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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (July 3, 2017)
6A FEATURES Concerned about brother’s health THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, JULY 3, 2017 TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. Dear Annie: I am over 70 years that it isn’t just a problem of over- old and in failing health. My step- eating? — Concerned Brother Dear Concerned: Your letter is brother, “Tom,” is 58. Although he is still working, I am sure that he a testament to what a blessing sib- will soon have to stop because over lings can be. It’s great you’re still the past few years, he has become looking out for your brother. I’m steadily more obese, and the doc- not a doctor, but it sounds to me as if Tom could have hypo- tors seem unable to find a DEAR thyroidism, which slows cause or remedy, nor do down the metabolism. The they really seem to care. ANNIE most important thing you He now weighs almost 700 can do for your brother is pounds. I love my brother encourage him to seek the and am worried about opinion of another doctor. what will happen to him Offer to take him to the when I am gone. I have appointment yourself if always been reasonably it would help. Finally, be slender, and my brother Lane sure to take care of your- doesn’t seem to eat much Annie Creators Syndicate Inc. self, too. I’m sure Tom more than I do, and he cer- is as worried about his tainly doesn’t eat cake, pies or other junk food, nor does he eat brother as you are about him. Dear Annie: I’m a psychiatrist. large portions. When I look around, it seems For decades, I’ve treated patients as if obesity is becoming more for attention deficit hyperactivity and more of a problem in the U.S. disorder (ADHD). You recently ran What happens when obese peo- a letter from “Missing My Space ple are unable to work, but are too Cadet.” He was concerned about young to receive their Social Secu- his wife, who, after being pre- rity benefits? What happens when scribed an “amphetamine medica- they become too old and infirm to tion” for ADHD, became laser-fo- care for their own basic needs? I cused on work and was no longer can’t understand why the medical fun-loving. She was also described profession doesn’t assign a higher as sleeping and eating more on priority to the treatment of obesity. days when she didn’t take it. As you said, she may be abusing Why can’t more people understand her medication, but another possi- bility (more likely, in my opinion) is that the prescribed dose is sim- ply too high for her. Most patients — and more than a few prescribers — do not realize that with ADHD medications, there is usually a fairly small difference between the dose that does nothing and the dose that has unwelcome side effects or that the correct dosage can vary widely from person to person. Thus, rather than simply prescribe a standard dosage, doctors must conduct a single-case experiment for every patient. This requires close communication between doc- tor and patient. But if both aren’t careful, the patient can continue to be prescribed the wrong dosage. For this reason, I think your advice that the husband and wife go together to the next appoint- ment was very much on target. My guess is that the problem could be easily solved by lowering the dos- age. Unless the woman is taking more than the prescribed dosage, the word “abuse” is not applicable. — A Psychiatrist in New York Dear Psychiatrist: Input from medical professionals such as you is always helpful. You’ve raised a great point. I’ve passed this infor- mation along. Thank you. ARIES (March 21-April 19). The moment you decide to impress yourself, the adventure will be on! (But if you are hung up on impressing anyone other than yourself, it will cause a delay in your journey to greatness.) a child into your heart even though you prob- ably already knew that children have a way of bruising the hearts they live inside with their naive will. When that part comes, you’ll handle it and be stronger for it. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). There is some heaven here on earth, and you want to expe- rience it. Also, heaven on earth wants to expe- rience you. When you approach the moments with this in mind, the portholes open. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). It will take a great deal of personal restraint not to say the thing on your mind, but if the idea seems the least bit unhelpful or has the slightest chance of causing offense, it won’t be worth the breath it takes to utter it. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Those with many opinions may have few facts. As for the ones who have plenty of both, they’re worth listening to today. You may not agree, but you’ll come to a resolution faster for learning what they know. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Orphans and strays will be attracted to your generosity and compassion. Your posse will get bigger and bigger. The growth won’t be the least bit draining to you. In fact, you’ll get back more than you give. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Counting the cost isn’t the same as paying the price. In fact, often those who paid didn’t count. The bottom line is that you don’t have to know the bottom line to do the right thing. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Living well is spending your life in your own way. You realize exactly what way that is by being forced to live by other people’s rules and figuring out, “This just isn’t me.” LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Don’t be in too much of a rush. If you want everything yester- day, you miss the opportunity to learn how it’s made, earned and delivered. There is wisdom and creativity hiding away in the origin story. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You have taken 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 CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Enduring love isn’t always so visible in the action of your daily life. There are those you communicate with in thought only who continue to influence you in ways both minute and remarkable. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The luckiest thing you can do today will be to teach others born in another time. It doesn’t matter if they are older or younger than you; there’s much of value to impart about the experience of your own particular slice of time. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Usually, you can see quite well with your heart, and its vision extends as far as needed or becomes microscopic for things that are very small or extremely close. It can even see what’s invisi- ble. Your heart will never need glasses. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (July 4). You’re so often asked to be creative, look for the opportunity inside of a problem, rise above the situation. You do an excellent job of that, but you deserve a break from it, too. The next 10 weeks hands you good luck you don’t have to work for. You had this coming. Invest in August. Domestic transformation comes in December. Leo and Scorpio adore you. Your lucky num- bers are: 9, 30, 2, 26 and 4.
