8 B
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2015
TO YOUR
GOOD HEALTH
Prostate often
blamed for bladder
problems
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m 87 and
have an enlarged prostate. When I
get the urge to urinate, which is
often, I have to go at once. Do you
think that taking a bladder-control
medicine would interfere with the
Cardura (doxazosin) I’m taking to
keep my urine duct (urethra) open?
It’s getting to be a big problem.
Hope you can help me. — CB
ANSWER: Both men and women
can have urinary urgency (the sen-
sation of needing to go right away),
and sometimes this can lead to acci-
dents. In women, the problem usu-
ally is attributed to bladder spasm,
and in men it may be attributed
erroneously to the prostate. Of
course, it is possible to have both
prostate problems like benign
enlargement of the gland and blad-
der spasm, but oftentimes the prob-
lem in men is solely the bladder.
Some people need treatment for
SALOME’S STARS
ARIES (March 21 to April 19)
Don’t feel sheepish about looking to
spend more time with that special per-
son during the upcoming holidays.
Do it because it’s the right thing to do.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20)
Never mind letting misunderstand-
ings repair themselves. Consider
speaking up while the healing process
can be shorter and sweeter and leave
fewer scars.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20)
Romance is easily awakened in the
Geminian heart, especially around the
happy holiday season. So go ahead
and make those plans with that spe-
cial someone.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22)
Moon Children can glow with their
both, and there are no interactions I
could find between doxazosin and
bladder spasm agents like Detrol
(tolterodine) or Ditropan (oxybu-
tynin).
The booklet on men’s health dis-
cusses prostate gland enlargement.
Readers can obtain a copy by writ-
ing: Dr. Roach — No. 1001W, 628
Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
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 read and
hear of great health benefits attrib-
uted to eating nuts. I have a very
healthy heart, but no one can con-
sider himself beyond the specter of
cancer. Also, possibly my neurolog-
ical or other systems that deteriorate
with age could benefit from eating
nuts. Unfortunately, eating nuts or
peanuts results in constipation that
can last for days. Foods with dairy
or egg components give me the
same problem. Do I do myself a dis-
service by not eating nuts? Should I
consider episodes of constipation
worth the benefits? — J.M.
ANSWER: I have carefully read
the new studies on nuts, and they
confirm previous studies showing
that nut consumption is associated
with a lower risk of heart disease
and overall death and, as you note,
reduced cancer risk as well.
However, this doesn’t prove that
eating nuts reduces those risks. It is
possible that people who eat nuts
have other behaviors that are really
responsible for their lower risk of
disease. However, the authors of the
study did as good a job as possible
to reduce that possibility.
In your case, I would think of
nuts as a medicine. You have to
consider the benefits (possibly
lower risk of cancer and other dis-
eases) against the side effects (con-
stipation, which can be very
unpleasant and reduce quality of
life). One estimate is that nut con-
sumption may increase lifespan by
as much as a year. You may have
less benefit than other people from
nut consumption because of your
healthy heart. That would make me
less likely to recommend nut con-
sumption for you. If your constipa-
tion were more than mildly annoy-
ing, I probably wouldn’t “pre-
scribe” nuts. Similarly, people with
nut allergies, which are increasingly
common, cannot enjoy the health
benefits of nuts. Only you can
determine if the modest improve-
ment in (possible) life expectancy is
worth the symptoms.
own inner light as the holiday season
magic takes hold. It’s a very special
time for Cancers and Libras together.
Enjoy.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) It’s a
good time for you fabulous Felines to
take pleasure in your special gift for,
well, taking pleasure! Look for this
holiday season to give you every rea-
son to purr.
VIRGO (August 23 to September
22) This is a good time to let others
who are in your life get a little closer
to you. You’ll both find out what
you’ve been missing for far too long.
LIBRA (September 23 to October
22) Open up your eyes and see some
welcome surprises you’ve missed or
overlooked for too long. What you
find can lead to other favorable
changes.
SCORPIO (October 23 to
November 21) What you expect to be
potentially troublesome might simply
be especially challenging and well
worth your efforts to check out. Good
luck!
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to
December 21) A friendship might not
seem as trustworthy as you’d like.
OK. Ask your questions, get your
answers and settle the matter once
and for all.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to
January 19) A family situation moves
into a new area because of (or, maybe,
thanks to) some decisions you might
have felt you could not avoid making.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to
February 18) You could be cutting it
very close if you hope to make those
holiday plan changes in time to avoid
problems. Get a friend or family
member to help.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20)
Friends show how important you are
to them. Keep these precious relation-
ships thriving. They affect much that
will happen to the fabulous Fish in the
new year.
Siuslaw N ews
!
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