Survey: Washington has third-lowest smoking rate nationwide
August 23, 2010
NEW — 6 a.m. Aug. 23, 2010
Fewer Washington adults light up these days.
The adult smoking rate has dropped to 14.8 percent — a new low and the third-lowest smoking rate in the nation, a survey released last week by the state Department of Health shows.
The latest ranking is the best since measurements started in all 50 states in 1995. The rate declined from 15.3 percent in the previous year.
“Our rise to a number three national ranking is good news for the health of people in Washington,” state Secretary of Health Mary Selecky said in a news release.
Swedish teams combine efforts in new atrial fibrillation procedure
August 17, 2010
Dr. David Gartman (center) and his team operate on their portion of the second patient ever west of the Mississippi to receive a hybrid procedure for atrial fibrillation at Swedish Medical Center. Issaquah resident Steve Beer received the first. Contributed
Steve Beer has always enjoyed living in the Issaquah area for its convenient access to outdoor activities, such as hiking to motorcycle riding.
Then, a few years ago, as he approached his 50s, Beer noticed his energy reserves were sapped more quickly.
“I could work out in the yard for hours and be dead as a doornail afterwards,” he recalled. “I just thought I was getting older, out of shape.”
Then, in 2008, an unrelated sinus surgery had to be postponed due to anomalous electrocardiogram readings that concerned his doctors. Further tests by a cardiologist proved Beer had atrial fibrillation, the most common type of arrhythmia or abnormal electrical activity in the heart.
Beer wasn’t alone in his diagnosis. According to the American Heart Association, about 2.2 million Americans live with AF. It is also the most common “serious” heart rhythm abnormality in people over age 65. Read more
Classes
August 17, 2010
Overlake’s Issaquah clinic offers classes
Overlake Hospital Medical Center offers the following classes at its Issaquah clinic, 5708 E. Lake Sammamish Parkway S.E., Suite 103. Register at www.overlakehospital.org/class1.aspx. Call 688-5259 for class information.
Weight Loss Surgery Seminar” — 6-7:30 p.m. Aug. 24, free
-“You and Your Baby: 5 Class Series” — 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sept. 2-30 and 10 a.m. – noon Sept. 15 – Oct. 13, $55
-“Condensed Series: Preparation for Childbirth & Newborn Care” — 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sept. 10 & 17, $95 per couple
-“Comprehensive Preparation for Childbirth and Newborn Care 7-week series” — 7-9 p.m. Mondays Sept. 13 – Oct. 25, $105 per couple
Swedish offers class in Issaquah
“Joint Replacement: The Right Choice for You?” is at 6 p.m. Aug. 26 at Swedish Medical Center’s Issaquah clinic, 2005 N.W. Sammamish Road. Register at https://www2.eventsvc.com/ swedishhealth.
Health Support Groups
August 17, 2010
Eastside Alcoholics Anonymous hosts the following meetings, for more information, go to www.eastsideintergroup.org or call 454-9192:
Any Length: 8 a.m. Sundays, Issaquah Valley Senior Center, 75 N.E. Creek Way
Issaquah Smoke Free: 8:30 a.m. Sundays, Issaquah Community Hall, 180 E. Sunset Way
One Step At a Time: 10 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Thursdays, 206-686-2927
Core Relations (men only): 6 p.m. Sundays, Issaquah Community Hall, 180 E. Sunset Way
Sobriety Life Line: 7:30 p.m. Sundays, Issaquah Valley Senior Center, 75 N.E. Creek Way
Morning Buzz: 6:30 am. weekdays, Lakeside Milam, 98 N.E. Gilman Blvd. Suite 200
Issaquah Breakfast: 7 a.m. weekdays, Issaquah Community Hall, 180 E. Sunset Way
Issaquah Breakfast (step study): 7 a.m. Saturdays, Issaquah Community Hall, 180 E. Sunset Way
Joy of Living: noon Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 4 p.m. Thursdays, IHOP Restaurant, 1433 N.W. Sammamish Road
It’s In the Book (men only): 7 p.m. Mondays, 14919 Issaquah-Hobart Road
59 Minutes at Pine Lake: 8 p.m. Mondays, Pine Lake Community Club, 21333 S.E. 20th St.
A Resentment and a Coffee Pot: 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Preston Fire Hall, 8641 Preston-Fall City Road S.E.
Book Bag Stag (men only): 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Issaquah Community Hall, 180 E. Sunset Way
Issaquah Tuesday Night: 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Our Savior Lutheran Church, 745 Front St. S.
Young Drunks (young people): 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Our Savior Lutheran Church, 745 Front St.
Sammamish by the Book: 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 1121 228th Ave. S.E.
Issaquah New Start: 5:30 p.m. Thursdays, Community Baptist Church, 205 Mountain Park Blvd. S.W.
Sammamish Big Book Study (children): 6 p.m. Thursdays, Pine Lake Covenant Church, 1715 228th Ave. S.E., Room 104
Raging on the River: 7 p.m. Thursdays, Preston Baptist Church, 31104 S.E. Eighth St.
Issaquah Women (women only): 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Issaquah Valley Senior Center, 75 N.E. Creek Way
Pine Lake Stag (men only): 8 p.m. Thursdays, Pine Lake Community Club, 21333 S.E. 20th St.
Tiger Mountain Stag (men only): 8 p.m. Thursdays, Issaquah Community Hall, 180 E. Sunset Way
Friday Night Firehouse Meeting: Issaquah Highlands Fire Station, 1289 N.E. Park Drive
Search for Serenity (big book study): 8 p.m. Saturdays, Issaquah Senior Center, 75 N.E. Creek Way
Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Support Group: 6-7:30 p.m. second Thursday, Aegis of Issaquah, 780 N.W. Juniper St., 313-7364
Alzheimer’s and Caregiver Family Support Group: 6-7:30 p.m. second Thursday, Faith United Methodist Church, 3924 Issaquah-Pine Lake Road S.E., 313-7364.
Angel Care-Breast Cancer Foundation: free emotional support to the newly diagnosed, enhancing emotional recovery while going through treatments, www.angelcarefoundation.org
Bereavement Support Group: 7-8:30 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, Overlake Hospital, 688-5906
Family Caregivers Support Group: 3-4:30 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, Overlake Senior Health Center, 1750 112th Ave. N.E., Suite A-101, Bellevue, 688-5807
Issaquah Parkinson’s Support Group: 1:30-3 p.m., second Monday, Our Savior Lutheran Church, 745 Front St. S., 206-230-0166 or 392-4169
Overeaters Anonymous: 10:30 a.m. Mondays, Our Savior Lutheran Church, 745 Front St. S. Call 392-2488 or 761-2555. Childcare available upon request.
Prostate Cancer Support Group: 7 p.m. third Tuesday, Lincoln Center, 555 116th Ave. N.E., Suite 125, Bellevue, 369-2552
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly): 9:30 a.m. Thursdays, Our Savior Lutheran Church, 745 Front St. S., 746-4195 or 391-1889
Take steps to avoid unfortunate encounters with creepy crawlers
July 28, 2010
NEW — 8 a.m. July 28, 2010
Summer means barbecues, outdoor activities — and more encounters with biting and stinging bugs.
Keeping calm around buzzing bugs can help reduce the risk of winding up on the business-end of a bloodthirsty mosquito or irritated wasp.
The state Department of Health has a handy list detailing biting and stinging bugs found in the Evergreen State.
Bees play a crucial role in pollinating flowering plants, including many foods. Honeybees and bumblebees seldom sting as they leave the hive or nest to look for nectar or pollen — unless they get stepped on or deliberately provoked.
Virginia Mason hosts free prostate screenings
July 27, 2010
Virginia Mason Medical Center is hosting a free prostate screening in Issaquah on July 30.
More than 55 million American men face the risk of prostate cancer, and early detection is important.
Virginia Mason, in partnership with ZERO: The Project to End Prostate Cancer, will host the event from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at its Issaquah campus, 100 N.E. Gilman Blvd.
The screening is free, confidential and does not require an appointment or health insurance.
Virginia Mason providers will staff the screening and volunteers will be on hand to explain the process and answer any patient questions.
The screening consists of a simple blood test known as a prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, blood test and an optional physical exam. Patients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis, a Virginia Mason news release said.
Results are confidential and will be sent to patients in three to four weeks by ZERO. Patients with high PSA scores should follow up with their healthcare providers.
Additional health information for men and women will be available at the event.
Virginia Mason hosts free prostate screenings in Issaquah on Friday
July 26, 2010
UPDATED — 3:30 p.m. July 27, 2010
Virginia Mason Medical Center is hosting a free prostate screening in Issaquah on Friday.
More than 55 million American men face the risk of prostate cancer, and early detection is the key.
Virginia Mason, in partnership with ZERO: The Project to End Prostate Cancer, will host the event from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at its Issaquah campus, 100 N.E. Gilman Blvd.
The screening is free, confidential and does not require an appointment or health insurance.
Virginia Mason providers will staff the screening and volunteers will be on hand to explain the process and answer any patient questions.
Issaquah yoga instructor reaches out to radio listeners
July 23, 2010
NEW — 6 a.m. July 23, 2010
Listen to Issaquah yoga instructor Anita Boser as she offers tips to prevent muscle injuries and recover from past strain Friday.
Boser, proprietor of Vital Self in downtown Issaquah, will be interviewed on the Living Yoga Radio Show at 1 p.m. Tune in to 1150 AM or 98.9 FM to listen to Boser. Or listen live online.
Host Robin Rothenberg, author of the “Essential Low Back Program,” and Boser will discuss how aches, pains and repetitive strains can get locked into connective tissue.
Boser will also offer tips to unwinding the tension patterns for more ease.
Stay up late for Twitter ‘sleep up’ to document sleep disorders
July 21, 2010
NEW — 10 a.m. July 21, 2010
Swedish Medical Center sleep experts want you to spend the night.
Sleep Medicine Associates, a Swedish affiliate, plans the first all-night “sleep up” Thursday — a live, online stream documenting a patient’s overnight sleep-disorder testing. During the event, sleep doctors and technicians will answer viewers’ questions via Twitter and in video interviews.
The team hopes to raise awareness about sleep disorders and treatments through the social media experiment.
The sleep up runs from 8 p.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday. Sleepless in Seattle types can follow along here.
Summer fun includes protection from the sun
July 20, 2010
Michelle Johnson, Jackie Potter and Hayley Magee (from left), on summer vacation from classes at Skyline High School, share sunscreen sprays and lotions of SPF 15, 30 and 50, before sunbathing July 14 on the dock at Pine Lake Park. By Greg Farrar
Go into any drugstore and you’re bound to run into a plethora of sunscreen options this summer. But do you really know what to look for?
Many people don’t, so you’re not alone.
“There are a lot of sunscreens out there,” Amy Cheng, a dermatologist with Virginia Mason Medical Center, said.
Even the federal Food and Drug Administration doesn’t have a consumer-friendly system of standards regulating the claims of companies who make sunscreen, despite the Sunburn Protection Factor label.
Since 2007, officials with the FDA have posted consumer updates on its website saying it’s in process of developing a set of standards, but those have yet to come to fruition. Read more
