DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 63-year-old male who, during a routine EKG, showed a left bundle branch block. Can you tell me anything about this diagnosis, what it means, any treatment, future concerns, etc.? I regularly see a vascular cardiologist, and a previous heart attack has been ruled out as the cause. I am […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 62-year-old woman and am at my wits’ end. For the past two years, I have suffered from recurrent UTIs, usually Group B strep infections. I am not diabetic, and my weight, blood pressure and cholesterol are all good. I do take thyroid medication and also use a vaginal estriol […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have had two operations — one on each hand — involving the little finger for Dupuytren’s disease. There is a new procedure to correct this disease, called Xiaflex, which is a solution that is injected into the finger or the palm of the hand. This sure would be more appealing to […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been diagnosed with senile purpura. It’s horrible. Would you tell us what causes it, and if there is anything to do for it? Does it get worse the older you get? I know of no one else who has it or who knows anything about it. I would appreciate anything […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 65-year-old man. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with medium-grade prostate cancer. I read hundreds of articles as well as numerous studies relating to the effectiveness of treatment. However, it became obvious to me that the odds of any type of treatment curing prostate cancer is virtually zero, so […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 75-year-old woman. For the past three years, I have been experiencing pain in the very center of my right buttock. It comes on after three to four minutes of walking. I have tried walking through it —stopping, then starting walking again. It hurts so very much that I cannot […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In preparation for jogging, I built up to power walking 4 miles a day over a three-week period, in addition to 20 minutes a day of full-body stretching. After jogging only twice (with proper instruction), I have developed swelling under the inside of my kneecap. In addition to the swelling, it is […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a very itchy throat that tickles and makes me cough no matter where I am. I tried taking OTC allergy meds, but they’re no help. I tried gargling with warm saltwater with vinegar, and keeping my mouth and throat wet, but no help. I take throat lozenges, but it helps […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a history of type 2 diabetes, and my doctor keeps giving me drugs that I am very concerned about, as I see them repeatedly advertised by lawyers soliciting new clients because of deadly side effects. Actos, Byetta and Januvia are the main three. When I tell him that I want […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had palpitations for several years. I eventually went to a specialist, and I spent two weeks in hospital to no avail. Then my doctor said, “We have never checked your iron.” The next day I had a blood test for iron. Within 24 hours, I had received two pints of blood […]