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Bidets but not smartphones in the bathroom

Q. With irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and hemorrhoids, I go to the bathroom four or five times a day. Since toilet paper never really cleans perfectly and wipes cannot be flushed down the toilet, we purchased an electric bidet. What a relief! The area is cleaned quite well. I still have to use toilet paper, but way less. I highly recommend a bidet to anyone who experiences stained underwear! A. We searched for research on the possible benefits of bidet use for conditions like yours. A systematic review titled “Be Kind to Your Behind” was not conclusive (Evidence-Based ...

DEAR ANNIE: Husband bites that hand that feeds him

DEAR ANNIE: For the 23 years I’ve been married, I’ve cooked dinner for my husband nearly every night. He has no idea how much planning, shopping and cleanup goes into it. I think he thinks the food just appears. Recently, he’s turned critical about nearly every meal: The chicken’s too dry, the vegetables are too salty. I’ve told him how irritating this is; he just kind of shrugs. I’m about ready to stop cooking for him altogether and let him fend for himself. Is that too petty? — Done Dishing It Out DEAR DONE DISHING: Twenty-three years of doing something doesn’t ...

HINTS FROM HELOISE: Cleaning spray can harm skin

DEAR HELOISE: I saw the advice to put window-cleaning spray on your hand to get rings off and immediately Googled if this was a good idea. It is not! It can be very drying to the skin. I’d think that using window-cleaning spray regularly could also be damaging to the skin. — Carol B., via email Carol, great catch, and thank you for pointing this out! I don’t imagine that people would use a spray of this kind on their skin very often. If they did, not only would it dry out their skin, it could potentially cloud their rings with chemicals that could damage soft stones (such as ...

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH: Sharp rise in A1C level is pondered

DEAR DR. ROACH: How could I have an A1C of 5.9% in March, then 8% in July? My diet has been the same. I rarely eat fast food and never drink sodas; I avoid carbs such as sweets and breads whenever possible. Because I was so encouraged by my A1C of 5.9%, I increased my vigorous swimming routine to 2 hours a day. I’m cutting this down to 1 hour on most days, since it didn’t do any good. I do have anemia with hemoglobin and hematocrit at low to low-normal levels, which is always due to AVMs (arteriovenous malformations). I’m 77, and my BMI is over 30. I do need to lose some weight, ...

Dear Annie: Husband weighs in on wife’s weight loss

DEAR ANNIE: My wife, who is 62, has always been insecure about her weight, even though I’ve never once cared or thought she needed to change anything. A few months ago, she decided on her own to start a GLP-1 medication for weight loss, and she’s doing it under a doctor’s supervision. She’s thrilled with the results so far. I’m happy she’s happy, but I can’t shake the feeling that she’s the guinea pig for a drug that’s still fairly new. What if there are long-term side effects nobody’s caught yet? I’ve mentioned this to her once, and she brushed it off. Am I ...