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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 2017)
4 B SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 2017 TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH Is medication risk worth the benefi t? DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 76-year-old woman with diabetes. My body, as I have been told, is bad with arthritis, for which I have been prescribed Celebrex. I have been taking it for a few months now, and am defi nitely moving around with a lot less pain. I recently watched a program that devoted the entire hour to Celebrex. It scared me out of my wits upon hearing the side effects of the medicine. I am asking your advice about whether to stop taking the Celebrex. -- S.A. ANSWER: All medicines have risks, and in order to decide whether you should keep taking the medi- cine, you need to really understand what the risks are and balance them against the benefi ts you feel in your ability to move around more easily. SALOME’S STARS ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Your batteries should be fully recharged by now, making you more than eager to get back into the swing of things full time. Try to stay focused so that you don’t dissipate your energies. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You’re eager to charge straight ahead into your new responsibilities. But you’ll have to paw the ground a little longer, until a surprise complication is worked out. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Rival factions are pressuring you to take a stand favoring one side or the other. But this isn’t the time to play judge. Bow out as gracefully as possible, without com- mitting yourself to any position. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Reassure a longtime, trusted confi dante In the case of Celebrex, we have a pretty good idea of what the risks are. Like all related drugs (including ibuprofen and naproxen), celecoxib (Celebrex) can damage the kidneys, so it isn’t recommended for people with kidney disease. There also can be allergic reactions, which may be related to allergies to sulfa drugs. A few people have had vision changes. However, the most concerning risk is heart disease -- both heart attacks and heart failure. These risks defi - nitely are increased among users of celecoxib. However, the absolute risk is small: There were about two extra cases of all heart events, including heart attack and heart failure, per thousand people taking 400 mg once daily, and six extra events in people taking 400 mg twice daily. Those risks probably are higher if you are at increased risk for heart disease (which you probably are, because of your diabetes), but it still means less than 1 percent of people per year. If the medicine isn’t helping, the risk certainly isn’t worth it. However, only you can decide if the risk is worth the benefi t. Drug companies get into big trou- ble when they try to hide the risks of their medications, and honesty demands that we admit that all drugs and supplements have risks. Only you can make that decision, but I think it’s up to us as doctors to have a frank discussion, especially about medications intended to be taken long-term. DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 72-year-old female. My doctor told me four years ago that I would need a Pap test only every two years, which I have done. She told me recently that I would not need to have any more. My tests have always been negative. I am con- cerned, as I would rather be proac- tive and know early if I had cancer. What is your opinion, and what does the American Cancer Society say? -- B.L.S. ANSWER: All of the lead- ing organizations, including the American Cancer Society, have rec- ommended stopping screening at age 65 for women with no history of cancer and who have had adequate screening, meaning three negative Pap smears (or two negative com- bination Pap and HPV tests) in the past 10 years, with at least one in the past fi ve years. The risk for cancer in this specifi c group is very low. that you appreciate his or her words of advice. But at this time, you need to act on what you perceive to be your own sense of self-interest. LEO (July 23 to August 22) You need to let your warm Leonine heart fi re up that new relationship if you hope to see it move from the “just friends” level to one that will be as romantic as you could hope for. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Th ere’s still time to repair a misunder- standing with an honest explanation and a heartfelt apology. Th e sooner you do, the sooner you can get on with other matters. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Expect a temporary setback as you progress toward your goal. Use this time to re-examine your plans and see where you might need to make some signifi cant changes. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Some missteps are revealed as the cause of current problems in a personal or professional partnership. Make the necessary adjustments and then move on. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Jupiter’s infl uence helps you work through a pesky problem, allowing your naturally jovial attitude to re-emerge stronger than ever. Enjoy your success. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Set aside your usual reluc- tance to change, and consider reassess- ing your fi nancial situation so that you can build on its strengths and minimize its weaknesses. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Some recently acquired informa- tion helps open up a dark part of the past. Resolve to put what you’ve learned to good use. Travel plans continue to be favored. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Act on your own keen instincts. Your strong Piscean backbone will support you as someone attempts to pressure you into a decision you’re not ready to make. 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
