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Wednesday, November 27, 2013 – Daily News 3B FEATURES Studies so far show statins offer big benefits, small risks frequently preDEAR DOCTOR K: scribe statins Lately I've been hearing for people with more about the side diabetes. They effects of statins. For do this to example, I've heard that reduce the they increase the risk of increased risk muscle problems and of heart disease diabetes. How do I associated with know if they're still worth the risk? Dr. K the disease. A recently DEAR READER: by Anthony L. I've said this before, and Komaroff, M.D. published study indicated that I'll say it again: No drug is 100 percent safe. That long-term use of statins may doesn't mean that you increase a person's risk of shouldn't take one if you developing cataracts. That need it. But you should con- study requires confirmation tinually weigh the risks and from other studies before it benefits. When it comes to can be accepted. Even if it cholesterol-lowering statin proves to be true, you would drugs, the benefits are have to weigh the risk of getproven. But your concerns ting cataracts against the risk of heart disease. Cataracts are worth a closer look. Statins reduce high levels that interfere with your of "bad" (LDL) cholesterol. vision can be easily correctBad cholesterol can lead to ed by surgery. The conseheart attacks, stroke and quences of heart disease can death from heart disease. be heart failure and sudden Whatever your risk when death. Another cause for conyou start taking a statin, the drug can lower it substantial- cern has been that statins may cause memory loss. But ly. What about the side large clinical trials have not effects? In large clinical tri- shown this to be the case. If you're still concerned, als, up to one in 10 people taking a statin reported mus- talk to your doctor about cle aches, pains or weakness. your personal risks and benThat doesn't necessarily efits. And remember that mean the statin caused the statins are only part of the muscle symptoms, but it's equation. Whether or not you take a statin, don't worth noting. If you feel new muscle ignore healthy eating and symptoms after starting a regular exercise. They actustatin, tell your doctor. He or ally offer you more potent she may advise you to stop protection against heart distaking it, wait a month or ease than statins do. I know some people who two, and then try taking it again. If the muscle troubles have "relaxed" their attenreturn, your doctor can tion to diet and exercise change the dose or type of when they start taking statin, or take you off the statins. They think taking a pill each day protects them drug. There also is a rare side against heart disease and effect in which statins trigger stroke, so why bother with a rapid and potentially life- diet and exercise? That's a threatening breakdown in dangerously wrong conclumuscle cells. It's rare enough sion. that I've never seen a patient Dr. Komaroff is a with that problem. You also mentioned the physician and professor at connection between statins Harvard Medical School. To and diabetes. Statins can send questions, go to raise blood sugar levels — AskDoctorK.com, or write: potentially enough to trigger Ask Doctor K, 10 Shattuck a new diagnosis of diabetes. St., Second Floor, Boston, On the other hand, doctors MA 02115. Toy company sues Beastie Boys over song SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A Northern California toy company is fighting for its right to parody a popular Beastie Boys song. Oakland-based GoldieBlox filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking permission to continue using a spoof of the rap song ''Girls.'' The song was on the trio's first album, ''Licensed to Ill,'' released in 1986. It sings of the desire for girls to ''do the dishes ... to do the laundry ... to clean up my room.'' The company's marketing video spoofing the song depicts young girls singing about building spaceships and coding software. The video has gone viral in recent weeks, and some 8 million people have viewed it on YouTube. The spoof is attempting to sell the company's GoldieBlox engineering toys aimed at girls. The company said it filed the lawsuit last week after the Beastie Boys threatened their own legal action for copyright infringement. ''GoldieBlox created its parody video specifically to comment on the Beastie Boys song, and to further the company's goal to break down gender stereotypes and to encourage young girls to engage in activities that challenge their intellect, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math,'' the company's lawsuit stated. On Monday, the two surviving band members — Adam Horovitz and Michael Diamond — said in an open letter posted on their publicist's website that they support the toy company's message of empowering girls. But they have a blanket ban on using their songs in advertisements. ''As creative as it is, make no mistake, your video is an advertisement that is designed to sell a product, and long ago, we made a conscious decision not to permit our music and/or name to be used in product ads,'' the band members said through their publicist. ''When we tried to simply ask how and why our song 'Girls' had been used in your ad without our permission, YOU sued US.'' GoldieBlox is one of four companies named as finalists in a competition held by software maker Intuit to pay millions for a Super Bowl advertisement for the winner. The company's ''Girls'' video is not part of the competition. Doesn't like behavior of boss Dear Annie: My supervisor rarely states his desires clearly. But if I take the initiative or ask him to clarify, he makes me feel like an idiot. He is condescending Annie's and highly critical of most people. He also is a by Kathy Mitchell nonstop gossip. and Marcy Sugar He has portrayed me to others as racist, womanizing and incompetent. He has control over my payable time and my vacation requests. He has the ear of management and lives in the same neighborhood as many of my coworkers. I fear that bringing any of this up for discussion will create a level of retaliation far worse than the existing reality. Any suggestions? — Kansas Dear Kansas: First, examine your own behavior to see whether there is cause for such rumors to take hold, and if so, correct it. Still, it is no excuse for your supervisor to spread gossip. He also seems ineffectual as a leader, because he does not make his wishes clear and stifles attempts by employees to clarify. Normally, these would be issues to document and then discuss with human resources or the supervisor's boss. However, if you worry that doing so will create more problems, you have two choices: Either conduct yourself in a way that is beyond reproach and do Mailbox your best to put up with it, or start looking for another job. Dear Annie: I love your column and hope you can clear something up for me. What is the correct thing to do when sending a sympathy card? It seems that most death notices these days suggest donating to a favorite charity ''in lieu of flowers.'' But is it OK just to send a card? Should money always be enclosed? My friend says yes, but I had never heard of this. Is this a religious custom or popular in certain parts of our country? I get a different answer every time I ask someone. — Casper, Wyo. Dear Casper: A sympathy card is always appropriate, and no, you do not have to enclose money. If the bereaved is struggling financially, it is a kindness to send something to help defray funeral costs, but it is absolutely not mandatory. A donation to a charitable organization is a suggestion and also not required. The point is to express your condolences. Anything beyond that is up to you. Dear Annie: I read the letter from ''Doing It Myself,'' who is perplexed about how best to care for her aging mother who has mild dementia. It is not always beneficial to keep the parent in his or her own home. My 86-year-old mother quickly became unstable once she was widowed. She totaled the car in a bad accident, started berating neighborhood children for being loud and lied to a police officer about a friend who came to visit. She also gave lots of money to every charity that asked. All of those people who offered help at Dad's funeral faded away. Mom was alone and unable to voice her fear. She thought she was supposed to stay in the house she built with my father. I nearly lost my mind, my business and my health trying to keep her at home. Over the objections of my out-of-state siblings, I moved her into a continuing care facility that provides for rehab, skilled care and assisted living. She went kicking and screaming, but eventually apologized for making it so hard on me. She has tons of new friends and is happy and active. Everyone who works there loves her, and she knows it. Two weeks after she moved in, she said, ''I wish I'd moved here three years ago.'' I do, too. — W. Dear W.: A lot of folks have found that the company and care at a retirement or assisted-living facility is quite enjoyable once they have made the adjustment. To all our Jewish readers: Happy Chanukah! 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. Invest in your debt and make your lender dizzy Dear Mary: Soon I will receive an inheritance that is almost equal to the amount remaining on my mortgage. I am a widow, age 55, with no dependents. I have 25 years with the same employer and have been participating in the company's 401k plan for the past 15 years. I plan to work until I am 65. Should I use the inheritance to pay off the mortgage or, as friends suggest, invest it in a variety of stocks and bonds and keep my mortgage because the interest is taxdeductible? -- Eleanor D. Dear Eleanor: You need to check with your tax professional because, as you know, I am not one. However, if I were you, I'd pay off that mortgage so fast the lender would get dizzy. Investing in your debt is always a wise decision because you cannot lose. Just keep in mind that your mortgage should be the last debt you pay off -- after you have a healthy emergency fund and you have paid off all of your unsecured debts. If you pay off your mortgage, you own your home. No matter what happens to the economy, your health or your job, you have no rent or mortgage payments. As for the deductibility of mortgage interest, it is highly overrated. Let's say you pay $1,000 a year in mortgage interest and you are in the 28-percent tax bracket. By deducting that $1,000 from your taxable income, you realize a $280 reduction in the taxes you owe. Does that make sense to you to choose to pay $1,000 so you can get $280 back? If so, I have a better deal for you. You send me $1,000 every year and I promise to send back $500 every April 15, no questions asked! Dear Mary: A friend suggested that we look into a plan called "life estate," which would make sure that our home would go to our children, even in the event that we would have to go to a nursing home and our monies run out. We understand this plan would not permit the nursing home to take our home. Your thoughts? -- Tom and Jackie Dear Tom and Jackie: I am not an attorney, but I do have experience as a real estate broker. Generally, "life estate" is a term used to designate the way legal ownership or "title" is held on real property. To do this, you would deed your property to your children, who become the "remaindermen," and you become the "life tenants." As the life tenants, you retain possession of the property, including full costs of maintaining the p r o p e r t y. The life tenants cannot sell the property without the conMary sent of the remaindermen. Further, your children w o u l d receive full ownership (fee simple) immediately upon the death of the last life tenant, without the property going through probate. There are three advantages for you to convey your property now to a life estate: 1. You will have the legal right to remain in your home for the rest of your lives, without triggering a taxable event. 2. The property immediately passes to the remaindermen with- out the necessity of a probate upon your deaths. 3. Most states see a life estate as a limited interest, rather than a full asset, so you could more easily qualify for Medicaid assistance, if necessary. I suggest that you meet with a qualified real estate attorney or escrow company if you wish to deed your property to a life estate. Hunt Everyday Cheapskate Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@everydaycheaps kate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2099, Cypress, CA 90630. Include your first and last name and state. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.c om and author of 23 books, including her 2013 release "Cheaper, Better, Faster: Over 2,000 Tips and Tricks to Save You Time and Money Every Day."