New Option to Treat Enlarged Prostate

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 66-year old male, who is healthy with a very active life, both physical and sexual. Like many men my age, I have an enlarged prostate that my doctor monitors during annual visits. It doesn’t impair my life, with the small exception of being annoying (waking up nightly to a weak or slow urinating stream), and it doesn’t bother me too much during the day, except once in a while when I have to urinate a little more than usual. Every now and then I’ll try an over-the-counter prostate supplement, but they never work. I will NOT go for a surgery because it’s not
really necessary. 

I just read about a new revolutionary treatment option called a prostatic lift device, which is supposed to “lift and remove the prostate tissue out of the way so it no longer blocks the urethra (the passageway that the urine flows through).” It says, “Tiny implants are placed to hold the tissue in place, like tiebacks on a window curtain, leaving an unobstructed pathway for urine to flow normally again.” They go on to say that treatment typically takes under an hour, preserves sexual function, doesn’t require cutting, heating or removal of tissue. Compared with other BPH surgeries, this system is supposed to have a strong safety profile with minimal side effects. Have you ever heard of this? Do you think it’s safe? It sounds great. However, the thought of tiny implants being placed inside of me and staying there scares me. — V.A.

ANSWER: The prostatic urethral lift procedure is yet another option for men with symptoms of an enlarged prostate. The procedure does involve the placement of small implants. The procedure is said to be easy to perform (easy for a urologist, that is), and improves quality of life and measures of urinary flow. 

In a study of 206 men, none developed sexual troubles after the procedure. It has significant benefits over traditional surgery: Recovery is faster and has less risk of sexual side effects, but traditional surgery improved urinary flow and complete bladder drainage more than the urethral lift procedure. Also, 14% of men who had the lift procedure needed the traditional surgery within five years. The implants seem to be safe and do not affect the ability to do surgery if necessary.

I wouldn’t recommend this procedure nor a surgical procedure — or even an alternative procedure like laser, microwave, plasma vaporization or water vapor ablation —without a trial of prescription medication first. Most men do very well with an alpha blocker like tamsulosin (Flomax), a dihydrotestosterone blocker like dutasteride (Avodart), or a combination of the two. I’m not sure you have tried that.

• • •

DEAR DR. ROACH: Simple question: Why can’t I hear well when I am having a big yawn? Is this normal? — J.C.A.

ANSWER: This is normal; in fact, it’s a universal finding with a yawn that hearing decreases (but doesn’t go away entirely). This is because the Eustachian tube closes, and there is a pressure difference inside versus the outside of the eardrum, reducing the ability of the ear to transmit sound.

Interestingly, after a big yawn, hearing may be improved; when the Eustachian tube reopens after the jaw position changes, it can equalize the pressure and improve sound transmission. 

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer
​individual questions, but will incorporate them 
in the column whenever possible. 
Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu. 

© 2020 North America Synd., Inc.
All Rights Reserved

Spring is finally here. This is the time when we get our spring cleaning done, start to work on our yards and we spend A LOT more time outside. They say April showers bring May flowers and that may be true but April showers also bring the potential for severe weather. Strong winds, heavy rains, hail and lightning are all things we can expect this Spring. So, before you venture out, here are some safety tips to consider before getting caught in the rain. 

Before going out for the day check the weather. We all know that the weather in the Midwest can change by the minute but get an idea of what the day looks like and plan accordingly. If you are outside and get caught in a storm DO NOT go under trees. There really is no safe place outside during a storm. Seek shelter inside a home, other larger buildings or your vehicle with a hard-topped roof. 

If you hear thunder then you are within distance of being struck by lightning. Lightning strikes the Earth more than 8 million times a day according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). If you get caught outside crouch as close to the ground as you can in a ball-like position but do not sit or lay down on the ground. Also, if you are in a larger group break off into individual areas. This helps to reduce the number of injuries should a lightning strike occur. 

Stay away from windows, doors and porches during a storm. If a storm is approaching but you have time, turn off as many electronics as you can. This helps to minimize any direct contact from the lightning to you. Finally, do not use water during a storm. Using water can increase your chances of getting shocked during the storm.

If you have any questions or would like further information, I can be reached at 563-589-4195 or at Dpaulson@cityofdubuque.org.

Manage Your Blood Pressure 
​And Protect Your Kidneys

Getting your blood pressure checked regularly can go a long way toward protecting you from kidney disease.

(NAPS)—Did you know if you have high blood pressure you are at increased risk for chronic kidney disease? 

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is the second leading cause of chronic kidney disease in the United States. About 1 in 5 adults with high blood pressure may have chronic kidney disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels. If your blood pressure gets too high, the blood vessels in your body—including those in your kidneys—may become damaged. This damage makes it harder for the kidneys to filter blood and remove wastes and extra water from the body. Kidney disease can get worse over time, and if not treated it can lead to kidney failure.  

And while high blood pressure can lead to kidney disease, the reverse is also true: kidney disease can lead to high blood pressure. Simple tests can tell you whether you have high blood pressure or kidney disease. Ask your health care professional if you have been tested for high blood pressure and kidney disease.

Many people with kidney disease don’t know they have the disease until their kidneys begin to fail. Research suggests that fewer than 1 in 10 people who have kidney disease are aware they have the disease. This is because kidney disease often doesn’t have any symptoms early on. 

The good news is that you can help protect your kidneys by managing high blood pressure with healthy lifestyle habits. 

“Our research continues to uncover the complexities of the link between high blood pressure and kidney disease,” says Griffin P. Rodgers, MD, director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “And what we are finding supports the message that you can help protect your kidneys by managing high blood pressure with healthy lifestyle habits.”

Adopting healthy lifestyle habits that help you manage your blood pressure will also help to keep your kidneys healthy. You can prevent or slow kidney disease progression by taking the following steps to lower your blood pressure: 

Take medicines as prescribed. Blood pressure medicines often play a key role in lowering blood pressure.  

Aim for a healthy weight. If you are overweight or have obesity, reducing your weight may lower high blood pressure.

Select healthier food and beverage options. Follow a healthy eating plan that focuses on heart-healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats that are low in sodium.

Stop smoking. Smoking damages blood vessels, increases your risk for high blood pressure, and worsens problems related to high blood pressure. For help quitting, call 1-800-QUITNOW or go to Smokefree.gov.

Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep can have an adverse effect on your blood pressure and metabolism. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.  

Manage stress and make physical activity part of your routine. Healthy stress-reducing activities and regular physical activity can lower blood pressure. Try to get at least 30 minutes or more of physical activity each day.

“You can manage your blood pressure and its complications through healthy lifestyle habits, which include exercise, following a healthy eating plan and taking blood pressure medication as prescribed by your doctor,” says Gary H. Gibbons, MD, director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). “It’s important to know your numbers because controlling or lowering your blood pressure can prevent or delay serious complications like kidney disease and heart disease.”

​For more information, visit the NIDDK website at www.niddk.nih.gov.

Prebiotics and Probiotics: 
​Promoting A Healthy Gut

Bacteria is something we think of as bad, but a healthy gut is filled with a variety of bacteria. There are about
100 trillion good and bad bacteria that live inside our digestive system. The healthy bacteria can aid with
digestion and support a healthy immune system.

However, if we have too much bad bacteria in the gut, an imbalance can occur. This can cause symptoms of diarrhea, constipation, excessive gas, and acne. Research even shows a connection to digestive conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and depression. The imbalance of good and bad bacteria can be caused by stress, antibiotic use, and unhealthy dietary habits. One key to good GI health is eating healthy, along with consuming prebiotics and probiotics.

Prebiotics: 

Prebiotics are natural, non-digestible food components that promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. You can find them in high fiber, complex carbohydrate foods. 

•    Bananas, onions, leeks, garlic, asparagus, artichokes, old-fashioned oats, whole wheat foods, soybeans

Probiotics: 

Probiotics are healthy bacteria or live cultures, just like what’s already in the gut. Consuming these helps change or repopulate the good bacteria to balance our gut flora. You can find these in naturally fermented foods, also look for ‘live’ or ‘active’ cultures on the label.

•    Yogurt

•    Kefir– Similar to yogurt, but higher in probiotics. It’s a combination of milk and fermented kefir grains.

•    Aged Cheese– Such as parmesan, swiss, cheddar, cottage cheese and gouda

•    Kimchi– A spicy Korean side dish made from fermented cabbage and other vegetables.

•    Sauerkraut– Finely cut raw cabbage that has been fermented with various lactic acid bacteria. Most canned sauerkraut has been pasteurized, killing the good bacteria. Purchase fresh, made without vinegar.

•    Tempeh– A fermented soy product with a good source of protein. It’s a popular vegetarian meat replacement.

​Prebiotics are good bacteria promoters, while probiotics are the good bacteria. When you incorporate both into your diet, they can work together to improve gut health.

• Most people wash their sheets, and some people fluff and air out their pillow. But how many properly clean their mattress? Vacuum the mattress surface at least every three months. Sprinkle with baking soda to absorb any odors.

• “I use my panini press to make hash browns because I like them nice and crispy on both sides. It works out great!” — L.R. in Florida

• If you’re adding fruit to muffins or quick breads, just make sure you toss them in flour first. It will keep them from sinking to the bottom, distributing them more evenly throughout the bread.

• Need more storage in a small bathroom? Try installing a shelf over the door. It’s an out of the way area where you can store items you don’t need daily, but do need accessible.

• Use a serrated knife to cut the dome tops off of cake layers, then put them in the freezer for 30 minutes. It will make it easier to frost, and you’ll get less crumbs that come up.

• “I often get up during the night to take medicine to help me sleep better. It’s hard to see and line up the marks to open the container. So I got a permanent black marker and highlighted them (I even made them larger). Now it’s easy to line them up in the dark.” — D.E. in California 

• Got unexpected company? For a quick, clean look, vacuum the floors and take care of these four things: the bathroom, dishes in the sink, piles of junk on tables or counters and an overflowing trash can. Your house will look great.

• In a pinch, you can use toothpaste to scrub your faucet in the bathroom.

• “Loosen a stuck ring by putting a little bit of butter on your finger to help it slide.” — D.F. in West Virginia

Send your tips to 
Now Here’s a Tip,
628 Virginia Drive,
Orlando, FL 32803.

​© 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

Striped Bass With Lemons and Capers

Elegant enough for a dinner party, this light fish dish is fast and flavorful. Tart lemon and tangy capers create balance when paired with the tarragon-infused striped bass.


1 large lemon

1 whole (about 3 pounds) striped bass or sea bass, cleaned

3 cloves garlic, sliced

1/4 cup dry white wine

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons capers, drained

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon dried or 1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon leaves plus additional for garnish

Ground black pepper


1. Heat oven to 425 F. Cut lemon in half; cut 1 half into 4 slices. Set aside remaining half. Rinse fish inside and out with cold running water; pat dry with paper towels. Make 3 diagonal slashes on each side of fish, cutting almost to bone.

2. Cut 2 sheets of foil, each 8 inches longer than length of fish. Place 1 sheet of foil in 15 1/2-by-10 1/2-inch jellyroll pan, allowing ends to extend over sides of pan. Place fish lengthwise in center of foil in pan. Place lemon and garlic slices in fish cavity. Squeeze remaining lemon over fish.

3. In small bowl, whisk wine, olive oil, capers, Dijon, tarragon and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until blended. Drizzle half of wine mixture into fish cavity; drizzle remaining wine mixture over fish, rubbing mixture into skin and slashes.

4. Place second sheet of foil on top of fish. Crimp edges all around to seal completely. Bake fish 25 to 30 minutes.

5. Before serving, with kitchen shears, cut opening in packet to let steam escape, then carefully pull back foil. With 2 wide spatulas, transfer fish to platter. Pour juices in foil over fish. Garnish with fresh tarragon. Serves 4.

• Each serving: About 215 calories, 11g total fat (2g saturated), 117mg cholesterol, 250mg sodium, 2g total carbohydrate, 27g protein.​

​For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our Web site at www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/.

© 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc.
All rights reserved

S’More Gorp

Reach for this crunchy snack the next time you have an attack of the munchies.


3 full cups honey graham cereal
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts
1 cup raisins
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips


In a large zip-lock storage bag, combine cereal, marshmallows, peanuts, raisins and chocolate chips. Seal bag and shake well to combine. Store mixture in an airtight container. Mix well before serving. Makes 8 (3/4 cup) servings.

​• Each serving equals: 201 calories, 5g fat, 3g protein, 36g carb., 150mg sodium, 2g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch/Carb., 1 Fruit, 1 Fat.


© 2020 King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Understanding Parkinson’s Disease

If you or a loved one is ever diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, you should know you’re not alone.

(NAPS)—60,000 people are newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) each year. Nearly fifty percent of those newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s and their care partners leave the doctor’s office following a diagnosis without educational resources or information on what the future holds.

The Parkinson’s Foundation aims to connect with those newly diagnosed with PD earlier and more frequently to provide ongoing support throughout their entire journey with the disease. Newly Diagnosed: Building a Better Life with Parkinson’s Disease, is a new program designed to arm people who are newly diagnosed with the knowledge, tools and resources they need to navigate life with the disease.

The Parkinson’s Foundation also offers educational programs that focus on care and research; digital resources; topical podcasts; and an online community to connect with others living with the disease and care partners and be part of a network of support.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, you are not alone. Call the toll-free Parkinson’s Foundation Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636) or email Helpline@Parkinson.org. Order your free Newly Diagnosed kit today at Parkinson.org/NewlyDiagnosed.

Previous Page     -     Next Page