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The INDEPENDENT, March 21, 2012
To Your Health!
By Judy Hargis, P.A
Brain Smart at any
Age
Stanley Kunitz was
named poet laureate at
the age of 95. Still writing
new poems and reading
to live audiences, he
stands as an inspiring ex-
ample of the brain’s ability
to stay vital in the final years of our lives. Al-
though much of the brain remains a mystery,
groundbreaking discoveries are being made
about how it ages.
It was once thought that we lost vast numbers
of neurons (nerve cells) as we aged. Scientists
now recognize that the brain is far more resilient
than once believed. In fact, it has become really
clear that if you do not have a specific disease
that causes loss of neurons, most, if not all, neu-
rons remain healthy until you die. Our life span
has increased from an average age of 47 in the
1900s, to 75 today. Thus, there has been little
time to study the aging brain until recent years.
It seems that not only wisdom comes with age,
but according to new studies we actually learn
and problem solve better in our 50s and 60s.
The brain is an amazing organ. It is responsi-
ble for everything from involuntary functions like
heart beats and breathing to personality and
memory. It contains more than a billion cells, in-
cluding neurons. Neurons are specialized cells
that can send signals to thousands of other cells
at a rate of about 200 miles per hour. It is a com-
plicated system of chemical and electrical im-
pulses that we still do not understand well. New
research indicates that the rate of change in the
aging brain can be hastened or slowed by
lifestyle factors. Things that can improve and
maintain brain function include education, exer-
cise and rest. Things that can negatively impact
brain function include stress, hypertension, and
diabetes.
Although genes can play a role in predeter-
mining our brains’ aging, researchers are begin-
ning to agree that taking care of our health may
help long term brain function. There are things
we can do to improve and maintain our brain
function. It comes down, once again, to taking
care of our health. Research demonstrates that
maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy
diet and regular exercise are critical. Exercise
should involve 45 minutes of such things as a
brisk walk, at least three times a week.
Mental exercise is important too. Reading,
taking up new hobbies and learning new skills
are important.
Strict control of blood sugar, cholesterol and
blood pressure can also have a significant im-
pact.
We have all seen impressive older adults,
who are sky diving, climbing mountains and run-
ning marathons. Individuals who go back to
school or work into their 80s or 90s. For most of
us, our biggest fear is losing our mental func-
tions as we age.
You don’t have to be a super athlete or a poet
laureate to keep your brain healthy. You just
have to follow the recommendations discussed
above to keep your body and mind healthy. We
have the potential to live long, healthy and pro-
ductive lives. This is an exciting time for the
10,000 baby boomers who are hitting age 50
every day.
As always, I am happy to hear from you via
email at Rebecca@the-independent.net .
MCR’s are saving lives in county M a m m o g r a m
From page 7
and Gayle Case of Scappoose; van scheduled
whelmed, and a trained corps
of nurses can save lives and
ease the burden on local serv-
ices.
Members of the MRC in-
clude Kacie Kraft, Danielle Nel-
son, Cathy Weber, Robin Loper
and Tish Hora of St. Helens;
Teresa McGivern, Carla Coler
Debbie Johnstone of Columbia
City; Lowell Norbom of Deer Is-
land; Erin O’Connell of Rainier;
Marilyn Thomas and Robin Os-
toj of Clatskanie; Monica Pe-
tersen and Suzanne Paleck of
Vernonia; and Heather Bee of
Clatsop County.
Those interested in more in-
formation can check online at
www.tphfcc.org and look under
the Preparedness section, or
call Parrott at 503-397-4651,
ext 2022.
Tuality Healthcare’s Mobile
Mammogram van will be in Ver-
nonia on the following dates:
March 29, April 26, May 31,
June 28, July 26, August 30,
September 27, October 25,
and December 13. As usual,
the van will be parked in the
Vernonia Health Clinic parking
lot on Bridge St.
To schedule an appoint-
ment, call 503-681-4035.
Join us for a Spaghetti Feast
Benefit Dinner for
Ryan Roberts Kidney Fund
Also featuring a Silent Auction
At the Scout Cabin in Hawkins Park
March 21 from 4 P.M. to 5 P.M.
503-901-1705
Mariolino’s
503-429-5018
March is Colorectal Cancer
Awareness Month
by Chris Thomas, Oregon
News Service
Between 60 and 70 percent
of Oregonians over age 50
have had colonoscopies to
screen for colon cancer, which
means at least three out of 10
have not. March is Colorectal
Cancer Awareness Month, and
there is new medical evidence
that these tests pay off. The
National Polyp Study followed
patients for up to 23 years after
they had polyps removed dur-
ing a colonoscopy.
Dr. Robert Raish with the
Knight Cancer Institute at Ore-
gon Health and Science Uni-
versity says not all of the
growths are cancerous, but if
they’re left in place, they can
change, “The time frame is
usually pretty long – it can take
five, 10 or 15 years before it
turns into cancer. So, the gen-
eral principle of colonoscopic
screening is that if you take out
a polyp, you prevent the dis-
ease.”
The study suggests that re-
moving polyps reduces death
rates by half. The five-year sur-
vival rate drops from 90 per-
cent when colon cancer is
caught early to 11 percent after
it spreads to other areas of the
body.
Claire Greco of Portland
said the first colonoscopy she
had revealed some polyps,
which were then removed. Now
a veteran of several follow-ups,
she says dreading the test is
not the best mind-set, “I really
consider this relatively easy
procedure to go through as a
gift to myself and a gift to my
family. The momentary incon-
venience, which isn’t really all
that bad, isn’t that difficult.”
Greco knows people are
squeamish about the test, but
she says colonoscopies have
improved over the years, “The
procedure itself, any more, isn’t
bad, with the medication that
they give you and the environ-
ment. You go to sleep – next
thing you know, you wake up
and you’re done. The prep is
interesting to go through, but
not that bad, really, because
again, they have it down to a
pretty good science.”
After 26 years as an oncolo-
gist, Dr. Raish has this advice
for anyone avoiding a colon-
oscopy, “By far the best way to
deal with cancer is to prevent it
in the first place. It’s not a dis-
ease you want to get. You want
to see me in the grocery store;
you never want to see me in
the office.”
The Colon Cancer Alliance
says more than 140,000 cases
will be diagnosed this year, and
almost 50,000 people will die
from colon cancer in the United
States.
Columbia County
Domestic Abuse
Mental Health
800-294-5211
-----------------
Suicide Hotline
Hotline
1-800-
784-2433
or
1-800-273-
TALK(8255)
503-397-6161
or
866-397-6161
-----------------
Military Helpline
888-HLP-4-VET
(888-457-4838)