Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/56926
2B Daily News – Thursday, March 1, 2012 FEATURES Vehement volume variance very vexing Dear Annie: I've been married to ''Ralph'' for 30 years. His hearing has gotten worse, and the TV is so loud that I end up with a headache every night. I have told him this, but he says I'm exagger- ating. Yet, in the summer when the windows are open, we have had complaints from the neighbors. Every mention of his hear- ing ends in a fight. He gets defensive, says he's being picked on and generally acts like a 5-year-old. Our 23-year-old daughter is in the process of relocating, and instead of staying with us, she prefers to sleep on a friend's sofa. Ralph is up late every night watching TV. I use earplugs, but our daughter can't use them or she won't hear her alarm. We even bought him a cordless headphone set for the TV, but he tried it twice and stopped. Even the suggestion of hearing aids sends him into a frenzy of denial. He reads your column. Maybe he'll see himself. — Stressed Out from Loud TV Dear Stressed: Many people are in Annie's Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar denial about their hearing loss. It makes them feel old and unhealthy. But it is a common problem — even rock stars have it — and refusing to address it won't make it go away. You might tell Ralph that the longer he waits to deal with his hearing issues the harder it will be to adjust and the more isolated he will become (and the more irritated you will be). If you would pro- voke an argument by suggest- ing he check out the American Speech-Language-Hearing Associa- tion (asha.org) or the Hearing Loss Association of America (hear- ingloss.org), leave the information on a piece of paper taped to the TV. Dear Annie: My spouse and I are in a 40-year same-sex relationship. Seven years ago, we had a legal mar- riage, but my family refused to recog- nize it. My brother's wife went so far as to write letters to the local newspa- per urging repeal of the law. My youngest sister said, "We were ordered not to deal with you any longer.'' Needless to say, I ended all relation- ships that did not accept my new hus- have reached epidemic lev- els in our country. Heart dis- ease is the leading killer of Americans; stroke is the fourth leading killer. One of every three deaths in this county is caused by cardio- vascular disease. That's why Medicare is helping to lead the Million Hearts campaign, a national initiative that aims to pre- vent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. Because Febru- ary is also American Heart Month, I wanted to tell you what Medicare is doing to help fight this serious public health problem. And what you can do to fight it, too. Heart disease refers to several types of heart condi- tions. The most common one in the United States is coronary artery disease, which can trigger heart attack, severe chest pain, heart failure, and irregular heartbeat. Genetics, high blood pressure, high choles- terol, and lifestyle factors such as smoking, unhealthy diet, and lack of exercise can contribute to heart dis- ease. Stroke is a brain attack that occurs when blood flow to the brain becomes blocked. This can be caused either by a blood clot or by a burst blood vessel in or around the brain. Lack of blood flow during stroke can cause portions of the brain to become damaged, often beyond repair. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Medicare recently began covering new preven- tive health services to help people with Medicare reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke. Starting this year, Medicare will pay for one face-to-face visit each year so that Medicare beneficia- ries can discuss with their care providers the best ways to help prevent cardiovascu- lar disease. The visit must be with your primary care provider, such as your family practice doctor, internal medicine doctor, or a nurse practition- er. And it has to take place in settings such as your pri- mary care provider's office. During the visit, your doctor can screen you for high blood pressure and give you advice on how to eat a healthy diet. The idea is to empower people with Medicare to make heart- healthy lifestyle changes. Medicare also now cov- ers counseling to help peo- ple with Medicare lose weight if they're obese. An estimated 30 percent of the band. Following retirement, my husband and I moved to another state. I recent- ly heard that my mother is in very poor health. Since I was always the one who helped and organized things in my family, I feel the need to assist. But, Annie, I struggled for 30 years to be able to say ''I do.'' Their lack of recog- nition makes it hard to have anything to do with them until they first apolo- gize to me and, in particular, to my husband. Should I take the higher road and contact my mother, or hold to the firm ideal that my spouse is more important and I must put him first? — Gay and Proud Son Dear Proud Son: There is no rea- son this must be a zero-sum game. You already have put your husband first. It doesn't mean you cannot stay in con- tact with people you love (and who, presumably, still love you) within lim- ited, controlled boundaries. If visiting Mom with your husband is not possi- ble and visiting without him is not acceptable, you do not have to see her. But please call. You may not get another chance, and you shouldn't have any regrets. Reducing risk of heart disease, stroke Heart disease and stroke men and women with Medicare are obese. If you're obese based on your body mass index, you're eli- gible for face-to- face counseling sessions with your primary- care provider for up to a year. the above In addition to ser- vices, Medicare pays for counsel- ing to help people your doctor's instructions about your med- ications—can help protect your heart and brain health. Ask your doc- David Sayen with Medicare stop smok- ing and to manage diabetes, which is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The good news is that most major risk factors for heart disease and stroke are preventable and control- lable. These factors include inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and high choles- terol. What can you do to reduce your risk? A good first step is talking to your doctor about your heart health and getting your blood pressure and choles- terol checked. Many other lifestyle choices—including eating healthy, exercising regularly, and following tor, too, if taking an aspirin each day is right for you. For more information about the Million Hearts campaign, and about Medicare's healthy-heart and other preventive health ben- efits, go to www.Medicare.gov. If you'd like to check your 10-year risk of heart attack or dying from coro- nary heart disease -- and what you can do about it – go to the American Heart Association's website, at www.heart.org. In the search box, type "heart attack risk calculator." David Sayen is Medicare's regional administrator for California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Trust Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Never punish a child for wetting the bed DEAR DOC- TOR K: My 4- year-old daughter wets her bed at night. I know this happens to a lot of kids, but I wonder if I should be wor- ried. How should I handle it, and what can I do to make it stop? the bathroom before going to bed. Dr. K by Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D. DEAR READER: You're right — many young kids do wet the bed for a time. Bed-wet- ting is pretty normal for infants and young chil- dren, and usually does- n't indicate a medical problem. Many kids going through toilet training can stay dry during the day, but they may wet the bed at night for sev- eral more months to a few years. Bed-wetting is not considered a prob- lem until around school age, meaning 5 or 6 years old. Why is it happening? Most likely, your daugh- ter wets the bed when her body makes more urine than her bladder can hold. But the feeling doesn't wake her up in the way it does for adults. We're not sure why. The brain and nerve system are still develop- ing. Possibly the nerve signals from the bladder don't yet register in the brain. You should never punish your daughter for wetting the bed. It's important to remember that she isn't doing it on purpose. Try these suggestions to help with nighttime toilet training (they can also be used for kids of any age who wet the bed): — Encourage drink- ing during the day. She'll make more urine, which may help stretch her bladder to hold more urine at night. — In the last two hours before bedtime, limit beverages and foods that melt into liq- uids, such as Popsicles. — Always remind your daughter to go to — Remind her to get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night when she has to. — Make it easy for her to find the bath- room at night. Put a bright light in the bathroom and in the hallway. — Use real cloth underwear, not pull-ups or diapers. Feeling wet- ness and discomfort may help motivate her to stay dry. If your daughter is still having problems at age 6 or older, call your doctor to discuss further testing and treatment. Several medical condi- tions can cause bed-wet- ting. For example, diabetes can cause excess urine. Urinary tract infections cause a frequent urge to urinate. Seizures during sleep (or when awake) can cause loss of bladder control. Pinworms irri- tate the vagina, which in turn encourages urinary tract infections. It has long been thought that psychologi- cal problems might cause bed-wetting. It's my understanding from talking to experts on the subject that this theory is not based on much solid evidence. Never- theless, it may be true in some kids. Watch for these "red flag" signs in a child who is wetting the bed: a return of wetting the bed after having been dry at night for some time; fever or pain when urinating; or urinating or drinking more than usual. Any of these rais- es the possibility of an important medical prob- lem. 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. HOME SERVICES DIRECTORY $9900 Blinds Need Blinds? C A L L P A U L Blinds & Draperies www.nsbd.biz Lic.#906022 Landscape CUTTING EDGE LANDSCAPE Not happy with your current yard maintenances? ~ CALL ME~ • Sprinkler repair & installation • Monthly, Weekly or One time yard maintenance • New landscape ideas Quality Service • Competitive Prices Senior Discounts FREE ESTIMATES Charlie Ingram 526-6855 • Lawn care • Weed eating • Hedging • Hauling David: (530) 736-6652 527-0842 North State Paul Stubbs On-Line No early cancellation, non-refundable Residential • Commerical PATIOS • DECKS Construction Remodel, Construction Burrows New Additions, Siding Repair and Replacement, Water and Dryrot Damage Specialist, New Construction Foundation to Finish FREE ESTIMATES & REFRENCES Lic#824770 Ph: (530) 515-9779 Landscaping 530-736-7079 Grandpa's Clocks 20910 Pebblestone Dr. Red Bluff Jim Paul Electrical clocks Call for appt. Member NAWCC Landscape/Fence Tractor & Landscape Service Steve's • Fence Building • Landscaping • Trenching • Rototilling • Disking • Mowing • Ridging • Post Hole Digging • Blade Work • Sprinkler Installation • Concrete Work Cont. Lic. #703511 Steve Dyke 385-1783 Commercial & Residential Full Service Lawn Maintenance • Mowing • Lawn Aerations • Edging • Spring Clean-ups • Weedeating FREE CONSULTATION Serving Greater Tehama County since 1994 Mechanical, Battery and le Print and On-Line runs 7 days a week, 24 hours a day at www.redbluffdailynews.com in the Tehama Country Real Estate section Print Runs Every Monday - Wednesday- Friday Clock Repair Construction Your Clock Repair Shop Alns Construcin to • Plumbing • Drywall Repairs • Fences • Decks • Concrete • Garages Quality at a reasonable price FREE ESTIMATES 530 949-6162 CA LIC#914460 Lawn Care House Remodel / Specialist Rental Turnovers / Repairs Bathroom Remodels / Tile Painting • Electrical Construction FREMONT ABLE CONSTRUCTION Service • Installation All types of Additions, Remodels & Repairs Fast Reliable Work FREE Estimates (530) 526-4777 CA Lic #751534 Plumbing/Handyman Harry Vossoughi (530) 528-0723 Jim the Plumber and Handyman Services 25 years experience Free Estimates Free Travel Time See Angie's List No Job to small Quality work ...cheaper! Local References (530)366-6033 24 hour service Lic#11003 528-1456 RESIDENTIAL • COMMERICAL Heating & Cooling upholsterer, 30+ years of experience ALL HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE Specializing in Antiques (Non-Smoking Shop) Call Patricia 527-9557 Storage BAKER ROAD STORAGE Call for Manager's Special Certified Furniture Upholstery P.J.'s Custom Upholstery