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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2017)
4 B SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2017 TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH Bed Sores Linked to COPD DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 89 years old and just learned that I have the fi rst stages of bed sores on my buttocks. My dermatologist said that I should stay off of it as much as possible and apply hydrocortisone cream. I have COPD, and I need to sleep sitting up. I wonder if you have any other suggestions to help my pain and discomfort. -- A.A. ANSWER: Bed sores (also called pressure ulcers) are potentially seri- ous problems that require immedi- ate attention. We “stage” bed sores into four categories. Hopefully you have stage one, where there is skin redness, usually over a bony promi- nence such as the sacrum, the hand- shaped bone at the base of the spine. A stage two bed sore may be a shallow, open ulcer or a blister. At stage three there is full-thick- SALOME’S STARS ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Avoid having someone else take credit for the project you started by fi nishing it yourself. Th en it will be you lovely Lambs who will be wearing those well- deserved laurels. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Th e facts about a new opportunity are still emerging. Wait until they’re all out in the open, and then use your keen business sense to help make the right decision. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You might feel confused, even hurt by a friend who suddenly puts distance between you. If she or he won’t dis- cuss it, don’t push it. An explanation should come in time. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Your willingness to be part of the team ness loss of the skin, while a stage four has exposed muscle or bone. Sometimes, it is impossible to stage ulcers from their appearance alone. A stage one bed sore often is treated with a clear fi lm for protec- tion. Hydrocortisone cream is sur- prising to me, since steroids can thin the skin when used excessively, which you certainly don’t want to do. The pain should be treated, but you should be taking this as your body’s warning that there is a prob- lem. The key to preventing further injury is to fi nd a way to take pres- sure off the area. Sleeping sitting up puts all your weight on your lower back, buttocks and thighs, which in turn puts these areas at a high risk for pressure ulcers. There are sev- eral ways to combat this, including different kinds of mattresses and pads, and even a device that adjusts automatically to pressure. Changing positions frequently (every two hours or less) is critical if you are not using a special mattress or pad. There are wound-management spe- cialists, both nurses and doctors, with expertise for your particular situation. I would ask your doctor about fi nding and consulting with one. People with COPD are at high risk for poor nutrition, and making sure you are getting adequate pro- tein and calories is critical, as poor nutrition is a big risk for serious bed sores. I strongly recommend a visit with a nutritionist. Also, perhaps your COPD treatment could be opti- mized to make it easier to sleep in a supine (lying-down) position. This means a revisit with your regular doctor or the consultant doctor who is treating your COPD. DEAR DR.ROACH: I am writing to you regarding your recent column about psoriasis. My husband spent most of his life suffering from severe psoriasis, until he was told of an all-natural solution: cilantro. In a matter of a few months he was completely symptom-free, and remains so after more than a year. He simply adds a few sprigs of cilantro to a garden salad once a day. -- J.L. ANSWER: I also have read that eating fresh cilantro helps psoriasis. I couldn’t fi nd any study that looked at this, and people responding to online support groups reported mixed results. However, it is very safe and might be worth a try. opens doors that had been shut to you. Keep them open by keeping your promises even when your commit- ment seems to be wavering. LEO (July 23 to August 22) Congratulations. You’re really getting things done to purr-fection. And don’t forget to take a catnap now and again to keep those energy levels up and bris- tling for action. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Your “plain-talking” honesty is admirable. But sometimes sharp words can leave painful scars. Be careful that what you say doesn’t come back to hurt you. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A stress-fi lled period takes a posi- tive turn as you deal with the underly- ing problem. Act now to avoid a recur- rence by changing some basic rules in your relationship. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Your rising energy levels make it easier for you to achieve some impor- tant objectives. Th is could lead to a big boost in how you’re perceived, both at home and on the job. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A changing picture begins to emerge as you learn more about an off er that seemed so right but could be so wrong. Look to a trusted adviser for guidance. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Spiritual aspects are strong. Take time to refl ect on the path you’re on and where you hope it will lead you. It’s also a good time to reach out to loved ones. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You could be assuming far too many responsibilities, whether it’s at work or in personal matters. Be careful that you’re not weighed down by them. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You’re getting closer to your goals. And since nothing succeeds like suc- cess (or the promise thereof), don’t be surprised to fi nd new supporters swimming alongside 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
