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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016
TO YOUR
GOOD HEALTH
Sleepless Nights
DEAR DR. ROACH: How
much good does it do for the body
to just lie there with your eyes
closed all night long when you
can’t sleep? — D.R.
ANSWER: It doesn’t do much
good at all; in fact, it causes harm,
in that it makes it more likely for
you to associate the bed as a place
to stay awake. My advice is, if you
are lying in bed and not sleeping,
get up out of bed and do some-
thing. Listen to soft music. Read a
book, as long as the light isn’t too
bright. Write in your diary. When
you feel like sleeping, get back
into bed, but don’t stay there if
you aren’t getting to sleep in 15
minutes or so and know that you
aren’t going to.
Getting a little high-intensity
SALOME’S STARS
ARIES (March 21 to April 19)
Aspects call for care in preparing mate-
rial for submission. Although you might
find it bothersome to go over what
you’ve done, the fact is, rechecking
could be worth your time and effort.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) The
week is favorable for Bovines who wel-
come change. New career opportunities
wait to be checked out. You also might
want to get started on that home
makeover you’ve been considering.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You
might have to be extra careful to protect
that surprise you have planned, thanks
to a certain snoopy someone who wants
to know more about your plans than
you’re willing to share.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22)
Family ties are strong this week,
exercise during the day, avoiding
caffeine after midday and staying
away from naps are good ways to
feel ready for sleep at bedtime.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I had my
thyroid removed for a goiter 35
years ago. My doctor put me on
100 mcg of thyroid medication;
however, when I took it, I got sick.
My hands shook, and my heart
beat very quickly (over 100). So
one doctor told me to split it, and
take 50 in the morning and 50 in
the afternoon. I felt better, and I
took it twice a day for 30 years.
After menopause, a different
doctor changed it to 88 mcg and
said to take it one time a day. This
what I have been taking for five
years, but I was feeling better and
happier when I split the dose. My
question is, can I split this medica-
tion? Does it make any different
for the body if the TSH is normal?
Does it make any difference what
time of the day I take it? — H.T.
ANSWER: Many people do
split the dose of thyroid hormone,
especially if they are taking a type
of thyroid, such as Armour, that
contains T3. If 88 mcg is the dose
that has the right amount of TSH
(a hormone made by the pituitary
that helps determine whether the
dose is correct as far as your body
is concerned) for you, then the
TSH shouldn’t be affected by tak-
ing half the dose in the morning
and half at night. Most people
don’t find that it matters, but if it
relieves your symptoms to take it
twice a day, that’s OK.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a
home health nurse. Many of my
patients think that because some-
thing has been cooked and then
refrigerated, it will stay good
indefinitely! How long should you
realistically keep food that is
refrigerated? Thank you. — S.C.
ANSWER: Of course, the
answer depends on the specific
type of food, but a good rule of
thumb is three to four days for
cooked food. I found more exact
recommendations at
www.foodsafety.gov/keep/
charts/storagetimes.html
although an old and still-unresolved
problem might create some unpleasant
moments. If so, look to straighten the
situation out once and for all.
LEO (July 23 to August 22)
Although the Lion might see it as an act
of loyalty and courage to hold on to an
increasingly shaky position, it might be
wiser to make changes now to prevent a
possible meltdown later.
VIRGO (August 23 to September
22) Your gift for adding new people to
your circle of friends works overtime
this week, thanks largely to contacts
you made during the holidays. A sur-
prise awaits you at the week’s end.
LIBRA (September 23 to October
22) Don’t hide your talents. It’s a good
time to show what you can do to
impress people who can do a lot for
you. A dispute with a family member
might still need some smoothing over.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November
21) Be open with your colleagues about
your plan to bring a workplace matter
out into the open. You’ll want their sup-
port, and they’ll want to know how
you’ll pull it off.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to
December 21) Trying to patch up an
unraveling relationship is often easier
said than done. But it helps to discuss
and work out any problems that arise
along the way.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to
January 19) While your creative aspect
remains high this week, you might want
to call on your practical side to help
work out the why and wherefore of an
upcoming decision.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to
February 18) Dealing with someone’s
disappointment can be difficult for
Aquarians, who always try to avoid giv-
ing pain. But a full explanation and a
show of sympathy can work wonders.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20)
Getting a job-related matter past some
major obstacles should be easier this
week. A personal situation might take a
surprising but not necessarily unwel-
come turn by the week’s end.
Siuslaw N ews
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