Breaking News

Lifestyles

The little pill that helps people drink less alcohol

An old medication is gaining new attention for some very challenging health problems. The Food and Drug Administration first approved naltrexone in 1984 under the brand name Trexan. This drug was originally designed to help people better cope with a dependence on opioid drugs such as heroin. It works by blocking the effects of narcotics. A decade later, the FDA approved naltrexone (ReVia) for treating alcohol dependence. In this case, the compound works to limit alcohol cravings because it interferes with opioid receptors in the brain. These provide a critical link between alcohol ...

DEAR ANNIE: Running out of reassurances for worried mom

DEAR ANNIE: I am an adult now with grown siblings, but it seems my mother’s anxiety is growing right along with us. My mother is an incredibly anxious person. I try to be empathetic, but she hasn’t seen a therapist in years, and she completely dismisses any logical or positive reassurances meant to comfort her. At this point, I am at a loss for what to do. Currently, her anxiety is hyperfocused on our upcoming summer family vacation. She is worried about everything: flying, hiking, driving, wildlife and fires. It feels like she actively seeks out things to worry about, operating ...

HINTS FROM HELOISE: Flatten your chicken with cereal bags

DEAR HELOISE: I’ve discovered a second use for empty cereal bags (that go inside boxes of cereal). I use them for flattening chicken breasts. They’re much more durable than waxed paper, not as slippery as plastic wrap, and more sanitary than just using a cutting board and a meat mallet. I pop the breast into the bag, pound away, and repeat. If I’ve trimmed any excess fat off the meat, it goes into the bag when I’m done, then into the trash. — Margie, Damascus, Oregon DEAR HELOISE: A small flannel jewelry cloth can come in handy at estate sales and garage sales. It helps ...

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH: Low iron levels can bring many symptoms

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 62-year-old woman in fairly good health. I’m currently on Wellbutrin, carvedilol, Farxiga, Entresto and spironolactone, and my blood pressure is very well-controlled. I also recently started Zoloft. About eight months ago, I started feeling bad and spoke to my doctor about it. She wasn’t concerned at the time and said that it might be due to my recent weight loss. I’ve lost about 25 pounds. I went to my cardiologist and had an echocardiogram and stress test done, and both were normal. Recently, I read about ferritin levels and the symptoms of a low ...

Bridge by Steve Becker

1. You are sure to make the slam if the opposing clubs are divided 3-2, so all of your thoughts should be centered on how to overcome a 4-1 or 5-0 club division. By far the best approach, after winning the spade lead with the ace, is to play as many trumps as necessary until the opponents have exactly one trump remaining. You deliberately do not draw this last trump, but instead next play the ace of hearts and A-K of clubs. If both opponents follow to both clubs, you draw the missing trump and concede a club trick. If the clubs divide 4-1 or 5-0, and the ace or king of clubs gets ...