ArcaMax

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been taking 25 mg of amitriptyline for sleep for several years; I am 79 and have noticed occasional difficulty remembering some facts. I read that this drug can affect cognition. I don't believe that amitriptyline is really effective in helping me sleep, so I have discontinued its use, believing that the risk outweighs ...Read more

I'm a great fan of walking 10,000 steps a day -- or the equivalent. But what exactly is equivalent? And how does that get figured out?

Well, the conversion of steps into other activities is based on the estimated effort, called a Metabolic Equivalent for Task or MET, that it takes for each activity. And while it's been determined based on solid...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Micaela has spent three decades tirelessly cleaning houses, working as a clerk and now owns a shop in the Twin Cities that she tends to seven days a week, only closing Christmas and New Year’s Day.

But those efforts have left telltale signs on her body. She struggles to walk because of debilitating knee pain brought on by ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My question is: What is the difference between prediabetes and diabetes, and which do I have? I am male, 85 years old, 170 pounds, and 6 feet and 1 inch tall. I was treated for heart disease with Coreg, Crestor, isosorbide, lisinopril and amlodipine.

About one year ago, the cardiologist added 5 mg of Farxiga for its heart and ...Read more

In the blink of an eye, relentless screen use causes dry eye. And these days, around half of 18- to 25-year-olds suffer from the condition and 90% have at least one symptom. Those symptoms include gritty or burning eyes, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, redness, stringy mucus, itching, pain, or discomfort wearing contacts. In addition, ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: How do I approach a problem my husband has without embarrassing him? I'm not sure why lately, but during sex, he just goes soft. I'm not sure if it's me who he's not attracted to anymore or what's going on. We have been married for over 20 years. He is 39 and in good health otherwise. I don't want to make a big deal of this, ...Read more

You may think of Alzheimer's and dementia as something that suddenly appears when you're in your 70s or 80s. Well, think again (while you still can). A study from The Lancet Regional Health-Americas reveals that important risk factors like cardiovascular issues and blood biomarkers (tau protein and amyloid tangles) can start showing up in your ...Read more

Are you a protein pro-ponent, pro-curer, pro-vider? These days, 60% of Americans say they're obsessed with making sure they get "enough" protein, when, in fact, many get a healthy dose or even exceed recommended levels. What they don't get enough of, however, is protein from optimally healthy sources -- like fatty fish, skinless poultry, legumes...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 80-year-old Asian woman. Each day, I walk 4 miles and do 30 minutes of stretching, as well as 1 hour of cardio, strength or balance exercises by following videos provided by my health insurance. Also, my brother and sister who are in their 60s and 70s have weak bones and muscles. It seems to run in my family.

In 2000, ...Read more

New findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine report that Americans live shorter lives than Europeans, regardless of their wealth.

To be sure, people with more wealth tend to live longer than those with less wealth, especially in the U.S., but when comparing all demographics, the wealthiest Americans have shorter lifespans on ...Read more

Numerous studies have shown that education offers protective effects against late-life cognitive impairment. College-educated people are at lower risk.

But the quality of one's high school experience seems to play a role too.

"When we talk about education, the quality of your high school experience, not just whether you received a diploma or...Read more

Airplane air quality is generally regarded as good, comparable to or better than other indoor environments thanks to high air exchange rates and the use of high-efficiency particulate air filters. But any air traveler will tell you that flying seems to provoke a particular kind of air turbulence. Namely, increased flatulence.

It's a matter of...Read more