Dear Readers: Before we rush into a brand-new year, I want to pause and say thank you. Thank you for reading, for writing in and for trusting me with the parts of your life you don't always share at the dinner table. Thank you for letting this corner of the page be a place where we can talk ...

Dear Annie: Every December, my life starts to feel like one of those "year in review" videos — only mine looks more like the blooper reel. Back in January, I sat at my kitchen table with a brand-new planner, a cinnamon latte and all the determination in the world. I even wrote, "This Is ...

Dear Annie: I think my partner is slipping away from me, and I do not know how to reach for her without breaking both our hearts. My wife, "Laura," is 68. We have been together for 40 years. She has always been the organized one. When the kids were young, she could tell you where every ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: In a recent column, you noted that many patients do not properly use their inhaled asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) medications, but you didn't tell us how to properly use them. I'd hate to think that I've been doing Advair and albuterol incorrectly all these ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 76-year-old male who is in relatively good health. For the past six months, I have been experiencing diarrhea on and off. I initially spoke to my general physician, and he thought it could be lactose intolerance. I reduced my dairy intake, drank lactose-free milk, and ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: What can you tell me about the cause and treatment of immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP)? I am a 71-year-old male, and after lab results showed a low blood platelet count, I underwent a spleen and liver scan as well as a bone marrow biopsy. They all showed normal function, ...