Archives

Dear Doctors: Any advice on controlling chiggers? When I work in the yard, they eat me alive unless I wear long pants. My wife does not garden and is rarely bitten. My son worked with me last weekend ... more

Dear Doctors: Why is there so much different advice about walking? I just read that doing 15 minutes a day can help you live longer. I've also heard that a few minutes after a meal is important, long ... more

Dear Doctors: Does taking calcium help keep your bones strong or not? I am going through perimenopause now, and osteoporosis is on my mind. A friend says that just a calcium supplement isn't enough, y... more

Dear Doctors: My question is about the holidays, and it's two parts. The to-do list just seems to get longer each year, and I'm already feeling stressed-out. Also, I just turned 44 and I don't recover... more

Hello again, dear readers! Welcome to a bonus letters column. This time, we're focusing on two questions, one important and one just plain interesting, so let's dive in.... more

Dear Doctors: My mom is 61. She started having hip pain and figured it meant a hip replacement surgery at some point in the future. When she saw her doctor, the tests showed osteonecrosis, and the sur... more

Hello, dear readers! Welcome to our monthly letters column. The holiday season is here, which means rich food, festive drinks and frequent gatherings. It can be wonderful -- and overwhelming. We explo... more

Dear Doctors: My daughter suffered from hyperemesis while she was pregnant two years ago, and it was truly a miserable pregnancy. Is there a way to prevent this for future pregnancies? I understand th... more

Dear Doctors: I suffered a stroke about a year ago and have completed outpatient rehab. I have been having a problem understanding speakers at an event. I hear the sounds but can't understand all the ... more

Dear Doctors: I am interested in the DASH diet you mentioned recently. Could you list some of the types of vegetables and fruits that are rich in potassium and the amount needed daily to meet the pota... more

Dear Doctors: We have young kids, so our holiday party season starts right around Halloween. I just turned 40, and I've noticed it's getting harder to lose the weight I gain this time of year. It's on... more

Dear Doctors: I have frequent nightmares about being chased where I wake up flailing my arms and legs and crying out. It’s manageable at home but problematic for sleep on long-distance flights. I’ve w... more

Dear Doctors: I do a lot of hiking and camping, and when there is terrain that is rough, a lot of times I’ll get a blister. How do you take care of that -- are you supposed to pop it and drain it, or ... more

Hello, dear readers! Welcome to a bonus letters column. It's officially flu season, and it's time to get serious about flu shots. For those who are eligible, the updated COVID-19 shot also offers impo... more

Dear Doctors: I have had a UTI several times and know the symptoms. This last time, when I went to urgent care, they said they needed a urine culture before they could treat me. It was another day of ... more

Dear Doctors: I was on the couch with my right leg on an ottoman when our black Lab rammed into the inside of my knee. The next day, it really hurt to extend or turn my knee. (Not painful to the touch... more

Dear Doctors: I started helping at a food bank for a kind of selfish reason -- it made me feel good. But it turns out I made some good friends, which is not easy as you get older. (I'm 66.) Now I'm se... more

Dear Doctors: I’ve been an endurance athlete my whole adult life. After having COVID-19, I’ve gone from running marathons at an 8-minute mile pace to needing walking breaks whenever I run. Are there s... more

Dear Doctors: I’ve noticed as I’m getting older -- I just turned 63 -- that I have more episodes of dry mouth. I’m told this isn’t unusual for older people. Why would that be? Chewing gum helps, but I... more

Dear Doctors: I just read about these electronic mouthguards that can show if someone has a concussion during contact sports games. Apparently, if you get hit really hard, they will flash and let the ... more

Dear Doctors: My husband has prediabetes. I read that going for a walk after you eat can help your blood sugar, so I always do that. But my husband says when you sit down again, your blood sugar goes ... more

Dear Doctors: We live in Florida, and we keep seeing on the news about people dying from flesh-eating bacteria you can get when you go swimming. It seems like it’s happening a lot more often than it u... more

Hello, dear readers! Welcome to a bonus letters column. We have some interesting (and familiar) topics to cover, so we’ll dive right in.... more

Hello, dear readers! Welcome to the monthly letters column. We have some interesting and important ground to cover, so we’ll dive right in.... more

Dear Doctors: Several months ago, my right eye began to be bothered by “little critters” flying through the air; when I tried to brush them away, nothing existed. I mentioned this to several people an... more

Dear Doctors: My nose has been plugged up for a few weeks from a sinus infection. Now my left ear is feeling full, and sounds are muffled. Can that be related? My dad says yes. (He has GERD, and he sa... more

Dear Doctors: We have three kids in school, and they’re not always happy with the lunches I’ve been packing. Our 7-year-old is the easiest -- he loves his PB&J. But his 9- and 13-year-old brothers are... more

Dear Doctors: I am a 29-year-old woman, and I am concerned that I might have mites in my areola. I found one when I tried to squeeze what I thought was a whitehead and saw a demodex mite come out. I w... more