DEAR DR. ROACH: No one seems to understand a bad habit of mine, especially dentists! I bite off the loose skin on the inside of my cheeks. I remove little bits of cheek matter that is loose and sort of just hangs and is rough. It’s sort of like picking at a scab or a […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My brother-in-law has had blood clots in his legs twice before. Now he has another one in his calf, and tests showed several in his lungs! What causes blood clots, and how can you prevent them? — M.K.E. ANSWER: The body must have a robust ability to stop bleeding, which needs to […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have emphysema. I was prescribed metoprolol, but a book I have on prescription medication said never to take this medicine if you have emphysema. It also said not to stop taking it suddenly. What’s your comment? — J.F. ANSWER: Metoprolol is a beta blocker that’s used most often for its effects […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My friend has been struggling with almost never-ending hiccups since she was young. There seems to be no apparent trigger for them. They happen all hours of the day and even wake her up in the middle of the night. She will hiccup until it starts to become very painful for her, […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Our mother passed away at 91, after decades of medical problems. She had complained over the years to many doctors of chest pains, difficulty breathing and difficulty swallowing. After she passed, we saw in her medical records the diagnoses of “Kommerell diverticulum” and “excavatum deformity.” Can you explain these? Are these hereditary? […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Alcoholism runs in my family. I do not drink. For years I’ve read studies showing how good a glass of red wine is for you. Just recently something came out on the local news that “wine is good for your gut.” On a far less frequent basis, news appears that grape juice […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Could you please explain in layman terms the difference between an X-ray, CT scan, MRI and PET scan? — C.D.B. ANSWER: All four of these tests provide images of the body, which your doctor can use to evaluate symptoms or search for a specific anatomical condition. Some conditions, such as depression, have […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: With the current popularity of CBD and hemp products, I wonder your thoughts on Kratom, another plant-derived product. It is sold nearby. Is it an effective way to treat anxiety? — D.H.A. ANSWER: Kratom is an herb (Mitragyna speciosa) often used as treatment for opioid withdrawal, as a stimulant or sedative (depending […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: After reading your recent column regarding psilocybin for depression, I looked online and found information on transcranial magnetic stimulation. I had three rounds of electroconvulsive therapy, and had to stop the last two because the amnesia and reactions to anesthesia were so bad. Can you give me your input on TMS as […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. After radiation and chemotherapy my chest CT scan is now clear. My radiologist recommended prophylactic brain radiation even though my head CT scan is clear. When I asked how much this would decrease my chances of brain metastasis, he couldn’t give me an answer. […]