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Friday, March 25, 2011 – Daily News – 3B FEATURES Is hypothyroidism linked to high cholesterol? DEAR DR. GOTT: My choles- terol is very high. I cannot tolerate any of the statins. I’ve been on many and have problems with pain and weakness in my legs. I also have an underactive thy- roid, for which I take Synthroid. I have read in different medical books that hypothyroid disease is a cause of high cholesterol. I am trying to eat right (fruits and veg- etables, no red meat, low salt and no cheese). I exer- cise. Is there anything else I can do to help this seri- ous problem? Please help me! Dr. Peter Gott dilemma on Feb. 21 of this year. In part, the article stressed low thy- roid levels being linked with a greater risk for high triglycerides, LDL and total cholesterol levels. It went on to state the treatment of hypothyroidism can significantly reduce cholesterol levels, but research is still mixed on whether mild hypothy- roidism is even associated with unhealthy cholesterol levels. DEAR READER: Hypothroidism causes decreased metabolic activity and has been linked with elevated blood levels of cholesterol, and particularly in those peo- ple without a previous his- tory of hypercholes- terolemia. It is believed if the elevated levels are due to hypothyroidism, an improvement will be noted after hormone treat- ment is begun. In January 2011, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) released the results of a survey on the thyroid/cholesterol rela- tion. They reported a new survey found that fewer than half the adults diag- nosed with hypercholes- terolemia knew whether they had ever even been tested for thyroid disease, despite the well-docu- mented connection between the two condi- tions. Following diet, thy- roid disease is the most common secondary cause of high cholesterol levels. If there is a decrease in the body’s ability to metabolize cholesterol, an excess of cholesterol in the blood may occur. If the thyroid gland is underactive and produc- ing too little thyroid hor- mone, metabolism slows and can have a direct bearing on the body’s ability to metabolize blood cholesterol. Once treated, symptoms can be relieved and the patient’s quality of life can be improved. The New York Times ran an article about the It appears to me that routine lab testing — including thyroid and cho- lesterol levels — is critical because from all I read, it appears we commonly fail to test for both conditions; yet once thyroid medica- tion is introduced and a connection is made, things should level off. You are on the right track by modifying your diet and exercising. Avoid processed cold cuts, kiel- basa, sausage, fried foods, hot dogs and ham. I’m reluctant to mention eggs, since it appears every other week a new report bashes or endorses eggs as being good for us. Apart from the steps you are tak- ing, over-the-counter remedies might include niacin or supplements containing plant sterols and stanols for helping to lower your cholesterol. Readers who would like related information can order my Health Reports “Thyroid Disor- ders” and “Understanding Cholesterol” by sending a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order for each report to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title(s) or print an order form off my website’s direct link at www.AskDrGottMD.com /order_form.pdf. 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 BLM seeks members for Northwest California Resource Advisory Council The U. S. Bureau of Land Management is accepting nominations for membership on the Northwest California Resource Advisory Council, a citizen group that advises the agency on management of public lands and natural resources. There are four vacancies for three-year terms. The deadline for nominations is May 2. Seats are open in the following membership categories: Category one (one vacancy): Public land ranchers and representatives of organizations associated with energy and mineral development, timber, transportation and rights of way, off-highway vehicle use, and commercial recreation. Category two (one vacancy): Representatives of regional or national environmental organizations, archae- ological and historical interests, wild horse and burro interests, and dispersed recreation activities. Category three (two vacancies): Local, state or county elected officials, representatives of state agencies involved in natural resources, representatives of Native American tribes within the council’s area of interest, teachers involved in natural resources or sciences, and the public at large. Individuals may nominate themselves or others. Nom- inees should demonstrate a commitment to collaborative decision making on natural resource issues and knowl- edge of the RAC’s geographic area of interest. Nomina- tions must include letters of support. day, May 2, to Jeff Fontana, Bureau of Land Management, 2950 Riverside Dr., Susanville, CA Nominations and support letters must be sent by Mon- 96130, attention: RAC Nominations. Documents can be emailed to jfontana@blm.gov. Nomination forms and information about the council are available online at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/rac/nwrac.html or by contacting BLM Public Affairs Officer Jeff Fontana 252- 5332. The RAC works closely with BLM managers in Arca- ta, Redding and Ukiah, providing guidance on the full range of the BLM’s responsibilities on public lands in northwest California. The United States secretary of the interior makes appointments to the 12-member council. Spouse’s school sleepover suspicious Dear Annie: My hus- band and I are in our mid- 40s, happily married with a wonderful family. In the past two years, my husband has reconnected with some high school friends through social media. I think it is great that they are able to communicate and catch up, since their lives have moved them all over the country. They have had a couple of gatherings, one centered around a formal reunion and the other an informal get- together at a bar. This is a coed group, although the boys and girls attended separate schools that were only connected through occasional joint activities. I thought it a bit odd that the women were included in the men’s school reunion, especially since their hus- bands were not invited. But since my husband couldn’t attend either function, I didn’t pay much atten- tion. Now I am told a long weekend gathering is being scheduled and both men and women will occupy a large home together — men on the second floor and women in the base- ment, each floor with separate bed- rooms and baths. Spouses are not invited. I think this weekend situation is highly inappropriate for married people and cannot believe I am the only spouse with this concern. I am not sure the others realize what the lodging situation will be. I trust my husband, but don’t know these other people at all, and after 25 years, nei- Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar ther does my husband. I am not naive. I know some of these people are going into the weekend hoping to stir up a little romance. Am I out of line here or not? — Con- cerned Midwest Spouse Dear Concerned: Who on earth is planning these alarmingly inappropriate reunions? Your husband should notify the event plan- ners that he would love to come but finds the circum- stances unappealing and risky and will not attend without his wife. He should also let the others know. We suspect quite a few have similar objections. And consider forming a chat group with the spouses to keep everything above- board. There are perfectly innocent ways to have school reunions. You don’t need to encourage affairs by combining them with coed sleep- over parties. Dear Annie: Recently, on a pub- lic bus, I noticed a father and his 4- year-old son. The boy was well behaved and was playing with the wheels of his stroller, which were filthy from snow and the muck of city streets. The dad then offered the boy a bag of pretzels, which the boy ate with his very dirty fingers. The father might not have noticed that the boy was playing with the wheels, and I know a few germs won’t hurt him, but this would have taxed anyone’s immune system. All medical professionals recommend hand-washing before eating. Should I have offered a tissue or a wipe? — Medical Professional in Boston Dear Boston:Yes, as long as you smiled and said in a non-judgmental manner, ‘‘In case your son would like to wipe his hands before eat- ing.’’ Yuck. Dear Annie: I was compelled to respond to ‘‘Confused Fiance,’’ whose bride-to-be had prior sexual experience. I was 24 when I met my wife, and she was my only sexual partner. When she told me about the intimate relationships she had had with other men, I was devastated. However, I understood that it took a great deal of courage, not to mention love and respect for me, to confess a past she was not proud of. We married and last month celebrated our 22nd Valentine’s Day. I love her more than ever and truly believe ‘‘forgive and forget’’ is the only way to go. ‘‘Confused’’ should not let his ego and the imaginary threat of another man ruin the type of rela- tionship I have enjoyed for the past 22 years. I agree with Annie: Don’t talk about it, and don’t ever put those pictures in your mind again. If you must talk to someone, speak to your clergy or a professional thera- pist. — Madly in Love with My Wife 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. Wall Street's playing field on trial Every great American company started out as an idea in the mind of a creative, entrepreneurial person. In addition to having that unique creative idea, a lot of hard work -- and a lot of luck or good timing -- go into building a business. There's one more ingredient required to build a great business: money. Every successful entrepreneur tells a tale of using savings, bor- rowing from friends and family, or mortgaging a home to get the business off the ground. But money worries don't stop once the business catch- es on. In fact, that's when access to capital becomes critical. You have to grow and expand the business before oth- ers can copy your idea. That's where the entrepreneur has to decide how much of his business ownership he's willing to give up in exchange for capital to allow the business to expand. It's the decision you see right now for compa- nies like Groupon -- whether to sell shares to the public (and face reg- ulation by the SEC) or to give up a large portion of the future growth, and some degree of current control, by bringing in venture capital. No matter which route the entrepreneur seeks, money is the key ingredient. In business, profits are the measure of success. And they are the basic requirement for expanding the business. You can't grow without money. And no one is going to invest in a busi- ness that is not showing - - or expecting -- growing profits. By investing in the stock market, you partic- ipate in that economic growth. When a compa- ny sells shares to the public, some of the pro- ceeds goes into the wal- lets of the founders -- but most of the money is plowed back into the business. A rising stock price encourages more people to buy the exist- ing shares. And, eventu- ally, the company may issue more shares to raise more capital to grow. Whether you think back to Henry Ford cre- ating the assembly line process for building automobiles or Steve Jobs building Apple Computer, the process is simi- lar. It's the way the free enterprise system creates jobs -- and it is the basis of a thriving economy and the stock market. No one wants to par- ticipate in a "game" that is rigged. When people start grumbling that our economic system is tilt- ed to favor "insiders," then the entire growth model is put at risk. That's what's happening now -- a widespread sus- picion that the markets are basically unfair. The Academy Awards are a pretty good barom- eter of that feeling. In years past, winners -- from Marlon Brando, who protested treatment of Native Americans, to antiwar activists like Vanessa Redgrave -- have used their accep- tance speeches to alert the public to what they considered threatening situations. This year, when the film "Inside Job" (about the 2008 financial melt- down) won Best Docu- mentary, director Charles Ferguson paused before thanking the required list of produc- ers and talent, and reminded the viewing audience that "not a sin- gle financial executive has gone to jail" -- while many have gone on to garner multimillion dol- lar bonuses. There is a national unease that the system that provides our retire- ment investments, our economic growth -- and our jobs -- is rigged against the average per- son. It's a sad moment for our free-enterprise system. And it all became headlines recently, at the start of the trial of one of the largest and most pen- etrating insider trading cases. Former billionaire hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam has been charged with five counts of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and six counts of securities fraud. The case involves insider trading by a hedge fund in some of the America's best- known compa- nies. The com- panies are not charged, but a former director of P&G and Goldman Sachs has now been charged with leaking confidential information to the hedge fund operator. Firms that were sup- posed to pro- vide "research" are accused of leaking inside information. Several coop- erating wit- nesses have agreed to testi- fy against Rajaratnam -- and the prosecutors have hours of wiretaps. "Insider trading unfortunately has become ubiquitous with respect to hedge funds," said Chicago securities lawyer Andrew Stolt- mann. "It truly 'un-lev- els' the playing field and gives advantages to large investors and hedge fund managers -- giving them an edge over small retail investors." Stoltmann, who han- dles many lawsuits on behalf of investors who feel they have been defrauded (www.Invest- mentFraud.PRO), fig- Terry ures the government will easily win its case, given the "mountain of evidence." And he notes, "A conviction in this case will not only expose the extent of the insider trading, but will go a long way to restoring confi- dence in the fairness of the markets." Savage The Savage Truth on Money So get ready for some ugly headlines out of Wall Street. This time it won't be unin- formed con- gressmen doing the question- ing, but crack prosecutors who are out to win their case. On the positive side, a system that can cleanse itself of corruption is a basic requirement for future economic growth. And that's the Savage Truth. Terry Savage is a registered investment adviser and is on the board of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. She can be reached at www.terrysavage.com. She is the author of the new book, "The New Savage Number: How Much Money Do You Really Need to Retire?" Blueberry Class March 26th @ 10am April 1st & 2nd Garden Prep Class 10AM Call for Reservations 527-0886 Red Bluff Garden Center 527-0886 766 Antelope Blvd. (next to the fairgrounds)