On call: Cell phones and hospitals
When I visited a friend in the hospital recently, I was annoyed that I was not allowed to use my cell phone. Are cell phones really dangerous?
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Ask the doctor: Can a blocked artery cause jaw pain?
Lately when I climb the stairs or get really stressed, my jaw starts hurting. Is that just an oddity or something I should worry about?
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Ask the doctor: What is diastolic dysfunction?
My last echocardiogram showed mild diastolic dysfunction. What does that mean?
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On call: Periodontitis and your heart
I am a 56-year-old man with high blood pressure. My dentist found gum disease and referred me to a periodontist for treatment. I know that high blood pressure increases my risk of heart disease, and I’ve been told that gum disease does too. Is it true?
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Ask the doctor: What are the alternatives to a statin for lowering cholesterol?
I have tried all of the statin drugs to lower my cholesterol, but each one has caused severe muscle pain. Are there any non-statin medications I could try using to lower my cholesterol?
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By the way, doctor: Do inversion tables work?
What do you think about using inversion tables to relieve back pain?
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Ask the doctor: Is my LDL too low?
I am a 59-year-old man. The results of my latest blood test showed that my LDL cholesterol was 67, which was flagged as low. (I do not take any cholesterol-lowering drugs.) Should I be worried, or do anything to raise my LDL?
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Ask the doctor: Is the term “coronary heart disease” redundant?
I always thought that coronary and heart meant pretty much the same thing. If that’s so, isn’t “coronary heart disease” redundant?
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By the way, doctor: Why don’t statins damage the heart muscle?
I’ve heard that statin drugs can cause muscle damage. Since the heart is a muscle, why don’t statins cause heart damage?
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On call: PSA variability
I’ve been tracking my PSA ever since I turned 50, 11 years ago. Since I just moved from St. Louis to Denver, my next test will be done in a new lab. Will the change in labs affect my levels?
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