Category: Public Health

Michael Trimble Unlikely Candidate

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Editor Comment: Normally CNP steers away from local political news and candidates (Oregon and SW Washington), concentrating primarily on national issues. However, Mike Trimble, a black horse in the race, is a fascinating fellow and deserves some national exposure. Thanks, Megan Wallin for sharing your great interview with Mr. Trimble.  Thank you, Mr. Trimble for sharing your thoughts and your pictures.

Michael Trimble:

Unlikely Oregon Gubernatorial Candidate

By Megan Wallin

Michael Trimble is a fresh face on the political fied

A Bit of Background

The first thing someone might notice about Michael Trimble, one of Oregon’s more unlikely gubernatorial candidates, is not the fact that he lacks arms—or the fact that he is usually wearing a bike helmet as he commutes almost exclusively via a modified bicycle—but his enthusiasm.

Trimble is the odd man out in the Oregon governor race, something he would be the first to own, calling himself a true “grassroots candidate.”

“I’ve always been an advocate, because I was born in an orphanage, and I never met my biological parents,” he began, before elaborating on how that impacted him. “So in an orphanage, you basically learn at a very young age that you have to fend for yourself, and since I had no arms, that just doubled down.”

“And then when I was adopted by Christian evangelical parents who were ‘told by God’ to adopt a boy without arms and a girl who had legs but could not walk, that became my next challenge.” Their religious beliefs led them to adopt the young Michael.

In his words, he “went from the frying pan of the orphanage system in Russia into the fires of Christian evangelicalism.”

Trimble spoke more about the uniqueness of his situation, explaining that while most people within the foster system have been taken out of their biological homes and are seeking adoption, he went to caseworkers seeking protection from abuse within his adopted home.

The abuse, he stated, was widely overlooked due to the family’s religious practices, which seemed to indeed cover a multitude of sins in the state of Pennsylvania.

“Technically, in Pennsylvania, they didn’t consider what was being done to me as child abuse even though all the social workers said, quite frankly, it was unforgivable.”

“We didn’t really get along from day one,” he said of his adoptive parents in the states, calling the situation “unfortunate.”

“It was a very stormy relationship,” he concluded. “Some families are just never meant to be, and we were definitely an example. They adopted me with good spirits and good intentions, but the execution was really, really poor.”

While he acknowledged this answer may seem a bit “long winded,” his point was clear: He has been resourceful and independent from a young age.

“I would like to extend that fighting spirit…as governor and fight for those who don’t fight for themselves.”

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10 Plus Tips To Cope With Anxiety

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Got Holiday Anxiety?

With Thanksgiving comes tension for some. . .

10 Plus Tips To Cope

Don’t Let Anxiety Ruin Your Holidays

By D. S. Mitchell 

Turkey and Pumpkin Pie 

The holidays are right around the corner. Some are excited about turkey and gravy, and fancy wrapped presents, but others see only stress and anxiety on the horizon. If you are hosting parties, the stress level is on steroids; fancy china, excited young ones, guests, surprise and otherwise. It can seem overwhelming. Read on if you are looking for some tips on how to get you through the holidays as anxiety free as possible.

Be Ready

Stay rested and recharged, ahead of the holidays. Take time for yourself.  Get enough sleep, engage in activities that you enjoy and make you feel good. Don’t skip self care routines under the pressure of the approaching holidays. Don’t do it-skipping health care routines will cost in the long run. You need that 30 minutes of cardio and any other health activities you are engaged in. These activities will keep you balanced and ready to face the upcoming holiday challenges. It just might be yoga, biking, stretching, Tai Chi, or  aqua aerobics, that  saves your sanity.

Everyone has different triggers, and identifying them is one of the most important steps to coping and managing anxiety attacks. Common ones, your first day at a new job, heading an important meeting, meeting your SO’s parents. Time and reflection will be required to identify your triggers. In the meantime, there are things you can do to try to help calm or quiet your anxious mind.

4.) Use aromatherapy

Whether they’re in oil form, incense, or a candle, scents like lavender, chamomile, and sandalwood are soothing. Certain receptors in your brain are activated by aromatherapy.

5.) Walking or Yoga

Just walk away if the situation is causing anxiety. It might be time to focus on  your body and not your mind to relieve your anxiety. Just move. Whether it’s the pool or the yoga mat, move your butt, it helps reduce stress. Try stretching, it can be incredibly beneficial.

6.) Write down your thoughts

Many mental health therapists suggest a client write down what’s causing their anxiety. Writing it down, gets it out of your head and can make it less daunting. My mother used this one, on a regular basis. She would write letters to the offenders and put them in envelopes addressed to whoever was causing her frustration and then stick it in a file, never sending it.

Not All Anxiety Is The Same
The previous suggestions are helpful if your symptoms are situational or sporadic. If anxiety is an on-going, persistent part of you life you may need more serious interventions and coping strategies.
Five Strategies For Coping With Long-Term Illness 

If anxiety is a regular part of your life, not just around the holidays, it’s important to find treatment strategies to help you manage it. There might be a combination of things, like talk therapy and meditation, or perhaps cutting out or resolving your anxiety trigger. Confused, as to where to start? It is always helpful to discuss options with a mental health professional who might suggest something you hadn’t thought of before moving ahead with your plan.

Some Well-Known Triggers:
  • debt
  • a stressful work environment
  • traveling
  • driving
  • DNA-genetics — anxiety, depression, alcoholism can run in families
  • drug withdrawal
  • medication side effects
  • trauma
  • phobias, such as agoraphobia (fear of crowded or open spaces) and claustrophobia (fear of small spaces)
  • some chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, or asthma
  • chronic pain
  • multiple mental illness diagnoses (such as depression, OCDC, anxiety)
  • caffeine
  • alcohol
Managing Those Triggers

Sometimes triggers can be obvious, such as caffeine, alcohol consumption, and drug use. Other times triggers are less obvious and we may need a therapist to help us isolate those triggers. Long-term stress, such as financial or work-related situations, can be more difficult— is it a due date, a person, or the situation? At this point you may need some extra support, through therapy or with some trusted friends.

Then What?

Once you do figure out your trigger(s), you should try to limit your exposure to them if you can. If you can’t limit it — say because it is due to a stressful work environment that you can’t currently change — using other coping techniques may help.

1.) Try Meditation

A successful meditation regime will take time and practice.  When done regularly, you can train your brain to dismiss anxious thoughts when they arise. If sitting still and concentrating is difficult, try starting your exercise routine with more active physical exertion and then start your yoga routine.

2.) Adopt Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps people learn different ways of thinking about and reacting to anxiety-causing situations. A therapist can help you develop ways to change negative thought patterns and behaviors before they spiral into a panic attack.

3.) Healthy Diet, Regular Exercise, Embrace Life 

Exercise regularly. Eat balanced meals. Get enough sleep. Stay connected to people who care about you. You may want to talk to your psychiatrist about adding supplements or nutrients to your long-term strategy.

4.) Consider Adding Supplements

Research shows certain supplements or nutrients help reduce anxiety symptoms. Some of these include:

  • lemon balm
  • omega-3 fatty acids
  • green tea
  • valerian root
  • dark chocolate (in moderation)

It can take up to three months before your body is actually using the nutrition these herbs and foods provide. If you’re taking other medications, make sure to discuss herbal remedies with your doctor. I’ve said that twice. I cannot say it enough. Different medications interact with one another whether OTC  or prescription. Talk to your doc.

5.) Prescription Medications

If your anxiety is severe enough that your mental health practitioner believes you’d benefit from psychotropic medication, there are a number of directions to go, depending on your symptoms. Discuss your concerns with your doctor.

Is My Anxiety Harmful?

Identifying what variety of anxiety you’re dealing with can be challenging-mainly because everyone’s body reacts to danger in entirely different ways. I’m sure you have heard “anxiety” used as a general term for feeling worry, uneasiness, or nervousness. It is often situational, a big dance, a speech, a tryout; it is often a feeling grown in response to an upcoming event that has an uncertain outcome. Every human being deals with such emotions-at some time in their life. It is part of how we are wired, our brains respond to perceived danger, even if there is no real danger.

Things Can Get Dark

There are times anxiety can get serious and turn into anxiety attacks that may begin slowly and initially feel manageable, but build up over a few hours. (Panic attacks are different. A panic attack comes out of the blue and then subsides.)

Signs and Symptoms of an anxiety attack

These are some of the more common mental and physical symptoms of anxiety:

  • feelings of danger, panic, or dread
  • nervousness/restlessness
  • rapid heart rate
  • sweating
  • trembling/chills
  • tiredness/weakness
  • gastric problems
  • difficulty focusing
  • rapid breathing, hyperventilating

It is possible to have both an anxiety and panic attack simultaneously. The quick coping strategies mentioned above may also help with a panic attack.

Try focusing on an object, repeating a mantra, closing your eyes, and going to your happy place.

Signs and Symptoms of a Panic Attack
Causes of Anxiety

If you notice that quick tips haven’t been working, you may want to consider seeing a professional for help. Especially if you believe you have GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) and the symptoms are interfering with your daily routine and physical symptoms. A mental health professional can help with identifying your triggers, maintaining long-term strategies through behavioral therapy, medications, and more.

Living With Anxiety 

If your anxiety stems from a past trauma, it can be helpful to work through those issues with a licensed therapist. On the other hand, if your brain chemistry predisposes you to persistent, chronic anxiety, you may need to go on medication to manage it. Anxiety is likely to continue to be part of your life, but it doesn’t need to take over your life.  Treatment is available to help control those painful symptoms and make those holidays at least tolerable.

Mask Know How

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Mask Know-How

Masks and handwashing are important components in staying healthy during COVID-19

Mask Know-How

By D. S. Mitchell

The Rights & Safety of the Community Come First

I am amazed to hear all the screaming and hollering about the rights of the individual; as if the community had no meaning, or importance. Besides vaccines the 3 most effective things we can do to protect ourselves, our family and our society, against disease is to 1) wear a mask, 2) wash your hands, and 3) give yourself some distance, at least six feet.  These behaviors save lives.

The Reasons

The reason you wear a mask is to prevent mucus and saliva from escaping your nose and mouth,  when you speak, eat, cough, sneeze and breathe. When that mask is in place it is a barrier to the spread of diseases like COVID-19 is slowed dramatically. Conversely, a mask  shields you from other people’s droplets. If your glasses fog up, make your own nosepiece to keep warm breath from escaping the top of your mask. A small piece of tape works great, and you can use tape with both the reusable and the disposable masks. Your mask should fit snugly over the whole lower half of your face and chin. When your chin’s left uncovered, germs and viruses can creep in and reach your mouth, nose, and eyes. They can also escape from your mouth and pass to others. It can also let your mask ride up on your face, which can fog your glasses or even block your vision.

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The Electric Vehicle Revolution

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The Electric Vehicle Revolution

The Electric Vehicle Revolution is here

Electric vehicles are the future, be ready. . . 

The Electric Vehicle Revolution

“Adoption of a new technology, like EV’s (electric vehicles) may seem slow or look like it’s never going to happen, until it passes a threshold. . . .and then it just takes off.” *Reda Cherif  

By D. S. Mitchell

Horse and Buggy Days

There is a growing understanding that gas and diesel-powered vehicles will soon join the horse and buggy and dial telephone. New studies support a rapid acceleration process and a gathering momentum of the coming EV tsunami. Surprising as it may seem, soothsayers predict that more than 90% of all passenger vehicles in the U.S., Canada, Europe and other wealthy industrialized countries will be EV by 2040. Some studies are even more bullish, predicting that by 2030, ninety percent of all U.S. vehicles will be EV. That is less than 9 years away.

A Big Culprit

One of the major sources of deadly air pollution, and a major factor in climate change, is transportation. In order to protect the climate and the health of our citizens it is imperative we modify the vehicles on our roads. A few years ago, transportation edged out power plants as the leading source of carbon emissions. We can end this catastrophe. Sources tell us a rapid shift to electric vehicles can cut more than 800 million tons of CO2 emissions every year by 2040, and cumulative reductions will reach 16.2 billion tons by 2050.

New Technology

The transition is going to happen fast because EV’s are better than gas vehicles. There is less maintenance, lower operating costs, and more power. A big factor in boosting sales of EV’s is that production costs are also coming down. The cost of an EV battery has dropped 86% in the last 10 years. In spite of chip shortages and COVID-19 challenges, Ford Motor Co. has been showing profits throughout 2021. Ford announced that its F-150 Lightening electric pickup has generated over 120,000 pre-orders since it was unveiled to great fanfare in May.

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“Just Dave” 09/19/2021

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“Just Dave” 09/19/2021

“Just Dave” 09/19/2021

Today, Dave is talking about the unvaccinated. The current epidemic is one of the unvaccinated. How come suddenly people would rather die on the battleground of stupidity than take an incredibly safe deterrent. Nothing is perfect, and that includes vaccines. Yet when tossing the dice the odds of surviving the vaccine far outweigh surviving COVID. How could anyone in their right mind want to take the chance of being paralyzed with drugs, have a tube shoved down their throat, a catheter shoved into your bladder, turned every hour so you don’t get bed sores? Now this isn’t going to be a two hour or two day affair. This could go on for months, until you die, or improve. If you die, most likely your last moments will be alone.  If you are lucky there may be a nurse there to hold your hand as you pass. So unnecessary.

Please, stop the silly nonsense and get vaccinated. Do it for yourself, your community, and the country.

The Just Dave Show “Get the Vaccine”

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The Just Dave Show “Get the Vaccine”

The “Just Dave Show” 

Dave is shooting from the hip

The Just Dave Show is focusing on vaccines today. The news is everywhere. The vaccine works in keeping people out of the hospital and getting seriously ill. So far 50% of the United States population has been totally vaccinated. Now the rest of you, listen up; get the damn vaccine. Stop the contrariness. People are dying for no reason. The surging pandemic is now of the unvaccinated. Dave today tries to make some sense of all of it.

How To Survive a Heart Attack When Alone

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How To Survive a Heart Attack When Alone

How To Survive a Heart Attack When Alone

Take Two Minutes To Read This Life Saving  Information

By D. S. Mitchell, R.N. (retired)

I was having lunch with another retired R.N., when we got up to leave she reached into her purse and handed me a folded piece of paper. I opened it and the title at the top of the page read, “How to Survive a Heart Attack When Alone.”

“My heart’s great, but just in case, it’s probably good information to have.”

“Share it,” she said.

So that’s what I’m doing. Please, take two minutes to read this life saving information.

  • Imagine it is 5:30 at night and you’re headed home, (alone of course) after an unusually hard day at work.
  • You are extremely tired, upset and frustrated.
  • Suddenly,  you experience severe pain in your chest that starts to drag out into your arm and up in to your jaw. You are only about five minutes from nearest hospital.
  • Unfortunately your symptoms are severe and you don’t want to drive in your condition. **Call 911. Take a baby aspirin. If you have no baby aspirin take a regular 325 mg aspirin if there is one available.
  •  You have been trained in CPR, but your trainer never taught you to perform it on yourself.
  •  How to survive a heart attack when alone.  Many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has an estimated 10 seconds before losing consciousness.
  •  However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must he deep and prolonged, as when trying to produce sputum from deep inside the chest. A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.
  •  Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart from the coughing helps it regain a normal rhythm.
  • PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO DRIVE YOURSELF TO THE HOSPITAL. Pull off the road and call 911 it would be tragic if you passed out behind the wheel and killed someone.

    https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2017/10/12/warning-signs-of-stroke-and-heart-attack/

 

Sha’Carri Richardson: The Girl’s Got Flash

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Sha’Carri Richardson:  The Girl’s Got Flash

OPINION:

Sha’Carri Richardson: The Girl’s Got Flash

By D. S. Mitchell and William Jones

Eye Catching Style

Sha’Carri Richardson was the center of media attention after securing her spot at the Tokyo Olympics, not only for her lightening speed, but for the over-the-top glamour she brought to the track. Sha’Carri Richardson lit up the arena with long, bright fingernails, vibrantly colored hair, and dazzling speed. Such tactics guaranteed her the spotlight during races. She changes her hair color frequently, telling reporters and fans that the orange shade for the U.S. trials in Eugene, Oregon was inspired by her girlfriend, who chose the color because it was “loud” and screamed “dangerous.”

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The Benefits Of Stretching

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The Benefits Of Stretching

Stretching is very beneficial to overall health

The Benefits Of Stretching

By D. S. Mitchell

The benefits of regular stretching are numerous. Stretching is important in the battle to keep us flexible, an important factor to overall fitness. It can also improve your posture, reduce stress and body aches, end back pain, increase range of motion and more.

They Teach It In Schools

When we were kids our PE teachers always insisted we stretch before and after exercise.  I know, stretching, really? Boring!  While most younger folks are limber and flexible enough to jump straight into a game and  skip the cooldown, us older folks can do real damage if we opt to skip the stretching.

In My Case

I recently had a rotator cuff injury that required 12 weeks of Physical Therapy. When I started my visits I was miserable. I literally could only lift my left arm if I lifted it with my right arm. The pain was indescribable.  At the end of my 12 weeks of therapy, I felt great, no pain and had full range of motion. And how did the therapist accomplish that miracle?  She did it with a daily stretching program. That’s right, stretching. The benefits of stretching go way beyond feeling limber on the tennis court, or being able to pick up a penny and not throw your back out. There are both physical and mental benefits to stretching. Read on.

Take A Stretching Break

Frustrated, stymied, taking a break to stretch can help you clear your mind . Stretching releases endorphins and stabilizes hormones, which can improve attitude and mood making you more pleasant to be around and able to approach problems with clear eyes. Regular stretching has been linked to mental balance and  clarity. If you’re in chronic pain, regular stretching is an excellent way to address the issue. It is definitely safer and more effective than opioids.  Stretching helps ease discomfort, and costs nothing.

Little Space And No Equipment

Because of these benefits, I support stretching every morning, right after I get up, and every night just before bed.  However, you can do a few basic stretches any time of day. It requires very little room and no equipment. Instead of  a  cigarette break I take a stretching break.  I’ve even seen people who are trying to quit smoking, replace the cigarette with stretches. A great alternative, I must say.  There are very few things that can be done for free and at any time, but stretching is one of them.  I’m amazed, more people don’t do it.

The Physical Benefits  Of Stretching

Daily stretching can improve your blood flow and make your arteries healthier. Within a couple months of starting a stretching program you could lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction and more. If you stay loose and limber, your muscles respond better to stressors-expected and unexpected-that might otherwise result in injury.  Stretching is not a magic elixir, but if you stretch regularly you will according to science feel better and be healthier.

Putting It All Together: Benefits Of Starting A Stretching Routine
  1. Improved Flexibility: Essential to overall health. Improved flexibility allows seniors to perform everyday activities with ease and naturally delays reduced mobility issues, common with aging.
  2. Improved Range Of Motion: The ability to move a joint through its full range gives freedom of movement. Essential for healthy aging.
  3. Improved Performance In Physical Activities: Doing dynamic stretches prior to activities is proven to prepare your muscles for the exercise.  It may also improve your performance in the activity.
  4. Increase Blood Flow To Muscles: Improves your circulation, increased blood flow to your muscles, which can shorten your recovery time and reduce muscle soreness or delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
  5. Improved Posture: Poor posture is often the result of muscle imbalances. A combination of strengthening and stretching specific muscle groups can reduce musculoskeletal pain and encourage proper alignment, thus improved posture.
  6. Helps Heal And Prevent Back Pain: Tight muscles can lead to a decrease in your ROM. When this happens you increase the likelihood of straining the muscles in your back. Stretching can help heal an existing back injury by stretching the injured muscles. A regular stretching routine can also prevent future back pain by strengthening your back muscles and reducing your risk of muscle strain.
  7. Stress Relief: Stress leads to tense muscles. Muscles tighten up in response to physical and emotional stress. Focus on areas of your body where you tend to hold your stress, primarily the neck, shoulders, and upper back.
  8. Calm The Mind: A regular stretching routine can calm the mind. While you stretch focus on mindfulness and meditation exercises. Give your mind a break.
  9. Reduce Tension Headaches: Tension and stress headaches can interfere with activities of daily living. Stretching reduces the tension and anxiety you feel from headaches.
Challenge 

Were you aware that May is National  Physical Fitness and Sports Month?  National Physical Fitness and Sports Month is a time to highlight the importance of staying active through sports and other fitness activities. Every day this month, I challenge you to spend time stretching in the morning and then again before bedtime. I guarantee that if you do, you will feel better. And who wouldn’t want that?

*Static Stretches: involve holding a stretch in a comfortable position for a period of time, typically 10 to 30 seconds. This form of stretching is most beneficial after you exercise.

*Dynamic Stretches: are active movements that cause your muscles to stretch, but the stretch is not held in the end position. These stretches are usually done before exercise to get your muscles ready for movement.

Watch Your Technique

If you are new to a regular stretching routine, take it slow. Your body needs time to get used to the stretches. Check your form and technique regularly, poor technique can lead to injury. You can stretch almost any place at any time. I suggest a program that lasts at least 15 minutes first thing in the morning and 15 minutes just before bedtime.

Focus

When stretching focus on he major areas of your body that help with mobility, such as calves, hamstrings, hip flexors, quadriceps. For upper-body relief, try stretches of the shoulder, next and lower back.  I suggest you research the best stretches for what you want to accomplish, or better yet consult your physician or physical therapist. There will be recommendations for length of hold and number of repetitions, etc for each stretch.

Here are a few standard safety tips before stretching: 

  1. Do Not Bounce: Experts suggest you avoid bouncing.
  2. Point Of Discomfort: While it is common to feel tension when stretching a muscle you should never feel pain. If an area you are stretching starts to hurt, back off on the stretch until you don’t feel pain.
  3. Do Not Overdo: Stretching puts stress on your body. If you’re stretching the same muscle groups multiple times a day, you risk over-stretching and causing damage.
  4. Don’t Start Stretches Cold: Cold muscles are not as pliable, which makes stretching a lot more difficult. The best time to stretch is after warming up 5-10 minutes with some light cardio or walking.

As with anything, you should check with your primary care physician before you start any exercise program.

https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2018/01/21/10-sneaky-fitness-tricks-time-challenged/

 

Neanderthal’s Gone, But Not Forgotten

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Neanderthal’s Gone, But Not Forgotten

Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals interbred and we still carry the genes of those ancient ancestors

A 60,000-year-old Neanderthal gene once made us resistant to viruses, but now it may make us vulnerable to it.

 

Neanderthal’s Gone But Not Forgotten

Sonnet Gomes

Half of Neanderthal Genome Survives

Neanderthals died out around 40,000 years ago, but traces of them still remain. In the past decade it has become clear that Neanderthals mated with the ancestors of modern humans, producing viable offspring. Studies indicate that almost half of the Neanderthal genome still survives, scattered in small quantities among most modern people’s DNA. (The exception is those with mostly African ancestors, for Neanderthals seem never to have lived in Africa.)

Two Long Chains

Such genes have been associated with everything from hairiness to fat metabolism. Many seem to be related to the immune system, and to affect the risk of developing diseases including lupus, Crohn’s and diabetes. A pair of recent papers suggest covid-19 belongs on that list as well. Two long sections of DNA, both inherited from Neanderthals, appear to confer resistance or susceptibility to severe covid-19, depending on which is present.

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