Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/153816
2B Daily News – Saturday, August 17, 2013 FEATURES Trying to do right thing with aging mother Dear Annie: Last week, my stepfather called me to say that my 78-year-old mother came downstairs complaining that her ''brain wasn't working right'' and that she was dizzy. She sat at the table for an hour before getting herself breakfast and doing the crossword puzzle. Then she asked him the same crossword question three Annie's times in three minutes. My husband said Mom may have had a stroke and that she should get by Kathy Mitchell to the emergency room. I suggested and Marcy Sugar this to my stepfather, but he said he wasn't going to do that on a Saturday. So I called Mom's doctor, who said to bring her in to the hospital so they could see whether she'd had a stroke and, if so, monitor her blood pressure. I told my stepfather what the doctor said, and now he is angry with me, saying I overstepped my authority. He said it was not my place to call Mom's doctor and get her the help she needs. Later, when I spoke to my mother, she was surprised by all this and agreed to see her doctor. Unfortunately, my stepfather did not accompany her, and she neglected to tell the doctor that she had been dizzy and forgetful. Mom has shown other signs of short-term memory loss, but never this bad before. They live about Mailbox an hour away from us. How much should I help, and how much should I mind my own business? — Worried About Mom Dear Worried: It is not uncommon for people to minimize the health problems of spouses. It is much easier for your stepfather to believe his wife will be just fine, although the fact that he called you with the original information indicates that he was worried. Instead of telling him what to do or doing it behind his back, include him in these decisions. Pay a visit to Mom, and sit down with both of them. Explain that Mom's doctor is concerned that her dizziness and forgetfulness could be serious. Ask if you could accompany Mom to the next doctor's appointment. Ask how you can help make this easier for both of them. Let him know you are counting on him. Dear Annie: This is for ''Amateur Author in El Paso,'' who wants someone to read his manuscript and offer feedback, but his family is not interested. He should be grateful his relatives don't want to read his writing. Unless they are professional book editors, their feedback may not be helpful. I have edited 38 national bestsellers since 1979. Here's my advice: When you look for a writers group, make sure the members are knowledgeable and supportive. The facilitator should have credentials you can trust. (You do want a facilitator so everyone has a turn and no one's ego goes out of control.) Find a professional editor to mentor you. Consult the Better Business Bureau, the Writers Digest Classified section, and the website that identifies ''preditors and editors'' (pred-ed.com). Ask for references from recent clients. Hang in there. People don't write because they want to. They write because they have to. — Sarasota, Fla. Dear Sarasota: Thank you for your professional advice. Many readers wrote to tell ''Amateur Author'' not to ask friends or relatives for their opinions, because they are not qualified to offer useful assistance and their feedback could be counterproductive. Here's one more: Dear Annie: From my experience and what I hear from other writers, the last place to go for feedback on your novel is your family — and probably most of your friends. I recommend looking for a supportive writing group through your community's recreation department, local newspapers, libraries, bookstores, senior centers and night schools. — Getting Great Feedback in Santa Cruz Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. New sunscreen labels offer better information DEAR DOCTOR K: Sunscreen labels have changed since I stocked up last year. What should I look for on the new labels? DEAR READER: Sunscreen products do look different than Dr. K they have in the past, by Anthony L. as new rules for Komaroff, M.D. labels are now in effect. These new rules, mandated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have made sunscreen labels more informative and less misleading. Sunlight exposes your skin to ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. UVA rays age and wrinkle skin; UVB rays cause sunburn. Both contribute to skin cancer. So you want to protect your skin from both UVA and UVB. Sunscreens vary in their protection against UVA and UVB. The best protection is "broad spectrum protection," which filters out much of the UVA and UVB. Under the new FDA rules, if a label says "broad spectrum," the product must pass tests proving that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Also under the new rules, the term "sunblock" is no longer allowed, because none of these products block all of the sun's rays. "Waterproof" is also banned, because water does rinse off some of the creams. It's just a matter of degree. You want creams that are least likely to wash off when you go into the water. Some creams fit the bill; under the new rules they are called "water-resistant." This term must be accompanied by a set time for reapplication. Another big change concerns SPF, or sun protection factor. SPF is a measurement of how much longer it takes for your skin to turn red from the sun after applying the sunscreen. Sunscreen with an SPF of less than 15 for both UVA and UVB must now carry a warning that it only reduces your risk of sunburn, and does not reduce your risk of either skin cancer or early skin aging. When you go out in the sun, you want to reduce your risk of sunburn, early skin aging and skin cancer — not just one or two of them, but all of them. Therefore, to reduce your risk of skin cancer and early aging, I recommend you use a sunscreen with the following features: — Broad spectrum protection — SPF of 30 or higher — Water-resistant for up to 40 or 80 minutes Once you buy the right sunscreen, make sure to apply it properly: — Apply sunscreen before you go out. — Apply enough and reapply fre- quently. Use 1 ounce of sunscreen (a shot glass full) to cover your body and face. — Reapply sunscreen immediately after swimming or heavy sweating. — Apply every two hours even if you don't get in the water or sweat. I was raised in Southern California in the years before we understood all the damage the sun could do to your skin. Everyone "worked on their tan," including me. Several skin cancers later, I wish we had then the kind of potent sunscreens we have today. Dr. Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. To send questions, go to AskDoctorK.com, or write: Ask Doctor K, 10 Shattuck St., Second Floor, Boston, MA 02115. We're making a great thing even better. Check out the redesign of Tehama County's number one website See a preview at www.redbluffdailynews.com DAILY NEWS www.redbluffdailynews.com RED BLUFF DESKTOP. LAPTOP. MOBILE. TABLET. TEHAMA COUNTY redbluffdailynews.com