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Dear Dr. Roach: I think I may have polymyositis. My thigh muscles (specifically, the lateral muscles) are weak and achy. I take a statin, and I don鈥檛 like what I read about them. L.P.

How honest is medical news? Of course, everyone knows that consuming stupid amounts of alcohol is unhealthy. But puritans and some doctors can鈥檛 accept the proven fact that moderate amounts of alcohol can prolong life.

Dear Dr. Roach: I鈥檓 60. Pretty much 100 per cent of the people I know, both older and younger, who have had stents installed, had a heart attack FIRST, before getting stents.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am a fit and healthy 60-year-old man. Recently I was troubled by a series of escalating symptoms: I occasionally got a bit of hoarseness, then I seemed to lose some capacity in my lungs.

Dear Dr. Roach: I鈥檓 a 61-year-old woman, and my recent DEXA bone density scan resulted in measurements of -2.7 in the lumbar region and -2.1 in both femoral necks. My doctor recommended that I take bisphosphonates.

How would you feel if you suffered a stroke and were left paralyzed? What if you later discovered that if you had been aware of early signs of stroke, paralysis could have been avoided? This column might help to prevent a tragedy.

Dear Dr. Roach: About 11 years ago, I was given a diagnosis of bipolar disorder type I. I was finishing up the first year of my medical graduate school. I have never heard voices or seen things that aren鈥檛 there.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 94-year-old man who was diagnosed with central sleep apnea about six years ago by my pulmonologist.

Dear Dr.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 65-year-old male, generally in good health and on no medication. I recently went for a checkup, and the doctor did not take a PSA blood test, nor did he perform a digital exam on me.