DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a question in terms of people who are addicted to smoking cigarettes. How come there aren’t any rehabs for people addicted to cigarettes? I heard trying to quit smoking is much harder and more difficult than quitting heroin. Any ideas? — C.A.M. ANSWER: Tobacco smoking is incredibly difficult to quit. […]
Advice
Virgo: Take a unique approach to relationships networking and bringing about positive change
CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: January Jones, 44; Bradley Cooper, 47; Carrie Ann Inaba, 54; Diane Keaton, 76. Happy Birthday: Reflect before you initiate change. Observing, addressing unstable or questionable issues, and considering the results you are trying to achieve will save you time and money. Eliminate confusion and take notes, and you’ll get a […]
To aspirate or not to aspirate before a shot? Both are OK
DEAR DR. ROACH: Would it be reasonable for me to ask the tech to aspirate the plunger when I go for a vaccine? I understand that the veins in the shoulder are rarely accessible to an IM needle, but still, I would not mind the extra 5 to 10 seconds of discomfort while the tech […]
Parents wonder if son’s friendship may be more
DEAR ABBY: My preteen son is friends with a boy I don’t quite approve of, but I understand that sometimes bad decisions lead to future wisdom. When I can, I allow the friend to come to our house to hang out with my son because this friend allegedly has a difficult home life. During this […]
Half sister’s appearance brings back bad memories
DEAR ABBY: A year ago, I was contacted by a half-sister I’ll call “Shyla,” who my mother placed for adoption at birth. My mother passed away five years ago. She was a horrible mother who physically, verbally and emotionally abused my brother and me. Giving Shyla up was the best thing she ever did. I […]
Leo: You will eventually damage your reputation and ability to get the help and support you need to reach your goal
CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Coco Jones, 24; June Diane Raphael, 42; Dave Foley, 59; Michael Stipe, 62. Happy Birthday: Pay attention to what’s happening around you and to the people who truly matter to you. Eliminate what’s no longer needed, and simplify your life. It’s best to embrace change rather than have it forced […]
Is reluctance to prescribe certain medications warranted?
DEAR DR. ROACH: Recently, I’ve noted within the medical community a dramatic increase in resistance to prescribing opioids and benzodiazepines at the same time. I have been taking one 0.5 mg clonazepam at night for insomnia and one, or at the most two, 5 mg Percocet per day for pain as needed. Since the Percocet […]
Couple’s name game about to welcome a new player
DEAR ABBY: Our daughter has been married for three years to a wonderful guy she dated for 10 years and loves dearly. Because she doesn’t like his last name, she chose to maintain her maiden name. He understood this soon after they started dating. She’s now three months pregnant and facing a dilemma about what […]
Cataract surgery switches out a cloudy lens for a clearer view
DEAR DR. ROACH: When should a person have cataract surgery, and can you ever have them removed? I am concerned, as I am a 65-year-old male with cataracts. Can glasses be prescribed so I never need surgery? I ask because I know people who had surgery and had a special lens put in (may I […]
Cancer: Take a step forward and you’ll gain respect and the support you require to reach your goal
CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Eli Manning, 41; Danica McKellar, 47; Mel Gibson, 66; Victoria Principal, 72. Happy Birthday: Take hold of situations and boldly move forward. A change that lightens emotional or financial stress will give you a new lease on life and encourage an overhaul that will contribute to a healthier future. Envision […]