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Dear Dr. Roach: During a pre-op exam before minor surgery, I was told that I have a leaky heart valve (my heart has always been strong). I was told, 鈥淓verybody has one鈥� and 鈥渘ot to worry.鈥� I am elderly. What does this mean for me? M.C.

Dear Dr. Roach: Since 2013, my CPK has been elevated. It was 488 in September 2013, and I was told to stay on atorvastatin for high cholesterol. In December 2013, the CPK was 533 and I stopped the atorvastatin.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am 73 years old and consume a glass or two of merlot wine with dinner each day. What, if any, problem exists with sulphites present in this wine? H.D. Sulphites are used as preservatives in many foods, including most wines.

Dear Dr. Roach: For the past several years, I have had an abnormal creatinine reading. The readings range from 2.2 to 2.9. Every time I go to the doctor, I get a different reading.

How many people will die from excessive radiation exposure? Today, more patients get CT scans for a variety of problems. So how can patients decrease the risk of excessive exposure? Consumer Reports on Health says the number of CT scans in the U.S.

Dear Dr. Roach: About 15 years ago (I am now 62), I had night sweats and woke up frequently to urinate, sometimes five to six times a night, but not consistently.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am 71. I鈥檓 overweight at 300 pounds and have had Type 2 diabetes for 15 years.

Dear Dr. Roach: I鈥檝e suffered from essential tremor for 16 years. I take 500 mg of primidone and 40 mg of propranolol twice daily. I鈥檝e gradually increased the dose over the years, and the combination works quite well.

Dear Dr. Roach: Do home colon-cancer testing kits really help in the diagnosis of colon cancer? Do you recommend them? E.F. I strongly recommend colon-cancer screening for healthy people between the ages of 50 and 70.

Dear Dr. Roach: I recently had a hip replacement. I聽am 84, with hearing loss. My family says my hearing is worse after the operation. My daughter talked with several seniors who experienced the same thing. They think it has to do with the anesthesia.