DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I’ve been told that ankle swelling indicates a weak heart. My ankles are swollen, but I am positive I don’t have a weak heart. Two doctors have told me it is working fine. What are other reasons why this happens, and what can be done? — T.R. ANSWER: Ankles swell for a […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My husband has had diabetes for five years. He took it seriously, lost weight and followed his diet. He was on oral medicines, and his diabetes was well controlled, according to his doctor. However, something happened in the past four months. His sugars have been quite high, and his doctor put him […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: A friend of mine, 46 years old, with a wife and two children, died of a stroke. I also heard he died of a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Are they the same? He was the picture of health and was devoted to exercise. Could his exercise be responsible? He was almost a fanatic about […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I’m a 37-year-old auto mechanic, and I never had a headache until this year. The headaches I’ve been getting have been unbelievable. I can’t sit still or lie down when I have one. My wife says I should be quiet, but it’s impossible. They last a couple of hours and sometimes they […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: For many years, I had heartburn, and I lived with it by taking things like Tums. Finally, I consulted a doctor, who referred me to a gastroenterologist because he was alarmed at the length of time I’d had it. The gastroenterologist gave me a scope exam of my esophagus and stomach. It […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: When you read this, you’re bound to think it’s a doting mother who’s writing. I have a 22-year-old son who is remarkable and has never gotten into any trouble in his life. He and his friends were at a bar celebrating one of the boys’ birthday. A fight broke out. My son […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: The only way I can describe what happens to me is that I feel shaky. I’m not shaking visibly, but I feel like I am inside. If I grab something to eat or drink, the feeling goes. My sister-in-law had similar problems, and she was told it was hypoglycemia. I haven’t seen […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 75-year-old woman whose life has come to a halt. I have no energy. I did see a doctor, who gave me a very thorough exam and sent out blood to the lab. My doctor thinks I have something called myelodysplasia, a word totally foreign to me. Is it a […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I’ve had a couple of dizzy spells that made me think I was going to pass out. When I told my doctor about them, he immediately took an EKG and then had me wear a heart monitor. He now says I need a pacemaker. I’m 84 and don’t think I’m up to […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Every year I have two exams, one for my heart and lungs and the other for my eyes. I am 67 and take only a blood pressure medicine. My pressure isn’t all that high. Two weeks ago, I got a real jolt. The eye doctor told me I have glaucoma and to […]