DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I know this isn’t flu season, but I have some flu questions I’d like to get the answers to. When’s the best time to get a flu shot? Two years ago, after getting the shot, I got the flu. How do you explain that? How long is a person who has the […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have been diagnosed with a disease of the heart called amyloidosis. What can you tell me about it and its treatment? I had never heard of it. — R.S. ANSWER: Amyloidosis isn’t one disease; it’s a group of related illnesses that have in common the infiltration of tissues and organs with […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 55-year-old woman, 120 pounds and 5 feet 4 inches tall. I exercise regularly, both with weights and aerobically. I take calcium and vitamin D. Three years ago, my bone density test was -2. Recently, I had another test; it was -2.3. I know that -2.5 is considered osteoporosis. My […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My great-grandson, age 4, has had speech defects since he started talking. He begins a sentence and then stutters before he can complete it. He will begin school next year. He is very self-conscious about this. Also, he wakes up during the night screaming. Who is the best doctor for these situations? […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have had diabetes for 20 years. I haven’t been all that careful about checking my blood sugar and watching my diet. My doctor tells me I now have diabetic neuropathy, which causes both feet to burn terribly. My doctor says that not much can be done for it. What do you […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I play baseball, football and basketball. My family is very athletic. My dad told me about something called carbohydrate loading that he used when he played college basketball. He said everyone was using it then, and it gave them an energy boost. Will you explain how it’s done? I didn’t understand when […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: When my daughter stopped smoking about 10 years ago, she took up chewing nicotine gum and has chewed it constantly ever since. What effect is this having on her health? I am worried. — H.M. ANSWER: Chewing nicotine gum is a help for some to break the nicotine habit. It’s less destructive […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am 67 and wear glasses. I woke up three weeks ago with double vision. I was in a panic. I can see with either eye only if the other eye is covered. My eye doctor said a muscle wasn’t working, and that usually the double vision self-corrects, but it may take […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I was recently told I have tarsal tunnel syndrome in my left foot and that an operation is the only thing that will cure it. Is this true? I would prefer doing some sort of exercise rather than having an operation. I enjoy walking briskly as often as I can, and I […]

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 79-year-old man. Four months ago I had a mitral valve repaired and double bypass surgery. I have been doing fine until this, when I got Bell’s palsy. I also am beginning to forget things. Do you think there is a connection, or am I getting Alzheimer’s? — F.W. ANSWER: […]