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False increase in A1C level might be possible for one swimmer

DEAR DR. ROACH: How could I have an A1C of 5.9% in March, then 8% in July? My diet has been the same. I rarely eat fast food and never drink sodas; I avoid carbs such as sweets and breads whenever possible. Because I was so encouraged by my A1C of 5.9%, I increased my vigorous swimming routine to 2 hours a day. I’m cutting this down to 1 hour on most days, since it didn’t do any good. I do have anemia with hemoglobin and hematocrit at low to low-normal levels, which is always due to AVMs (arteriovenous malformations). I’m 77, and my BMI is over 30. I do need to lose some weight, ...

US‑Canada trade war deepens as Trump revives Depression‑era trade tool – what’s at stake for consumers and the midterms

The United States and Canada, historically close allies, are moving further into a full-blown trade war with no end in sight. On Aug. 25, 2026, Canada imposed tariffs of up to 50% on hundreds of U.S. goods after the U.S. placed similar, long-threatened levies on Canadian products. It followed the collapse of trade talks that had been inching towards a deal. The next day, U.S. President Donald Trump called Canada “one of the worst countries in the world to deal with.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney claimed Trump was trying to “destroy” his country’s auto industry. Only ...

Trump’s Canadian problems keep getting worse

U.S. President Donald Trump has a talent for finding political landmines like a pig sniffs out truffles. Then promptly blowing himself up with them. Repeatedly. He keeps picking fights with Canada that inadvertently create more leverage against himself. Trump reacted to Canada walking away from his generous offer of vassalization and economic annexation that would have given the U.S. first dibs on Canadian natural resources and a say over the deals that Canada makes with other countries by issuing an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America. Trump seemed primarily ...

Dear Annie: A husband weighs in on weight loss

Dear Annie: My wife, who is 62, has always been insecure about her weight, even though I’ve never once cared or thought she needed to change anything. A few months ago, she decided on her own to start a GLP-1 medication for weight loss, and she’s doing it under a doctor’s supervision. She’s thrilled with the results so far. I’m happy she’s happy, but I can’t shake the feeling that she’s the guinea pig for a drug that’s still fairly new. What if there are long-term side effects nobody’s caught yet? I’ve mentioned this to her once, and she brushed it off. Am I ...

A mild decrease in kidney function causes concern in man

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a relatively healthy 54-year-old male. My daily medications are 20 mg of lisinopril, 20 mg of atorvastatin, and 145 mg of fenofibrate. I also take a 500-mg dose of naproxen on an as-needed basis for various aches and pains from military-service-related conditions. My naproxen intake varies anywhere from 0-4 doses per week. I exercise regularly and stay hydrated as well. Every six months, I see my primary care physician for a wellness check that includes a blood lipid panel. Over the past few visits, I noticed that my kidney function results indicated a “mild to ...

A message for men over 50

The diagnosis was not a surprise — well, yes it was, because like many men with a health issue we try to deny it, or delay treatment when everyone knows that “early detection” is critical to a cure. My PSA (prostate-specific antigen) had been slowly creeping upward for the last two years. When it reached 9.0 along with a Gleason score of 9, my doctor said it was time to do something about it. This meant a prostate biopsy. It came back positive for a cancerous tumor pressing against my rectal wall. Two options were explained to me — a complete removal of the gland, or radiation ...