May 7. 2008
H ealth
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Restless Nights May Signal Sleep Apnea Disorder
OH SU doctor addresses impacts
by M arcus W hite
T he P ortland O bsera er
If you find yourself w aking up in
the wee hours o f the night, or tired
and sleepy in the m orning, chances
are you could be suffering from
sleep apnea.
A ccording to the N ational Insti­
tutes o f H ealth, sleep apnea is a
com m on problem . A lthough it can
im pact just about anyone's sleep
patterns, the m ost com m on person
at risk is an overw eight m ale over
the age o f forty. Regardless, sleep
apnea can affect anyone at any age,
including children.
Dr. Holger Link o f Oregon Health
and Science U niversity describes
sleep apnea as a problem where
there is abnorm al pattern in breath­
ing.
“ It has to do with the fact that as
you get older all the tissues in the
body becom e a little more loose and
there isa limitation of airflow through
the airw ays," he said.
Link explains that there are two
com m on sleep apnea disorders that
exist. "There is the central sleep
apnea where the patient does not
make an effort to breath. The brain
does not give a signal to breath."
The other type is obstructive sleep
apnea and that is where there is a
blockage o f the airw ay. This is usu­
ally w here the soft tissue in the rear
o f the throat collapses and closes
during sleep, com m only known as
snoring.
"Snoring," according to Link,
"is the most com m on symptom.
There are many m ore people who
snore without sleep apnea. S om e­
tim es we see that the bed partner
will be the one who brings the p a­
tient to the clinic because the snor­
ing is so loud."
The N1H also reports that sleep
apnea that is not treated can cause
high blood pressure, memory loss,
w eight gain, headaches, and other
c a rd io v asc u la r problem s. A lso,
air com ing in and out of the nose,
heartbeat, and activity of leg move­
ment. If it is abnorm al the first time
around, they will get fitted for a
proper m ask." Link says they also
test the EEG (electroencephalo­
gram ) to m easure brain wav e activ­
ity. rapid eye m ovem ent, and other
body functions.
A cc o rd in g to the A m erican
Sleep A pnea A ssociation, children
w ho have this problem can also
show signs o f hyperactivity. The
ASPA reports that because o f the
The gurgling, sawing and choking types o f snoring from sleep apnea means he s finally getting
lack o f aw areness by the public and
some sleep. But the noise keeps her awake.
healthcare professionals, the vast
The other treatm ent is for the they w ake you up and ask you all m ajo rity rem a in u n d iag n o sed .
sleep apnea that goes untreated
Therefore, m any are not treated
types o f questions.”
can be the cause o f jo b im pairm ent patient to loose weight.
Frances says that you are tested despite the fact that sleep apnea
Frances Johnson thought that she
and motor vehicle accidents.
Fortunately, sleep apnea can be had sleep apnea because she felt to see if you stop breathing. "B e­ can im pose serious consequences
treated and diagnosed according tired in the mornings. As a result, she fore you are able to go to sleep, they on a perso n 's health.
W hen asked about what is being
to Link. "There are tw o main op­ decided to see her physician. Frances have you put a m ask on ju st in case
tions." he explains, "one is where said that the doctor wanted her to they find out you do stop breathing done about sleep apnea. Link says
that there are national sleep foun­
you wear a mask at night. You wear take a laboratory test because she during the night," she said.
d
atio n s th a t p ro v id e g o o d re ­
Says Link, "W hile patients are in
it over your nose and mouth and a had some of the symptoms.
sources
for the public. He says that
little shoe box device goes over
"I went in about 9 p.m.," she said. a sleep laboratory, we measure over
the
best
way to inform people is by
your nose and it provides air for the "Then they hook you up to all o f 14 different param eters for sleep­
"educating
the public.”
these (devices). During the night. ing. W e m easure the chest wall and
nasal passage."
Promoting Water Safety for Kids H ealth W atch
Olympic athlete
joins effort
(AP) — US A Sw im m ing is team ­
ing with an array o f partners —
local governm ents, corporations,
youth and ethnic organizations —
to expand learn-to-sw im program s
nationw ide, m any o f them targeted
at inner-city m inorities.
O ne o f the key participants is
black freestyle star C ullen Jones,
w ho hopes to boost his role-m odel
status by w inning a medal this sum ­
m er at the Beijing Olym pics.
USA Sw im m ing's m otives are
tw ofold, executive director Chuck
W ielgus said.
"It's ju st the right thing to do —
making an effort soevery kid can be
w ater-safe," he said. "And quite
frankly it's about perform ance.
W e're som ething o f a niche sport
and for us to rem ain relevant, con­
sidering the changing dem ograph­
ics o f the population, it's important
we get more kids involved at the
mouth o f the pipeline."
A recent study found that 31
percent of the w hite children could
not swim safely, com pared to 58
percent o f A frican-A m erican ch il­
dren and 56 percent for Hispanic
children.
The lead researcher. Professor
Richard Irwin, said one key finding
was the influence o f parents’ atti­
tudes and abilities. If a parent
couldn't swim, as was far more likely
in minority families than white fam i­
lies. or if the parent felt sw im m ing
was dangerous, then the child was
far less likely to learn how to sw im.
Irwin said this m eans learn-to-
swim programs in minority com m u­
nities should reach out to parents.
The m inority sw im m ing gap has
deep roots in A m erica's racial his­
tory. For decades during the 20th
century, many pools w ere segre­
gated, and relatively few were built
to serve black com m unities.
John Cruzat, USA Sw im m ing's
diversity specialist, said these in­
equalities were com pounded by a
w idespread m isperception — fu­
eled by Hawed academ ic studies —
that blacks' sw im m ing ability was
com prom ised by an innate deficit
o f buoyancy.
"There are people who still give
credence to these stereotypes, even
in the black and Hispanic com m u-
P eer-to - P eer R ecovery - Peer-to-peer education recovery is a free
nine-w eek course for mental health patients. M entors w ho are
recovering from mental illness are trained to teach coping strategies
toothers. For more inform ation, câll 503-228-5692.
B ereavem ent S u p p o rt C ro u p s - Free, safe confidential group m eet­
ings 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.
- The grassroots organization Oregon
Action is seeking an intent who is com m itted to improving healthcare
for non-English speaking patients in northeast Portland. This is a
non-paid internship with college credit availability. Call 503-828-6588
ext. 5.
O re g o n A c tio n In te rn s h ip s
USA Swimmer Cullen Jones helps Tavion Traynham with the kick
board while giving swim lessons to six eight-year-olds at a YMCA
in Omaha, Neb.
nity," said Cruzat, who w ants to
break the cycle that passes nega­
tive altitudes about swimm ing from
one black generation to another.
"These long-held beliefs are still
so potent," he said. "If you don't
teach your children to swim, you're
putting yourgrandchildren at risk.”
Cruzat was pleased by one find­
ing in the new study — that most
black and Hispanic children do not
disdain sw im m ing as a "w hite
sport." The study also found that
swimming ability, regardlessof race.
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increased in relation to parents' in­
com e and education.
Jones still hears skeptical com - j W o m en ’s W ellness; B reast H e a lth -S a tu rd a y , M ay 10. from 10 a.m.
ments som etim es from adults in the
to 1 p.m .,atL egacyG ood Samaritan, B uildingT w o,low er level, 1040
black com m unity, even from some
N.W. 22nd Ave., a free event features a catered brunch, guest
o f his relatives — but he sees little
speakers and booths with topics including cancer genetics, breast
hesitation in the children he m en­
imaging, bone density and more. T o register, call 503-335-3500.
tors in the pool.
"I’ve done lessons with white |
N ew born C a re fo r M u ltip les-S atu rd ay . May 11 from 1 to5p.m .,this
and black kids — there's no kid out | class will prepare new parents coping skills and routines to deal with
there who doesn't like jum ping into
multiples; $45 percouple. To register, call 503-574-6595.
a pool," he said. "W hen you're 6, J
you are fearless. That's the tim e to j F e e d in g f o r M u l t i p l e s -S u n d a y , May 11 from 5 to 8 p.m., this class
teach them."
is designed to cover the basics of breast- and bottle-feeding m ul­
tiples; $40 percouple. To register, call 503-574-6595.
•
Rabies-infected Bat Found in Multnomah County
Pet-vaccine
warning issued
(AP) - The O regon State Public
Health Laboratory has confirm ed
that a bat in M ultnom ah County
was infected with rabies. The bat
was found by a resident in an inner
southeast Portland hom e last week.
The report is prom pting public
health officials to rem ind people to
avoid bats and to vaccinate their
pets against rabies, particularly cals.
“ People can do three things to
protect them selves and their pets
from rabies," said Emilio D eBess,
D.V.M ., public health veterinarian
Thursdays, starting May 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m .,
a four-week quit smoking program offers the tools to for real success
m inim ize the risk o f relapse; the class has a $95 fee. To register, call
503-335-3500.
S to p S m o k in g ! -
in the Oregon D epartm ent o f Hu­ also occur through scratches and
man Services. "U se screens in your saliva contact with broken skin. It is
w indows, never handle bats, and almost always fatal once sym ptom s
make sure your cats and dogs are begin.
Bats play an important role in the
up to date on their rabies vaccines."
Rabies is a viral disease that af­ ecosystem , especially in co n tro l­
fects the nervous system after ex ­ ling insects and aiding agriculture.
posure to a rabid animal. Exposure DeBess said, but a small percent­
is usually through a bite but can age can carry rabies.
Josiah H ill H I C lin ic 's A n n u a l L e a v in g a L e g a c y -T h u rsd a y ,
May
15 the fundraiser featuring a social and silent auction from 5:30 to6:45
p.m. and the dinner and program with keynote speaker Charles
Jordan from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. funds will benefit the clinic in support
o f those who suffer from lead poisoning. RSVP by calling 503-334-
96*4.
B ig B r o th e r & B ig S is t e r s - T o - B e - Saturday. M ay 17from lOto 11
a.m., this special sibling class is for ages 3-6. to help prepare them for
their new role as a big brother or sister; parents must be present; $20
fee(2-adults. 1 -child), to registercall 503-574-6595.
Are you interested in getting
a whiter, brighter smile?
Are your teeth as white as they used to be? If not, we
would like to introduce you to a portable, two-m inute
tooth-whitening solution from GoSMILE!
It's free to you in exchange for sharing your opinions about
the results.
Call 503.348.2083 now for details.
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