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Hormone replacement helped with bones and sex drive

Lifestyles

Q. My doctor prescribed hormones due to bone loss. I am using an estrogen patch, progesterone and testosterone cream. My osteoporosis is now reversed. My spine is in the normal range. Hormones are the best thing I’ve ever done, and my sex drive is back! A. The head of the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Marty Makary, agrees with you that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be helpful. He has promoted HRT to reduce the risk of bone fractures, heart disease and dementia. A study in the journal Clinical Endocrinology (March 15, 2026) reports an “improvement in sexual function” ...

When should you get a mammogram?

Lifestyles

WASHINGTON — Deciding when to get routine mammograms is confusing. Some health groups recommend women begin at age 40 or 45 while another recently opted for age 50. They also differ on whether yearly or every other year is best. The conflicting advice is at least partly because guidelines ...

Don’t let boyfriend’s vaping vice be a deal breaker

Lifestyles

DEAR ANNIE: My dad died of lung cancer a few years ago, and because of that, I abhor smoking in all its forms. The problem is I just discovered my boyfriend, who is a nurse, has been secretly vaping behind my back. I was shocked and upset not so much that he did it (which is bad enough) but that he went through great pains to hide it from me. Plus, he works in the medical field and should know better! He promised to discontinue when I confronted him and that he did it only because of the immense pressure he is under. Recently, I found newly bought vaping pens in his apartment. The ...

How seasonal allergies can trigger asthma attacks

Lifestyles

For many, spring is the season of renewal and new beginnings. But it’s also the season when trees and plants start to bloom and pollen hangs in the air. Instead of feeling refreshed and reinvigorated, some brace for the return of seasonal allergies. Sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion, ...

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH: Chewing tobacco dangers are many

Lifestyles

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband has neuropathy in his feet. He is otherwise healthy, exercises daily, maintains his weigh, and eats healthy. My concern is that he uses chewing tobacco. He insists that it doesn’t have a negative influence on his condition, but I disagree. What’s your medical opinion? He is fully aware of other health complications that chewing tobacco can cause, but he doesn’t make an effort to quit. I’m frustrated and worried about his future. He is 63. — A.C.W. ANSWER: There are many causes of neuropathy. Diabetes is a major one, but I get many letters from ...