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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (April 11, 2015)
6 B SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH Easier to prevent than treat diabetes DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m predia- betic. I have known you and others to say not to eat any grain that is not whole wheat. Based on that, I leave off white rice, pasta and white rolls. I eat two whole-wheat rolls most days. Does that sound right? I am under- weight. — S.R. ANSWER: It is much better and easier to prevent diabetes than it is to treat it. Diet and exercise are proven to help prevent diabetes in everyone, even your less-common situation of being normal or underweight and at risk for diabetes. The most important part of diet is to avoid simple sugars. Processed grains are converted extremely rapidly to sugar in the body. The added fiber and protein of whole grains slows this process down somewhat; however, I still would recommend having your grains with some healthy fat and pro- SALOME’S STARS ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Don’t be put off by a seemingly too-tangled situation. Sometimes a simple proce- dure will unsnarl all the knots and get you in the clear fast and easy, just the way the Lamb likes it. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) It’s a good time to go through your work space — wherever it is — and see what needs to be replaced and what can be tossed (or at least given away) without a second thought. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Someone who disagrees with your posi- tion might try to intimidate you. But continue to present a fair argument, regardless of how petty someone else might be while trying to make a point. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You might find yourself exceptionally sensi- tive to family matters this week. An tein. Nuts, olive oil and healthy veg- etable spreads go great with whole- grain rolls and slow down absorption. By having foods in combination, you can reduce diabetes risk. Don’t forget about exercise, the other key to preventing diabetes. Any exercise is better than none. Walking is a great form of exercise that takes no special equipment and can be done anywhere. At 10,000 steps a day, which is not very hard to build up to, the risk of diabetes is significantly decreased. An inexpensive pedometer can keep track of your steps and may motivate you to reach your goal. Diabetes has become epidemic in North America. The booklet on it pro- vides insight on its diagnosis and treatment. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Roach — No. 402W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853- 6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been taking Zoloft for almost 10 years now. My psychiatrist believes I should stay on the medication for the rest of my life due to three serious episodes of depression. Now that I go regularly for counseling, I am starting to see the root of the depression and am aware of the triggers. As I get older, I worry about the long-term effects of this drug. Are there any studies about long-term effects of Zoloft and similar medications? I’m also interested in your view on the necessity of anti- depressants as a permanent solution for people with my condition. I’ve read that antidepressants are not proven to be better than placebos. — N.M. ANSWER: Depression can be a terrible disease, but for most people there are effective treatments. Zoloft is in the class of medications called SSRIs, and these work in the brain where nerve cells communicate with each other. There are some studies and a lot of experience with using these medica- tions long term. They are mostly safe, better than placebo and certainly bet- ter than the risk of recurrent depres- sion, which after three episodes is very high. Counseling (psychothera- py) is another effective treatment. Effective counseling may reduce the risk for recurrent depression, but I would not stop the medication without being carefully followed by your counselor and psychiatrist. issue could come to light that you had overlooked. Ask other kinfolk to dis- cuss it with you. LEO (July 23 to August 22) You might have more questions about a project (or perhaps someone you’re dealing with on some level) than you feel comfortable with. If so, see which can be answered, which cannot, and why. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) It’s a good time to clean up and clear out what you don’t need before your tidy self is overwhelmed by “stuff.” Then go celebrate the Virgo vic- tory over clutter with someone special. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) You might feel a mite confused about why something you were sure couldn’t go wrong didn’t go all right either. Be patient. Things soon move into balance, exactly as you like it. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) At this decision point, you could be moving from side to side, just to say you’re in motion. Or you could be con- sidering making a move straight up. What you choose is up to you. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Although your finances should be in an improved situation at this time, thrift is still the savvy Sagittarian’s smart move. Advice from a spouse or partner could be worth heeding. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Taking on a new challenge brings out the Goat’s skills in maneu- vering over and around difficult spots. Best of all, the Goat does it one careful step after another. (Got the idea, Kid?) AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Your well-known patience might be wearing thin because of a dis- turbing (and seemingly unending) prob- lem with someone close to you. This could be a time to ask for help. Good luck. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Be careful about a new venture that lures you into a “just-look-and-see” mode. Be sure that what you’re being given to see isn’t hiding what you should be seeing instead. Siuslaw News ! AD IT DAY E R TO www. the siuslawnews.com E -E DITION • S PORTS • T OP S TORIES • O BITUARIES • W EATHER • F ORUMS • B LOGS