Ask the Doctors
Severity of Compartment Syndrome determines treatment timing
our monthly letters column. Our inbox had a busy month, so we’ll dive right in. — We recently wrote about acute compartment syndrome. It occurs when a serious injury, often a bone fracture, causes a buildup of pressure within a muscle. This impedes blood flow, which starves the muscle of oxygen and nutrients. A reader…
Read MoreTaking a walk after eating can help with blood sugar control
Dear Doctors: When I had my annual checkup last fall, the blood test showed I am close to having prediabetes. My doctor said I need to change my diet and get more exercise. I recently read that taking a walk right after eating helps lower blood sugar. Do you know if that’s true? Dear Reader:…
Read MoreProbiotics may ease nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson’s
Dear Doctors: A good friend has Parkinson’s disease. She has mentioned trying probiotics to her doctor, but he doesn’t seem interested in the idea. My friend worries she might alienate him if she gets help from another doctor. Is there guidance about using probiotics with PD? Dear Reader: Parkinson’s is a neurological disease that results…
Read MoreHolistic approach helpful for lower back pain
Dear Doctors: I suffer from chronic back pain, and my doctor told me that the only treatment available is pain medication. Is that because the problem is with my lower back? Are there any other treatment options for this kind of chronic pain? Dear Reader: Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that affects more than…
Read MoreToxoplasmosis a small risk in owning a cat
Dear Doctors: My fiance and I adopted a cat, and his mother is insisting that we must give it back. She says you can get toxoplasmosis from having a cat in the house, and if I get pregnant, I’ll give it to the baby. Is that really true? What is toxoplasmosis? Dear Reader: Toxoplasmosis is…
Read MoreScalp Psoriasis can be treated in many ways
Dear Doctors: I recently developed very bad psoriasis, but only on my scalp. The itch is awful. I’m not interested in the medications advertised on TV because of the side effects. Can you recommend anything? Dear Reader: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition in which a glitch in the immune system causes skin cells to…
Read MoreDecaffeination process can use solvents
Dear Doctors: I love decaffeinated black tea and drink a lot of it. Since I don’t add sugar or milk, I have always felt it was healthy. Now I’m questioning that assumption because I’ve heard that the decaffeination process can make the tea unhealthy. Should I be cutting back? Dear Reader: Caffeine is an organic…
Read MoreResearch suggests jetlag can be managed with food schedules
Dear Doctors: I’ve noticed that as I get older, jet lag hits me harder. I recently read that timing your meals on the day you fly can make a difference. Do you know if that’s true? I’m also curious about apps like Timeshifter, which my son swears by. Can they help? Dear Reader: Jet lag…
Read MoreCOPD can develop due to environmental hazards
Dear Doctors: I work in a big shop where we make custom furniture. My wife thinks it puts me at risk of COPD and insists I should use a mask. Is she right? I thought COPD was something that happens to smokers. Plus, wearing a mask isn’t very comfortable. Dear Reader: COPD is short for…
Read MoreResearchers use AI to detect pancreatic cancer sooner
DEAR DOCTORS: A dear friend was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was so advanced, he died just a month later. I recently saw a discussion on television about using AI to detect pancreatic cancer early, while it is still curable. How would that work? DEAR READER: With a five-year survival rate of only 9%, pancreatic…
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