Hold metal object to defuse shock

Dear Dr. Gott: This answer for the lady who was concerned about static electricity and shopping carts comes from my personal experience with the same situation.

I always carry a fingernail clipper in my trouser pocket. When in a supermarket, I hold the nail clipper in my right hand and before reaching for an item on the shelf, I touch the shelf edge with the clipper. The static is discharged – nice spark, no pain. Any small, metal object will work; however, I suggest she not use a car key, because most ignition keys now have an embedded security chip, which could be affected by the static discharge.

Also, I’ve seen some shopping carts with grounding straps that drag on the floor under the cart to keep static charges from building up.

Dear Reader: Thank you for your letter, one of hundreds I have received in response to supermarket static.

Dear Dr. Gott: I have just been diagnosed with myositis and abnormal blood chemistry. My kinase level was almost 4,000. The doctors keep prescribing me heavy pain medication, and they are very concerned that I am in severe pain. I am a little tired, and my hands don’t work well for about 30 minutes after I get up in the morning. Other than that, I really don’t “hurt.” I am a 48-year-old female with no chronic conditions, except I take Lipitor for high cholesterol. I have never smoked or consumed an alcoholic beverage. What is myositis? How did I contract it? Should I be concerned? How can I find out what “normal” blood is supposed to have in it?

Dear Reader: Myositis simply means that some of your muscles are inflamed. In conjunction with this, your kinase level, an indication of muscle damage, is sky high.

Until I am proved wrong, I must conclude that your symptoms and blood test indicate rhabdomyolysis, severe muscle damage that is an occasional side effect of using Lipitor and similar drugs.

You must stop taking the Lipitor immediately to avoid kidney damage from the high levels of muscle protein in your bloodstream, which can lead to kidney failure when these organs are unable to “clean” the free protein from your system.

Because this situation is so dangerous, I have written to you personally. I am now printing your letter to alert the public of this preventable ailment.