ArcaMax

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 68-year-old female who was first diagnosed with osteopenia and now osteoporosis. My physician has highly recommended medication or a monthly injection. I have completed hours of research and am very unhappy with the many personal stories of side effects. Evenity, the one drug that actually claims to rebuild bone, is not ...Read more

More than 35 million Americans are estimated to have chronic kidney disease (that means their kidneys cannot effectively clear out waste and extra fluid from their bloodstream), and 90% have no idea they have the life-shortening condition. That sets them up for kidney failure, dialysis, stroke, and heart disease. And those risks are compounded ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Everyone in my family except for me has converted to using almond milk instead of cow's milk. I just saw something on the internet that says almond milk is possibly the worst plant-based milk substitute. I trust your opinion and research. Can you please educate me on what is best? Are plant-based milks really better than cow's ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: You recently posted a couple of articles about the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine and the benefits versus the risks. I know the risks are based on data. But I wonder how many people have severe reactions to the vaccine, and it doesn't get reported because they don't end up going to the hospital or the doctor.

I ...Read more

Did you know that one out of every nine people in the U.S. reports undergoing at least one surgical procedure in the past year? Or that for folks receiving Medicare, that number hits one in five? Unfortunately, things don't always go smoothly.

A study in The BMJ identified adverse events in more than one-third of U.S. patients admitted to the ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and I am taking tamsulosin daily. It works and helps with my daily urination. How long should I continue to take it? Are there any related side effects? Or should I consider an eventual prostatectomy? Thank you. -- A.

ANSWER: Tamsulosin is an effective treatment for most men with ...Read more

For years, doctors have told the 10 million atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients in the U.S. to avoid drinking coffee. But the DECAF study (Does Eliminating Coffee Avoid Fibrillation?), conducted by researchers in California and Australia, reveals that one cup or one shot of espresso daily (not more) has a very positive benefit. Over six months, ...Read more

The so-called "California sober" trend involves swapping alcohol in favor of cannabis consumption in the belief that it's less harmful to the body and reduces the danger of using more potent drugs like opioids, cocaine and methamphetamine.

A small published study suggests the approach actually does reduce alcohol consumption, at least in the ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 74-year-old woman who is in better-than-average shape for my age. I only take blood pressure meds, walk for exercise, and am only slightly overweight.

I have had seven COVID vaccinations from February 2021 to September of this year. I asked my primary doctor if I should get more, and he said "no." His reasoning is that ...Read more

If you're a recreational runner (or a serious 7,000 to 10,000-steps-a-day walker), you want to do everything you can to avoid injury while you're enjoying the great outdoors. But studies show that up to 90% of runners will be injured doing what they love and although it's less risky, you can bet that walkers also experience twisted ankles, ...Read more

Since 2011, rates of colorectal cancer have been increasing by 2% a year in people younger than age 50. And while only 11% of colorectal cancer cases in 1995 were in folks 54 and younger, that number rose to 20% in 2019.

What's going on?

A new study in JAMA Oncology looked at the diets -- and endoscopy results -- from about 30,000 women and ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a male who is 58 years of age. I recently had an MRI of my cervical spine, and just this month, I had a CT scan of my whole abdomen. Since then, I have had symptoms of dry eyes, weight loss and insomnia. I wondered if the contrast dye used for the MRI or CT scan can cause hyperthyroidism, as these are common symptoms for ...Read more

More than 61% of Americans (about 184 million people) are projected to have cardiovascular disease (CVD) by 2050, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). And today, CVD is the leading cause of death in the U.S. -- often because of Type 2 diabetes, overweight and obesity, chronic stress, inactivity, excessive alcohol use and an ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: In 1998, I was diagnosed with lupus anticoagulant and was put on Coumadin. I tolerated it well. A couple of years ago, I was changed to Eliquis, which I also tolerate well.

I noticed that when I was on Coumadin, I would find bruising on me that I didn't realize I had until I saw the bruising visually. With Eliquis, I don't ...Read more

Let's look at some converging lines of population numbers. The United States appears to be trending toward a new club of nations: those in which annual deaths routinely outnumber births. Some countries in Europe and Asia, such as Japan, Italy, South Korea and Germany, already have more deaths each year than births.

The biggest driver appears ...Read more

Apart from their widely celebrated effect at weight loss and diabetes management, GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy might also reduce alcohol use.

In a pilot study published in Scientific Reports, researchers found that GLP-1 agonists (which mimic the effects of GLP-1 compounds) slowed the speed at which alcohol enters the bloodstream, ...Read more

Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue lining the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing hormonal imbalances and various symptoms. While conventional medical treatments are available, some individuals seek alternative approaches like homeopathy to manage endometriosis-related hormonal imbalances. Homeopathy is a holistic system of...Read more

Female hormonal imbalances can cause a range of symptoms and affect overall well-being. While there are various factors contributing to these imbalances, some individuals explore alternative therapies like homeopathy for potential solutions. Homeopathy is a holistic approach that aims to address the underlying imbalances and restore harmony ...Read more