DEAR DR. ROACH: I just read your article that there wasn’t any difference between Synthroid and levothyroxine. I come from a family with severe sensitivities, allergies and asthma. I was started on Synthroid and did well. My insurance decided not to pay for it, so my doctor switched me to levothyroxine. I developed severe rhythm […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I follow you regularly, but I haven’t heard one word on ways to build your immunity. Supplements abound, offering strength for the immune system. For me, some have been a tremendous support. I’m 65 and thankfully healthy, but I take vitamin Bs and Ds, and many other body-support supplements. Why no mention […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My adult son has lost over 100 pounds on an intermittent fasting diet (16 hours fasting per day) and now wants to continue fasting in the morning and just eat a heavier lunch and dinner to maintain his new weight. I am not sure that this kind of long-term fasting is good […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In one of your recent columns a writer had Type 2 diabetes with an A1C level usually no higher than 6.2% controlled with oral medication. You said that level is so well-controlled that you wondered if the person needed the medication, and that many experts would reduce or eliminate medication in a […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Many of my friends assert that the use of essential oils “supports” their immune system and reduces their risk of getting sick. They diffuse them into the air at home, add them to water or tea and apply them to the soles of their feet. Are there studies to back up these […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Our 44-year-old daughter had an event called VAD, vertebral artery dissection — a tear in an inner artery — which has turned her life upside down. She was very fortunate to have been seen by an emergency room doctor who had heard of VAD and immediately put her on aspirin and Plavix […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 78-year-old man with severe COPD who is on oxygen 24/7. I use a portable oxygen generator when I need to go to the store or for medical appointments. Does the oxygen protect me from getting virus or flu germs, or is it more likely I will inhale them with […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: The last time I saw my urologist, I asked him to check my testosterone level because it hadn’t been checked in a couple of years. His nurse notified me that it was low and that I should make an appointment with one of his colleagues that specializes in treatment for that. When […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In a prior column, you discussed an enlarged prostate, or BPH. How does one know if they have BPH or overactive bladder? I wake up three times a night to urinate. I tried Flomax for three weeks, but it did not work. Tamsulosin plus finasteride seems risky, having two drugs in one’s […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Many seniors, like myself, have received pneumonia shots within the past five years. Since the flu and coronavirus can result in a form of pneumonia in a severe case, would these shots be helpful to prevent or treat this virus even slightly? If seniors are most vulnerable, then maybe those who may […]