Oak Street & Oregon Allergy Blog

May 13th is National Women's Checkup Day, an opportunity for women of all ages to make their health a priority.

At Oak Street Medical, we share in this national effort to encourage women to schedule a preventative health checkup with their physician or nurse practitioner.

In a prior post, Pollen in the Willamette Valley, I explained what pollens are, when they occur and why it is important to follow the counts. But if you've ever wondered how pollen is actually counted and reported, read on.

What is a pollen count?
Pollen counts are a measure of the concentration of airborne pollens present in a cubic meter of air over 24 hours. This worldwide standard ensures an accurate comparison of pollen levels from all locations where pollen is counted. In North America, counts are compiled by the National Allergy Bureau (NAB) of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.

Are you like most people who find little time in the morning to accomplish much of anything? When you’re getting kids out the door, juggling a busy work schedule or both, it’s easy to skip breakfast. Also, many people simply find it physically difficult to eat breakfast in the morning.

However, studies show that having a healthy breakfast offers many benefits, such as weight control, protection against heart disease and increased concentration levels. Children and adolescents also benefit. Breakfast can improve kids’ concentration, problem-solving, eye-hand coordination and performance in the classroom.

Oak Street Medical is gearing up for the Eugene Marathon! Members of our staff will be walking or running the flat and fast course ­— named in January as the Best of the Best by Runners World — choosing either the full (26.2 miles) or half (13.1) marathon course routes.

The Eugene Marathon has been praised by many as a fun and spirited event, and Oak Street Medical supports the participation of our providers and staff, for their health and wellness, by paying their entry fee. The first year, in 2007, more than 20 employees competed, and this year, we have staff and providers participating in both events, including our new nurse practitioner Cindy Smith, who is an avid runner.

This is a great event, whether you want to have a leisurely walk and talk with friends or challenge yourself to establish a personal record — or even qualify for another major marathon!

If walking or running is not your thing, the Eugene Marathon signs up dozens of volunteers, and welcomes hundreds of spectators who cheer from the sidelines!  Staff and providers, and all the race participants, appreciate the energy-boosting encouragement when the walking or running gets tough!

What’s next for Oak Street Medical Staff?  Well, it’s mud, sweat and hopefully not too many tears when many of our staff will participate in the Dirty Dash. We hope you are getting out and enjoying these and many other outdoor activities that Eugene has to offer!   

Seventy percent of Oregonians 18 years old or older are registered organ donors. Nonetheless, in the Pacific Northwest, 3,300 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 117,707 people are waiting for an organ donation, and each day 18 people will die waiting. Amazingly, one donor can save up to eight lives and help up to 50 more through tissue and eye donation.

A person of any age can be an organ and tissue donor. Donate Life Northwest's goal is to motivate people to sign up on the donor registry, noting that while 90 percent of Americans support donation, only 40 percent know how to sign up on their state's registry.

By the numbers

Here are some statistics about organ donations in the United States:

• As of March 2013, 65,991 people awaiting donations are multicultural patients.
• 1,760 children were awaiting organs (as of December 2012).
• There were 28,052 organ transplants performed in 2011.
• In 2012, 14,013 people donated their organs.
• More than 46,000 corneas were transplanted in 2012.
• More than 1 million tissue transplants are done each year; surgical need for tissue continues to rise.

What can be donated?

The following organs can be donated: