DEAR DR. ROACH: I also have a dry cough that’s been going on for about 13-14 years. I’m a healthy 62-year-old and read that it is called “cough variant asthma.” I would like to know more about this but really can’t find anything about it, except that it will eventually get worse if it’s not […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In a recent column, you OK’d stevia, which I had heard could negatively impact our microbiomes. I am borderline prediabetic, and I had stopped using stevia accordingly. However, I hate unsweetened coffee. Can you comment on stevia’s impact on our microbiomes in your column? — M.M. ANSWER: I wish I could give […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 69-year-old female in excellent health, other than having been treated for breast cancer eight years ago. (I underwent surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, then five years on an aromatase inhibitor.) Since then, I have gained 40 pounds. I am 5 feet, 2 inches tall, and weigh 178 pounds. I have been […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have erectile dysfunction (ED). I am 71, and this has been an issue for over a year. But it seems to be getting worse. I have used sildenafil and Cialis with no effect. I also received testosterone injections for over a year. I have used Trimix and Quadmix, which worked initially […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 66-year-old husband recently received a diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. He is 5 feet, 7 inches tall, and weighs 270 pounds. He is treating his fluid retention with 100 mg of furosemide daily. He also has mild, untreated sleep apnea. He would like to try one of the […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 71, and I recently saw my urologist for urinating a lot and not getting enough sleep. He performed a flow test and a scope, then told me that I have an enlarged prostate. My urologist is recommending a procedure but doesn’t support the idea of using a balloon treatment. Next […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Several months ago, I developed a case of a bigeminy heartbeat. My cardiologist prescribed metoprolol. At about the same time, I had reduced my intake of magnesium from about 50% of the daily value (DV) to 35%. (This may have preceded the bigeminy onset.) Quite by accident, I read an article recommending […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 66-year-old woman in fairly good health, but I have visited enough doctors recently to make the following observation: Almost without fail, a person will enter the examination room, make no introduction, and launch into a series of questions or perform whatever procedure is necessary. (In general, I do not […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I think it would be very enlightening if you would write a follow-up piece on the third leading cause of death in the United States. I am certain you are aware that I am referring to medical errors. I am of the opinion that physicians are overprescribing medication on a regular basis. […]