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March 8: Burgerville Fundraiser Supports Local Breast Cancer Survivors

Vancouver, WA – Local restaurant chain Burgerville is partnering with a team of local breast cancer survivors to help the team travel to New Zealand next month where they will represent the Pacific Northwest and the United States at the International Breast Cancer Dragon Boat Festival. 

The team, called Pacific Northwest Pink Lemonade, is comprised of twenty-six women – all breast cancer survivors and fighters – ranging in age from 40 to over 80-years old, who are reviving and thriving through the ancient Chinese sport of dragon boat racing. 

Survivors from the Vancouver dragon boat team Catch 22 and Portland team, Pink Phoenix are usually competitors on the water, but they have joined forces to create one team and represent the PNW at the international competition. 

One paddle at a time, this intense sport helps those who have experienced breast cancer feel empowered, build self-confidence and take back control of their lives thanks to the healing power of water, community and the unique camaraderie of connecting and competing with other survivors. 

Ways to support the team  

  • When: Join them on Wednesday, March 8, from 4 to 8 pm.
  • Where: Burgerville, 11704 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd. Vancouver (Mill Plain, just east of I-205)
  • Details: Burgerville will donate20 percent of the sales from guests who mention they are there to support the team. 

Funding for these survivors to participate in the international event is made possible through sponsorships, special team fundraising efforts and the generosity of individual donors. 

You can also support the team by making a donation online. Please indicate that the donation goes to the PNW Pink Lemonade New Zealand Team. 

Cancer
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Here Are Five Physical Health Conditions Caused by Anxiety

While not the direct cause, anxiety can lead to quite a few physical health problems. Here’s a list of some of the ones you should be careful of.

It should come as no surprise that extreme stress levels are not healthy for a person’s mental well-being. However, one thing you might not know is that anxiety can also affect the body physically. While it doesn’t directly cause these issues, anxiety can trigger some physical health conditions. Knowing about them will make them easier to spot if you feel overwhelmed. We’ll go over some of these conditions below.

Heart Conditions

While occasional stress isn’t a bad thing, constant anxiety can lead to heart problems. This is because your body starts pumping blood through your veins faster when you’re stressed. If it continues to operate at an elevated level on a regular basis, your heart will eventually become overworked, making you more susceptible to a heart attack or stroke.

Asthma

Rapid breathing is a common response when experiencing an anxiety attack. Regular anxiety attacks can cause breathing problems down the line, including asthma. Even though asthma isn’t a common problem for adults to develop later in life, constant anxiety will increase the likelihood.

Digestion Problems

Stress and anxiety can affect your digestive system too. Nausea is one of the more common symptoms, but stomach pain and diarrhea can also occur. If these issues persist, you can develop irritable bowel syndrome or even stomach ulcers.

Incontinence

Another system that is affected by stress is your urinary tract. Incontinence occurs when you lose control of your bladder. Under extreme stress, some people experience incontinence. To make matters worse, the psychological impact of urinary incontinence can lead to even more stress, exacerbating the issue. Once this happens, it can be difficult to regain control.

Insomnia

The final notable physical health condition that can occur from anxiety is insomnia. This issue is a bit more well-known, but not everyone knows that extreme stress is one of the biggest triggers for sleeplessness. Chronic anxiety can lead to multiple sleepless nights, which can lower your immune system and cause other health conditions.

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Some Innovative Ways to Keep Pests Out of Your Home

Make your home a welcoming space for guests and family by making it an unwelcoming space for bugs, rodents, and other assorted pests! Here’s how.

If you’ve ever had a pest infestation in your home, you know what a headache it can be to chase them all out. Now it’s time to go on the offensive—prevent them from entering in the first place! Try these innovative methods for keeping pests out of your home, and enjoy a comfortable indoor space with no unexpected guests.

Dispose of Trash Securely

What sorts of trash bins do you have around the house? Bins and trash cans with lids keep food waste and other garbage secure from insect or animal interlopers. When it’s time to take the garbage out, tie off the bags with a double knot and take them out promptly. 

Keep Your Drains Clean

Few experiences are quite as unnerving as watching a centipede or a host of flies make their way in through your kitchen sink. Drains clogged with debris, especially food residue, are common breeding grounds for all kinds of creepy-crawlies. Use a mix of vinegar and baking soda to clean your drains at least once a month; the foaming action will break up stubborn clogs and clear away residue.

Seal Up Duct Leaks

If you see pests in your home but can’t figure out where they came from, enlist a professional to help you find their entrance and seal it off. Leaky or faulty air ducts are common points of entry for critters of various sizes. Have those air ducts tested for leakage, and if the technician finds any holes or gaps, ask them to seal up those gaps.

Replace Exterior Lightbulbs

Did you know the color of the lights outside your house affects insect activity as much as their location? If you have a problem with insects congregating around your front door, consider switching to warmer lights. Replace those mercury vapor bulbs with halogen bulbs in a pink or orange tint; they’re the least attractive to bugs. 

Pro-Tip 

While you’re at it, think about moving those exterior lights further away from your front door. That way, insects will be less likely to make their way indoors.

Screen All Entryways

One of the most surefire ways to keep pests out of your home is to keep your windows and doors closed at all times. However, many of us like a little fresh air once in a while! If you prefer to keep windows or doors cracked open for airflow, make sure you have durable, functional screens that keep bugs and larger pests out. Repair or replace those screens once you notice fraying, holes, or other damage.

To keep your home comfortable and inviting to human guests, utilize these innovative ways to keep pests out of your home for good. You’ll enjoy a cleaner house and avoid any unpleasant surprises from bugs, rodents, and other unwelcome visitors.

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Health: The Factors That Are Disrupting Your Sleep Cycle

Needing more sleep is one thing all people can agree on. However, some things we do impede getting a good night’s rest. These factors that disrupt your sleep cyclemay be unavoidable for some and simple to manage for others.

Dramatic Change in Diet

Being conscious of the food you put in your body is the main cog of a healthy life. Although you will reap the long-term benefits from a change in your diet, the short-term ramifications may be frustrating. One side effect of a dramatic diet change is the lack of good sleep.

Many individuals may not notice their lack of sleep until lunchtime, realizing their eyes are feeling heavy, and it isn’t easy to keep them open. You should change your diet slowly rather than immediately cutting calories or fasting. Your body will thank you for making the slow adjustments. 

Too Much To Drink

Food isn’t the only thing you consume that can impair your sleep cycle. If you have too many alcoholic beverages or drink a caffeinated beverage before bedtime, you could have trouble falling and staying asleep. 

The best strategy is limiting yourself to the number of drinks you indulge in and cutting yourself off at a specific time. No soda or coffee after lunch, and one glass of wine at dinner should help you recalibrate your sleep cycle. 

Different Sleeping Environment

Where you sleep plays a huge factor in your sleep cycle. Even if you are off in dreamland, your body subconsciously wants the same environment every night. That includes the same temperature, noises, and darkness. Any deviation from that can confuse your circadian rhythm, preventing you from falling into a deep sleep. 

If you travel constantly for work, consider the changes in climate and time zone before departing and adjust accordingly. Otherwise, you will have a restless night of sleep ahead of you. 

Mental Struggles

When your sleep cycle gets interrupted every night, it might be because your mind refuses to shut off, dwelling on the day ahead. Anxiety and stress are a nuisance when you’re awake throughout the day, and bringing them to the bedroom isn’t helping you snooze.

The adage of not taking your work home with you is a wonderful credo to live by; otherwise, the inner struggle between your ears may be never-ending. Let your future self deal with tomorrow. For now, relax—you deserve it!

Undiagnosed Sleeping Disorder 

Sleep problems can be frustrating if you eat well, don’t drink, sleep in the same bed every night, and have a positive outlook on life. If you fall into this category, you might have an undiagnosed sleeping disorder. You don’t need a pre-existing condition for a sleep disorder to affect you. Insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy can inflict anyone, so see a specialist if you fear the worst. 

Recognizing these factors that disrupt your sleep cyclekeeps you aware of what you can do to fix your current situation. While some things are beyond your control, there are aspects you can control that better your well-being.

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Practical Ways to Reduce Your Toddler’s Screen Time

Smart devices and large electronics have a unique way of capturing your little one’s undivided attention. The downside to this situation is how easily they zone in for hours on end. If you’re grasping at straws to get your little ones to do more activities and focus on the moments in front of them, there are various practical ways to reduce your toddler’s screen time. 

Create Tech-Free Spaces 

More than likely, your little one has a designated space at home where they can freely play with their toys and gadgets. If you denote that space as tech-free, you encourage them to play with their toys rather than a device. There may be some initial pushback regarding a lack of tech time, but this is an effective way to reduce overall screen time through enough time and support. 

Consider Open-Ended Activities 

Open-ended activities are an excellent way to encourage a larger block of time dedicated to something developmentally friendly. Things like building blocks designed for your child’s age group are an affordable and creative way to introduce this playing style. They come in all shapes and sizes, so you can find a set of blocks that speaks to your child’s interests. 

Parental Control Features 

Every smart device has the option to control or monitor the activity. This is an excellent solution for those who prefer their children to use their screen time wisely. Setting these boundaries can create a sense of balance around their viewing content, exposure and accessibility. Additionally, this can enable you to teach them healthy use of technology without replacing it altogether. 

Model Healthy Tech Use as a Parent 

Much of what children learn is through watching it happen. Generally, children will emulate their parents’ behaviors and actions, and because of this, it’s vital to establish and model healthy tech use. If they see you on your devices 90 percent of the day, they will think this is acceptable and do it, too. 

Support Hobbies 

When children begin to show interest in one activity, it can quickly turn into a hobby. The challenge of young children picking up a hobby is that they tend to lose patience relatively quickly. 

If you can support these hobbies and interests at a young age, you can foster their curiosity and divert their attention from their other distractions. Most hobbies require a little bit of background work to enjoy fully. So this is a practical way to reduce your toddler’s screen time and help them showcase new talents and interests.  

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Clark County’s COVID-19 Activity Rate More Than Doubles: 1,671 Per 100,000

Vancouver, WA — Clark County Public Health released the latest COVID-19 data that shows an activity rate that has more than doubled from a week ago. Last week, the activity rate was 715 per 100,000. This week the activity rate jumped to 1,671 per 100,000.

Here is this week’s COVID-19 update:

• 6,121 additional cases (confirmed and probable) since last update

• 50,573 confirmed cases to date (+4,455 since last update)

• 7,808 antigen probable cases to date (+1,666 since last update) 

• 6,110 active cases (in isolation period)

Hospitalizations

• 96.8% of hospital beds are occupied

• 98.4% of ICU beds are occupied

• 17.8% of hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 cases and persons under investigation (PUI) for COVID-19 (awaiting test results)

• 25% of ICU beds are occupied by COVID-19 cases and PUIs

• 94 COVID-19 cases and 1 PUI hospitalized

Rates

• COVID-19 activity rate is 1,679.1 cases per 100,000 over 14 days (up from 715.1 last week). 

• COVID-19 new hospital admission rate is 11.8 per 100,000 people over 7 days (up from 7.0 last week)

Deaths

• 623 total deaths to date (573 confirmed, 50 suspect)

• 14 additional confirmed deaths since the last update:

• 2 men in their 30s

• 1 man in his 50s

• 2 men in their 70s

• 2 men 80+ years old

• 3 women in their 60s

• 1 woman in her 70s

• 3 women 80+ years old

• 1 additional suspect death: a woman 80+ years old

More than 700,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Clark County. And more than 112,000 people have received an additional dose (either a booster or third dose if immunocompromised).

Everyone 5 years and older is eligible to get vaccinated, and those 12 years and older can get a booster dose. If you have questions about the vaccines, please talk to your health care provider.

If you’re ready to get vaccinated or need a booster dose, here’s how you can find a vaccine location near you:

• Search on VaccineLocator.doh.wa.gov

• Search on VaccineFinder.org

• Call 833.VAX.HELP

• Text your zip code to 438829 (GETVAX)

You may learn more on the Clark County health department’s COVID-19 data webpage: https://clark.wa.gov/public-health/covid-19-data 

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Update: Clark County Health Department Records Highest COVID-19 Activity Rate Ever

Vancouver, WA — Clark County Public Health just released their latest COVID-19 update. The last update was issued Thursday, Aug. 26. Clark County has hit its highest COVID-19 activity rate (523 cases per 100,000) since the pandemic broke out in March 2020.

Cases

• 1,602 additional cases (confirmed and probable) since last update

• 29,725 confirmed cases to date (+1,243 since last update)

• 2,730 antigen probable cases to date (+359 since last update) 

• 1,561 active cases (in isolation period)

• 23.3% of hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 cases and persons under investigation for COVID-19 (awaiting test results)

• 134 COVID-19 cases and 1 person under investigation for COVID-19 hospitalized

Deaths

• 306 total deaths to date (274 confirmed, 32 suspect)

• 1 new confirmed death since last update: Man in his 50s with underlying conditions

Rates

• COVID-19 activity rate is 523.0 cases per 100,000 over 14 days (up from 397.4 cases per 100,000 last week). 

• COVID-19 new hospital admission rate is 13.6 per 100,000 people over 7 days (up from 9.4 per 100,000 last week)

Learn more on the COVID-19 data webpage: https://clark.wa.gov/public-health/covid-19-data 

You can find more frequent case updates on the state Department of Health data dashboard: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/DataDashboard.

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Clark County COVID-19 Activity Rate Drops to 67.5 Cases Per 100,000

The Clark County Health Department is now issuing weekly COVID-19 reports. The last update was issued Thursday, July 1. Here is the latest data:

  • 138 additional cases (confirmed and probable) since last update
  • 24,540 confirmed cases to date (+111 since last update)
  • 1,564 antigen probable cases to date (+27 since last update) 
  • 155 active cases (in isolation period)
  • 2.6% of hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 cases and persons under investigation for COVID-19 (awaiting test results)

Deaths

  • 288 total deaths to date (254 confirmed, 34 suspect)
  • 1 new confirmed death since last update: a woman 80+ years old with underlying health conditions

Rates

  • COVID-19 activity rate is 67.5 cases per 100,000 over 14 days (down from 95.4 cases per 100,000 last week)
  • COVID-19 new hospital admission rate is 1.8 per 100,000 people over 7 days (down from 2.2 per 100,000 last week)

Learn more at the Clark County COVID-19 data webpage: https://clark.wa.gov/public-health/covid-19-data 

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Dr. Cynthia Bye: Do You Love Sugar? … So Do All Cancers

Vancouver, WA — New research has found an association between early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC) and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). EO-CRC is defined as being diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 50. The Nurses’ Health Study 2, a prospective study followed roughly 95,000 female nurses between 1991-2015. The participants who consumed 2 or more SSBs per day in adulthood had a more than doubled risk of EO-CRC when compared with those who consumed less than 1 serving per week. This risk rose by 16% for each additional SSB serving per day. SSBs, which include sodas, energy drinks, sports drinks, and fruit drinks, make up almost 40% of added sugar in diets in the US and 12% of Americans consume 3 or more of these daily. A cola has about 39 grams of sugar, which is approximately 10 tsp of sugar per can. That’s a lot of sugar. 200 years ago, the average American consumed 2 pounds of sugar per year. Today the average American consumes 152 pounds of sugar annually. My goodness, that is 30 five-pound bags of sugar per year.

Consumption of added sugar has become a real problem for the United States. In 2013, the American Heart Association (AHA) published a study attributing 25,000 deaths in the United States to added sugar. In 2019, the AHA published a study that found consuming more than two sweetened drinks per day increased their risk of death by 21%. Excess sugar intake can lead to weight gain, insulin resistance, obesity, and diabetes, all of which can contribute to inflammation and cancer. Additionally, tumor cells take up more sugar (glucose) than healthy cells. In a presentation by Dr. Johannes Czernin from UCLA, he states that tumor cells take up 30 times more glucose than healthy cells. This increased glucose uptake is used diagnostically for cancer patients. For Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging, patients must fast for at least 6 hours before their imaging and no carbs/s. for at least 24 hours to starve the cancer cells. Then they are injected with a sugar that has a radioactive tracer tagged onto it.  The PET scan tracks the uptake of sugar/radioactive tracer throughout the body and identifies the areas with the highest consumption. These areas with high consumption of high sugar/tracer, show up as hot spots on imaging indicate the presence of cancer because cancer loves sugar.

Not only is the cancer being fed with the sugar, but the sugar also increases insulin, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1).  As the name suggests, growth factors make cancer grow. Insulin also increases inflammation. At the end of the day, it all comes down to inflammation. We tell our patients that inflammation is the cause of all disease and it is a common thread we see in our cancer patients. Short-term inflammation can be beneficial for things like wound healing or your body fighting off an infection like influenza. But chronic inflammation is the villain here. Symptoms of inflammation can be vague like joint pain, allergies, fatigue, or poor digestion. These symptoms are like your car’s check engine light and they’re telling you that something isn’t right. When your check engine light is on, you take your car to the mechanic so they can diagnose the problem. The same should be true for your body; you should be working with a Naturopathic physician who can connect the dots to determine why your body’s check engine light is on.

Dr. Cynthia Bye, ND, FABNO, is a Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO), the only FABNO located in southwest Washington, she did a residency at Cancer Treatment Centers of American, and she has been working in cancer care for 20 years. There are less than 150 Naturopathic doctors in the United States and Canada that have been board certified as FABNO. She works with you to figure out why your check engine light is on.  Through a full review of the system, head to toe she connects the dots as to why it’s on. She works with you to teach you how to take care of yourself. To create lasting lifestyle changes and turn off the “check engine light”.

Each person and each cancer are different, and Dr. Bye utilizes individualized therapies based on your needs. The goal is to work with cancer patients to identify causative factors that cause inflammation. Many things cause inflammation. Dr. Bye supports cancer patients as they go through their treatments with well-researched protocols to reduce side effects without interfering with the treatment, tie up circulating tumor cells to reduce the risk of metastasis, and help cancer patients recover from their treatments. Once treatment is finished, she works with patients to help them recover from radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery using protocols to decrease recurrence risk if they no longer have evidence of disease. For patients with residual disease after treatment, we support their recovery, improve their quality of life, and work to slow down the cancer process. 

Even though signs of chronic inflammation are like a check engine light, your body is not like a car. If your car breaks down, you buy a new one….. You only get one body, and it is the vehicle through which you experience your life. When your “light” comes on, being proactive by changing your lifestyle, and taking charge of your health is the best investment you can make. An easy way to start is by taking the sugar out of your life.  Dr. Bye, works with cancer patients, family members of cancer patients, and individuals looking to reduce their risk of cancer.

To learn more, visit www.cynthiabye.com

Hur J, Otegbeye E, Joh H, et al. Sugar-sweetened beverage intake in adulthood and adolescence and risk of early-onset colorectal cancer among women. Gut. Published Online First: 06 May 2021. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2020-323450

Malik, V. S., Li, Y., Pan, A., De Koning, L., Schernhammer, E., Willett, W. C., & Hu, F. B. (2019). Long-Term consumption of Sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages and risk of mortality in us adults. Circulation,139(18), 2113-2125. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.118.037401

PET/CT Cancer Imaging: Cancers Eat a lot of Sugar [Video file]. (2013, August 1). Retrieved from https://www.simmsmanncenter.ucla.edu/center_events/petct-cancer-imaging-cancers-eat-a-lot-of-sugar/

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Health Department Answers Questions About Why People Seek COVID-19 Tests

Vancouver, WA — As more people are testing positive for COVID-19 in Clark County — and as the activity rate climbed to 147.6 cases per 100,000 — the Clark County Public Health examined the data to find out why people are seeking testing.

“The vast majority of people who test positive are getting tested because they have symptoms of COVID-19 or because they know someone who tested positive or had symptoms of COVID-19,” the health department said.

Anyone who experiences COVID-19 symptoms should seek testing right away, they advise. If you’re in close contact with someone who tests positive, please stay home for 14 days to ensure you don’t infect others if you also get sick. 

Learn more about what to do if you test positive or are a close contact of someone who tests positive at the health department website: https://clark.wa.gov/public-health/novel-coronavirus

Tuesday’s COVID-19 update

  • 61 new confirmed cases (20,459 to date)
  • 10 new antigen probable cases (854 to date)
  • no new deaths
  • 252 total deaths to date (224 confirmed, 28 suspect)
  • 537 active cases (confirmed and probable cases in isolation period)
  • Clark County COVID-19 activity rate is 147.6 cases per 100,000 (up from 139.8 cases per 100,000 last week)
  • 23 COVID-19 patients hospitalized
  • 4 people hospitalized awaiting COVID-19 test results

Confirmed cases are people with a positive molecular (PCR) test for COVID-19. Antigen probable cases are people with a positive antigen test and no molecular test.

COVID-19
www.cloverpodiatry.com

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