Health Advice
/Health
/ArcaMax
Foods that help keep you well-hydrated
In 1616, when Ben Johnson wrote "Drink to me only with thine eyes," you can bet he wasn't concerned with hydration -- just with getting drenched in love. These days, we're more likely to hear about how staying well-hydrated helps keep your heart health sweet and your sweetheart happy (hydration impacts hormones and boosts energy). But do you ...Read more
Don't ignore the snore
If you're a schnorrer, you often beg for something. And if you're in bed with any of the 37 million U.S. adults who report they are nightly -- or almost nightly -- snorers, chances are you're schnorr-ing for them to find a way to quiet the racket.
Not all snoring causes serious health hazards -- but it can leave you with a dry mouth, a sore ...Read more
A Dry Cough Persisting For A Decade Might Indicate Asthma
DEAR DR. ROACH: I also have a dry cough that's been going on for about 13-14 years. I'm a healthy 62-year-old and read that it is called "cough variant asthma." I would like to know more about this but really can't find anything about it, except that it will eventually get worse if it's not treated. I was checked twice in the past 15 years for...Read more
How to reduce your child's risk of ADHD -- before birth
A 2024 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that around one in nine kids, ages 3 to 17, have been diagnosed with ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and that's over a million more than were identified with the condition in 2016.
Better recognition of the condition may be one reason for the increase, but it...Read more
Using Stevia In Coffee Is OK For Borderline Prediabetic Patient
DEAR DR. ROACH: In a recent column, you OK'd stevia, which I had heard could negatively impact our microbiomes. I am borderline prediabetic, and I had stopped using stevia accordingly. However, I hate unsweetened coffee. Can you comment on stevia's impact on our microbiomes in your column? -- M.M.
ANSWER: I wish I could give you an answer that ...Read more

On Nutrition: All y'all in Texas
While visiting an eating establishment during our recent visit to Texas, I noticed a framed map of the United States on the wall. It showed two areas. The most noticeable was an embellished boundary of this 28th state identified as TEXAS. The rest of the map was simply “Not Texas.”
I can see what makes the people of this state so proud. ...Read more
Woman Unable To Lose Weight Despite Exercise And A Good Diet
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 69-year-old female in excellent health, other than having been treated for breast cancer eight years ago. (I underwent surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, then five years on an aromatase inhibitor.) Since then, I have gained 40 pounds. I am 5 feet, 2 inches tall, and weigh 178 pounds. I have been unable to lose the weight ...Read more
Three medications that ease Alzheimer's symptoms
As we wait for a breakthrough that can block or reverse Alzheimer's disease, there is some consolation that we finally have three kinds of medications and a treatment that can damp down or slow the progression of symptoms -- cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine, and a monoclonal antibody, lecanemab.
Cholinesterase inhibitors increase levels of ...Read more
Man Fails To Respond To Oral Medications And Injections For Ed
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have erectile dysfunction (ED). I am 71, and this has been an issue for over a year. But it seems to be getting worse. I have used sildenafil and Cialis with no effect. I also received testosterone injections for over a year. I have used Trimix and Quadmix, which worked initially to a certain extent, but now it doesn't work ...Read more
Is your high school athlete undernourished?
In 2022-2023, almost 3.5 million girls and just over 4.5 million boys participated in high school sports. That's a lot of soccer, softball, basketball and football (including 4,094 girls on 11-player high school tackle football teams, and 42,955 girls playing flag football).
That's wonderful -- it means they're getting physical exercise that ...Read more
Heir Pollution
Researchers report that both maternal and paternal exposures to outdoor air pollution can negatively affect human embryo development in in vitro fertilization cycles. In other words, air pollution may make it harder to get pregnant.
The study in Environment International presented a new approach to understanding the associations between air ...Read more
A GLP-1 Agonist Can Help Reduce Weight, Sleep Apnea And More
DEAR DR. ROACH: My 66-year-old husband recently received a diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. He is 5 feet, 7 inches tall, and weighs 270 pounds. He is treating his fluid retention with 100 mg of furosemide daily. He also has mild, untreated sleep apnea.
He would like to try one of the GLP-1 drugs to lose some weight, ...Read more
Arthritis and anxiety: when joint pain is emotional
About a quarter of U.S. adults have been diagnosed with arthritis -- and many others contend with sore, aching joints. That's more than 55 million folks who deal with varying degrees of pain, restricted motion and a compromised ability to feel content or happy. That's because joint-related pain (and we don't mean from marijuana ... that's a ...Read more

Diabetes Quick Fix: Onion, Pepper and Mushroom Pizza
Here's a quick pizza dinner that takes less time than sending out for one. Swiss cheese, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes and onions top this thin crust base. You can also, substitute any leftover vegetables you may have on hand.
Look for thin crust, whole wheat pizza bases.
The order makes a difference in how fast the pizza cooks. I place the ...Read more

On Nutrition: Celebrate the green
I like the theme “Food Connects Us” for this month’s celebration of National Nutrition Month, sponsored each March by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. And this month also coincides with another observance — Saint Patrick’s Day.
This particular holiday began in Ireland to commemorate Saint Patrick, a priest and missionary in ...Read more
Alcohol Causes Cancer
In one of his final acts, Vivek Murthy, former U.S. surgeon general, said alcoholic beverages should carry an updated warning label that says consumption increases the risk of cancer. Murthy said most Americans have no idea.
Recent research underscores the point, finding that quitting or reducing alcohol consumption reduced the risk of a ...Read more

On Nutrition: What about kombucha?
In a recent article, I explained the technicalities of identifying a food as a probiotic. Probiotics are “good” bacteria that benefit our health. And many of these beneficial organisms reside in fermented foods. Yet not all fermented foods can technically be called “probiotics.”
Why? In order for a food to be classified as a probiotic, ...Read more
Late-Night Plaque
Let's all agree that indulging in late-night snacks isn't good for your teeth unless you immediately follow up with a thorough brushing. But is midnight munching bad for your overall health?
Apart from the fact that these are calories added to the day's menu but with less opportunity to burn them off, late-night snacking can pose two ...Read more

Diabetes Quick Fix: Mustard Crusted Snapper with Tomato and Mint Barley
A tangy mustard coating gives this baked fish a great flavor and seals in the juices. I use two types of mustard in this recipe, Dijon and a grainy mustard. This is a very simple recipe and, once it is in the oven, you can quickly make the barley.
Barley is used most often in stews and soups, but it is very good boiled and served as an ...Read more

On Nutrition: What's the deal with seed oils?
I’m on vacation. So I have no idea why I decided to write on such a controversial topic this week. I would guess, though, that I’m not the only one scratching my head over the current banter against seed oils.
As you might guess, seed oils are liquid fats that come from plant seeds. The most notable are derived from canola, corn, cottonseed...Read more
Inside Health Advice
Popular Stories
- Lawmakers launch bipartisan push to save 9/11 WTC program from RFK Jr. cuts
- Mayo Clinic Minute: The difference in brain aneurysms
- Immune amnesia: Why even mild measles infections can lead to serious disease later
- Being alone has its benefits − a psychologist flips the script on the ‘loneliness epidemic’
- 'I am going through hell': Job loss, mental health, and the fate of federal workers