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Tuesday, March 30, 2010 – Daily News – 3B FEATURES Are earlobe wrinkles diagnostic tools? DEAR DR. GOTT: Are creases in the earlobe always a precursor to heart trouble? DEAR READ- ER: In a word, no. For more than 50 years (52 to be exact), there has been debate over whether creased earlobes can be tied to coronary-artery disease. In fact, the New York Times printed an article in 1984 on the subject. Physicians in Long Island reported to the New England Jour- nal of Medicine that there was a significant statistical link in men with creased earlobes being diagnosed with heart disease. A crease is identified as a diago- nal line that begins where the lobe attaches to the head and then runs backward toward the lower edge of the lobe. Women are not exempt from creased lobes; however, there doesn’t appear to be any association with heart disease, as there is with men. Ears wrinkle, espe- cially with advanced age. And it is thought the ears wrinkle simply because people com- monly sleep on their right or left sides. We certainly cannot examine every person’s earlobes to exclude coronary-artery disease. The jury is out on the matter, and the medical community all these years later remains divided. If you or a family member is concerned, make an appointment with your family physi- cian or cardiologist. He or she can certainly glance at your ears, but I would hope the glance would be followed by a full examination, EKG and any other testing deemed appropriate. It is sometimes thought an EKG isn’t necessary until middle age, but I believe a baseline report is always good to have in a patient’s file so it can be checked periodi- cally for changes. To provide related information, I am send- ing you a copy of my Health Report “Coro- nary Artery Disease.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self- addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to men- tion the title or print an order form off my web- site at www.AskDr- GottMD.com. DEAR DR. GOTT: We have read and enjoyed your column for many years. A recent letter involving a won- der drug — vinegar — DW PLUMBING INC. Local Plumbers Serving all Your Plumbing Needs Since 1993 530 527-6403 Major Credit Cards Accepted Lic. No 679492 $ Money $ 2 Lend Cash 4 Notes McKinley Mortgage Co. CA DRE # 01773837 Call 530-241-0977 800-909-1977 Corning Calif. Largest Selection In Tri-County • Herbal Medicines • Edibles (Foods) • Clones 1317 Solano St. (530) 824-4811 www.tehamaherbalcollective.vpweb.com Dr. Peter Gott prompted this note. I had a pitu- itary brain tumor last year and had operations fol- lowed by 25 days of radiation. The side effect of the radiation was nausea. Expen- sive prescription pills gave me worse side effects, but eating foods with lots of vinegar was my salva- tion. Go figure! Then a specialist checked out a clogged- ear problem I had. I was discovered to have water behind the eardrum, which could not be treated with medication. He wanted to insert tubes. I didn’t want them. So I tried a mix- ture of vinegar and alco- hol drops in my ear, and that cleared up the prob- lem in a few days. Per- haps someone else can benefit from these dis- coveries. DEAR READER: I receive praise for vine- gar almost daily. Today was a particularly heavy mail day regarding the benefits of this inexpen- sive product readily available in most kitchen cabinets. Vine- gar has been purported to remedy nail infec- tions, athlete’s foot, reflux and a host of other disorders. Your remedy for com- bating nausea is a good one worth passing on. As for your blocked ears, I would credit the alcohol, which likely dried up the water and cleared the blockage. Regardless of whether the vinegar, alcohol or the combination of both relieved the symptoms, you avoided having tubes being placed in your ears. Congratula- tions. I will continue to pass worthwhile tips on through my column when space allows. Thank you for writing. To provide related information, I am send- ing you a copy of my Health Report “Com- pelling Home Reme- dies.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self- addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to men- tion the title or print an order form off my web- site at www.AskDr- GottMD.com. Dr. Peter Gott is a retired physician and the author of the book “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet,” available at most chain and independent bookstores, and the recently published “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook.” 2 Late husband had second family abroad Dear Annie: I recently lost my husband. We mar- ried quite young, and after 20 years, he had an affair and we divorced. Three years later, we remarried and stayed together for another 20 years. He was a wonderful husband and an attentive grandfather. We went to church, and he even taught a Sunday school class. Annie’s Mailbox Guess what? It seems that while we were divorced, he married The Other Woman in another country and for- got to tell me. I finally got things resolved so that our second mar- riage was legally recognized and I am entitled to the insurance money, which is enough to pay off the house and a bit more. But now the other woman is going to court to fight for their 22-year-old child’s rights — a daughter I didn’t know about. Annie, I feel so betrayed. Our grown children now know their father lied to all of us. I am in coun- seling, but am so mentally and physically exhausted, I had to take a leave of absence from my job. What do I do? How can I warn others? — Alone Dear Alone: Your letter will serve as the warning. If it’s any con- solation, your husband probably was in denial about his situation. When he came back, he undoubted- ly convinced himself the remarriage to you was legal and the other, for- eign marriage would simply go away. The daughter, however, is another story. Regardless of the cir- cumstances, if your husband The following defen- dants were sentenced in Tehama County Superior Court, according to the Tehama County District Attorney’s Office: —————— Recent County Jail Commitments: • Richard Shawn Fletcher was sentenced to 365 days in Tehama County Jail for sale or transportation or offer to sell controlled substance. Fletcher was original- ly granted formal proba- tion. Fletcher violated his probation when a probation search of his residence revealed a usable amount of methamphetamine and a methamphetamine pipe. • David Sandoval, Jr., was sentenced to 120 days in Tehama County Jail for unlawful sexual intercourse. Officers from the Red Bluff Police Department contacted Sandoval regarding allegations of sexual conduct with a minor. An investigation into the incident revealed the 20-year-old defen- dant had a sexual rela- tionship with the 15 year old victim. Fletcher admitted knowing the victim was under 18. • Fortino Guerra Jr. and Jilberto Bravo were sentenced to 90 days each in Tehama County Jail for cultivating mari- juana. Officers were dis- patched to a residence regarding marijuana being cultivated. Upon arrival officers could by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar fathered a child, he had a responsibility to support her, and the child is entitled to some of Daddy’s estate. Please don’t be so angry and resentful that you punish the wrong person. You were smart to get counseling. It will help you through this. Dear Annie: We are part of a group of friends that often gets together for din- ner. One couple pride them- selves on good manners and are always correcting others on the proper utensil to use, the right pronunciation of words, and on and on. Yet this same couple drink too much, try to run the other person’s kitchen and always jump up from the table to ‘‘help the host’’ when it is both uninvited and unwelcome. Do we tell them how annoying they have become or simply stop inviting them to our gatherings? — Properly Perplexed Dear Perplexed: If you are ready to stop inviting them, you may as well see whether an honest conversation will help. The next time they correct one of you, simply say, ‘‘We’re sure you don’t mean to be rude by correcting someone in public. Please stop.’’ If they invade your kitchen, shoo them out. You must be assertive, or you will get nowhere. As for their drinking, that is a different issue and, we might add, could well be amplifying their annoying behavior. Dear Annie: I’m writing about ‘‘Concerned Parent,’’ who is wor- ried about unrecognized depression in teens. My father was depressed, and smell the marijuana and hear noises inside the residence but received no response when knocking on the door. Officers were able to look through a window and observe several men along with marijuana plants, plastic tarps and garbage bags in the front I’ve been treated for depression and anxiety for 15 years. For several months, my talented, smart, loving 17-year-old daughter became another person. She started skip- ping school, drinking and being ver- bally abusive to me. She was always embarrassed that I was being treated for depression. Then she took a psychology class that explained that depression is a neurobiological disorder and does not mean the patient is ‘‘crazy.’’ The next day, she asked me to take her to a psychiatrist, who diagnosed her with depression and anxiety. She was given a low-dose antidepres- sant and sent for therapy. Within two weeks, she was my daughter again. She told me, ‘‘I can’t believe I feel calm. I thought it was normal to be constantly agitated. I didn’t know I was so unhappy.’’ Now I get hugs. She still has mood swings, but her center is much higher. And I learned that teen depression is different from adult depression. Instead of being sad, they might become irritable and angry, skip school, make risky choices and seem to hate every- thing. A doctor can help find that your child is still there, but locked up by a treatable illness. — Grateful Mom 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. COURT ROUND UP room of the residence. The men inside the resi- dence then fled and were pursued by officers until arrested at gunpoint. After a search of the res- idence officers located 91.7 pounds of marijua- na as well as several items used for process- ing marijuana • Scott Alan Taylor was sentenced to 45 days in Tehama County Jail for transportation of marijuana Taylor was originally granted formal proba- tion. Defendant violated his probation when he was found in possession of marijuana. Best BBQ Around Cooked Fresh Daily B.B.Q. FAST FRIENDLY SERVICE Weekdays ‘till 6pm Saturday ‘till 3pm 22825 Antelope Blvd. 528-0799 COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES Smog Check starting at $ (most cars and pick-ups) 2995 + cert. 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