Judo: Nineteen Years in Bethel and Still Rollin’
Second Generation Trooper Mike Roberts Passes the Baton to Louise Russell

5-13-10

Michael Roberts came to Bethel in 1990 when he was 9 years old. Mike studied judo under his dad, Trooper Rick Roberts. Trooper Roberts taught judo to as many kids as he could during his ten year stay in Bethel when he and his family moved.
In 2005, Michael Roberts returned to Bethel with his wife Mandi and their 2 month old son. By then, Michael was also Trooper Roberts. Young Trooper Roberts began teaching Judo as part of the community education program with KuC.
Four and a half years and three more children later, Mandi and Mike are leaving Bethel. Over fifty kids a year have taken part in the program, and many adults. Trooper Michael Roberts will become Sergeant Roberts in Fairbanks.
Last Monday at the Gladys Jung Gym, twenty five kindergarten and first graders stood in neat lines in front of Trooper Roberts. Each child was demonstrating throws, holds and commands. Each child was trying to get promoted to the next degree—a yellow belt. At the end of the demonstration, they play games seeing who can be the last person to win—but they had to stay within the rules of engagement.
Madisen Smith, age 9, was waiting for the intermediate group to start. She was confident she would be promoted to a Junior 6th Degree Belt. “I know my throws, hold downs, and I know the vocabulary. “She knows the vocabulary in both Japanese and English,” her mother Roselyn adds. “Madisen has worked hard”, her dad, Frank, spoke proudly.
Hubert Angaiak was leaning against the wall watching his son, Chase. “Judo is not about fighting,” he told me. “It is about discipline and developing your mind as well as your body.”
Tiffany Tony was watching her daughter, Calle, throw two boys to the ground. “This judo program is teaching kids that hard work pays off,” remarked Tiffany. By then Calle was one of the last kids in the game and looked quite ferocious.
Trooper Roberts has a very special way of engaging children. He is clear and demanding in holding children to the task. He is also very caring, funny, and well, just plain charming. Kids not only have to please him, but they want to please him.
The Roberts, both Mike and dad, Rick, have done a good job in mentoring their replacement. Louise Russell has been recruited for the instructor next year. Louise was a student of Trooper Roberts the elder, and has assisted young Trooper Roberts with the program over the past years.
After Rick Roberts left, Louise continued marshal arts with instructors Matt Peters and Gary Hames. So Louise has either been a student or assistant instructor for almost the entire length of the program.
“It is great that the program has continued all these years,” commented Louise. “Many children have had the opportunity to really develop their skills. There are eight kids who have a blue belt and you should see them work. It is quite amazing.”
Molly Bailie and Amy Ponsess will continue to assist with the class. “The judo program is dependent on people giving back what they have learned,” says Louise. There are many people who have helped out over the years. The older children also mentor the younger children.”
Everyone seems to agree that Trooper Michael Roberts is one of those special mentors. He will continue his instruction in Bethel in one way. Each child will have the DVD developed by Mike and enhanced by Chip Carpenter. Mike’s last class is on Monday, May 10 when the kids and parents will bid Mike, Mandi, and the four Roberts children farewell.
Contact KuC for more information on enrollment.

Caqutauq in Kwig

10-15-09

by K.J. Lincoln

Every fall when the time is right, fishermen in the coastal village of Kwigillingok harvest tomcod from their river.
Last Wednesday, the Beaver family went out caqutaugluteng along with their relative Johnny Friend, Avegyaq, at low tide. It was rainy and windy, the air smelled fresh and clean.
After finding a suitable spot upriver from where to start, Andrew Beaver let out the net from the front of the boat. His brother, Enoch Beaver, went up onto the muddy shore with the other end of the net. Avegyaq was the driver and he drove the boat like a pro.
Enoch had the toughest job – nunakuarluni. He had to walk in his waders along the slippery shore in the sticky and deep mud while dragging the net through the water. The other end was tied to the boat and together with manpower and horsepower, the net was guided slowly downriver at walking speed, catching any tomcod that were in its path. The water was dark and silty, cold and salty to the taste.
After dragging the net a few hundred yards, the team decided it was time to bring in the first caquq. Avegyaq drove the boat to the shore so Andrew could disembark. Him and Enoch began moving the mass of fish to the middle of the net into one big pile. That first caquq caught many fish. Together they lifted the heavy biomass to spill into the boat. It was so heavy that their first try at naiveqing the fish was unsuccessful. On the second try, the squirming glistening green fish poured in over the side. The fish were big and robust, with bellies bulging with nutritious livers and roe.
Andrew began tossing the bycatch back to the river – smelt and little bullheads. The seagulls gathered around like hungry puppies, waiting to be fed. The flounders were kept for later cooking and eating enjoyment.
“The flounders are tasty,” said Avegyaq in Yup’ik. “At this time of year, their meat is thick.”
Most of the work was done in silence, the only noises being the drone of the boat motor and an occasional series of gunshots from bird hunters in the distance. When speaking, the men would confer in Yup’ik.
The men made several drags, and satisfied with their catch, headed home.
Back in Kwig, Andrew’s wife Margaret had a pot of tender goose soup, salmonberry akutaq, hot tea, and delicious fluffy homemade bread waiting. Everyone ate like kings at her beautifully laden table. Their house was warm and cozy after being out in the cold and rain.
Some of the fish was sent to family in Bethel. Margaret would later prepare the remaining fish by braiding them into grass ropes by their heads for hanging and drying - to be eaten later half-dried, in oil, frozen, and dried. The livers would be saved to make akutaq with blackberries.

Nursing students
begin second semester

9-1-09

The UAA nursing class of 2010 started their second of four semesters on Monday August 24th. For the first week of the semester long time resident Diane Carpenter returned to Bethel to volunteer her skills and provide the students with a week long intensive workshop on student study and test taking skills.
Beginning September 1st, the eight nursing students will be attending nursing labs at the new Yuut Elitnaurviat Center. The lab area of the center is large and will provide an excellent place for the students to learn new skills and practice the skills they learned last semester. The lab includes a “state of the art” medical manikin that the students can use to practice nursing skills.
In October the students will travel to Anchorage for a 3 week long intensive clinical practicum at the Alaska Native Medical Center. They will work closely with the nurses in the operating room, intensive care unit and the medical surgical clinical areas.
Boris Forester, Bessie Francis, Sandra Fox, Kevin Phelan, Kendra Harding, Nikki Pollock, Irene Beaver, and Michele Simmons are looking forward to graduation in December 2010 and a time when they can provide nursing care for the YK Delta.
Although the next class will not start until January of 2011 many people who plan on living and working as nurses in the delta have already indicated intent to apply for admission for the January 2011 class. If you have any questions about the UAA Bethel nursing program and are interested in becoming a Registered Nurse please contact Evelyn Pensgard, academic advisor at KUC (543-4542) or Mary Weiss, UAA Nursing instructor at KUC (543-4532).

Mercury advisory for
subsistence Pike eaters released

8-21-09

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Division of Public Health recently released a report detailing the recommended amounts of northern pike that can be safely eaten by subsistence users in the Yukon Delta region.
According to the report, mercury levels in Alaska fish are low overall, but that women of childbearing age, those who are pregnant, nursing mothers, and children under 12 and under should limit their pike intake.
For pike in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, the State of Alaska recommendations for women and children are:
•Kuskokwim River Area: Shorter than 2 feet may be eaten in up to 16 meals per month if fresh, and up to 4 meals per month if dried.
•Kuskokwim River Area: Longer than 2 feet may be eaten in up to 8 meals per month if fresh, and in up to 1 meal per month if dried.
•Lower Yukon River: All pike may be eaten in up to 8 meals per month if fresh, and in up to 1 meal per month if dried.
A “meal” is one six-ounce portion of fish, dried or fresh. The report encourages men, elders, and teenage boys to eat as much fish as they wish, including pike.
What is mercury?
Mercury is a poisonous heavy metal and a neurotoxin. At high levels it can damage the developing brain of babies, including babies in the womb, and children. It comes from human-caused sources such as global air pollution from burning fuels and garbage, and mining runoff. It also comes from natural causes such as forest fires, volcanoes, and local bedrock weathering into streams. From there, mercury gets into wetlands where it is transformed by bacteria into methylmercury – the form of mercury that accumulates in fish and animals. In older fish and fish that eat other fish, such as pike, there is more methylmercury.
There is a program in Alaska that tests actual amounts of mercury concentrations in human hair. Women of childbearing age can find out their own levels of mercury through the Alaska Division of Public Health with a simple hair test.
In the study, 163 pike were collected from 11 well-used subsistence fishing sites in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge in 2005 from the Kuskokwim and in 2006 from the lower Yukon. The Kuskokwim sites include Aniak, Whitefish Lake, Tuluksak, the Gweek River, and the Johnson River. The Yukon collection sites were Emmonak, the Andreafsky, Atcheulinguk, and Kuyukutuk rivers, Holy Cross, and Paimiut Slough.
The Division of Public Health recommends that when deciding what to eat that subsistence foods, including almost all fish, are better for you. Fish contains vitamins A, E, and C, iron, zinc, protein and omega-3 fatty acids and helps prevent heart disease. Subsistence foods are also low in sugar and saturated fats and that store-bought foods can have unhealthy amounts of sugars and fats, which can contribute to obesity and diabetes, both of which are at epidemic levels in Alaskans.

Münchausen Syndrome

7-30-09

by Dr. Lorin Bradbury

Question: What is Münchausen Syndrome?
Münchausen Syndrome is a very serious psychiatric disorder wherein an individual has a need to assume a “sick role.” This is accomplished by feigning a disease, illness, or psychological trauma in order to draw attention or sympathy to himself or herself. It is in a class of disorders known as factitious disorders which involve so-called illnesses whose symptoms are either self-induced or falsely reported by the patient.
In Münchausen Syndrome, the affected person exaggerates or creates symptoms of illnesses in himself or herself in order to gain treatment, attention, sympathy, and comfort from medical personnel. In some extreme cases, people suffering from Münchausen Syndrome acquire a high level of knowledge about the practice of medicine, and are able to produce symptoms that could result in multiple unnecessary operations. Some examples include injecting a vein with infected material, causing widespread infection of unknown origin, picking at the skin to cause ulcers, or preventing a wound from healing.
In a classic example of Münchausen Syndrome a patient was recovering from spinal surgery when the surgeon asked about the history of her amputated left leg. He found that the stump was ulcerated and inflamed. She explained to the surgeon that the amputation came about as a result of an accident in which her leg was burned. The patient eventually convinced her surgeon to amputate the leg because she believed that her leg was of little use to her. While hospitalized, she was instructed to keep her leg elevated due to the infection and edema. However, she did not comply with instructions. When the skin grafts of her stump did not heal, a search of her room revealed that she had possession of a diuretic, cathartics, and a rubber exercise band that could serve as a tourniquet to irritate the stump.
Münchausen Syndrome is differentiated from hypochondriasis in that patients with Münchausen syndrome are aware that they are exaggerating symptoms, whereas those diagnosed with Hypochondriasis believe they actually have a disease. Also, it is differentiated from Malingering in that the patient is motivated is to assume a “sick role,” rather than an attempt to avoid some unpleasant event, such as jury duty, or court.
Risk factors for developing Münchausen syndrome include childhood traumas, and growing up with caretakers who, through illness or emotional problems, were unavailable.
Medical professionals suspecting Münchausen Syndrome in a patient should first rule out the possibility of a physical illness. Medical and psychiatric treatment should focus on the underlying psychiatric disorder, rather than just treating the physical illness.

Training begins before birth

2-19-09

by Elizabeth Ulak

Last week, the importance of reading to your child was addressed. I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I did. This week’s article discusses the importance of talking to your child and the power of language.
One of our Yup’ik values is the knowledge of language. We begin teaching the tradition of listening and hearing language prior to birth. The fetus listens, observes and connects with the feeling of love from the parents and those around them. Parents back then were advised to talk to children even before they were born, and to guide them and give them positive instructions in a loving way.
Elder Jean Cook confirmed this notion at a Spirit Gathering in Tuntutuliak in 2001 by saying: “Our ancestors used to advise a young woman when she became pregnant, to talk to the child (fetus) that she is carrying of what the child should be like when the child comes out, even it seems that they will not hear. It is said that the child has feelings and may sense what message is being said.”
When you talk, talk in a loving and positive manner so that your child will feel the loving vibrations and the compassion in your voice. This creates positive connections in the child’s brain development and will provide the child with a safeguard.
Interact with your child when you are feeding him or her. Tell him what you are doing as you change the diaper. Remember to use adult language as you talk to your child.
Children need to hear language (your native language) long before they can speak. Your child will have a bigger vocabulary and a solid basis for later learning.
According to the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, research has shown that: The number of words that a baby hears and the tone in which they are spoken profoundly affect a child’s ability to think conceptually by age four. By age four, it becomes increasingly difficult for education or intervention programs to help children with deficits to catch up.
If you are interested in more information or would like to share your personal experiences regarding this topic, please feel free to contact me at 543-6724. Quyana!
Elizabeth Ulak is a Traditional Counselor for SECEL.

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

by Annette Coyle

In his inauguration speech, President Obama said “What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility – a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world…” I believe that he would agree that part of being responsible to ourselves is doing all we can to maintain our health. Healthy people make healthy communities. Healthy communities make healthy states. Healthy states make a healthy nation. Everyone benefits.
The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.“ How do you define health? At the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program we are dedicated not only to educating individuals with type 2 diabetes on the best way to manage their disease but also to teaching people how to prevent type 2 diabetes. Being free of type 2 diabetes is a big part of our definition of health! Being free of type 2 diabetes doesn’t require much – just adherence to a few basic principles along with some determination and personal responsibility.
Type 2 diabetes is prevented by taking three simple steps: 1) eating healthy food; 2) being physically active for at least 30 minutes a day five days a week; and 3) remaining at a healthy weight.
Eating healthy means eating Native foods from the land – fish, birds, moose, caribou, tundra greens and berries – along with whole grains, fruits and vegetables from the store.
There are many ways to be active each day. Doing chores can be a good workout. Try chopping wood or hauling water for 30 minutes! Park the snow machine or four-wheeler and walk to the store or post office. Play with your children. Enjoy a game of basketball at open gym. Dance. Check out ski jumping on Wii™ Fit. Just get moving.
If you are at a healthy weight, stay there. If you need to lose a few pounds, cut back on the amount of food you eat and increase your activity. Start small and keep going. You can do it.
If you would like more information on how to prevent type 2 diabetes, please call the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program at 543-6133 or 1-877-543-6133 for a packet of information. Remember, “some people succeed because they are destined to, but most people succeed because they are determined to.” Are you determined to prevent type 2 diabetes?
Annette Coyle, RD LD is the Coordinator at Diabetes Prevention & Control.

Air Pollution

by Rosalie Kalistook

Have you seen…dark smoke billowing from a smokestack, storage piles of ciders, gravel and sand, exhaust could from vehicles, dust being kicked up by vehicles, traffic jam, a flowers pollen carried on the wind, someone smoking a cigarette?
Well, if you’ve seen any of these things, you know what air pollution looks like. You know what air pollution feels like if you have allergies. Air pollution and allergies can make your eyes and throat itch and make your nose and eyes run.
You may also ask why we should worry about air pollution. Three good reason are because 1) air pollution can be bad for our health, 2) it may harm plants, buildings, cars, and many other objects, and 3) it costs us money.
Pollution can make us sick and may even cause death. Children, older people, pregnant women, and people who already have heart or lung diseases suffer the most when the air around them is dirty.
How does air pollution cost us money? We have to pay doctor bills when it causes health problems. Health problems can cause people to lose time at work, so they earn less money and their companies are less productive. We have to replace materials that pollution destroys.
If air pollution damages crops, we pay higher prices for food. If air pollution destroys our land or buildings, or pollutes our water, the property we own is worth much less. The more industries pay for pollution controls on factories, the more we pay for the goods those factories make.
So you see, air pollution comes from many sources and can cause us real problems. Not all air pollution is caused by people. Some is made naturally. Humans cause about half the air pollution that may hurt us.
We have chosen lifestyles that include cars, plastics, central heating, household appliances, and many other items that make our lives easier and more comfortable. Air pollution can be part of the price we pay for using these items. The price can also include controls so the car, power plant, or appliance emits less air pollution. There are things you can do to reduce air pollution. But first, you need to know what makes the air polluted.
What is Air Pollution? When particulate matter (very tiny specks of solids) or toxic gases are in the air, the air is polluted.
What is Particulate matter? There are many kinds of particulate matter, or particulates, in the air. Some particulates are there naturally. They include of pollen and spores from plants, wind-blown sand, bits of rock and earth from volcanoes, and soot from forest/tundra fires. Humans put some particulates in the air. They include soot from smokestacks, dirt kicked up by cars on gravel and dirt roads, and dust from bulldozing, mining, storage piles of cinders and ash.
Particulates that are smaller than we can see can get stuck deep in our lungs. Particulates in our lungs make it hard to breathe normally. They can also cause permanent damage and carry other harmful matter into our lungs. Big particulates can bother our eyes, nose, and throat. They are not as harmful as small particulates, but we notice them more.
In the next article we will learn about gases such as sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Carbon Monoxide, Ozone, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s for short) and Hazardous Air Pollutants.
Rosalie Kalistook is the Environmental Coordinator for the Orutsararmiut Native Council.

Dental Training
launches in the Delta

6-24-08

by Yuut Elitnaurviat & YKHC Staff

According to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), Alaska Natives experience dental caries, or tooth decay, at 2.5 times the rate of the average American. There are numerous factors contributing to this imbalance. The most crucial is the lack of access to oral health services.
In rural Alaska, dentists may only visit a community once a year, sometimes even less. Oral health problems among many Alaska Natives are often affected by this extremely limited contact with dental professionals. The uphill battle tribal organizations face is that dental graduates prefer private practice to public health dentistry, which makes positions difficult to fill and causes the cycle of unmet dental needs to continue.
In response to the lack of access rural Alaskans have to dental care providers, Tribal leaders began to search for innovative solutions to the dental care crisis. Dental Therapy is a common and successful option to traditional dentistry in 52 countries around the world. In 2002, ANTHC began collaborating with partners to sponsor Alaskan students interested in attending the Dental Therapy program at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. Among the first class of students was Bethel Native Conan Murat.
Murat, 26, is now a practicing Dental Therapist for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation’s (YKHC) Aniak Sub-regional Clinic. Born and raised in Bethel, Murat graduated from Bethel Regional High School in 2000. In 2002, Mary Willard, the former Deputy Director of YKHC’s Dental Clinic and the current DENTEX Clinical Director at ANTHC, encouraged Murat to submit an application to the New Zealand training.
Following his acceptance into the program, Murat began studying as a Dental Therapist In February 2003 and graduated in December 2004. Upon graduation, Murat returned to the YK Delta in January 2005 to begin working at YKHC as one of the nation’s first Dental Therapists.
“I worked in Bethel for a year with all of the dentists, being supervised and broadening the scope of my practice,” Murat said.
Murat, and fellow Dental Therapy graduate Lillian McGilton, worked in the Bethel YKHC Dental Clinic strengthening their comfort level in performing procedures such as basic fillings, simple extractions, cleanings and preventive treatments.
McGilton is now working at the YKHC Sub-regional Clinic in Toksook Bay. Their success as practicing Dental Therapists who are capable of addressing preventive and basic dental care needs prompted Tribal health agencies to consider bringing the internationally successful New Zealand-based program home to Alaska.
In 2006, ANTHC joined forces with the University of Washington DENTEX program to develop the Nation’s first-ever Dental Health Aide Therapy (DHAT) program. The rigorous two-year training was modeled after the University of Otago’s Dental Therapy program.
“While New Zealand provided an excellent education, it was difficult for our students to travel half-way around the world for this training,” said Dr. Ron Nagel, DDS, ANTHC Dental Consultant. “Developing a program here in Alaska will keep students closer to home and enable many more students to participate.”
The first cohort of Alaskan-based students began the instructional component of their training in Anchorage in January 2007. A year later, in January 2008, the Yuut Elitnaurviat (YE) Dental Training Clinic opened its doors for service as the second year clinical site for the DHAT program. In January 2009, the Dental Health Aide Therapy program will gain permanence when it moves into YE’s new Technical Education and Support Services Building. A full two-story clinic space has been designed into the facility and will allow for larger cohorts of students.
Applications for the 2009 DHAT cohort will be accepted at YKHC through July 18, 2008. For more information, call Sharon John at 907-543-6984 or toll free at 800-478-3321 ext. 6984 or log on to www.dentexak.washington.edu.

$8 million Legislative Appropriation allotted for Long-Term Care facility

6-18-08

The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation is at the threshold of realizing the long-awaited dream of bringing long-term care for elder and disabled persons to the people of Southwest Alaska. On May 23, the passage of Senate Bill 221 solidified $8 million in Legislative appropriations for YKHC’s Long-Term Care Facility.
“This appropriation reflects Governor Sarah Palin’s support and especially the hard work and commitment of Senate Finance Co-Chair Lyman Hoffman and his staff,” said Gene Peltola, CEO of YKHC. “Senator Hoffman’s long-time dedication to serving the elders of the region, coupled with Representative Mary Nelson’s support, brought about a major success for our area’s aging population, our families, and our culture.”
The recent appropriation is a key accomplishment after nearly a decade of work to bring YK Delta elders and disabled persons home from Assisted Living Homes in other parts of Alaska, mainly Anchorage and Fairbanks. These efforts will enable elders to maintain their independence and dignity while remaining in their communities where they can speak their own language, eat traditional foods, and be close to loved ones.
“This has been an important project for all families in the YK Delta,” said Senator Lyman Hoffman.
“We cannot continue to send our elders and disabled away from home,” James Sipary, Sr., a YKHC Board member from Toksook Bay stressed in a letter to Governor Palin on May 14, 2008. “It is very sad to see them when they leave the villages and only to return to the villages to be buried. For the benefit of our elders and disabled if the proposal comes to your table, please do not ignore it, but to pass it for funding.”
Since the early 1990s, the late Traditional Chief and YKHC Board member Antone Anvil advocated tirelessly for the construction of a local nursing home. Similarly, Liz Lee, Senior and Developmental Disabilities Administrator for YKHC, has been a long-time supporter of projects that would bring western Alaskan elders and disabled home.
By 2001, several regional agencies set in motion the discussion and planning of providing local care options to the elderly and disabled. The Yukon-Kuskokwim Assisted Living Home Task Force was created, the membership including: YKHC, AVCP, AVCP Regional Housing Authority, the City of Bethel, Calista Elder’s Council, Alaska Legal Services, Disability Law Center, Bethel Native Corporation, Bethel Community Services, and Orutsararmiut Native Council. With YKHC leading the initiative, the footwork began to build an Assisted Living Home in Bethel.
After assessing the need and conducting a feasibility study, the YK Assisted Living Home Task Force began researching construction and operating fund options. In 2003, the Bethel City Council adopted Ordinance 03-14, approving a 30-year lease on the land south of the Lulu Heron Center for the project. In 2006, the YKHC Board of Directors approved a resolution to finance the construction and fund the operation of a long-term care facility. The 2007 Tribal Gathering focused on Long Term Care. The 2008 Tribal Gathering proved continued support for the project as Tribal Council members set Elder Issues (Care, Neglect, Respect, Housing, Nursing Home) within their top 10 priorities for YKHC.
The $8 million appropriation will be used to create a business plan, begin architectural designs and engineering, and complete 100% of the groundwork for a Green House model nursing home.
“We believe the Green House Model is a sustainable option for constructing a skilled nursing home in western Alaska,” said Jack R. Crow, VP of Health Services. “We will be able to provide local comprehensive care to elders and disabled persons while ensuring the programs are available in years to come.”
The Green House Model differs from traditional Assisted Living Homes in the philosophy and overall design of the building. A Green House creates a small home atmosphere that develops community between residents while offering levels of care one may not be able to receive through Home Care services or from family members. Residents enjoy private rooms and bathrooms, which connect to short halls that lead to the central room focused around a hearth. The maximum number of residents in one Green House is 10 and personalized routines are created that meet individual needs of each resident.
“YKHC is moving into the first stage of planning and development for an essential health care facility within our region,” concluded Peltola. “We are now one step closer to providing local, long-term care for our elders and disabled.”

Curves Bethel
celebrates first anniversary

10-9-07

Curves Bethel is celebrating its first anniversary by teaming with the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. New members who join in the first three weeks of October will pay only $25 for the service fee if they have a current mammogram. Other activities will stress breast cancer awareness and fundraising.
Curves members who have worked out all year are still enthusiastic about the program. Melissa Valadez and Darlene Mojin were the first two members to reach 200 Workouts.
Women find results are correlated with attendance. Crystal Garrison says, “ After working out for a long time, I lost pounds and inches. Then I took a summer break and it came back. Now I am back and working to take it off again!”
Curves partner, Vicki Malone, says, “Women tend to take care of everyone else first. They neglect their own care. It is great to be working with women who are committed to their own well being!”
Sometimes people find benefits they did not expect. “After years of knee pain, it doesn’t hurt anymore!” reports Janet Hoffman.
Curves partner, Suzan Monfort, says she has seen big changes in people. “It is pretty startling to see people cut back on blood pressure medication and see people’s heart rate change. I never thought regular exercise can make such a difference in so many ways for the body and mind. Stress reduction and improved mood are also a huge benefit of a good exercise program.”

Dining with Diabetes

9-19-06

by Dr. Lucy Jackson Bayles

The Cooperative Extension Service has brought a new educational program to Bethel and enlisted the collaboration of the YKHC Diabetes Program, YKHC Healthy Hearts Program, and the Bethel Family Clinic.
"Dining with Diabetes" is a Cooking School Program for people with diabetes and their families. The first session was this past Thursday evening, September 14 and two more sessions will follow on September 18 and 19, 2006. It is hoped that the 3-part Cooking School can be offered on a quarterly basis to the public. The cooking schools are held for three hours with instruction on cooking techniques, nutritional guidelines, health information for diabetics, exercise options and also provide an opportunity for participants to help in the meal preparation as well as enjoy a well-balanced meal together.
Diabetes is a common, serious and expensive disease. The complications of untreated or untreated diabetes are devastating. Many research studies show that when blood glucose (sugar) is well controlled, complications such as retinopathy (eye disease that can lead to blindness), kidney failure, and amputations can be delayed or possibly prevented.
The "Dining with Diabetes" curriculum was first developed by the West Virginia Cooperative Extension Service in the late 1990's and has been further revised and tested across the country. The program offers a social environment that is conducive to learning new information and skills by interactive cooking demonstrations and the tasting of foods. Social support for the participants is offered with others in the classroom as well as the Extension educator and Diabetes educators, Lorraine Gill, Annette Coyle, and Angela Hochreiter. In addition two interns in the UAA program for becoming a registered dietician and diabetes educator are in Bethel for this series of classes. Mr. Matt Conner from Colorado State University and Mr. Aaron Fonder from University of Wisconsin (Stout) are the two interns who are sharing their time and knowledge to help make "Dining with Diabetes" a successful program this fall.
The goals of "Dining with Diabetes" include:
- Increasing knowledge of healthy food choices for the diabetic diet.
- Presenting healthy versions of familiar foods that are easy to prepare.
- Demonstrating cooking techniques that use new or more healthful ingredients.
- Encouraging behavior changes by providing tasting of healthy foods.
- Demonstrating the potential of the Extension Service to provide basic diabetes education in partnership with diabetes health professionals.
- Providing opportunities for participants to learn and share from one another.
Since being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes this summer, I have been especially interested in this program both personally and professionally as an educator with UAF's Cooperative Extension Service. If you have questions or would like to be on the waiting list for the next "Dining with Diabetes" cooking school program, please call any of these numbers: 543-4553 (CES), or 543-6989 (YKHC), or 543-6167 (YKHC), or 543-3773 (Bethel Family Clinic).

6/27/06

by Kyla Hagan

The Bethel Boat Harbor has started off the summer with safety of its boaters in mind. The Port of Bethel, led by Port Director, Heath Martin, have constructed brand new loaner life vest stations to hold vests of all sizes for boaters who do not have their own vests. These new structures serve as a great reminder to all families that wearing a life vest is essential to the safety of everyone on board. Wearing a life vest dramatically reduces one’s chances of drowning when falling overboard.
Alaska state law requires that all children under the age of 13 must wear a PFD (personal flotation device) at all times while on the water. Boats must have at least one PFD for every person on the boat.
If you don’t have a PFD, feel free to borrow one of these vests! However, vests MUST be returned after each use so that other people can use them.
Thank you to the Port of Bethel for caring about its customers.
Thank you to the State of Alaska Kids Don’t Float program for the life vests.
Kyla Hagan is the Manager of ICEMS at the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation.

Revisiting the carbon monoxide threat

4/17/06

by Dr. Lucy Jackson Bayles

The presence of carbon monoxide (CO) in our homes is dangerous. How can you protect your family from carbon monoxide? How do you choose the right CO detector for your home? These are questions that we continually are asked at the Cooperative Extension Service.

Recently Dr. Richard Seifert, the CES Housing and Energy Specialist from UAF visited Bethel to conduct two workshops on Cold Climate Building. Dr. Seifert told us that the first step is to make sure that carbon monoxide never enters your home. The second step is to install at least one CO detector in your home.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas. Because you can?t see it, taste or smell it, it can affect you or your family before you even know it?s there. Even at low levels of exposure, carbon monoxide can cause serious health problems. CO is harmful because it will rapidly accumulate in the blood, depleting the ability of blood to carry oxygen.

Where Does Carbon Monoxide Come From?

Carbon monoxide is a common by-product of the combustion (burning) of fossil fuels. Most fuel burning equipment (natural gas, propane and oil) if properly installed and maintained, produces little CO. The by-products of combustion are usually safely vented to the outside. However, if anything disrupts the venting process or results in a shortage of oxygen to the burner, CO production can quickly rise to dangerous levels.

How Can I Eliminate Sources of CO in My Home?

The most important step you can take to eliminate the possibility of CO poisoning is to ensure that CO never has an opportunity to enter your home. This is your first line of defense. Review this list to minimize the risk of CO in your home.

?Have a qualified person inspect and clean fuel-burning appliances yearly, before really cold weather sets in, to ensure they are in good working order.

?Inspect chimneys and vents yearly for cracks, blockages, rust or holes.

?Check fireplaces for closed or blocked flues.

?Before you enclose any heating or hot water equipment in a small room, ensure there is adequate air for proper combustion.

?Never use propane or natural gas stove tops or ovens to heat your home.

?Never start a vehicle in a closed garage; open the garage doors first. ?Pull the car out immediately onto the driveway, and then close the garage door to prevent exhaust fumes from being drawn into the house.

?Do not use a remote automobile starter when the car is in the garage, even if the garage doors are open some carbon monoxide will seep into the house.

?Never operate propane, natural gas or charcoal barbecue grills indoors or in an attached garage.

?Avoid the use of a kerosene space heater indoors or in a garage. If its use is unavoidable provide combustion air by opening a window while operating. Refuel outside after the unit has cooled.

?Regularly clean the clothes dryer ductwork and outside vent cover for blockages such as lint, snow, or overgrown shrubs.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Is one really necessary?

If you take the actions listed above, you will greatly reduce your risk of CO poisoning. However, unanticipated dangerous incidents may still occur despite your best efforts to avoid CO. Remember the family of five that all died in Anchorage about one year ago because of CO poisoning. The installation of at least one CO detector in your home is a good safety precaution. In some cities, it is the law to have CO detectors in homes.

What Features Should I Consider when Purchasing a CO Detector?

Most CO detectors are designed to sound an alarm when CO levels reach a high-level in a short time. However, health agencies advise that long term, low-level exposures are also of concern, especially for the unborn and young children, the elderly and those with a history of heart or respiratory problems. Detectors that display both high and low levels are more expensive but they do provide greater accuracy and more information. Check Consumer Reports either at the library or on-line (www.consumerreports.com) for ratings and best buys in CO detectors. Models are available with either digital or non-digital display.

Where Should I Place a CO Detector in my Home?

Most manufacturers specify where you should locate their CO detector. In general, the best place to put the detector is where you will hear it while sleeping. CO is roughly the same weight as air and distributes evenly throughout a room, so a detector can be placed at any height in any location, as long as its alarm can be heard. Additional units could be installed in several other locations around the home, such as a child?s bedroom.

To avoid both damage to the unit and to reduce false alarms, do not install CO detectors in the following places:

?In unheated attics or garages

?Where they will be exposed to chemical solvents or cleaners, including hair spray, deodorant sprays, etc.

?Near vents, flues or chimneys

?Within 6 feet of heating or cooking appliances

?Near forced-or unforced-air ventilation openings

?Where directly exposed to weather

Once you have installed a CO Detector in your home, make sure that you test it on a regular basis according to the manufacturer?s directions. For more information about this topic or any other housing questions, please call the Cooperative Extension Service for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta at 907/543-4557 or call Dr. Seifert at 1-800-478-8324. Stay safe and healthy!

Dr. Lucy Jackson Bayles is the Y-K District Home Economist for the UAF Cooperative Extension Service.

Quick Test boosts

AIDS/HIV testing

4/4/06

by Shane Iverson

The Yukon Health Care Corporation was the first medical institution in Alaska to offer the AIDS/HIV Quick Test, a breakthrough testing procedure that offers results in 20 minutes. Previous tests could take two weeks to produce results making many too anxious to return for the results, or even come in for the initial test.

Since YKHC adopted the Quick Test in late 2003, the number of people tested for AIDS/HIV per year has nearly doubled. Those tests are an important first step in preventing the further spread of the HIV virus.

It is estimated that there are 950 cases of HIV in Alaska, but the number is rising. In 1995, there were approximately 500 cases. There are no official numbers on the amount of people in the YK currently diagnosed with HIV but it is on the rise, according to Carl Evans, YKHC Circle of Care Coordinator

The Circle of Care is a program within the Department of Community Health. Their purpose is to increase the number of individuals living in the YK who know their HIV status, and to provide community education and health aide training about the virus.

?It?s treatable and preventable, but not curable,? said Evans.

Evans says he has seen some major changes in the area just within in the last few years.

?There?s a willingness to look at the problem,? he said of the villages he has visited. ?People are real receptive. They want to be tested.?

Patients find a 20 minute wait more tolerable than a two week one. The procedure is much easier too. In the past, a tube of blood was needed but now only a blood drop, which can easily be extracted from the finger in a painless manner is required.

?Many are anxious because they know they have the risk factors,? says Carl Evans, Circle of Care Coordinator. ?You can see their hands sweating.?

While waiting for results, Circle of Care provides material and counseling to educate patients about HIV. Risk factors include having unprotected sex, sex with multiple partners or with a partner who has had many partners, sex while under the influence of alcohol or marijuana, being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease or shared injection drug needles.

?They are very relieved when the results are in,? he said. He has witnessed many people express a desire to make safer decisions.

?The test is a life changing event,? said Evans

The Quick Test looks for anti-bodies that are produced by the body as a response to the HIV virus. It does not test for the virus itself. The test is 99.9% accurate.

Because it takes time for the immune system to produce sufficient ant-bodies to battle the virus, there is a 3 month window period where the virus is undetectable.

The Center for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 3 people with HIV are unaware that they are infected, making them potential spreaders of the virus.

HIV is contracted through unprotected sexual intercourse or blood transfer, such as sharing needles. It can also be given to a baby through breast milk. Other risk factors that lead to this behavior include drug or alcohol abuse.

Early detection gives patients a chance to live a normal healthy life and reduces the risk they will spread the virus.

Testing is available through Public Health at the Bethel Health Center, the Bethel Family Clinic, and the YK Hospital. Evans says that sub-regional will be set up to administer the test in the near future.

The real news on salt ? what do you have to be

concerned about?

2/7/06

by Angela Hochreiter MPH, RD ? YKHC?s Healthy Hearts Program

Q: I?m pretty healthy. Should I really be worried about using less salt?

A: In some studies, it has shown that the more salt we have in our diets, the greater chance we have for having high blood pressure. And high blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. But there are other factors involved.

First, while reducing salt in our diets makes a difference in blood pressure for some, for others it doesn?t.

Second, there have been many studies showing that a high-salt diet increases cardiovascular risk. But there has been only one study linking a low-salt diet to a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease - that study was in a Japanese population where the ?low-salt? diet was still more than the average American consumes.

Lastly, even those who suggest a low-salt diet admit that the high blood pressure brought on by salt might only affect some people.

Q: Who might benefit from a low-salt diet?

A: People that are salt-sensitive, which means that when they eat salt, their blood pressure rises dramatically. Elders, people with a family history of hypertension, and often African Americans are more likely to be salt-sensitive. About 26 percent of Americans with normal blood pressure are salt-sensitive and about 58 percent with hypertension are salt-sensitive. For those people, it is important to have no more than 2,400mg of salt a day (about one teaspoon).

Q: If my blood pressure is okay, do I still need to worry about salt?

A: Yes, even if your blood pressure is okay you should still be concerned about salt. High-salt diets are also related to brittle bones and stomach cancer. The extra salt washes out calcium in the urine while diets high in dried, smoked, salted or pickled foods might damage cells lining the stomach leading to stomach cancer. So just because your blood pressure is okay (about 130/80 or under), having too much salt is not.

Q: So how much salt is too much? How much salt should I have daily?

A: Between half a teaspoon and one teaspoon is a good range to aim for. Most of us eat more salt (also referred to as sodium) than we need and we only need about 500mg of sodium each day for nerves and muscles to work and for the fluids in our body to be in balance. In general, less than 2,400mg (about 1 teaspoon) is required for most adults according to the National Institutes of Health.

Q: Why is sodium/salt added to lots of foods? What?s the difference between them?

A: We all know that salt makes food taste good, but it also keeps food from spoiling, improves the texture of preserved foods, helps the fermentation in breads and cheeses.

Many times we talk about ?salt? and ?sodium? like they are the same thing. But actually, sodium is just a part of salt. Salt is about 40 percent sodium and 60 percent chloride (its chemical name is sodium chloride). Sodium is found not only in salt, but also in other items like the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG) used in Chinese food. Some medications also have sodium (two Alka Seltzers have 1,064mg). It?s important to check the nutrition labels for amounts of sodium.

Q: How can I use less salt and still eat good food?

A: Here are some tips: drain and rinse canned vegetables and beans before using them (there?s a lot of salt used in the canning process). Try out some different spices and use salt substitutes (like Mrs. Dash) for seasoning. Here are some recommendations:

Allspice ? stew, tomatoes, gravy

Basil ? salads, soups, sauces

Cayenne pepper ? soups, casseroles, cheese sauces, egg dishes

Cinnamon ? breads, squash, oatmeal

Cumin ? chili, stews, beans

Curry ? tomatoes, sauces, rice

Dill ? vegetables, potatoes, pasta

Lemon or limejuice ? salads, vegetables, sauces

Rosemary ? stuffing, potatoes, peas

Sesame ? breads, salads, vegetables

Vinegar ? tomato sauces, salads, marinades, vegetables

Excerpts from ?Has Salt Gotten a Bad Shake?? by Carla Davis, Vegetarian Times, February 2006

In next month?s column, we will discuss ways to lower your blood pressure. Also, you can call us at 543-6999 or 1-800-478-4471 ex. 6999 if you want more information about heart disease or just recipes to use with low sodium and high flavor!

Next month: 5 Steps to Lower Your Blood Pressure

Bethel Health Fair March 4th!

February is National Heart Health Month ? visit Healthy Hearts (CHSB #236) and pick up a free stylish travel mug!

Protect your home against fire with the AK Home Fire Safety Improvement Project

1/24/06

by K.J. Lincoln

The Bethel Fire Department is sponsoring a project where you can have them do a walk-through of your house to determine what it needs to be fire safe.

A trained Home Fire Safety Survey Crew will then equip and install anything your house needs such as smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, escape ladders, power strips for your electronic equipment, carbon monoxide detectors, plus FireStop for your stove and videos and CDs that teach you how to put together a fire escape plan for your home.

The survey and the equipment are free.

The project is funded by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security through the Alaska Division of Fire Prevention. Any community member in Bethel can request the survey and it is especially intended for homes with children under the age of 14 and elders over 65.

Bethel was one of 16 communities that had recent fire fatalities in Alaska that received the grant.

Last December, Mahlon Greene, Public Education Coordinator for the Division of Fire Prevention came to Bethel to train the volunteers for the survey crews. He assisted them during the first survey they did.

?We did a survey at one of the homes by invitation, and they had 1 smoke detector and the battery was dead. We took it out and put a new one in. We put in a carbon monoxide detector, installed a new fire extinguisher, gave them a fire safe surge strip for the TV and VCR, gave them a kitchen timer to use when they?re cooking, and pointed out a few things that might be a danger in the home,? said Greene.

The survey takes about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours. In addition to equipment, the survey crew also can give tips on how to make your home safer.

?That is the beauty of this survey,? said Fire Captain Bruce Perry who is spearheading the project. ?We go to people?s homes and offer suggestions on better fire safety procedures. We?re giving away the equipment for free. It is a lot of good protection to have.?

Perry would like to invite everyone who is interested in the Alaska Home Fire Safety Improvement Project to come to a community meeting on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife building at 7:00pm. To request a fire safe home survey for your home, call the Bethel Fire Department at 543-2131.

Chevak school students celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

by Edwina Ulroan

On January 16, Chevak School celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We were going to march all around Chevak but it was stormy with a vicious wind.

About half or more students marched down the hallway from the high school wing to the middle and elementary wings. It was cute when young children were marching with their signs up. While we marched, we sang a song that was called, ?We Shall Overcome.? There were some good quotes from Dr. King and some students made slogans on their own.

?If it were up to me, there would more Martin Luther King days,? said sophomore Chester Slats.

After the march, we went to the cafeteria and continued singing the song. After we sang, we read our signs out loud and explained the meaning of them. Teachers passed out cookies to students who participated.

Edwina Ulroan is a senior at Chevak School.

What is the Medicare

prescription drug benefit all about?

1/17/06

by Karen Sidell, YKHC Patient Registration

Many seniors and disabled people are receiving letters in the mail about Medicare Part D. In order to explain this new benefit, let?s first talk about the differences between Medicaid and Medicare.

Medicaid is a State of Alaska health program that covers people with low income and limited resources. People with Medicaid have to prove low incomes on a continuous basis. This health coverage is for any age, but primarily elders, children, pregnant women and disabled people qualify for services. Medicaid pays for hospital and clinic visits and travel, lodging, transportation, meals and prescription medication related with receiving medical services.

Medicare is a federal government health insurance. Anyone who has worked and paid Medicare Tax for 10 years qualifies as a beneficiary, and so does his or her spouse. To use Medicare people must be 65 years or older or someone with a qualifying disability. Medicare insurance has three parts. Part A pays for inpatient hospitalization and is free to people who qualify. Part B is optional; you do not have to have it. It pays for outpatient visits and costs money; the amount is deducted from the person?s Social Security check. And starting in 2006, there will also be an optional prescription drug program, Part D.

Medicare does not pay for travel, lodging, transportation, meals and prescription medication related with receiving medical services. Medicare Part D is an optional program, beginning January 1, 2006, to help those people on Medicare pay for prescription drugs. Presently, Medicare does not pay for prescription drugs. There are state and federal programs that patients can apply for to pay for the cost of a Medicare prescription drug plan. For those who do not qualify for extra help programs and have chosen to have Part D, the cost of the prescription drug plan will be deducted from the person?s Social Security check.

There are four basic groups patients are placed in:

The first group, people with both Medicare and Medicaid, are called Dual-Eligibles. These groups of people are automatically enrolled in one out of seven prescription drug plans for Dual-Eligibles. The plan will pay for their prescription drugs at the Pharmacy.

The second group of people has Medicare and have lower income and limited resources, but do not qualify for Medicaid. These people are encouraged to apply for the state and federal programs that help pay for a prescription drug plan. If they do qualify for extra help, they will also need to choose a prescription drug plan.

The third group of people has Medicare and commercial insurance. The commercial insurance can be active and/or retired insurance. These patients received a ?Creditable Coverage? letter from their commercial insurance carrier, which means the commercial insurance drug coverage is as good or better than a Medicare prescription drug plan. It is best for these people to keep their commercial insurance coverage and not enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan without assistance.

The fourth group of people has Medicare, but is over income and resources to qualify for extra help. This group will have to determine if they will pay for a prescription drug plan. This is a good option for those patients who travel outside of Alaska.

At the YKHC hospital, when a patient obtains prescription medication from the Pharmacy, there is a large amount of billing behind the scenes. IHS beneficiary patients generally do not receive bills from the hospital, and are generally not aware of how the cost of the prescription medication is paid. It is important to inform patients that IHS funds do not cover all the costs of medical services, and if a patient has alternative resources, those must be used before IHS benefits. Thus, it is important to provide insurance information to the hospital to assist with the costs of medical care and prescription medication.

Medicaid Travel Program

A year ago, on January 1, 2005, the State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services implemented changes to how Medicaid non-emergency travel is arranged. Your health care provider calls First Health Services for a prior authorization. When travel is approved, you or your health care provider calls the State Travel Office at 1-800-514-7123 to make the reservations. The State Travel Office is open Monday ? Friday 7:30a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 6p.m., and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Only the State Travel Office can arrange your Medicaid-approved travel. These arrangements include reservations and ticketing.

Protect your family

from the rabies virus

1/10/06

by the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation Office of Environmental Health and Engineering

Did you know that foxes commonly carry the rabies virus? Foxes can have the virus and appear not to be sick themselves. The main danger to us is when a rabid fox bites a dog, or a dog eats a fox with the virus.

Rabies is fatal to humans! If you catch the rabies virus and it goes untreated, you will die.

Rabies is a virus that is most commonly transmitted by the saliva of an infected animal. Foxes are the most common reason our pets get sick with rabies, and once an animal has rabies there is no cure.

Signs of rabies in animals include: sudden changes in behavior, difficulty moving, problems swallowing, increased drooling, aggression, and not eating.

Human exposure is most likely because of a bite or scratch from an infected animal. However, exposure can occur when skinning fox and other wild animals. It is important to use precautions and proper protection so that you do not come into contact with their brain, spinal fluid, or salivary glands.

If a human is exposed to rabies, immediate medical attention is crucial in all cases of potential exposure because rabies is lethal in humans if not treated. The first step in treatment is to immediately wash the site with lots of soap and water. Washing the site is perhaps the most effective way to prevent the transmission of rabies when an exposure has occurred.

In addition, when rabies is suspected, treatment with post-exposure prophylaxis is given in five doses over the period of 28 days.

If you suspect an animal could be carrying the rabies virus and the animal is killed, the head must remain complete and undamaged so that the specimen can be analyzed for rabies. There must be enough undamaged tissue located in the head to perform the tests.

To help ensure that the proper procedure is followed and limit the risk of someone dying from rabies, it is essential that you report ALL potential rabies exposures or suspected cases of rabies to the YKHC Office of Environmental Health and Engineering (OEHE) at 1-800-478-6599.

In the YK Delta, dogs and cats are the most common culprits for transmission of rabies to humans. This doesn?t mean that you should avoid all dogs and cats, but you should protect your pets and family by vaccinating your pets against rabies.

Dogs and cats need to be vaccinated against rabies at the first opportunity after 12 weeks of age. After the first rabies vaccine is given, regardless of the animal?s age, a booster must be given approximately 12 months later. Afterwards, the animal should be given rabies vaccine at least every three years.

The State of Alaska has initiated a Lay Vaccinator program that is designed to allow community members to become certified to give rabies vaccines in their community. If anyone is interested in becoming a lay vaccinator, please contact YKHC-OEHE at 1-800-478-6599.

Why is knowing your blood pressure important?

by Angela Hochreiter MPH, RD

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is what keeps the blood flowing in our bodies. Our blood pressure naturally changes during the day. If it stays high over time, it is called hypertension or high blood pressure.

High blood pressure means that the heart has to work harder to carry blood to the vital organs in the body. High blood pressure can cause heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and other serious medical problems.

Even though people can die from high blood pressure, the only way to know if you have it is to have your blood pressure checked.

What do the numbers mean?

A blood pressure reading has two parts: The first number is sometimes called the top number, or the systolic pressure. It measures your blood pressure when the heart contracts and is pumping blood.

The second number is sometimes called the bottom number, or the diastolic pressure. It measures your blood pressure when the heart is at rest, between heartbeats.

Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80. When we say this reading out loud, we say ?120 over 80?.

If your first number is 120 or higher or your second number is 80 or higher, there is reason to be concerned. These numbers naturally change during the day, so you should have your blood pressure checked again on another day.

If your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 139/89, then you have prehypertension. This means that you don?t have high blood pressure now, but are likely to develop it in the future unless you adopt healthy lifestyle changes. By making small changes in your behavior, you can make big improvements in your blood pressure numbers. Changes such as including regular physical activity in your day, lowering your levels of stress, and choosing to stop smoking cigarettes if you smoke are all ways to improve blood pressure.

How do I know if I have high blood pressure or hypertension?

If your first number is higher than 140 or your second number is higher than 90, you may have hypertension or high blood pressure. In addition to lifestyle changes, your doctor may prescribe medicine. Don?t stop taking the medicine if your blood pressure reading is okay ? that means the medicine is working!

People with higher blood pressure numbers have a greater risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. For example, a person with blood pressure of 160/100 is three times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than a person with blood pressure of 140/90!

Getting your blood pressure tested and knowing your numbers will help you take control of your health. The people who love you will be glad that you are taking care of yourself.

In next month?s column, we will discuss ways to lower your blood pressure. Also, you can call us at 543-6999 or 1-800-478-4471 ex. 6999 if you want more information about heart disease.

Next month: 5 Steps to Lower Your Blood Pressure

Angela Hochreiter is a MPH, RD for YKHC?s Healthy Hearts Program.