Oak Street & Oregon Allergy Blog

Did you know that over 25 million Americans have asthma? And 7 million of them are kids. Asthma is a common lung disease. Every day in America 44,000 people have an asthma attack and 9 people die from asthma. As well, daily, asthma causes:

• 36,000 kids to miss school
• 27,000 adults to miss work
• 4,700 people to visit the emergency room
• 1,200 people to be admitted to the hospital
(Source: www.aafa.org)

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!