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Diagnosis of OPMD is likely in man with a family history of it

DEAR DR. ROACH: Many of my dad’s side of the family — from my grandmother to my uncles and aunts, as well as their kids — have had oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD). Most people started having symptoms around age 65, and I’m 64. My dad had a bad heart, got the eyelid surgery for OPMD and used a walker since his late 60s. I didn’t get the test yet; however, I do choke often, and my eyelids do droop a little. What are your thoughts on taking testosterone to offset the muscle girdling? I had a radical prostatectomy in 2012 and have had a PSA of 0 ng/mL since. I was on ...

The revolt against tariffs

In 2016, Donald Trump’s support for tariffs helped propel him to a shocking electoral victory. In 2026, his tariff policy may help tank Republicans in the midterms. This turnabout counts as a surprise of Trump’s second term, and an unwelcome one for the president and his party. During his political ascent in 2015-2016, Trump exploited issues where there was a disconnect between popular and elite opinion, and trade was prominent among them. His protectionism — expressed in pungent and excoriating terms — poached traditional Democratic ideological territory and appealed to ...

How 1,800 local tradespeople are powering Pa.’s ultimate energy and data innovation campus

HOMER CITY, Pa. — Eighteen months ago, Shawn Steffee stood in a field in Indiana County and watched the smokestacks of Pennsylvania’s largest coal-fired power plant fold into a cloud of dust, then told anyone who would listen that the wreckage was not a funeral. “This isn’t the end, this is the beginning,” said the business agent for Boilermakers Local 154. That prediction is unfolding. Homer City Generation announced earlier this month that more than 1,800 direct-hire tradespeople and skilled contractors are currently working at the site of the largest natural ...

Dear Annie: Different money habits than my husband

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for 12 years, and we agree on most things. We like the same kind of vacations, have similar values and rarely argue about family. Money, however, is our recurring sore spot. I am a saver. I grew up in a household where unexpected expenses could throw everything into chaos, so having money set aside makes me feel secure. My husband grew up very differently. His parents believed that if the bills were paid, you should enjoy life while you can. A few weeks ago, we were having dinner and talking about taking a trip next spring. I mentioned ...

An MRI is superior than a CT scan in the case of a neoplasm

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a pacemaker that was installed in January 2024. This is a newer model that’s said to be safe for those who need an MRI. I have a neoplasm that was recently discovered in the parotid gland on the right side of my head. The doctors at a referral hospital attempted to do a biopsy on the mass in the center of the gland. But the biopsy failed as the tissue samples were only obtained from benign tissue surrounding the neoplasm, not from the mass. My doctor doesn’t want to attempt another biopsy, as the biopsy procedure that failed was very lengthy and lasted for ...

When faith takes the field

One of the fun things I love during the NFL season is getting into the back-and-forth banter on Facebook with my high school and college friends. One of my college classmates posts his weekly “Bum List,” where he asks those of us whose teams lost the previous Sunday to still “rep” our squad. As a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan, I have taken some friendly heat regarding their three-year absence from the playoffs. For this week’s Bum List, my college classmate, a Steelers fan, told me he saw “potential” in Dallas’ win over the Washington Commanders, while lamenting that ...