Showing 1 - 10 of 128
Stress can play factor in new back pain
Life, Published on 13/05/2025
» DEAR DOCTORS: My lower back went into spasm as I was washing the dishes. I figured it was from bending over, but my mum insists it's from being so stressed out. (My family is dealing with severe smoke damage in our house from the recent fires in Los Angeles.) Can stress really cause back pain?
Psychological recovery of mastectomy can take a long time
Life, Published on 06/05/2025
» DEAR DOCTORS: My best friend has breast cancer that has spread to her lymph nodes, and she needs to have a double mastectomy. Can you please talk about how all of this can psychologically affect you? What can I do that will help her and not be a burden?
Running may have similar benefits as antidepressants
Life, Published on 29/04/2025
» DEAR DOCTORS: I started taking meds for depression. When I let my doctor know at my last visit, he told me about a study that says running also helps with depression symptoms. Do you know anything about that? Maybe if I try running, I can stop taking these meds.
Forming new habits involves creation of new neural pathways
Life, Published on 01/04/2025
» DEAR DOCTORS: My husband and I usually make a few resolutions for the new year. This year, I skipped it because I never follow through, and I wind up feeling bad about myself. My husband did OK for about a month, but now he's also quit trying. Why are resolutions so hard to keep?
Study suggests physical activity slows Alzheimer's disease
Life, Published on 25/03/2025
» DEAR DOCTORS: What do you know about a study that says aerobics might be good for slowing down the progression of Alzheimer's disease? I've read that being active helps your memory, but how would it affect an actual disease?
Ever-younger patients appearing with kidney stones
Life, Published on 18/03/2025
» DEAR DOCTORS: Our son had some of the symptoms of appendicitis. His lower right side was aching and he was throwing up. At the emergency room, it turned out that he was passing a kidney stone. He's only 13 years old -- isn't that much too young? How does he stop from getting more?
3D mammograms offer different angles and greater detail
Life, Published on 11/03/2025
» DEAR DOCTORS: I am a 65-year-old woman in remission from breast cancer. I had a single mastectomy and now have an annual mammogram on my remaining breast. I recently learned about 3D mammograms. Is there any advantage of this type over the standard kind? I am told I have dense breast tissue.
Calf pain could be indicator of peripheral artery disease
Life, Published on 04/03/2025
» DEAR DOCTORS: I get a cramp in my left calf when I run for more than 20 minutes. When I slow down, it goes away. I told my doctor about it and she wants to do something called an ankle brachial index. What will it entail? I think it's a heart test. What does my calf have to do with my heart?
Skin microbiome disrupted with too-frequent bathing
Life, Published on 25/02/2025
» DEAR DOCTORS: I saw where a doctor wrote a book about what happened to his skin when he stopped bathing for a few years. He said our skin has a microbiome, and he wanted to learn more about it. Is that the same thing as the gut microbiome? What does taking a bath have to do with it?
Study suggests coffee is good for gut microbiome
Life, Published on 11/02/2025
» DEAR DOCTORS: I had to laugh when I saw there's another new study about coffee. This one says it's good for your gut microbiome. I'm 41 years old and a lifelong coffee drinker, and those studies come out like clockwork. Sometimes it's good news, sometimes it's bad. I'd like to know more about this one.