ArcaMax

DEAR DR. ROACH: I've been feeling just awful. My doctor put me through the normal tests, and all were good. A neurologist recommended that I get a cortisol test. I did, and it showed a high cortisol level. I'd never heard of this. Would you explain what high cortisol is, how it is treated, and if there are any natural cures or therapies? -- S....Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was 47 when my first colonoscopy found a villous adenoma, and during the past 21 years, I've had eight or nine more without problems. But this week, I had another and wound up with aspiration pneumonia, despite having followed the prep instructions to the letter. I know my stomach was empty.

How could this happen, and what ...Read more

Let me introduce you to queuine, a little-known vitamin-like micronutrient that your body cannot produce. (You can acquire it from certain foods, and it is produced by specific bacteria in your gut.) You can think of it as an essential nutrient that fine-tunes how your body reads your genes, switching them on or off to create needed proteins ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently read in your column that you test your patient's magnesium levels when they have been on long-term proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs). When I asked my doctor to include this in his order for blood tests, I was told that the test isn't accurate, and he wouldn't order it. Is there a special magnesium test that I can request? ...Read more

Around 20% of kids ages 12-19 have unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels and far too many children ages 6-12 are also contending with the damage that does to their future. A sedentary lifestyle and epidemic of overweight and obesity (that's 32% of American kids), along with genetic predispositions, are the reasons for youngsters' elevated lousy ...Read more

Heart disease remains the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, resulting in 700,000 to 800,000 deaths annually. Historically, men are at higher risk, developing cardiovascular disease roughly seven to 10 years earlier than women, with risks rising as early as age 35.

More bad news: A new study analyzing data from 2011 to 2022 found the ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Can you comment on endometrial cancer? I have stage IV, and I'm in my 50s. I remain concerned about inflammatory foods. I've now embraced a macrobiotic diet, and I feel great. -- T.P.

ANSWER: In North America, endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological cancer. Most women with endometrial cancer will see their doctor ...Read more

A new study in Communications Biology looked at the impact on your basic biology of practicing mind-body meditation techniques. The researchers found that doing various practices for a week actually activated specific brain pathways involved in pain relief and other pathways that play a role in boosting immune signaling.

New neurons were ...Read more

More than 1.5 billion folks on Planet Earth are living with obesity, but that doesn't mean they're all experiencing the same health risks or need the same care to become healthier. A study being presented at the European Congress on Obesity reveals that obesity causes distinctly different heart, metabolic, and inflammatory health risks for males...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband, 79, has to get both of his shoulders replaced (a reverse total shoulder replacement) due to osteoarthritis. He had the first shoulder done two months ago. It is a very painful procedure and consists of a long and painful recovery. Physical therapy is helping.

Now I'm concerned with every painful twinge in my ...Read more

Given that most of us have filed our income tax returns, it should be no surprise that April is Stress Awareness Month, so designated in 1992 as a way to focus on promoting healthy coping mechanisms.

(A big, fat tax refund seems like a nice way to cope.)

Stress is a national phenomenon, especially in these times, but levels vary in different...Read more

Admit it, the thought has occurred to you, probably while exercising.

For those less inclined or with little time, the answer may be encouraging, says Stella Volpe, head of Virginia Tech's human nutrition, foods and exercise department.

Traditional exercise guidelines are designed for long-term health and sustained activity, but there is ...Read more

• Arsenicum album: Arsenicum album, derived from arsenic trioxide, is a homeopathic remedy that may be helpful for individuals with OCD. It is often recommended for perfectionism, excessive cleanliness, and a need for order and control.

• Causticum: Causticum, made from potassium hydrate, is a homeopathic remedy that may assist in ...Read more

You can do all the right things to live long and well -- eat right, exercise, refrain from smoking, etc. -- but it's still pretty much a guessing game whether such behaviors will add up to measurably added years.

But a new, experimental blood test developed by researchers at Duke Health and the University of Minnesota might someday provide ...Read more

• Nux vomica: Nux vomica, derived from the seeds of the Strychnos nux-vomica tree, is a homeopathic remedy that may help alleviate digestive discomfort during exercise. It is often recommended for individuals who experience bloating, indigestion, or acid reflux.

• Carbo vegetabilis: Carbo vegetabilis, made from vegetable charcoal, ...Read more

• Carbo vegetabilis: Carbo vegetabilis, derived from vegetable charcoal, is a homeopathic remedy that may aid in improving nutrient absorption. It may assist in relieving symptoms such as bloating, indigestion, and flatulence, which can hinder nutrient assimilation.

• Lycopodium: Lycopodium, made from the spores of the clubmoss, is ...Read more

• Bellis perennis: Bellis perennis, derived from the common daisy, is a homeopathic remedy that may assist in promoting proper thermoregulation. It may help regulate body temperature and alleviate symptoms associated with temperature imbalances.

• Pulsatilla: Pulsatilla, made from the windflower, is a homeopathic remedy that may aid...Read more

• Echinacea: Echinacea is a well-known homeopathic remedy that may help support the immune system during exercise. It may enhance the body's natural defense mechanisms and assist in reducing the risk of infections.

• Allium Cepa: Allium Cepa, made from the common onion, is a homeopathic remedy that may provide immune system support....Read more