DEAR DR. ROACH: I moved to the Northern California mountains about 17 years ago. There was much discussion about Lyme disease at that time. My husband and I decided, since we were surrounded by tick-carrying deer, that we should take all precautions. There was a vaccine available, given in three separate doses. We learned that […]
To Your Health
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The pros and cons of dairy milk alternatives
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m vegan, primarily for ethical reasons, but I also enjoy the health benefits. There are so many more nondairy milks on the market now than when I went vegan, 23 years ago. I especially enjoy the taste of soy, coconut and almond milks, but from a health perspective, which is best? — […]
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Repetitive concussions have serious consequences
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am concerned that my child has chronic traumatic encephalopathy after a serious concussion and several other head traumas. Can you tell me the current ideas for treatment? — K.L.R. ANSWER: Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a degenerative disease of the brain, described in boxers in 1928 (“punch-drunk” or “dementia pugilistica”), but recently […]
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Changing care goal from ‘cure’ to ‘improvement’
DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband is a disabled Vietnam veteran. He was heavily exposed to Agent Orange, has PTSD, is an insulin-dependent diabetic, has had heart bypass surgery and has rheumatoid arthritis. He spends most days on the couch, sleeping. He has a lot of pain, even though he does take pain medicine and prednisone. […]
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Discuss possible drug interactions with doctor
DEAR DR. ROACH: My doctor has had me on gemfibrozil, simvastatin and metoprolol for more than five years. My pharmacist called the other day saying that new studies are out and that gemfibrozil and simvastatin should not be taken together. My doctor has never mentioned it. Should I be concerned? — S.F.W. ANSWER: Yes, there […]
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Making sense of confusing medical lingo
DEAR DR. ROACH: What is the difference between NSVT and AVNRT? I am a 69-year-old female taking metoprolol once a day.—T.A. ANSWER: Medical abbreviations are confusing. Even when I spell them out — nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, and atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia — the names hardly make sense unless you know the vocabulary. A medical-school anatomy […]
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Who can help with scarring alopecia?
DEAR DR. ROACH: I used to have lots of hair on my head, but I have lost most of it. My doctor diagnosed me with scarring alopecia. I don’t know anything about what causes this. It bothers me very much that I am losing my hair. Is there a specialist who could help me? — […]
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Consider sexual function when choosing BPH treatment
DEAR DR. ROACH: The literature on Avodart use for benign prostatic hyperplasia mentions that only 1 percent of men taking it experience sexual difficulties. Are there ongoing or recent studies on Avodart use that would explain diminished climax response in an otherwise healthy senior adult male? As an alternative, what is the percent of TURP […]
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No spleen? Get your vaccinations
DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a splenectomy in 2012 because an oncologist thought I had NK lymphoma. After pathology, I was informed that I had an unusual immune system with a lot of NK cells, but no cancer. I was very happy, but I’m wondering how to take care of myself now that I don’t […]
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Gluten is not always a bad guy
DEAR DR. ROACH: I don’t have celiac disease, but I keep reading that gluten-free is a healthier way to eat. Is that true? Is there any risk? — H.C. ANSWER: For people with celiac disease, strict avoidance of gluten (a protein component of grains, such as wheat, rye and barley) is essential. Gluten damages the […]