ArcaMax

DEAR DR. ROACH: You recently wrote that you do not recommend probiotics in healthy people. I am a 78-year-old male who, three years ago, underwent an esophagectomy to remove my esophagus and part of my stomach because of cancer. I was put on 30 mg of pantoprazole, which was later increased to 40 mg. I've read that prolonged use of this ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 75-year-old male and have had pain in my buttocks down to my outside thigh muscles. My primary care doctor ordered an MRI of the lower back and referred me to an orthopedic doctor who specializes in back issues.

The doctor diagnosed my condition as lumbar spondylosis based on disc compression impacting the nerves. ...Read more

Kids are sweet -- but it should never be from the amount of added sugars they're exposed to and consume! In utero, the average fetus gets a good dose of added sugars; data shows pregnant women consume about 3 ounces daily. And according to a study titled "Added Sugars Intake among U.S. Infants and Toddlers," around 60% of infants and 98% of ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife is 51 and has generally struggled with constipation for as long as I've known her (many decades). Several weeks ago, an extended period without bowel movements began. She regularly uses Miralax, fiber bars, other laxatives, and even prune juice, to no effect. She has been giving herself an enema, but again, no results. ...Read more

Omega is the last letter in the Greek alphabet, but omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are one of the first nutrients you should think about when you're looking to improve your health. And new research shows they are even more beneficial than we knew.

Omega-3s (ALA, EPA, DHA) are polyunsaturated fats that are part of the membranes around every ...Read more

Bats are a natural pesticide. A single bat can eat between 6,000 and 8,000 insects in a night, depending on species and feeding habits. Since 2006, many bat populations in the U.S. have collapsed due to an invasive fungus found in caves they use.

As a result, farmers in affected areas have increased their use of pesticides with one unforeseen...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 73-year-old man who has recently been diagnosed with moderate-to-severe arthritis in my right knee. I am trying to figure out a healthy way to manage my chronic knee pain. Is there any danger in the long-term use of acetaminophen? I take an anticoagulant (5 mg of apixaban daily), so I don't take any NSAID pain relievers....Read more

Native Americans traditionally planted beans using the "three sisters method," arranging for the bean plants to wind up neighboring corn stalks and enrich the soil for the corn, and for squash plants to be nestled around the other two crops, protected from the sun and hungry animals.

Using beans as the centerpiece, you can create the same kind ...Read more

Between 24 and 50 million Americans have an autoimmune disease. (That wide range in numbers gives you some indication of how hard they are to diagnose and how often they're overlooked). More common conditions include lupus, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Sarcoidosis, Addison's and vitiligo are much rarer.

While every condition causes its ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a serious problem with my fingernails splitting and coming off at the edges. I have tried biotin and keratin for almost a year without results. I am an 89-year-old man who takes ibrutinib, Valtrex, allopurinol, cetirizine, and recently Eliquis and metoprolol succinate. Is there a solution for this sore, uncomfortable ...Read more

The story of your health is often told by the numbers. For example, you're healthy if your LDL cholesterol is below 70 mg/dL; your blood pressure is around 110/75; your fasting blood sugar is under 99; and you have a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. And here's one more to pay attention to: your Brain Care Score (BCS).

A BCS is determined by ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your recent column on shingles. I am 66 years old and in fairly good health. I had both Shingrix shots about five years ago. I take hydroxyurea for polycythemia vera (PV).

Around Aug. 1, I noticed some spots on my forearm that appeared to be a spider bite. I went to my family doctor, and she immediately diagnosed me ...Read more

Your microbiome is the collection of all the microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.) that live on and in you. It profoundly affects your health and, studies increasingly show, the health of your children.

Past research in mice has found that maternal gut bacteria play a role in offspring behavior and placental growth during pregnancy. Now ...Read more

ATTENTION! There is Language in the 25th Paragraph That Some Readers May Find Offensive. Thank You For Your Attention.

In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that in seven states, the adult obesity rate was 35% or higher. Six years later, it's now 23 states, plus Guam and Puerto Rico, with obesity rates of 35% ...Read more

The futuristic notion of a brain-computer interface just got one step closer.

Synchron, a neurotechnology startup, reports that implanting its Stentrode device, which allows users to control personal devices using their thoughts, in six patients with neurodegenerative diseases did not produce dangerous side effects.

A few participants ...Read more