The Saturday Evening Post articles from September 2008

The Saturday Evening Post archives from September 2008

How doctors think.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... Many thanks to The Saturday Evening Post and Dr. Jerome Groopman for this excellent article. Approximately three years ago, my 80-year-old husband developed severe back pain, weakness, and intermittent periods of confusion. As a retired R.N.,...

A Letter to Ty Pennington.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... There is a problem with the way eyes track that can cause dyslexia; it is called "convergence insufficiency disorder." When I look at your eyes, I wonder if you have the problem. I'm a retired reading specialist, and my focus for years was...

Cover painting sequel.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... This picture in your recent issue reminds me of an occurrence fifty years ago. Two older fisherman were fishing and a skiboat came extremely close, and the skier sprayed them with water and laughed as they left. The fisherman in the sprayed...

Alpha or Omega?(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... Bud Herron's anguish arising from his dog-bitten kiester ("Omega" Man, July/August 2008) vividly divided stark reality from sentimentality. Dogs may be good judges of character, but they're also very instinctive creatures. If they sense that...

The Grit of the South.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... As a Southerner, I'm tired of people making or giving grits a bad name [Post Scripts, July/August 2008], and if that wasn't enough, this guy Gerald Bosacker also insulted waitresses all over the South. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The word...

Cover model remembered.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... Thank you so much for sending the copy of The Saturday Evening Post cover from March 10, 1945. The picture shows my husband's cousin, Natalie Kovner Lieberman, in her millinery shop on Madison Avenue. I am fortunate to have many wonderful...

Amazing omega-3s.(Letters)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Your recent issue (July/August '08) featured an article on omega-3--fascinating. In our small town, omega-3 is available in several stores, from Wal-Mart to Walgreens. And, as the article stated, it is somewhat difficult to determine which...

The Great Flag.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... It was an emotional experience to read Ted Kreiter's "The Great Flag." The grand symbol of our democracy was unique to the world, a way of life of, by, and for the people. During WWII, aboard a destroyer and mine-sweep in the Atlantic/Pacific...

Wasp "sting".(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... Enjoyed the article "Wasp Smack-down" and the dilemma--how to trap wasps to remove them from an awkward location. There is an easy answer that I have often used. Any vacuum cleaner with a hose and a wand, without a brush attached, will do. It...

Gardening: still worth the bother?(Now and Then)
September 1, 2008... In his essay entitled "Why Bother?" (see page 42), best-selling author Michael Pollan touches on the benefits of growing food in one's own backyard. Aside from the satisfaction of independently providing for one's household and thereby avoiding...

Rich is a religion: unless you treat money with respect, will you come up short?(Open Forum)
September 1, 2008... Okay, so the nation is stuck in the quicksand of a subprime crisis, millions are driving away from their split levels, banks are hemorrhaging red ink, the battered stock market is teetering on a free fall, and President Obama's first day as...

Animal instincts.(Cartoon)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I don't understand all this left-wing and right-wing stuff. If you want to move forward, you've got to use both wings." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "It's a scam!" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "What's the big...

Get out of your slump: proper posture can relieve pain and enhance appearance.
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Watch people as they walk, sit or stand, and you'll see why so many of us suffer from pain in the neck, back and shoulders. Poor posture is rampant in our culture, particularly an imbalance known as "forward...

National Public Lands Day.(Living Well: LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD)(www.publiclandsday.org)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Plan now to join the nationwide effort on September 27 to preserve public lands by clearing trails, building bridges, and planting native trees at local sites. To find out how you can help spruce up our nation's beautiful lands, visit...

Pump it up.(Living Well: LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Two fitness products help strengthen muscles safely and with lasting results while away. Rotating handles on the Perfect Pushup allow beginner, intermediate, and advanced exercisers to work the chest, arm, shoulder, and back muscles while...

Website of the month.(Living Well: LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD)(www.UsAgainstAthero.com)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... September is National Cholesterol Education Month. For a journey through your arteries to learn about cholesterol and other risk factors for atherosclerosis, visit www.UsAgainstAthero.com. National Depression Screening Day is October 10. A...

The surprising truth about aging: what can you do to slow it down?
September 1, 2008... The traditional focus of the medical community's antiaging campaign has been on the treatment and prevention of chronic disease thought to be an intrinsic part of growing old. The reasoning was clear: Since heart disease and cancer alone...

Hallucinations and heart surgery.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Q: I had coronary bypass surgery late last year and recently have been having visual hallucinations. Can coronary surgery cause this problem? I have not yet consulted my cardiologist about it and would appreciate your opinion. Changes in...

Help for leg swelling.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions)
September 1, 2008... Q: I was born with a heart murmur, and it has never really bothered me. At age 76, my family doctor heard the heart skip and referred me to a cardiologist who suggested a cardioversion to give me more pep. It went well. Five hours later,...

Managing blood lipid levels.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Q: Could you discuss VLDL? What little literature there is says that Lp(a) is worse than LDL, and nobody even measures it. Healthcare providers fuss so much about small deviations in LDL or sodium levels but continue to be blase about Lp(a)....

Heart valves, leg pain, and exercise.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Q: In 2004 I had heart failure and surgery to replace a valve and arteries. Will the valve last forever? I am 70 years old. My legs pain a lot when I'm walking on an incline but not when on level ground. I feel sluggish and wonder if it is from...

Hearing the heart beat.(Heart Health: Ask Dr. Zipes: A noted cardiologist answers your questions)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Q: I hear my heart beating in my right ear like a reader reported in the May/June 2008 issue. An ENT doctor diagnosed my condition as tinnitus due to the closeness of the carotid artery to the ear. Perhaps this could be a consideration for that...

Implanted defibrillators.(Saving Time Saves Lives: Update on early-defibrillation programs and emerging technology)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Implanted Defibrillators: Patients taking optimal drug therapy for mild symptoms of heart failure may benefit from an implanted defibrillator to resynchronize the heart's pumping action. Swedish researchers say those receiving the combination...

Young hearts at risk.(Saving Time Saves Lives: Update on early-defibrillation programs and emerging technology)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Young Hearts at Risk: A genetic disease which gradually thickens the heart muscle is the leading cause of sudden death in children and young adults and accounts for 40 percent of all deaths on athletic playing fields across the country. David...

More ICD news.(Saving Time Saves Lives: Update on early-defibrillation programs and emerging technology)(implantable cardioverter-defibrillators)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... More ICD News: Yet another study shows that omega-3s are good for the heart. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School say that ICD patients who received a daily four-gram dose of omega-3s needed fewer shocks from...

Program it and they will come: if you can't take the technology, get out of the kitchen.(smart appliances)
September 1, 2008... We have just returned from a weekend at the Chicago condo that the son and daughter-in-law are renovating. The only things that didn't beep, buzz, ring, glow, flash, or stay continually connected to cyberspace were the husband and myself. ...

Wild about salmon: now is the perfect time to reel in the bounty of salmon.(Recipe)
September 1, 2008... Simply stated, salmon does a body good! Certainly, diet is an integral part of managing diabetes, but you don't have to sacrifice taste to safeguard health. A great source of lean protein, salmon is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids that health...

Quilting: a stitch in time: the venerable craft continues to thrive, with a new legion of devotees.(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... "Quilting delights our creative spirit," writes Nicole Chambers, author of The Quilt Maniac's Playbook. "Ideas and inspirations, with pretty bits of cloth, are woven together into a magical assortment of color, texture, and love. And we are the...

My friend, Roger Mudd: a writer and journalist reminisces about his neighbor and childhood pal who became one of the foremost television news broadcasters of our time.(Essay)
September 1, 2008... Many, many years ago, when we were kids, a couple of friends and I would hide in the bushes near where we swam to watch our pal trudge by. We would point and giggle at his thick ankles, as if we didn't also have physical characteristics that...

The line of most resistance: it takes a special ability always to get in the slowest lane at the supermarket, the restaurant, or the toll booth, and this author has it.(Essay)
September 1, 2008... I don't know how it happened, but I have a "gift" that is so powerful and consistently right, it could only be called supernatural. No, it's not being able to pick winners at the racetrack. The last time I went, my horse was so far behind, he...

Robin's rules of order: a year after her breast cancer diagnosis, Good Morning America's Robin Roberts is at the top of her game and is playing by an amended set of rules.
September 1, 2008... Shortly after Robin Roberts completed her breast cancer treatment--eight months of chemo followed by six weeks of radiation--friends urged her to write a book about the ordeal. After all, she had been so candid in discussing her diagnosis with...

Why bother? Is trying to prevent climate change a waste of time, or can making even small lifestyle choices nurture a healthier relationship with our planet?(Speaking Out)(Excerpt)(Viewpoint essay)
September 1, 2008... Why bother? That really is the big question facing us as individuals hoping to do something about climate change, and it's not an easy one to answer. I don't know about you, but for me the most upsetting moment in An Inconvenient Truth came...

Focusing on annuities: navigating the ins and outs of today's investment alternatives requires a little homework.(Your Finances)
September 1, 2008... An annuity makes sure your cash flow doesn't kick off before you do. In other words, an annuity provides a guaranteed retirement income for life. That makes it unique compared to other investments, which end when the money in the account is...

At home with Julie Andrews: with several best-selling children's books to her credit, everyone's favorite Fair Lady is finding new ways to promote her lifelong passion--reading.
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We've seen her as Mary Poppins, descending from the heavens, feet pointed out, with one hand gripping a serviceable black umbrella. We've watched her as Maria, arms outstretched, filling the hills with the sound of...

Would a chimp make a good date? A noted neuropsychologist provides new insight into humanity's special status.(Human: The Science behind What Makes Us Unique)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... Human: The Science Behind What Makes Us Unique by Michael S. Gazzaniga, 447 pages, Ecco Books, $27.50 We humans don't want to be alone up here at the top of the cognitive chain as the smartest things on earth," Michael...

A Rockwell's America: alive and well: a new book and traveling exhibition capture moments in contemporary life that Norman Rockwell might have painted.
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When Kevin Rivoli entered the field of photojournalism at the relatively late age of 27 (having never before owned a camera), his goal was to become a top sports photographer--and he did. But over the years, and many...

Thawing out frozen shoulder: what can you do when your arm gets "stuck"?(Disease/Disorder overview)
September 1, 2008... Pain and stiffness stopped Lynn Sygiel whenever she tried to brush her hair, open a door, or reach into her back pocket. Any time she moved her left arm, it hurt. Getting dressed became an ordeal. "Even pulling up tights was painful," says...

Barbershop--in perfect harmony: though more than a century old, four-part harmony stays in tune with today's world.(music genre)
September 1, 2008... Taylor Wilson is just like every other 16-year-old kid--he's wild about music. He plays trumpet in the high-school band and loads up his iPod with his favorite tunes. But that's where the Nashville, Tennessee, teen's similarity to his peers...

Alzheimer's disease: something's not right with mom ... and now Dad.
September 1, 2008... One family's moving struggle as their parents retreated further into the depths of Alzheimer's disease. It is a simple television remote. But it is making our family crazy. Cable TV has arrived at my parents' house, and with it has...

Where do you think you are?(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] East, West, North, or South, each of the areas above appears on the map of a single state or province. Can you identify these locations? If you find the game too each (but you won't), try to guess this issue's theme....

Donate life.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... It's discouraging to know that we still have an organ shortage in this country. The sad reality is that thousands die each year due to the lack of donated organs available for transplant. Someday, our brightest scientists and thought leaders...

Aging and moles.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, Are new brown moles a natural part of aging? Should they be examined or left alone? Kent Clair Chamberlain Ashland, Oregon Dermatology expert Dr. William Beeson provides the following good information: ...

Vaccine helps ward off shingles.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I understand that seniors who had chickenpox as children have a one in two chance of developing shingles in their 80s. When I asked about getting the immunizing injection, the response was: "It will probably give you...

Readers beat heel pain.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, Reading the July/August 2008 edition of Medical Mailbox, I was very empathetic with Edith, who is suffering from bone spurs in her heels. I, too, suffered for about a year. Shots did no good, and neither did very thin...

Puzzles with a purpose.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... We don't often talk about new games in this column, but we think our readers will understand why these beautiful jigsaw puzzles caught our attention. Not only does each one feature a Saturday Evening Post cover by Norman Rockwell, but the 6-...

Health tips about hot tubs.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, After being in a hot tub in Hawaii, my 28-year-old granddaughter is covered with "hot tub folliculitis: staph infection." What can she do? As a 4th generation Post reader, I turn to Dr. Cory SerVaas' Medical Mailbox,...

Help for scalp sores.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)
September 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, Between the ages of 20 and 50, I was outdoors sunning every minute I could spare. At age 70, sunspots broke out on the top and sides of my head. They are sores of some magnitude. A dermatologist told me that these spots...

Gangrene may affect internal organs.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, What causes gangrene of the intestines? What are the symptoms? E.T. Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania A diagnosis of gangrene means that tissue in part of the body has lost its blood supply and died. Injury,...

Interpreting PSA tests.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(prostate-specific antigen)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I have an annual physical, including a PSA test and rectal exam. The results have been favorable per my doctor, with my PSA ranging from 1.7 in 2005 to 3.1 in 2007. I'm told the objective is 4 or below. I have noted in...

Stents help drain kidneys.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, For about five years now, I have had a stent inserted between the kidney and bladder. It's getting to be somewhat painful, and (according to the urologist) there is no other solution. I would like your opinion on this...

Bathroom trips disrupt sleep.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I'm writing to you in regard to my getting up to the bathroom five or six times per night. I've been on Flomax and Avodart for about five years, to no avail. What's the next move? I need sleep. Alvin Graf ...

Calcium makes her hands cramp.(MEDICAL MAILBOX)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I have a medical mystery. For the past several years, I have had severe muscle cramping in my hands---to the point that it inhibits the use of them. At times other muscles are affected, too. The problem is exacerbated by...

Trouble switching to generic drug.(From the Pharmacy)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... * Trouble Switching to Generic Drug: To S.M., N. Mankato, Minnesota: You report side effects after switching from Ativan to a generic version and have heard that drug manufacturers can reduce the strength of generics by 40 percent. Our nation's...

Is drug for real?(From the Pharmacy)(cyclandelate)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... * Is Drug For Real?: To M.M. from Geneva, Illinois: You ask about cyclandelate, a prescription drug that helps widen arteries and veins to improve blood circulation. The dose you mention was often prescribed to treat certain types of dizziness....

New antibiotic warning.(From the Pharmacy)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... * New Antibiotic Warning: The FDA is beefing up warnings about the risk of developing tendonitis and tendon rupture while taking the antibiotics Levaquin, Cipro, Avelox, Floxin, Factive, and Noroxin. Drug manufacturers will add a "black box"...

Red yeast rice and cholesterol.(From the Pharmacy)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... * Red Yeast Rice and Cholesterol: To G.M. from Norwich, New York: One ingredient in red yeast rice is also found in the prescription drug Lovastatin. As a result, some side effects (bloating, headache, and gas) are similar to those of statins....

A higher calling?(POST SCRIPTS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... At one of our church services, someone's cell phone rang and broke the silence. The priest stopped what he was doing, took a few steps forward, and said in a calm voice, "If that's not God calling, shut off that phone."

From the devil's dictionary.(POST SCRIPTS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Alone, adj. In bad company. Babe or baby, n. A misshapen creature of no particular age, sex, or condition, chiefly remarkable for the violence of the sympathies and antipathies it excites in others. Day, n. A period of twenty-four...

Herding hummingbirds.(POST SCRIPTS)
September 1, 2008... A border collie is of little help when it comes to herding hummingbirds out of crystal chandeliers in a retirement home dining room. Neither is a badminton racket if the residents are present. This technique was met with hissing and booing when...