ArcaMax

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a good friend who is almost 77 years old. He was a heavy smoker until about 14 years ago. He decided to quit smoking and used nicotine gum to help with this process. It's my understanding that nicotine gum should only be used for a fairly short period of time to help a person quit smoking.

However, he is still using it ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My daughter-in-law and son are expecting their first baby in late January. I am a 65-year-old healthy, fit woman. I walk daily and do yoga. Other than perhaps my age, I have no medical risk factors. She is requesting that I received the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine. I do not see any reason that it is necessary. She...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: It seems that many of the medications I see advertised on television carry a warning about "thoughts of suicide." Can you explain why so many diverse drugs share this same side effect? -- W.S.

ANSWER: Unfortunately, suicide is a too-common cause of death that many people are uncomfortable talking about. However, it is clear ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband is 73 and was diagnosed with heart failure and a severely dilated left ventricle. At the time, he was pumping 10 liters per minute. He had a proBNP natriuretic peptide level over 10,000 and an ejection fraction of 39%. Later, he was found to have an abdominal arteriovenous malformation (AVM). He underwent three ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: You recently wrote that you do not recommend probiotics in healthy people. I am a 78-year-old male who, three years ago, underwent an esophagectomy to remove my esophagus and part of my stomach because of cancer. I was put on 30 mg of pantoprazole, which was later increased to 40 mg. I've read that prolonged use of this ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 75-year-old male and have had pain in my buttocks down to my outside thigh muscles. My primary care doctor ordered an MRI of the lower back and referred me to an orthopedic doctor who specializes in back issues.

The doctor diagnosed my condition as lumbar spondylosis based on disc compression impacting the nerves. ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife is 51 and has generally struggled with constipation for as long as I've known her (many decades). Several weeks ago, an extended period without bowel movements began. She regularly uses Miralax, fiber bars, other laxatives, and even prune juice, to no effect. She has been giving herself an enema, but again, no results. ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 73-year-old man who has recently been diagnosed with moderate-to-severe arthritis in my right knee. I am trying to figure out a healthy way to manage my chronic knee pain. Is there any danger in the long-term use of acetaminophen? I take an anticoagulant (5 mg of apixaban daily), so I don't take any NSAID pain relievers....Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a serious problem with my fingernails splitting and coming off at the edges. I have tried biotin and keratin for almost a year without results. I am an 89-year-old man who takes ibrutinib, Valtrex, allopurinol, cetirizine, and recently Eliquis and metoprolol succinate. Is there a solution for this sore, uncomfortable ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your recent column on shingles. I am 66 years old and in fairly good health. I had both Shingrix shots about five years ago. I take hydroxyurea for polycythemia vera (PV).

Around Aug. 1, I noticed some spots on my forearm that appeared to be a spider bite. I went to my family doctor, and she immediately diagnosed me ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Having seen a lot about forever chemicals in print lately, I've found a charcoal filter pitcher that removes forever chemicals from water, in addition to the usual contaminants. In my city water, they're 5-10 points above the nationally accepted concentration. Is it worth the effort to use this pitcher for drinking, rinsing, ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I contracted COVID on the last couple of days of a cruise in August. COVID ran its course, but I contracted a nasty lung infection that took about three weeks to clear. Following this, I developed severe achiness in my knees, to the point that I am still walking stiffly and, at times, nearly unable to walk down a hill due to ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 72-year-old woman who has been taking Adderall for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for years. I recently got diagnosed with "nonobstructive coronary artery disease" by a CT angiogram. Do I need to stop taking Adderall? -- V.P.

ANSWER: The studies designed to answer this question have shown mixed results....Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: A recent fall split the skin below my left eye. I went to the emergency room to see if it required stitches. Since I complained of a headache in the back of my head on the left side, they ordered an MRI, which showed "atherosclerotic vascular disease with mild small vessel ischemic disease." They also saw plaque within my ...Read more