Medical Lake City Council Position 1
Related Coverage, Page 10
High medical bills in WA mean ‘all kinds of sacrifices’
When 85-year-old So-Earn Lim was hospitalized recently after an esophageal cancer diagnosis, he and his wife Elligia feared not just for his health, but also for their business.
Ask the doctors: Sitting at work plays role in ill health
Dear Doctors: Like a lot of people, I’ve had to return to the office. At home, I did calls and meetings on the treadmill, walked at lunch and lifted weights during breaks. That’s not possible now. I know sitting is bad for your health. Can you discuss the research? I’d like to share it with my boss.
Ask the doctors: Knowing the difference between a cold and the flu
Dear Doctors: My husband and I both work in an office, and our three kids are in school. That’s a lot of exposure to germs and bugs. How do you know if it’s a cold or the flu – or worse? Do you always need to see a doctor?
Ask the doctors: Cooldown period important after exercising
Dear Doctors: I meet up with friends a few days a week to go running. One of them always skips the cooldown and hops right into his car to drive to work. A trainer once told me that’s a recipe for sudden cardiac death. Do you know if that’s a myth, or is there something to it?
Ask the doctors: Study suggests link between bacteria in gut microbiome and MG
Dear Doctors: My sister has been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. It started last year, when she turned 38, and it has been getting worse. I would like to know more about the condition. Also, I have heard that a study says the gut microbiome is involved. Can you please talk about that?
Ask the doctors: Readers respond
Hello, dear readers, and welcome to a bonus edition of our monthly letters column. We are receiving a lot of questions about the various respiratory tract infections that become common this time of year and will have columns on them soon. In the meantime, with such full inboxes, we’ll dive right into your letters.
Dear Annie: A sister’s betrayal and a brother’s blame
Dear Annie: My brother regularly calls to blame me for my strained relationship with our sister, without knowing my side of the story. For my own peace of mind, I keep my distance from her, though I still send her Christmas gifts, birthday cards and other greetings – which she ignores and never reciprocates.
Ask the doctors: Bronchitis treatment focuses on symptoms
Dear Doctors: I was recently sick with what I thought was the flu. I had a fever, sore throat and a terrible cough. I have asthma, so my husband insisted that I see our family doctor. She said that I did have the flu, but I also had acute bronchitis. Can you please explain what that is?
Ask the doctors: Aging spurts stem from molecular changes
Dear Doctors: I always thought that your body ages gradually as you get older, kind of like your car does. But now I’ve been hearing that we actually go through a couple of spurts where we age really quickly. Can you please explain where this idea comes from?
Ask the doctors: Menstrual cravings are all in your head – in your brain
Dear Doctors: I’m pretty good about eating a healthy diet. The exception is each month during my period, when all I seem to want is potato chips and ice cream. Is there something going on with my body, or is this just a good excuse for a few cheat days each month?
Ask the doctors: Walking backward may have link to increased cognition
Dear Doctors: My father is 74 years old. He wants to stay healthy, so he has started taking a fitness class at his local community center. One of the exercises they do is to walk backward. The instructor says it’s good for your body, and also for cognition. Do you know if this is actually true?
Ask the doctors: Treatment for rotator cuff injuries depends on severity
Dear Doctors: I tripped on a tree root and almost did a face-plant. I landed on my hands with my arms stretched out, and now my right shoulder has started aching. My boyfriend thinks it’s a rotator cuff injury. I’ve only heard of that in baseball players. What is it? What is the treatment?
Ask the doctors: Saliva tests being developed to identify prostate cancer
Dear Doctors: I heard there will be a saliva test to see who has a high risk of getting prostate cancer. I don’t see how saliva would have anything to do with your prostate gland. How does the test work, and how can I get access to it?
Ask the doctors: Pelvic floor dysfunction has several treatments
Dear Doctors: The yoga teacher at our local Y is always talking about the pelvic floor and how keeping it strong is important for staying healthy. Is that the same as your core? What would be the symptoms if it was weak?
Ask the doctors: BMI being phased out in favor of BRI
Dear Doctors: I’ve heard there’s a test that’s more accurate than BMI. Do you know what that is? My daughter is 17 years old, plays tennis, lifts weights and has a sporty build. She’s not overweight, but her BMI of 26 says she is. It upsets her, and it really doesn’t make sense.