S moke S ignals
FEBRUARY 15, 2017
Health & Wellness Center closures
• Monday, Feb. 20 – Tribal Chiefs' Day (all day)
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease
in the United States. For some people, the first sign of CAD is a heart
attack. You and your health care team may be able to help you reduce
your risk for CAD.
Causes of CAD
CAD is caused by plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries that supply
blood to the heart (called coronary arteries) and other parts of the body.
Plaque is made up of deposits of cholesterol and other substances in the
artery. Plaque buildup causes the inside of the arteries to narrow over
time, which could partially or totally block the blood flow. This process is
called atherosclerosis.
Too much plaque buildup and narrowed artery walls can make it hard-
er for blood to flow through your body. When your heart muscle doesn’t
get enough blood, you may have chest pain or discomfort, called angina.
Angina is the most common symptom of CAD.
Over time, CAD can weaken the heart muscle. This may lead to heart
failure, a serious condition where the heart can’t pump blood the way that
it should. An irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, also can develop.
Diagnosing CAD
To find out your risk for CAD, your health care team may measure your
blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels. Being overweight, physical
inactivity, unhealthy eating and smoking tobacco are risk factors for CAD.
A family history of heart disease also increases your risk for CAD. If you’re
at high risk for heart disease or already have symptoms, your doctor can
use several tests to diagnose CAD.
Reducing Your Risk for CAD
If you have CAD, your health care team may suggest the following steps
to help lower your risk for heart attack or worsening heart disease:
• Lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthier (lower sodium, lower fat)
diet, increasing physical activity and quitting smoking.
• Medications to treat the risk factors for CAD, such as high cholesterol,
high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat and low blood flow.
• Surgical procedures to help restore blood flow to the heart.
To find out about your risk of CAD, call the Grand Ronde Health & Well-
ness Center to schedule an appointment or talk to your primary health
care provider about your risk.
Massage at Health & Wellness Center
Mind, Body & Soul Therapeutic Massage started at the Health &
Wellness Clinic one day a week on Aug. 25. Remember: Appointments
for massage are not managed by the Health & Wellness Center staff. To
schedule an appointment, call 971-237-2561.
Discontinuing IBH Services
for Skookum Health
Assistance Program
Please remember that if you are in need of mental health or alcohol
and drug treatment, you need to call Shasta Customer Service for an
in-network provider before receiving services.
Do not call IBH. This information was recently ran in Smoke Signals
and provided in a letter from Shasta Administrative Services with your
new Skookum Health Assistance Program cards mailed in December.
If you did not receive your new card, please contact Shasta Customer
Service at 1-800-880-5877.
If you have questions, please call Tresa Mercier, 503-879-2008, or
Barbara Steere, 503-879-2487.
Overdose Prevention and Treatment
Opioid overdose continues to be a significant public health concern in
America.
Misuse of prescription opioids (hydrocodone, morphine, hydromorphone,
oxycodone, etc.), as well as illicit substances such as heroin, have resulted
in increased opioid-related poisoning deaths.
Indian Country is not immune to this medical crisis. The 2013 National
Survey on Drug Use and Health survey suggests a health disparity regard-
ing past year nonmedical use of pain relievers among persons aged 12 and
older between persons identifying as “not Hispanic, American Indian or
Alaska Native” (7.8 percent vs. 4.8 percent). This data suggests increased
use prevalence in our communities.
Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control has reported an all-popu-
lation doubling of drug overdose deaths between 1999 and 2013 with 51.8
percent related to pharmaceuticals (71 percent involving opioid analgesics
and 31 percent involving benzodiazepines).
Opioid overdose prevention continues to be a hallmark of the Office of
National Drug Control Policy’s Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemic strategy.
Clinicians have many tools available to mitigate harm from prescription
and illicit opioid overdose. These tools include responsible prescribing
practices; optimized patient monitoring as well as urine drug testing; and
providing early access to Naloxone to treat opioid overdose.
Safety first!
For the safety of our Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center patients
and staff during inclement weather, please call before traveling to your
appointments. We don’t want you travelling if we are not open.
Please call 503-879-5211 for up-to-date, weather-related closures
or delays. You can sign up and receive emergency alerts and severe
weather warnings that could affect you or your family. Just go to www.
grandronde.org to sign up.
Grand Ronde Health &
Wellness Pharmacy
Please be advised for:
Refill Requests
In order to best serve you, please note the
following time requirements for your refill requests:
(Valid) Refills remaining – 48-72 hours
NO refills remaining – up to 7 days*
*This allows us time to coordinate and correct
any needs that may exist for your refill
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WILL BE OUT
BEFORE THIS TIME FRAME ON A MAINTENANCE
MEDICATION SO THAT WE CAN BEST
ACCOMMODATE YOUR NEEDS.
Thank you for allowing us to
serve your prescriptions needs.
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