| Eye tracking tests may help diagnose Alzheimer's disease |
Dear Doctor: I've heard that there's finally a test for Alzheimer's disease, and that it has to do with your eyes. What is it, and how does it work?
Monday, July 6, 2020
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July 5, 2020 09:54
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| World Almanac |
Today is the 187th day of 2020 and the 16th day of summer.
Saturday, July 4, 2020
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July 2, 2020 15:21
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| Many cancers require more than one kind of treatment |
Friday, July 3, 2020
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July 2, 2020 08:47
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| Silent heart attack more common in women |
Dear Doctor: My wife just had her yearly checkup, and when her blood test results came back, she was told that she had recently suffered a heart attack. How can that be, since she never had any symptoms?
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
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July 31, 2020 09:49
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| The Doctors recap what we know about Coronavirus |
Would you please consider doing a recap about the coronavirus -- especially about how it spreads? There's a lot of information floating around, and it's getting hard to sort through the noise.
Monday, June 29, 2020
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June 28, 2020 08:33
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| Good oral hygiene is important even in babies |
Dear Doctor: Our daughter is only 4 years old, and she has had her first cavity already. What can we do to make sure that things go better at her next visit to the dentist, and for her new baby brother?
Friday, June 26, 2020
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June 25, 2020 09:38
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| The only way for definitive diagnosis is biopsy |
Dear Doctor: I'm 30 years old, and I have a lump in my breast, which imaging tests suggest is a fibroadenoma. I'm getting married in six months, and I am leaning toward having a biopsy so I won't worry during my wedding and honeymoon. With the COVID-19 pandemic, is it selfish of me to have the biopsy right now?
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
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June 22, 2020 16:35
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| Hip bursitis can be caused by underuse |
I never had hip problems, but after weeks of quarantine, the outsides of my hips ache and even wake me up when I am asleep. My doctor says it's bursitis, but I thought that's from when you exercise too much. I've hardly even been outside. How did this happen?
Monday, June 22, 2020
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June 21, 2020 08:55
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| Prediabetes diagnosis should offer wake-up call |
After my last physical, my doctor said my lab tests show I’ve got prediabetes. What does that mean? Do I or don’t I have diabetes?
Friday, June 19, 2020
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June 18, 2020 08:48
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| Pulse oximetry measures oxygen saturation in blood |
What is "pulse ox"? My sister keeps telling our mom and dad (they're 74 and 77) that they should be keeping keep track of it, especially right now. She hasn't been too good at explaining why, or even what it does, though. Can you help?
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
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June 16, 2020 08:32
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| It's the soap, not water temperature, that kills viruses |
Hello, dear readers, and thank you for joining us for the continuation of our monthly letters column. We received so many questions related to the coronavirus and COVID-19 that we needed to address them.
Monday, June 15, 2020
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June 14, 2020 08:41
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| Fitness trackers offer an abridged analysis of sleep patterns |
DEAR DOCTORS: I understand how my fitness tracker counts my steps and measures my heart rate, but supposedly it can say how well I sleep. How can it do that, and is that sort of data even accurate?
Friday, June 12, 2020
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June 10, 2020 17:04
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| Reader queries cover a range of topics |
Hello again, dear readers! You've kept our digital and postal mailboxes even more full than usual with your questions, thoughts and (thank you!) kind words. Not surprisingly, much of the discussion focused on COVID-19. To help with the volume of mail, we'll have a separate column with your virus-related questions next week. And now, onward to the more general discussion.
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
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June 9, 2020 08:55
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| Pediatric syndrome may be linked to Coronavirus |
What can you tell me about Kawasaki disease? I read that children who had COVID-19 are getting it. But I thought children were supposedly safe from the virus. Why has that changed?
Monday, June 8, 2020
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June 7, 2020 09:29
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| Retinal artery occlusion related to atherosclerosis |
A friend of our family suddenly lost the vision in his left eye because of something called retinal artery occlusion. What is that? How do you protect against it?
Friday, June 5, 2020
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June 4, 2020 08:51
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| Gastroparesis treated
primarily with diet |
My husband started having a lot of stomach pain and was also feeling queasy. Needless to say, I feared the worst -- cancer -- but, instead, his doctor says it's gastroparesis. Is it dangerous? What's the best treatment?
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
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June 2, 2020 08:58
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| New COVID-19 symptoms discovered as pandemic continues |
Every time I turn on the news and hear about the coronavirus, the symptoms keep changing. Why is that? How do we even know when we should go see a doctor?
Monday, June 1, 2020
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June 31, 2020 09:26
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| Passing gas is a fact of life |
Dear Doctor: I'm 102 years old and a World War II veteran. My problem is that I pass a lot of gas. Several days ago, I had an apple and a small piece of sweet potato, and I stunk up the whole house. I had to open all of the windows and doors. Do you have any suggestions?
Friday, May 29, 2020
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May 27, 2020 17:32
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| World Almanac |
Today is the 149th day of 2020 and the 71st day of spring.
Thursday, May 28, 2020
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May 27, 2020 09:04
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| Dropped bladder has
different levels of
severity |
I'm a 75-year-old woman and have been diagnosed with a dropped bladder due to a hysterectomy in my mid-40s. I have discomfort, particularly when I walk a long distance or do heavy lifting; some leakage problems; and frequently have UTIs. What can be done?
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
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May 26, 2020 08:55
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| Chondrocalcinosis causes goutlike pain in joints |
I was recently diagnosed with chondrocalcinosis, which is quite painful. I know it's similar to gout, though it is due to calcium crystals rather than urea. What treatments can help with pain? I don't want to have a second knee replacement.
Monday, May 25, 2020
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May 24, 2020 09:08
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| Hernias often need
surgery to correct |
If you've got an abdominal hernia and it doesn't bother you, can you just leave it alone? How is it treated? I've read about using mesh, but apparently some of them have turned out to be defective.
Friday, May 22, 2020
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May 21, 2020 09:13
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| Radiation therapy can cause damage to surrounding tissues |
A close relative had extensive radiation therapy for an early breast cancer. The treatment was effective, but it damaged the surrounding tissues, including her aortic valve. What are the potential side effects of radiation therapy?
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
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May 19, 2020 08:28
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| Vasectomy is an easy outpatient procedure |
After three planned children and one unexpected (but much-loved) arrival, my wife and I think a vasectomy is a good idea. What will happen? How permanent is a vasectomy?
Monday, May 18, 2020
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May 17, 2020 08:26
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| Atrial fibrillation diagnosis requires cardiologist's care |
Dear Doctor: Our mom is 66 years old and has always been healthy. She was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation during her last physical. She says she feels fine, so she hasn't followed up with her doctor. What can happen if she doesn't get treatment?
Friday, May 15, 2020
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May 14, 2020 11:48
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| How-tos of wearing a mask |
Our city has asked us to wear a face mask when we leave the house. Needless to say, my wife and I have never done this before. Does our 5-year-old son need a mask, too? Any guidance or how-tos would be greatly appreciated.
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
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May 12, 2020 08:59
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| Most food still ok past sell-by date |
Hello again, dear readers, and thank you for joining us for this month's letters column. It's a difficult and challenging time, and we're more grateful than ever for the community that has sprung up in response to Ask the Doctors.
Monday, May 11, 2020
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May 10, 2020 09:59
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| Coronavirus antibodies used in two new ways |
I heard on the news about a coronavirus medicine made with blood from people who were sick and got better. But my husband says it's actually a blood test to see if someone ever had the virus. Who's right?
Friday, May 8, 2020
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May 7, 2020 09:00
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| Different kinds of heart murmurs require
different treatments |
My 7-year-old niece has been diagnosed with a heart murmur, and my brother says she won't be receiving any kind of treatment. What is a heart murmur? Will it interfere with the activities she loves, like soccer and softball?
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
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May 5, 2020 09:40
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| Every home needs a
personalized first-aid kit |
Now that it's harder see a doctor or go to the emergency room, I want to beef up our first-aid kit. What should we have on hand?
Monday, May 4, 2020
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May 3, 2020 08:44
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| Restless leg syndrome leads to more than interrupted sleep |
Dear Doctor: I wonder if you could help me with a problem that robs me of sleep, and which lately even persists during the day. I'm referring to restless leg syndrome. What causes it? Are there any new findings about getting relief?
Friday, May 1, 2020
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May 31, 2020 10:40
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| Introducing the concept of a younger sibling can be fun |
Our son will be 3 years old when his baby sister arrives this fall. What can my husband and I do to help him understand the changes that are on the way?
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
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April 28, 2020 08:58
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| Asthma action plan
crucial for those with the disease |
Our 8-year-old grandson is coming from Atlanta to spend the summer with us in Idaho. He has asthma, and our daughter has mentioned that my husband and I have to become familiar with his "asthma action plan." What is that? How should we prepare?
Friday, April 24, 2020
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April 23, 2020 08:43
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| Several options for
osteoporosis treatment |
I just read your column about bone density tests and want to know your thoughts on medications for osteoporosis. Is it better to take calcium and vitamin D and engage in exercise or to risk the medications' side effects?
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
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April 21, 2020 08:52
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| No saliva test for Parkinson's disease, research is promising |
What can you tell me about the new saliva test for Parkinson's disease? My older sister just learned she might have Parkinson's, but her doctors aren't sure. Why is it so hard to diagnose?
Monday, April 20, 2020
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April 19, 2020 09:25
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| Perimenopause can last months to years |
Dear Doctor: I'm a healthy and active 42-year-old, but I've been noticing a change in my periods lately. They're not as regular as before, and they're a lot shorter. Could this be perimenopause? What's going on, and what else is going to happen?
Friday, April 17, 2020
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April 16, 2020 09:27
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| Keep washing your hands! |
Several of you wrote about the frustration of seeing someone exit a public restroom without washing his or her hands.
Monday, April 13, 2020
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April 12, 2020 09:12
