ArcaMax

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 85-year-old mother-in-law had a mild heart attack a few days ago. She didn't immediately take the nitroglycerin she had on hand. She has a pacemaker, and it reported the event to her heart doctor. Upon seeing the anomaly, her doctor called and asked her to undergo a nuclear stress test. She had one done eight years ago, and ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband and I have started taking Zepbound for various medical reasons. The medication has significantly and positively impacted the conditions that we hoped it would, but we have seen other results we are curious about.

First, within a month, my husband stopped snoring completely and doesn't seem to stop breathing during ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your recent column on transplants and dialysis. Fifteen years ago, I found I had polycystic kidney disease and was recommended a transplant. My wife and I discovered that our blood types were incompatible (her B positive to my A positive). I had started dialysis, and she wanted to contribute to a transplant chain swap ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was recently diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica after weeks of intense muscle pain. I'm a 67-year-old female in otherwise good health. My doctor prescribed prednisone, which immediately eliminated the pain and allowed me to resume my everyday life activities pain-free. I have an appointment with a rheumatologist at the end...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read in a health journal that large amounts of sodium are unhealthy for one's diet. The government standard is no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. If one's health is not so good, some doctors say that their sodium intake shouldn't be more than 1,500 mg per day. Everything you eat or drink counts.

If consuming sodium is ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My parents are in their 80s and have health issues that require careful monitoring, including diabetes and lymphoma. Their primary care doctor insists that Medicare only covers their blood tests every six months and that they would have to pay for any additional blood tests themselves. In the meantime, their medical specialists...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I would like to know your opinion on the hepatitis B vaccine and its pros and cons. I'm a 39-year-old man who is thinking about potentially getting one. -- Anon.

ANSWER: Hepatitis B is a viral illness that can cause both acute and chronic liver disease. It's much better to prevent it than treat it.

Among adults in North ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 63 years old, and four weeks ago, I was diagnosed by my gastroenterologist with erosive esophagitis after an endoscopy. I was placed initially on Protonix, but I didn't improve much. So, I was switched to 20 mg of Voquezna, and after eight weeks, I am starting to feel better.

I have painful osteoarthritis in my right hand...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband (age 71) received a diagnosis of polycythemia vera a few years ago. I understand this variety of polycythemia isn't caused by smoking, but we know that smoking does make it worse.

For most of his life, he's had a history of smoking with some short periods of not smoking, and he continues to smoke several times every...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a reasonably healthy 80-year-old man who is fortunate enough to have a partner of a child-bearing age. She would like to bear us a child. I am concerned about any potential problems with my old genes and any birth defects that might be caused by them. Please help us decide. -- R.B.

ANSWER: This is a question I hear from ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: A few months ago, you wrote about the benefits of the shingles vaccine. At 63, I'm one of the 1% who has never had, nor been exposed to, chicken pox. I was tested in 2022 for varicella-zoster virus antibodies, and the results were negative. My current physician wants me to get the shingles vaccine, even though I can't get ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Could you kindly tell me about the current status of paregoric? Has it been banned by the Food and Drug Administration? Is it available anywhere in the United States? I remember using this product occasionally as a teenager back in the 1960s. It was a miracle drug for stopping diarrhea, and it was available over the counter. ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 71-year-old man with a physically active lifestyle, and I have a strong passion to control my A1C and cholesterol levels by eating the right kind of food. I am taking metformin, atorvastatin and losartan to assist in controlling my blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure.

After turning 70, I was having difficulty ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was wondering whether Ozempic might be prescribed for somebody who gained weight due to antipsychotics or drugs for depression. I read some years ago that the weight gain associated with antipsychotics had something to do with blood sugar levels (or some other metabolic reason). -- K.

ANSWER: You are quite right that many ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been diagnosed with low cortisol and put on 15-mg hydrocortisone tablets daily for life by my endocrinologist. I was told that if I get sick with an infection, I should double the medication. I am 77, and my pharmacist told me that this medication shouldn't be used long-term. I worry about the side effects, but I hear ...Read more