DEAR DR. ROACH: I would like to know what you think about brain supplements and whether you would recommend any. My age is 84 and I am in good health, but my memory is getting bad. — B.S. ANSWER: I see advertisements daily for supplements touted to have benefits in preventing or slowing progression of […]
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Surgery for torn hip joint cartilage requires lengthy recovery
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 55-year-old woman. I recently went to see a surgeon for a torn hip labrum. I learned that labrums do not heal on their own, and injections and physical therapy can only mitigate pain. I’m leaning toward surgery, because it makes more sense to have surgery at 55 and increase my […]
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Acne is not typically itchy
DEAR DR. ROACH: How do pimples form? Why do they itch? How can I remove them? — B.B. ANSWER: Acne is caused by plugged hair follicles, which are associated with sebaceous (oil-producing) glands. These are more likely to be plugged under control of androgenic hormones; with increased oil production; in the presence of the bacteria […]
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Reader worries about his very low cholesterol level
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 67-year-old male who had a major heart attack 19 years ago. I am very active. Prior to the pandemic I was going to the gym five days a week and then came home and spent a few hours doing yardwork and gardening. I still spend two to four hours […]
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Shingles shot at 50? Yes, please!
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m writing in regard to your recent column about a 56-year-old person, recommending he or she wait till 60 for the shingles shot. In 2010 I was 56 and was told by my insurance company that they would not cover the shot till I was 60. Unfortunately, that year I suffered a […]
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Supplementation with strontium not recommended
DEAR DR. ROACH: I just started taking strontium for my bones. I have osteoporosis. Will strontium help improve my bone density? — L.S. ANSWER: Yes, strontium will increase your bone density; a better question is whether strontium will reduce your likelihood of getting a fracture, and that answer probably is yes. However, the best question […]
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Orthostatic Hypotension is low BP when standing up
DEAR DR. ROACH: Will you write about orthostatic hypotension? I’ve been told I have this disorder. I’m a retired 86-year-old man in fairly good medical shape. I want to regain my regular activities. My regular doctor put me on labetalol. I think he is researching this a bit himself. This apparently is not a frequent […]
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Making sense of cholesterol numbers
DEAR DR. ROACH: Several years ago, I started going to a new doctor, who said that the way to get the correct cholesterol number is to divide the HDL into the LDL, and if the answer is not 2.5 or lower, I have a problem and should be taking steps to lower it. I am […]
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Revisiting recommendations on routine testing
DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your response to the 67-year-old woman whose insurance wanted her to have a routine urinalysis, which you felt was unnecessary. Being such a simple test to do, with no pain or downside to the patient, why wouldn’t you recommend it? For women, it can catch chronic infections that are sometimes […]
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Ferritin level concerns one doctor, not another
DEAR DR. ROACH: What’s the best advice when one doctor seems more concerned about something than another? I am a 49-year-old woman who doesn’t smoke, is relatively healthy and who weighs about 150 pounds. I have had celiac disease since 2009 and hypothyroidism. I tend to run on the low end of normal with my […]