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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 2016)
4 B SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2016 TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH Irritable Bowel Disease, Syndrome Very Different DEAR DR. ROACH: Could you please explain the difference between irritable bowel syndrome and irri- table bowel disease? What is the treatment for each? I saw in a health magazine that there is a blood test to determine which one someone may have. -- ES ANSWER: Although the two names are very similar, the con- ditions are very different. Irritable bowel syndrome is a common condi- tion, more frequent in women than in men, of abdominal discomfort and bowel changes, such as diarrhea and/ or constipation. It is managed by diet (such as the low-FODMAP diet I have recommended several times), stress management and sometimes medications. It can cause signifi cant changes in one’s social life, in addi- tion to pain and discomfort. IBS is a clinical diagnosis, and there is no blood test to confi rm it. Primary- SALOME’S STARS ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A hectic period begins to wind down. Take time to draw some deep breaths and relax before getting into your next project. A long-absent family member makes contact. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You’re eager to move forward with a new challenge that suddenly dropped in your lap. But you’d be wise to take this one step at a time to allow new developments to come through. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You’re almost ready to make a com- mitment. A lingering doubt or two, however, should be resolved before you move ahead. An associate could provide important answers. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Caution is still the watchword as you care doctors manage IBS, and severe cases may benefi t from the care of a gastroenterologist. Irritable bowel disease -- of which there are two types: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease -- is a potentially life-threatening condition of the GI tract. In ulcerative colitis, there is infl ammation that’s limited to the colon, whereas in Crohn’s disease, the infl ammation can be in any part of the GI tract, from the lip to the anus, though it is most frequent in the far end of the small bowel and the colon. IBD should be managed by a gas- troenterologist, preferably one with special expertise in these diseases. IBD usually is diagnosed by colonos- copy or other endoscopy with biopsy. Many blood tests can be abnormal in IBD, but only the pathologist’s report is defi nitive. Most people with IBD will need medication treatment, although symptoms and therefore treatment may change dramatically across time. DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 83 and recently began having sciatica pain down my right thigh. My doctor rec- ommended using a hot-water bottle. Are there any painkillers I can use? Are there any other products I can use? -- G.L.B. ANSWER: The sciatic nerve is a very large nerve that runs down the back of the leg. When the nerve is pressed on in the back -- from a her- niated disk in the back or from spinal stenosis -- there can be intense pain that feels like it is coming from the back, or anywhere from the top of the thigh to the foot. Since other nerves besides the sciatic can be affected, the condition is called lumbar radicu- lopathy. A herniated disk is when the shock-absorbing material in between the vertebrae comes out into the space where the nerve root is, on its way out of the spinal column toward the leg. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the bony canal through which the nerve travels. In most cases, people get better within four to six weeks. Standard pain medications, such as acetamin- ophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen, can be helpful. If pain is severe and not responsive, there are other treat- ments, including a short course of steroids and narcotics, which should be given only during that initial peri- od of pain. Pain that persists for a longer peri- od of time, or pain with weakness, especially with progressive symp- toms, needs expert evaluation. move closer toward a decision about a new situation. If you act too fast, you might miss some vital warning signs. Go slowly and stay alert. LEO (July 23 to August 22) Your new goal looks promising, and your golden touch does much to enhance its prospects for success. In your pri- vate life, Cupid does his best to make your new relationship special. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Th at impatient side of yours is looking to goad you into moving before you’re ready to take that big step. Stay calm and cool. Let things fall into place before you act. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A legal matter you hoped could fi nally be settled could be a pesky problem for a while, until all the par- ties agree to stop disagreeing with each other. Be patient. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Partnerships -- per- sonal or professional -- which began before the new year take on new importance. Th ey also reveal some previously hidden risks. So be warned. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Your associates are fi rmly on your side, and that persis- tent problem that has caused you to delay some activities should soon be resolved to your satisfaction. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Favorable changes con- tinue to dominate, and you should be responding positively as they emerge. Someone wants to become more involved in what you’re doing. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A friend wants to share a secret that could answer some ques- tions you’ve wondered about for a long time. Meanwhile, travel aspects continue to be strong. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Stay on your new course despite so- called well-meaning eff orts to dis- courage you. Rely on your deep sense of self-awareness to guide you to do what’s right for you. 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
