Archives

Dear Doctors: I just turned 57, and my doctor is now saying that I should get vaccinated for pneumonia. The only time I ever had pneumonia was one time when I had a bad case of the flu. Why isn’t he t... more

Dear Doctors: I’ve read that people who gain weight during the holidays often don’t manage to lose it again. Is that right? In the last few years, it has happened to me. I have several Christmas parti... more

Dear Doctors: I’m a 68-year-old man who cannot remember the last time I awoke in the morning feeling fully rested. My friends laugh and say those days are long gone for people our age. Is this true? I... more

Hello, dear readers, and welcome to our monthly letters column. The upcoming holidays mean an increase in socializing and public gatherings. If you have yet to get your flu shot or COVID-19 booster, a... more

Dear Doctors: A friend who has Parkinson’s disease is starting to have trouble swallowing. Can you explain why that is? I thought Parkinson’s mainly affects the hands and limbs. Also, she and her husb... more

Dear Doctors: I am a 47-year-old woman in good health. I exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. At my physical, I was surprised when my doctor said I have A-fib. I have never felt anything wrong w... more

Dear Doctors: Like a lot of people, I’ve had to return to the office. At home, I did calls and meetings on the treadmill, walked at lunch and lifted weights during breaks. That’s not possible now. I k... more

Dear Doctors: My husband and I both work in an office, and our three kids are in school. That’s a lot of exposure to germs and bugs. When someone gets sick, how do you know if it’s a cold or the flu -... more

Dear Doctors: I meet up with friends a few days a week to go running. One of them always skips the cooldown and hops right into his car to drive to work. A trainer once told me that’s a recipe for sud... more

Dear Doctors: My sister has been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. It started last year, when she turned 38, and it has been getting worse. I would like to know more about the condition. Also, I have ... more

Hello, dear readers, and welcome to a bonus edition of our monthly letters column. We are receiving a lot of questions about the various respiratory tract infections that become common this time of ye... more

Dear Doctors: I was recently sick with what I thought was the flu. I had a fever, sore throat and a terrible cough. I have asthma, so my husband insisted that I see our family doctor. She said that I ... more

Dear Doctors: I always thought that your body ages gradually as you get older, kind of like your car does. But now I’ve been hearing that we actually go through a couple of spurts where we age really ... more

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

Dear Doctors: I’ve been seeing a lot of news stories about whooping cough. Is there really another illness that we need worry about? What is whooping cough, and how do you get it? What is the treatmen... more

Hello, dear readers, and welcome to the first letters column of autumn. How quickly the summer flew by. That means it’s time to schedule vaccinations and boosters, and to stock up on COVID tests -- ye... more