Q&A: Surgery in Those With Sleep Apnea

I’m considering having elective surgery—however, I’m wondering if my obstructive sleep apnea presents any risk given I will need to have general anesthesia?   People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who have general anesthesia do have a slightly increased risk of postoperative respiratory complications. OSA occurs when the muscles in the airway relax as you sleep. […]

Q&A: Saw Palmetto and BPH

One of the guests on an NPR show I recently listened to said that a supplement called saw palmetto could be used to help alleviate urinary symptoms due to an enlarged prostate. Is this true?   Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH)—the official name for enlarged prostate—is common in older men and can cause a range of urinary […]

Q&A: Elbow Pain

I’ve been suffering from elbow pain that bothers me most when I am wringing water out of my twist-mop. I thought it might be tennis elbow, but the pain isn’t on the outside of my elbow—it’s on the inside. What do you think it might be, and what can I do to relieve the discomfort?   […]