DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 65-year-old male, generally in good health and on no medication. I recently went for a checkup, and the doctor did not take a PSA blood test, nor did he perform a digital exam on me. I don’t have severe issues with urinating, but the stream is not as strong […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 75-year-old woman. My physical therapist recently requested that I have some X-rays of my lumbar spine and pelvic areas. The findings, among other things, came back with vascular calcifications noted. I am not familiar with the terminology. Where do I go from here? Should this be followed up, and if […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: What can you tell me about myasthenia gravis? I’d like to know how it’s contracted, and what the treatment options are. — Y.H. ANSWER: Myasthenia gravis is a disease of the connection between nerve and muscle. It is caused by an autoimmune process — meaning, the body mistakenly destroys one of the […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: As a 67-year-old male in good health, should I be concerned about a (fasting) A1C of 5.9 percent? This is the first time I have had this test run. I am 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weigh 122 pounds. I do two hours of strenuous aerobic exercise at least five days […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Two months ago, my husband fell down a flight of stairs and fractured six ribs and a vertebra in his neck. He is 65 years old and was in good health before this accident. He was hospitalized in a level 1 trauma center and was doing well until 10 days after the […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 76 years old and have been on 10 mg prednisone daily for four years. I have Wegener’s granulomatosis. I understand that prednisone is a ”miracle” drug in many ways, but nevertheless I am growing more and more fearful of its long-term consequences. I am considering asking my doctor to ease […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Recently, I underwent a needle biopsy of a thyroid nodule. The cytology report reads ”suspicious for Hurthle cell neoplasm (Bethesda Category IV).” I have an appointment with a surgeon for a more definitive diagnosis. Is this already cancer? If so, how can my thyroid bloodwork be within normal limits? — M.P. ANSWER: […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 65-year-old female with a lot of diabetes in my family. I am on a statin (Lipitor) for high cholesterol, and I recently was told after blood tests that I am prediabetic (A1C of 6.4). I cut out all sugar and white flour, and my A1C dropped to 6.2. I […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: A colleague of mine recently had a pulmonary embolus at age 45. She is otherwise healthy. What must she be concerned about? — N.R. ANSWER: A pulmonary embolus is a blood clot that travels to the lung. Although they can originate in any large vein, they most commonly come from the deep […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I need an objective opinion. I’m an active 75-year-old male who had two drug-eluting stents placed in my heart approximately seven months ago. I have noticed no difference. I have low blood pressure and feel just fine. As a result of the stents, I have been taking 90 mg of Brilinta twice […]