DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve had allergies my entire life. I started taking allergy shots, and all my symptoms disappeared. I had years of symptom-free springs and falls. Then, a few years ago, the itchy, watery eyes returned, along with other symptoms. I have to take Flonase and an allergy pill on top of my allergy […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My family members drink mega amounts of diet pop, including the kids, ranging from age 3 to age 10. All the adults have serious weight problems. They say they have to drink something besides water. What comments do you have? — A.H. ANSWER: There remains a controversy about the effect of diet […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Would you write about seasonal affective disorder to help so many others who may be suffering with this, but don’t even know it? I was diagnosed with clinical depression following a move from Southern California to Central Wisconsin. I took medication and had counseling, and after a couple of years was doing […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 49-year-old woman who had a massive heart attack in April of this year. My father died of a massive heart attack at 49 when I was 3. I have four stents in three arteries and am on Brilinta, low-dose aspirin, blood pressure medication, etc. I have had essential tremor […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: For the past four weeks now, I wake up during the night because both of my hands have gone numb. I work my hands to get the feeling back and walk around my house for about 20 minutes as I do hand exercises. This happens two or three times during the night. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In a recent column discussing the use of aspirin, you made reference to the results of a study that were neither “statistically significant” nor “clinically meaningful.” While I am quite familiar with the concept of statistical significance and believe it is very helpful in interpreting the results of a study, I am […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read that a new drug, Xofluza, has been approved to treat flu. Is there something about it (if known) that might make it more useful than Tamiflu? — D.C. ANSWER: Baloxavir (Xofluza) has just been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. There are several potential advantages to baloxavir compared with […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband, who is 71 years old and very active, had squamous cell carcinoma of his mouth a year and a half ago. He had surgery in Pittsburgh, along with a radical neck dissection. All nodes were negative and the oral cancer was taken care of at the time of surgery. However, […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My fiancee wants to have her breasts lifted, as they are starting to sag. Also, she wants to get them augmented a cup larger. What are your thoughts on this subject? Also, what are the medical risks involved for either procedure? — Anon. ANSWER: I have had many patients ask my opinion […]