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My Stepdad Is Wonderful
DR. WALLACE: I'm 15 and live with my mom. My parents divorced several years ago. My dad stays in touch with me, even though he lives over 1,000 miles away. My mom is going to marry a guy she has been seeing for over a year. I haven't warmed up to …Read more.
I Feel Discriminated Against
DR. WALLACE: I'm 18 and an addicted smoker. I've been smoking regularly for the past 4 years. I used to smoke cigarettes purchased for me by my parents. Then, when I reached age 18, I was able to buy my own cigarettes, but then New Jersey upped the …Read more.
A Girl's Physical Appearance Ranks High
GIRLS: Food and diet concerns weigh more heavily on a young woman's health than anything else. So say the nation's health educators, who were asked in a recent survey by the American Association for Health Education to list what they felt were the …Read more.
Thank Goodness My Priorities Were in Order
DR. WALLACE: My boyfriend and I are both 17 and have been seeing each other for four months. I care for him very much and I know that he cares for me. The problem is that we rarely get time to spend with each other. We're both very involved at …Read more.
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Wash Hands for at Least 10 SecondsDR. WALLACE: I appreciate the fact that you encourage teens to wash their hands often to avoid the spread of germs. It's true that the easiest way to avoid infection (including colds) is hand washing. A little soap and water can often prevent what takes loads of time and money to cure. Thorough hand washing isn't simple. Please allow me to present the best way to wash one's hands, courtesy of the Mayo Clinic health letter: "You must apply soap or detergent to your hands and rub vigorously for at least 20 seconds to suspend the microorganisms (germs). Then rinse them away. Water temperature isn't essential, but water warm enough (110 degrees Fahrenheit) to cut through grease is best. Water hot enough to kill germs would harm your skin. Germs tend to accumulate around cuticles, beneath your fingernails and in the creases of your hands, so concentrate on these areas. Rinse all soap from your hands to remove as many microorganisms as possible. It is virtually impossible to keep hands germ-free, but there are times when it is critical to wash your hands. Always wash: 1. Before you handle or eat food. 2. After you visit the bathroom. 3. After handling uncooked food, especially all types of meat. 4. After handling money, if you are fortunate enough to have any. 5. After blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing into your hand. 6. After playing with a pet. 7. After handling garbage." Germs accumulate on hands as you perform daily activities. By not washing hands, you can acquire or pass on a host of ailments, from the common cold to more serious diseases such as dysentery (intestinal infection) or hepatitis (inflammation of the liver).
DR. STROSS: The information from Mayo Clinic health letter is enlightening and very valuable — thanks! CREDIT CARD USE IS GOOD, BUT... DR. WALLACE: I'll be attending college in September. I'd like to have a credit card to use, instead of having cash. My dad likes the idea, but my mother hates credit cards. She thinks they get a lot of people in trouble. Your comments, please. - Ashley, Milwaukee, Wis. ASHLEY: Credit cards are very useful tools. They have never caused anyone any kind of problem. The problem, if the card is not properly administered, lies with the person who owns the card. I believe you should have a credit card, provided that you obey all the rules set by your parents. Besides being convenient, they can be useful in learning how to control the use of money. For instance, charging the maximum and paying the minimum monthly fee can be catastrophic! Most of your payment then goes to interest, and that's like putting a match to your money! Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM
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