Archives

Dear Doctor: I thought mushrooms were kind of a nonstarter from a nutritional standpoint, but now I read they are the best source of the antioxidants linked to anti-aging. Have I underestimated their ... more

Dear Doctor: Would you please explain what "grams of protein per pound of body weight" etc. actually LOOKS like on someone's dinner plate? I think a lot of readers would love to have a visual for how ... more

Dear Doctor: I've been having chest pain, and my doctor said that although I shouldn't panic, I should consider a stent. Now I read they're useless. What are my options?... more

Hello again, dear readers! Your letters continue to pour in, and we are impressed by and grateful for your curiosity, kindness and your thirst for knowledge. We, too, are lifelong students and love le... more

Dear Doctor: Some researchers say the main reason for many health issues today, including allergies and asthma, is that our children are kept too clean and have no resistance to anything. What are you... more

Dear Doctor: My wife had a bad cold, and then I unfortunately caught it. Then, just as I was recovering, she got it again. What's going on? I didn't think it was possible to get the same cold twice.... more

Dear Doctor: My husband was diagnosed with avascular necrosis in his right hip. Can you please tell me what this is and how to treat it? He's not a surgical candidate for hip replacement due to his ag... more

Dear Doctor: Does loss of taste occur naturally with old age, or could it be a symptom of an illness? I'm 89, in pretty good shape with good blood pressure, but seem to be losing my sense of taste.... more

Dear Doctor: A relative long ago diagnosed with atrial fibrillation has been behaving differently, such as sitting with his mouth gaping open, not attending to financial matters, taking too long to do... more

Dear Doctor: I just had my first baby, and I'm breastfeeding him. I really enjoy the experience, and our pediatrician says he's hitting his weight milestones. But my mother-in-law is afraid he's not g... more

Dear Doctor: Do marijuana users really have more sex? Why would that be? I ask out of simple curiosity, of course.... more

Dear Doctor: My dad is 65 years old and has Type 2 diabetes. He recently developed pain in his feet, which his doctor says is peripheral neuropathy. What is that, and what treatments are available?... more

Dear Doctor: My Type A husband, who naturally falls asleep for about 25 minutes on weekend afternoons, complains that he's wasting time when he does so. How do I explain to him the benefits of napping... more

Dear Doctor: What are the possible health risks from artificial sweeteners? What are they, and how do we know if they're safe?... more

Dear Doctor: What are the best ways to cope with herpes simplex 2?... more

Dear Doctor: My husband, who has been diagnosed with a sleep disorder, acts out all his dreams. He recently tore his rotator cuff and dislocated his shoulder when he fell out of bed during a dream abo... more

Dear Doctor: It was really scary to read about the man who lost parts of his hands and feet after a bout of strep throat. What's going on? I get strep fairly often; am I at risk too?... more

Dear Doctor: I thought the elderly were at the greatest risk of flu-related death, but I've seen more than a few headlines about children who have died. Who's more at risk?... more

Dear Doctor: I was recently diagnosed with giant cell arteritis, but I don't know what it is or how to treat it. My pain is above my right eye, and it gets worse when I'm eating.... more

Dear Doctor: I've heard that people can die from a broken heart. Is that really possible?... more

Dear Doctor: Like millions of other women, I've always slathered myself with moisturizers and creams without paying any attention to the ingredients. But recently I read that the parabens found in the... more

Dear Doctor: I just read about a study that says exercise cancels out alcohol's higher risk of death from cancer. Is it possible that I can walk off the cancer risk of the cocktail I have each night a... more

Dear Doctor: My husband has seemed really down since the birth of our son six months ago. We're both being run ragged, and very proud of our son, but my husband seems less happy than I had hoped he wo... more

Dear Doctor: I had shingles about 10 years ago, just after I turned 50, and it was just as difficult and painful as everyone says. Now I hear that it's possible I can get it again. Is this really true... more

Dear Doctor: Now that I'm in my 60s, with an enlarged prostate, I'm noticing ads and solicitations offering the latest and greatest herbal remedies for my prostate health, such as saw palmetto. Do any... more

Dear Doctor: Ever since my father was diagnosed with cancer last summer, our 10-year-old son keeps asking my wife and me to explain exactly what cancer is. Our answers don't seem to satisfy him, so we... more

Dear Doctor: I have been diagnosed with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and am being treated with immunoglobulin infusions every three weeks. My questions are: Can this be cured, an... more

Dear Doctor: I recently read that blocking follicle-stimulating hormone can combat post-menopausal bone loss and weight gain in women. Please tell me how to go about blocking that hormone!... more