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To Your Good Health

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was recently at the American Red Cross to donate blood and was given interesting material on the need for Black blood donors for sickle cell anemia patients. The booklet described how antigens work in red blood cells to improve patients’ health. I didn’t know until then that race can make a difference for blood donors with this specific disease. How does the blood “boost” red blood cell production, if this is the correct verb? Is there a way other than informing donors who are already at Red Cross donor centers of the need for Black donors, such as ...

The Kovels – Antiques and collecting

With April showers comes the question: What do you do with your dripping raincoats and umbrellas? By the Victorian age, wealthy households had hall trees or hall stands in the entryway. They were functional pieces, kept against a wall to save space and featuring a place for everything: coat hooks, an umbrella stand, a bench with storage and often a shelf for small items. They usually have a mirror, too; after all, you want to look your best when you’re leaving the house or visiting someone else’s. And speaking of looks, hall trees were rarely just functional; they were often ...

Dear Annie

Dear Annie: My mom, “Janet,” lost her husband — my dad — almost three years ago after 45 years of marriage. Their relationship was strong, full of love, laughter and quiet routines. His death was sudden, and it shattered her world. Since then, she’s been living alone in the house they shared, and despite gentle encouragement, she refuses to engage with anyone outside of immediate family. She doesn’t go to church anymore; she won’t attend local senior or grief support groups; and she has no interest in making new friends. When I suggest things like taking a class, joining a ...

To Your Good Health

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 74-year-old woman who was diagnosed with open angle glaucoma several years ago. My ophthalmologist has directed me to use Simbrinza three times a day in my right eye and Lumigan in both eyes at bedtime. I have been doing this for over a year. Both my eyes are always red. My right eyelid is very red and swollen, and it tears in cold weather. The patient information guide from Simbrinza says to use it no more than twice a day. I talked to my doctor about this last time I saw him and didn’t get a satisfactory response. My eye pressure was down to 16 mmHg, which ...

Dear Annie

Dear Annie: On a recent cross-country flight, I had an uncomfortable experience that left me wondering about basic airplane etiquette. I was seated in coach, where space is already tight, when the person in front of me reclined their seat all the way back — immediately after takeoff, without a word. Suddenly, my tray table was inches from my chest, my laptop was nearly unusable, and I could barely move. I understand that seats are designed to recline, and technically people have the right to use that feature. But in such cramped quarters, it feels inconsiderate not to at least ...

Dear Annie

Dear Annie: My friend “Lauren” and I have been close since high school. We used to talk all the time and make plans regularly, but now I’m always the one reaching out. If I don’t text or call first, I don’t hear from her at all. When we do hang out, things are great, but that’s only once every month or so. I’ve asked if something is wrong, and she insists everything is fine, she’s just “so busy.” I get that life gets hectic, but I also see her posting on social media, out with other friends, making time for things she wants to do. It hurts to feel like I’m putting ...