DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am an 80-year-old male whose annual physical exam was good. My wife and I have a good sex life. We’ve been married 61 years. However, my PSA rose to 5.7. My family doctor sent me to a urologist, who suggested a biopsy. The urologist said my prostate gland is normal for […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am 57 and in good health. On a regular basis, I jog three miles, or for cross-training I ride an exercycle for 50 minutes. Three years ago, I learned I had a patent foramen ovale. My cardiologist checks me yearly. He encourages me to keep exercising. There is surgery to correct […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: After finally seeing a doctor and having many blood tests, I now have seven to eight bowel movements a day. Before I saw the doctor, it was only four. I am tired and disgusted, as this has been going on for years. — M.T. ANSWER: You don’t need a doctor for your […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: One way of exercising that you haven’t mentioned is water walking. This puts less strain on joints. You can wear weights on the lower legs. I purchased the weights online. — N.L. ANSWER: Water exercises, including water aerobics, are a terrific way to improve strength, lose weight and restore balance while sparing […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My granddaughter, ever since she was little, has had two or three nosebleeds a year. Now she’s 18 and has had a bad one. She was working out at the gym when it occurred. The bleeds don’t occur because of bumping or blowing the nose, but just come on all of a […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am writing to ask you to discuss viral meningitis, which I had. I have no idea how it affects a person. I am 80 years young. When I got this illness, I had a temperature of 106. The doctor’s opinion was that I would not live. I was in intensive care […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My 31-year-old granddaughter became a first-time mother. She is trying to nurse her baby but is having a hard time making enough milk. She’s been getting advice from well-wishers to drink a little beer. How much is “a little”? I am against this advice. I’m afraid it will hurt the baby. — […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Please advise me about fibroid tumors. I have five. Several years ago, I had a pelvic ultrasound that showed them. I have had no problems with them. Now, however, because of a little spotting of blood, my primary doctor did a pelvic exam, and it showed that they had enlarged. Does something […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have a friend whose glucose tests taken in the morning range from 140 (7.8) to 200 (11) and are never in the normal range. He is constantly thirsty and has other diabetes symptoms. His doctor ordered a hemoglobin A1C test, which came back as 5.2. The doctor told him that they […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have two daughters at home from college for the summer. Both are excellent swimmers and have been swimming since they were 7 years old. They have jobs as lifeguards. This is their second summer lifeguarding. I wonder what kind of danger they put themselves in from all this sun exposure. What […]