DEAR ABBY: I have been married to my husband for 17 years. After several years, I realized he had some depression issues. Ten years ago, after he was diagnosed with PTSD, he stopped working and has been at home ever since. I work full time, pay the bills, take care of the kids, run the […]
Advice
Posted inDr. Roach
Low pulse rate doesn’t guarantee a future pacemaker
DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband has been on metoprolol for about eight years. He was prescribed that medication right after he had a stent put in due to a clogged heart vessel. He is doing very well. His recent stress test was normal. The metoprolol took his heart rate down to a pulse of between […]
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Vapor may be better than smoke, but best is quitting both
DEAR DR. ROACH: I quit smoking about six months ago and was able to resist the temptation to smoke again because I took up vaping immediately afterward. Thanks to vaping, I think this time I will be able to stay off of cigarette smoking permanently after unsuccessfully quitting a half dozen times over the years. […]
Posted inDr. Roach
Honey has long been used as a treatment for wound care
DEAR DR. ROACH: In a recent column, a reader questioned the advice of their doctor to use Vaseline rather than an antibiotic ointment on a surgical incision following removal of skin cancer. The doctor stated concern about antibiotic resistance, and you added that antibiotic creams could cause skin irritations. I have had eight surgical procedures […]
Posted inDr. Roach
More advice for women taking aromatase inhibitors
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a medical oncologist, specializing in breast cancer, at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center. In regard to your recent column on side effects of aromatase inhibitors, there are other approaches to helping women stay on potentially life-saving anti-estrogen therapies in addition to “regular exercise and anti-inflammatory drugs.” The first […]
Posted inDr. Roach
No need to rush surgery for some types of abdominal hernia
DEAR DR. ROACH: A few years ago, I developed visible fat between my naval and my rib cage. My doctor told me that it’s a ventral hernia, which is nothing serious. I was told surgery is an option but not necessary. I am a female, 75 years old. Should I be concerned? — A.M. ANSWER: […]
Posted inAdvice, bPlus, Horoscope
Eugenia Last, horoscope: Gemini: Surround yourself with energetic people
CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Sacha Baron Cohen, 48; Kate Walsh, 52; Kelly Preston, 57; Marie Osmond, 60. Happy Birthday: Set precise goals, but be willing to make changes as you forge into the future. Now is not the time for patience or procrastination, it’s the time to take action and make the most of […]
Posted inAdvice, bPlus, Dear Abby
Dear Abby: Revelation creates new reality for family
DEAR ABBY: I was happily married with three daughters until I found out I had fathered a son two years before I married my wife. The news was a shock to us all. That information was kept from me for 13 years, and my wife is having a hard time dealing with the situation. We […]
Posted inDr. Roach
It’s time for your annual flu vaccine
DR. ROACH WRITES: If you haven’t gotten your influenza vaccine yet, it’s time to think about it. This year’s vaccine is similar to last year’s, but two of the components have been updated to match the strains that are circulating worldwide and expected to be epidemic in North America. In fact, this year’s decision on […]
Posted inDr. Roach
Mono is no fun
DEAR DR. ROACH: Our 18-year-old has been exposed to mono. Can you provide some information about this disease, including symptoms, treatment, complications and dangers of exposure to other family members, including toddlers and senior citizens? — F.J.M. ANSWER: Infectious mononucleosis symptoms can be caused by several viruses and one parasite (toxoplasmosis), but classically, it is […]