| If heartburn takes you you by throat, sip liquids
According to the British medical journal The Lancet, heartburn is a common ailment. In fact, 25 percent of Americans report experiencing heartburn at least once a month, 12 percent at least once a week and 5 percent daily. What is heartburn? And what about gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)? Here's a guide to provide a bit more understanding of that burning sensation in your chest. • Why is it called heartburn? ''Heartburn is often sensed as a burning feeling behind the middle of the lower to middle of the chest, giving the sense that it may be coming from the heart,'' said Dr. Philip Jaffe, an associate professor of medicine at Yale University School of Medicine. • What is happening, biologically speaking? According to Dr. David Peura, a professor of medicine at the University of Virginia Health System: ``Acid that's normally produced by the stomach is washing back up into the esophagus [the swallowing tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach] and irritating [burning] its lining.
Oysters for Valentine's
Are you a true oyster lover? Or, do you love an oyster lover and need one of the best Valentine's gifts around? How about a Valentine's oyster package delivered to your door? You get five kinds of oysters, all true native oysters of the Pacific Coast. The Olympia, Pacific, Virginica, the super-delicious tiny Kumamoto and the European Flat. Your package comes complete with an oyster knife, shucking instructions and "The Art of Eating an Oyster" guide. Also includes a certificate guaranteeing success in "LOVE." Watch out! Sounds like there's going to be a hot time in the old town tonight. Packages start at $29. Call (360) 432-3300 for complete information or go to www.taylorshellfish.com. Orders received by Feb. 12 will be delivered by Valentine's Day. Q: My daughter brought home a menu from a fancy Southern California restaurant that included a "Peekytoe crab" salad.
Wyeth 4Q Profit Up 17 Percent
Wyeth on Tuesday said its fourth-quarter profit rose 17 percent, driven by sales of the antidepressant Effexor and the childhood infection vaccine Prevnar. Net income for the Madison-based drug maker grew to $855.4 million, or 63 cents per share, from $731.7 million, or 54 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Results for the latest quarter included charges of 3 cents per share related to productivity initiatives. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected fourth-quarter profit of 71 cents per share. Quarterly revenue rose 10 percent to $5.22 billion, from $4.75 billion last year, compared with a Wall Street consensus of $5.11 billion for the latest quarter. Sales were driven by an 11 percent rise in sales of Effexor to $936.1 million, and a 25 percent increase in sales of Prevnar to $501.7 million.
|
