DEAR DR. ROACH: Please explain Hashimoto’s disease. I have heard it is rare, but two colleagues have recently been diagnosed. We all work in a very high-stress field. — J.H. ANSWER: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is not at all a rare disease, occurring in up to 10% of the population and in women much more frequently than […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 80-year-old male. I have had benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) for more than 20 years, and it is getting progressively worse. I had urinary retention after my ankle surgery in 2019 and had to go to the emergency room to get catheterized. I was lucky that the ER doctor made […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 76-year-old male who is in good health and doesn’t take any medications. I ride my bike 40 miles a week, play golf four days a week and go to the gym every other day. About six months ago, I started experiencing pain in my right groin area. It generally […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I came down with Bell’s palsy this summer, and it lasted about six weeks. The left side of my face was paralyzed, and I experienced extreme fatigue. Three months later, I went to my pharmacy to get a COVID booster and a flu shot. When I told the pharmacist I recently had […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have had weight-loss surgery, specifically an adjustable lap band that was revised to a gastric sleeve in 2018. I have been given and read conflicting recommendations regarding the use of NSAIDs following these procedures. I have read that taking a low dose (400 mg) is considered safe. I have also read […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I don’t know what to think; perhaps you can help. As an 83-year-old previously healthy, very active female, I was recently diagnosed first with bronchitis and then with COVID, all in one month. Ten weeks later, I am struggling with dry mouth, gums and lips that no doctor can explain. Is this […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently had a scary episode. According to my family members, for a period of four hours or so, I repeated questions that I should’ve known over and over again. I seemed confused. I did not remember anything; I just said them repeatedly. There was no other neurological changes or stroke symptoms. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 68 and in good shape; I work out daily. I had a few episodes of angina two to three years ago and started going to a cardiologist as a result. I have had quite a few tests done, but the one that was really concerning was my coronary artery calcium […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been using “lite salt,” which has 50% less sodium than regular table salt. Do you agree that this is OK? — C.D. ANSWER: Lower-sodium salt substitutes are generally made from potassium salts; sometimes they’re all potassium, and sometimes they’re a mixture of sodium and potassium salts. The evidence is pretty […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 71-year-old male in good health with an enlarged prostate. I can’t stand going to the bathroom six times a night anymore. I tried prescription medications and didn’t like the side effects; they don’t work for me. What is the safest surgical method to correct this? — J.M. ANSWER: For […]