SHOULD A LADY CHEW GUM?

My mother never chewed a stick of gum in her entire life. She said it was unladylike, and no decent female would engage in such an unattractive act. The nuns at my parochial school (12 years) totally agreed. If one were caught chewing gum, it would appear on their report card as a demerit, indicating a breach of proper conduct. Strange as it seems, smoking was actually more acceptable than gum chewing. Ladies smoked at home, at work, and in restaurants. That’s all changed now. But what about that pack of Wrigley’s in your purse? Should a lady chew gum?

As we grew into teenagers, we relied on chewing gum.. If you were on a date with a member of the opposite sex, it was your first line of defense against bad breath. if you thought you might get kissed, you were apt to slip a half a stick of gum in your mouth. Take a few chews, move it to a corner of your mouth, and you were ready for close encounters. Naturally, you would spit it out before getting back home.

A person who thoughtlessly chews gum can prove very annoying to others. Especially if you pop and crack it. And , it certainly doesn’t improve your appearance when you look like a cow chewing its cud.. Consequently, there are times and places where it’s better not to chew gum.

Nevertheless, drugstore counters are loaded with every brand and flavor of chewing gum you can imagine. A lot of people are closet gum chewers. And lately, I became one of them. But why?

Believe it or not, there are health benefits to gum chewing. In my case, I have sinus and eustachian tube issues. It’s about the only thing that really helps clear the fluid in my ears. Chewing gum increases swallowing because it stimulates saliva production. Also, the chewing motion can help to open the eustachian tubes.

Another health benefit is the prevention of tooth decay. Chewing sugar free gum helps with dry mouth, prevents the build up of plaque, and may whiten your teeth. Dentists recommend chewing gum to prevent cavities. It also reduces anxiety and increases concentration. Taking an important test? Studies have shown that gum chewers score higher on written tests than their teeth gritting colleagues. Chewing gum increases the blood flow and improves memory.

Should a lady chew gum? Yes, when the occasion calls for it.

April 1, 2022April 1, 2022

THE RETURN OF THE COMMON COLD

Happy days are here again in Indiana. New Covid cases have plummeted in the past few weeks, Hospital ICUs are back to normal, and the governor said we don’t have to wear masks in public, unless we want to. That being said, I no longer felt the necessity to wear a mask when shopping at the local supermarket. I also noticed that people had begun to buy less, perhaps due to inflated food prices. Wait lines at the checkout were shorter and everyone seemed more relaxed. And then, on March 25, Biden made another one of his self-fulfilling prophecies, and announced that we would have war related food shortages. The following Tuesday, I went to grocery store on a usually quiet afternoon, and walked into a mob scene. Shoppers were scurrying around the store, filling their food carts to the brim. The man in front of me at the checkout had a bill of $229. I waited patiently, while the line behind me deepened. The hoarders were out in full force. The next morning, I woke up sneezing. I didn’t have a fever or cough. But I knew what it was: the return of the common cold.

Return of the common cold. We've stopped wearing masks and started spreading germs. — RETURN OF THE COMMON COLD. We’ve stopped wearing masks and started getting more colds.

I haven’t had a cold since February of 2020, before the start of the covid-19 pandemic. After that, most everyone started wearing masks, using hand sanitizers, and social distancing.. Whether or not that helped prevent the spread of Covid has yet to be determined. But all of a sudden, hardly any flu cases were reported, and most of us stopped getting colds.

If you google information about the common cold on the internet, you’ll see that the average person gets two or three colds per year. Mostly between September and May. I was certainly no exception. When the temperature dropped in the fall, I usually came down with a cold. Around the holidays, my immunity would wear off, and I’d have another one. And of course, the cold rainy days, and up and down temperatures in the spring always triggered another miserable cold. I’d actually forgotten about all of that. Until this week.

When I left the supermarket that day, it had begun to rain and the wind was around 15 miles per hour. The temperature was near freezing. I shivered as I loaded my cart, while the viruses I had inhaled while shopping happily invaded my nasal passages.

I’ve learned my lesson. No more shopping without a mask, regardless of what the Covid dashboard says about new cases. We’re back to normal now, and seeing the return of the common cold.

March 24, 2022March 25, 2022

A BLATANT CASE OF ELDER ABUSE

You’ve probably read about it by now. The 87 year old woman who was shoved to the ground by a twenty something. Before she lost consciousness and died, she said she had never been hit so hard in her life. If you’re over eighty, you know that younger people sometimes get frustrated when you move too slow. But, like it or not, they try to show some patience. Especially if they’re your kids or someone who knows you well. But in a big city like New York, strangers aren’t as tolerant. The cruelty shown to Barbara Maier Gustern which resulted in her death was a blatant case of elder abuse.

As we age, we aren’t as agile as we once were. Arthritis may slow us down, and require the use of a cane or walker. Hearing is often impaired, so we may not be aware of someone standing close by—especially if our eyesight is dimming. I’m trying to imagine what happened in this bizarre episode. Marie was apparently waiting for a cab when she was attacked by 27 year old Lauren Pazienza. Perhaps Lauren stood behind Marie, and– determined to catch the next cab– simply wanted her out of the way. Or, Marie, not seeing too well, might have gotten confused and stepped in front of her. It could have aroused the same emotions as road rage. Let’s call it street rage.

Would the perpetrator have shoved a tall young man who stood in her way? Of course not. But the aged are fragile, vulnerable, and therefore often treated rudely. In our small town, I’m often touched by the kindness of strangers who stop to open doors or help if they see me struggling with a package. But in a big city, it’s a different story. People shove each other when getting on buses and subways. They fight over clothes on a bargain counter. It’s no wonder the elderly are sometimes despised and disdained. Or killed..

The shoving death of Marie Gustern was a blatant case of elder abuse.

February 20, 2022February 20, 2022

ABUSE OF SKATER TAINTS WINTER OLYMPICS

We first watched the Winter Olympics while on a vacation in Florida in 1994. Unfortunately, it rained three days in a row, leaving us without much else to do. Oddly enough, it’s the one thing I remember about that trip. Picaboo Street was a star skier, and everything about her was fascinating. David Letterman’s mom was CBS’s Olympic correspondent for the event. It was entertaining, exciting, and wholesome. Sadly, those days seem to be gone forever. When athletes start doping, and we have to watch a sobbing child being shouted at by her coach because she fell on the ice, it’s all downhill. A blatant show of child abuse taints the Winter Olympics.

Kamila Valieva’s figure skating was like a beautiful ballet. Since she’s the age of one of my granddaughters, I found it touching that this young girl had achieved so much.

Then came the report that she had tested positive for some kind of heart drug, several weeks before the games began. Why in the world would the results have come in so late, and at such a precarious time? They said she tested negative later on, so I don’t know why this would have disqualified her. But that’s only my opinion, and there’s a lot that I don’t know.

What I do know, is that all this negative publicity created tremendous pressure on this lovely girl, who is still only a child in the eyes of the law. Her coaches had a decision to make at that point. Either have her withdraw from the competition, or let her decide what to do, based on her own feelings and inner strength. Instead, they pushed her out onto the world stage, not caring at all whether it might be too much of a challenge for an adolescent to handle.

The result was too painful to contemplate or watch. In front of thousands of spectators, she tripped and fell, not once, but several times. Obviously, she was having a meltdown. And what did her coach do? She yelled and screamed while the poor girl shuddered with sobs. I would just as soon have seen someone kick a dog, or lash a person with a horsewhip. as witness that scene. The Russian coach-from-hell should be expelled from her profession. There’s now a dark stain on the Winter Olympics that may be indelible.

January 28, 2022January 28, 2022

TV NEWS CAUSES ANTI-VAX NEEDLE PHOBIA

In order to encourage everyone to get vaccinated, TV nightly news programs usually show someone getting a bloody shot in the arm. That’s supposed to help, but it makes everything worse if you have needle phobia. Consequently, after seeing such a scene, a person who has a deathly fear of needles will probably be less apt to get the Covid-19 vaccine. TV news causes anti-vax needle phobia.

Did you ever see anyone with a full blown case of needle phobia? I did. The person had scratched his eye and had to have some type of shot in the ER. I don’t remember if it was an antibiotic or tetanus shot. All I know that that when he stood up, he turned quite pale, and then fainted. The nurses caught him before he hit the floor. That person was my future husband. An otherwise robust, healthy individual who held an executive position and maintained his own home

It seems that about 10% of the population is afflicted with this phobia, otherwise known as trypanophobia.

Trypanophobia is the extreme fear of medical procedures involving injections or needles. It tends to be more common in children and may lessen as people grow older and gain more experience having medical procedures and injections involving needles. For some people, however, this fear can remain extreme and upsetting during adulthood.

In my husband’s case, he subsequently developed several medical problems that required injections. After awhile, he outgrew the phobia. And he was first in line the day seniors in our area were offered Covid-19 vaccinations.

Most people don’t have needle phobia, but that doesn’t mean they enjoy getting a shot. I still have to grit my teeth and close my eyes while getting my annual flu shot. Some nurses are better than others when administering injections. Often, you might only feel the tiniest pin prick. Other times, someone jabs you so hard with a needle that it vibrates through your entire system. Yikes.

Consequently , I believe the news media is taking the wrong approach by focusing on a long sharp needle as it punctures upper arm flesh. . Why not depict a person sitting down and calmly extending their arm, while exchanging smiles with a friendly nurse. Then fast forward to someone enjoying a picnic in the park, and saying , “I’m so glad I got vaccinated. It gives me peace of mind knowing that my loved ones won’t catch it from me.”

With so many people still resisting the Covid vaccine, a softer approach might be worth a try. TV news hours showing needle injections cause anti vax needle phobia in vulnerable people.

January 9, 2022

WATCH OUT FOR COLD WEATHER HUNGRIES

Most of us eat way too much between Christmas and New Years. Then comes January 2, and you’re afraid to step on the scale. Did you know the average person gains at least a pound over the holidays? But it doesn’t stop there. Most add another pound or two until spring arrives. That first week in January, when the temperatures plunge, you’re apt to wake up feeling much more hungry than usual. You wonder if your blood sugar is too low or too high, or what’s up? Watch out for the cold weather hungries!

It’s a known fact that cold weather makes us hungry. Our body needs fuel to stay warm. As a result, you’re liable to gain weight during the winter months. How are we going to handle those hunger pangs?

First off, don’t bother counting calories. Start with techniques learned during meditation. Hunger is a physical sensation, but there’s an emotional component. Hunger makes us throw caution to the winds, and gobble down much bigger portions of whatever meal we’re partaking. Try this: When you feel hungry, stop and think. Take a few deep breaths. Identify your feelings. Yes, I am hungrier than usual because it’s cold. But that doesn’t mean I need another piece of toast or an extra bowl of cereal at breakfast. Lunch at McDonalds? No, I won’t order a big batch of fries. A plain hamburger and a glass of milk will fill my stomach very nicely. Eat slowly; don’t increase your intake and portion sizes just because the cold weather makes you hungry.

In addition, cold weather can make you feel sluggish. The thought of going outside for a walk or running errands is unappealing. You would rather sit by the fire and read a book Or take an extra long nap. Encourage yourself to keep going at the same pace as if it were nice and warm outside. When it’s below freezing, and too cold to go outdoors, do something to take your mind off food. Time flies when you’re working on a jigsaw puzzle. Get creative: sew, knit, or crochet. Paint your bedroom. Rearrange the furniture

If your tummy still has yearnings, sip a warm cup of herbal tea. Munch on an apple or a handful of almonds. Try out a new vegan recipe.

Watch out for cold weather hungries!

January 5, 2022January 5, 2022

BEWARE! CANNABIS CAN BE DEADLY.

Remember when people went to jail for growing and smoking pot? Marijuana or cannabis is a recreational drug that also provides relief to those suffering nausea and pain resulting from various medical conditions and treatments for cancer. It’s still illegal in most states, but some now view it in the same light as drinking alcohol. However, we all know people who have succumbed to the ravages of alcoholism, leading to cirrhosis of the liver and other fatal diseases. And now, a new disease connected with using marijuana has been identified. Beware! Cannabis can be deadly.

Emergency rooms have seen an increasing number of people—young and old—with unexplained nausea and vomiting. There are hundreds of different reasons why someone presents with these symptoms. Anything ranging from food poisoning to heart disease. It takes a while to rule out all of those possibilities.. And because it’s a fairly new phenomenon, CHS is difficult to diagnose . Especially if the patient doesn’t mention that they’ve been using marijuana for several years. With no ill effects—until now.

What is CHS? According to Cedars-Sinai Hospital: “Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition that leads to repeated and severe bouts of vomiting. It is rare and only occurs in daily long-term users of marijuana.

Marijuana has several active substances. These include THC and related chemicals. These substances bind to molecules found in the brain. That causes the drug “high” and other effects that users feel.

Your digestive tract also has a number of molecules that bind to THC and related substances. So marijuana also affects the digestive tract. For example, the drug can change the time it takes the stomach to empty. It also affects the esophageal sphincter. That’s the tight band of muscle that opens and closes to let food from the esophagus into the stomach. Long-term marijuana use can change the way the affected molecules respond and lead to the symptoms of CHS.

Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the U.S. Young adults are the most frequent users. A small number of these people develop CHS. It often only happens in those who have regularly used marijuana for several years. Often CHS affects those who use the drug at least once a day.”

Cessation of marijuana is the only treatment for CHS. Gastroenterologists warn that if left untreated, it can lead to dehydration, pneumonia, damage to the esophagus, and death. As smoking marijuana becomes more acceptable in mainstream society, it’s important to remember that it could also make you very sick. Beware:! Cannabis can be deadly