Newspaper Page Text
Arthritis afflicts,
but does not
deter education
By Nakia H. Hunter
Contributing Writer
Nineteen-year-old Roxanne
Cardenas, a secondary education
major at Clark Atlanta
University, is among a growing
breed of adolescents battling
rheumatic arthritis.
Rheumatic arthritis is adisease
in which the joints become
swollen and inflamed, destroying
the cartilage that cushions them
and causing bone to grind on
bone, health officials stated. It
can be genetically inherited.
The Wisconsin native said she
was diagnosed last year with the
disease that affects one percent
of the American population.
After numerous painful nights of
literally not being able to move a
muscle and many visits to the
physician, Cardenas’ diagnosis
was one of disbelief.
“ I thought this was a condition
for the elderly, and I spent some
time feeling depressed. But it
was nice to actually hear someone
say, ‘This is what’s wrong,’ and
not, Tdon’tknow.’ Itwas hardto
diagnosis, she said, her because
the symptoms come and go.
Like the other 71,000
adolescents in the U. S. affected
with the disease, most of her pain
is centralized in the knees,
making it difficult to walk at
times.
Cardenas, who is adopted, said,
“There are no medical records
on my biological parents, and I
haven’t any idea where they are
or if they are even alive, so there
is no way for me to know if
either of them have suffered from
this (disease).
She has several medications to
help with the pain, which include
steroids and anti-inflammation
drugs to help keep the swelling at
a minimum. She said that having
to regularly take the pills has
helped her with her time-
management skills and has made
her more responsible. “ You have
to take each pill separately
everyday day at the same time
everyday at different times, and
it can get confusing and painful
if you’re not on schedule,” she
stated.
Also, her doctor told her'that
keeping within her medical
guidelines for her weight will
help reduce the pain. Every one
pound she loses equals five
pounds off her knees. She also
tries to eat low-fat foods,
including grains and vegetables,
which also prevents some of the
unease in her joints.
Most patients with rheumatoid
arthritis will have progressive
disease with substantial
morbidity and mortality. The
diminished survival of these
patients is similar to that seen for
diabetes, Hodgkin’s Disease, and
three-vessel-coronary disease.
The median life expectancy in
men is reduced by seven years
and reduced by three years for
women. Those attending an
outpatient clinic has about a one
in three chance of being severely
disabled in 20 years while those
requiring impatient care have
approximately an 80 percent
chance. After 10 years of disease,
fewer than 50 percent of patients
can continue to work.
Nevertheless, Cardenas
continues to lead what she
believes is a productive and
happy life.
A SigmaGammaRoe member,
Mount Moorish choir member,
and an honorary dean’s list
member, Cardenas said she
doesn’t let her condition or its
statistics get her down.
“I’m here to get my education
, go on to the ministry, and raise
a family with a good man.
Through the Almighty, all that is
possible, and then some”.
"A mind is a terrible
thing to waste..."
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suspect arrested
New York police captured the suspect in the
killing of two Atlanta women Wednesday after a
dangerous high-altitude struggle with the man.
The police fought Lewis Joyner, a once-
successful Atlanta businessman, near the edge of
the 21-story Drew Hamilton public housing
building in Manhattan before detaining him.
According to Atlanta police, Joyner was about to
jump off the building.
Atlanta police suspect Joyner in the November
killings of his 43-year-old wife, Ruby, and her
40-year-old friend, Halima Jones. The bodies
were discovered Nov. 21 in a Jones’ minivan,
which was parked in a lot at Hartsfield
International Airport. The women were missing
since Nov. 15. Lewis Joyner flew to New York
two days after the women went missing. He had
not reported that has wife was missing.
770 area code in effect
Atlanta residence are getting used to dialing an
extra three digits when making telephone calls
now that the 770 area code is in effect.
Metro Atlanta residents started using the area
code Dec. 1 when the 770 code officially came
into use. The use of the area code will make more
telephone numbers available to consumers since
the standard 404 area was being filled.
Calls between the 770 and 404 area codes will
remain toll-free. Callers do not have to dial an
area if they are calling within their area code.
They do not have to dial “ 1 ” or “0” to call outside
their area code either.
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the United States was illegally returning
Haitian boat people intercepted in international
waters. Aristide alluded to the fact that the
Coast Guard returned more than 1,000 boat
people in one 10-week period. The United
States claimed that it informed Haiti about such
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World News
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Haitian President Jean-Bertand Aristide
has accused the United States of illegally returning
Haitian boat people who were intercepted in
international waters. U.S. officials maintain that
the Haitian government was consulted about a
Coast Guard operation that returned more than
1,000 people to Haiti last week.
Elections are scheduled to be held in Haiti by
Dec. 17. Aristide has agreed to step down from
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marched in cities across France last week ,
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withreports that America’s favorite family
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According to The Hollywood Reporter, CBS
reached an agreement with Bill Cosby to run a
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teamed up with the series production house Carsey
Werner to produce a half-hour sitcom based on
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Egyptian Election Under
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sex programs. Health Department spokeswoman Diane Mathis said reported leaks and insufficient
spermicide led to the recall of Olympus brand condoms issued to 250 organizations to give to poor people
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