DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 73-year-old male in good health. I’m starting to show signs of prostate troubles. I have trouble starting to urinate, and the stream stops and starts, usually at night before bed and first thing in the morning for some reason. When do doctors prescribe an alpha blocker such as Flomax (tamsulosin)? […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: For many years now, I’ve been experiencing hair loss, and lately, it just seems to be getting worse. I am so worried because my hair has gotten so thin, and I am afraid that I will soon be bald. I am a 70-year-old female who always had a decent amount of hair. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently brought myself to the hospital because my electrocardiogram (EKG) result showed “possible ischemia.” I went to a bigger hospital, and they immediately gave me numerous medications, had me chew three pieces of 100-mg aspirin, and gave me another EKG and an echocardiogram. They concluded that I had a mild heart […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 69-year-old, very active male. My left Achilles tendon severed two years ago and was surgically repaired. I had an 8-inch incision that has totally healed, with the exception of one small area about the size of the lead of a pencil. It’s 3 inches above my heel. This small […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Regarding your recent column about prostate cancer, could you please clarify a statement that has created some concern and confusion for me? The statement is: “Screening begins to have a net benefit after about 10 or 15 years.” About 10 or 15 years after what exactly? I had surgery about 18 months […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Regarding your recent column about prostate cancer, could you please clarify a statement that has created some concern and confusion for me? The statement is: “Screening begins to have a net benefit after about 10 or 15 years.” About 10 or 15 years after what exactly? I had surgery about 18 months […]