May 2022

RUNNELS COUNTY - This is a follow-on from last week’s column. At that time, I reiterated some of the reasons why we should organize at a local level for our own health and wellbeing, and I noted that we needed to arrive at the answers to three questions:

MILES TX - This past Sunday our church recognized and honored our graduating senior. It caused me to pause and think of the graduation process.

As we move through a world of disposable things, it’s easy to forget that previous generations kept nearly everything. • Furniture was made to last. Pieces of crystal or china were investments passed down from parent to child to grandchild. Even mundane items could remain in use for decades: The same Corningware bowl and General Electric mixer might churn out birthday cake batter for a generation and more. • Many of these items still exist, nestled under layers of yellowing newspaper in cardboard boxes or shrouded by dust-laden sheets. America’s attics, basements and garages are filled with hand-me-down home decor and household goods waiting to be unearthed.

All these years, I thought peas and carrots were exclusive culinary soul mates, a match better than two peas in a pod. Carrots and peas are fine when cooked together, but turns out raw carrots have a salty affinity for peanuts.

Prescription medications are a major component of the American lifestyle. According to the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 49% of Americans took at least one prescription medication in the past 30 days, 24% took three or more, and 13% took five or more. In nearly 70% of physician office visits, the main purpose has to do with prescription drugs, and one of the most prevalent prescriptions is blood pressure medication. ❚ There is no doubt that prescription medications for blood pressure are effective and can greatly reduce the risks of stroke and heart attack. Even so, and with all the emphasis placed on the importance of prescription medications in our health care system, patient adherence is abysmal. According to recent research studies, adherence, which means not only taking your medications but also taking medications exactly as prescribed, is as low as 50%. ❚ So, what can we do?