Augusta focus. ([Augusta, Ga.) 198?-current, March 21, 1996, Image 10

Augusta focus., March 21, 1996, Page 10, Image 10

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Newspaper Page Text10 March 21, 1996 AUGUSTA FOCUS Asthma crosses culture and age Asthma is a lung disease that causes breathing problems for nearly 10 million Americans at this time. The numbers are in creasing, probably due to in creased exposure to irritants. Itis usually a chronic problem, and is always serious, potential ly life-threatening if not proper ly managed. However, with prop er management, most people with asthma can live normal, productive lives. Anyone can get it Asthma does not discriminate by race, socioeconomic status ... orby age. Of the Americans diag nosed with asthma, approximate ly three million are under 18, while about seven million are adults. Some have had it all their lives, but others may have got ten it for the first time as adults. Children sometimes seem toout grow their asthma, but it may return later in life. Approximately the same num ber of men and women have asth ma, but under age 20 rates are higher among males. African Americans have had slightly higher rates than whites, and their death rate from the disease has been consistently higher. An asthma attack An attack typically occurs when an irritant affects the lungs. There may be tightness in the chest, slight wheezing, cough ing, restlessnessor difficulty try ing to sleep, or trouble breath ing. Air passages constrict, mak ing it hard to breathe air in and Black leaders committee looks for ways to reduce racial tensions By Bruce Smith ASSOCIATED PRESS Writer -~ CHARLESTON, S.C. Racial tensions in South Caro lina have heightened in recent weeks and lawmakers must find ways to deal with the problem, black leaders say. At news conferences across the state Thursday, black leaders asked the General Assembly to create a five-member panel to propose solutions to what state Rep. Ralph Canty, D- Sumter, called “a sharp exacerbation of racial ill-will and outright ra cialanimosity acrossthe state.” The group suggested the panel hold hearings in 12 cities and report to Gov. David Beasley and the Legislature in May. “We believe a quick, decisive and human re sponse to what is now occurring is very much needed,” Canty said. “I do think in South Carolina we have some racial problems and I think we need to face them,” said Milton Kimpson, chairman of] the state advisory com mittee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission that met here Thursday. “We're still dealing with the Confederate flag,” he said. In recent weeks, the federal government be gan investigating pos sible racial motives be hind several fires at Part-time employment opportunity: earn up to $1,000.00 a week! Call (706) 724-7855 for details. Ask for Mrs. Webb. even harder to breathe the stale air out. The cells that line the passag es secrete more mucus than nor mal, and it is very thick and sticky, so it tends to clog the passages, which swell because they areirritated, which contrib utes to the problem. Attacks may begin suddenly or may take a long time, even days, to develop. Mild episodes are more common, and the airways open up again in a few minutes orhours. However, some episodes last longer and some are very serious and need immediate medical attention. In a severe attack, the person may become breathless and have difficulty talking. The neck muscles may become tight with each breath. The lips and nail beds may have a grayish or bluish color. The person may exhibit chest retrac tions (chest skin sucked in). People with asthma are taught by their doctors to take medica tion to prevent an attack or to help them if an attack occurs. In severe attacks, they need emer gency care. Even though an attack may subside, changes may be taking place in the airways that may lead to pr longi.ug the episode or toa second wave of distress. This second wave — or “late phase” of the attack —is often more severe than the initial attack and po tentially more dangerous. In flammation is the hallmark of the second wave, and it causes black churches. A white state trooper was fired after he pulled his gun and roughed up a black wuman dur ing a traffic stop. And a shop selling KKK memorabilia has opened in Laurens, prompting protests from townspeople. Kimpson’s committee issued a report last year saying that fly ing the Confederate flag over the Statehouse “has pulled the cover off race relations that were al ready strained to the breaking You don't need a million bucks to buy a home of your own -- let Wachovia show you how. Wachovia Advantage mortgages are custom-built tc make home ownership a reality for thousands of people who may not know they can Q Subject to credit approval Livingßetter further narrowing of the air pas sages. The asthma victim may find it even harder to breathe during this second wave or late phase of the attack than during the first. It is this late-phase at tack, which may last a day or even longer unless it is treated effectively, that leads to most hospitalizations for asthma. This phase makes lungs more sensitive to other triggers that may set off an attack. This un usual sensitivity may last for days or weeks after the initial attack. Controlling asthma Today’streatment aims to pre vent attacks, as well as stop an attack onceit hasstarted. People who see a doctor only when they have an emergency may be miss ing out on new preventions. Successful control begins with diagnosis. This usually includes a detailed medical history, a de tailed physical examination, and various lab tests, including lung function tests involving spirom etry with an instrument you blow into to measure the air taken into and released from the lungs, and possibly peak flow monitor ing; a chest X-ray; and possibly blood and allergy tests. Treatment includes the doc tor’s choosing and monitoring of the most effective medications at the proper dosages for a par ticular patient. Treatment may include medications taken daily and medications used only if an attack occurs. point.” A The panel is holding mectiligss in Columbia, Charleston and Greenville to update the report based mainly on testimony col lected four years ago. The erosion of affirmative ac tion and even the House’s recent rejection of all-day kindergarten contribute to the climate, com mittee members said. “If you talk about civil rights, that’s (all-day kindergarten) civ il rights — giving everyone an e . 2@ 0w i & N gi)m«% ‘9 ; it Live Your Dream. [TERETEE B Mormasces ] Augusta 706-650-6671 qualify, and our free seminars help prospective homeowners along the way. To find out more about Wachovia Advantage mortgages or the next seminar, call the number below, or stop by any Wachovia office. Through care of a doctor expe rienced in treating asthma, sup plemented by asthma health ed ucation programs, people can learn how to handle an attack if one should occur. Treatment must take along-term approach, because asthma really doesn’t just go away by itself. Triggers Attacks probably do not occur spontaneously, although the trig gers frequently cannot be identi fied. The range of these triggers is enormous: allergic reactions, infections, emotional stress and excitement, vigorous exercise, cold air, occupational dusts and vapors, pollution, sleep, house hold products, and drugs. Exercise and smoking Most people with asthma can participate in regular exercise with minimal difficulty, provid ed their asthma is under control. Exercise-induced asthma can occur, but many people with asth ma are advised by their doctor to take appropriate medication pri or to exercise to prevent an at tack. Short-duration activities and certain types of exercise may prove less likely to cause asthma symptoms. Smoking makes asthma worse. Adolescents and adults with asth ma must be encouraged and helped to quit smoking for the sake of their lives. Breathing secondhand smoke can trigger asthma symptoms. Smoke-free environments can help prevent asthma attacks. opportunity,” Kimpson said. u&mmm eas ing racial tensions will require everyone’s help and people have to speak up. Mary Dunlap Sneed, a white advisory committee member from Columbia, said white wom en also should complain about attacks on affirmative action. “White women in South Caro lina government have benefited more from affirmative action than any other group,” she said. WACHOVIA Mortgage Making your medicines work for you is essential The fact is, 30 to 50 percent of patients do not use medicines as prescribed. Moit common among medication misuses are taking doses at the wrong time, taking incorrect doses, forgetting totake doses and stopping medications ‘too soon. People with chronicillness pro ducing no symptoms or erratic symptoms are particularly prone to medication misuse. Such pa tients — including those with mental disorders, hypertension, asthma, glaucoma and osteoporosis — must resist the temptation to stop taking a me diation when they are feeling well, because their condition will ultimately worsen without treat ment. Others at increased risk of not taking their medications as pre scribed are people who are older, have poor vision and take multi ple medications; are depressed; ‘are going through a life change, such as death of a loved one, retirement, moving, divorce or remarriage; frequently drink al cohol; live alone and don’t get out much; suffer from pain; can’t easily talk to the doctor due to a language or hearing difficulty or feeling uncomfortable asking questions. SR Dusan <« -DU tL) 188 j : . Cel L H §PR A s i iRt aet il AR Medical tests for adults The following is a list of medi cal tests that might be given to adults, and an explanation of what each is for. Blood pressure measure ment. This is perhaps the single most common health screening test. Devastating complications like heart disease and stroke can often be prevented by early diag nosis and treatment of high blood pressure. Breast exam. Careful exami nation of the breasts by a physi cian can often detect abnormali ties overlooked in self-examina tion and is used to follow up on abnormalities that are detected. Men should examine their breasts also, as one percent of breast cancer occurs in males. Cervical exam. A pap test or smear detects precancerous cells in cervical or vaginal secretions. Microscopicexamination ofthese secretions can detect early chang esin these cells in a high propor tion of cases of cervical cancer. Colon-rectal exam. A digital rectal exam is used to reveal co lon-rectal cancer, In proctosigmoidoscopy, the physi cian manipulates a flexible in strument to detect suspicious Basil Coombs, 0D Optometrist Former Asst. Clinic Chief Eisenhower Medical SOUTHSIDE EYE CARE I Windsor Square Plaza - 3120 Peach Orchard Road - 790-6610 | Gl SN FOCUS your luncheons or dinners in a fine restaurant. Visit BL’s Restaurant at 1117 Laney-Walker Blvd. or call (706) 828-7799 to arrange your celebrations. If you (or someone you know) has difficulty following a. pre scribed treatment regimen, help may be available. Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to sug gest a compliance aid to help you remember when it’s time for a dose and to keep track of how many doses you've taken. Always be honest with your physician. Iffor some reason you have notbeen taking a prescribed medication or have not been tak ing it according to instructions, tell your doctor. Without this knowledge, he may change your therapy believing the medication has failed, when actually the drug has not been given a chance to be effective. When you get a prescription, be sure to ask your doctor the following questions: *What is the name of the med icine and what is it supposed to do? *How and when do I take it, and for how long? *What foods, drinks or other medicines or activities should I avoid while taking this medicine? *Arethere any side effects and, if so, what do I do if they occur? Be sure you understand all instructions before you leave your doctor’s office. growths that should be biopsied and removed before they become life-threatening. A guiac or hemacult test is a test to detect blood in the stool, often a warn ing sign of some ongoing pathol ogy. . Blood and urine exam. A wide range of tests can be done simply, safely, and inexpensive ly from samples of blood and urine. For example, a low hemo globin level suggests anemia, cholesterol levels relate to the risk of hardening of the arteries; and elevated sugar levels in the blood or urine may be a sign of diabetes. Venereal disease exam. The increasing incidence of sexually transmitted diseases means these tests should not be ignored by sexually active people, includ ing teenagers. Vision and hearing exam. Anyone who doesn’t already vis it an eye specialist regularly needs an occasional vision exam, | which should be more frequent if there is a continuing eye prob lem. For people over 40, the exam should include a test for glauco ma — excessive fluid in the eye. Everyday Frames & s“es (Includti%_sb’?rﬁé'thé;éoat &UV Pm}ﬁﬂ n) 5 SmgleVmon FT 28 Bifocal Progressive, 6898 COMPLETE EYE EXAMS Glaugdma & Cataraét Evaluations i .« for the entire family. Hee Medicald & Medicare Welcome ITRTRTR eTR K | £\ 4 o 1 00/ 0 i )