DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 74-year-old female who is 5 feet, 3 inches tall, and weighs 120 pounds. I live a healthy, active lifestyle. At age 59, during a regular doctor appointment, I was told that I had unknowingly had a heart attack. I had an angiogram, which showed no blockages. I was also […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read in the paper that the rate of colorectal cancer has been rapidly rising since the 1990s among adults younger than 50. I also read that younger people are dying from the disease. Can you shed any light on why this is happening? — J.S.B. ANSWER: You are right. The risk […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently tested positive for COVID using an expired home test, and I self-isolated for five days. I also realized every Tylenol, antihistamine, DayQuil, NyQuil and allergy pill that I had was past its expiration date. Some were only expired by a few months, but most were expired by two to four […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently saw a friend who had been diagnosed with ALECT2 amyloidosis, a form of chronic kidney disease that is not well-understood but is considered fatal. Her illness was first misdiagnosed. She is in her late 60s and seems to be aging gracefully. She never was a heavy drinker or a substance […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I watch several programs about zoos on TV. When they are dealing with animals, the weight/size of the animal always seems to come into play when medicating them. This applies whether it’s an initial tranquilizer dart, anesthesia, or follow-up medications like antibiotics and steroids. Why then does my adult friend who weighs […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was treated for high cholesterol and triglycerides with a statin. But I developed red skin and intense muscle aches, so I had to stop taking it. I’ve read that people of Finnish descent cannot take statins. My doctor says that there is a shot available to take at home every two […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 71-year-old man, and seven or eight years ago, I was diagnosed with asthma using the challenge test. I was prescribed Symbicort, which helped me exercise a little better. (Exercising is the only time I can tell I have asthma.) A couple years later, I was diagnosed with paradoxical vocal cord […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am not a sun worshipper. Whenever I go out, I cover up, slather on sunscreen, and stay in the shade. Last summer, I took a trip to the beach. I slathered up and stayed in the shade for about an hour. I went for a short swim, came back in, then […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 85-year-old male. Other than being a Type 2 diabetic, I am still active and in good health. I do have a concern; on the rare occasions when I do ejaculate, the small amount of semen that comes out is brown. When I told this to my urologist, he said […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read last year that nearly 20 million Americans were living with long COVID, but I understand that the number is much higher now. Can you explain exactly what long COVID is and how it is treated? — J.S.B. ANSWER: Persistent symptoms after an infection are not unique to COVID. Many people […]