DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Will you settle an issue that has come up about throwing curveballs at a young age? My son is 12 and is a truly excellent pitcher. He begged me to show him how to throw a curve. I did, and he learned the technique quickly. Fathers of other boys in his league […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: In your article on peripheral vascular disease, you suggested taking leg blood pressure. I did, and the readings frighten me. My left leg has a pressure of 174/127; my right leg, 157/122. My arm blood pressures are 108/63 on the right and 115/74 on the left. My husband’s right leg pressure is […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My daughter has recently decided to have Lap Band surgery. I am and have been dubious about the procedure. I am afraid of the aftermath treatment. She will be on liquid drinks for a month and then baby food for another month. She’s having it done at a university hospital. What do […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: In the past two years a friend has tried several different medicines for depression and anxiety. So far nothing has worked for him. I recently heard that electroconvulsive therapy, ECT, is an effective treatment. Will you please shed some light on this? — R.O. ANSWER: ECT — electroconvulsive therapy, which is also […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: You had an article on urine loss. Will you give a better explanation of the Kegel exercises? There must be more details than you gave. — Anon. ANSWER: You mean you want me to complicate the exercises for you? One of the exercises’ main attractions is their simplicity. The target of these […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Will you please discuss mild cognitive impairment? A family member, 78, is forgetful. He took a battery of tests and was diagnosed as having MCI. Which medical specialist cares for MCI patients? Should other tests be done to be sure of the diagnosis? Are there vitamins one should take? Activities? Which medicine […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I played organized sports in high school, and I have been active in many sports since. I am now 27. My huge problem is my ankles. I have sprained an ankle yearly, and sometimes it has happened twice in one year. It can be either the right or the left ankle. An […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: In my state during the past year, there have been two cases of diagnosed rabies. Since there is a rabies vaccine for cats and dogs, and since it seems to be successful in preventing the disease in these animals, why is there not a human rabies vaccine? — J.N. ANSWER: There is […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: A relative recently was diagnosed with blepharospasm and was treated with Botox injections with little improvement. He has also developed Meige’s syndrome, which I understand is related to the eye problem. He has lost employment and is unable to drive. I would appreciate your thoughts on these two conditions. — H.M. ANSWER: […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have a prolapsed bladder. My doctor wants me to try a pessary. It scares me. It can move around and go out of place. I am very active. A pessary sounds like I cannot do anything that might disturb it. Isn’t there some other way to fix this bladder? — V.P. […]