Oregon Healthy Living April 2018

APRIL 2018 | VOL. 11 — ISSUE 4

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GET READY FOR

GOLF

Play better and avoid injuries

PLUS Going for zero food waste Becoming an ex-smoker Deadly disease for dogs

O regon H ealthy L iving . com

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Table of Contents

APRIL 2018 | VOLUME 11 — ISSUE 4

FITNESS

COVER STORY

Fit for Golf: Improve your game with training

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FOOD

From Scraps to Supper: Goals for zero food waste

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EVENTS

PETS

HEALTH

Quitting Time: How to kick nicotine

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Proactive Acupuncture: Maintaining health

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Fatal Parasites: Preventing heartworms

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Local Events Calendar: What’s going on in your community

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On the cover

The editor’s desk The issue you hold in your hands represents the 10th anniversary of Oregon Healthy Living. In that time, many people have contributed their talents to editing, writing, photographing and designing this publication. We have covered a variety of topics from snowshoeing at Crater Lake to triathlons at the coast, tattoos to sage cleansing, allergies to strokes, plus plenty of healthy recipes! Did you know you can find an archive of all our past issues at www.mailtribune.com/oregonhealthyliving/archives?

Please send us your ideas for topics you’d like to know more about at the email listed below.

At 25, Justin Wiles of Central Point is an avid golfer who turned pro in 2017. He participates in 20+ tournaments a year. For him, two keys of staying physically ready for golf are his trusty foam roller and regular stretching. “I always have my foam roller with me to use for hip flexors and glutes before and after rounds,” he said. “I also stretch 24/7. If I’m watching TV, I’m stretching; in the grocery store, I’m GET READY stretching. Once one FOR GOLF muscle group gets tight, it’s a snowball effect.”

Photo by Dustin Peters.

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Play better and avoid injuries

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Going for zero food waste Becoming an ex-smoker Deadly disease for dogs

O regOn H ealtHy l iving . cOm

crose@rosebudmedia.com

STAFF EDITOR: Cheryl P. Rose VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES: Gail Whiting DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Paul Bunch, Jaren Hobson, Eric Richey, John Sullivan, CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Sarah Lemon Micah Leigh Rebecca Scott Cindy Quick Wilson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Dustin Peters Oregon Healthy Living Magazine is published by the Rosebud Multimedia Advertising Department, 111 N. Fir St., Medford, OR 97501.

General information: 541.776.4422 Submissions and feedback: crose@rosebudmedia.com

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Join the list...

Medical Eye Center..................... pg. 7 Medicap Pharmacy..................... pg. 9

Admire Aesthetics........................ pg. 11

Northridge Center....................... pg. 4

Ashland Food Cooperative.......... pg. 8

Norton Lumber............................ pg. 4

Dr. Waschak Pediataric Dentist.... pg. 24

Oregon Retina Center................. pg. 16

Vicki Fletcher / Realtor................ pg. 22

Retina Care Center...................... pg. 13

Good Medicine Acupuncture....... pg. 19

Rosa Transformational Health...... pg. 21

Grins4Kidz.................................. pg. 23

Sherm’s Food4Less...................... pg. 2

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Center.pg. 10

Southern Oregon Foot & Ankle... pg. 7

Illumined Body............................ pg. 15

Sun Breeze.................................. pg. 11

Medford Dermatology................. pg. 23

Superior Athletic Club.................. pg. 9

Medford Food Co-op.................. pg. 17

Wild Fern Natural Health............ pg. 17

Medford Foot & Ankle................. pg. 3

....and reach your next customer with Oregon Healthy Living!

To advertise contact Niche Marketing Specialist Athena Fliegel at 541.776.4385 or afliegel@rosebudmedia.com

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FITNESS

It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got that

Swing Exercises to improve your golf game TEXT BY MICAH LEIGH PHOTOGRAPHY BY DUSTIN PETERS

Justin Wiles shows his swing at 14th hole at Eagle Point Golf Club.

T

he links may be calling you as the spring season arrives.

Perhaps you attempted to stay in shape over the long winter months.

But if you mostly sat by the fire and watched Netflix, you may need a little preparation before you jump back into your golf game.

The American lifestyle places undue stress on our back muscles, says Justin Wiles, Eagle Point Golf Club instructor. “Because most people sit a lot during their daily activities, muscle groups that are essential for golfers get tight and restricted,” he says. “Sitting for hours each day can cause back muscles to stretch to their limits and core muscles to become weak.

This also creates rounded shoulders, overly stretched hamstrings and tight quads leading to a forward tilt of the pelvis, which ultimately leads to lower back pain.”

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FITNESS continued from page 5 Jayson Tonkin, certified personal trainer at Precision Fitness in Medford, echoes these concerns. “Men who sit at a desk all day generally have tight biceps and chest muscles,” he says.

Flexibility is important for a consistent golf swing, Tonkin adds. “Choose 8-12 stretches and do the same exercises every time. Whether you are going to the driving range or the course, it is important to do them and always do both sides,” he says. “Golf is a redundant game. You do the same motions over and over. If you only exercise one side, you end up with a side that is tight and one that lengthens. Try just swinging the club in both directions.”

You don’t need a special place or special equipment to do these stretches, Tonkin says. “You can stretch your calves against the curb when you get out of your vehicle. You can do lateral stretches by holding onto the door handle of your truck and letting your body hang to one side which lengthens your lats and biceps. It is also good for lower back pain. Along with lunges, these exercises will not only improve your golf game, they will improve your overall health and flexibility. To learn the correct way to do these and other exercises, you can always consult a trainer or YouTube.”

GET READY TO GOLF Split squats/lunges

“A great exercise to strengthen both hamstrings and quads at the same time is split squats,” Wiles says. “From a standing position, take one leg and step forward slightly further than a normal stride. Drop your body down until your trail leg is almost touching the floor then push back up to starting position. Do three sets of 10 lunges per leg every day. Your legs will start to strengthen, and lower back pain will begin to alleviate. If you bend over to touch your toes thinking it will stretch your hamstrings, be sure to do it with a straight back. Bend over just until you feel your shoulders wanting to round. Hold this position for five seconds while taking deep breaths.”

Chest stretches

“One of my favorite stretches for the chest is the doorjamb or doorway stretch,” Tonkin says. You do this by standing in a doorway and placing your hands flat against the sides of the door about even with your head. Now lean your chest into the doorway opening, while bracing against the doorjamb. Hold for 10-15 seconds. You will feel the stretch in your chest and your shoulder blades. You can also slowly rotate your body side to side while in this position. Do this as often as you want throughout the day to loosen up at home or work.”

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FITNESS Titanic stretch

Wiles says that the “titanic stretch” is excellent for rounded shoulders.

“From a standing position, move your arms behind your hips and rotate your palms toward the sky,” he describes. “From this position, tilt your head backward as if you are trying to look at the wall behind you. breathe deeply and hold the position for five seconds. Do this stretch once an hour during the workday and you should feel a noticeable difference in your upper back and your entire body the next time you play golf.”

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FITNESS continued from page 7

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FITNESS

Yoga pigeon pose “Ladies who golf may notice tight glutes from sitting long periods of time with their legs crossed,” Tonkin says. “One excellent stretch for glutes and hip flexors is the yoga pigeon pose. On a mat or the floor, come to table top on all fours.

Bring left ankle to right hand and slide the right leg back.

Keep you front foot flexed. Keep your hips square and sit up straight. As flexibility increases, you can rest on your forearms and eventually rest your chest on the floor. Switch legs and do the other side. Hold the pose from 10 breaths to five minutes on each side. By stretching the muscles consistently, your golf game will improve.”

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FITNESS “I would give up golf if I didn’t have so many sweaters.”- Bob Hope

continued from page 9

Every year, millions of Americans, young and old, take to golf courses around the country. Whether for the competition, the social aspect or the fun of it, golf has certain health benefits.

According to Justin Wiles, Eagle Point Golf Club instructor, golf can create a healthy lifestyle for many people.

“Walking 18 holes is equal to about 6 miles on a full-sized golf course. Add in a 10-20-pound golf bag that you should be carrying yourself instead of using a caddy, and you have a very good exercise for both your heart and legs,” he says. “As much as people see golf as a physical workout, at times it can be an even more effective mental and emotional workout.”

Wiles explains that during 18 holes of golf, players come up against many different situations that have to be studied and solved. “Your brain has to recognize and find a solution to conquer the shot,” he says. “Golf can make the calmest people want to pull their hair out at times! It can also teach a player how to stay patient and levelheaded in difficult situations. A lot of these lessons can be translated into the real world to deal with everyday life.”

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FOOD

Waste not, want not Discarded food takes economic, environmental tolls TEXT BY SARAH LEMON

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magine buying five bags of groceries, then leaving two behind in the store parking lot.

Such unconscionable behavior is a powerful analogy for so many consumers’ unconscious habits, says Stephanie Koerella. Of all food grown in the United States, Americans waste 40 percent of it, says Koerella, education coordinator for Ashland Food Co-op.

To discourage customers from throwing out still edible food, says Koerella, the Co-op throws out as many tips as two hours allow in its free class “Zero Waste Hero.”

After paying $10 to hold their spot in class, planned for April 12, participants recoup the fee as a Co-op gift card. “Food lasts longer than we think,” says Koerella.

“There’s a lot of ways to revive your food.”

Using up “odds and ends” in the refrigerator is the focus of several Co-op recipes that whet students’ appetites for more information. In keeping with the Co-op’s mission to reduce waste, students don’t receive paper copies of the recipes, which all are available online. The take-home message, says Koerella, is that recipes can be templates to accommodate a variety of ingredients that — on their own — might not constitute a meal but together can compose an economical, healthful dish.

A simple quinoa salad, says Koerella, is “a great catch-all” for halves and quarters of assorted vegetables, a few sprigs of fresh herbs and a sprinkling of nuts or seeds, dressed with a basic vinaigrette made from pantry-staple oil and vinegar. “And it’s super affordable.”

Similarly, mixed-vegetable frittata, made with a little butter and cheese, is a filling meal that accommodates just about any leftover vegetable, even already cooked. Fancy Free Frittata is no accident of naming. Repurposing extraneous ingredients makes the dish extremely budget-friendly — practically free.

Thousands of dollars per U.S. household are wasted annually on uneaten food, according to consumer studies. And as

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Americans are emptying their wallets, the excess food they’re purchasing is filling up landfills at the rate of 429 pounds per person per year, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates.

That makes food waste the single largest contributor to landfills, says Anne Carter, general manager for Medford Food Co-op. Largely to blame are U.S. food-labeling practices that are widely misunderstood, say Carter and other experts.

“The labeling is confusing,” says Carter. “Just because it has a ‘sell-by’ date or a ‘use-by’ date on it — and it’s today’s date — doesn’t mean you have to toss it.”

Carter advocates planning a meal to use an opened dairy package near its “use-by” date. Freeze unopened packages of perishable foods — or repackage them — that have exceeded their “use-by” dates by a day or two, she says. Unopened dry and canned goods can be eaten long after their “best-by” dates have passed, she adds. Oregon State University Extension produces a helpful guide to food-product dating, says Koerella.

The best safeguard against redundantly filling the fridge and pantry is to “know what you have on hand” before shopping, says Carter. Take waste reduction to the next level, she says, by cooking more whole foods and cutting back on processed — particularly single-serve — items. Offering foodstuffs in

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FOOD bulk bins, allowing customers to select as much of an item as they want for storage in their own containers, long has been a hallmark of food cooperatives.

“A big part of the class will be on bulk,” says Koerella.

Just don’t confuse the practice of purchasing from bulk bins with frequenting warehouse stores that specialize in supersized food packages. Buying groceries infrequently — such as once a month —in large quantities generates more food waste, negating any monetary savings associated with that Stephanie Koerella of Ashland Food Co-op with her quinoa salad. shopping strategy, according to a study in the International Photo provided by Ashland Food Co-op.

Journal of Consumer Studies.

Jotting down discarded food items in a “waste diary” can be very revealing and, ultimately, lead to meaningful changes in one’s buying habits, says Koerella. The hidden costs, she says, are resources consumed to produce a food.

Throwing out a pound of overripe bananas, for example, is the water-usage equivalent of leaving your bathroom shower on for 42 minutes. “Just the water alone is compelling, and it gets worse from there,” says Koerella. “Being smarter about your food saves on resources, in general.”

FANCY FREE FRITTATA Ingredients: 3 tablespoons butter, divided 3 cups chopped vegetables of your choice (sliced mushrooms, red or green bell pepper, zucchini, kale, broccoli, asparagus, red onion) Photo provided by Ashland Food Co-op.

8 large eggs 4 scallions, trimmed and chopped (optional) 1 cup grated cheese (mild cheddar, fontina or feta), divided 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper Basil (1/4 teaspoon dried or 1 tablespoon fresh minced) Directions: Preheat broiler. Over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a heavy, broiler-proof, 10-inch-diameter skillet (cast iron works great). Sauté the 3 cups vegetables until tender, for 5-7 minutes. In a bowl, whisk the eggs with the scallions, 1/2 cup of the cheese, the salt, pepper and basil. Add remaining tablespoon butter to pan and let it melt. Pour egg mixture into pan and gently fold eggs and vegetables together. Cook over medium-low heat until almost set. Sprinkle frittata with remaining cheese. Under oven broiler, broil surface of frittata until it puffs and cheese begins to turn golden, for about 1 minute. Cut into wedges and serve.

Servings: 2-4

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IT

H T E G H N A I B K C

KI

HEALTH

Smoking cessation techniques

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HEALTH TEXT BY REBECCA SCOTT

S

mokers have a higher risk of developing many chronic diseases according to health experts. But whether you are a lifelong smoker or have the occasional cigarette with your morning coffee, there are many methods available to help you quit. Experts believe smoking is a hard addiction to break because of its physiological and social components, but the health benefits to quitting are numerous and worth the effort.

The path to quitting

Traditionally, there are two methods you can use to quit smoking: behavioral training and pharmaceuticals, says Dr. Kenneth Haugen, a radiation oncologist with Providence Medical Center in Medford. “Behavioral methods include counseling, deep-breathing exercises, incorporating healthy snacks and removing triggers,” he says.

Haugen explains pharmaceuticals include medications or nicotine replacements. However, he says deciding which pharmaceuticals to use depends on the preferences of the individual and his or her care provider. “Studies show a combination of medication and behavioral treatments is more effective in helping you quit than using only one method,” he explains.

For people who cannot take medication or choose not to, there are other cessation techniques available, such

to help you quit

as acupuncture. “Acupuncture helps in abating physical symptoms, like irritability or appetite changes, and helps reduce cigarette cravings,” says Kristin Piacitelli, an acupuncturist at Good Medicine Acupuncture and Herbs in Medford. At her practice, she has found stimulating body points through acupuncture helps with smoking cessation and brings balance to the entire body.

Piacitelli also thinks that a combination of medication and acupuncture increases your chance of success.

“Different modalities can be combined to quit,” she says.

How quickly should you quit?

One highly individualized aspect of smoking cessation is whether you should quit “cold turkey” or reduce your nicotine intake slowly. “Personally, I’m a fan that slow and steady wins the race,” says Piacitelli. From her observations, successfully quitting cold turkey is more the exception than the norm, and it is harder to sustain.

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HEALTH continued from page 15 Piacitelli suggests you write down how many cigarettes you smoke now, and then slowly decrease your nicotine intake over time. You can track your progress with a calendar or chart, she adds.

Conversely, others believe quitting gradually decreases your chance of success. “It prolongs withdrawal symptoms for as long as you’re trying to quit,” says Haugen. He believes it is best to quit cold turkey, in conjunction with behavioral methods and pharmaceutical aids. “Within a week, major withdrawal symptoms should be gone,” he says.

Benefits of quitting

Haugen and Piacitelli agree quitting smoking positively affects your overall health. Smoking increases your risk of many cancers, says Haugen, including cancer of the lungs, head, neck, bladder and pancreas. He also says healing is much slower in smokers. “Your chance of healing from surgery decreases because tobacco and nicotine restrict blood flow to the tissues,” he explains.

According to Haugen, smoking increases your chance of human papillomavirus (HPV) becoming a serious problem. “In most people, HPV can resolve on its own, but tobacco use reduces that ability,” he explains.

“It’s a hard process, but quitting will only benefit your future health.”

Kristin Piacitelli, Good Medicine Acupuncture and Herbs, Medford Additionally, Piacitelli says smoking increases your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. “Smoking could also lead to premature aging or blood sugar imbalance,” she says.

Haugen believes it is important to start the quitting process as early as possible, because the longer you smoke, the harder it is to quit.

Many places, such as restaurants and airports, have already limited where you can smoke. In his opinion, it’s harder for smokers to quit now than ever before. “If you’re smoking today, you’re seeking out ways to do it,” he says.

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Smokefree

Oregon

If you are ready to quit smoking, there are resources available to help you. The Oregon Tobacco Quit Line is a free program offering tips, information and oneon-one telephone counseling.

The program is available to Oregonians regardless of income or insurance status. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800784-8669), 1-877-777-6534 (TTY) or visit www.quitnow.net/ Oregon for more information.

When you call the Quit Line, you’ll speak with an expert quit coach who will help you make a personalized plan. You will also receive a Quit Guide which offers additional information.

If you need more help, call the Quit Line as often as you need, at no charge to you.

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HEALTH Alternatives to smoking

Today, there are smoking alternatives available, such as marijuana and vaping. Piacitelli explains that in Chinese medicine, marijuana can be an effective medicine. However, she advises people that even though marijuana is an herb, it’s still a drug and has side effects. “Smoking marijuana could cause as much lung damage as cigarettes do,” she says.

Haugen says there is evidence marijuana can reduce withdrawal symptoms and the desire for nicotine.

However, he’s wary of the side effects, some of which include impaired thinking or memory.

Haugen is also skeptical of using vaping to quit smoking or as a replacement for cigarettes. “Vaping has become dangerous because many young people consider it a safer alternative to tobacco,” he says. Data show more than half of young adults who use tobacco are using flavored tobacco or vaping products.

Whether it’s marijuana or vaping, Haugen and Piacitelli agree it’s important not to trade one vice for another. “They could be used to help you quit, but neither is a good alternative,” Haugen says.

Time to quit

Qu

it!

Piacitelli and Haugen say smoking is a complex, stubborn addiction that has many harmful effects and health risks. But they also believe it’s never too late to stop smoking. “It’s a hard process, but quitting will only benefit your future health,” Piacitelli says.

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PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Routine Acupuncture Treatments for Better Health

A

cupuncture is an effective form of preventative medicine, according to Kristin Piacitelli, an acupuncturist and owner of Good Medicine Acupuncture and Herbs in Medford.

Today, people desire to feel younger, and Piacitelli believes prevention is key to looking and feeling young. She explains preventative acupuncture sessions are a useful anti-aging treatment. “Routine acupuncture is one way to help you feel youthful and healthy, and combat stress,” she says.

The effects of stress are key contributing factors to aging, according to Piacitelli. She says stress can lead to a loss of sleep and overeating, resulting in weight gain and a host of other ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, digestive problems and immune system imbalances. “Acupuncture soothes the body and helps lessen the effects of stress on our physical health and emotional well-being,” she explains.

Piacitelli says the body craves balance.

“Acupuncture relaxes the musculature, reduces inflammation and stabilizes the body,” she says.

Additionally, she explains acupuncture has numerous positive health benefits, such as improved sleep and better overall energy levels.

Oftentimes, Piacitelli’s patients come

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to her with a specific thing they want to work on, whether it’s back pain, neck soreness or chronic migraines. After her patients are satisfied that Piacitelli has resolved their initial problem, she encourages them to return for routine maintenance. This is different for each person depending on their health goals or needs. “For some, it may be coming in once a month for treatment or seasonally,” she explains.

Piacitelli says people are often unaware acupuncture is a type of

preventative medicine. “Routine acupuncture should be included in a healthy lifestyle, so you can maintain physical and emotional balance,” she says.

Additionally, Piacitelli says if you come to your acupuncture appointment already feeling good, it enhances the effectiveness of the treatment.

“Acupuncture helps you stay youngfeeling by increasing your overall happiness, health and resiliency to stress,” she says.

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PETS

The Silent and Deadly

Heartworm T

he number of dogs testing positive for heartworm disease is on the rise in Oregon, according to the Companion Animal Parasite Council. Though our mosquito population seems minimal compared to other, more humid regions, local veterinarians warn it can be a mistake not to protect our pets year-round from this debilitating and potentially deadly disease.

Cases of heartworm used to be relatively rare here, says Dr. LeAnn Albrecht, a veterinarian with Animal Medical Hospital in Ashland. “I used to see maybe one or two cases a year, and this was before the use of heartworm prevention medication. Ever since the Katrina hurricane where they relocated rescued animals across the country, the disease has spread, and the incidences of heartworm infestations are higher. We’re definitely seeing more cases in southern Oregon than we used to.”

Mosquitoes carry the parasite Dirofilaria immitis that conveys heartworm disease from animal to animal. Dogs, cats, ferrets and wild canids, including coyotes, are potential carriers of this infection. Left untreated, actual worms up to a foot long can grow in and around the heart and lungs, causing inflammation and thickening of the pulmonary arteries, damage to the liver and kidneys, heart disease and death.

Clinical symptoms develop very slowly, says Dr. Nile McGhie, a veterinarian with Bear Creek Animal Clinic in Ashland. The sneaky thing is, she says, there may be no visible warning signs that a dog or cat is sick until the disease has reached an

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advanced stage. “We usually don’t see any symptoms of heartworms until it’s too late, and all it takes is one mosquito bite. They are quite hardy and tenacious. They can survive through the winter months in the right environment. Even people with insideonly pets can have some risk because mosquitoes can live inside our homes.”

Symptoms

“You might have a dog that has a very low heartworm load,” Albrecht explains, “maybe one or two worms, but if one of those worms dies, it gets flushed into the lungs where it can cause a pulmonary embolus. If that happens, the dog may run across the lawn and drop over dead, and the owner had no clue there was anything wrong with it. If they have a high load, and some dogs have been known to harbor several hundred worms in their bodies, those worms take up space which causes physical changes, and the chambers in the heart have to start dilating to accommodate them. That’s when they begin having congestive heart symptoms like heavy breathing, exercise intolerance and coughing episodes.”

The American Heartworm Society says heartworm disease in cats is very

different from in dogs. McGhie notes that, “Cats can sometimes mount enough of an immune response to fight off this parasite or at least slow it down, so you usually don’t see symptoms. We have even had reports of cats fighting off these parasites all by themselves. But we never know if that will be the case and unfortunately, the medication used to treat heartworm infections in dogs cannot be used in cats, so prevention is the only means of protecting them from the effects of the disease.”

The treatment is long, arduous and costly, and though most dogs who are treated do well, Albrecht says, any residual damage is permanent. “We can medicate them to make the heart pump more efficiently, but we can’t reverse the cardiac disease that results from an infestation that has gone untreated for a long period of time.”

Testing and prevention

The internal life cycle of the parasite is somewhere between six months to a year, says McGhie. “This is important for testing because the blood tests can only pick up worms that are six months old or older, and by that time, they are maturing. That’s why we recommend a yearly heartworm test, even if you’re

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PETS giving them medication, because sometimes they can spit the pill out or bury it or just not eat the dose and then they are unprotected for that month and that can be at risk.”

If your pet is consistently protected, the medication kills the parasite larva before it has a chance to grow if the dog gets bitten.

“Heartworms are so easy to prevent,” Albrecht says. “I don’t know why anybody would not want to have their dog on a heartworm preventative because once they have the disease, the side effects, the complications and the risk of permanent damage is so high.”

McGhie advises talking to your vet about the best prevention option. “If you choose the oral medication, it’s important to keep up with the scheduled doses, usually every 28 days. Or, preventive injections, which are administered under the skin like most vaccines, act over a six-month period. I know a lot of owners are hesitant about excessive medications and worry about toxicity and side-effects, so those are great questions to talk to your vet about. In my opinion, those risks are minimal compared to the threat of this ugly disease.

I highly recommend checking the American Heartworm Society at www.heartwormsociety. org for more information.”

What are the signs of heartworm disease?

Courtesy of American Heartworm Society, www.heartwormsociety.org

In dogs: Many dogs show few symptoms or no symptoms at all. The longer the infection persists, the more likely symptoms will develop.

Early signs may include: • A mild persistent cough • Reluctance to exercise • Fatigue after moderate activity • Decreased appetite and weight loss More advanced signs: • Swollen belly • Labored breathing • Pale gums • Dark-colored urine

In cats: Signs can be very subtle or very dramatic. Symptoms may include: • Coughing, asthma-like attacks • Periodic vomiting • Lack of appetite or weight loss • Difficulty walking, fainting or seizures • Fluid accumulation in the abdomen

“We usually don’t see any symptoms of heartworms until it’s too late, and all it takes is one mosquito bite.”

Dr. Nile McGhie, Bear Creek Animal Clinic, Ashland

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APRIL 13

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EVENTS CALENDAR

FOOT TYPING 10 A.M.-7 P.M. • ROGUE VALLEY YMCA GYM, 522 W. 6TH ST., MEDFORD CONTACT INFO: www.sofootankle.com As part of the Pear Blossom event, Dr. Evan Merrill and Dr. Adam Gerber, podiatrists from Southern Oregon Foot & Ankle, are offering a free biomechanical analysis of foot types on a first-come, first-served basis during race packet pick-up.

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PEAR BLOSSOM RUN 7 A.M. • DOWNTOWN MEDFORD CONTACT INFO: www.pearblossomrun.com The day begins with the 5K race at 7 a.m., followed by a Fun Run at 7:50 a.m. The 10-mile race begins at 8:20 a.m. Registration fees vary by race.

Medals for all 5K and 10-mile finishers.

There will be ribbons for all Fun Run finishers and over 200 prizes to win through random drawings.

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PEDALS ‘N PEARS CYCLING RIDE 8 A.M. • BEAR CREEK PARK GREENWAY, MEDFORD CONTACT INFO: lwww.pedalsnpears.com The event includes four ride options, all beginning at the same time: The Comice Family Ride (7 miles), the Bosc (14 miles), the Bartlett (30 miles) and the Royal Riviera (62 miles). Registration fees vary by ride. Safety helmets required. Raffles and prizes add to the fun.

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ROGUE VALLEY EARTH DAY 11 A.M.-4 P.M. SCIENCEWORKS MUSEUM, 1500 E. MAIN ST., ASHLAND CONTACT INFO: roguevalleyearthday.net The theme for this year’s event is “Together We Make Change.” A fun day of music, games, vendor booths, activities for children.

ASHLAND BIKE SWAP NOON-2 P.M. • THE GROVE, 1195 EAST MAIN ST., ASHLAND CONTACT INFO: RVTD.org/bikeswap The 28th annual Bike Swap is a community event to help connect those looking for a bike with those looking to sell their bikes. The Bike Swap promotes bicycle transportation and recreation, and benefits bike safety education. Drop off donation bikes or bikes for sale in advance. The event is open to the public for a fee of $1 a person.

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EVENTS CALENDAR WATER BATH CANNING: HIGH ACID FOODS 9 A.M.-4 P.M. • OSU EXTENSION CENTER, 569 HANLEY ROAD, CENTRAL POINT CONTACT INFO: http://calendar.oregonstate.edu/event / 132178 A series of three classes on food preservation related to the proper procedures for canning high acid foods such as fruits, tomatoes, jams, salsa and pickles. The first class is a hands-on experience with a registration fee of $30.

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ADULT LEARN TO ROW DAYS 9 A.M.-NOON • ROGUE ROWING BOATHOUSE, 175 EMIGRANT LAKE ROAD, ASHLAND CONTACT INFO: www.roguerowing.org No experience necessary! Come get an introduction to the sport of rowing. Instructors will review techniques on land using indoor rowing machines. Participants will tour the boathouse and equipment, then experience getting in a boat and being on the water (weather permitting). Fee $5.

Class offered again June 2.

DRY EYE CARE EDUCATIONAL FORUM 6 P.M. • MEDICAL EYE CENTER, 1333 BARNETT ROAD, MEDFORD CONTACT INFO: www.medicaleyecenter.com, 541.779.4711 A free information session led by three optometrists about the symptoms and treatments for dry eye, a condition that can cause itching, blurred vision and light sensitivity.

Refreshments will be served.

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TH ON-GOING GRANTS PASS GROWERS MARKET 9 A.M.-1 P.M. • F ST. & 4TH ST., GRANTS PASS CONTACT INFO:, www.growersmarket.org Every Saturday through Oct. 28 this open-air market hosts local and regional vendors of fruits, veggies, meat, cheese, artisan foods and crafts.

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