Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/10998
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES Plant worker suffers respiratory difficulties DEAR DR. GOTT: Can you give me an idea or guess the prob- lem that I have, as no one has yet diagnosed it? It’s a breathing problem that seems to be getting worse, but slowly. My breathing is shallow, and I often count 20 or more intakes per minute. I quit smoking 24 years ago, and the problem was not there then. My wife often hears my breath from another room, and my camcorder micro- phone picks it up easily. I have grown used to it and often don’t realize the noise I make. I have had a series of laboratory tests that all say there is nothing, but this condition can’t be right. My doctor says I definitely don’t have asth- ma, and he doubts that it’s pulmonary hypertension, though after reading about it, I do have some of the symptoms that are men- tioned. I work at a plastics plant that often “cooks” the plastic, which smells and tastes nasty, but no one else there — some 700 employees — has had this trouble. I also operate an EDM machine that uses chemicals known to cause skin irritations, but again, no other person has had this breathing disor- der. I am active for a 60- year-old. I swim and hike regularly but now have to stop more frequently to catch my breath. I tire a lot more easily and usual- ly sleep when I get back from what was once a rou- tine walk. I suppose age must play a part here, but the relative suddenness of this tells me this isn’t nor- mal. Can you help me, Dr. Gott? DEAR READER: A normal breathing rate for healthy adults is between eight and 16 breaths per minute. At a rate of 20, this is slightly abnormal, but given your claim that it is progressing, I believe you need further examina- Dr. Peter Gott tion and testing. Rapid, shallow breath- ing is known as tachypnea and is associated with several pulmonary disorders, includ- ing asthma, pneu- monia and other lung infections, pulmonary embolism (blood clot) and chronic obstructive pul- monary disease (COPD). Pulmonary hyperten- sion is high blood pres- sure that affects the arter- ies in the lungs and the right side of the heart only. It causes the heart to weaken over time and eventually causes it to fail completely. Symptoms include shortness of breath while exercising that eventually occurs during rest, fatigue, chest pressure or pain, a racing pulse or heart palpitations, dizzi- ness or fainting spells, cyanosis of the lips and skin, and edema of the legs and ankles, which eventually affects the abdomen. Potential difficulties from pulmonary hyperten- sion include blood clots, irregular heartbeat, right- sided heart failure and bleeding into the lungs. Inadequate treatment or postponing treatment increases the risk of devel- oping a complication. Request a referral to a pulmonologist (lung spe- cialist), who can examine you and order further test- ing, which may include a chest X-ray, CT scan or MRI of your lungs. You may also need additional blood testing. To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Pulmonary Dis- ease.” 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 web- site at www.AskDr- GottMD.com. Call us. And get back to work. • HR expertise and support services • Temporary Workers • Evaluation hire • Carefully screened candidates • Dedicated service www.expresspros.com 530 527-0727•243 So. Main Street Cooked Cooked to Order Build it your Way Breakfast, Salad & Sandwich Bar NOW Serving Breakfast Best Breakfast Burrito in the North State Riverside Plaza 410 S. Main St., Red Bluff • 530-529-5005 Open Mon-Fri 6:30am-2:30pm Summer Hours 6:30am-6:30pm (530) 529-4141 (800) 281-4144 344 South Main Street Red Bluff, CA 96080 www.millcreekveterinaryhospital.com 8202 Hwy 99E, Los Molinos (530) 384-1700 MARK WINNING D.V.M. ANNOUNCEMENT! FERAL FRIDAY* WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2010 as part of our contribution to helping with an overwhelming population of Feral Cats *Cats must be “Truly Feral” and are required to receive a Rabies vaccination. Females $30 • Males $15 • Rabies Vaccine $7 Limited live traps available with $30 deposit Katrina Perdue D.M.D. GENERAL DENTISTRY 2150 N. Main St., Suite #1 (530) 527-7951 Mon. thru Thur. 8am to 5pm, Fri. by appointment • Conscious Sedation • Preventive care • Restorative Care • Extractions • Veneers • Whitening • Dentures • Root Canals • Implant Restorations • Crowns and Bridges • Immediate Emergency Openings Now Serving Chargrilled Burgers Fresh Daily Respecting People. Impacting Business Call us any time for: • An extensive network of recruiting sources • Testing and training • Experienced recruiters • Full-time employees Can’t find son’s pregnant girlfriend Dear Annie: My son met his girlfriend while in college. They moved in together, and ‘‘Dora’’ became pregnant. After a few months, she decided they should move back to Nebraska to live near her father. My son had two jobs at the time, so they agreed he should stay to tie up loose ends and then look for a job in Omaha. While apart, Dora became difficult and told my son he had no say in anything to do with the child. With no job and not knowing anyone in Omaha, he decided not to move until the child was born. But now he can’t get in touch with his former girlfriend or her father. Dora won’t return his calls. How can we find out whether Dora had the baby? My son wants to do the right thing financially and emotionally for his child. What rights does he have? — Not Know- ing Is Painful Dear Not Knowing: Plenty. If he is this child’s father, not only does he have an obligation to support the baby, he has the right to sue for cus- tody. Tell him to see a lawyer imme- diately. And he might want to get a paternity test, just to be sure. Dear Annie: I just turned 50 and have been divorced for the past seven years. I recently moved in with ‘‘Duke,’’ whom I met a year ago. Duke’s job requires a lot of trav- Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar eling, and lately, things don’t seem right between us. Women call his cell phone frequently, and he won’t answer when he’s with me. He says they are co- workers and he doesn’t need to speak to them. But I also found lewd text messages from women and naked pictures of them on his phone. His son also told me that Duke is online a lot, talking to different women in our area. I confronted Duke about what I found and told him I can no longer trust him. I also stupidly admitted I checked his phone, and he tried to turn it around and claim he can’t trust me either because I snooped. Duke says he loves me, but if that’s true, he wouldn’t be doing these things behind my back. I do not plan for this relationship to go any further (meaning marriage), but I’m not sure what I ought to do. Should I continue to live with the lies and deception and go out and have fun myself, or should I find a place of my own? I think I know the answer, but would like your opinion. — Hurt in Florida Dear Hurt: You should absolute- ly find a place of your own. Duke is not trustworthy and has no intention of changing his behavior. There is no future or contentment in this rela- tionship unless you need a room- mate to help pay the rent, in which case, you should have separate bed- rooms and separate lives. Sorry. Dear Annie: I would like to add my two cents to your reply to ‘‘It’s Cold in Maine,’’ the woman who was concerned about her grand- daughter’s language on Facebook. Facebook is a wonderful tool to find old friends and keep in touch. But as Grandma learned, there is often a problem of ‘‘too much infor- mation.’’ My husband un-friended our daughter-in-law because he did- n’t want to be bombarded with her sorority activities and fashion com- ments. She was hurt and angry and considered it an insult. I urge people instead to use the ‘‘hide’’ feature to keep others’ comments from appear- ing on your wall, while still allowing you to check their pages and keep the lines of communication open. Most young people go through a phase of using colorful language, and much of it is for shock value, so telling them to stop will fall on deaf ears. It is OK to tell them how you feel in a private conversation, but un- friending sends the message that you no longer care about them. I also would not reprimand people in the public areas of Facebook or com- plain to their mother like ‘‘Maine’’ did. — Facebook Fan Dear Fan: Thanks for the sug- gestions. We concur. 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. Join an annual butterfly survey The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER) and the Butte Creek Ecological Pre- serve (BCEP) are offer- ing an opportunity to join the third annual but- terfly survey on Friday, June 4. This event is part of the North American Butterfly Association’s national efforts to col- lect population trend data. Local expert entomol- ogist Don Miller will lead the trip on the BCCER, and Don Hank- ins, geological sciences, will coordinate the trip on the BCEP. Groups will meet at 8:30 a.m. at either Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (9.8 miles from Bruce Rd. on Hwy 32 East) or Butte Creek Ecological Preserve (turn left off Skyway and go 3.1 miles on Honey Run Rd). The event is free, although donations will be accepted. Please wear long pants, a hat and sunscreen, and bring a sack lunch, water, pen- cil, paper and a field guide to butterflies if you have one. To attend send your RSVP and choice of 2nd Annual Walk of Gratitude June 12th Appreciation Day & Veteran’s Health, Life, Auto, Home, Commercial, Professional Liability Pancake Breakfast Starts at 7:30 Speakers & Dignitaries 8:00 Walk starts approx 9:30 Washington at Oak info 527-5180 MORE THAN JUST BOWLING & Bowling Greens Minature Golf Spring Leagues Now Forming! Adults • Seniors • Youth • Youth/Adult SIGN UP YOUR TEAMS NOW!!! Flyers online at www.lariatbowl.com headquarters! Children’s Birthdays• Adult Birthdays • Company Parties Respiratory Equipment Let Lariat Bowl be your party Bring in this ad to receive GAME OF BOWLING 1 FREE with one paid game. Valid for up to 6 people for casual open play. One coupon per group per day. Not valid w/any other offer or discount. Not valid after 6pm Fri or Sat. Expires 5/27/10 365 So. Main, Red Bluff • (530) 527-2720 • www.LariatBowl.com Nebulizers In-Home Patient Education allows Lincare to provide the highest quality care to your patients. Lincare accepts Medicare, Medicaid, &Private Insurances Distributed by: Specializing in home respiratory services NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY •60 MONTH FREE REPLACEMENT WARRANTY •30 MONTH PRO-RATED WARRANTY •340 COLD CRANKING AMPS Bi-level Therapy CPAP Portable 02 Systems 02 Concentrators http://www.lesschwab.com LAWN & GARDEN RV DEEP CYCLE •12 MONTH FREE REPLACEMENT WARRANTY PER MONTH •36 MONTH PRO-RATED WARRANTY •95-220 AMP HOURS Good through May 31, 2010 Red Bluff 522 ANTELOPE BLVD. (530) 529-1654 RANDAL ELLOWAY DDS, INC. Implants & Advanced Cosmetic Dentistry A wise choice for quality family dental care. 530 527-6777 VISIT US @ www.drelloway.com 2426 So. Main St., Red Bluff BATTERIES Free phone quotes 530-824-9900 Monday-Friday 9-5 1610 Solano St. #B Corning Lic.#0C37035 locations to Jeff Mott at jmott@csuchico.edu. Space is limited, so early sign-up is recommend- ed. The Web site for the reserves can be found at http://www.csuchico.edu /bccer/index.htm. The BCCER and the BCEP are owned and managed by the Califor- nia State University, Chico, Research Foun- dation. The BCEP is a 93-acre site along the middle section of Butte Creek and contains more than a mile of creek frontage, which is criti- cal salmon habitat and spawning grounds. The BCCER contains 3,950 acres of diverse canyon and ridge habitats, including 4.5 miles of Big Chico Creek, and is home to many species of plants and animals. LOSE WEIGHT Nutrition & Energy Digestive Cleansing Weight Control POUNDS INCHES& Healthy, real results! LOSE 30-day product, return refund guarantee. Ask for. 888-564-2079 herbal-nutrition.net/ starhomebusiness starhomebusiness@att.net REALTOR ALWAYS ON CALL! (530) 529-4111 Ranch • Ag • Land • Commercial Mountain Cabins • Homes 658 Rio St. Red Bluff DRE # 01174300 www.UCAREA.net EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY SAMPLE! FREE