Dear Doctors: When I had my annual checkup last fall, the blood test showed I am close to having prediabetes. My doctor said I need to change my diet and get more exercise. I recently read that taking... more
Dear Doctors: A good friend has Parkinson's disease. She has mentioned trying probiotics to her doctor, but he doesn't seem interested in the idea. My friend worries she might alienate him if she gets... more
Dear Doctors: I suffer from chronic back pain, and my doctor told me that the only treatment available is pain medication. Is that because the problem is with my lower back? Are there any other treatm... more
Dear Doctors: My fiance and I adopted a cat, and his mother is insisting that we must give it back. She says you can get toxoplasmosis from having a cat in the house, and if I get pregnant, I'll give ... more
Dear Doctors: I recently developed very bad psoriasis, but only on my scalp. The itch is awful. I'm not interested in the medications advertised on TV because of the side effects. Can you recommend an... more
Dear Doctors: I love decaffeinated black tea and drink a lot of it. Since I don't add sugar or milk, I have always felt it was healthy. Now I'm questioning that assumption because I've heard that the ... more
Dear Doctors: I've noticed that as I get older, jet lag hits me harder. I recently read that timing your meals on the day you fly can make a difference. Do you know if that's true? I'm also curious ab... more
Dear Doctors: I work in a big shop where we make custom furniture. My wife thinks it puts me at risk of COPD and insists I should use a mask. Is she right? I thought COPD was something that happens to... more
Dear Doctors: A dear friend was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was so advanced, he died just a month later. I recently saw a discussion on television about using AI to detect pancreatic cancer e... more
Dear Doctors: I got a tick bite, and because there's Lyme disease in our area, my doctor put me on antibiotics. It prevented Lyme disease, but I'm worried about what it did to my gut microbiome. How l... more
Dear Doctors: I'm 59 years old and have noticed that my skin is already getting fragile. I know it's a natural part of aging, but I didn't expect it to happen so soon. I'd like to know what causes ski... more
Hello, dear readers, and welcome to a bonus letters column. We're continuing with mail from readers living with long COVID, and for whom recent research is offering some insights.... more
Dear Doctors: I read that there's a big new study that lists some of the most common risk factors for developing dementia at an early age. I would like to know more about it. How was it done, and what... more
Hello, again, dear readers, and welcome back to the letters column. We hope the first two months of 2024 have been treating you well, and that your Valentine’s Day is looking rosy. Your letters contin... more