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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 – Daily News FEATURES Come in from the cold to stop raynaud's attack DEAR DOC- TOR K: During the colder months, I'm prone to "attacks" in which my fingers and toes get very cold and then go blue and numb. Although they do eventually return to normal, it's a recurring problem. Could I have Raynaud's disease? Dr. K by Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D. weather, bundle up. Keep your whole body warm (not just your hands and feet). Buy a hat that protects the forehead (wind on the forehead can trigger Ray- naud's). Protect your hands when han- DEAR READER: Raynaud's is certainly one cause of cold fingers and toes. You mention that your symptoms come and go. This, coupled with the fact that your fingers and toes lose color, leads me to believe you may have Raynaud's. In addition to causing your digits to feel cold or even painful, Ray- naud's causes the top part of the fingers and toes to get very white or blue-purple. The most common trigger for Raynaud's is cold air. So for most sufferers, it's more of a problem in winter. But Raynaud's can strike even in sum- mer. If you move from out- doors to a very well-air- conditioned building, the change in tempera- ture can set it off. Emo- tional stress or being startled can also trigger an attack of Raynaud's. Most attacks of Ray- naud's end if you get out of the cold air and also take certain steps that I discuss below. In anyone, cold caus- es the tiny blood vessels (arterioles) in and under the skin to clamp down. In Raynaud's, they clamp down very hard, more than they need to. As a result, the fingers and toes don't get enough blood or oxygen. This causes the symp- toms. Your doctor definitely should be able to diag- nose or rule out the con- dition — particularly if you see your doctor dur- ing an attack. The most important thing to do to protect against Raynaud's is to avoid situations that trigger an attack. Avoid cold air. If you have to get out in cold dling items from refrig- erators and freezers at home or at the grocery store. Wear warm clothing when you're in air-con- ditioning, if air-condi- tioning brings on attacks. There are other trig- gers to consider. Avoid cigarette smoke — chemicals in cigarettes can irritate your blood vessels and cause them to clamp down. Too much caffeine can make some people with Raynaud's get attacks more easily. And if you think stress triggers your Ray- naud's, try deep breath- ing or meditation. What's the best way to end an attack? Get out of the cold air, and soak your hands or feet in warm (not hot) water. If you can't get out of cold air quickly, put your hands in a warm place — your armpits. Then rotate your arms like a windmill. (Every time I demonstrate this to a patient, they look at me funny.) Yes, I know you may look like you're trying to fly. But you're also increasing the flow of warm blood to your armpits. It sounds as if you have Raynaud's. As it turns out, I have it, too. It can really be aggravat- ing. And if you really want to know, yes, sometimes on a very cold day I do put my hands in my armpits and look like I'm trying to fly. I don't care what peo- ple may think: My hands feel better. Dr. Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. Go to his website to send questions and get additional information: www.AskDoctorK.com. Hurtful hussy holding heart hostage Dear Annie: My girl- friend broke up with me in April because she wanted to date another guy. Over the summer, she sent me random emails and text messages about various things, a few of which I answered out of politeness. In September, we both attended the funeral of a mutual friend. I let her know that I wasn't totally over her, but I was doing OK in her presence. She then said that she had bro- ken up with the other guy and that she missed all the things we did, still loved me and wanted a rela- tionship. angry scene. Am I wrong to feel this way? — Angered in California Dear Angered: You Annie's Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar can't help how you feel when you've been mistreat- ed. This woman seems con- fused and a little selfish and, frankly, could benefit from spending some time without a man in her life. But try to channel your anger into something constructive. Live your life fully. Make new friends. Date other women. Stop looking at her A week later, she called to say that she had spoken to her coun- selor and that all she could offer me at this time was friendship. She then invited the other guy back into her life as ''a friend.'' But when I checked her Facebook page, I learned she had been having him over to her house every week. I finally got angry, and we had a blowup. Now she says her coun- selor told her that ''men can't just be friends.'' She emailed, telling me that we need to move on and that she hopes to see me at my upcoming school reunion. I don't want to see this woman again, ever. She used me and lied to me. She hurt me more the second time than she did the first. She has no business coming to my school reunion, as she never went to school there. Right now, if she approached me, there would be an Facebook page. You deserve better. Dear Annie: My family recently had a big birthday bash for my father. My sister made a slide show that included photos of my late wife but no photos of my current wife, even though we've been together for 12 years. Naturally, my wife feels hurt and claims that my sister made clear where she stands with my family. She also asked me not to confront my sister, saying it wouldn't accomplish anything pos- itive. My wife now wants to cancel future family gatherings where my sister will be present. This same sister caused all kinds of stressful problems with my late wife, and I don't want to see that repeated. What can I do to mend my wife's hurt feelings? — Stuck in the Mid- dle Dear Stuck: Explain to her that your sister behaved abominably to your first wife, too, which indicates she is possessive of you and jealous of your significant others. Please don't avoid your parents and other siblings because one sister cannot control herself. Even though your wife doesn't want a confrontation, we think your sister needs to know that her behavior is unacceptable. Tell her. Dear Annie: I was appalled at your response to ''Frustrated in Colorado,'' whose racist mother-in- law will not accept her biracial adopted daughter, ''Amanda,'' and, worse, is now moving closer to their area. Why would you suggest that she give Grandma the opportu- nity to spend one more second with this 12-year-old child? Amanda does not deserve to be in a position to hear more hurtful and ugly opinions from her grand- mother. My advice would be to refuse any contact unless the moth- er-in-law promises to be warm and kind to her. If she cannot or will not make such a promise, let her son visit on his own time, but the wife and daughter have no obligation to do so. — Disagree in Salem Dear Salem: Perhaps ''warm'' is expecting too much, but the par- ents should certainly insist that Mom treat the child with kindness and not make any cracks about her place in the family. And we hope that living closer will provide the motivation. 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, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611. Utility company announces scholarships As part of its ongoing dedication to strength- ening communities throughout California, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) recently announced the launch of its PG&E Bright Minds Scholar- ship program. PG&E will award up to $1 mil- lion in scholarships to enable high school, community college and "non-traditional" stu- dents to complete their higher education paths. Bright Minds schol- arship winners will receive full-ride schol- arships of up to $30,000 per year; program final- ists will receive $2,500 towards their studies. "Over the last decade, PG&E has con- tributed nearly $40 mil- lion towards educational initiatives and, with today's announcement, we are proud to deepen our commitment to edu- cation and to the com- munities we have the privilege of serving," said Chris Johns, presi- dent of PG&E. "By sup- porting deserving stu- dents, we can help them realize their full poten- tial." The PG&E Bright Minds scholarships will be awarded based on a combined demonstra- tion of community lead- ership, personal tri- umph, financial need and academic achieve- ment. Eligible students will be enrolled in a full- time undergraduate pro- gram at an accredited two- or four-year col- lege, university or voca- tional-technical school for the duration of the 2012-2013 academic year. The deadline for applying for the PG&E Bright Minds Scholar- ship is Feb. 17. For more information and to apply, visit www.pge.com/bright- minds. Scholarship winners will be announced in the spring. In addition to the scholarship opportuni- ties available through the PG&E Bright Minds program, the PG&E Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are also accepting applications for a wide variety of scholarships. In 2011, PG&E's ERGs awarded more than $255,000 to 153 students. More informa- tion can be found on the "Scholarship" link at www.pge.com/commu- nity. The deadline to apply for the ERG scholarships is January 17. For more informa- tion, visit www.pge.com/commu- nity. 3B NOW OVER 300,000 PAGE VIEWS PER MONTH! D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY www.redbluffdailynews.com Now! 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