DEAR DR. DONOHUE: As a teen, I never had acne. Now, at age 46, I do. I have tried many of the acne preparations on drugstore shelves, but I haven’t had much luck with them. In addition to the acne, the tip of my nose has turned red. Have you got any tricks for me […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: The receptionist at my doctor’s office called to give me the report on a mammogram I had taken. She said that it showed calcifications and that the doctor wanted it repeated in six months. Why? Are calcifications indications of cancer? If they are, I’d like to get this taken care of immediately. […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: From the minute I get out of bed, I have attacks of dizziness. I don’t know what brings them on. I’m afraid these spells are going to make me fall and break something. Do you have any thoughts that could help? I’m 82. — R.M. ANSWER: The causes of dizziness (vertigo) are […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have a 13-year-old boy who’s having asthma attacks. At least, that’s what they sound like to me. It started early this spring when the weather was still cold. He plays or practices baseball three times a week. When he’d run the bases, he’d start coughing and wheezing. Now that the weather […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have become a hermit in my home because I cannot control my bladder. I lose urine when I laugh or sneeze. And those aren’t the only situations where it happens. Is there a medicine to take for this? I am so isolated because of this. What can I do? — A.K. […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have ringing in my ear that gets so bad that it keeps me awake at night. I told my doctor about it, and he said that it was tinnitus and that nothing can be done. During the day, it’s there but not as loud as it is at night. I’d give […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have battled a vaginal yeast infection without any success. I have used many different creams, but I haven’t made any progress. I am 66, and this is my first experience with such a problem. Can you offer any ideas? — B.W. ANSWER: It might be that you don’t have a yeast […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am 15 and haven’t had a period. All my friends have. My two older sisters got their periods when they were 12 and 13. I am worried about what might be wrong with me. Won’t I be able to have a family? What’s going on? — N.C. ANSWER: First and foremost, […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Not so long ago, you wrote about silent gallstones. How about writing something about gallstones that aren’t silent? I have had three gallbladder attacks in the past year. I take pain medicine to get through them. Do attacks ever stop on their own? I’m tired of living in fear of another attack. […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Please clear something up for me. Is swimming considered an aerobic exercise? It’s my choice of exercise. My know-it-all brother says swimming isn’t aerobic exercise because swimmers don’t get their hearts beating fast enough to qualify. I don’t count my heartbeat or take my pulse when I swim. I do know that […]