sf ‘ Castlegar News October 28, 1987 * SCIENCE Pill doubles risk of stroke TORONTO (CP) — Liz Singer was having lunch with a friend in a cafe but found it difficult to concentrate on the conversation. She felt sick and her vision was poor. “The whole time I was distracted ‘cause my eyes kept blurring,” Singer recalls. “I couldn't The pill is not recommended for women who smoke or are over age 36. It is also not recommended for women with a history of poor circulation, stroke, heart or artery disease, hepatitis, liver disease, breast or genital cancer, or for those with family history of what was going on. “T started to lose the feeling in my arm and my leg. given a psinkiller and an anti-nausea drug. She was referred to a neurologist. “She said: ‘You on the pill?’ I said I was. Then she said: ‘No, you're ‘not.’ ” The neurologist didn't say the stroke-like symptoms were caused by birth control pills, which Singer had been on for five years, but “the whole slant of her message was to get off the pill.” USAGE DROPS One million to 1.5 million Canadian women are on the pill, although its use has dropped from a high of 27 per cent of women who used contraceptives in 1977 to about 19 per cent in 1981. That may be because of an increased awareness of side effects. since the group was formed in 1985 she has heard from about 1,000 women who have had strokes, blood clots, fertility problems and other ailments they attribute to the pill. But cons, wether, Paesieulerly the young and poor, can't gfford — Barbara Seamen, who wrote the 1969 book The Doetor’s Case Against the Pill, estimated that the pill doubles the risk of stroke and multiplies the risk of heart attack and blood clots as much as fivefold. Pill users make up a substantial portion of sexually active women in Canada — especially young, single women. PILL HURTS Trish Polhill, co-founder of the Birth Control Victims Association of Canada, believes the pill is killing and ursing assistant who runs the victims’ association from her Toronto home. She says that get p Bay. “What do you tell a woman who's already had one baby because the condom broke?” asks Wendy Williams, a nurse who counsels women on birth control in St. John's, Nfld. “In this provinee, I can’t promise her an abortion if the condom breaks again. She ends up going on the pill.” Joan Wright of Toronto's Bay Centre for Birth Control wishes there were more education about other methods of birth control. Other methods — the diaphragm and jelly, the condom and foam, the cervical cap and natural techniques — depend on co-operative, responsible attitude in both partners. “Td be happy to see the pill knocked off the pedestal it's on,” says Percy Skuy, president of Ortho Phar- maceutical, one of the largest makers of oral con- traceptives. “People have lost sight of the fact that it is a drug.” lip. Hooray! 4 ee Is 12 Today! Not all salt is bad BOSTON (AP) — Chal lenging a widely held belief, pressure. They cautioned that their results, based on a small study, must be confirmed by other people with high blood pres- sure. Table sdlt is sodium chlo- ride. sodium com- pounds often added to foods include sodium bicarbonate or baking soda; sodium as- corbate, a form of vitamin C; the flavor enhancer mono- sodium glutamate, and such sodium and preservatives as sodium ben: zoate and sodium nitrite. > a FOE Imig) br-c fami! OSWWe aime mal0 [4] ryptoquip: RELUCTANT STORMER ASTRONAUT GRIPED: “I WOULDN'T GO TO MARS IF IT WERE THE LAST PLACE ON EARTH.” Stay with us and weil treat you to a super Wee Bimon- ton Mall adventure. Free tickets to Submarine Rides and the rides in Hedin = 10 major attractions in all for each person. Great fun for the family! © Queen-size beds * Only minutes from downtown and Municipal Airport © Chez Collette for fine dining; Club Rendez-vous for dancing and relaxation “West Edmonton Mail tickets worth as much as $60 per lished in the ‘atest issue of Morris said he believes the same will hold true for other ‘When the men were given hag (ctr pemcalonened sodium ‘The doctors found that salt increases blood volume, but sodium citrate does not, and this could be an important difference. sharply. When thoy recetved the same amounts of sodium citrate, their blood pressure didn't change. Sodium citrate is a common additive in many foods and drinks. ALL TYPES COMMERCIAL PRINTING Castlegar News 197 Columbia Ave. 345-7266 & Supervalu PLAZA STORE ONLY cut into chops Y% pork PRICE EFFECTIVE OCT. 29, OCT. 30 & OCT. 31 loin... «3...» OPEN SUNDAYS 10 A.M.-5P.M. KEN BROWNL E ry was chosen froma costlegart import Center Coupon from the Castlegar News Helper Coupon Tab of October 14, 1967. Congratulations Ken ar News — INVITATION TO INDIVIDUALS CORPORATIONS, SMALL BUSINESSE CONTRACTORS, INVESTORS AND PRESENT PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT be invited to: You will be invited to respond to a series of calls for expressions of interest in acquiring through joint ventures or acquisition a wide range of businesses now conducted by the Government of British Columbia. As part of a major, phased plan to restruc- ture government and boost regional economic development, the Province of British Columbia has launched a managed program of privatization called Opportunities BC. In the first phase of offerings, which will be published over the next few weeks, you will @ Expand the natural gas, rail and research operations a y Cc. Hydro through an participation; which ei opportunities for wide Bid for the private contracting of over $200 million of provincial road and bridge maintenance operations, starting with the B.C. Systems Corporation. While managing the consolidation, the govern- ment will identify opportunities for greater private sector involvement, including privatization of all or parts of the Corporation; Submit expressions of interest for the operation of nine provincial forest nurseries which provide seedling stock for reforestation; Submit expressions of interest for the operation of three regional testing lab- oratories - the provincial Environmental Laboratory, the Dairy and Food Laboratory and the Soil, Feed and Tissue Laboratory. i acquisitions or janes oui with exi: a provincial highway s sign phon ‘the Queen's Printer publications and supply centres, the SupplyNet computer purchasing system, and a vehicle modification program a Phase One offering of Ministry of Trans- portation and Highways operations on Vancouver Island; Seek involvement in an expanded prov- for the ambulance services. In British Columbia today, government is working to create opportunities in all regions ..-opportunities for ee private sector t in the . incial and telec voice and data networks, information system following consolidation of present lizati ted Pri to community rors, will provide oppor- | | BUSINESS (1F APPLICABLE) | in these ¢ And these twin initiatives will provide the services people need and want, while building a sense of ownership and pride in what has been accomplished. You are invited to participate by registering your early expressions of interest on the adjoining form and mailing to: Project Management Group Opportunities BC 548 Michigan Street Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4 Please print or type NAME | ADDRESS I am most interested in: (/) D Share purchase opportunities OC Contracting services ( Employee participation CO Acquisition opportunities (D Joint venture proposals per son (Fun Pak value $24.95 each) plus room for 2 nights worth 7103 DC Management or planning service contracts rate — a $343 value for $180. based on 2 adults LE _| tunities for economic development and new $ and 2 children under 2a yous ot oa 2 gh retrieval systems and satellite capacity into OPPORTUNITIES BC! BRITISH COLUMBIANS SHAPING THE FUTURE Hon. William Vander Zalm, Premier