DEAR HELOISE: My mother always complained that her first daughter-in-law, Sally, did not know how to do laundry. Her dish towels were always dingy. Ma called them “battleship grey.” This was 50 years ago. Now, after a few decades of married life myself, I know how this dull color came ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 70-year-old male with a large inguinal hernia on the right side. I have consulted two different surgeons, and both surgeons recommend taking care of the condition at the earliest convenience. The surgeon who specializes in robotic surgery recommends laparoscopic surgery ...

DEAR ANNIE: Almost 15 years ago, my older sister removed me from her life after a series of messy arguments. At the time, she just stopped taking my calls and waited for me to leave family functions before going. She told our three siblings and mother that she didn’t want me in her life. She ...

DEAR HELOISE: I am writing in response to your question regarding perfumes. People are affected by smells differently, so I don’t use perfumes or scented lotions or soaps. Having a history of migraines, I know that perfumes can truly set one off. My husband has a different reaction to ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a woman in my 80s. Is it safe to take 400 mg of ibuprofen a day? I take it with breakfast. I never take more than this. — J.S.B. ANSWER: The biggest concern I have with daily ibuprofen use in a woman in her 80s is damage to the stomach, including ulcers. Ulcers ...