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Wednesday, September 25, 2013 – Daily News 5A FEATURES Chronic stress causes cells to age or death of a parDEAR DOCent) have shorter TOR K: For years telomeres than I've heard that young pregnant chronic stress is women with relabad for your tively stress-free health, but recentpregnancies. ly I heard someThis even is thing that made true in children. me take this seriously: Stress causDr. K Children exposed to lots of violence es our cells to age by Anthony L. faster. Is this really Komaroff, M.D. appear to develop shorter telomeres. true? DEAR READER: I'll Chronic stress in childbet you're talking about hood, like physical abuse, research showing that can lead to shorter telomstress affects the telom- eres that remain short into eres. These structures are middle age. Professor Blackburn a part of every cell in our body. And if that's what puts it this way: "Telomyou're asking about, it eres powerfully quantify really is true. In fact, it's life's insults." What does having part of a discovery so important that it was hon- "older" cells have to do ored with the Nobel Prize. with health? A growing The telomeres are the number of studies show ends of the chromosomes, that people with shorter the structures inside each telomeres are much more cell that contain the genes. likely to develop certain Over time, the telomeres types of cancers, heart get shorter. When they get disease and dementia. In short enough, the cell dies. fact, some experts are preWhat does this have to dicting that we will soon do with stress? Chronic be routinely measuring stress leads to shorter the length of a person's telomeres. The first study telomeres as part of that showed this was pub- assessing his or her lished in 2004. The senior health. Could stress-reduction author, professor Elizabeth Blackburn of the techniques slow cellular University of California- aging? In a review article San Francisco, was one of published last year in the the scientists awarded the scientific journal Nature, Nobel Prize. The study professor Blackburn says included mothers caring the answer probably is for chronically ill chil- "yes." She describes predren. The women under liminary studies of stress the greatest stress had the reduction combined with shortest telomeres. It was increased physical activias if their cells were 10 ty and dietary changes. It years older than the appears from these studwomen under the least ies that the telomere shortening may be stress. Since that study, many slowed. The story of telomeres other studies of people of all ages, in different kinds and cell aging is a prime of stressful situations, example of how scientists have come to the same interested in how our cells conclusion: Chronic stress work can make unexpectleads to shorter telomeres ed discoveries about what — to cells that are "older" makes us sick — and how and closer to the end of to prevent it. their lives. Dr. Komaroff is a Most of these studies have been done in older physician and professor Harvard Medical adults, but some have at To send been done in younger School. go to adults. For example, questions, or young pregnant women AskDoctorK.com, exposed to major stress write: Ask Doctor K, 10 during their pregnancies Shattuck St., Second (such as from the illness Floor, Boston, MA 02115. After rash of incidents, CHP urges slowing for road work SACRAMENTO – Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) today are calling on all Californians for their help in the ongoing effort to make highway work zones safer. According to published reports, since September 16 four incidents, all of which were preventable, resulted in injuries to 15 persons: • On Sept. 16, a head-on collision between a passenger vehicle and a Caltrans truck on State Route 20 in Mendocino County sent both drivers and their passengers to the hospital with major injuries. The Caltrans workers had stopped to remove a dead deer from the roadway. • On Sept. 16, a contractor on flagging duty near State Route 191 in Butte County was struck by a vehicle and sustained major injuries. Authorities say the driver swerved to avoid another vehicle which had slowed down in front of them. • On Sept. 17, a CHP officer on Interstate 80 in Auburn positioned his cruiser into the path of a vehicle approaching a work zone at an estimated 65 mph. His intervention successfully blunted the vehicle's approach, saving the life of a Caltrans worker who was removing debris from the roadway. The officer was knocked unconscious from the impact. • On Sept. 18, a big rig drove into a work zone on State Route 60 in Diamond Bar, injuring the driver, two Caltrans workers, and six members of a crew of courtordered community service workers who were picking up roadside litter. Californians can help keep highways safe by slowing down in work zones and complying with the Move Over law, which took effect in 2007 and was amended in 2009 to add Caltrans vehicles displaying flashing amber warning lights to the list of vehicles for which motorists must move over if safe to do so, or slow down. Amazing Finds NEW & USED FURNITURE & MUCH, MUCH MORE! 50% Red Tag SALE Two Locations - 30,000 square feet RED BLUFF 530-917-1138 REDDING 530-917-7797 22660 Antelope Blvd. 3351 S. Market St. amazingfindsredbluff.com amazingfindshome.com 9am – 8pm (closed Saturdays) 9am – 6:30pm daily Summer Sale! PHYSICIAN REFERRAL A FREE SERVICE PROVIDED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE 1-888-628-1948 www.redbluff.mercy.org Do-nothing dad creates unhealthy home band obviously no longer Dear Annie: I have been connect, and your son may married for 15 years. My be acting out his frustrations husband and I still live with the situation. Dad has under the same roof (for no idea how to communiconvenience), but we have cate with his son. Neither drifted our separate ways. you nor your son is happy The problem is, our teenage with Dad. If the marriage is son cannot stand to be in dead, please stop hanging the same room with his father. All they do is argue, Annie's around the corpse. Your son will benefit from an emoand my husband pouts like tionally stable home. Speak a baby, bottom lip and all. I have asked our son to by Kathy Mitchell with a lawyer before decidtry to ignore Dad in order to and Marcy Sugar ing which of you should move out. All of you would keep the peace, but it is getting worse. This man, who wanted benefit from counseling, and we to have a child, has spent little time hope you will consider it. Dear Annie: Not every letter is with our son over the years. When I was working and he had to watch about a problem. I am the luckiest our son, he would have his parents guy in the world. I am 60 years old. come over, and then he and his My wife is a little younger. We will father would leave, letting my celebrate 35 years of marriage this mother-in-law babysit. On week- month, complete with two children ends, he managed never to be and all the trials and tribulations of every couple. We are almost empty home. Now that our son is older, my nesters. By my wife's own admishusband thinks he has a personal sion, menopause was easy. She is slave to do all the yard work and an excellent cook. We eat good dishes and put his stuff away when food and get exercise, and both of he comes home. Also, he and us are in decent shape. Dates are Grandpa have no qualms about fun, and she is a great travel partpointing out what this kid does ner. Here is the point of my letter: wrong, badgering him about it and never mentioning the things he My wife is everything a man could want, including beautiful, sexy and does well. I have had it. I don't want my passionate. I can barely keep up son to grow up to be like his father. with her passion. I have not done Should I stay here, or should I take anything to deserve this. My charmy son and leave? — Fed Up in acter defects far exceed hers. Why my wife seems so perfect is beyond Pennsylvania Dear Fed Up: There is a lot me, but I am not complaining. going on here. You and your hus- Rather, I am amazingly thankful. Mailbox This may not be Iowa, but it does feel like heaven. — A Lucky and Appreciative Married Man Dear Lucky: Thank you so much for writing and letting our readers see that some marriages are wonderful, and that partners can recognize and appreciate what they have. Please show this to your wife and tell her you wrote it. (And any other reader who wants to give that impression can do so, as well.) Dear Annie: ''Sensitive in the Midwest'' deplored the table manners she witnessed. Here's my advice: Most executives and CEOs of successful companies do not ignore etiquette. They are unlikely to hire anyone who cannot show decent manners, including those who use vulgar language. If one wishes to continue through life in a low-paying job with no chance of advancement, by all means, thumb your nose at etiquette. Otherwise, parents (and individuals with aspirations) should give some thought to their appearance and presentation and insist on etiquette and its use. It shows respect for yourself and others. — Burwell, Neb. 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. Easy trick freshens stale bread I must admit that I've always subscribed to the philosophy that when a baguette or loaf of bread gets hard and stale, it's toast (pun intended). Today's first tipster has convinced me that there just might be a clever way to bring it back to a fully edible condition. SOFTEN BREAD. If you have a baguette or a loaf of uncut bread that has gone stale, sprinkle the item with water until fairly damp. Pop into a hot oven for a few minutes until the bread is soft and hot. --Sally P., Ky. WEIGH DOWN. After just hanging new curtains, I found that placing a butter knife in the hems works well to weight down and straighten out the edges, if needed. --Natalie B., N.C. SLEEPING SHEET. When your large-size, fitted sheet loses its elasticity or your flat sheet gets too tired for regular use, fold it in half and stitch up the bottom and side, leaving the top open. Then you have a sheet sack that is great for camping on warm nights when a sleeping bag is too hot. --Carolyn S., Minn. BATHROOM CABINET. If you need more storage in your bath- ening, slip part of an orange peel room but don't have a lot of into the container and seal. Change space, try using a CD cabi- the peel periodically. Sam T., net as a storage unit. The Idaho PURSE SAVER. To pack away drawers are large enough to your winter scarves and hold medicines, hats, store them inside a hygiene items handbag or purse that you and an extra roll of don't plan on using this toilet paper but small spring and summer. The enough to fit into a tight winter accessories will help space or corner. --Barthe purse keep its shape. bara, D.C. Just make sure not to overCHEAP CHERRIES. stuff. --Cindy L., Wis. Maraschino cherries are AIR BAGS. As a substiexpensive. So when I tute for bubble wrap or need only a decorative packing material, gather few for a pineapple Mary some zip-type baggies and upside-down cake, I just a plastic straw. Insert the buy a can of fruit cockend of the straw into the tail. It has enough of the bag, and seal the bag the bright red cherries for rest of the way. Blow up the cake, and we can eat the bag with the straw; the rest of the fruit. -then quickly remove the Mona S., email straw and seal the bag. Fill NEW COASTERS. Give your old plastic placemats a up your package with as many "air new life by making them into bags" as you need. --Jillian C., Ore. KETCHUP STAINS. If you get coasters. Take pinking shears and cut the placemats into squares. ketchup on a white or light-colKeep them on your coffee or end ored garment, spray some hydrotables to put under glasses and gen peroxide on it immediately. Then machine wash as usual with drinks. --Sherri B., Mo. SOFT BROWN SUGAR. To detergent and bleach. --Becky W., keep your brown sugar from hard- Nev. Hunt Everyday Cheapskate Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day Mountain bike riders ages 6 to 18 are invited to join the Bureau of Land Management, Redding Mountain Bike Club, and the folks from Shasta County's Healthy Shasta program for free guided bike rides on Sunday, Oct. 6, starting at 9 a.m. until about 1 p.m. at the Swasey Recreation Area in west Redding. Parents are also welcome to participate in the two-mile rides offered as part of Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, a national observance supported by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. Short interpretive talks the history of the Swasey BLM area will be offered during the rides. Redding Mountain Bike Club members will be on hand to perform helmet fitting, a pre-ride safety check on all bicycles and to help with any mechanical issues. Riders must provide their own bicycles and a helmet. The bike club will have a few helmets available for loan. Participants should meet at 9 a.m. at the Swasey Recreation Area, on Swasey Drive, two miles south of Highway 299. Additional rides will be offered on an asrequested basis. Ride leaders will work with participants in small groups to determine a suitable route for riders skill and stamina. "Bike riding is a great way for everyone to be more active," said Bill Kuntz, an outdoor recreation planner with the BLM. "Trail systems throughout Redding offer plenty of opportunities for this fun activity." Scott Russell, the trail coordinator for Redding Mountain Bike Club, has Starting on also arranged for a special obstacle course that will be set up for the little children. "This obstacle course is geared toward 4 to 7 year old children who are just beginning to learn about bike riding," Russell said. Last year Redding Mountain Bike Club worked with Healthy Shasta to demonstrate safety techniques for new riders using this obstacle course and it was very popular with the younger set. A barbecue for event volunteers and participants will follow the event. Refreshments will be available. RUNNINGS ROOFING September 3rd Abbey's Hair Works is now Blue Sun Hair Studio!! And I'm moving to 245 Pine Street (Behind Gipson Realty) 527-3974 So come check out my new place!! And I look forward to your business!! JOIN THE NEW GENERATION OF GOOD LISTENERS Every Wednesday October 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 Sheet Metal Roofing Residential Commercial • Composition • Shingle • Single Ply Membrane Pine Street Plaza 332 Pine Street, Suite G Red Bluff, CA "No Job Too Steep" " No Job Too Flat" Serving Tehama County No Money 530-527-5789 530-209-5367 CA. LIC#829089 Down! FREE ESTIMATES Owner is on site on every job Stacy L. Garcia Hearing Aid Dispenser Lic. #7440 (800) 843-4271