DEAR DR. ROACH: If levothyroxine (the T4 hormone) has a long half-life (seven days), how does the pituitary gland provide fine control of the thyroid’s T4 hormone during a short time period (minutes, hours)? If there is such fine control between the pituitary and thyroid, manually trying to ...

Dear Annie: I am a 15-year-old boy, and my family hates me because I am gay. For as long as I can remember, I’ve known I am attracted to other guys. My parents found out last year and became extremely angry with me. All I feel now is their hatred. They say I am a disgrace. Though they still ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: What is heatstroke? I exercised a lot in the heat yesterday, and today I feel dizzy and nauseated, even though it isn’t as hot as yesterday. – L.C. ANSWER: Heatstroke and heat exhaustion have similar names but are different conditions. People who exercise in conditions of ...

Dear Annie: My wife has been on pain medication for almost a decade, and it has turned into a serious addiction. I have to monitor her pills weekly -- though, recently, it’s been daily. She hasn’t worked at all the last decade, ever since she started getting prescribed the painkillers. She ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have always been a proponent of the attitude that “no matter how much you make yourself look younger on the outside, you are still aging on the inside.” I read a recent article on the benefits of the supplement NAD+, which describes the inside anti-aging benefits. It ...

Dear Annie: I cannot believe I am asking for advice. Here goes! My mom, with whom I was very close, passed away 21 months ago. Annie, my life has never been the same. I cared for Mom when she became unexpectedly ill. I witnessed her last breath. By all accounts, I should be happy that I was ...