DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a woman in my late 70s, a 1949 polio patient. For forever I have been told that because of poliomyelitis I cannot tolerate any preventive inoculations, including flu, pneumonia, shingles, etc. I was allowed to get flu shots when they first became available; however, when additives were included later on, […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 71-year-old female who is basically in good health. I am active and still working. I usually walk 3 miles per day, five days per week, and try to stay limber by doing strength training and stretching to enhance my health. I eat healthy with low salt and hardly any caffeine. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 77-year-old sister has what she and I believe is vulvodynia. She’s in horrible pain in her vaginal area and has had every test imaginable. She has been seen by her general doctor and gynecologist, but so far, no one has been able to diagnose her. She feels like she has a […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently had a stroke, and the hospitalist started me on 40 milligrams atorvastatin per day the first day I was in the hospital. My cholesterol was only borderline high with a total of 210. I am 71 years old, no family history of stroke, never smoked, normal blood pressure and not […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 84-year-old female in relatively good health. My doctor is concerned that my heart rate is too slow, consistently in the 50s. I have worn a Holter monitor and had an echocardiogram test. Both came back negative for any problems. What could be causing my sinus bradycardia? — PS ANSWER: […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 66-year-old white male who is very physically active. Until four years ago, the only real malady I suffered from was a benign enlarged prostate. In March 2016, I went to the emergency room for acute abdominal pain and cramping. It was relieved by intravenous pain medication. Since that initial […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 77-year-old retired internal medicine physician. Last year I started to have asymptomatic PVCs. I also have prediabetes and mild high blood pressure. I am on 100 milligrams of Lopressor twice daily. I had a negative stress test. My cardiologist wants to reduce the frequency of the PVCs to less […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 76-year-old male in excellent health. The skin on my heels tends to be dry and callous, and at times develops cracks that can become surprisingly painful and take time to heal. I shower and change my socks daily. I’ve tried applying Vaseline or Aquaphor as a preventive measure with […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have seen so many articles relating to diabetic neuropathy, but my situation is different. I have been dealing with neuropathy in both my feet for two years now as a result of the chemotherapy I received to fight breast cancer. I have tried everything, including acupuncture, and am currently on gabapentin, […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: For about the past year, I have had mouth movements that I do not intend to make. I can stop them if I really concentrate on doing so, but as soon as I think of something else, they resume. Lately, I also have involuntary movements on the left side of my mouth […]