Archives

Dear Doctor: I'm not thin by any means, but I'm not obese either. I lift weights three to four times a week, run about 10 miles a week, play soccer and regularly do half-marathons. Now a new study say... more

Dear Doctor: I want to lose 15 pounds but have had no luck cutting calories or carbs, or even trying that crazy (IMHO) keto diet where you eat mostly fat. What about that new diet where you only eat d... more

Dear Doctor: Can white button mushrooms help control my blood glucose? I saw some headlines about this a while back, but it sounds like a correlation to me -- not a clear cause and effect. Maybe it's ... more

Dear Doctor: My husband and I have two teenagers, and we also take care of my 80-year-old mother. The kids and my husband and I all got our regular flu shots, but I just read about a new flu shot that... more

Dear Doctor: I'm 35 years old and a regular exerciser. Sometimes, though, when I'm on vacation or just want to veg out, I need a break. Now I'm hearing that this is really bad for your metabolism, esp... more

Dear Doctor: My mother and my sister are both night owls who stay up late and sleep late the next morning. In our family we never thought anything of it. But now it turns out their sleeping habits are... more

Dear Doctor: Our dad had a mild stroke about a year ago and has been taking daily low-dose aspirin ever since. But I just heard about a new study that says this kind of therapy isn't actually helpful ... more

Dear Doctor: Is there a cure for pancreatic cancer? Does anyone know what causes it? Does eating raw steak cause it? Or smoking?... more

Hello, dear readers! Once again, you've filled our overflowing mailbox with questions, concerns and some kind words (thank you, as always, for those), so let's get right to business:... more

Dear Doctor: I wonder, as a 67-year-old woman, whether my workout routine would be considered too strenuous? I walk six miles and use weight machines five days a week, and do an hour each of yoga, Zum... more

Dear Doctor: Our uncle, who is 44, recently got diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg, and it was a medical emergency. Our mom (she's his older sister) is a nurse and says that because he's so tall -... more

Dear Doctor: I read that microbes can affect how our body deals with immunotherapy. A friend of mine is about to start immunotherapy for lung cancer. Is there anything she can do to increase the chanc... more

Dear Doctor: Does eating for one's blood type really work? For my own blood type, I am supposed to avoid foods like avocados, bananas, strawberries and many other foods that I would consider healthy c... more

Dear Doctor: We're often told we can consume alcohol, sweets, or burgers and fries "in moderation." My sister and I had a conversation about that sort of recommendation just the other day. What does m... more

Dear Doctor: What is considered a normal blood pressure for a person in their late 70s? My doctor said it should be in area of 120/80. But I have read that older persons' pressure may be higher -- clo... more

Dear Doctor: I've been on blood pressure medication for 20 years and am now going through menopause. For me, this includes anxiety attacks. Symptoms of stroke and anxiety attacks seem pretty similar. ... more

Dear Doctor: My 58-year-old daughter has been diagnosed with postural orthopedic tachycardia syndrome. She's changed from a healthy active woman into someone who has spent most of the past two years i... more

Dear Doctor: My husband's mother had breast cancer, and so did both of his aunts. He's really worried about our two daughters' risk, but I've read that breast cancer can affect men as well. Shouldn't ... more

Dear Doctor: My wife and I worry about how social media rules the lives of all four of our teens, especially our two daughters. I get that there must be some upsides, but mostly we see it making the k... more

Hello again, dear readers! Once again, you've kept our mailboxes brimming, so let's get right to work.... more

Dear Doctor: My wife of 40 years died seven months ago after a battle with cancer. Since then, I have been suffering from frequent bouts of depression, haunted by the loss of my life partner. During t... more

Dear Doctor: I recently read an article that said even a little bit of weight loss -- just 5 percent of your total body weight -- can lessen your risk of breast cancer. Why is that? Does it hold true ... more

Dear Doctor: Our dad is a science geek, and his new obsession is the gut microbiome. But now he's telling anyone who will listen that the mouth microbiome is just as important as the one in the gut. I... more

Dear Doctor: My son is headed for college, and I've heard he should get the meningitis vaccine. Our doctor didn't recommend it, so I figured he'd be fine without it. Is the vaccine really that importa... more

Dear Doctor: How do I know if I have a penicillin allergy? I always tell doctors that, yes, I'm allergic to penicillin, because I think I remember a bad reaction from when I was a kid, but, honestly, ... more

Dear Doctor: Just how much of a role do personality traits have in determining how long someone will live? Recent news reports have suggested that they're important, but the explanation didn't really ... more

Hello, dear readers, and welcome to autumn! You've been keeping our mailboxes full, so let's dive right in.... more

Dear Doctor: I'm 67 years old and because I was told that it's harder for folks my age to get enough vitamin B12, I started taking a B complex supplement. My husband, who is 72, did, too. But now it t... more