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Breaking up with the in-laws — again

Dear Annie: I’ve been married to a wonderful man for 30 years. His family has always made me feel like an outsider — rude, dismissive, the works. Ten years ago, I finally stepped back from them. We reconnected briefly five years ago when his father passed, mostly with his mother, but this year they’ve slid right back into their old habits. It’s to the point where it’s affecting my health: I’ve developed real anxiety, even depression, over it. I’ve decided to cut them off again, for good this time. I’ve given them more chances than they deserved. What I don’t know is ...

High-dose statin appears to be too much for cholesterol patient

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had a preemployment physical for my current position as a firefighter/EMT back in January. I had another preemployment physical for a new position with the fire department last month, and both physicians suggested a statin based on my high cholesterol. Both tests had similar results; my cholesterol was 272 mg/dL, my HDL was 52 mg/dL, and my LDL was 199 mg/dL. My other blood tests and electrocardiogram were fine. I figured that I should probably try to get on a statin and manage the situation. I had a telehealth visit with a physician’s assistant who put me on 40 mg ...

News flash: We live in a mixed economy

Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan keeps calling himself a capitalist. And the Democratic Socialists of America keep backing him to the eyeballs. Why? Because the DSA understands that El-Sayed has to say that to win over even Democrats in a moderate state like Michigan. They firmly expect that once elected, he would do as they say, which happily conforms with what he truly believes. Confusing? Yes, on purpose. But let’s move beyond this war of labels. Let’s stop using socialist and capitalist as either compliments or denunciations. The United States has a ...

Homebuyers deserve the facts about crime and schools

Nothing is more natural when buying a house than looking into how safe the neighborhood is, and, if you have or plan to have children, whether the schools are any good. Yet the last Democratic presidential administration tried to prevent real estate agents from answering those kinds of questions because it prioritized “diversity” over safety and education. The Trump administration revoked the de facto gag rule this year, but the damage the Biden administration inflicted is still being felt. What’s worse, state regulations in New York and elsewhere still prevent real estate ...

Dear Annie: Tired of watching her choose heartbreak

Dear Annie: My granddaughter has a boyfriend who keeps cheating on her — three times now, and those are only the times I know about. Each time, she takes him back, swearing he’s changed. I’m old enough to know how that story ends. She’s smart and kind, and I hate watching her with someone who doesn’t treat her the way she deserves. I’ve bitten my tongue up until now — it’s her life, after all, and she’s entitled to her own decisions — but I don’t have the heart to sit quietly through this when it inevitably happens again. How do I get her to see what I see before ...

Medical therapy is called for with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a physically active 75-year-old man. I’m taking atorvastatin, losartan and amlodipine. During my annual physical in January 2025, my physician noticed a heart murmur. I had an echocardiogram done in February 2025 that showed a dilated proximal ascending aorta, measuring at 4.1 centimeters. It was 3.9 centimeters in January 2024. In February 2026, I had a repeat echocardigoram to check my ascending aorta, and it stabilized at 4.1 cm. However, it showed that there’s a mid-cavitary gradient of 44 mmHg at rest that increased to 99 mmHg with a Valsalva maneuver. ...