LOCAL
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No heartburn, no pills, no scars, no problems! Roswell Daily Record
Tens of millions of Americans suf fer with daily heartburn or other symptoms of reflux such as regurgitation, chronic cough, hoarseness and dental erosions. Until recently these people faced either a lifetime of daily medications, and often incomplete resolution of their symptoms, or the risks of invasive surgery. Now they have a better option. What may have seemed like science fiction, surgery without an incision, is now a reality for patients suf fering from chronic acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease. The new Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication procedure is performed completely with-
out incisions and is available at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center.
According to general surgeon Sebastian Lopez, “Gastroesophageal reflux disease is an anatomical problem which needs an anatomical solution.” Reflux medications, like proton pump inhibitors, can help relieve heartburn symptoms but don't solve
the underlying anatomical problems or prevent further disease progression. Even on PPIs many people are still unable to eat the foods they want or have to sleep sitting up to reduce nighttime reflux. Recent studies have shown that long-term use of PPIs can lead to inadequate absorption of minerals, such as calcium, and can result in bone frac-
Thursday, December 1, 2011
tures. After the TIF procedure, clinical trials show that most people can eat and drink foods they have avoided for many years. “Reflux no longer impacts their life like it previously did,” explained Lopez. The TIF procedure is based on established principles of surgical repair of the antireflux barrier, except that it is “surgery from within” per for med transorally, or through the mouth. The procedure reduces small hiatal hernias and creates a valve between the stomach and esophagus restoring the natural, physiological anatomy to prevent reflux. Because the procedure is incisionless, there is reduced pain, reduced
recovery and no visible scar. The TIF procedure represents the next step in the evolution of surgery. Laparoscopy, a for m of “minimally invasive surgery,”typically requires three to five port holes and the same internal incisions and organ dissection as open surgery. TIF requires neither abdominal incisions nor inter nal dissection, making it a truly “minutely invasive” surgical procedure to ef fectively treat GERD. With millions of Americans suffering with daily symptoms of reflux and many not fully satisfied with their current treatment therapy, TIF offers an excellent alternative.
“Recent studies show that TIF can reduce patients’ dependency on medications, with 79 percent of patients remaining off their daily medications after two years and experiencing a dramatic improvement in their quality of life,” said Lopez.
ENMMC is proud to offer this new treatment option for people with severe heartburn or GERD. If you are tired of taking pills to manage the pain of heartbur n, ask your doctor if this minimally invasive surgery is right for you. For more information contact Sebastian Lopez at Zia Medical Specialist, 6270535.
Christmas cheer arrives with Reindeer Run and Parade Reindeer Run
shown about the Betty and Barney Hill abduction case. The public is welcome to attend. For further infor mation or directions contact State Director Don Burleson at 622-0855.
Rio Pecos Medical Association 26th annual Reindeer Run, a benefit for project for Lend-AHand is Saturday at 9 a.m. Please bring a can of food. Start and finish at the Roswell Convention and Civic Center. There is a 10K run/walk and a 2-mile run/walk. Registration fee is $20. Late registration is $25 the day of the race. For more information or to register contact Bob Edwards at 624-6720.
Scrapbook Club
Wildlife Refuge will host a Refuge Discovery Tour on Saturday from 10 a.m.12 p.m. at the Joseph R. Skeen Visitor Center. This is an opportunity to see different areas of the refuge and learn how the refuge maintains and improves habitat for migratory birds, threatened and endangered plants and animals, and other wildlife. The tour will include light walking. Because seating is limited in the refuge vans, reservations are recommended. For additional information and to reserve a place on the
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army will have its 12th annual toy run and food drive Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at the Roswell Mall. Bring one unwrapped new toy and two cans of food. The event is sponsored by Champion Motorsports and supported by local clubs and independents. For more information call 624-0151.
Bitter Lake
Bitter Lake National
LETTERS
Cards for youth requested
Dear Editor: The Assurance Home and the James Ranch Youth Shelter are deeply grateful for the blessings we receive throughout the year. We want everyone to know that their acts of kindness and concern really do help make a difference in the lives of the homeless, abused, neglected and “at-risk” adolescent children we serve. For the past 33 years we have asked that people remember our children when they send out Christmas cards. We would appreciate again if those of you who send out cards would remember to send two extra cards this year, one addressed to the “Young People of Assurance Home” and one addressed to the “Young People of James Ranch.” Both cards can be mailed to: 1000 East 18th Street, Roswell, NM 88201. Please know that this simple gesture means very much to us and helps teach our children that the world is full of good and caring people. Thank you so much. With kindest regards, Ron Malone, Executive Director Assurance Home, Inc. James Ranch Youth Shelter
Dr. K
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We have a lot more information on allergies in our Special Health Report called “What to Do About Allergies.” You can find out more about it at my website. Knowing what you are allergic to can help in at least two ways. First, you know what to avoid. Second, for some allergic substances, there are special shots — desensi-
tization treatments — that can greatly reduce your allergic symptoms. Many people don’t need allergy scratch tests to know what they are allergic to. But people like you who just know they are allergic to something can benefit from the test. (Dr. Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. Go to his website to send questions and get additional information: www.AskDoctorK.com.)
tour, call the visitor center at 625-4011 or 6254009 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sweet Leilani’s
The Sweet Leilani’s will be having a Christmas lunch, Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Kwan Den. T o RSVP or for more infor mation call 9734472.
MUFON
The December meeting of the Chaves County section of the Mutual UFO Network will convene from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday in classroom LRC-121 of the Learning Resource Center at Eastern New Mexico University, Roswell. A film will be
Rahn
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The Scrapbook Club will meet Saturday from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the Girl Scout program center in Roswell. This free, mom and daughter event is open to all girls and their moms and is a great time to learn new scrapbooking techniques and spend quality time with your daughter. For more infor mation, call 6227801.
Roswell Public Library
Story Time - “Gingerbread” Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Roswell Public Library located at 301 N. Pennsylvania. For more infor mation, call 622-7101.
Electric Light
able sources, such as state and local bonds, and would not be affected by the higher tax rates being proposed. But some people with high incomes, such as young doctors, may have negative net worth because of the debt they incurred to obtain their education, and yet they would be hit by these proposed taxes. That it is somehow “fair” to tax at a higher rate someone who works twice as hard as others who choose to take it easy. Many people who have high incomes work very hard and long hours, and they went through many years of schooling that their lower-income colleagues did not. Also, many high-income people produce new goods, services and jobs, which greatly benefit their fellow citizens, Steve Jobs being Exhibit No. 1. To tax the most productive and creative citizens at higher rates is a suicidal notion of fairness. That tax rates are the same thing as tax revenues. Most high-income earners are also intelligent. If they are taxed more, they are going to find ways to legally or illegally avoid much of the tax, including moving to lower-tax states or countries, or ceasing to earn as much taxable income. This is why the static revenue estimates made by the Congressional Budget Office and many of the Keynesian models always overestimate the amount of revenue that can be obtained by tax increases on high-income people. There are many studies showing that the long-run revenue-maximizing rate for high-income people is less than 30 percent, yet the Obama tax increase proposals would push the marginal tax rates, particularly on those living in high-tax places
Parade
MainStreet Roswell 23rd annual Electric Light Parade - Theme: “Or naments.” Parade route begins at Main and College and continues south on Main to Alameda beginning at 6 p.m. Entry for ms can be picked up at the Visitors Bureau, 912 N. Main. Trophies will be awarded. For more information call 420-5718.
Dance
Dance to the music of Dino and the Band D’dos Saturday at the Yucca Center, 500 S. Richardson Ave., from 7-10 p.m. Enjoy great Latin, rock ’n’ roll and country western music. There will also be refreshments and door prizes. The cost is $5 per person. For more information, call 840-6565.
NMMI presents Michael Martin Murphey’s “A Cowboy Christmas”
NMMI will present
Michael Martin Murphey’s “A Cowboy Christmas,” Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. at the NMMI Pearson Auditorium. Tickets are $100 for meet and greet; $35 for general seating; $25 for balcony seating. For more infor mation, call 208-6530.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, located at 505 N. Pennsylvania Ave., will celebrate 120 years of ministry and mission in Roswell on Sunday at 9 a.m. The festivity will begin with a service in adoration and thanksgiving, followed by special music and a potluck dinner in the Parish Hall.
Chaves County 4-H
The Chaves County 4-H Council is set to host “Lights! Camera! 4-H! Celebrating 100 years of New Mexico 4-H” during the annual Chaves County 4-H awards banquet, Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Easter n New Mexico State Fairgrounds in the
such as California and New York City, to the 50 percent range, which is self-defeating. That liberty, specifically the liberty to enjoy the fruits of one’s own labor, is not particularly important and, thus, there is no reason not to force some people to be tax slaves for the benefits of others. The basic function of government is to ensure liberty and protect person and property. If the government takes half of your product through coercion to give to others, then you have also lost much of your liberty. The fact is that in 2006 and 2007, when the United States was near full employment, tax revenues, with the “Bush tax cuts” in place, were more than 18 percent of gross domestic product, which was the average for the past 40 years. A decade ago, federal expenditures were also slightly more than 18 percent of GDP, as contrasted with the current 23 percent. The budget would be balanced if the government were no bigger (as a percent of GDP) than it was at the end of the Clinton administration and tax rates no higher than they were at the end of the second Bush administration. Finally, the top 1 percent of taxpayers paid 37 percent of the income tax, even though they only had 17 percent of the income. Isn’t that more than fair? Some believe in the tooth fairy, and some believe that tax increases on the rich are the solution rather than part of the problem. In each case, believers have lost touch with reality. Politicians and media members who advocate higher taxes may believe in the tooth fairy or know the truth, but they advocate higher tax rates as a way of gaining power or out of envy. Richard W. Rahn is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and chairman of the Institute for Global Economic Growth.
MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTS Come see us. We will shop for you. Medicare Supplemental Plans Medicare RX Plans Long Term Care Plans
400 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Ste 600
624-1379
(Across from the Post Office)
Nicole McWilliams-Agent
www.swickardagency.com
18 years combined experience in Roswell
“We work for you, the client. We never forget we’re your agent.
Renee Swickard Agent/Owner