Breaking News

Lifestyles

Is hot weather compromising your medication?

We recently received a shipment of baking supplies that included chocolate chips. Needless to say, what we actually received was a chocolate mess. The chips had melted in the heat. We should have known better than to order chocolate by mail in the summertime. Most people realize that there are some things that should not be shipped in hot weather. They include wine, fish and chocolate. That’s because they are all heat sensitive. So are most medications. The official prescribing information sanctioned by the Food and Drug Administration often specifies storage at room temperature ...

DEAR HELOISE: Find fun work after retirement

DEAR HELOISE: I retired and found that I didn’t like it. I enjoy working, and the extra income is nice. I took up painting, which I love and now make a living from. I encourage retired people to do something that they enjoy, rather than doing nothing. A friend of mine does plumbing for people who can’t afford to hire a plumber. Word of mouth and low fees have kept him very busy. Another friend refinishes antiques and sells them at a flea market. He loves restoring items that would have otherwise gone into the trash. If you’re retired, keep yourself moving and find something ...

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH: Testosterone treatment can be risky after curing any cancer

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ll be 70 in August, and in 2012, I had prostate cancer. My prostate was removed. My PSA level was low but rose fast, so I guess it was an aggressive form of cancer. After the removal, they still found evidence of cancer, and I underwent 35 radiation treatments that were also completed in 2012. Afterward, I had two Lupron shots to keep my testosterone low. I guess it’s been very low ever since. Beginning in 2017, I have been on GLP-1 agents for diabetes, and I’m now on Mounjaro. These meds have been great; I’ve lost 50 pounds, and all my numbers are perfect. ...

DEAR ANNIE: Mother won’t listen to request for space

DEAR ANNIE: My mom and I have always had a weird relationship. Throughout my childhood, I always considered us close, even when she moved hours away to the other side of the state when I was in middle school. We would talk regularly, and I would go see her for summer and winter breaks. When I graduated high school, I happily made the move to live with her. Throughout the years of living with her, I started to see her true colors coming out. I learned my mom is a habitual liar, is manipulative, has cheated on everyone she’s been with and gaslights when she has been caught in a lie or ...

Dear Annie: Faux pas during crisis costs him a friendship

DEAR ANNIE: Recently, I had a major social misstep that has essentially pushed one of my best friends out of my life. During the week of my birthday, I had a mid-30s crisis; a string of bad memories from dating and bad luck with women hit me and put me in a very emotionally weakened state of mind. In front of this friend, I was reduced to what felt like a whimpering fool, complaining about my bad luck with dating and women. Two days later, I was back to my normal self and saw her at my birthday dinner with friends. During the dinner, she was distant from me, which was fine, and I gave ...