DIABETES WORKSHOP
WEEKLY DIABETES PREVENTION AND MAN
AGEMENT CLASSES WILL BEGIN ON WEDNES
DAY MARCH 2ND AT 2:00 P.M. AT THE GRAND
RONDE TRIBAL HEADQUARTERS.
Diabetes occurs much more frequently in the American
Indian population than in the general United States
population. In some tribes it effects about one-half the
adult population. Complications of the disease among
Indians are also occurring at an unusually early age with
excessive mortality in the early and mid-adult years.
The burdens of this disease, both for the patient and the
health care system, are growing rapidly. There have
been dramatic increases in diabetes-related kidney
failure, blindness and amputations. In recognition of
this problem we urge not only those who have the
disease, but also family members, friends and any other
interested person to attend our DIABETES PREVEN
TION AND MANAGEMENT CLASSES. Learn what
you can do to prevent the complications.
CHICKEN POX
Spring has arrived, and with it comes the expected
increase in the number of cases of Chicken Pox.
Chicken Pox is a common and highly contagious
infection caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same
virus that causes shingles.
Chicken Pox can occur at any age, but it's most common
in 2 to 8 year olds. Newborn infection is rare and
second attacks are also rare. This infection is transmit
ted by direct contact (primarily, with secretions from the
nose, throat and mouth. Sometimes it is transmitted
with the secretions from the skin lesions-rash.)
Anyone who has Chicken Pox should stay at home and
away from people until all of the blisters and most of the
scabs disappear (usually, for 1 week after the onset of
the rash.) Children can go back to school, however, if
just a few scabs remain, since at this stage, Chicken Pox
is no longer contagious.
Generally, the only treatment required for Chicken Pox,
is one to relieve the itching such as cool baking soda
baths and applying calamine lotion to the rash. Antibi
otics are unnecessary unless a bacterial infection
develops. Children should not be given aspirin because
of the possible relationship between aspirin and the
development of Reye's Syndrome, a potentially fatal
illness affecting children from infancy to adolescence.
Children can be given appropriate doses of acetamino
phen (tylenol) to reduce fever.
Patients should not scratch the lesions (rash). However,
because the need to scratch may become overwhelming,
parents should trim the child's fingernails to minimize
the injury and tie mittens on a very young child.
Parents should watch for and report to the doctor any
signs of complications..
Carol Terp,R.N.C.
Community Health Nurse
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Everyone has blood pressure without it blood could
not circulate throughout our bodies. Blood pressure
varies in all human beings - from day to day, moment to
moment. For instance, blood pressure increases during
physical activity and decreases when one rests or sleeps.
The temporary changes in blood pressure are normal for
everyone.
WHAT IS BLOOD PRESSURE
Blood pressure is the force of the blood against the walls
of the arteries in the body. This force is produced by the
heart as it pumps (beats). This keeps the blood moving
through the arteries, the vessels that carry the blood
from the heart to all parts of the body. Walls of the
arteries are elastic and muscular they stretch and
contract to take the ups and downs of the blood pressure.
WHAT IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Blood pressure is regulated by certain arteries called
arterioles. The arterioles are the smallest branches of
the aorta -- the main artery leaving the heart. Arterioles
control blood pressure like the nozzle on a hose regu
lates the water pressure in the hose - turn the nozzle to
make the opening larger and less pressure is needed to
force the water through the hose - make the opening
smaller and the pressure increases. If the arterioles
become narrower for any reason, the blood cannot pass
through easily. This increases the blood pressure in the
arteries and may over work the heart. If the pressure
increases above normal and stays there, the result is
HIGH blood pressure.
CAN YOU TELL WHEN YOUR PRESSURE IS
HIGH
No. You may have high blood pressure for many years
and never know it. Usually, there are no early warning
signs. That is why it is so dangerous. The only way to
find out if you have high blood pressure is to have your
blood pressure checked out least once a year.
WHAT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE DOES TO YOU
High blood pressure greatly increases the risk of heart
disease and stoke, as well as certain other diseases.
Even moderately high pressure can increase the risk,
especially for those who smoke, or have high cholesterol
levels.
As stated earlier, usually what happens is this: the blood
vessels fail to expand enough to let the blood flow
through them easily. The heart has to pump harder and
harder to move the blood around the body, and the
result is wear and tear on the arteries as well as a strain
on the heart. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead
to the possibility of stroke and can damage the kidneys
as well as the heart.
WHAT CAUSES HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Primary high blood pressure is the most common kind a
person may develop. Primary high blood pressure does
not seem to be related to any other disease. At present,
its cause is unknown, but research scientists are working
hard to find the cause, or causes. While they don't have
the final answer, yet, they do have some important leads
such as heredity: a tendency toward primary high blood
pressure is often found in families. If you have a family
history of stroke or heart attacks at an early age, or if
your parents have (or had) high blood pressure, all
members of your family should have their blood pres
sure checked regularly. There is no cure for primary
high blood pressure.
Secondary high blood pressure is caused by other
diseases - usually heart or kidney disease. If the other
disease is successfully treated, the blood pressure usually
returns to normal
( Continued on page 5)
Chicken Pox produces distinctive signs and symptoms,
notably an "itchy" rash. Before the lesions (rash) erupt,
the patient may have a slight fever, malaise and loss of
appetite. Within 24 hours, the rash typically begins as
crops of small, red spots on the trunk or scalp that
progresses to little blisters on the red spots, these
blisters become cloudy and break easily, then scabs
form. The rash spreads to the face and, rarely, to the
lower arms and legs. New blisters continue to appear
for 3 or 4 days, so the rash is a combination of red
spots, blisters and scabs. Occasionally, Chicken Pox also
produces blisters inside the mouth, eyes and genitalia.
The severe itching that accompanies the rash may
provoke persistent scratching, which can lead to other
infections and consequent scarring, impetigo and boils.
Each time the heart contracts (squeezes, beats), some
70-80 times per minute, blood pressure increases in the
arteries. Each time the heart relaxes between beats the
blood pressure decreases. Thus, we have "upper" and
"lower" blood pressures. The "upper" blood pressure is
' called the systolic pressure and the "lower" blood
pressure is called the diastolic pressure. When you have
your blood pressure taken, both pressures are measured
and recorded. For example, 120 over 70. The systolic
(the first number) is the higher pressure produced when
the heart pumps or beats (contracts). This measures
how hard the heart works to pump blood. The diastolic
(the second number) is the pressure of the blood in the
arteries when the heart is at rest between beats. The
more difficult it is for blood to flow through the body,
the higher the numbers will be.