Dear Doctors: I'm pretty good about eating a healthy diet. The exception is each month during my period, when all I seem to want is potato chips and ice cream. Is there something going on with my body... more

Dear Doctors: My father is 74 years old. He wants to stay healthy, so he has started taking a fitness class at his local community center. One of the exercises they do is to walk backward. The instruc... more

Dear Doctors: I tripped on a tree root and almost did a face-plant. I landed on my hands with my arms stretched out, and now my right shoulder has started aching. My boyfriend thinks it’s a rotator cu... more

Hello, dear readers, and welcome back to our monthly letters column. You have been keeping our inboxes full, so we’ll dive right in.... more

Dear Doctors: I heard there will be a saliva test to see who has a high risk of getting prostate cancer. I don’t see how saliva would have anything to do with your prostate gland. How does the test wo... more

Dear Doctors: The yoga teacher at our local Y is always talking about the pelvic floor and how keeping it strong is important for staying healthy. Is that the same as your core? What would be the symp... more

Dear Doctors: I’ve heard there’s a test that’s more accurate than BMI. Do you know what that is? My daughter is 17 years old, plays tennis, lifts weights and has a sporty build. She’s not overweight, ... more

Dear Doctors: I threw out my lower back two years ago while I was helping my cousin move. My back would feel better for a while, but then the pain would always come back. I noticed that since I starte... more

Dear Doctors: The whitening toothpaste I’ve been using for several years has a pleasant flavor and keeps coffee from staining my teeth. But I just realized it contains xylitol, which I’m hearing can c... more

Dear Doctors: We live in New Hampshire, and people are worried about Eastern equine encephalitis. There have been several cases, and someone has died. I’ve lived here all my life, and this disease is ... more

Dear Doctors: I would like to know why it is that so many medications have side effects. Is it the medications themselves, or is it the additives that are used in making them? Also, why do some people... more

Dear Doctors: I had such bad abdominal pain that my husband took me to the ER. I was told I was passing a kidney stone. It took two days, and it was excruciating. What are kidney stones? Is there anyt... more

Dear Doctors: I was in a car accident, and an X-ray showed I had two broken ribs. A second X-ray taken a month later showed I also had a cracked rib. Why didn’t that show up the first time? Why isn’t ... more