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Reflux continued... prudent for a singer to obtain prior medical evaluation as a physician will be the best judge of duration and level of control. Note that there is little difference in the mechanism of control within each class, and therefore patients should utilize a prescription that is preferentially specified by their particular insurer. Long term reflux controlWe do not have research beyond one year on the long term effects of gastric acid suppression; however, it is common for many reflux patients to use related medications for many years. All pharmaceutical products are potential toxins; the Greek word pharmakon indicates the potential of a medicine to act both as a remedy and a poison. It may be preferential to control reflux activity with behavioral targets such as diet, weight loss, smoking cessation, or stress reduction. Note that intended drug effects may be undermined if these precipitating conditions are not addressed. ConclusionReflux of gastric juices into the base of the throat is a very common source of laryngeal complaint--even subtle injury may significantly impact a singer. Anti-refluxogenic behavioral and dietary controls should minimize the need for medications, or maximize the intended effect of medications. Readers of this article are strongly advised to seek medical evaluation via endoscopy and interview should atypical throat or voice problems persist for longer than several weeks.
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Two Harmony Hawks Have Close Calls By David Haase April 13, 2006, will be a date that residents of Iowa City, Iowa will never forget... the day a tornado ripped through the heart of Iowa City. It was a hot and muggy spring day in Iowa City with the temperature reaching near 90 degrees. Late that afternoon the National Weather Service posted a tornado watch for most of Eastern Iowa. Conditions were ripe for severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes that evening. Like most barbershop chapters in Eastern Iowa, Iowa City's Old Capitol Chorus have their chapter meeting night on Thursday evenings. On this particular Thursday it was Holy Thursday, a few members were missing because of church services. Around 8:00 p.m. the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Johnson County until 9:00 p.m. A tornado was sighted near Oxford, Iowa, a small town about 15 miles west of Iowa City. At 8:10 p.m. the National Weather Service continues the tornado warning for Johnson County until 9 p.m. At 8:07 p.m., Doppler Radar indicated a potentially large and extremely dangerous tornado located near Cosgrove, another small town west of Iowa City Members of the Old Capitol Chorus were informed by employees of the Robert A. Lee Recreational Center of the tornado warnings and advised to take cover in the lower level of the building. After a while members felt the tornadoes were safely away from Iowa City so they made their way back upstairs to the social hall. Since there was a small attendance and the tornado warnings had disrupted the chapter meeting Ben Knipfer felt not whole lot was getting accomplished so he left early to get a few extra hours in at his job. At 8:31 p.m. citizens called the Johnson County Sheriff Office reporting that a funnel cloud had been spotted in Southwest Iowa City in the area of State Highway 218 and State Highway 1. A minute later trained spotters at the Iowa Tornado continued on page 10 |