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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Medical Lake City Council Position 1

Related Coverage, Page 6

Ask the doctors: New immunotherapy drug could slow Type 1 diabetes

Dear Doctors: Type 1 diabetes runs in our family. Because of that, our pediatrician asked to do blood tests with our son to check if Type 1 is beginning. She also said that if it shows up, there’s a medicine that can slow things down. I’ve never heard of any of this and would like to know more.

Ask the doctors: Stem cells being researched to help with Type 1 diabetes

Dear Doctors: I have Type 1 diabetes. I try to stay healthy and keep my blood sugar under control, but it feels like a fight every day. I read there’s a study using stem cells for a cure. Are there any updates? Does it seem like this might lead to a treatment?

Ask the doctors: Pollen counts are highest they’ve been in decades

Dear Doctors: I have hay fever, but usually it’s not that bad. This year, however, it has been awful. I’m plugged up, my eyes are itchy and by the end of the day, I have a headache. We live near Atlanta, and a lot of people here are miserable. Over-the-counter meds aren’t helping. What can I do?

Ask the doctors: Regular exercise can increase colorectal cancer survival rates

Dear Doctors: I want to know more about how exercising gives you a better chance of recovering from colon cancer. I’ve been trying to help my brother-in-law, who just got diagnosed. He doesn’t exercise, and I hope this might motivate him. He’s only 42, and we are all surprised by this diagnosis.

Ask the doctors: Sinus infections can be disguised as toothaches

Dear Doctors: I saw my dentist for pain in an upper molar, but the X-ray was normal. My nose was also plugged up, and she said it might be my sinuses. I started doing a saline rinse, and after a few days the pain had gone. Why would having a sinus infection give you a toothache?

Brain-eating amoebas are rare. But hot weather increases the risk.

High temperatures send many of us straight to the nearest source of water to cool off, whether that’s a pool, beach, lake or backyard splash pad. But if you’ve heard reports about a “brain-eating” amoeba that lives in fresh water, you might be questioning how safe it really is to go for that dip.

Ask the doctors: Lifting heavy weights may be beneficial for older adults

Dear Doctors: I enjoy lifting heavy weights. It makes me stronger and helps me feel energized. The trainer at my gym says that, because I’m 84 years old, it’s not a good idea. He’s been after me to switch to lighter weights. Is there any science to back me up that this is OK, or is he right?

Ask the doctors: Sprained ankles need time to heal

Dear Doctors: I twisted my ankle playing soccer, and the coach said it’s sprained. I got it taped and sat out for a few days. It felt better, so I asked to play, but he said no, it still needed time to heal. What happens if I go back too soon?

Ask the doctors: Training for old age

Dear Doctors: I heard an interesting talk about training to prepare for old age. Is this an established theory or just someone’s random idea? The person said there are certain things you can focus on to age well. I am 62 years old, and I’m especially interested in staying strong.

Ask the doctors: Liquid biopsies offer more nuanced profile of cancer

Dear Doctors: My mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and I’m helping with her medical appointments. Her oncologist says she needs a liquid biopsy. She has already had a biopsy – that’s how they found the cancer. Why would she need another one?

The surprising ways food packaging is exposing us to microplastics

At this point, most people know that microplastics are everywhere. Scientists have shown that tiny particles, amounting to the weight of a plastic spoon, can be found in our brains; hundreds of fragments of plastic are in each breath we take.

Ask the doctors: Readers respond

Hello, readers, and welcome to a bonus letters column! You are keeping our mailboxes full, so we will get right to your letters.

Ask the doctors: Wear treated clothing to prevent tick bites

Dear Doctors: We live in Wisconsin, and this year we’re seeing a lot of news about ticks carrying Lyme disease and a few other kinds I hadn’t heard of before. They don’t fly around like mosquitoes, so why is it so easy for them to bite you? Are there bug sprays that are good against ticks?

Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation unveils new, bigger facility

Jun. 20—MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation finally has some breathing room. “We were really shoved into a little box,” said Community Relations Coordinator Amanda Carpenter. “We made it work, and it was great for the time we had it, but this space works so much better for us. It’s a lot more comfortable for our clients and comfortable for us. We’re not climbing on top of each …

Ask the doctors: Long-term symptoms indicate post-concussion syndrome

Dear Doctors: I was in a pretty bad car accident. I thought I was lucky I got away with just a concussion, but now I have headaches and see an aura when I look at lights at night. I’m told it may be post-concussion syndrome. Can you please talk about what that is and whether it can be cured?

DHS Secretary Noem taken to hospital after allergic reaction

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem was taken to a hospital on Tuesday after suffering an allergic reaction, a department spokesperson told The Washington Post.

Ask the doctors: 333 rule is helpful during bouts of anxiety

Dear Doctors: I am beginning to have problems with anxiety, and recently I had trouble catching my breath. My sister says that’s one of the things that happens in a panic attack. She talked to me about the “333 rule,” and I wonder if you think it can help?

Ask the doctors: Potassium-sodium ratio important to blood pressure management

Dear Doctors: My blood pressure is on the edge of the normal range. My doctor wants me to think about something called the DASH diet. What is that? I want to stay healthy, but I know myself: If I can’t have a diet that is enjoyable, I’m not going to be able to stick with it for long.

Ask the doctors: Readers respond

Hello, dear readers, and welcome to our monthly letters column. With lengthening days and warming weather, outdoor activities beckon.

Ask the doctors: Age is a factor in diminished lung capacity

Dear Doctors: I recently started going to a yoga class at our community center. We were doing deep breathing, and it felt like my lungs weren’t filling up as much as they used to. Do your lungs get less elastic when you get older? Can that be reversed?