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SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016
TO YOUR
GOOD HEALTH
Sneezing when
eating? It’s fairly
common
DEAR DR. ROACH: All of us
look forward to eating. However, in
my case (age 79) it has become a
chore. Whether it is breakfast, lunch,
dinner or a few snacks, after the first
few bites I have to blow my nose.
This goes on throughout the eating
period, and at the end, my handker-
chief is soaked. At breakfast time,
after eating, I proceed to sneeze five
to 10 times, most of the time. I have
become a recluse. I turn down invita-
tions to dinners at homes and restau-
rants, as it has become an embarrass-
ment.
I have taken Toprol and Timoptic
in the past 20 years, but this condi-
tion has occurred only in the past
four or five years, so I don’t think it’s
the drugs. During the day, I am fine
with no sneezing and blowing my
SALOME’S STARS
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A
work-related situation that started last
month takes on increasing importance
this week. The choice is still yours as to
how it will evolve. Be careful not to
make quick judgments.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20)
“Careful” is the watchword for the pru-
dent Bovine this week. Don’t let your
emotions overwhelm your logic. Try for
balance as you maneuver through a
touchy situation.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Your
energy levels rise to meet the challenges
that will mark much of this month. New
opportunities beckon. Look them over,
but proceed cautiously before making
any kind of decision.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Your
private life can be a problem this week,
nose, except maybe once or twice.
But when mealtime comes, out
comes the handkerchief for another
onslaught. Have you heard of this
condition? Should I consult a special-
ist about it? — D.Z.
ANSWER: I have heard about it,
many times, as it is much more com-
mon than you might think. It goes by
the name of “gustatory rhinitis”
(which simply means that your nose
gets inflamed on eating). It is classi-
fied as a non-allergic rhinitis. It is
more common in the elderly, though
it can happen at any age.
Your regular doctor should be able
to help you. If non-medication treat-
ments like nasal saline irrigation
haven’t helped, then I usually pre-
scribe ipratropium bromide nasal
spray before eating.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently
read your Q&A “Blood donation can
affect athletic output.” Your answer
is correct, but you missed a key
opportunity to educate your readers.
There is an alternative for this
man: Instead of donating whole
blood, he can ask his local Red Cross
about donating via apheresis (as I
do). The apheresis process requires
more time (up to two hours) and
attaches the donor to a centrifuge
machine, which separates the donor’s
whole blood into red cells, plasma
and platelets. Each of those blood
products is then either bagged for
collection (if needed at that time by
the Red Cross) or returned to the
donor’s bloodstream (if not). The
donor always retains the right to
specify which blood products may or
may not be drawn, so your reader can
always say, “I prefer not to donate
reds today, but feel free to draw plas-
ma and platelets,” if he knows he has
a challenging athletic event coming
up.
In my case, I usually donate
platelets and plasma about every six
weeks via apheresis, but normally
not red cells. One advantage of not
donating reds is that a donor can
return to donate plasma and platelets
more frequently. During my most
recent donation, my nurse mentioned
that there was a serious shortage of
platelets but that the supply of red
blood cells was fine, so she had been
instructed to NOT draw reds from
any donor if that donor was able to
schedule another donation of
platelets in the next few weeks. —
M.M.
ANSWER: Thank you for the
important information.
as a partner becomes more difficult.
Resist a reaction you might regret.
Instead of walking away, try to talk
things out.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) You
should be your usual sunny self these
days, as you bask in the admiration you
adore. Enjoy it as you move into a new
arena to confront an exciting upcoming
challenge.
VIRGO (August 23 to September
22) Your perseverance reserves will be
tapped frequently this week as you deal
with the problems involved in making a
new situation work for you. But it’ll all
be worth it.
LIBRA (September 23 to October
22) You’ll find fewer roadblocks turn-
ing up as you continue to move ahead
with your plans. Expect some important
news to come your way by mid-
November.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November
21) Good news — you finally get to the
bottom of that pesky mystery you’ve
been trying to solve for weeks by using
some gentle persuasion to get someone
to break his or her silence.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to
December 21) The best time to take on
that important task is now. Move for-
ward one step at a time so you can
assess your progress and, if need be,
change direction.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to
January 19) The new opportunities you
hoped to find this month are beginning
to open up. Study them carefully to be
sure you make the choice that’s best for
you.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to
February 18) Turn a disappointment
into a learning experience. Check out
possible weaknesses in your approach
and strengthen them. A loyal colleague
offers good advice.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20)
Your new situation offers opportunities
to help you get the skills you’ll need in
order to stop swimming in circles and
finally move straight toward your goals.
Go for it.
S iu s la w N e w s
D T
Y!
A
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I OD
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