Ask the Doctor

High blood pressure leads to many complications

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Is a blood pressure of 165/95 all that bad? I know my dad's blood pressure has been over 200, and he's still alive at age 79. I take a water pill, but I'd like to lower it without any medicine. Is that possible? How? -- K.C.ANSWER:... Full story

Hydrating skin takes the itch out of eczema

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have had to deal with eczema since I was a kid. The worst part of it is the itching. I try not to scratch, but during sleep I do it without waking. I have seen a number of doctors, but I cannot get rid of this awful curse. Are... Full story

Scratching the exercise itch

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: When exercising, I sometimes have itching. Will you comment on this? -- W.M.ANSWER: One possibility is something called cholinergic urticaria. It's an outbreak of itchiness and tiny red dots, so tiny they can be hard to see.... Full story

Burning tongue syndrome mostly targets older women

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am 82. I have had something wrong with my tongue for months. I went to my family doctor, and he thought it was a yeast infection. He sent me to a specialist, who called it black tongue. He sent me to a store that sells colloidal... Full story

Too many platelets often can safely go untreated

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My platelet counts have been high. I take hydroxyurea for this. My diagnosis is essential thrombocytosis. Is there a danger of clotting? Why have they told me not to hold the hydroxyurea capsules in my hand, but to take one... Full story

Bronchiectasis fosters lung infections

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Tell me something about bronchiectasis. I have had it for more than six months. Is it treatable? I use albuterol in a nebulizer. I am tired all the time and have no appetite. I have a cough with phlegm. Some nights I sweat. My... Full story

What's hair effluvium?

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My question is about female hair loss. I have heard of and read about alopecia. During a recent doctor appointment, the term "telogen effluvium" was mentioned. No explanation was given, and no treatment was suggested. Is there a... Full story

Leg cramps destroy peaceful sleep

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: When I go to bed, my calf muscles cramp and contort my feet. To alleviate the pain, I have to get out of bed, stand up and physically push down on my feet. The pain is so bad that twice I have fainted. One time I hit my head on the... Full story

Prevention the best treatment for frostbite

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: All my life I have skied. I live in a place where everyone does it, both downhill and cross-country. When I was young, I suffered from frostbite on the index finger of my right hand. The town doctor thought I would lose the finger,... Full story

Viruses cause most brain infections

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have a friend in his late 70s who has been diagnosed with encephalitis. It's been about three weeks, and he still doesn't recognize people. He speaks a little, but very softly. He can't feed himself. Presently, he's in rehab at a... Full story

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