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Taking Laxatives Daily To Have Regular Bowel Movements Is Safe
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am writing to you about my 62-year-old wife, in the hope that you can provide an opinion on a question she has and also provide us with some advice in her quest for relief from constipation and her stomach problems. It is not unusual for her to go three to four days without a bowel movement. She has been told by two different...Read more
Older and depressed? How to avoid or manage depression
There are around 56 million folks age 65 and older in the U.S., and it's heartbreaking to think that around 14 million of them report some degree of depression, especially if they require home health care.
The consequences are far-reaching. Depression in older folks causes epigenetic changes to genes (turning them on or off) that increase body-...Read more
Homeopathy for Bladder Infections: Natural Remedies for Relief and Healing
Bladder infections, also known as urinary tract infections (UTIs), can cause significant discomfort and inconvenience. While conventional treatments are commonly used, some individuals seek alternative approaches like homeopathy to address their bladder infections. Homeopathic remedies aim to stimulate the body's self-healing mechanisms and ...Read more
Philly residents with opioid addiction get medication from the ‘bupe bus’ − creating a path for treatment
A mobile team offering medication treatment to people with opioid use disorder showed promise in getting patients in Philadelphia to return for follow-up visits, according to a peer-reviewed study I co-authored that was released in the September 2024 issue of the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment.
The team, which ...Read more
Fentanyl still deadliest drug in Florida as overall deaths decline and another synthetic drug rises
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The number of Floridians who died from drugs last year decreased across the state, but one synthetic drug was noticeably on the rise and fentanyl is still the deadliest drug of all, according to a statewide report released this summer.
Both occurrences of and deaths caused by synthetic cathinones increased by over 100%...Read more
Understanding athletes with lymphoma
One July evening, Allison Rosenthal, D.O., received a flurry of texts with exclamations like, “Yo, my doctor friend is famous!”
“What is going on?” she thought.
She soon learned that her patient, MLB pitcher Liam Hendriks, had just thanked her while accepting ESPN’s Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the 2023 ESPYs, with more than 2.3...Read more
Desperate parents turn to magnetic therapy to help kids with autism. There's little evidence
LOS ANGELES — Thomas VanCott compares his son Jake’s experience with autism to life on a tightrope. Upset the delicate balance and Jake, 18, plunges into frustration, slapping himself and twisting his neck in seemingly painful ways.
Like many families with children on the autism spectrum, Jake’s parents sought treatments beyond ...Read more
Longtime head of L.A. Care to retire after navigating major Medi-Cal changes
LOS ANGELES — For nearly a decade, John Baackes has led L.A. Care Health Plan, a publicly run insurer primarily serving low-income Los Angeles County residents on Medi-Cal. It is by far the largest Medi-Cal plan in the state.
Baackes, 78, who will retire after the end of the year, helped transform L.A. Care into a major market player ...Read more
States are making it easier for physician assistants to work across state lines
Mercedes Dodge was raised by first-generation immigrant parents from Peru in a modest home in a rural part of southeastern Texas, where there weren’t many health care providers. Sometimes they had to travel to Houston, over an hour and a half away, to get basic health care.
Partly because of that experience, Dodge became a physician assistant...Read more
Health Secretary Becerra touts extreme heat protections. Farmworkers want more
CLARKSBURG, Calif. — On a sunny August morning in this agricultural town, before temperatures soared to 103 degrees, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra stood outside the small public library.
He came to talk about the Biden administration’s efforts to protect farmworkers from extreme heat and wildfire smoke, two ...Read more
How parents and caregivers can evaluate the research on MERT and other potential treatments
As diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder have increased in the last two decades, so have the number of experimental and off-label therapies seeking to address the condition.
For parents navigating the complex and often contradictory landscape of autism interventions — while also balancing medical appointments, educational specialists and ...Read more
How To Be Cautious As Covid Continues To Spread Rampantly
DEAR DR. ROACH: My otherwise-healthy mother died at age 72 from the original COVID virus. Knowing that this could mean a severe outcome for me, I actively avoided COVID. Keeping up to date with vaccines, masking indoors at all times, and minimizing contact with others all kept me from getting COVID until this past July. I tested positive for ...Read more
One more (easy, tasty) way to fight off COVID-19
If you are feeling a bit weary from worrying about catching COVID-19 (again!), sit back and enjoy a nice salad topped with 3 ounces of grilled fish and a couple of sides, like steamed artichokes and whole wheat pasta with olive oil, garlic and minced basil. You might even tip back a glass of Chianti. Now, that should revive your spirits and your...Read more
Homeopathy for Back Pain: Natural Remedies for Relief and Healing
Back pain is a common ailment that can significantly impact daily life and mobility. While there are various conventional treatments available, some individuals seek alternative approaches like homeopathy to address their back pain. Homeopathic remedies aim to stimulate the body's self-healing mechanisms and provide relief from pain and ...Read more
COVID-19, flu and RSV shots: Do I really need all three?
TAMPA, Fla. — Vaccinations have become a traditional part of flu season with the influenza vaccine revised most years to protect from new strains of the illness.
But this year’s season could have some of us feeling like a pin cushion.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults 75 and older and those 60 and older at ...Read more
Fact check: Trump, Harris spar over abortion rights and Obamacare in their first face-off
When Vice President Kamala Harris walked across the debate stage Tuesday night to shake the hand of former President Donald Trump, it was the first time the two had met in person. But that was the rare collegial moment in a face-off otherwise marked by false and sometimes bizarre statements by the former president.
The debate was hosted by ABC ...Read more
Decade of silence: Science behind James Earl Jones' life with stuttering
James Earl Jones, the iconic voice of Darth Vader, has died. Creative collaborators and famous fans alike, from Mark Hamill to Denzel Washington, have been coming forward to publicly mourn the late actor.
From joining the exclusive EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) club to becoming the commanding voice of CNN, Jones’ career was illustrious. ...Read more
Ways to pay for long-term care expenses
Several years ago, when I was helping care for my parents toward the end of their lives, they were adamant they wanted to stay in their home for as long as possible. I quickly realized we would need lots of help to honor their wishes. Finding quality and reliable in-home long-term care was expensive, but fortunately, they had the resources to ...Read more
Why cooking, no matter the recipe, is better for your health
You may be one of the 90 percent of Americans who don't like to cook—but you probably know that you should cook more. Because while eating out or ordering takeout saves time, it depletes your bank accounts and your health.
The health benefits of a home-cooked meal outweigh almost any other method of eating, no matter the recipe. Here’s why....Read more
Environmental Nutrition: Let’s discuss granola bars/breakfast bars
Granola bars, breakfast bars, snack bars, whatever you call them, they’re extremely convenient grab-and-go hunger cures. However, while they may have started off as nutritious health food store staples, many have morphed into candy bars in disguise. Fortunately, there are still several that fit the bill for an easy, non-perishable snack to ...Read more
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