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 […]

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 […]

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 of the […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]