Smoke signals., June 01, 1987, Page page 5, Image 5

page 5
HEALTH
TAKE A WALK....
"You Must Exercise More"
How many times have you heard that -from
your family and your friends,
from your Doctor? Here's how to take
your health in stride - Take a walk!
WALK TALK
You'd be surprised about all of the
healthful effects of a good walking
program. WALKING BRISKLY ( walking
quickly enough to make your heart
beat faster and cause you to breath
deeply) can prevent heart attacks and
strokes by:
1) Improving your body's ability to
use oxygen;
2) Lowering your heart rate at rest;
3) Reducing your blood pressure;
4) Burning calories.
PIP YQV KNQW?
1) Walking one mile in 15 minutes
burns about the same number of calo
ries as jogging an equal distance in
8 12 minutes.
2) Heavier people who walk burn more
calories than lighter people.
3) Walking faster won't burn more
calories per mile, BUT WILL burn more
calories per minute - producing more
dramatic conditioning effects for the
heart and lungs.
TIPS FOR TREKKERS
1) Always warm up before walking by
stretching and bending.
2) Start out gradually, increasing
your time and pace as you gain
strength.
3) Hold your head up, back straight
and tuck in your abdomen.
4) Point your toes straight ahead
and let your arms swing loosely
at your sides.
5) Land on your heel and roll for
ward, pushing off from the ball
of your foot.
6) Take long, easy strides - but
don't push for distance or try
to walk too fast.
7) As you walk faster or up hill,
lean forward a bit.
8) Breathe deeply, with your mouth
open if it's more comfortable.
You should be able to talk while
you walk. If you're breathless,
you're going too fast.
9) Dress comfortably and wear sturdy
shoes with arch support, thick
rubber soles and "Breathable" up
pers. Any good running shoe
should do.
10) Slow down or stop walking if you
feel dizzy or nauseated, or de
velop pain.
CAUTION: Always discuss with your
doctor your plans to start any exer
cise program.
Call your Tribal Health Program at 1-800-422-0232
for information about an
excellent walking fitness test and
program.
MENTAL HEALTH
Myron George, Mental Health Coun
selor, Chemawa Health Clinic, is pro
viding Mental Health Services here at
the Tribal Health Program. Kyron
will be coming out on a once a month
IfeU
MORTALITY RATES DROP
The infant mortality rate among Na
tive Americans fell to 10.2 infant
deaths per one-thousand live births,
the Health and Human Services Depart
ment announced May 13. Dr. Robert E.
Windom, assistant secretary for
health, said the rate is lower than
that of the U.S. population as a
whole during the same period.
"The Indian Health Service can take
pride in its success in lowering in
fant mortality among Native Ameri
can," Dr. Windom said. "Although
much remains to be done in other
medical areas to improve the health
of Indians and Alaska natives, this
example should give heart to the
Indian Health Service and to those
IHS serves."
The newly reported rate is for 1982
84. Three-year reporting periods are
used because of the relatively small
number of births and infant deaths
occuring in a single year among
American Indians and Alaska Natives.
The 1982-84 rate for Native Americans
is nine percent below the 1983 rate
for the population as a whole, which
was 11.2 deaths pers one-thousand
births.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP
The Northwest Portland Area Indian
Health Board will be hosting the
first Summer Youth Leadership Confer
ence at Portland, Oregon on June 22
26, 1987. The theme of the Confer
ence is: "BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM IN
OUR LEADERS FOR THE FUTURE"
The purpose of the conference is to
establish a Native American leader
ship program that will provide Indian
youth with the skills to improve
their own health status.
Northwest tribal leaders will meet
with the students to serve as facili
tators for the group. Mock tribal
government sessions will be held and
tribal councils will be elected.
Through different workshops, confer
ence participants will discuss issues
which explore the concepts of posi
tive self-esteem, how alcohol and
drug abuse destroy leadership abil
ity, and how disease and unhealthy
lifestyles affect the development of
Indian leaders.
NCAI CONFERENCE
"We, the Original People: A Bill of
Treaty Rights and Indian Justice" is
the theme for the National Congress
of American Indians (NCAI) Mid-Year
Conference, June 24-26 in Portland,
Oregon. The Conference will be held
at the Red Lion Inn - Lloyd Center in
Portland, and is timed to coincide
with the June 25 Treaty Day Celebra
tion of the Confederated Tribes of
the Warm Springs Reservation.
Tribal members:
Don't Forget to call Contract
Health for preauthorization for
medical and dental appointments!
1-800-422-0232