DEAR DR. ROACH: My mother is very concerned about the upcoming solar eclipse; due to all the warnings about not watching it with the naked eye, she is afraid that one of us will ”accidentally look at the sky and go blind.” All the articles on the internet seem to deal with eye safety while […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had bilateral knee replacement two months ago, and I’m concerned about infections. My doctor wants me to take an antibiotic before any dental procedure, including cleaning, which I will do. I also have a dog that loves to lick any cuts, especially if there is some blood to lick. What are […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: About 11 years ago, I was given a diagnosis of bipolar disorder type I. I was finishing up the first year of my medical graduate school. I have never heard voices or seen things that aren’t there. However, I experience intense insomnia from time to time, especially during my female cycle. I […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 94-year-old man who was diagnosed with central sleep apnea about six years ago by my pulmonologist. Try as I may, I have been unable to adjust to an assortment of apnea masks that are connected to a BiPAP machine (which is attached to oxygen). I have threatened to give […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Do you think there’s much benefit to buying organic foods, now that my husband and I are in our 60s? I’ll gladly purchase organic fruits and veggies when we host our children and grandchildren, and our garden is chemical-free, but I can’t imagine that the added expense of buying organic will provide […]

FROM NORTH AMERICA SYNDICATE, 300 W 57th STREET, 15th FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10019 DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 41-year-old man living with clinical depression and chronic anxiety. Though my condition has been well-maintained through cognitive behavioral therapy as well as medication, I have a great deal of difficulty sleeping at night. A different […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My mother had the measles. She also had mumps and German measles. She stayed home for a few days, used up a box of tissues and went back to school a week later. But some doctors quickly learned that if they didn’t pretend that these viruses were deadly, they wouldn’t make any […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: For teens, does wearing headphones with music playing while sleeping affect the quality of their sleep? Also, does listening to music while studying impact the quality of studying? — S.W. ANSWER: The effect of music on sleep has been studied several times, but most studies have looked at classical or soothing music. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have had many urinary infections. My daughter-in-law told me to eat some yogurt every day to see if that would help. I haven’t had a bladder infection since. I hope this will help other women with this condition. — L.E.P. ANSWER: I appreciate your writing. Yogurt with live healthy bacteria sometimes […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In a recent column, you said, ”I don’t find simply telling people to eat less and move more to always be an effective therapy.” What do you suggest to patients wanting to lose weight? — C.N. ANSWER: The vast majority of patients I see who are overweight know they are overweight, and […]