DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a male in overall good health. I am in my early 80s. I see an increasing number of health articles emphasizing the importance of getting a good six to eight hours of sleep per night. My question: Is this continuous, nonstop sleep for the six to eight hours, or is […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was diagnosed with sleep apnea several years ago and was put on CPAP/BiPAP machines and given 1-mg tablets of clonazepam to help get my sleep started each evening. I have been on this medicine since then. I’m very concerned about the side effects, but was warned via the labeling not to […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was told that I have Cushing’s disease, which has caused diabetes, high blood pressure, hunger, weight gain and muscle loss. I was never sick before this, and I did not have any of those things. I am told I have a tumor on my right adrenal gland. I have been to […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I wonder if you can help me. Two weeks ago, I suddenly was unable to sleep. After I got into bed, a warm feeling flowed over my chest and arms, and my heart seemed to speed up. I had a nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach — a feeling of […]

DR. ROACH WRITES: Flu season is approaching, and it is time to review the options available to prevent flu for the 2016-2017 season. There are both trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines available: The trivalent protects against three strains, and the quadrivalent against four. If you have a choice, I would recommend the quadrivalent, but I wouldn’t […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 59 and recently received a diagnosis of mild to moderate Crohn’s disease. Having been quite healthy my entire life, I find the treatment options to be overwhelming. It seems as if drug treatment — e.g. Humira — has as many detractors as supporters, and I’ve read plenty of horror stories […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My daughter, 18, has low immunoglobulin, which was found inadvertently at age 12 while undergoing testing for a different medical issue. Her levels of immunoglobulin G (2.55g/L), immunoglobulin A (0.10g/L) and immunoglobulin M (0.10g/L) are at the lowest level since being tested two years ago. She has no illness, and other than […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your article recently regarding weighing the risk of medication against the risk of not taking it. I recently was injected with Prolia (denosumab), and am scheduled again for one in December. I am 79 years old, 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weigh 108 pounds. I started Fosamax in 2007, […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Could you please explain the difference between Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism? My neurologist told me that I have parkinsonism. I have been reading about Parkinson’s disease and read that with it, one does not produce dopamine, which regulates movement. My internist (a geriatrician) wonders why I am not on medication from my […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 65-year-old male who has enjoyed running on a regular basis for most of my life. I’m not an exercise fanatic by any means, usually running 4 miles three to four times per week. My resting heart rate normally has been in the 50s, which has never created any problems […]