HEALTH
. THE GRAVITY 0 the itua­
tion wa ummed up by Louis R.
Caplan, M.D., chairmand of the
department of neurology at Tufts
New England Medical Center in
Bo ton. As Caplan put it:
"Stroke is more common in
Blacks and has a higher mortality
rate. It's a more important problem
relatively in Blacks than white,
and if you look at sudie in younger
people, tho e under 65, the figures
are even more impressive. Blacks
have a death rate three or four times
higher in younger patients, and the
risk is particularly high in your
African-American men."
High blood pressure is a major
cause of strokes among both Blacks
and whites, but the condition is
much more widespread among
Blacks and is more likely to be in­
adequately treated.
It also tends to strike them earlier
in life andd with greater severity,
exacting a terrible toll in strokes
R. S. Lew.for M�d;Visuals. /IIC. @ 1992 American Heart Association, Dist. by Los Angeles Times Synaicate
and end-stage kidney disease.
THE REASONS FOR THIS
are not clear, says Elijah aunder,
M.D., president of the International
Society of Hypertension in Blacks
and head of the division of hyper­
tension at the University of
Maryland Ho pital in B ltirnore.
But an interaction of genetic and
enviromental factors probably
play a role in Blacks' predispo -
as well a other difference in diet
and lifestyle.
tion to high blood pre sure,
Saunders adds.
"There must be a conglomera­
tion of environmental 'circumstan- TIlE PROBLEM IS NOT
ces that operate on individuals who limited to African-Americana,
are predisposed by genetic factors." either, but i present in other
he says. , We tern nations as well, Saundell
Among such circumstances ad- points out.
versely affecting Blacks may be He cited a recent visit to a hospi­
higher levels of obesity and socio- tal in Birmingham, England, where
economic tre ,heavier cigarette Black immigrants from the Carrib­
smoking and alcohol consumption, bean accounted for one-third of
Phy
ician
ay II Old Joe II
ha
Dr. Ogrod and internists across
the country want RJ Reynolds to
voluntarily withdraw Old Joe from
Camel ads.
Others calling for Old Joe's head
include the American Medical As­
sociation and Surgeon General An:
tonia Novello.
DR. NOVELLO RECENTLY
accused tobacco companies of prey­
ing on the nation's youth. She called
oncigarette makers to "actvoluntari­
.Iy and responsibly."
RJ Reynolds is rebuffing calls to
withdraw Old Joe ads, so ASIM and
other medical groups are trying
another tactic. They are asking the
Federal Trade Commi ion to con:
ider a petition filed by the American
Cancer Society to ban all ads featur­
ing the Old Joe logo.
Mor.ThanA
Harmle Cartoon
The Old .Joe ads have been the
target of criticism since their intro­
duction in 1988, butsome think the
rhetoric is much ado about nothing.
After all, it's only a cartoon. Dr.
Ogrod acknowledges the fight over
Old Joe may seem insignificant to
THE ITCH STOPS HERE!
Caladryl II relieves poison ivy, insect
bites and allergic roshes he way
plain colamine con't. Just use CaIodryi
lotion, Cream or Sprar as directed
and feel the Caladry difference
for yourself.
''..11991 WO/ner lombert Co
- E'
FREE SAMPL .
To ShOW '{au
HoW Good It F eele,
Dry, Cracked,
or Itching eet?
No matter what el lOU 'ye tried,
Miracl Foot Repair III min your troubled leet.
If your feet are dry nd mcked ... if the itching drives you crazy .. .if
your feet are so rough they your. ocking ... Miracle Foot Repair
with'6O% pure Aloe Vera gel willaive you immediate relief nd may
cure your troubled feet forever. Feel so &ood and works so r� even
doctor; can't believe it. For a generou FREE SAMPLE and a FREE
BOOK on fOO( care, send your name and add and S 1.00 for P&tH to:
Minelul Alof t Dept '.11," A, ,W � CT
some. But he say anyone who has
ever seen the ravages of lung cancer
firsthand realizes this is a battle
worth fighting.
"As an internist, 1 see daily the
devastating toll tobacco take on the
lives of my patients. That's why it's
so frustrating for me and my col­
leagues to see a cigarette maker use
, a cartoon, character to promote
smoking to young people."
DR. OGROD SAYS most adult.
smokers begin smoking before their
18111 bitthday - before they're old
enough to understand the health
hazards.
A recent study found that about
one out of every five high school
seniors smoke daily, and over half of
those seniors began smoking by
eighth grade.
Dr. Ogrod says the earlier
teenagers start using tobacco, the
more unlikely it is that they will be
able to quit. On the other hand, he
says those who have not begun
smoking by age 21 are unlikely to
ever start.
WHEN TEENAGERS smoke
Since Old Joe
. was introduced
Camel's share
of the pre-teen
cigarette market
segment jumped
from less than
one percent to
nearly 33 percent.
malignant hypertension cases while
making up only a small percentage
of the population in Birmingham.
Oddly enough, however, Blacks
in Africa are not imilarly affected.
"We don't ee a lot of hypertension
in Africa, at least as Africa currentl­
lyexi ts," Saunders ay . "So it may
be the We tern lifestyle with certain
. Itrca e and dietary habits as­
sociated with it that i more of a
factor than genetics themselves."
Pro m b ed in churche ,
or i te ,ho in projec
community cente re no uc-
ce fully detecting nd tre tin
high blood pre ure mon BI c
who not Ion 0 were beyond the
re ch of th nation' he lth care
y tem, nd Sunde believe thi
i helping.
"We think th t incre ed re-
ne of high blood pre ure nd in­
ere ed efforts to get people on
m dication nd keep them there re
reducing the incidence nd
prevalence of tro e in our com­
munity," h ay.
"M lign nt or ccelerated hy­
pertension h al 0 been reduced.
We don't ee m ny people with
the kind of • galloping' hyperten-
ion th t ill within ix months,"
S und r y.
But inte ified re earch efforts,
uch m [or tudy j t launched
by the ational He rt, Lung nd
Blood Institute on the mech ni ms
of high blood pre ure in Blacks,
will be vital if progre i to con­
tinue. And m ive efforts in public
education are ab olutely vital if
troke ' lethal di crimination
against African-Americans i to be
topped.
Louis Sullivan, -M.D. secretary
of the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Service, ee the
media playing a key role in di ml­
nating health Information to people
of color.
"We need the minority media to
devote more attention to the
trategie of health promotion and
disease parevention," Sullivan told
the recent AHA conference. "We
need mainstream media to call at­
tention to the heavy burden of need­
le . deaths suffered by minority
communities. "
they're breaking the law in mo t
states. The District of Columbia and
44 states have statutes restricting the
sale of tobacco products to minors
(some laws define minors anyone
under age 16, others under age 18).
Unfortunately, these laws are rarely
enforced. Researchers say minors
are able to purchase cigarettes il­
legally about 80 percent of the time
(often through vending machine ).
A Call To Action
Dr. Ogrod says con�rned parents
can do their children a favor by get-
This strong canadian
mixture stop hacking
coughs in seconds
For more in/ormation, send a
stamped, self-addressed business­
size envelope to American Heart
Associatio, Box NPA-F, 7320
Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231.
ot to go"
ting involved in anti-smoking cam­
paigns. He 'says that may mean con­
tacting local legislators and urging
them to pass effective law which
will keep tobacco products out of the
hands of minors. He al 0 hopes
parents will lead their children by
example, meaning not smoking or
quitting smoking. .
He looks like the cartoon counter­
p� to James Bond. He's Old Joe -
a I dashing drawn camel used in
promotions for Camel brand cigaret­
tes. Often clad in a white tuxedo and
dark sunglasses, Old Joe is dressed
to kill. And critics of the cartoon
camel say he might be doingjust that
by influencing children to smoke.
, A recent study found that six­
year-Old children are nearly as
familiar with the cartoon image of
ad Joe as they are with Mickey
Mouse.
: Researchers also say in the three
y!8rs since Old Joe was introduced,
Oemel's share of the pre-teen
cigarette market segment jumped
frt>m less than one percent to nearly
3� percent. In mometary terms,'
that's a boost from $6 million a year
to $465 million a year. The president
ot the American Society of Internal
Medicine says using cartoons to
promote cigarettes is irresponsible.
: "CLEARLY, RJ REYNOLDS
(the maker of Camel cigarettes) is
using a cartoon image topromote its
deadly product to kids," says Eugene
S. Ogrod, M.D., an internist in
Sacramento, California. "It's a
shame 'that a company will put
profits before the well-being of
children."
Dr. Ogrod also welcomes anyone
who wants to get involved in the
campaign to oust Old Joe from
Camel cigarette ads once and for all.
"I'd urge everyone to write to
tobacco companie and let them
know that we won't stand for ads
which pander to our children. Let's
tell them Old Joe has got to go."
FAMI Y PRACTICe: CENTER
12858 WOODWARD - Highland Park
865-5220
When a maddening, embarrassing, hacking cough de­
mands immediate relief ... you need more than an ordinary
cough medicine.
You�Buckley'sMixture.theextra-sltonl,lll.wea&her
coulh st.oppet, a unique mixture of Canada Balsam, Pine
NeeC11e Oil-and Menthol developed by a Canadian phuma·
cist 70 years ago. It's so potent that one swig of Buckley's
can knockout that tough, agonizing cough fast, so you feel
better all over.
Once you wte it, you will know it's
sU'OOg and effective. Use only as directed.
Stock up now ... so you're ready when a
hacking cough or bronchial distress keeps
you frOm gettinl the rest and leep you
I)eed at night
If you'd like 10 try Buckley's Mixture.
please send your name, address. zip code
and 53.00 for one 4 oz. bottle to: American
. Melody, 123 South Street. Oyster Bay, NY
11771 �l� print clearly)
SAVE! Order one 8 oz. bottle for 55.00
Pharmacy & Your Health
I
Medical Arts
Pharmacy
13700 Woodward
869-1800
Arthritis Treatment: The Pyramid Approach
There are two major types of arthriti . Osteoarthritis i a condition in
which there is a gradual wearing away of cartilage, the cu hioning m terial
at the ends of bone. When cartilage deteriorates. bone tend to rub
together. Osteoarthriti occurs with aging the re ult of long-term wear
and tear on the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, can occur
t any age. It is a welling and inflamm tion of the ynovium, the thin
lining of the joints. The re ult of both arthritis type pai n, inflammation.
and welling.
- -- �- --_ -
A new approach to the treatment of rheumatoid arthriti i being
promoted by 10m health authoritie . The approach, which i referred to
as the pyramid approach. i described in a recent i ue of Postgraduate
M�dicin�. At the b of the pyramid (fi t treatment tep ) i educ tion,
phy ical therapy, occupational therapy, and high do of salicylate ( uch
aspirin),
Davtd N.
Zimmerman
PO, FACA
Pr dent
To the. first me ure phy ician may add anti-inflammatory and
antirheumatic medicine • u ually in a tep-wi f mono Such medicine
include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, low-dose prednisone,
hydroxychloroquin�, gold salts, penicillamine, methotrexate, cyclopho«:
plu:unuu.ltigh-dos� steroids, and finally. the experimemal agen: .
