ArcaMax

DEAR DR. ROACH: I also have a dry cough that's been going on for about 13-14 years. I'm a healthy 62-year-old and read that it is called "cough variant asthma." I would like to know more about this but really can't find anything about it, except that it will eventually get worse if it's not treated. I was checked twice in the past 15 years for...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: In a recent column, you OK'd stevia, which I had heard could negatively impact our microbiomes. I am borderline prediabetic, and I had stopped using stevia accordingly. However, I hate unsweetened coffee. Can you comment on stevia's impact on our microbiomes in your column? -- M.M.

ANSWER: I wish I could give you an answer that ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 69-year-old female in excellent health, other than having been treated for breast cancer eight years ago. (I underwent surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, then five years on an aromatase inhibitor.) Since then, I have gained 40 pounds. I am 5 feet, 2 inches tall, and weigh 178 pounds. I have been unable to lose the weight ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have erectile dysfunction (ED). I am 71, and this has been an issue for over a year. But it seems to be getting worse. I have used sildenafil and Cialis with no effect. I also received testosterone injections for over a year. I have used Trimix and Quadmix, which worked initially to a certain extent, but now it doesn't work ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 66-year-old husband recently received a diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. He is 5 feet, 7 inches tall, and weighs 270 pounds. He is treating his fluid retention with 100 mg of furosemide daily. He also has mild, untreated sleep apnea.

He would like to try one of the GLP-1 drugs to lose some weight, ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 71, and I recently saw my urologist for urinating a lot and not getting enough sleep. He performed a flow test and a scope, then told me that I have an enlarged prostate. My urologist is recommending a procedure but doesn't support the idea of using a balloon treatment.

Next week, I am scheduled to have my prostate ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Several months ago, I developed a case of a bigeminy heartbeat. My cardiologist prescribed metoprolol. At about the same time, I had reduced my intake of magnesium from about 50% of the daily value (DV) to 35%. (This may have preceded the bigeminy onset.)

Quite by accident, I read an article recommending magnesium for a heart ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 66-year-old woman in fairly good health, but I have visited enough doctors recently to make the following observation:

Almost without fail, a person will enter the examination room, make no introduction, and launch into a series of questions or perform whatever procedure is necessary. (In general, I do not see any ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I think it would be very enlightening if you would write a follow-up piece on the third leading cause of death in the United States. I am certain you are aware that I am referring to medical errors. I am of the opinion that physicians are overprescribing medication on a regular basis.

I feel like doctors are barraged by ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 71-year-old male who is a nonsmoker and a social drinker. Other than a statin, I am not taking any medications. I have been getting colonoscopies every five years as each time several benign polyps have been found. When I was 67, a couple of precancerous polyps were found along with some benign ones. Because of this, my ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: As I amble past middle age and try to take note of my functioning as a male, I wonder if I could benefit from taking one of these testosterone supplements that I see advertised on TV. But I don't know how much they would improve my health or sexual function. Does the recommended dosage on the bottle apply to everybody? Or ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I ate some tilapia last night, and within an hour, I had nausea and a headache, vomiting a few hours later, and now diarrhea. What do you think is going on? -- V.P.

ANSWER: I would be interested if you felt any sensation of warmth on your face or neck or any flushing, as your symptoms are highly suggestive of a foodborne ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My son has been diagnosed with a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. I had never heard of this. He has been told that his brain pressure is lower than normal. This caused him to have severe headaches, and he says that his ears feel like they are going to explode. He can only be up about 2-4 hours, then he has to lay down again. ...Read more