August 15, 2018
Ask the Doctors – Are large doses of B12 safe?
Dear Doctor: I’m almost 90 years old and always tired. I took two capsules of 2,000 mcg vitamin B12 the other night, and felt stronger and not as tired. Is it safe? My first thought is that you might have B12 deficiency, caused either by inadequate intake or by inadequate absorption of B12. Animal products […]
Tags: Ask the Doctors, B12 anemia, B12 supplements, Dr. Robert Ashley, vitamins
August 13, 2018
Ask the Doctors – How can I ease the pain of shingles?
Dear Doctor: I’m a 78-year-old woman who developed shingles in December 2014. The rash settled in the nerves on my left side, from under the breast, to the waist and around the middle of my back. Is there anything to ease the pain? Would the shot help? Shingles is a reactivation of the herpes zoster […]
Tags: Ask the Doctors, capsaicin, Dr. Robert Ashley, gabapentin, herpes zoster virus, post-herpetic neuralgia, pregalbin, shingles, shingles pain, shingles vaccination
August 8, 2018
Ask the Doctors – Do glasses weaken your eyes?
Dear Doctors: About a year ago, when I turned 44, I started using reading glasses that I purchased at the drug store and they seemed to work just fine. Now I need a stronger pair and I wonder whether using them has weakened my eyes. We’re happy to be able to reassure you that using […]
Tags: aging, Ask the Doctors, corrective lenses, Dr. Eve Glazier, Dr.Elizabeth Ko, eyesight, farsightedness, glasses, glaucoma, nearsightedness, vision
August 6, 2018
Ask the Doctors – What is vascular dementia, and can it be prevented?
Dear Doctors: My dad has just been diagnosed with vascular dementia. What is it? Can it be prevented? Dementia is a general term used to categorize symptoms that relate to the decline or loss of cognitive function. These include confusion, memory loss, impaired language skills, changes in personality or behavior, and the inability to think […]
Tags: Ask the Doctors, Dr. Eve Glazier, Dr.Elizabeth Ko, high blood pressure, vascular dementia
August 1, 2018
Ask the Doctors – Do I really need an Advanced Directive?
Dear Doctor: I am a 60-year-old man who exercises regularly and takes no medicines. At my last physical exam, my doctor gave me an Advance Directive form. Do I really need to fill one of these out? Unequivocally, yes. Advance Directives are forms providing direction to both family members and the medical community about your […]
July 31, 2018
Ask the Doctors – My physician says I need a hip replacement. Now what?
Dear Doctors: I’m 55 years old and a former marathon runner. Now my right hip hurts all the time, not only when I walk but also when I’m lying down. I can’t even sleep on my right side any more. I was told I need a hip replacement. What does that entail? You’ve described several […]
Tags: Ask the Doctors, Dr. Eve Glazier, Dr.Elizabeth Ko, hip pain, hip replacement, osteoarthritis
July 26, 2018
Ask the Doctors – Can working out too much affect your libido?
Dear Doctor: A new study said that working out too much could ruin your sex life. I like to be in shape – but not at that high a price. What’s the deal? Exercise is unequivocally good for men’s libido. Compared with sedentary individuals, men who exercise regularly have higher testosterone levels, greater libido and […]
Tags: Ask the Doctors, Dr. Robert Ashley, exercise, libido, sex drive, testosterone, working out
July 19, 2018
Ask the Doctors – How can I feel more energetic as I age?
Dear Doctors: I’m about to turn 60 and when I spend the afternoon playing with my 7- and 9-year-old grandsons, I’m wiped out. Is there anything that I can do to feel and be more energetic? I want to be an active grandmother and not just sit on the sidelines. We’d like to begin by […]
Tags: Ask the Doctors, Dr. Eve Glazier, Dr.Elizabeth Ko, eating healthy, fatigue, healthy aging, sleep
July 18, 2018
Ask the Doctors – Will long-term calorie restriction shorten or lengthen lifespan?
Dear Doctor: Some studies suggest that long-term calorie restriction can shorten lifespan; others say it won’t. Which should we believe? This is a perplexing question. We need energy to live, and the food we eat provides that energy. Obviously, gluttony can lead to dire health consequences, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure, […]
Tags: Ask the Doctors, calorie restriction, calories, Dr. Robert Ashley, food, lifespan, longevity
July 17, 2018
Ask the Doctors – How can I ease bursitis pain?
Dear Doctors: I played a pretty rough game of tennis a few weeks ago and developed an ache in my right elbow that turns out to be bursitis. What can I do to ease the pain? Our skeletons are marvels of mechanical engineering. They create a scaffold for our muscles, skin and circulatory system, shelter […]
Tags: Ask the Doctors, bursitis, Dr. Eve Glazier, Dr.Elizabeth Ko, exercise, joint pain, yoga
