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Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend August 8, 2006 Change your life, not your medicine Consider this as Part Two of a continuing conversation. Last week I wrote a column about changing disease guidelines and their effect on our lives. And, let's be completely honest, our pocketbook. Based on a recent series in the Seattle Times, chronic disease conditions are being diagnosed earlier and medications initiated sooner. Is that really true? Maybe you and your doctor are the only ones who can answer that. Maybe that's the conversation to have. It seems to be true because the average resident of an assisted living facility is taking 16-18 prescription medications (according to recently completed assessments). Maybe that's not you, but maybe it's your mother, or your step-dad, a good friend. Maybe it's you in 10 years. Advertisement If you follow my columns, you will recognize this statement, "when a new medication is recommended, the first thing you absolutely must consider saying is: 'Are there lifestyle changes I could make that would not require me to take this medication?' " These would be things like eating less salt, eating less fat, eating less sugar — eating less overall. Walking more and longer. And if there are, for gosh-almighty sake, make them. Darn it, do it. Over 21 percent of Oregonians still smoke; 79 percent do not eat any/many fruits and vegetables. But, look at that from another angle, 79 percent don't smoke and more than 20 percent recognize the critical role of eating enough color and fiber. What I am saying is, we try. We all try. Sometimes we try so hard it even happens. But old patterns are well imbedded — it's hard. I used to say 80 percent of people over age 65 have a chronic condition, but now the research has indicated it's 88 percent, and 50 percent have two or more. And many of those chronic conditions can be delayed or avoided altogether. Is that really true? Yes. So what does it take to make us alter bad habits that will surely lead us to chronic illness and medication dependency? If I knew the magic words, I would use them. In the meantime I will keep the search on and share what I find. Try a new locally developed Web site called www.sohealthyoregon.org for a few ideas. Look at the classes available there and click on the "About Us" section too. I am an educator. And I always think if we are well educated, if we have the best available information, we make better choices about medication use and lifestyle in general. For six weeks starting in mid-September I will have a pharmacy intern working with me, a fourth-year doctoral student who is very current on medications, their uses and the side-effects. She and I will be on the road together teaching classes and talking about medications and their management, and doing it in simple, practical terms. The Web site above can give you links to the dates and places — there will also be ads in the Mail Tribune. I am calling them "need to know" workshops. If, in the next decade I end up taking large quantities of medications, I need to know more. Thought you might too. Sharon Johnson is an associate professor in the College of Health and Human Sciences at Oregon State University and on the faculty of the OSU Extension Service. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Advertisement s Advertisement