DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Please explain why I have to take my shoes off late every day because my feet and ankles have swollen and don’t fit into the shoes. I flop around in slippers without heels. In the morning, after a night’s sleep, my feet are back to normal. I am 77 and take no […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: About a year ago, I noticed hair growing on my upper lip. I am a woman. At first it wasn’t all that noticeable. Now it is. People ask me about it. I have started to shave, but I’d like to know if there is a permanent answer to this or if it […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Can I reverse sarcopenia, or just slow it down? I read your recommendations. What I would like to know is what can I do for my thighs? How often should I do it? And I’d like something for my stomach. — J.H. ANSWER: For readers: Sarcopenia is muscle shrinkage that comes with […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have tinnitus. It’s driving me crazy. My doctor says there is no cure for it. Today a friend gave me a bottle of eardrops that are supposed to bring relief. I have enclosed the ingredients in it. Does it sound suspicious to you? — W.J. ANSWER: It sounds suspicious to me. […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I read that recent studies show a 30 percent increase in heart attacks among people who take calcium supplements. I now question whether I should take these supplements. — J.M. ANSWER: Two studies, both published in BMJ, do show an increase in heart attacks in those taking calcium supplements. However, the people […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Please write about migraine headaches. My granddaughter, age 22, suffers from them. She is a college student and also works. What causes these headaches? — E.F. ANSWER: Migraines start out as one-sided throbbing headaches that can last 24 or more hours. As time passes, the entire head might hurt. Along with the […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I wear hearing aids in both ears. My right ear is almost totally deaf. I have a hard time understanding people unless they are very close up. What do you think of cochlear implants? Would they be helpful? — V.S. ANSWER: The cochlea is the part of the inner ear that transmits […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Please explain urinary tract infections. Why do they recur? My doctor prescribes antibiotics, but shortly after I’ve completed taking them, I have another infection. What do you suggest as treatment? A pharmacist told me that I needed one or two days in the hospital to flush out my kidneys. — S.A. ANSWER: […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have some questions about heart rate and its relation to weight loss, health and exercise. I am 53 and weigh 158 pounds. My goal is to lose one pound a week. I work out four to five days a week. My routine is challenging. I sweat. I can talk but cannot […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My sister has nervous bowel syndrome, and her doctor told her there was nothing she could do for her. I hope you might have some ideas. Can you help? — G.B. ANSWER: I’m pretty sure your sister’s doctor said she has irritable bowel syndrome, something that is high on the list of […]