8 B
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016
TO YOUR
GOOD HEALTH
Once a neat freak,
dad now a hoarder
DEAR DR. ROACH: I know
you’re not a psychiatrist, but I hope
you can help. My dad was a single par-
ent raising us kids, and he was always
clean when it came to housework.
Every room in our house was almost
spotless.
But lately, we have noticed him
becoming a hoarder and being more
disorganized. By that, I mean keeping
weeks-old newspapers on the floor, the
kitchen table, everywhere, and he gets
upset if we try to help him clean. He’s
79. Could it be a sign of senility or
Alzheimer’s disease? — R.S.
ANSWER: Hoarding behavior can
have several psychiatric causes, and,
indeed, a psychiatrist may be neces-
sary to make the diagnosis. However,
odds are that your dad always had
some form of obsessive-compulsive
disorder, and with age has become
worse.
There are other possibilities.
Fronto-temporal dementia, a type of
SALOME’S STARS
ARIES (March 21 to April 19)
Temper your typical Aries urge to
charge into a situation and demand
answers. Instead, let the Lamb’s gentler
self emerge to deal with a problem that
requires delicacy.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You
are aware of what’s going on, so contin-
ue to stand by your earlier decision, no
matter how persuasive the counter-
arguments might be. Money pressures
will soon ease.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) By all
means, have fun and enjoy your newly
expanded social life. But don’t forget
that some people are depending on you
to keep promises that are very impor-
tant to them.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You
need to wait patiently for an answer to a
dementia that is distinct from
Alzheimer’s disease, has a variant in
which personality and behavior
changes are prominent, but given the
history of what sounds like unusual
cleanliness habits, I would suspect that
OCD is the most likely diagnosis.
There usually is a long delay from the
time symptoms begin until the time the
diagnosis is made.
A diagnosis needs to be made
before treatment — be it medications,
psychotherapy or some combination
— can begin. Treatment can improve
not only the hoarding behavior but
also the distress your dad is feeling. A
psychiatrist or psychologist is the
expert in making the diagnosis and for
treatment.
The booklet on Alzheimer’s disease
details the symptoms of this common
illness. Readers can obtain a copy by
writing: Dr. Roach — No. 903W, 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: A year ago,
my internist prescribed Evista for mild
osteopenia, but my gynecologist said
she would not have put me on medica-
tion yet. Two of my friends also have
osteopenia, but they have not been pre-
scribed medication. I stopped taking
Evista last month, because of my fear
of developing blood clots. What is
your view on this? — N.S.
ANSWER: Osteopenia simply
means “too little bone,” and it is a risk
factor for developing osteoporosis.
Most experts would treat osteopenia
by ensuring that you are getting ade-
quate calcium and vitamin D, and see-
ing that there are no other causes for
your osteopenia, such as low thyroid
level or medications that can lower
bone density, such as cortisone.
Although there may be reasons to treat
osteopenia before osteoporosis devel-
ops, medicines like raloxifene (Evista)
are reserved for the more serious con-
dition of bone loss, osteoporosis.
Raloxifine does decrease the risk of
fractures.
Raloxifene has risks: It increases the
risk of blood clots by about 1 person
per thousand over five years.
However, it decreases the risk of breast
cancer. Thus, raloxifene is a poor
choice for someone with an increased
risk of clots, but a very reasonable
choice for women who need treatment
for osteoporosis and also have an
increased risk for breast cancer.
workplace problem and not push for a
decision. Remember: Time is on your
side. A financial matter needs closer
attention.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) You now
have information that can influence that
decision you planned to make. But the
clever Cat will consult a trusted friend
or family member before making a
major move.
VIRGO (August 23 to September
22) Good news: You’re finding that
more doors are opening for you to show
what you can do, and you don’t even
have to knock very hard to get the atten-
tion you’re seeking.
LIBRA (September 23 to October
22) Your gift for creating order out of
chaos will help you deal with a sudden
rush of responsibilities that would
threaten someone less able to balance
his or her priorities.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November
21) Congratulations. Your energy levels
are coming right back up to normal —
just in time to help you tackle some
worthwhile challenges and make some
important choices.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to
December 21) The sage Sagittarian
should demand a full explanation of
inconsistencies that might be cropping
up in what had seemed to be a straight-
forward deal.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to
January 19) A conflict between obliga-
tions to family and to the job can create
stressful problems. Best advice:
Balance your dual priorities so that one
doesn’t outweigh the other.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to
February 18) Don’t guess, speculate or
gossip about that so-called mystery sit-
uation at the workplace. Bide your time.
An explanation will be forthcoming
very soon.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20)
Boredom might be creeping in and
causing you to lose interest in a repeat
project. Deal with it by flipping over
your usual routine and finding a new
way to do an old task.
Siuslaw N ews
!
AD IT DAY
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TO
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