ArcaMax

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a retired and active 73-year-old who plays tennis and regularly goes to the gym. I often take long naps and sleep for 2 or 3 hours. At night, I often sleep 4 or 5 hours. My understanding is that someone in my age range should be getting 7 hours of sleep. If I take a 2-hour nap, and at night I sleep 5 hours, am I getting ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently had a CT scan of my chest and abdomen for pain, and they made a note that I also had coronary atherosclerosis. What is this condition? Can medications help? Can it be treated without surgery? -- P.D.

ANSWER: A computed tomography (CT) scan gives multiple two-dimensional slices of the body and is very good at looking...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 70-year-old female in fairly good health with a number of diseases/conditions that are fairly well-controlled. I take about 15 prescription and over-the-counter meds a day (including methotrexate) for my Sjogren's symptoms and other conditions, plus a statin.

Nine weeks ago, I had shoulder surgery for a torn bicep ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Any thoughts on milk thistle supplements in fatty liver disease that was diagnosed by an ultrasound due to elevated AST and ALT levels? -- B.S.

ANSWER: Milk thistle (sylmarin) has had mixed results in clinical trials regarding metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formerly called fatty liver disease). Although a...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Recently, I almost experienced kidney failure from a probable infection. I am a male, age 68. My glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ranges from 44-50, and my weight is 132 pounds. My blood pressure is 110/60 mm Hg, and I enjoy various endurance sports.

Besides limiting my protein, salt and saturated fat intake and getting ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been taking 25 mg of amitriptyline for sleep for several years; I am 79 and have noticed occasional difficulty remembering some facts. I read that this drug can affect cognition. I don't believe that amitriptyline is really effective in helping me sleep, so I have discontinued its use, believing that the risk outweighs ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My question is: What is the difference between prediabetes and diabetes, and which do I have? I am male, 85 years old, 170 pounds, and 6 feet and 1 inch tall. I was treated for heart disease with Coreg, Crestor, isosorbide, lisinopril and amlodipine.

About one year ago, the cardiologist added 5 mg of Farxiga for its heart and ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: How do I approach a problem my husband has without embarrassing him? I'm not sure why lately, but during sex, he just goes soft. I'm not sure if it's me who he's not attracted to anymore or what's going on. We have been married for over 20 years. He is 39 and in good health otherwise. I don't want to make a big deal of this, ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 80-year-old Asian woman. Each day, I walk 4 miles and do 30 minutes of stretching, as well as 1 hour of cardio, strength or balance exercises by following videos provided by my health insurance. Also, my brother and sister who are in their 60s and 70s have weak bones and muscles. It seems to run in my family.

In 2000, ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a female under 30 years old. For over a decade, I have been having severe health concerns. I am constantly retaining water and also have difficulty moving and completing simple tasks, difficulty breathing, fatigue, and numbness in my legs, arms and face. These are the main symptoms. This has been going on for over a decade...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife was diagnosed with depression, and she has tried many medications such as risperidone, lamotrigine, amitriptyline, Depakote and others. The longest time a combination worked before her relapsing was less than three months. Some of the medicines that were given were even making the matter worse, and all efforts to ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read an article a few years back that said if you had vertigo, you more than likely would also have restless legs syndrome and/or hypnic jerks of the body. Did I read this right, or are these symptoms totally unrelated to each other?

I'm inquiring because I have all three conditions. I began with vertigo a few years back, ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 85-year-old woman who is physically, mentally and socially active and in quite good health, except for osteoporosis issues. The only medications I take are Maxzide for blood pressure, rosuvastatin for cholesterol, and Prolia injections for osteoporosis. My most recent cholesterol readings were 119 mg/dL (total), 58 mg/...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm a 70-year-old active dentist and pharmacist with chronic lower back pain. My MRI shows a compressed/extruded disc in contact with a specific nerve. It is extruded by 5 mm. I know that this is very common, and not all patients with compressed nerves are symptomatic. I have specifically located lower back pain and numbness in...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read a recent column of yours in which you said that everyone who is my age can assume we've had measles. I remember having measles when I was in the second grade but have a vague memory of my parents calling it German measles, which I believe is rubella. If a person has had either, do they have immunity to both types of ...Read more