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INSIDE: Get Happy! How a simple smile can boost your health Tune In How music helps memory Healthy or not? The benefits - and risks - of your morning coffee Sweet dreams Local sleep specialists share new tools MEET YOUR LOCAL HEALTH EXPERTS Get to know 12 local health professionals
K2 • Sunday • October 18, 2026
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A Healthy State:
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Washington’s diverse crops known for health benefits
Crazy for Coffee:
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Studies confirm your daily brew is good for you
Music & Memory:
How favorite songs can help soothe those with dementia
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New ways of looking at sleep: Inland NW experts share advances
12 local healthcare providers
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A Healthy State
Washington’s ag industry contributes to overall good health By Kate A. Miner Correspondent During a drive across Washington earlier this year, I loved watching the land come alive as the wind made the grasses dance and created whitecaps on the Columbia River. This state is incredible in terms of geography, which creates an abundance of agricultural products. Washington is more than just a collection of successful industries, but a living ecosystem where the health of the land and the health of its people remain beautifully, deeply intertwined.
This approach goes back further than our current top crops like apples, wheat, and wine. Indigenous people who have called this region home for thousands of years built their entire way of life around gathering the extraordinary items the earth offered. Coastal tribal cultures still refer to “First Foods,” the native staples that sustained them for millennia, including salmon, berries, nettles, elk and deer, and various roots like camas.
Today, Washington’s agricultural base relies less on these specific items and more on commodities such as apples, wheat and potatoes plus newer crops such as cannabis and hops. But the same reliance on the land, the water, and the weather that nourishes everything remains. The farmers of today and the past also carry on the timeless tradition of stewardship, protecting the land with the same care, and honoring the gifts it provides. The benefits of agriculture go beyond the financial as well. Many of our
cash crops have documented health benefits beyond basic nourishment: Washington doesn’t just feed its people — it establishes a foundational blueprint for true, holistic health. Water Remains Key The source of this abundance begins with water. The massive floods that tore across eastern Washington roughly 15,000 years ago left behind the Columbia Basin’s deep, fertile soil. The great Cascades to the west capture Pacific moisture, keeping the western half of the state lush and green, while the east receives up to 17
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hours of summer sun. The Columbia Basin Project, fed by snowmelt and the Columbia River, is the largest federal irrigation system in the country, delivering water to more than 670,000 acres of eastern Washington farmland and driving more than $4 billion in annual agricultural production. Eye on Apples Washington grows about 65 percent of the country’s apples, and more than 85 percent of the nation’s organic supply. It’s a $1.991 billion industry built on 35-plus varieties, including the remarkable Cosmic Crisp, a variety developed by Washington State University and, by legal agreement, grown nowhere else. We say, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and it turns out there is actual truth to this classic adage. A Cornell review in Nutrition Journal has linked apple phytochemicals to lower risks of certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, asthma and
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type 2 diabetes in epidemiological and laboratory studies. Apples are well known as a great source of fiber, and studies have found that each additional three weekly servings of apples and pears are associated with a 7 percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes. The Cosmic Crisp earned Good Housekeeping’s Healthy Snack Award in 2020 and again in 2021, with judges citing its nutrition, antioxidants and fiber. Meanwhile, that apple abundance is quietly fueling a second industry: craft cider, which is booming statewide as producers push from traditional styles into hopped and fruit-forward experiments, offering a locally-rooted alternative to wine and beer. It turns out Washington’s most celebrated crop has even more to give, including a lower-alcohol choice and plenty of flavor for health-conscious drinkers. Beyond the Orchard At roughly 46 to 47 degrees north latitude, Washington’s central growing
regions enjoy long summer days, cool desert nights, and volcanic soils that keep the vines thriving. Along this corridor, three major industries have quietly become world-class. The Yakima Valley grows more than 75 percent of all U.S. hops, a $405.8 million industry shipped to more than 40 countries. Washington’s wine industry spans 21 distinct growing regions and more than 50,000 acres of vines; the state ranks second in the country in wine grape production and first in Concord juice grapes. Additionally, Washington was one of the first two states to legalize cannabis in 2012, and the Washington State Department of Health leads the country in cannabis testing compliance, enforcing strict quality assurance and medical-grade rules that screen for heavy metals, residual solvents, mycotoxins, and harmful bacteria, going well beyond standard recreational regulations. The benefits of wine, hops, and
Orchard photo by Mark VanDonge Courtesy of Visit Walla Walla
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cannabis reach well beyond the recreational and economic, touching the everyday health and well-being of the people who enjoy them. Red wine contains polyphenols, antioxidant compounds found in grape skins, and observational studies have linked moderate drinking to heart and circulatory health. Besides being a staple ingredient in beer, hops have long been used in herbal remedies to promote relaxation and sleep, Cannabis is known to ease chronic pain and the muscle stiffness of multiple sclerosis as well as stimulate appetite, reduce stress, and improve sleep. Cannabis-derived purified cannabidiol (CBD) is an FDA-approved treatment for seizures in Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes. Washington State University’s Center for Cannabis Policy, Research and Outreach, established in 2021, continues to coordinate research across medicine, neuroscience,
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psychology, public health, agriculture, and social policy. The center also evaluates how the state’s 2012 legalization has affected communities, law enforcement, and public safety, and advances hemp through crop research and germplasm improvement. The Quiet Giants Washington’s reputation for worldclass wine and hops is well earned, but the state’s agricultural muscle runs deeper. Washington is the nation’s secondlargest potato producer, harvesting more than 20 percent of the country’s supply from the volcanic soils of the Columbia Basin. The same irrigation system that sustains the apple orchards nourishes more than 100,000 acres of potato ground, yielding russets, reds, yellows, and fingerlings that supply fresh markets and processing plants across the continent. It is a billion-dollar industry that rarely gets the recognition it deserves.
Yakima Valley hops photo by Jason Hummel/Courtesy of State of Washington Tourism
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Potatoes carry a surprising amount of nutrition. A medium baked potato, flesh only, supplies 610 milligrams of potassium, compared with 422 milligrams in a medium banana, according to the National Institutes of Health, which adds that higher potassium intake is associated with a lower risk of stroke and may help lower blood pressure, though more research is needed. The Palouse Hills of southeastern Washington are among the most productive dryland wheat regions on Earth. Those deep loess soils, built over millennia by wind-carried sediment, yield some 150 million bushels annually, making Washington one of the nation’s top wheat producers. Now, a five-year, $19 million effort led by WSU, anchored by a $10 million BioInnovation Grant from the Washington Research Foundation and more than $3 million from the Washington Grain Commission,
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with matching contributions from groups including the American Heart Association, aims to bring more whole grains into Washington diets, school lunchrooms included, and to build the milling, storage and transport to get them there. Washington’s honey carries genuine terroir, drawn from apple blossoms in the Wenatchee Valley, wildflowers across the high desert, and fireweed along the Cascade foothills. WSU runs a honey bee and pollinator research, extension and education facility in Othello, in the pollinator-dependent farm country of central Washington. The state is a pollination hub, with hives trucked in for apple and cherry bloom, and its honey fuels a thriving mead industry: the third-largest in the country, and the first with a legal definition of its own. On the other side of the Cascades, western Washington’s mild climate and lush pastureland make it natural
dairy country, with more than six billion pounds of milk produced annually and a growing artisan cheese movement turning that output into awardwinning cheddars, chèvres, and washed-rind wheels found in restaurants and specialty shops nationwide. Setting the Table Beyond the manicured Vineyard photo by Mark VanDonge/Courtesy of Visit Walla Walla orchards, irrigated crop rows, and rolling farmland lies a food as medicine. The NIH Office wilder sort of abundance that has of Dietary Supplements lists colddefined this region for generations: water fatty fish such as salmon among wild mushrooms from the ancient foods high in long-chain omega-3 forest floors of the Olympic Peninsula, fatty acids, reports that observational oysters from the cold, clean waters studies consistently link higher fish of Hood Canal and Willapa Bay, intake with lower risk of heart failure huckleberries and other wild berries and coronary events, and notes the from the Cascade foothills, and American Heart Association’s advice salmon returning each fall to the of one to two servings of seafood per rivers. week. Salmon, an authentic First Food, is among the clearest examples of
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Yiping Li, MD
Vascular Endovascular Skull Base and Tumor Neurosurgeon
Brittany Bannon Research Scientist
Samantha Lindsay, DPT Supervisor of Inpatient Rehabilitation Services (PT, OT, SLP)
Megan Vulcan, ARNP Nurse Practitioner
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How long have you worked here and in healthcare? I have been working at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center for the past six years, graduating from medical school in 2012. Prior to Providence, I was a clinical instructor at Stanford and also worked as a neurosurgeon in California and Wisconsin before that. What do you most like about what you do? As a neurosurgeon focused on blood vessel diseases and tumors, I have the unique privilege of restoring quality of life by treating the body’s most intricate and delicate systems. I thrive on treating the highest risk and the most complex because I enjoy the combination of high-precision microsurgery and deep neurological problem-solving. Nothing is more rewarding than watching patients conquer debilitating illnesses to reclaim the lives and hobbies they love. I am incredibly fortunate to do this vital work alongside a deeply dedicated team of nurses, technicians, and specialists. What would you like people to know more about what you do? I want people to understand that neurosurgery is ultimately about restoring identity. We are operating on the most delicate, complex part of the human body, and while high-precision microsurgery requires intense, logical problem-solving, the real victory isn’t technical. It’s the moment a patient overcomes a debilitating condition and goes back to the people and hobbies they love.
How long have you worked here and in public health? I’ve been at SRHD for five years and in public health for nearly a decade. Before joining SRHD, I was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Utah, where I led and coordinated the evaluation of multiple programs within a diabetes prevention and treatment initiative called Driving Out Diabetes. What do you most like about what you do? Getting to know our community better through data. Our population is constantly growing and changing, and data can help us understand what’s shaping people’s health and well-being. Through leading the Spokane County Quality of Life Survey and my work providing data and designing assessments with programs and community organizations, I get to see the challenges our community faces, and the incredible work people are doing to address them. I feel like I get a behind-the-scenes look at the resilience of our community through the public health information we access, gather, and create. What would you like people to know more about what you do? A single number cannot represent reality or truth. It rarely tells the whole story. My work isn’t just about producing numbers. It’s about honest data storytelling, or helping people understand what those numbers mean, where they come from, and what their limitations are.
How long have you worked here and in healthcare? I have been with Kootenai Health for four years and have spent eight years in acute care rehabilitation. I worked initially as a therapist here at Kootenai Health, then transitioned into the role of Supervisor of the acute care team. What do you most like about what you do? We meet people on some of the hardest days of their lives. What I love most is being able to bring hope in these difficult times. Sometimes that means helping a patient take their first steps after a major surgery or stroke. Other times, it simply means listening, encouraging, and helping them believe they can get. What would you like people to know more about what you do? Many people think therapy only happens in an outpatient clinic, but rehabilitation often begins immediately after a major illness, injury, or surgery, right in the hospital. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists work throughout the hospital, including the ICU, emergency department, and acute care units. Our role is not just to treat an injury or diagnosis. We help people reclaim parts of life that matter most: walking their dog, returning to work, holding a grandchild, eating a meal independently, or simply making it home safely.
How long have you worked here and in healthcare? 20 years in healthcare, 18 years at Rockwood. What do you most like about what you do? I have the opportunity to walk alongside others during major health challenges as they make lifestyle changes. As a weight management specialist I treat the entire body and mental health as well. Because obesity is a chronic disease, I treat patients lifelong and collaborate with primary care and other specialties as a team. Where did you study? Gonzaga University for my undergraduate degree, and Washington State University for my graduate degree. I became a professor during my advanced training and have taught at WSU for the last 19 years as well at the College of Nursing. What would you like people to know more about what you do? Treating chronic weight-related health problems requires kindness, patience, skill and a listening heart. There is a great deal of stigma and bias within our health care system and social system. We are fortunate to have a team that collaborates and treats the whole person, and I think we do so with compassion.
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The Happiness Prescription: What It Means to Feel Well By Kate A. Miner Correspondent
There’s a joy you feel on an early evening walk, when the light softens and the noise of the world seems no more than a whisper, often known as the ‘golden hour.’ Photographers call it the perfect light. In Eastern medicine it is the ultimate time for deep inner healing, mental clarity, and resetting the nervous system. The ‘golden hour’ also refers to the first 60 minutes of life when a child is born, a time when everything seems almost… perfect. For one blissful and almost magical moment, we can briefly forget the pain, the worries and woes, and truly feel happiness.
A Different Way to Measure Happiness For decades, healthcare only focused on what was wrong: a disease diagnosed, a bed filled, a body in crisis. Finding genuine happiness was not considered part of your healthcare, it was something personal and unnecessary. But that line is starting to blur. The Spokane Regional Health District has spent the last decade asking Spokane County residents not just how their bodies are doing, but how their lives are, through a Quality of Life Survey mailed to up to 15,000 households every two years since 2015. Quality of life and well-being are not the same thing, and SRHD is precise about the difference. Quality of life reflects how
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people view their own circumstances, measured against their own values and expectations. Well-being is narrower: the actual feeling of happiness, a sense of purpose, having your basic needs met, and being surrounded by relationships that matter. “Health is not simply the absence of death and disease. When we look at health in our communities, we do not just want to know how long people are living; we want to know how well they are living.” - Spokane Regional Health District The answers have shifted. In 2019, 54% of respondents rated their quality of life
Annika, a facility dog at Providence Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, works alongside certified child life specialist and facility dog handler Laura Fallis. This is made possible through the support of Canine Companions and the Providence Inland Northwest Foundation. Photo courtesy of Providence.
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“excellent” or “very good.” By 2022, that had dropped to 43.3%, a dip that lines up with what the U.S. Surgeon General started warning us about nationally in 2023: loneliness and isolation had become a public health crisis on par with smoking, tied to a measurably higher risk of heart disease, dementia and early death. According to the most recent survey, the strongest predictors of a high quality-oflife rating in Spokane County are secure, stable housing, feeling safe walking alone at night in your own neighborhood, and having a real sense of belonging to your neighborhood or community. Those three things held up even after researchers accounted for people’s age, income, education and health. In other words: happiness isn’t random. It has a shape, and that shape looks a lot like feeling safe, settled and connected to the people around you. A Blueprint for a Happier Life Washington sits at No. 19 on WalletHub’s 2026 ranking of the happiest states in America, built from 30 separate metrics on emotional well-being, work environment and community connection. That a
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ranking like this exists at all says we are thinking about health in a new light. Washington may have some room to improve, but some areas of the state are already there. Building on researcher Dan Buettner’s decades of study into the world’s longest-living populations, Walla Walla Valley spent years rebuilding itself around the idea that a long life and a happy one were never two separate goals, and in April 2024, it became Washington’s first certified Blue Zones Community. Since then, WalkScore has climbed from 65 to 72. Produce consumption among underserved residents is up 68%. Ten worksites, seven restaurants and six schools have quietly rebuilt themselves around the idea that the healthy choice should also be the easy, even joyful, one. On the western side of the state in Pierce County, MultiCare and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health are helping to build the same type of community in ParklandSpanaway.
How Joy Can Overcome Pain At its simplest, happiness is a state of mind built from small, positive feelings and the general sense that life is good. A Blue Zone changes the environment, but there’s another kind of intervention that skips the environment altogether and goes straight for the feeling itself. Picture a hospital emergency room bustling with trauma, when a golden retriever walks in wearing a vest. How do you think a dog’s presence would affect the mood? Canine Companions of Seattle knows precisely, placing specially trained facility dogs in hospitals, schools and courthouses across the state. Dog ownership has been linked to a 24% drop in all-cause mortality (death from any cause) and roughly a 31% lower risk of cardiovascular death after a heart attack or stroke, according to American Heart Association findings, and their very presence is proven to lower cortisol, encourage movement, and ease loneliness. Julia Schuehle, the organization’s Field Marketing and Media Coordinator, says
every dog is trained to read a room before it ever heeds a command. “There’s a lot of research about how dogs can sense people’s emotions,” Schuehle says, “They have the ability to provide comfort in a way that humans aren’t always able to.” For example, the simple act of a dog resting its head on a patient’s knee or lying down beside a person who can’t get up. If a dog senses someone needs to feel protected, they are trained to lean their weight against them or drape themselves over their legs, a cue Canine Companions calls “cover.” At Providence Sacred Heart Children’s
Annika helps young patients relax. Photo courtesy of Providence
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Hospital in Spokane, a facility dog named Annika works alongside senior child life specialist Laura Fallis. Annika isn’t a visiting pet. She’s on call for the procedures, calming a child’s nerves long before a doctor ever walks in. The extraordinary stories are endless. A nonverbal child says her first words into a dog’s ear, because it’s the one place she feels safe enough to try. Or a young girl learning how to walk in leg braces finds that holding a leash alongside a walker makes the steps suddenly possible. Choosing the Light Is the golden hour truly a moment of happiness? Or is happiness a feeling that comes from living a fulfilled life alongside the people and community that can help you feel safe, warm, comforted, and full. When we feel this type of contentment, the aches and pains seem less acute, the load lighter, the smile easier. Our fourfooted companion walks alongside us, their innocence a reminder of our vulnerability, their protection a reminder we are not alone. Healthcare is there to help us live a long life, but it’s up to us to ensure it’s a happy one.
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“Health is not simply the absence of death and disease. When we look at health in our communities, we do not just want to know how long people are living; we want to know how well they are living.” - Spokane Regional Health District
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K12 • Sunday • October 18, 2026
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MultiCare Health Plan is an HMO with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in MultiCare Health Plan depends on contract renewal. MultiCare Health Plan operates in Pierce, Spokane, and Thurston counties of Washington. By calling the number above, you will be directed to a licensed agent. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 9 organizations that offer 37 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Please call 1 (509) 355-0201 (TTY:711) for accommodation of persons with special needs at meetings. H6194_27_Review_Enroll2_M
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October 18, 2026 • Sunday • K13
Director of Clinical Operations & Ancillary Services
How long have you worked here and in healthcare? A total of 23 years. I began my career in direct patient care as a Medical Assistant and have had the opportunity to grow into operations and leadership. That journey has given me a unique perspective on the challenges faced by patients and frontline healthcare teams. I understand how operational decisions influence access to care, patient outcomes, employee engagement, and organizational performance. Those experiences continue to shape my leadership philosophy and my commitment to building systems that support exceptional patient care and high-performing teams. What do you most like about what you do? Creating conditions that allow patients and employees to succeed. Working in a Federally Qualified Health Center is especially meaningful because our mission is centered on improving access to high-quality healthcare for the communities we serve. I am passionate about developing people and building strong teams. One of the most rewarding aspects of leadership is helping individuals recognize their potential, develop new skills, and grow. When people feel supported, empowered, and connected, they can make an even greater impact. Investing in workforce ultimately strengthens patient care, improves organizational performance, and helps ensure long-term sustainability.
Molly Carvo
How long have you worked here and in healthcare? I have worked in pediatric healthcare for approximately 13 years and joined Shriners Children’s Spokane a little over a year-and-a-half ago. Prior to this, I worked primarily in early intervention programs serving children birth-age 3, with a brief period in a school-based setting. Working with children and families has always been where I feel most at home. I am grateful to be part of a team that helps children overcome challenges, celebrate milestones, and discover abilities they may not have realized they had. What do you most like about what you do? It often feels like I get to play all day. Through play, children build skills, confidence, and independence while having fun. I love helping kids recognize their strengths and seeing the pride that comes from accomplishing something challenging. OT also allows for a great deal of creativity, which adds more fun. Just as important is the opportunity to connect with parents. As a parent myself, I understand the joys and challenges that come with raising children, and I strive to support families that help them feel capable, empowered, and confident.
Krystal Griffin
Occupational Therapist
Roxanne Gadberry, MSN, NPD, NE-BC
How long have you worked here and in healthcare? A total of 23 years, with a career rooted in nursing and a passion for advancing nursing excellence. I have had the privilege of serving patients directly and supporting nurses in their professional growth and development. I have worked at Kootenai Health for 15 years. What do you most like about what you do? Helping nurses thrive so they can provide the highest quality care to patients and families. Nursing is both a caring profession and a lifelong learning journey, and I find great meaning in supporting nurses as they grow, innovate, and make a difference. What would you like people to know more about what you do? Many people are surprised to learn that my role focuses on advancing and strengthening the nursing profession behind the scenes. I lead work in professional development, professional governance, and our Magnet® journey, helping nurses grow in their practice, improve patient outcomes, and actively shape the future of nursing.
Manager, Nursing Excellence
Liz Gelhaus
Clinic Athletic Trainer
How long have you worked here and in healthcare? I graduated from Eastern Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training in 2014, I then went to Missouri State University and graduated with a Master of Science in Athletic Training in 2016. While in graduate school, I worked as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer with volleyball, softball and men’s and women’s swimming. I moved back to Spokane where I became the athletic trainer for North Central High School for four years, then moved to Mt Spokane High School for 2.5 years. I have been in my current role as a clinical athletic trainer at Shriners Children’s Spokane for the last three years. What do you most like about what you do? I love providing any form of education to our patients and families. Whether that is post cast care instructions, concussion education while testing them, or helping educate after a big diagnosis that wasn’t expected. My goal is to ensure that our patients and families leave our care with as much information as possible for peace of mind.
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October 18, 2026 • Sunday • K15
How long have you worked here and in healthcare? I have been a pediatrician for 11 years. I was initially an Air Force pediatrician, and after completing my service time I worked as a pediatrician in California before I moved back to Spokane, near where I grew up. I have been a pediatrician with Providence for the last year at their Indian Trail and Northpointe clinics. What do you most like about what you do? I love working with children and families. I know what it’s like to be a worried parent, and I value reassuring parents and caring for their children. Children are resilient and bounce back from illnesses so well. They bring such a spark of joy into the clinic, and I am always amused and delighted by my patients’ unique personalities.
Jared J. Onley Pediatrician
Maureen Beardslee, MD Family Medicine w/ OB Physician
Jennifer Nowaski Medical Assistant
How long have you worked here and in healthcare? I graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 2013 and have practiced in the Stevens County community since 2014. What do you most like about what you do? I enjoy the long-term relationships I develop with my patients and their families. The joy of practicing rural medicine is never ending and equally fulfilling and challenging every day. What would you like people to know more about what you do? I am committed to rural medicine. I chose to live in the community in which I serve to enable trust, compassion, and continuity of care. I appreciate my patients and community.
How long have you worked here and in healthcare? I have worked at the CHAS Health Maple Street Clinic for 22 years and in healthcare for 24 years What do you most like about what you do? I love my job because I have the opportunity to help people who may not otherwise get the care they need. Building meaningful relationships with my patients and being someone they can trust is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do. I also love that every day is different, always something new to learn, or a new opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. What would you like people to know more about what you do? Being a medical assistant is so much more than taking vitals, answering phones, and rooming patients. We are often the first and last person that the patient interacts with after being checked in and we play an important role in making sure the patient feels heard and cared for. Every day brings something different, and while the pace can be challenging, it is incredibly rewarding to know that the work I do helps people access the care they need and makes a difference in their lives.
How long have you worked here and in healthcare? 18 years in healthcare. I’ve spent most of my career always within MultiCare/ Rockwood except for short stints in Seattle and Phoenix. Clinic Supervisor: What do you most like about what you do? I love problem solving for my providers and staff, helping them achieve a Pediatrics & Substance successful and enjoyable place to work & giving them a healthy work/ life balance. I think a happy/healthy team lends to a Use Disorder Clinic better patient experience for those we serve. Where did you study? I earned my Medical Assistant Certificate from Apollo College. What would you like people to know more about what you do? I have a passion and curiosity to advocate for and serve our most vulnerable patients. I think it’s important that we take a broader perspective as to what might be contributing to each of our patients’ experiences and use that to support them as best we can. I love to get involved and make each experience in my clinics the best they can be.
Erin Shogan
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K16 • Sunday • October 18, 2026
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The Skinny on Coffee Recent findings back up past research that your java is good for you By Jean Arthur Correspondent Regular coffee drinkers now have additional new evidence on their side that their morning caffeine ritual is healthful. Interestingly, the newest finding makes its case by bringing together goats, Ethiopia, academic studies and football for one super conclusion: it’s good for you. According to researchers, Zhang, et al., consuming caffeinated coffee and tea daily provides cognitive benefits. The researchers followed 131,821 participants for 40 years and found that the caffeine consumers had a lower chance of
dementia than the decaffeinated crew or those who drank only a small amount of coffee or tea. The researchers, including Zhang, from Harvard University’s Department of Nutrition at the Chang School of Public Health, begin with the question: “Is long-term intake of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee associated with risk of dementia and cognitive outcomes?”
of the American Medical Association, follows other findings also indicating that daily coffee and tea can improve memory and mood while reducing the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, multiple cancers and other chronic diseases.
For example, the World Cancer Research Fund has noted, “a strong evidence that coffee decreases the risk of liver and womb cancers. There’s also some evidence that coffee decreases the risk of mouth, pharynx and larynx,
The positive results are good news for the 66% of Americans who sip the dark stuff daily. Zhang’s research, published in early 2026 in the Journal
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October 18, 2026 • Sunday • K17
and skin cancers.” Morning coffee lovers recognize improved energy and endurance too, well, sometimes. According to research from Frontiers in Sports and Active Living on the PubMed website, “Studies correlate its use to increased exercise performance in endurance activities, as well as its possible ergogenic effects for both intermittent and strength activities. Recent findings show that caffeine may increase or decrease exercise performance. These antagonist responses may occur even when using the same dosage and for individuals with the same characteristics, making it challenging to explain caffeine’s impact and applicability.” Sports groups suggest drinking coffee 60 minutes before exercise, giving the body time to absorb caffeine. The Institute of Human Anatomy finds that “Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, which lowers your sense of tiredness and boosts alertness,” and “helps release more calcium ions inside muscle fibers, which makes muscle contractions stronger and
faster.” Notably, the Institute mentions that caffeine can lower muscle pain during intense workouts. The U.S. Drug Administration recommends consuming up to 400mg of caffeine per day - about four 8-ounce
As the legend goes according to the National Coffee Association, Kaldi noticed that when his ruminants nibbled cherries off a particular tree on the Ethiopian plateau, the goats got rowdy and wouldn’t settle for the night.
Hartland Coffee/Photo by Joe Butler
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cups. New guidance from the American Heart Association says that four to five cups a day is safe and may lower the risk of some heart conditions and stroke. The story behind coffee’s jolts and jitters derives from Ethiopia and a 9th century origin tale of a goat header named Kaldi.
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Kaldi shared the curiosity with a monastery. A sleepy abbot then started creating a drink with the berries, inventing what we now know as coffee. For Americans’ cup-of-joe habit, 3.5 billion pounds of beans imported annually arrive as “green,” not roasted. The $12.8 billion supply, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, constitutes 99 percent of coffee consumed in the U.S. That’s because coffee trees flourish in the equatorial climate, generally between the
Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, among 40 countries and from rich soil irrigated with seasonal rainfall. Only Hawaii and Puerto Rico successfully produce coffee, filling 1% of domestic demand. About 80 percent of the imports arrive from Latin America— primarily, Brazil—according to the USDA’s Economic Research Service. For local sippers, some 300 coffee haus outlets are open in the region, part of the country’s approximately 94,000 coffee shops, drive-ups, cafes and carts, an increase of a few percentages in the past few years. Even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers coffee as healthy, adding a nutrient-content claim in 2024, among other healthful consumables, with only five calories per 12oz, served black, of course. Zhang and researchers’ article, “Coffee and Tea Intake, Dementia Risk and Cognitive Function,” reported that “In this prospective cohort study of 131,821
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individuals from 2 cohorts with up to 43 years of follow-up, 11,033 dementia cases were documented. Higher caffeinated coffee intake was significantly associated with lower risk of dementia. Decaffeinated coffee intake was not significantly associated with dementia risk.” The typical java drinker consumes between 110mg and 260mg daily, well under the 400mg threshold, according to the FDA. Downsides of consuming too much caffeine, notes the AMA, include sleep disruption, anxiety and digestive issues, and for some, raise blood pressure, raise heart rate, trigger palpitations and interfere with some medications. While 4-6 cups per day is typical for only ten percent of American coffee drinkers, there is a tipping point, and National Football League coach, Dan Campbell may have found it. The Detroit Lions’ head coach reportedly drank two 20-ounce Venti Pike Place medium roast drinks with two shots of expresso, a “black eye,” from Starbucks. Every morning, his 40 ounces with extra espresso shots adds up to about 1,000mg of caffeine. While Kaldi the goat herder certainly could not have envisioned what his discovery created, industry estimates a global coffee market to reach $380.3 billion by 2030, Kaldi’s goats deserve credit. By the way, Campbell halved his caffeine intake after a doctor’s visit, saying that instead of drinking nearly a gallon of coffee a day, he’s down to a half gallon, giving new meaning to the coffee GOAT. Amelia Johnson & Daniel McCarthy prepare drinks at Hartland Coffee/Photo by Joe Butler/Spokesman-Review
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New Technology, New Options to Overcome Sleep Disorders x
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By Tracy Damon Marketing Correspondent Can’t sleep? You’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 6 adults in the United States have trouble falling asleep, and 1 in 5 struggle to stay asleep. If this is you, you may not only be exhausted, but at risk for other health issues as a result of sleep loss. Studies show that chronic sleep problems can increase chances of cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes, compromised immune system, depression and anxiety, cognitive decline, fatigue, stress, and slower healing of wounds. There’s good news though; treatments for sleep disorders are improving with new technology and research. For instance, sleep apnea has both new treatments available and improvements on traditional ones. Sleep apnea causes breathing to stop and start throughout sleep, causing loud snoring and daytime sleepiness, even after a full night’s rest. CPAP is still the primary treatment option for most sleep apnea patients, however there are alternative options now for patients who either don’t want to use CPAP, or can’t tolerate it,” said Dr. David Ramey, Medical Director at Providence St. Luke’s Sleep Center in Spokane. CPAP is short for continuous positive airwave pressure, a machine that was invented in the 1980s and, until recently,
still had many of the same design characteristics as the original version. CPAP machines were traditionally very big, loud, and had large face masks that go over the nose and mouth, connected to the machine by an air hose. The mask delivers pressurized air to keep the user’s airways open during sleep, as the most common type of apnea causes throat muscles to relax to the point that either throat walls or the tongue block the airway. While the masks keep people breathing, discomfort caused by them can keep some from sleeping. “The basic function of a CPAP machine is the same as far as what it does, but over the years it has gotten smaller, more portable, and certainly have gotten quieter,” said Ramey. “They now have many more comfort features.” Those include custom-fitted masks, lighter and softer mask materials, smaller machines more convenient for travel, less machine noise, and longer battery life. For those that can’t tolerate sleeping with a mask, or who have severe sleep apnea, implantable devices have become recently available that give off small electrical pulses; signaling the tongue to move forward and opening the airway. “There’s a battery that is placed below the clavicle and there are two electrodes attached to that battery that are surgically tunneled back to the back of the tongue,” said Ramey.
While this procedure is a long-term treatment, the procedure to implant it is relatively minor. The least invasive way to treat apnea, and possibly the easiest these days, is to lose weight. “Excessive weight is probably the most significant risk factor for developing sleep apnea,” said Ramey. “Weight loss can help reduce it and sometimes get rid of it altogether.” While losing weight was a struggle for many in the past, GLP-1 medications have made it much easier for most people. Originally developed to treat diabetes, GLPs are now more commonly used for weight loss, which in turn addresses apnea by reducing body weight; taking pressure off the airway. Less pressure means less chance of it collapsing during sleep. Weight loss can also reduce inflammation, which improves airway muscle tone, also preventing airway collapse. At least one GLP is now FDA-approved specifically to
treat sleep apnea and others are seeking FDA approval. Nasal sprays that help with apnea are also currently undergoing testing for FDA approval. The sprays work by blocking certain potassium channels in the upper airway to make muscles more active and keep things open. The active muscles don’t relax, as usually happens with apnea patients, causing an airway blockage that wakes the sleeper throughout the night. The sprays are doing well in clinical trials so far but require more testing. Unlike some sleep disorders, insomnia can be either a health condition or the result of other issues. It is the most common sleep disorder, with most people experiencing it at some point in their lives. Insomnia makes it hard to fall or stay asleep or get back to sleep after waking up. In the case of shortterm insomnia, stress is often the cause, but it can also be attributed to irregular sleep schedules, depression, chronic pain, menopause, medications, or serious underlying medical conditions. If you suffer from insomnia, medication
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“Performed by a psychologist, the premise of this treatment is that insomnia patients get themselves into unhealthy or ineffective habits,” said Ramey. “Therapy helps to identify those patterns and can be a very effective treatment for those motivated to fix the problem.”
Dr. David Ramey
Medical Director at Providence St. Luke’s Sleep Center in Spokane
or devices may not be necessary to overcome it. Many people find that cognitive behavioral therapy, considered the gold standard for insomnia treatment, can address sleeplessness.
Some of those patterns or habits can include ignoring stress rather than dealing with it in a healthy way, staying up late, keeping the brain stimulated late into the evening by working or scrolling on a phone, napping late in the afternoon, strenuous workouts before bed, drinking caffeine or alcohol in the evening, or even mentally believing that you won’t be able to sleep, which becomes a selffulfilling prophesy. “While it’s not a quick fix, one of the many benefits is that cognitive behavioral therapy eliminates the need for medication,” Ramey said.
s. As the state’s nursing workforce center, WCN supports a healthy Washington by engaging nurses’ expertise, influence, and perspective and by building a diverse, highly qualified nurse workforce to meet future demands.
You’re struggling to sleep What now?
If you’re having a hard time sleeping, start by narrowing down the potential cause before calling your doctor. Dr. David Ramey, Medical Director at Providence St. Luke’s Sleep Center in Spokane, says start with the basics - maybe you’ve gotten into a pattern that discourages sleep such as staying up late on weekends then not being get to sleep at a regular time during the week; having an ever-changing bedtime; or fixating on stressful issues when you get in bed. “The key is consistency in multiple areas,” said Ramey. “Start with a consistent sleep schedule; going to bed and getting up at the same time every day.” A bedtime routine that avoids screens, bright lights, and stressful activities before bed can also help. Blue lights from screens can suppress melatonin production and delay sleep. Limit caffeine intake after midday and avoid intense evening workouts. To encourage sleepiness, create a relaxing environment by dimming the lights, lowering the room temperature, and ensuring your bedroom is quiet and comfortable.
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K22 • Sunday • October 18, 2026
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MELODIES & MEMORIES: x
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By Tracy Damon Correspondent
How music is helping dementia patients
It turns out that a simple part of daily life for many of us can also be used as therapy for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Music isn’t just enjoyable; for many dementia patients it reduces symptoms and side effects, improves mood, enhances memory, and strengthens social connections. “Studies have shown music may reduce agitation and improve behavioral issues that are common in the middle-stages of the disease,” the Alzheimer’s Association website says. “Music provides a way to connect, even after verbal communication has become difficult.” That is the case for Spokane resident Joann Husted, who helps with her mother Diane’s care. Diane was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about five years ago but
Husted says family members noticed symptoms a few years before that. While Diane is no longer able to communicate traditionally, she does respond to music. “It’s become a thing for us. I never really heard her sing when I was growing up but now it has become a thing for us to sing in the car,” Husted said. “She tries to sing along with the worship music at church and I always have music on in the car and I noticed she was enjoying it, so I made a playlist.” That list includes artists Diane grew up with and ones she enjoyed pre-Alzheimer’s, like the The Monkees, The Beach Boys, Steven Curtis Chapman, Francesca Batistelli, Casting Crowns, Mercy Me, The Beatles, and many others. “She always loved to sing and she turned
me on to Queen and The Cars. Lots of 70s and early 80s bands. Some of those are still my favorite artists,” Husted said. Many facilities and programs that treat and work with dementia patients are using music as therapy as it triggers the release of endorphins, natural chemicals produced by the brain that act as pain relievers and mood enhancers, according to the website for the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP). Many facilities using music therapy have documented reductions in the use of antipsychotic and anti-anxiety medications. “Physically, music can reduce heart rate and blood pressure, alleviate tension, and encourage movement. This makes it especially helpful during care routines that might otherwise feel invasive or overwhelming,” the NCCDP website states.
It also engages multiple areas of the brain, including regions responsible for memory, emotion, and motor function. For many people suffering from dementia, these areas remain relatively unaffected, which is why patients are able to continue to recognize songs and sometimes sing along or tap to a rhythm, even while losing other memories or the ability to communicate. While any music can elicit a response, familiar music gets the strongest reactions as it can help individuals recall personal events, names, and experiences. Husted says she has experienced this with her mother. “Sometimes a song will come on that she knows, and she will say something,” said Husted. “She’s not able to really hold a full conversation but she can react to
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things like that and I think that helps her remember.” Other reactions can include eye contact, facial expressions, humming, singing along or attempting to, and even dancing for more mobile patients & research shows that people who actively participate like this, or even play along on basic instruments, receive the strongest benefits from music over those who passively listen. To get the maximum benefit from music, the Alzheimer’s Association recommends the following for building a playlist for people with dementia: Like Husted did, use music from the patient’s youth, predementia years, or songs with emotional significance. Encourage singing, clapping, dancing, or playing along on instruments. When the listener shows a reaction to music, ask questions about whether they like certain music or lyrics. Choose music to match the desired mood such as slower, quieter tranquil pieces for relaxation and more upbeat songs for energy or motivation. Music doesn’t have to be used as formal
therapy, but can be incorporated into daily activities such as mealtimes, trips in the car, or waking or bedtime rituals to reduce distress and increase engagement. Regular engagement with music can be a preventive measure for all of us. One study found that people who regularly listened to music had a 39% lower risk of developing dementia later and a 17% lower risk of mild cognitive impairment. It can also be a benefit for those who love and care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients as music can reduce their stress and make communication easier with the patient. “I think music connects in a different way so it’s a really great tool and a great way to communicate,” Husted said. “A lot of times songs say things we don’t think of or can’t say. Or they bring out feelings.” If you have a loved one with dementia or need resources or information to help with care of a dementia patient, the Washington State Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association website has resources at alz.org or Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington can be contacted at dementia@altcew.org.
More choices for care. More ways to call Touchmark home. At Touchmark on South Hill, our continuum of care is designed to meet changing needs while helping residents remain connected to the community, people, and lifestyle they know. Our brand-new specialty neighborhoods offer additional options between traditional levels of support. Claremont provides a higher level of assisted living for those who need more personalized support, while Pembrook offers a welcoming neighborhood for individuals experiencing the early stages of memory loss. Together with independent living, assisted living, and memory care, these new neighborhoods create a more thoughtful continuum—with the right support available as needs evolve.
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