DEAR DOCTOR K: In a few months, my husband and I are taking our first trip abroad. We both have chronic medical conditions. How should we prepare for our trip?
DEAR READER: Many people with medical conditions enjoy foreign travel. But your preparation will need to involve more than just reading some guidebooks.
DEAR DOCTOR K: Let's say I stub my toe. How does my brain know where it hurts and how bad?
DEAR READER: Pain serves as the body's warning system. It alerts you to an injury or when something, such as an infection, has gone wrong inside your body. Pain can also help in healing. But in order to respond appropriately, your brain must identify the location and severity of your pain.
DEAR DOCTOR K: In a previous column you wrote about the importance of balance exercises as we age. But why does our balance get worse as we get older?
DEAR READER: A number of changes that come with aging can affect our balance, including many health problems and certain medications. Balance exercises can help you improve your balance.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I recently had a PSA test and my levels came back elevated. I'm scheduled to have a prostate biopsy. What can I expect?
DEAR READER: The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is a screening test designed to detect prostate cancer before symptoms develop. An elevated PSA value can suggest that cancer may be present. But only a prostate biopsy can confirm the actual presence of cancer.
DEAR DOCTOR K: My first-grader was just diagnosed with dyslexia. Can you tell me more about it? Will my daughter outgrow it, or will she always struggle with it?
DEAR READER: Dyslexia is a learning disability caused by a problem in the way the brain processes information. But we are only beginning to understand what the problem is.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I have pain in my kneecap, right in front of my knee. It hurts to walk down the stairs or even sit for too long. What can I do?
DEAR READER: It sounds like you have what is called patellofemoral pain. That's pain where your kneecap (patella) meets your thighbone (femur). It usually results from overdoing exercise. Fortunately, there's a lot you can do to prevent and relieve this pain.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I've been taking Prilosec for years to prevent heartburn. My wife doesn't think it's safe to take any drug for that long. What do you think?
DEAR READER: I've said it before, but I think it bears repeating: No drug is 100 percent safe. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't take one if you need it. But you should continually weigh the risks and benefits.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I'm 71 years old. My systolic blood pressure is usually in the 150s to 160s, which is high. But my diastolic blood pressure is usually in the 70s, which is normal. Do I need treatment?
DEAR READER: A blood pressure measurement includes two numbers: systolic pressure (the upper number) and diastolic pressure (the lower number). Your systolic pressure is high: 140 mmHg or over is high. And your lower number is normal: normal diastolic pressure is below 80 mmHg. When your systolic blood pressure is high and your diastolic blood pressure is low, it's called isolated systolic hypertension (ISH).
DEAR DOCTOR K: I have sleep apnea. My doctor has urged me to use a CPAP machine, but it's too uncomfortable. Are there other options?
DEAR READER: Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing stops or becomes shallower many times each night. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when your upper airway collapses or gets blocked during sleep. These airway obstructions starve your brain of oxygen and stress your cardiovascular system. Untreated sleep apnea increases your risk of high blood pressure, stroke and premature death.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I'm a healthy woman in my 40s. Should I take extra folic acid to boost my immune system?
DEAR READER: Folic acid is, essentially, a vitamin. We all need vitamins. Indeed, the word "vitamin" was coined to refer to a substance that was essential to human life. The natural form of folic acid, folate, occurs in some foods, including vegetables, fruits, and dried beans and peas.
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Dr. Anthony Komaroff is a practicing physician, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Editor in Chief of Harvard Health Publications. Learn more »
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