Side Effects

For Friday through Sunday Movie times listed are those provided as of noon Wednesday and may be revised by theaters at any time. MARYLAND LEITERSBURG CINEMAS 20145 Leitersburg Pike, Hagerstown • 240-329-2093 www.leitersburgcinemas.com Argo (R) - Fri. - 1:30, 3:55 p.m.; Sat. - 10:50 a.m., 1:20, 3:50 p.m.; Sun. - 1:30, 3:55 p.m. Bullet to the Head (R) - Fri. - 1:45, 3:55, 6, 8, 10 p.m.; Sat. - 10:40 a.m., 12:45, 3, 5:10, 7:15, 9:10 p.m.; Sun. - 1:45, 3:55, 6, 8 p.m. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (R)

Q: What can I do to prepare for my first doctor's visit without one of my parents? A: To be prepared, do the following: Bring your medical records or have them transferred from your previous doctor's office. Bring your insurance card with you to your visit. Arrive early for your first visit as you will most likely have to fill out paperwork. If you haven't been feeling well, make a list of the symptoms you've been experiencing to share with your doctor. Write down any questions or concerns that you would like to discuss with the doctor.

Diabetes: Symptoms often are hidden, subtle By MEG H. PARTINGTON / Staff Writer There are 15.7 million people in the United States - 5.9 percent of the population - who have diabetes. 5.4 million of them are not aware they have the disease. The number of people ages 18 and older with diabetes: In Washington County: 7,125 In Frederick County, Md.: 8,363 - Latest figures are from 1998. Berkeley County, W.Va.

:scottb@herald-mail.com The Washington County Health Department has developed a contingency plan for vaccinating local residents in the event of a regional outbreak of smallpox, Health Officer William Christoffel said Monday. Work on the plan, which can be used to prepare for any form of biological terrorism, began earlier this year in response to anthrax threats, he said. The plan is a precautionary move - there is no expectation that the area will suffer a smallpox outbreak, he said.

Caffeine is a stimulant found in many foods and beverages and in some medications. Caffeine is naturally produced by a variety of plants and is added to some foods and beverages for flavor. The main source of caffeine for most adults is coffee. The words caffeine and energy seem to go hand-in-hand. If you count on that kick from your caffeine-loaded beverage to jump-start your day or help with brain fog, you can find it just as easily in food. This new trend of adding caffeine to food likely started in part because the candy industry is suffering from fewer kids in the population and the increasing awareness of the obesity epidemic in our country.

Eating a little more fiber could make a big difference in your health. Fiber not only promotes general wellness and intestinal health, it lowers the risk of developing many diseases and conditions, such as heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers, which can put your life in danger. Dietary fiber is the indigestible part of a plant and is available in two forms. Soluble fiber has a high water-holding capacity; oatmeal is an example. Insoluble fiber is not digestible and is the type found in dry beans.

HAGERSTOWN ? Two Hagerstown women will fly to California on Saturday to help victims of the state's wildfires, said Mike Mowen, emergency services director of the Red Cross of Washington County. Donna Beard, a retired health-care worker, plans to stay for three weeks, while Becky Hogamier, a Maryland Department of Mental Health and Hygiene employee, said she will use her personal vacation time to volunteer for two weeks. "I volunteered after Hurricane Katrina hit, and I was devastated by the loss and the sadness out there," Beard said.

WASHINGTON COUNTY A North Carolina pharmaceutical research company has begun testing new drugs at Washington County Hospital. Quintiles Transnational reached an agreement with Washington County Health System, the hospital's parent company, in October, said Adam Chasse, Quintiles' director of global access to patients. Hospital patients may volunteer to be treated with drugs that are being tested, Dick Jones, Quintiles' senior director of corporate communications, said Tuesday.