DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 73 years old and lived on a boat in my 40s for about six years. Now, whenever I go to the dermatologist (two to three times each year), he “zaps” me about 20 times and burns off “cancer cells” or maybe “potential cancer cells.” Some of them have been cancer […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: A few years ago, I was diagnosed with ischemic colitis after running a half-marathon. My doctor advised me not to run more than 10 miles at a time. Since then, I have had a return of symptoms, such as bloody diarrhea, if I run for longer than an hour. I have kept […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: It would be helpful if you described some of the warning signs/symptoms of a bad hip that requires replacement. I now know that such a condition does not necessarily announce itself with chronic severe pain in the hip. Indeed, what sent me to the doctor was a recurrent pain in my groin. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In a column in September, you were asked what actions the writer could take, such as diet or medication, to maintain kidney function. I was disappointed to see that your response contained only advice regarding medications. I suppose I should not be surprised, given that the average physician has almost no nutritional […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband and I are both senior citizens. My hearing deteriorated noticeably more than two years ago. I had an ENT check me, and no tumor or anything that might have caused the loss was found — just bad genes. I went to a local “hearing aid” specialist in April 2013 to […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: About 10 years ago, after a blood test, my doctor noted that my triglycerides were about 450, whereas the norm would be below 150. He didn’t seem alarmed, so for the next two years I did nothing and they remained in the 400 range. After moving to Arizona, I visited a naturopath […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 76-year-old woman with diabetes. My body, as I have been told, is bad with arthritis, for which I have been prescribed Celebrex. I have been taking this medication a few months now, and am definitely moving around with a lot less pain than I previously had. I recently watched […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently was diagnosed with dysthymia. I have had a basically unhappy life, with three marriages and three divorces. I often have felt that suicide is right at hand, yet I manage to get through each crisis. I am at a loss as to how to handle any more stress, and I […]

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Allyson Felix, 29; Denny Hamlin, 34; Chloe Sevigny, 40; Owen Wilson, 46. Happy Birthday: Be careful not to overload your plate. Excess will be your downfall. Focus on what’s truly important to you, and you will maneuver your way through the year. Try to get more rewards for your efforts. […]

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Rachel McAdams, 36; Dylan Walsh, 51; Danny DeVito, 70; Martin Scorsese, 72. Happy Birthday: Make this your year to excel. Focus on details and finishing what you start. Refuse to be tempted or lured into excess and indulgence, and the rest will be history. The limitations and frustrations of the […]