Health Articles by Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen from the Chicago Sun-Times

You Docs

Mehmet Oz, M.D. & Michael Roizen, M.D.

Dr. Oz, 48, earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard, his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and his M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business. …

Unhealthy lifestyle riskier than genetics

YOU DOCS: If your parents and grandparents all died in their 60s, what does the future hold for you?
Re-vaccinations can be life-saver

YOU DOCS: I’ve been hearing about re-vaccinations. Is it necessary to have them now that I am middle-aged?
Mosquitoes find some skin sweeter

YOU DOCS: Why do mosquitoes bite her husband, but leave her be?

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Plenty to praise about probiotics

Q . I am pretty irregular — and it doesn’t feel good. Will eating yogurt help? A. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to get your poop train running on time if you make friends with billions of gut-friendly bacteria that are packed into …

When bariatric surgery is right

Q. I’m 100 pounds overweight, and I’ve never had any luck losing weight. Now I’ve got diabetes. Do you think bariatric surgery is a smart way to go? A. If you lose 100 pounds, you’ll gain 100 percent in self-confidence and health. You’ll dramatically reduce …

Make sure doctor is a healthy one

Q. I went to a new doctor to get my thyroid checked because I have been gaining so much weight. He was really fat and I smelled cigarettes. I felt like I couldn’t trust him. Am I being too picky? A. Now, we YOU Docs …

Make sure doctor is a healthy one

Hip implant might be past expiration date

YOU DOCS: While it’s now possible to find healthier choices at fast-food joints, once you’re inside, will you? Smell the fries and suddenly you’ve eaten a bagful. While almost half of us say we want healthier choices, only about a fourth actually order them.

It’s tricky finding healthy fast food

Why hunger brings on stinky breath

YOU DOCS: Why does being hungry make your breath stink?

Used properly, neti pot is safe

Q. I use a neti pot to relieve my sinus problems and love it. But I just heard that two people died from neti pot infections. Is this true? A. We YOU Docs have recommended neti pots more often than Regis used to be on …

Used properly, neti pot is safe

YOU DOCS: Neti pot deaths have users concerned. Continue using them or not?

With age, shift work is tougher

YOU DOCS: Rotating shift work has gotten tougher as she’s gotten older. Here are ways to combat that.

Check your blood pressure and kids, too

YOU DOCS: Hypertension is considered an adult problem, but it can happen at any age. The earlier you catch and treat it, the better. High blood pressure that starts in childhood and continues for years can damage the kidneys, eyes and other organs, and lead to heart failure or stroke in adulthood.

Walnut whitening won’t hurt nuts

Q. I’ve just heard that walnut shells are bleached before being sent to market. Is this true? If so, is it dangerous? Does it damage the nut inside? A. In, uh, a nutshell: You heard right. For more than 50 years, a dilute bleaching solution …

Ribose can bring an energy boost

YOU DOCS: The holidays are a big deal in my family. I’m already flat out of energy. Will energy drinks help?

Toe taping is a temporary move

YOU DOCS: I broke my toe seven weeks ago and have been keeping it “buddy taped.” How long do I have to do this? I recently had a hip replacement on the same side as the bum toe, and need others to tape it.

Doc has good reason for bypassing cholesterol generic

YOU DOCS: My physician said my HDL cholesterol’s low and my LDL is high, the reverse of what it ought to be. She prescribed a brand-name statin drug, Crestor. When I asked about a generic, she said no generic statin will be as good for me. Is she right?

Candy beckons; is that really so bad?

YOU DOCS: My husband and I have a huge stash of leftover Halloween candy tempting us. Most of it’s just sugar, so is it really that bad? We’re great brushers!