Ask the Doctor

Torticollis twists the neck and head

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My 26-year-old grandson has been diagnosed with torticollis. Please share information about his condition and its treatment. -- E.S.       ANSWER: Torticollis is a twisting of the neck. The head is bent to t... Full story

Great progress made in lupus treatments

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Please say something about lupus. What are the symptoms? What causes it? Is it fatal? -- D.F.       ANSWER: When illnesses are classified, lupus is put in the same group of conditions to which rheumatoid art... Full story

Babies' broken bones not always a sign of abuse

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I was born with a mild case of osteogenesis imperfecta and have had at least 32 broken bones in my 68 years of life. One time, when I went to the emergency room, a 2-month-old baby was there who had had 20 broken bones already. When... Full story

Diverticulosis, not so bad; diverticulitis, not so good

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I would like information on diverticulosis. -- Anon.       ANSWER: Anon, you are a paragon of brevity.       "Osis" means "full of." A diverticulum is a pea-size bulge. Diverticulosi... Full story

Revisiting the battle of the bulge

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I'd appreciate any direction you can give me about reducing the size of my stomach. It sticks out. I have been trying for more than a year to reduce it with exercise, but I am getting nowhere fast. I do 20 sit-ups, three times a day... Full story

Leaky heart valve causes heart enlargement

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My doctor had me get an echocardiogram (report enclosed). He said I have an enlarged heart, but he didn't explain it. Will you please give me more information? -- L.R.       ANSWER: Your main heart problem i... Full story

Bad breath and tonsil stones

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have tonsil stones. They are little balls that come from the back of my mouth when I sneeze, cough or gargle. They resemble small pieces of garlic. Aside from being annoying, they are disgusting, because they smell and cause bad b... Full story

Medicines can shrink the prostate gland

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am 83 years old and have an enlarged prostate gland. My urologist suggested I take a medicine called Proscar to shrink the gland. Have you heard of any good results from it? -- N.C.       ANSWER: I know ma... Full story

Schizophrenia strikes at young ages

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: What causes a normal youth to develop schizophrenia when he reaches the early 20s? How can this condition be corrected? -- S.B.       ANSWER: Schizophrenia happens at any age, but the late teens and early 20... Full story

Broken hearts are for real

BY PAUL G. DONOHUE, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Last August, I was admitted to the hospital with what the doctors thought was the beginning of a heart attack. The next day I had a heart catheterization and found out I did not have a heart attack. I had something known as takotsub... Full story

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