Our society today has become one of wanting to choose to do things the easy way rather than the hard way. Many today would select push-button gadgets and automatic appliances. For everything, and in every situation, there would be no struggle and no sweat and no toil. Every decision that we make would have the outcome of ease where there would be no obstacles.
One of our Bible readings at church recently was from the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians: “Brothers and sisters: There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.” This verse, to a lot of folks, may lead them to think about service in the form of action--giving to the poor, helping one’s neighbor. For some reason, this verse has always made me think of God’s unconditional love, a very special gift.
DEAR DR. ROACH: Why does non-small cell cancer have such an unwieldy name? Why not call it “large cell lung cancer” instead? -- P.R.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an active 72-yearold male in good health. I do, however, suffer from arthritis in my left ankle, the result of a broken bone while playing football in high school. When the pain flares, I take an Aleve, and it provides quick and nearly total relief. I have read that the excessive use of Aleve can result in kidney damage. My question is: What constitutes “excessive use”? I have asked several doctors and get vague and confusing answers. Some say to take two a day for three days but no more. Others say to take it for as long as necessary but “not too long.” Still others give different advice, but all of it ambiguous. Do you have a better answer? -- R.C.
January is, on average, the coldest month of the year. And that means one thing.
“I didn’t know he had it in him.” How many times have you heard this statement after someone earned an achievement? When a young Bruce Springsteen attended school as a boy in Freehold, New Jersey, he felt he didn’t fit inside the box. He said in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning a couple years ago, “I was probably one of the smartest kids in my class at the time.
Dear Amy: I am 50 years old. When I was 15 my father had an affair and left.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I suffer from frequent allergic sneezing and coughing. Every day I seem to sneeze and sniffle. A daily Zyrtec controls the symptoms, but I am reluctant to take it daily as I understand it is an anticholinergic and continual use can have cognitive effects and cause other issues. I also have friends who use ipratropium every day for the same symptoms and who likely face the same risks. My question is, Which is worse for one’s body: a daily medication like these or daily allergic reactions? I find it a hard trade off to make. -- LK
Q: I’m looking for ways to feel and sleep better. Could essential oils help? -- Jenna R., Freehold, New Jersey A: That’s a good question with a complicated answer, since the benefits and debits of essential oils depend on what you want to use them for, which ones you use and how you use them.
Dear Amy: I have a long-standing platonic friendship with “Brian.” He was recently diagnosed with a very serious illness. I have always and often treated Brian to restaurant meals and entertainment.