ArcaMax

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 68-year-old male who weighs 130 pounds and is 5 feet, 7 inches tall. I am in good shape and work out regularly. I had my prostate removed in 2023 after about six years of active surveillance, and I just finished radiation treatment.

I've taken vitamins for as long as I can remember. I take Centrum Silver multivitamins, ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and had a spinal tap a few months ago. It helped my brain fog, but my neurosurgeon didn't want to put in a shunt. I am 96. Can repeated taps help me? -- M.G.

ANSWER: NPH is a condition where the fluid inside the brain has a high pressure. It is unknown why this happens, but symptoms ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am considering a new supplement to help my bones. My recent DEXA scan shows osteopenia with a T-score of 1.1 in my lumbar spine. My hips have a T-score of -1.5, and my FRAX 10-year risk score for hip fracture is 3.4%. The supplement contains plant-based calcium, magnesium, vitamin D3, vitamin K3, boron, selenium, and other ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 71 and began having urinary issues due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) many years ago. I took alpha blockers (Flomax, double Flomax and tadalifil), which didn't provide any improvement. I was never offered finasteride or dutasteride. I managed my urinary issues well by double-voiding before leaving the house and not ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a woman in my late 60s with a family history that includes an older brother who had a heart attack at a young age. My total cholesterol has hovered around 200 mg/dL for many years, but my HDL and LDL numbers are good.

A few years ago, I had a highly elevated level of lipoprotein(a), about 164 nmol/L. My doctor prescribed ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a friend who lives in Paraguay and had been diagnosed with chikungunya. It has been extremely painful for her for several years. Her doctor prescribed 90 mg of etoricoxib daily and a shot of duodecadron once a month.

I've never heard of chikungunya, and the medical care she is getting seems sketchy. I wish there was a ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My grandson has just been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I'm wondering which new therapies are out there for consideration in treating this. Are there any new discoveries involving gene-altering, pancreas transplants or something else? I am willing to join any study group that is looking at this or any other group that helps ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 52-year-old woman who was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia in October 2024. I went through a cardiac workup for pain in my left arm and found this out.

My cardiologist put me on a statin (rosuvastatin), baby aspirin and telmisartan. Then, for my cholesterol, I was put on Repatha injections twice a month as ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My family doctor said to stay away from multivitamins because they contain metal contaminants. Is this true, and is it good advice? -- J.K.

ANSWER: Your doctor is correct that many multivitamins have been shown to be contaminated with heavy metals. For example, in a recent article on prenatal vitamin and folic acid supplements...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been treated for prostate cancer and stopped my semiannual Eligard injections three years ago. I'm 75 years old and about 5 feet, 9 inches tall. Before treatment, I weighed 227 pounds; I currently weigh 209 pounds. My testosterone level is 49.6 ng/dL. My breasts have become somewhat feminine.

My question is: Will they ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My mom had a compression fracture to her L2 vertebrae due to osteoporosis. Her head leans forward constantly. It has created difficulty for her when looking forward while walking and sleeping. Do you have anything that you can suggest for her to do? -- J.F.

ANSWER: Compression fractures of the neck, chest and lower spine are ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm planning on getting platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for my knee (due to arthritis and years of previous steroid/gel injections) as well as my large toe joint (due to a bone spur removal three years ago).

The most recent bone spur removal left very rough bone, causing periodic pain plus hyperesthesia in my toe. I am a 76-year-...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: How much vitamin B12 should I take as a diabetic? -- T.H.

ANSWER: Many people have strong feelings that vitamin B12 can dramatically improve their health, but it only helps to take vitamin B12 if you are deficient. Vitamin B12 deficiency isn't too common. Still, there are a few situations where supplemental vitamin B12 should ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 78 years old. Breast cancer runs in my family, and I am one of the lucky ones who had a lump that was caught early through an annual mammogram. I had a partial mastectomy, which entailed the surgical removal of a lump about the size of a pea. I underwent 14 days of radiation and was cleared.

I then saw an oncologist who ...Read more