Ask the Doctors

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 year and will have columns on them soon. In the meantime, with such full inboxes, we’ll dive right into your letters. —…

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 did have the flu, but I also had acute bronchitis. Can you please explain what…

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 quickly. Can you please explain where this idea comes from? Dear Reader: You’re referring to a study…

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, or is this just a good excuse for a few cheat days each month? Dear Reader: Eating…

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 cuff injury. I’ve only heard of that in baseball players. What is the rotator cuff? What is the…

Hello, dear readers, and welcome back to our monthly letters column. You have been keeping our inboxes full, so we’ll dive right in. — A column that explored the potential benefits of a weighted blanket continues to draw a lot of interest. This led a reader to ask about the guidelines regarding the weight of…

MELINA WALLING Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — For the second year in a row, Earth will almost certainly be the hottest it’s ever been. And for the first time, the globe this year reached more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming compared to the pre-industrial average, the European climate agency Copernicus said…

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 work, and how can I get access to it? Dear Reader: A test that analyzes bodily…

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 symptoms if your pelvic floor was weak? Dear Reader: When someone talks about the pelvic floor, they are…

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, but her BMI of 26 says she is. It upsets her, and it really doesn’t make sense. Dear Reader:…