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4 days ago | 
rockdalenewtoncitizen.com | Eve Glazier |MBA Elizabeth Ko
Dear Doctors: Why is it that fish is so good for you? My husband and I have been thinking about adding more of it to our diets, but we keep hearing stories in the news about people getting sick from contaminated seafood. How do you eat fish and stay safe? Dear Reader: Fish is an important part of a healthy diet. Not only is it an excellent source of high-quality protein, but it also contains a wide array of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
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1 week ago | 
rockdalenewtoncitizen.com | Eve Glazier |MBA Elizabeth Ko
Dear Doctors: I am a healthy 23-year-old woman. I started noticing extra hairs in my brush, and then my mom found two bald spots on the back of my head. I did a telehealth appointment and they said it’s alopecia areata. What is that? Does the hair ever grow back? Will it happen again? Dear Reader: Alopecia areata is a chronic autoimmune disorder that results in hair loss, typically in rounded patches about the size of a quarter.
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1 week ago | 
rockdalenewtoncitizen.com | Eve Glazier |MBA Elizabeth Ko
Dear Doctors: A vendor at our weekend farmers market was telling his customers about something called the “Dirty Dozen” list. Apparently it has to do with pesticides and shopping for produce? I would like to know more about this, and I wonder if you think it has merit. Dear Reader: When people talk about the Dirty Dozen of produce, they are referring to a list of the vegetables and fruits that are the most likely to be contaminated by pesticide residue.
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2 weeks ago | 
rockdalenewtoncitizen.com | Eve Glazier |MBA Elizabeth Ko
Dear Doctors: I have been told that I have tonsil stones. What are they, and how do you get them? Do you know if this is a common condition? Are there any natural remedies? Dear Reader: Tonsils are the two rounded pads of tissue located at the back of the throat. About the size of an olive, they sit on either side of the uvula.
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2 weeks ago | 
rockdalenewtoncitizen.com | Eve Glazier |MBA Elizabeth Ko
Dear Doctors: I am a 74-year-old man with a somewhat embarrassing question. My grandson recently asked me why I smell dusty. I’ve heard about “old person smell,” but always thought I would know if I had it. What causes it? I have good hygiene. Why doesn’t that prevent it? Dear Reader: Whether it’s bad breath, perspiration or any other scents our bodies produce, the standards of modern hygiene demand that they be eliminated.
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3 weeks ago | 
rockdalenewtoncitizen.com | Eve Glazier |MBA Elizabeth Ko
Hello, dear readers, and welcome to our monthly letters column. The weather is warming up, which means many of us can take our exercise routines outdoors. We hope you’ll consider taking advantage of the longer and milder days with an after-dinner walk. Committing to even 15 minutes of walking can benefit the heart, lymphatic system, blood sugar control and mood. It’s a worthwhile use of time. And now, onward to the mail. — Coffee is a popular topic, both in research and among our readers.
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3 weeks ago | 
rockdalenewtoncitizen.com | Eve Glazier |MBA Elizabeth Ko
Dear Doctors: I was lucky enough to grow up with a family dog, and I want that for my kids. You're more active, you learn responsibility and it's just plain fun. My wife needs some persuading. If you know of any studies that say having a dog is good for your health, I think that would help. Dear Reader: You'll be glad to know that yes, a robust body of research continues to find that sharing your life with a dog can be beneficial to your physical health.
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4 weeks ago | 
rockdalenewtoncitizen.com | Eve Glazier |MBA Elizabeth Ko
Dear Doctors: My lower back went into spasm as I was washing the dishes. I figured it was from bending over, but my mom insists it’s from being so stressed out. (My family is dealing with severe smoke damage in our house from the recent fires in Los Angeles.) Can stress really cause back pain? Dear Reader: Let’s start with back pain, which is one of the most common physical complaints here in the United States.
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1 month ago | 
rockdalenewtoncitizen.com | Eve Glazier |MBA Elizabeth Ko
Dear Doctors: I am 66 years old and an avid cyclist. Last winter, after we went for a long ride, I suddenly felt lightheaded and then fainted. My doctor ordered a series of heart scans that found slight mitral valve prolapse. What is that? Should I be worried? Dear Reader: Mitral valve prolapse is a condition that interferes with the one-way flow of blood through two of the four chambers of the heart. As the name suggests, it involves a structure known as the mitral valve.
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1 month ago | 
rockdalenewtoncitizen.com | Eve Glazier |MBA Elizabeth Ko
Dear Doctors: I am an 85-year-old man with congestive heart failure. I have almost totally lost my balance. My treadmill quit working and my daughter, a physical therapist, thinks I do not need to replace it. She thinks it is dangerous for me. My only alternative is a walker. Can you address this issue? Dear Reader: Your daughter is correct that in certain circumstances, exercising on a treadmill can pose dangers.
