Newspaper Page Text
August 20, 2008
PAGE 3B
^Reporter
Students beware
Chiropractors say
too many books can
lead to hurting back
Students may want to do their homework
about the dangers of backpack overload.
Hauling around a heavy backpack can leave
students as young as 5 with a stiff neck,
hunched shoulders and restricted breathing.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission, backpack-related
injuries are the cause of more than 6,500
emergency rooms visits each year. Nearly 90
percent of chiropractors report treating chil
dren and teens for pain directly associated
with overloaded backpacks.
The American Chiropractic Association rec
ommends that backpacks should never
exceed more than five to 10 percent of a per
son’s body weight. The backpack is too
heavy if a student is forced to hunch forward
to carry the load. Choose the right-sized
backpack, preferably with wide adjustable
shoulder pads. Use waist straps for addi
tional support and never wear a back
pack over one shoulder-this fad has
been known to cause permanent spine
misalignment and muscle fatigue.
Reducing the clutter in a backpack is
a good idea. Organizing your back
pack not only reduces clutter, it can
dramatically cut the weight you’re
dragging around.
Exercise. Exercise. Exercise!
Attack back pain before it starts
with exercise designed to
strengthen muscles in the back,
shoulders and neck. Always consult
your physician before starting any
exercise routine. For more informa
tion on safe backpacking you can call
Dr. Steven Walker at Walker
Chiropractic Clinic in Forsyth at
994-1562.
Now Hiring Pediatric RNs and LPNs
Healthcare for Kids
Karen Harbuck, RN
Location Director
kharbuck@pediatriakids.com
Bailey Berlin,
Office Coordinatior
41 West Johnston St.
Forsyth, GA 31029
478-994-8704
Fax: 478-994-8923
www.pediatriakids.com
Hey guys: Beat prostate
cancer with early detection
Over the next 12 months,
186,000 men in the United
States will be diagnosed
with prostate cancer.
Fortunately for those men,
when detected and treated
early, prostate cancer's
cure rate is better than 90
percent.
Trusting prostate cancer
detection to medical profes
sionals is a good way to go.
Screening is often quick
and easy, and the Prostate
Cancer Foundation (PCF)
recommends men over the
age of 50 get annual
screenings. But individuals
also bear the responsibility
to learn as much as they
can about prostate cancer,
particularly its risk factors
and potential symptoms.
Risk Factors
Prostate cancer is the
most common non-skin
cancer in America. One in
six men is affected by
prostate cancer, and sever
al variables increase a
man's risk for prostate
cancer.
• Age: While younger
men can be diagnosed with
prostate cancer, such cases
are more an aberration
than the norm. The rate of
prostate cancer in men
ages 40 to 59 is 1 in 38.
For men ages 60 to 69, the
rate increases to 1 in 15
men. So the older a man
gets, the greater his
chances for being diag
nosed with prostate cancer.
Of all the prostate cancer
cases in America, 60 per
cent are diagnosed in men
over the age of 65.
• Ethnicity: A man's eth
nicity can also be a risk
factor for prostate cancer.
While any man can be
diagnosed regardless of his
ethnicity, African-American
men are 61 percent more
likely to develop prostate
cancer than Caucasian
men. What's more, African
American men are 2.5
times as likely to die from
the disease.
• Family history: A man's
family history can also be a
risk factor for prostate can
cer. For instance, men with
a single first-degree rela
tive (father, brother, son)
with a history of prostate
cancer are twice as likely
to develop the disease
themselves. Men with two
such relatives are four
times as likely to be diag
nosed with prostate cancer.
When those relatives were
diagnosed can also
increase the risk. If affect
ed family members were
diagnosed at a young age,
such as before the age of
60, a man's risk of being
diagnosed himself increas
es.
• Additional factors:
Recent research has indi
cated that diet modifica
tion can decrease the risk
of prostate cancer, suggest
ing that social and envi
ronmental factors like diet
and lifestyle can impact a
man's likelihood of diagno
sis as well.
Symptoms
Part of what makes
prostate cancer screenings
so essential is that symp
toms rarely show them
selves in the earlier stages
of the disease. That means
a screening could be a
man's lone means of early
detection. However, some
men might experience
symptoms that indicate the
presence of prostate can
cer. Those symptoms can
include:
• a need to urinate fre
quently, especially at night
• difficulty starting or
stopping urination
• painful or burning uri
nation
• weak or interrupted
flow of urine
• difficulty having an
erection
• blood in urine or semen
• frequent pain or stiff
ness in hips, upper thighs
or the lower back
These symptoms can also
indicate the presence of
other diseases or disorders,
so if they persist or appear
after a recent prostate can
cer screening, consult a
physician to rule out other
ailments.
Butch Winters, Physical Therapist
WINTERS PHYSICAL
THERAPY
550 North Lee Street
(Next to Pace & Pace)
Outpatient Physical Therapy Services
Most Insurance Accepted
992-9247
A Leader in
CASTLEBERRY DRUG CO., LLC
Voted Best Pharmacy and Best Source
of Vitamins & Health Foods in the
Monroe County Reporter’s 2008
Readers Choice Poll
• Natural Alternatives
• Traditional Prescription Medications
• Full Service Compounding Lab
• Drive Thru Pharmacy Window
• Home Health Care Equipment
• Old Fashioned Soda Fountain
• Fine Gifts
• UPS Shipping
• Utility Payment Center
• Western Union Money Transfers and
Money Orders
• Free In-Town Prescription Delivery
Jep Castleberry, RPH John Wilson, RPH
DRUG CO., LLC
67 N. Lee Street • 994-2051
Monday - Saturday 8am - 6pm
Medicaid, Medicare and most Insurance Accepted
Quality Eye Care
Dr. Tom Perry
OPTOMETRIST
For Comprehensive Eye Examinations
Located at 105 MLK Dr. since June 1975
994-2988
FAMILY EYECARE
Eye Examinations for glasses
and contact lenses.
Diagnosing Eye Disease
Women's Health Is
Dr.
Our Number One Priority
Wells is pleased to announce that Forsyth now has a full time gynecologist.
Specializing in Women's Health, Dr.
Wells provides the highest standard
of professional services in a pleasant
and caring atmosphere. Services
provided include:
• Annual Exams
• Surgery
• Menopausal Health
• Urinary Incontinence
• Hormone Management
Now Taking Appointments
Perry B. Wells, M.D.
100 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive • Forsyth (In the Surgical Arts Building)
478-994-5909