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Thursday, February 17, 2011 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES Family fumes fomenting feud Getting warm isn’t easy Dear Annie: I am having a prob- lem with my mother-in-law. My husband is so upset that he doesn’t plan to speak to her again. My mother-in- law is a smoker. So are my hus- band, mother and father-in-law. We have asked every- one to smoke outside because I have young children and one has upper-respiratory issues. We have a screened-in porch with comfortable furniture where people are welcome to enjoy them- selves. No one has a prob- lem with this except my mother-in-law. She refus- es to smoke outside. In addition, she refuses to visit unless she can smoke wherever she wants. Mom doesn’t believe smoking causes health issues, so we no longer allow our daughter to visit Mom at her home. In the past, our daughter has come home with inflamed bronchial tubes, requiring a nebulizer to breathe. Mom has turned this into a major feud, saying we are disrespectful to her. In her attempts to force us to allow her to smoke in the house, she has said some pretty nasty things to my husband. My husband is a wonderful son and has always been there for his mother whenever she needed any- thing. Now he is ‘‘dead’’ to her. Mom has told the entire family that we cut off access to the grandchildren ‘‘for no reason.’’ She sent my parents a lengthy e- mail to ‘‘let them know what we were doing to Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar her.’’ She phoned our 10-year-old daughter and said Mommy and Daddy won’t let her visit. She told her to work on con- vincing us to let her smoke inside. We have never said a bad word to this woman. We always speak to her calmly, but we are not going to give in about the smoking. We’ve begged her to visit more often so our daugh- ter can see her, but she refuses to abide by the rules. What can we do? — Texas Dear Texas: Nothing. You have made your home welcoming to smokers and non-smokers alike. Your mother-in-law is being a selfish pain in the behind and values her convenience over her family. This is HER choice. Continue to be calm, but do not give in. Shame on her. Dear Annie: I am a 46-year-old single mother of two. I recently had an interview at a small com- pany and was asked whether I was married and had children. I thought this was against the law. I answered truthfully, and I believe that’s why I did not get the job, but how do I prove it? How am I supposed to answer such questions in the future without appearing rude or evasive? I know I cannot possibly be the only one who has had to face this sticky situation. — Dis- criminated Against Dear Discriminated: Prospective employers are not supposed to ask about your marital status, reli- gion, age or whether you have children. Asking if you have children is another way of finding out whether you might have trouble working overtime or weekends. You can respond indirectly by say- ing that you are capable of performing whatever duties are required and putting in the necessary time. You also could say that you prefer to keep your personal life private and don’t feel comfortable talking about those things. If you feel you’ve been discriminated against, contact your state board of labor, the National Labor Relations Board or the EEOC. Dear Annie: I read the letter from ‘‘Female Seek- ing Friendship,’’ who wants to meet new people. I was surprised you didn’t mention meetup.com. After relocating to Florida, I went online and found many meetup groups in our area for all ages and interests. I have joined four and developed great friendships. If she’s from a small town, she might have to travel to the closest city, or she can form her own meetup group for young adults in her area. — MJ Dear MJ: Thanks for the reminder. We’ve men- tioned meetup.com before and should have done so again. 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.n et, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. DEAR DR. GOTT: My hands and feet are cold winter and sum- mer. My doctor has tested my thyroid a couple of times, but nothing comes of it. I’m 86 years old, had a mild stroke and, before that, a heart attack. My pills are warfarin, simvastatin, atenolol and furosemide. Can you help me get warm? to the back porch or out-of- doors so you don’t have to inhale it. Review your diet, and eat well to provide proper nutrients to your system. Wear warm slippers. DEAR READER: Hands and feet become cold to the touch when they fail to receive an ade- quate supply of oxygenated blood. When a person is exposed to lower tem- peratures, the small arteries of the arms and legs narrow as a means of shunting heat to the remainder of the body where it is most needed. While the most com- mon reason for this to occur is outdoor exposure or from sitting in a cool room, there may also be an underlying health problem, such as a thyroid condition, Raynaud’s, arterial disease, circulatory inadequacies and more. Raynaud’s is spasm of the small arteries of the hands and feet, which can result from exposure to cold or emotional upset. Relief might be found through discontinuing smoking or by taking prescription vasodilators (med- ications that expand blood vessels). Arterial disease, atherosclerosis, coro- nary-artery disease and a host of other medical conditions and circulatory problems in which blood flow is reduced to the limbs because of nar- rowed arteries may cause the condi- tion. Treatment involves discontinuing tobacco, maintaining a healthful diet, reducing cholesterol levels, prescrip- tion medications such as those you are on and moderate exercise. My thought is that your medication (likely the atenolol) regimen is trigger- ing your cold hands and feet. Speak with your physician regarding all your medical conditions and prescription drugs. Perhaps a minor modification in dosage or switching to other brands will provide relief. Then, while sitting, flex your fingers from an outward position into a fist several times a day. Rotate your feet and ankles in a circle several times to the right, then to the left. Stretch your toes forward, and relax them. Play soli- taire, knit, or find other means to improve circulation. If someone in your home smokes, restrict him or her A local event – part of a national campaign to promote physical activity for American Indians and Alaska Natives Dr. Peter Gott If a thyroid condition has been ruled out, ask whether other testing might reveal other causes of your poor circula- tion. If questions remain, see your cardiologist. To provide related informa- tion, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Coronary Artery 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 made payable to Newsletter and mailed 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. DEAR DR. GOTT: A year ago, I was diagnosed with a geographic tongue. I’ve been seen and treated by three naturopathic doctors, have had two different mouthwashes and use lozenges with no results. No one seems to know a cause or treatment. Do you have any knowledge or suggestions? DEAR READER: Benign migratory glossitis (geographic tongue) is a con- dition in which red, irregular patches appear on the tongue’s surface, giving it a roadmap-like appearance. It is benign, doesn’t cause health problems, and isn’t cancerous; nor does it carry infection. The patches may heal and move to another location of the tongue. There may be an associated burning sensation and minor pain. Treatment can include antihistamine or anesthetic mouth rinses, OTC pain relievers or corticosteroids. Avoid offending substances such as tobacco products, spicy and salty foods, alcohol and toothpaste products that contain whitening and tartar-con- trol additives. 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. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com. Kremer Family Chiropractic proudly welcomes our newest doctor, Doug Falke, D.C. A series of non-competitive walks and runs open to families, individuals of all ages and people of all cultures. Friday, February 18 11:30 AM-12:30 PM Registration and Start Grocery Outlet 388 South Main St., Red Bluff • The first 200 registrants who participate receive a bracelet that can be stamped after the event • Come meet the BeastUP Fight Team The goal is simple: Just get people moving – for health, emotional well-being … and FUN! For more information contact Avery Vilche at 200-2224 or Renee Timmons at 567-5528 Co-Sponsored by: D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY I love what chiropractic can do for people. As a middle school student, I jumped off a cliff into a sandbar and broke my back. I was unable to lay on my back or any hard surface for over a year. It was chiropractic care that helped me get back to normal. Since that time I have always had respect for chiropractic care and decided that helping people pursue healthy and happy lives was important to me. Attending Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas, TX was one of the best educational experiences available for me. I am proud to be a Parker alumnus. I have also received extra training in pediatric and perinatal chiropractic care through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (I.C.P.A), and I am a certified animal chiropractor through the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (A.V.C.A). The human body is amazing in its ability to heal, grow and function normally. Chiropractic care can help the body to work at its full potential. The highlight of my life is spending time with my amazing wife, Emily, and my beautiful daughter, Jane, who was born on Father’s Day in 2009. Playing with my Great Dane, Cosmo is also a lot of fun. I love being outdoors although I might love cooking even more. Barbeque is my favorite. I collect cookbooks and enjoy reading them. My favorite sports are racquetball, ping pong, and tennis. When it comes to chiropractic, I especially love treating children and moms-to-be. Everyone needs to be checked, but children and expecting mothers really benefit from chiropractic care. Call today and get your entire family checked. Boosting Your Child’s Immunity Tuesday February 22, 2011 at 10:30 am. This class is limited to the first 20 people that call to sign up! Don’t Wait Call Today! Kremer Family Chiropractic 1615 Main Street Red Bluff, CA 96080 530.527.0220 We Listen… We Care... We Get Results... Dr. Falke is now accepting new patients. Call for your no cost consultation today! Dr. Falke will be presenting a complementary talk on