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September 24. 2008
Page A5
H ealth matters
Eye Surgeon Gives Back Risks from Plastic Toxin Debated
I am very pleased with the suc­
cess and happy, we were able to
not only give them clearer vision,
but also the great possibility to
Dr Martin J. Balish, a board see without glasses,” Dr. Balish
certified ophthalmologist at Or­ said.
One of the recipients, Eileen
egon Eye Specialists in Portland
recently partnered with other Oster, 63, stated a few days after
medical professions for"Mission surgery: “Everything is brighter!
Cataract Day" to provide six pre­ I definitely see a difference be­
screened and pre-qualified indi­ tween my regular cataract lens
and the new (Crystalens). This
viduals with cataract surgery.
"They were all in a category of lens is more than I could’ve ever
‘complex surgeries and with vary­ hoped for!”
Participating Lions Clubs and
ing levels of difficulty. However,
Helping
patients in need
Dr. Martin J. Balish performs cataract surgery as part o f a
public service campaign with the Oregon Lions Sight &
Hearing Foundation and other partners.
the Oregon Lions Sight & Hear­
ing Foundation helped to iden­
tify the individuals in need of
cataract surgeries, and then team
them with an ophthalmologist to
perform the surgery.
Dr. Balish, anesthesiologist Dr.
Tod Tolan, and nurses donated
their time, and the W estside
SurgeryCenter in Tigard donated
the equipment. Bausch and Lomb
donated all o f the cutting-edge
Crystalens, a product which revo­
lutionized cataract surgery five
years ago.
The retail price for each lens
alone is $ 1,195. This procedure is
considered a premium lens im­
plant; private insurance does not
cover it. The total average cost
for each surgery is between $4,700
- $5,700 - a cost prohibitive
amount for the selected individu­
als whose income falls below 150
percent the Federal Poverty
Guidelines.
Dr. Balish said he is committed
to making a difference in ourcom-
munity when cataracts are pre­
venting the less fortunate from
seeing clearly.
“So many eye doctors are do­
ing mission work in other coun­
tries.. . I feel more can be done at
home. I hope to be able to bring
the latest technological advance
in eye surgery to those who are
most in need and don't have the
means to pay for it. My goal is to
be a regular participant in this
program.”
H ealth W atch
Leukemia Walk — A
Light the Night Walk
for the fight against
Leukemia will be held
Friday. Oct. 3 at the World T rade Center Plaza, 121
S.W. Salmon St. Pre-walk festivities will begin at
6 p.m. w ithyourchoiceofa 1.8 mile or 3 mile loop
beginning at7:30p.m . Sign upforfree registration
with Team Regence at teams.lightthenight.org.
Chronic Pain Sup­
port G roup - meets
the first W ednes­
day at 4 p.m. to 5:30
p.m. and the third
Wednesday o f each month, from 7 p.m. to 8:30
p.m. For more information, call 503-256-4000.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers - A 6-week edu­
cational series designed to help family caregivers
take care of themselves while caring for a relative
or friend with a chronic illness. For updated sched­
ules, call 503-413-8018..
Mammography 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.
Leg Alert Screening - Check for peripheral
arterial disease with this safe, simple screening
Prostate Cancer G olf Challenge - A round of using ankle and arm blood pressure. The fee is
golf for prostate cancer research will take place $40. To schedule an appointment, call 503-251 -
Monday, Sept. 29 at Columbia Edgewater Coun­ 6137.
try Club, 2220 N.E. Marine Dr. Registration begins
Bereavement Support Groups - Free, safe con­
at 11 a.m. with play beginning at 1 p.m. To register
fidential group meetings for those who have
and learn more, call Sally Lucy at 503-515-6474or
experienced the death of a loved one offered on
visit pcchallengegolf.com.
various nights and locations. For information
Cardiac-Rehab Exercise Classes - A medically and registration, call 503-215-4622.
supervised exercise program for people dealing
Hospice Volunteer Training - Providence of­
with heart conditions. For more information, call
fers a free comprehensive course of training to
503-251-6260.
prepare people who are interested in becoming
Osteoporosis Screening - An ultrasound bone hospice volunteers. No previous experience is
density screening with personalized education; required. For more information or to request an
fee $30. To schedule an appointment, call 503-261 - application packet, call Melinda Smith, hospice
volunteer coordinator, at 503-215-5774.
6611.
Expectant Couples, New Parents - Legacy Good
Samaritan Hospital offers the workshop Lasting
Relationships for New Parents, helping couples
keep their relationships strong and happy in the
transition to parenthood. Presented by North­
west Family Services, upcoming sessions are
scheduled Oct. 11 and Oct. 18. To register, visit
lastingrelationshiips.org.
Advice is
to lower
exposure
(AP) - With scientists at
odds about the risks o f a chemi­
cal found in plastic baby bottles,
metal cans and other food pack­
aging, the government last week
gave consumers some tips on
how to reduce their exposure to
BPA even as it said the sub­
stance is safe.
A Food and Drug Adminis­
tration advisory committee met
as a major study linked bisphenol
A to possible risks of heart dis­
ease and diabetes. The scientific
debate could drag on for years.
"Right now, our tentative
conclusion is that it's safe, so
we're not recommending any
change in habits," said Laura
Tarantino, head of the FDA's
office of food additive safety.
But she acknowledged, "there
A nurse prepares a bottle of donated milk for a baby.
are a number of things people can
do to lower their exposure."
For example, consumers can
avoid plastic containers imprinted
with the recycling number '7,' as
many of those contain BPA. Or,
Tarantino said, they can avoid
warming food in such containers,
as heat helps to release the chemi­
cal.
More than 90 percent of
Americans have traces of BPA
in their bodies, but the FDA
says the levels of exposure are
too low to pose a health risk,
even for infants and children.
Other scientists, however, say
BPA has been shown to affect
the human body even at very
low levels.
Fewer School Nurses Help Kids
A new report from the Task
Force on School Nurses finds
that Oregon faces a severe short­
age of school nurses, which
poses a serious health risk for
school children throughout the
state.
Oregon is currently ranked
49th in the nation for school
nurse-to-student ratio. A survey
of Oregon school districts con­
ducted by the Task Force shows
that 54 school districts, repre­ medication, treat injuries, diag­
senting over 21,000 students, nose illnesses and handle em er­
have no access to school nursing gencies.
services.
Compounding the decrease in
As a consequence, thousands school nursing is the fact that the
of children with asthma, atten­ number of children with chronic-
tion-deficit disorder, food aller­ illnesses and/or special health
gies and other increasingly preva­ care needs has increased dramati­
lent health problems must rely on cally over the past decade.
teachers, other school staffers or
Rep. Tina Kotek of north Port­
the telephone. Unlicensed staff land and other lawmakers plan to
members are forced dispense address the issue in next year's
Legislature.
Free Cervical Cancer Screening
T he OH SU C e n te r for
Women's Health will offer free
Pap tests, clinical breast exams,
and basic health screenings on
Friday, Oct. 3, from 4 p.m.- 8 p.m.
at the OHSU Center for Women's
Health, located on the 7th floor of
the Peter O. Kohler Pavilion on
theOHSU Marquam Hill Campus.
T he sc re e n in g s id en tify
changes in your body when there
are often no symptoms to warn
you that something is wrong.
Women who have experienced
barriers in being able to receive
Pap test are encouraged to make
an appointment in advance by
calling 503-346-1212. A basic-
health screenings as part of the
Health Education Fair do not re­
quire appointments.
Managing Chronic Hepatitis C -- Third Wednes­
day of each month at 5 p.m., the informative
session led by a registered nurse to help manage
side effects of medications and dosage prepara­
tions and administration; doctors referral re­
quired. To register, call 503-251 -6313.
Cancer Resource C enter- Providence St. V incent
Medical Center and the American Red Cross have
joined forces to create the first in-hospital resource
Stroke Alert Screening -- Check your carotid center providing books, printed material, com­
arteries with a painless ultrasound to assess your puter access and more for individuals and families
risk. Fee $40. To schedule a screening, call 503- dealing with cancer. The center is open Monday
through Thursday. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
251-6137.
Chiropractic Auto Injury Clinic, PC
1st Time Homebuyers
Now is a great time to buy! Why rent when you ean own??
The US Government is offering a $7,500 tax credit to
1st
l ime home buyers.
I his won’t be available forever so, act quickly to take
advantage.
Zchon R. Jones, DC
333 NE Russell St., #200, Portland, OR. 97212
(503) 284-7838
Truly making a difference in the lives of
Auto Accident victims and Injured Workers for 16 years.
If you or someone you know has been in an accident,
call us so we can help you with your needs. (503)284-7838
We are located on the
corner o f Ml.K and Russell
Street, on the second floor
above the coffee shop.
IJTl
John R. PWs
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Broker/Mlt
Pwkinu Arc*
H I NF
•200
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KELLER WILLIAMS
P M A R
w o f R ealtor
Russell St
( ell 503.8911.1181
jparis « kw.com
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