ArcaMax

DEAR DR. ROACH: Could you offer any general advice on how patients should weigh the risks versus benefits when they are prescribed a drug that lists many potentially serious side effects? I once had a specialist suggest that I do a trial of a drug for a noncardiac issue, but my cardiologist cautioned me not to chance it because both my heart ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 70-year-old man and have been taking finasteride for hair loss for about five years. I realized while reading your recent column that I have the sexual side effects the letter-writer described. I had been unable to obtain a satisfactory erection even when taking 150 mg of sildenafil, which is three times my prescribed ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband had left knee replacement surgery three weeks ago. He has had continuous unrelenting pain since. He was initially on hydrocodone with acetaminophen alternating with tramadol. This barely touched the pain. We were referred to a pain specialist who prescribed hydrocodone, but our insurance wouldn't allow it. He is also...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 86-year-old mother wears hearing aids, has tinnitus and is constantly dizzy. She also has atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure and some anxiety issues. She has had several urinary tract infections in the past few years. We have been to a neurologist, EN&T specialist, physical therapist and a chiropractor, and have had...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Ten to 15 years ago, I had to constantly clear my throat and it was driving me and everybody around me nuts. You had written a column about chronic throat-clearing. In the article, you talked about how after all the serious things had been eliminated there was an expensive test to check out the throat or you could just ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I see screening tests advertised often. For $160 I can get screened for conditions that might cause stroke, heart disease, aneurysms, etc. My partner and I are in our early and mid-60s. Should we get these done? -- K.S.

ANSWER: Sometimes, screening tests make a great deal of sense; other times, they don't. It all depends on ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was recently at the American Red Cross to donate blood and was given interesting material on the need for Black blood donors for sickle cell anemia patients. The booklet described how antigens work in red blood cells to improve patients' health. I didn't know until then that race can make a difference for blood donors with ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read in your column and elsewhere that vitamin supplements have no realized benefit. I've mostly read about how it doesn't hurt, but there is no evidence that they help. Does this include fish oil (omega-3) supplements? I also take an iron supplement. Both of these had a net positive impact on my blood work. Could you expound...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 74-year-old woman who was diagnosed with open angle glaucoma several years ago. My ophthalmologist has directed me to use Simbrinza three times a day in my right eye and Lumigan in both eyes at bedtime. I have been doing this for over a year. Both my eyes are always red. My right eyelid is very red and swollen, and it ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: With the resurgence of measles because of declining vaccination rates, should we be wary of the same happening with smallpox (which was also thought to have been eradicated)? And as an aside, is my ancient smallpox vaccination of 1952 still protecting me? What about my equally ancient (circa 1962) polio vaccine? -- C.C.

ANSWER...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have HIV and pulmonary hypertension. I was part of a research study, and a scan found blockages of about 50% in my carotid arteries. I've never had any symptoms or a stroke. Do I need to have surgery? -- V.P.

ANSWER: In general, screening for blockages in the carotid arteries that provide blood flow to the brain is not ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm a generally healthy 60-year-old man. Last week, I had some abdominal cramping, and while I was on the toilet, I noted the abrupt onset of a strange feeling in my chest as well as abnormal, irregular and fast heartbeats. My watch has an electrocardiogram (EKG) function, and it immediately said I was in atrial fibrillation at...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a baby boomer who was born in 1949. I was vaccinated against polio as soon as it was available, and I was most likely exposed to measles and whooping cough. It was during the period when moms held get-togethers to expose their children in a semi-controlled way.

I volunteer with an organization that has many events for ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My question relates to a situation where a person gets a vaccine for, say, flu, COVID or shingles and is later exposed to the virus. Is it possible that as the vaccine is helping your body fight the virus, you develop symptoms such as inflammation, a mild sore throat, headaches, etc.? I wonder this because sometimes it seems ...Read more