Special Valentine’s Day wishes to veterans

Dear Readers: Happy Valentine’s Day to one and all, and special good wishes to our veterans in VA hospitals around the country. For those readers who have taken the time to send valentines and visit the vets, bless each and every one of you.

Dear Annie: I hope you will share this important message with your readers for Valentine’s Day: Love yourself. A healthy body image can help ward off disease, including osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, a condition where bones become fragile and are more likely to break, is something we often associate with post-menopausal women. But in a culture where girls feel enormous pressure to be thin, they can put themselves at risk for fragile bones and fractures at a young age.

Girls who develop eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia don’t get the vitamins and nutrients they need. Their nutrition is poor, and they often limit foods with high calcium content, especially dairy products, because they incorrectly believe that even low-fat dairy products make them fat. Insufficient intake of calcium and vitamin D prevents the buildup of the bone mass they need now and all of their lives. It weakens their bones and increases the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures. Girls with anorexia are at even higher risk because they often face delayed menstruation, which can also lower bone density.

By the time girls are 18, they have developed close to 90 percent of their bone mass. That’s why it’s important for girls to take care of their bones now by developing healthy eating and physical activity habits. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health provides tips for girls and their parents on ways to stay active and get more calcium and vitamins at www.girlshealth.gov/bones. Preventing diseases like osteoporosis starts with good health habits formed at a young age. And good health habits start by loving yourself. Happy Valentine’s Day! Sincerely, Wanda K. Jones, Dr. P.H., Director, Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Dear Dr. Jones: Thank you for bringing up an important subject. We checked out your Web site, which is an excellent resource for girls, and we hope they will look into it.

Dear Annie: I am very sensitive to fluorescent light. Being in a room with this kind of lighting gives me severe headaches, which can only be avoided by wearing sunglasses. The reason this is a problem for me is that everyone I know is switching to the new energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs. Is there any eco-friendly alternative for people with light sensitivity issues? Washington, Ill.

Dear Washington: Some fluorescents are available in a softer light, but you can’t ask every person you encounter to change their bulbs. Sunglasses are a good alternative, or you can look into prosthetic contact lenses. Meanwhile, please get a complete checkup and eye exam to see if the underlying cause can be treated.

Dear Annie: I had to chuckle when I read the letter from “Not Yet,” whose guests always arrived too early. I liked your concept of giving them a later time and actually tried that with my mother-in-law. It didn’t work because she, of course, discussed all family events with other family members. Here’s what did work: Mom had a key, so I left a note on the door saying, “I am in the shower. There is a list on the counter of stuff we need done.” When I came downstairs all primped, my dishes were washed and my table was set. After the second time, she never showed up early again. Non-Stressed Hostess in Salem, Ore.

Dear Salem: We got a chuckle from your solution and are happy to pass it on.

Creators Syndicate