Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/11265
Monday, May 31, 2010 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES Denture fixatives can harm balance DEAR DR. GOTT: I read with interest about your reader with balance problems. Please research the side effects of Poligrip. Although the reader didn’t mention wearing dentures, I’m passing on some information I found online regarding this issue and the lawsuit. Doctors say too much zinc drives down cop- per levels in the body, which sets up a chain reaction that affects the spinal cord, mak- ing it hard to walk and main- tain balance. Small amounts of denture cream are safe, but those whose dentures are ill-fitting or use exces- sive amounts are at risk of developing zinc toxicity. I have a friend with severe irreversible side effects because of denture creams. It’s worth mention- ing. Hope this helps. DEAR READER: More than 35 million people in the United States alone wear dentures. That translates into a potentially huge mar- ket for dental adhesives. Procter & Gamble, which trademarks Fixodent, and GlaxoSmithKline, which trademarks Poligrip, have had claims filed against them from residents of all 50 states and Washing- ton, D.C., regarding possible zinc-poisoning symptoms. Hypocupremia (a dimin- ished concentration of cop- per in the blood) and hyper- zincemia (a toxic overload of zinc) are the chief com- plaints presented. The Food and Drug Administration does not require manufacturers to list ingredients on the labels of these two products because they fall into a class 1 cate- gory, meaning they are defined as “low-risk devices.” The FDA catego- rizes denture adhesives as medical devices intended to be applied to the base of a denture before the denture is inserted in a patient’s mouth to improve denture retention and comfort under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. While manufacturers are not required to submit market- ing applications for most class 1 devices, they still must register and list the device with the agency and comply with other applica- ble FDA requirements. These requirements include adverse event reporting, manufacturing controls and labeling that is neither false Gayle’s 100% Cotton Summer Sleep Wear at 649 Main Street Downtown Red Bluff Now Available Organic & Heirloom Spring Vegetable Plants 1 1/2 miles South of Red Bluff 12645 Hwy 99E (530) 529-2546 Anniversary Special: FREE Regular or N.G. glass with all custom frames during May. Must persent this ad. Offer Expries 5/31/10. Oversize glass not included 857 Washington St. red bluff 530-527-3369 nor misleading. Monitoring is accomplished through mandatory and voluntary reporting protocols. One of the man- Dr. Peter Gott ufacturers stands by its safety and effica- cy statement, indi- cating their product is safe and effective when used as directed. The vast majority of the zinc in the product remains in the adhesive and is not released into the mouth, and the potential for absorption through the gums is minimal. The key is moderation. Toxicity occurs with continued, chronic, excessive use, not when the products are used as direct- ed. Hypocupremia presents with spastic gait, prominent sensory ataxia (the inability to coordinate movement, poor balance, staggered ambulation) and lower-limb paresthesias. Known causes are prior gastric surgery, malabsorption and excess zinc ingestion. Hyperzincemia mani- fests with spastic gait, ane- mia, prominent sensory ataxia, lower-limb paresthe- sias and neutropenia (an abnormal drop in the num- ber of white blood cells in the blood). Known factors are excess zinc ingestion, prior gastric surgery and malabsorption. The gold standard for metal detection is a 24-hour urine analysis, but other test- ing may be ordered, as well. Thank you for bringing this issue to light. It is one I neglected to mention in my original column but is cer- tainly of great interest. To provide more infor- mation, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Consumer Tips on Medi- cines.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com. Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including “Live Longer, Live Better,” “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet” and “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook,” which are available at most bookstores or online. Childhood memories not how dad recalls Dear Readers: Today is Memorial Day. Please take a moment to remember and appreciate the sacrifices made by the men and women who have served their country. In their honor, we would like to reprint one of our favorite poems on the subject, by John T. Bird of Birming- ham, Ala.: Last Monday in May We pause to remember those who died with so much courage so much pride. They’ll never come back but memories endure to remind us of freedom: fragile, pure. We’re wor- thy of their sacrifice if we pause each day not just on the last Mon- day in May. Dear Annie: My wife and I have four grown children. I was pretty strict — no dating until 16, no stay- ing out after midnight, no smoking or drinking. The kids were disci- plined, but never spanked. They had chores, but could spend the money they earned any way they liked. I thought they turned out pretty well. After they left home, my wife and I divorced after 26 years of marriage. Slowly things began to change, and now my two daughters won’t speak to me and the boys think I was too hard on them grow- ing up. For the life of me, I cannot figure out what has happened and why they remember their childhood so much differently than I do. Can you tell me what is going on and why? — Stumped Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar Dear Stumped: Children often remember their child- hoods differently than their parents and even their sib- lings, because the memories are filtered through their young, self-absorbed inter- pretations. In your case, there could also be many negative associations trig- gered by the divorce (and it’s also possible Mom or other relatives could be contribut- ing somewhat on that score). If your kids bring up an event that you recall differently, say so without implying that their memo- ries are faulty. Instead, in a neutral tone, tell them how you remember it, and say you did the best you could and that you love them dearly and are proud of them. Then occa- sionally remind them of happier times that they presumably enjoyed. Dear Annie: This is in response to ‘‘Frustrated Parents of a Former High Achiever,’’ whose 20-year-old son was kicked out of college for marijuana use. He most likely is addicted to marijuana. At 20, this is more serious than an adolescent attitude he will grow out of. Mari- juana, like cigarettes, alcohol and other addictive substances, raises dopamine levels in the brain. The developing brain, especially in ado- lescence and young adulthood, is vulnerable to such artificial stimula- tion, leading to lifetimes plagued by addiction and its consequences. I am a physician certified in addiction medicine by the Ameri- can Society of Addiction Medicine, and am committed to getting the word out about the consequences of substance abuse in our adolescents and young adults. Most addictions start in those years. Marijuana addiction, although it may be con- sidered socially less harmful com- pared to other substances, can be as debilitating in the long term. Please advise the parents to seek help through groups such as Fami- lies Anonymous or Nar-Anon. Some young addicts do eventually correct themselves and change, but unfortunately, many do not. Even though they cannot force their adult son to attend rehab, the parents can educate themselves, face their own denial and deal with their son on a more realistic basis. — Emily Rayes-Prince, M.D., DABAM, Kentucky Dear Dr. Rayes-Prince: Thank you for your professional take on the subject. Interested readers can contact Families Anonymous (fam- iliesanonymous.org) at 1-800-736- 9805 or Nar-Anon (nar-anon.org) at 1-800-477-6291. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Mower power, mower speed, mower fun The Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Com- merce announces the return of the "Sod off Grass Roots Mow Down" lawn mower race to the Tehama District Fair- ground as part of the 4th of July Independence Day Fireworks celebration. Competitors from all walks of life will stake their claim to fame aboard all American traditional machines as they take a weekend chore into a competitive sport. From building an ulti- mate racing machine to finding race sponsors and even how to feed the crew, you can get it done here. Have you been dreaming NASCAR while sitting on your lawn mower and wonder- ing how? Well, go from mowing your lawn to mowing down your com- petition and take your turn in the winner circle. Anyone can get involved in this sport, which does not take years of training and tons of money to get started — just a fun seeking heart. Begin today and be lead- Daily News file photo ing the pack soon. This is the second year the chamber has hosted lawn mower race compe- tition. The event will include several classes, including stock, modified and stock open. Get the rule book and dig out that old riding mower, give it a tune up and get ready to race. Or for great time full of all sorts of activities, just load up the family and come down to the Tehama District Fairground July 4. For more information, call Bob Carrel at 308- 2102. Have your brain turn into Or Join Summer SERRF 2010! – Thank You – thanks to the generosity of these local businesses & individuals. • M & M RANCH HOUSE • ROSE HABLITZEL, ENROLLED AGENT • RED BLUFF INTERIORS • MOTHER LODE HOLDING CO. • LP BUILDING PRODUCTS • LOUISIANA PACIFIC • STATE FARM INS. KEITH THOMAS • TEHAMA ESTATES • CALIFORNIA WALNUT CO., INC. • MR. PICKLE’S SANDWICH SHOP • AIRPORT AUTO REPAIR • JOHN WHEELER LOGGING D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 For bus schedule information go to www.tehamaschools.org • KAY STEPHENS, MD • QRC • GREENWASTE OF TEHAMA • TRI COUNTIES BANK • MOSS LUMBER & HARDWARE • BRETNEY SUTTERFIELD • HOYT-COLE CHAPEL OF THE FLOWERS • TEHAMA COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS • FIDELITY NATIONAL TITLE CO. • SUSANNE WHALEN, DMD INC • PLACER TITLE CO. NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION Please help sponsor a classroom subscription Call Kathy at (530) 527-2151 to find out how. Through the Newspapers in Education program, area classrooms receive the Red Bluff Daily News every day D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY THE V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5