FEATURES
8A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
Be aware of drug risks to kidneys Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
Dear Annie: I was diagnosed
with chronic kidney disease five
years ago during an annual phys-
ical at the age of 79. I did not
have hypertension, diabetes or a
family history of kidney disease
— the distinctive risk factors for
kidney disease — although my
age should have been a red flag.
Looking back on my medi-
cal history, it turns out my kid-
ney numbers were abnormal for
some time. I was told that the
use of nonsteroidal anti-inflam-
matory drugs may have caused
my kidney damage. It was a sur-
prise to me that such a common
drug did more harm than good.
Since then, I’ve stopped the use
of NSAIDs, but I feel many other
people might be in the same boat
I was in. I hope you can spread
the word to help others keep their
kidneys healthy. — Better Now
Dear Better: Thank you for
the information. NSAIDs (such
as aspirin, Advil, Motrin, Aleve,
Celebrex and other commonly
used pain relievers) don’t gen-
erally pose a problem for most
people who use them in small
doses on occasion. But there can
be side effects, especially if you
use the drugs for weeks at a time.
They can cause bleeding ulcers,
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy
Mitchell and
Marcy Sugar
fluid retention, rashes, and kid-
ney and heart problems. If you
are taking any anti-inflamma-
tory, over-the-counter drugs,
please let your doctor know.
Kidney disease often goes
undetected, because symptoms
may not appear until the kidneys
are close to failure. The good
news is that early detection and
proper treatment can slow the
progression of kidney disease.
If you have high blood pressure,
diabetes, a family history of kid-
ney failure or are over the age of
60, you should get your kidneys
checked.
March is National Kidney
Month and March 10 is World
Kidney Day. The National Kid-
ney Foundation urges readers to
be proactive with their health. To
learn more, visit www.kidney.
org.
Dear Annie: Your response
to “Sick of Men Complaining”
was right on. She said no matter
what meal she prepares for her
husband, he always finds some-
thing to criticize about it. Aside
from pointing out that she seems
to have a predilection for pick-
ing out men she cannot possi-
bly please, you told her to inform
him that he can cook his own
meals if hers are not to his liking.
If my wife prepared an ele-
gant meal for me and I com-
plained about it like that, you can
be sure she would tell me where
to go. She also would inform me
that from now on, I would be
cooking my own food. And she
would have followed through on
that.
Her straightforward confi-
dence makes me appreciate the
wonderful wife and mother that
she is. — Pretty Darn Happy in
New Mexico
Dear New Mexico: We are
delighted to hear from some-
one who appreciates his spouse
and the efforts she puts into
their meals, and more important,
thinks her direct and honest atti-
tude is something to be admired.
We trust she returns the same
level of respect.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Yesterday you
felt determined; today the motivation wanes,
which is actually a good thing! It will help you
move to the next ideas, which will be packed
with potential energy.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). No one is bet-
ter at being you than you are. It’s funny how
people will try to be, though. Today they’ll tell
you what you should do, how you should feel
and whom you should love. It’s ridiculous re-
ally. Your best move? Ignore them.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It feels like
the doors of the banquet of life have been
opened to you on what just happens to be
the first day of your new diet. Believe it or not,
it may be quite satisfying to take in the visual
promise without “eating,” for now.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). When sweet
nothings are whispered between lovers,
don’t forget that it’s the “nothings” that make
the sweetness possible. You’ll enjoy the
buoyancy of anchor-less relationships. Love
levitates.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Extremely creative
people such as you have been known to
find it difficult to stick to one idea and see it
through to the end. That’s why teaming with a
Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn will be a very wise
move today.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’re now
ready to explore territory that’s been previ-
ously off-limits or unknown. The boldness
you feel will ebb and flow through this pro-
cess, so make the most of today’s surge!
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The person
who dares to poke at that little piece of in-
security you’ve had hidden away is in for a
big response. Most likely, that response will
be laughter! Even if it’s uncomfortable at first,
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
it feels good to be seen more completely.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You and a
certain someone used to be an item and now
you’re hardly even a thing. That’s the natural
path of some relationships. You’ll work ex-
tra hard now to make sure one special tie
doesn’t wind up in the same category.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re in
unknown territory, but don’t let this stop you
from moving. The only way to learn this area
is to travel through it. If you have to go slowly,
it’s fine — as long as you go.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). If you can
prove your superiority over your former self,
this makes you very happy. That’s why, what-
ever is asked of you, you’ll give more and
you’ll give better than you did before.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Truly, your
abilities are developing beyond your expec-
tations. You will tend to get most things right
from the start today. Don’t let this spoil you,
though. It’s not a fluke, but it’s better if you
treat it as if it were one.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Over the
years you’ve built protective layers around
your heart, which is only smart, wise and
prudent. However, it’s also inconvenient —
that is, unless you also build a door, give it a
lock and give someone else the key.
THURSDAY’S BIRTHDAY (March 10).
You’ve excellent taste! This isn’t just about
making choices that fit your aesthetic. It’s
also about letting yourself be guided by your
attractions and using experience to navigate
to the choices you can really work with. Your
heart call will be answered in April. Highlights
will be monetary in May and August. Capri-
corn and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 7, 4, 33, 39 and 41.