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Dear Mayo Clinic: I have had hyperthyroidism for just over one year, and medication does not seem to keep it in check. I do not want to have my thyroid removed. But I'm nervous about radioactive iodine treatment, which is what was recommended. Is it safe? What are the risks?

A: Radioactive iodine is a safe, proven and effective treatment for ...Read more

It's not unusual for people to ask me: What's the best piece of fitness gear I can buy?

My first answer is easy: buy the one you'll use. Buy the one that gets your bliss-making chemicals pumping and your heart thumping in a way that sparks joy and builds strength.

My second answer will surely irritate my Thrift Gene, inherited from my ...Read more

When Bustle posted "The 28 Most Significant Period Moments in TV & Movie History," we were surprised that 17 dealt with a girl's first period (Darlene on "Roseanne," Vada on "My Girl," Blossom on "Blossom") and only one mentioned the pain menstruation can cause, even though it affects 80 percent of women at some time in their life. For 10 ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My teens keep smoking all these flavored, ethereal wand vapors. They claim it tastes good and even try tricks with the vapor. I'm a concerned parent as I hear these are dangerous magic cigarettes. I would like to know more about them and get your advice on how to deal with these unruly teens. -- H.R.

ANSWER: Vaping has become ...Read more

When Chris Pratt went from the pudgy (up to 300 pounds!) funny guy Andy Dwyer in "Parks & Recreation" to the ripped space scoundrel Peter Quill in 2014's "Guardians of the Galaxy," fans wondered how he transformed himself. He says: "There wasn't any trick or secret. You cannot do it in a month. It takes a year -- or a lifetime -- of consistency,...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I've read mixed reviews as to whether the flu shot can contribute to Alzheimer's disease. I'm anxious to see your input. -- J.W.

ANSWER: There is no reliable evidence, nor any good biological plausibility, that influenza vaccination increases the risk of either Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia. In fact, there are ...Read more

I often get asked, "What supplements should I take?" My pat answer: Tell me first what you eat.

That seems to be the conclusion of the latest position paper on this topic by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Micronutrient supplements (those that contain vitamins and minerals) are warranted, when our nutrient requirements are not being met...Read more

Three in 4 Americans have a vitamin D deficiency, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It's a growing problem.

New research finds that those deficient may be at a greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

In a new study published in Diabetes Care, high-risk patients with the highest blood levels of vitamin D were 28 percent ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Should people with Lyme disease avoid the flu shot? -- L.A.

ANSWER: Lyme disease is a potentially serious infection caused by the bacteria Borrellia burgorferi, passed on by a tick bite. Lyme disease can go unrecognized for a period of time, especially when the classic rash is not present, which is not uncommon. Without prompt ...Read more

When Matt Damon prepared to star as Gardner Lodge in the George Clooney-directed movie "Suburbicon" he destroyed his Jason Borne washboard abs and showed up on set weighting 200 pounds. He said he wanted a "Dad Bod."

Unfortunately, the Dad Bod, defined by the Urban Dictionary as more mudslide than mountain, is ever-more common. Today, over 27 ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Is there such a thing as male menopause, with the associated hot flashes? My problem is hot flashes. I am a 93-year-old male in fairly good health; I am active, but not enough, though I maintain a year-round garden. I've beaten prostate cancer with a cryogenic procedure at the turn of the century and had a couple of hernia ...Read more

In "The Big Bang Theory," Mrs. Wolowitz (Carol Ann Susi) was her own wide-area network. Take this exchange, shouted from a corner of the house we never see: "Howard, it's the phone."

Howard: "I know it's the phone, Ma. I can hear the phone."

Mrs. Wolowitz: "Well who's calling at this ungodly hour?"

Howard: "I don't know."

Mrs. Wolowitz: "...Read more

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- It has been 1.5 years since Mayo Clinic opened the world's first integrated multidisciplinary genomics service, the Individualized Medicine Clinic, which uses genomics and next-generation sequencing technologies to personalize treatments for patients with advanced cancer and complex diagnoses. In a special issue of the ...Read more

The market for "Obamacare" plans is shrinking but not collapsing, two years after President Donald Trump said not repealing the program would "destroy American health care forever."

More than halfway through the 45-day enrollment period, fewer people have selected plans for 2019 on healthcare.gov than in the same period a year ago, new ...Read more

SEATTLE -- In yet another move that shrinks the local community of independent physicians, The Polyclinic, a 101-year-old Seattle-based physicians' group, will sell a controlling stake to UnitedHealth Group, one of the largest players in a business being reshaped by cross-industry acquisitions.

The deal, announced Tuesday by Minneapolis-based ...Read more

The Food and Drug Administration is charged with defining what is and is not a specific food. Right now, for example, it's working through proposed guidelines for "nut milks," such as soy and cashew, which technically don't contain any milk at all.

But sometimes the FDA goes the other way. Currently, it's considering loosening its definition ...Read more

Former "Bachelorette" star and best-selling author Andi Dorfman is used to the spotlight. But recently she made headlines for a very different reason. Dorfman fell victim to the dreaded "avocado hand." She was preparing guacamole and attempted to show off her chops in the kitchen by holding half an avocado in one hand and remove the pit by ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I just read your column regarding concerns about taking tramadol long term for arthritis pain. I am a 74-year-old female, and I take one or two 50-mg tablets a day, depending on my pain level. Most days, my pain is controlled on that dose. I also take 1,300-mg acetaminophen twice daily. I have chronic atrial fibrillation, and ...Read more