Thursday, March 6, 2014 7
Coastal View News • Tel: (805) 684-4428
Your lungs on ‘roids
If I had been a doctor 40 years ago, his big contribution to confectionary sciI’d be really old today. I could reminisce ence was figuring out how to stuff fruit about how back then, medicine was sim- inside a cake pastry, thereby taking fig pler, with hardly any bureaucracy or pa- farming from a fringe Middle Eastern perwork. As niche into a global an example, giant of an industry. I would talk Before Newton, fruit about asthma. and cake were served Back then, on separate platwhen patients ters. After Newton’s with asthma breakthrough, people would come could either buy one to see me, the less serving platter visit would be or serve other snack rather short. items like nuts! It was ALI JAVANBAKHT, MD “Avoid things liberating! Party hostthat trigger your asthma. If you get an ing was never the same. attack, shoot yourself with epinephrine. Inhaled steroids had the same liberatHave a nice day.” I would leave the exam ing effect on asthma treatment. No lonroom and have my nurse educate the pa- ger would asthmatics have to undergo tient or parent on how to administer epi- painful injections. They could prevent nephrine at home. She would encourage bad asthma attacks in the first place. The the adult patients to have a list of projects occasional exposure to a trigger didn’t handy for the boost of energy the shots mean a life threatening asthma attack bring and warn children’s parents to re- anymore, and asthmatics could expand move all sharp objects and pad the walls. their repertoire of physical activity. Nowadays, the asthma visit is a big Inhaled steroids accomplish all these production, complete with color coded magical things by treating the root probinhalers and devices to suck air through lem of asthma, inflammation. If asthma and to blow into. We talk about the were candy, inflammation would be sug“green, yellow and red” zones of asthma ar. Without sugar there can be no candy. and what to do for each. At home epi- So using an inhaled steroid is like stealing nephrine injections are a thing of the past. sugar from a candy maker. When inhaled The medical breakthrough that allowed steroids get into the lungs, they penetrate asthma treatment to come out of the dark the airways and take away the inflammaages was the inhaled steroid. tion sugar thereby preventing the airways If asthma treatment were confection- from making asthma candy. The result is ary science, inhaled steroids would be patients controlling the disease instead of Sir Isaac Newton. Newton may be best the disease controlling patients. known as the brilliant scientist who first Nowadays inhaled steroids come in explained gravity and provided a theory powders, puffers and liquids that can to explain the motion of the planets. But be put into machines that turn them
for the health of it!
into steam. They come in circular and cylindrical containers with knobs, levers and counters, and in all the colors of the rainbow so there can be no excuses. Every asthmatic, except the ones with the mildest forms, should be using an inhaled steroid. An important distinction needs to be made between inhaled steroids and steroid pills. Steroid pills have a lot of very dangerous side effects such as raising blood pressure and blood sugar, increasing weight and increasing risk of stroke. Steroid pills cause these side effects because they enter the bloodstream and disrupt the hormonal balance in the
Meditation Blue Lotus Dharma WEDNESDAY EVENINGS 5:30 - 6:30 PM
CARPINTERIA WOMAN’S CLUB 1059 Vallecito Rd • Carpinteria
Free & open to the public, beginners welcome. Instructions and cushions provided.
www.bluelotusdharma.org
“WITH HELP COMES HOPE”
COMMUNITY TOOL BOX
ABCs OF SUICIDE PREVENTION
Weekly Class sChedule
An interactive workshop to learn the warning signs, coping strategies and sources of suppor t
Linden City Beach, Carpinteria
“JUST IN CASE”
Featuring Lisa Firestone, Ph.D. of The Glendon Association
International authority on suicide prevention
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 7-9 PM Carpinteria Woman’s Club • 1059 Vallecito Road
(805) 570-3068 or hopenetofcarp@gmail.com • hopenetofcarp.org
Amrit Joy’s Hints for Healthy & Happy Living Dancer - Natarajasna
This balancing pose strengthens muscles in the legs, feet and lower back. It opens the hips and pelvis and strengthens the psoas muscles (the muscles that connect the torso to the lower body). 1. In a standing pose, bend the left knee, raising the left foot to the buttocks. 2. Hold the left ankle or foot with the left hand. 3. Raise the right hand in the air, balancing on your right foot. 4. Hold the pose and take some long deep breaths. 5. Repeat on the opposite side. Then return to standing pose and breath. Amrit Joy is a certified Hatha and Kundalini Yoga instructor. She has been practicing and teaching yoga since 1976. Amrit offers ongoing group yoga classes open to all levels here in Carpinteria. Private instruction in yoga and meditation is also available by appointment. For more information, call Amrit Joy at 745-1707 or visit www.amritjoy.com.
MONday Qigong/Tai Chi • 5:15-6:15 WedNesday Qigong/Tai Chi • 3:30-4:30 Linden City Beach, Carpinteria
Qigong • 5:30-6:45
4690 Carpinteria Ave. Suite A, Carp. Linden City Beach, Carpinteria
FRIday Sunset Tai Chi • 5-6
body. Inhaled steroids work only in the lungs. They do not enter the bloodstream and therefore leave the body’s natural hormonal balance untouched. They are very considerate that way. So the next time we’re enjoying a fruit filled pastry or the effects of the Earth’s gravity, let’s take a moment to thank the inhaled steroids. Thanks to them, the lives of asthmatics are closer to those of non-asthmatics than ever before. In fact, many people only find out that a friend has asthma after peering through their medicine cabinet. Medicine may be more complicated today, but it has also given us better treatment options. So I can do my paperwork, resting assured that, nowadays, I can better treat my patients’ asthma—as well as my own. Dr. Javanbakht is a Board Certified Family Physician practicing at the Carpinteria Branch of Sansum Clinic. His column won second place for best original writing at the 2010 AFCP awards. A collection of his columns has been compiled into a book entitled, “For the Health of It!” available at Xlibris. com. Read more of his work at his website, healthcrap.com.
Creating good Human SoCiety mindfulness-awareness
WedneSdayS march 5 - april 30 10:30 a.m.-12:30 at Carpinteria Woman’s Club 1059 Vallecito Rd.
Sitting meditation & class based on The Shambhala PRINCIPlE by: Sakyong Mipham Everyone welcome. No charge. For more info call: 805-861-8859
saTuRday Tai Chi Easy • 9:15-10:15 Linden City Beach, Carpinteria
Qigong • 11:00-12:15 4690 Carpinteria Ave. Suite A, Carp.
Workshop
QIGoNG healing Techniques part 1
Sat., March 15 • 3-6 pm Dancing Dolphin Health Practices 4690 Carpinteria Ave. Suite A, Carp. $25 PUBLIC/$50 ACUPUNCTURISTS 3 CEUs Healing exercises Based upon the book “The Healing Promise of Qi” by Dr. Roger Jahnke 1. Discover Qi 2. Gather Qi 3. Circulate Qi 4. Purify Qi 5. Distribute Qi
6. Conserve Qi 7. Store Qi 8. Transform Qi 9. Dissolve into Qi 10.Transmit Qi
805-705-3426 • Space is Limited! Jessica@QigongSB.com
Alicia, To many more beautiful birthdays! Have a great day! Your family, with love, Craig & Carlo