DEAR DR. ROACH: Will you write about orthostatic hypotension? I’ve been told I have this disorder. I’m a retired 86-year-old man in fairly good medical shape. I want to regain my regular activities. My regular doctor put me on labetalol. I think he is researching this a bit himself. This apparently is not a frequent […]
Dr. Roach
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Orthostatic Hypotension is low BP when standing up
DEAR DR. ROACH: Will you write about orthostatic hypotension? I’ve been told I have this disorder. I’m a retired 86-year-old man in fairly good medical shape. I want to regain my regular activities. My regular doctor put me on labetalol. I think he is researching this a bit himself. This apparently is not a frequent […]
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Making sense of cholesterol numbers
DEAR DR. ROACH: Several years ago, I started going to a new doctor, who said that the way to get the correct cholesterol number is to divide the HDL into the LDL, and if the answer is not 2.5 or lower, I have a problem and should be taking steps to lower it. I am […]
Posted inDr. Roach
Making sense of cholesterol numbers
DEAR DR. ROACH: Several years ago, I started going to a new doctor, who said that the way to get the correct cholesterol number is to divide the HDL into the LDL, and if the answer is not 2.5 or lower, I have a problem and should be taking steps to lower it. I am […]
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Revisiting recommendations on routine testing
DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your response to the 67-year-old woman whose insurance wanted her to have a routine urinalysis, which you felt was unnecessary. Being such a simple test to do, with no pain or downside to the patient, why wouldn’t you recommend it? For women, it can catch chronic infections that are sometimes […]
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Revisiting recommendations on routine testing
DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your response to the 67-year-old woman whose insurance wanted her to have a routine urinalysis, which you felt was unnecessary. Being such a simple test to do, with no pain or downside to the patient, why wouldn’t you recommend it? For women, it can catch chronic infections that are sometimes […]
Posted inDr. Roach
Familial Mediterranean fever is genetic condition
DEAR DR. ROACH: After an intestinal virus, I ended up in the hospital with a sed rate of 110 and a high white blood count. I was feeling crippled with severe joint pain and was diagnosed with reactive arthritis. I was discharged with steroids and colchicine. I’m still taking the colchicine because my doctor said […]
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Surgical consult reasonable for longstanding gastric ulcers
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 64-year-old female who has a longstanding history of gastric ulcers verified by eight endoscopies. The most recent gastroenterologist told me that he believes they are chronic and that I should have stomach surgery to cut out the part of the stomach where the ulcer is. I am an R.N. […]
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Recommendations for managing statin side effects
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 76-year-old male with a heart condition. I had a double bypass 11 years ago and a stent put in two years ago. Apparently, I’m allergic to statins. My side effects have included muscle pain, memory glitches, fuzzy thinking, severe joint pain, fatigue, etc. The last statin I took (Crestor) was […]
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For women with low sex drive, treatment is lacking
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 61-year-old woman who has lost most of her sexual drive. My OB/GYN has suggested bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. My online research did not do much to enlighten me. The cost is pretty high. What can you tell me about this? — T.W. ANSWER: There is no evidence that bioidentical […]