4 B
SIUSLAW NEWS |
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2017
TO YOUR
GOOD HEALTH
A Fib Increases
Risk of Blood Clots,
Stroke
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been
taking warfarin (Coumadin) for two
years now. I started taking it after
a knee-replacement surgery, when
they discovered I had atrial fi brilla-
tion. I have high blood pressure and
high cholesterol that are controlled
with medication, and diabetes con-
trolled with diet. Do you think I
need to be on warfarin if my blood
pressure and cholesterol are well-
controlled? Before the surgery I
was on two 81-mg tablets of aspirin.
Could I safely go back? -- J.K.
ANSWER: Doctors recommend
warfarin or other anticoagulant
medication for people with atrial
fi brillation -- a chaotic condition of
the electrical system of the heart --
if they have more than minimal risk
for blood clots and stroke. Older
age, female sex, high blood pressure
and diabetes (even if controlled),
congestive heart failure and history
SALOME’S STARS
ARIES (March 21 to April 19)
You’re eager to Ram headfi rst into
that new project. But before you do,
fi nd out why some of your colleagues
might not appear to be as gung-ho
about it as you are.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) All
that dedicated hard work you’ve been
putting in pays off better than you ex-
pected. So go ahead, reward yourself
with something befi tting a beauty-
loving Bovine.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) It’s a
good time to take on that new chal-
lenge. And if your self-confi dence is
sagging, instead of telling yourself
why you can’t do it, list all the reasons
why you can.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Th is
is one time when you might want to
of stroke or vascular disease all in-
crease risk for stroke in people with
atrial fi brillation, also known as A
fi b.
Although I don’t know how
old you are, just being female and
having high blood pressure and
diabetes puts you in a risk category
where you would normally be rec-
ommended to stay on anticoagula-
tion. Never stop warfarin (or similar
medication) without fi rst discussing
it with your physician.
READERS: Atrial fi brillation af-
fects some 2 million Americans and
becomes more common as we age.
To learn more about A fi b, order the
booklet on Heartbeat Irregularities
by writing: Dr. Roach -- No. 107W,
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: I am a
post-menopausal woman (12 years
since my last cycle). Last month, I
had a light period that lasted over
a week. I have seen my OB/GYN,
who sent me for a pelvic ultrasound
and a transvaginal ultrasound. The
only thing it showed was a thick-
ening of the lining. I then had a
biopsy, and the results came back
showing normal cells. He seems
stumped, and said that if it happens
again, he’d suggest a D and C. But,
as he acknowledged, a 66-year-old
woman isn’t supposed to be having
periods. Obviously, he and I both
know something isn’t right but just
don’t know what it might be. Any
thoughts? -- D.H.
ANSWER: Any bleeding after
menopause needs to be evaluated,
since it can represent uterine can-
cer about 10 percent of the time.
Fortunately, that is very unlikely
with a normal biopsy. Since you did
have a thickened endometrium, it
is possible that you have endome-
trial hyperplasia, though this should
have shown up on the biopsy. An
ultrasound should have picked up a
polyp.
If it does happen again, you
should certainly have further evalu-
ation. Even though a negative biop-
sy is very good evidence that there
isn’t a cancer, no test is perfect.
About 20 percent of women with
persistent bleeding after a normal
biopsy had cancer or a precancer-
ous lesion. This occasionally hap-
pens when the uterine cancer is in
one focal place, rather than present
throughout the lining of the uterus.
put some distance between you and
the job at hand. It will give you a bet-
ter perspective on what you’ve done
and still need to do.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) Resist
that occasional lapse into Leonine la-
ziness that sometimes overtakes the
Big Cat. Don’t cut corners. Do the job
right at this time, or you might have
to redo it later.
VIRGO (August 23 to Septem-
ber 22) You know how you like to
do things. And that’s fi ne. But watch
that you don’t impose your methods
on others. A current fi nancial crunch
soon eases.
LIBRA (September 23 to October
22) Someone might try to take ad-
vantage of your generosity. But before
your sensitivity toward others over-
whelms your good sense, check his or
her story out carefully.
SCORPIO (October 23 to Novem-
ber 21) Your strong Scorpian sense of
fairness lets you see all sides of a dis-
pute. Continue to remain impartial as
you help each person work through
his or her particular grievance.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to
December 21) Trust your keen Sagit-
tarian insight to help you see through
an off er that might not be all it claims.
A closer look could reveal disturbing
elements.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to
January 19) With the Goat exhibiting
a more dominant aspect these days,
you could fi nd it easier to make your
case in front of even the most skepti-
cal audience.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to Febru-
ary 18) Take things nice and easy as
you continue to build up your energy
reserves for a big change that’s com-
ing with the full Hunter’s Moon on
Oct. 29.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20)
Recent news from someone you trust
could help you make an important
decision. Also, be prepared to con-
front an upcoming change in a per-
sonal situation.
Siuslaw N ews
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AD IT DAY
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