processed versions, according to the researchers. "T his is the first clinical study to prove that a diet rich in w hole grains can lead to w eight loss and reduce the risk o f several c h ro n ic d is e a s e s ,’’ D r. P en n y K ris- Etherton, the senior researcher on the study, said in a statement. She and her colleagues at Pennsylva­ nia State University report the findings in the American Journal o f Clinical Nutrition. In general, experts recom m end eating w hole grains — such as oatm eal, brown rice and barley - rather than refined grains, like w hite bread and other products made Paul Helton poses with whole-grain foods and the refined foods used in a study that shows how cutting calories helps people lose weight, but doing so by filling up on whole grains may be particularly heart-healthy. Hearing Loss Epidemic Strikes Military No. 1 disability in war on terror (A P) — Soldiers and M arines caught in roadside bom bings and firefights in Iraq and A fghanistan are com ing home in epidem ic num ­ bers with perm anent hearing loss and ringing in theirears. prom pting the military to redouble its efforts to protect the troops from noise. Hearing dam age is the No. 1 d is­ ability in the w ar on terror, accord­ ing to the D epartm ent o f V eterans A ffairs, and some experts say the true toll could take decades to be­ com e clear. Nearly 70,000 o f the more than 1.3 m illion troops who have served in the tw o w ar zones are collecting disability for tinni­ tus, a potentially debilitating ring­ ing in the ears, and more than 58,(XX) are on disability for hearing loss, the VA said. O ne m ajor explanation given is the insurgency's use o f a fearsom e w eapon the Pentagon did not fully a n tic ip a te : p o w e rfu l ro a d s id e bombs. Their blasts cause violent changes in air pressure that can rupture the eardrum and break bones inside the ear. Also, much o f the fighting co n ­ sists o f am bushes, bom bings and firefights, which com e suddenly and Education, Mentorship, Autonomy, Support Planned Parenthood of the Columbia/Willamette has been helping women, men and teens make responsible choices for 44 years. Planned Parenthood is committed to delivering the highest quality reproductive health care, teaching responsible and age-appropri­ ate sexuality education and has been working diligently to protect a women’s right to choose. Come spend your days helping others improve their reproductive health. Dr. Michael Hoffer, a Navy captain and inner-ear specialists, left, checks the ears o f U.S. Army Sgt. Ryan Kahlor at Balboa Navy Medical Center in San Diego, Calif. unexpectedly, giving soldiers no tim e to use their m ilitary-issued hearing protection. In addition, some servicemen on patrol refuse to wear earplugs for fear o f dulling their senses and miss­ ing sounds that can make the differ­ ence between life and death. Others were not given earplugs or did not take them along when they were sent into the war zone. And some Ma­ rines w eren’t told how to use their specialized earplugs and inserted them incorrectly. H earing dam ag e has been a battlefield risk ever since the intro­ duction o f explosives and artillery, and the U.S. military recognized it in Iraq and A fghanistan and issued earplugs early on. But the sheer num ber o f injuries and their nature — particularly the high incidence o f tinnitus — cam e as a surprise to m ilitary m edical specialists and outside experts. The m ilitary has responded over the past three years with better and easier-to-use earplugs, greater ef­ forts to educate troops about pro­ tecting their hearing, and more test­ ing in the w ar zone to detect ear injuries. Medical Costs for Retirees Grow (A P) — A couple retiring this year will need about $225,000 in savings to cover m edical costs in retirement, according to a new study by Fidelity Investm ents. The figure, calculated foracouple age 65, is up 4.7 percent from a year earlier, the Boston-based financial services com pany said. And it is from white Hour. W hole-grain fixxls retain more o f the nutrients and fiber com po­ nents o f the grain. T his fact might explain why dieters in the current study show ed added benefits w hen they ate w hole grains, according to the researchers. For exam ple, fiber-rich foods may have kept participants' blood sugar levels more stable throughout the day, and this, in turn, may have lowered th eirC R P levels. A lternatively, C R Pm ight have dropped because o f the antioxidant nutrients that are present in w hole grains but depleted in refined ones. Researchers recom m end that consum ­ ers look at labels and be careful to choose products that are good sources o f whole- grain. Products that put health claims about w hole grains on their labels are required to contain at least that much w hole grain. sim ilartoother projections for health care costs in retirement — daunting figures given that longer life spans also are requiring workers to increase- retirement nest eggs. A separate study released last month by the C enter for Retirem ent Research at Boston C ollege esti­ m ated that an individual needs to H ealth W atch Colorectal Cancer D iscussion - W ednesday, March 19, from 7 to 8:30 p.m ., jo in surgical oncologist Dr. K atherine M orris and m edical o n co lo g ist Dr. A nupam a Kurup, lodiscuss prevention, colonoscopy procedures and latest treatm ent options, including robotic surgery at Legacy G ood Sam aritan, 1040 N.W . 22nd Ave. T ools for C aregivers - A six-w eek educational se­ ries is offered to help fam ily caregivers take care o f them selves w hile caring for a relative o r friend with a chronic illness. The classes are being held at several locations and dates. Call 503-413-6465 for more information. M aternity O rientation -- T hursday, M arch 20. from 7:45 to 8:45 p.m.. this class is to fam iliarize expectant parents with the m aternity unit and answ er any questions you may have prior to labor and delivery. T o register, call 503-574-6595. H elping Babies to C om m u nicate - W ednesdays, April 2 thru April 23, from 9 : 15 to 10:30 a.m., Dawn Prochovnic, C reator o f Sm allTalk W orkshops will present the tips and tricks and the art o f teaching sign language to babies before they even begin to talk: $70 per couple. T o register, call 503-3,35-3500. Peer-to- Peer R ecovery - The peer-to-peer educa­ tion recovery course is a free, nine-w eek course on the topic o f recovery for any person with a serious mental illness. The courses are led by mentors who are recovering from mental illness and are trained to teach coping strategies to others. For m ore inform a­ tion, cal 1503-228-5692. g o in to re tire m e n t w ith som e $102,000 earm arked ju st for health care coverage, whi le a couple needs about $206,(XX). G iven current levels o f retire­ ment savings, the center said, six in 10 older w orkers are "at risk" of being unable to m aintain their stan­ dard o f living in retirement. 0 Planned Parenthood rJ MULTNOMAH COUNTY How does poverty, housing or discrimination affect your health? Across the country, thousands of people w ill take part in discussion about the connections between healthy bodies, healthy bank accounts and skin color. Please join us for a special screening and discussion of Unnatural Causes, a PBS documentary which confronts myths and misconceptions about our health. Portland Community College Moriarty Arts and Humanities Building Auditorium Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. March 8, March 22 and April 12 New Columbia Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. 4625 N. Trenton Street March 29, April 19, May 3 and May 17 W hat About Boys — W ednesday, April 23, from 7 to 9 p.m.. Legacy Meridian Park Hospital, I9300S.W . 65th Ave., will host a forum discussing the developm ental perspectives o f raising young boys, and the problems they are facing today, $5 fee at the door. T o register, call 503-335-3500. For more information and screening locations, visit www.mchealth.org/healthequity or call 503-988-3030 Ext. 22068 ___________ THE___________ Health Inequities —The public is invited to jo in in the dialogues with com m unity m em bers, organizations, business leaders and local elected officials to discuss the root causes o f health inequities as well as long-term solutions in a this seven-part series. For neighbor­ hood locations, dates, and tim es visit mchealth.org/ healthequity. Parenting Glasses — N ew borns d o n 't com e with 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. For a schedule o f ev en ts, call 503-5 7 4 -6 5 9 5 or visit: p ro v id en ce.o rg /classes. Bereavem ent Support G roups - Free, safe confiden­ tial group m eetings for those who have experienced the death o f a loved one offered on various nights and locations. For inform ation and registration, call 503- 215-4622. Stroke Alert Screening - Check yourcarotid arteries with a painless ultrasound to assess your risk. Fee $40. T o schedule a screening, call 503-251-6137. Free Body Basics — This physician-recom m ended class is appropriate for all ages and health conditions. Plan to attend this one-session class and leant the sim ple guidelines for safe exercises, including stretch­ ing. Call 503-256-4(XX)to register. v.org • jobs@ppcw.org o f the Columbia/Willamette SPINAXOLUMN An ongoing senes of questions and answers about Amencas natural healing profession Part 10. Fatigue: A cure for people sick and tired of being of being sick and tired. Q A : I seem lo be tired a lot lately. Does that mean I need iron? : The most com m on reason xitients com e into our office is because of some type o f But many of these people are also suffering from fatigue. Fatigue that makes the eyes bum slows dow n the healing process and m akes you wonder why you d o n ' I feel as well as you used to. O bvi­ ously, there can be many causes o f fatigue. Diet is certainly one of them. It's a subject w e'd he happy to discuss with you in detail. A nother cause, how ever is often stress Many of you have prob­ ably heard o f the "Fight O r Flight" sy n d ro m e. W hen the body is stressed, it responds with a co m ­ bat-ready posture. In analyzing many such patients' x-rays, we find pain. the head angled forw ard and the back arched in this highly-stressed position. A fterG hiropractic adjust­ ment. this condition is often vastly improved. Patientscom e hack well- rested. telling us they just had their best nig h t's sleep in ages. If you think the stress o f everyday life might be wearing you dow n and preventing your b