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Keeping dangerous synthetic kratom out of the hands of our children

Columns

Federal and state health agencies are increasingly warning citizens about the opioid-like effects of synthetic kratom products known as 7-hydroxymitragynine or 7-OH. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warnings include high blood pressure, confusion, seizures, nausea and vomiting, liver damage and, in some cases, death. The higher the concentration of 7-OH, the greater the potential for harm. Yet these products can be purchased by consumers with little understanding of what they contain or the risks they pose. They are increasingly available online, in smoke shops and at gas ...

Dear Annie: Caregiving for mom without giving up my life

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Dear Annie: My father passed away earlier this year, and afterward my mother and sister moved to be closer to me. Since then, I have tried to help my mother as much as I can. I take her to doctors’ appointments, help with everyday needs and do my best to make sure she is cared for. Recently, my husband had to go out of state for work, and my children and I went with him. My mother came along for a while, but she has decided she wants to return home. My sister, who has special needs, will be going back with her. My mother is in her 70s and, thankfully, is in fairly good health. My ...

Before Pennsylvania legalizes E-bikes, it must get safety right

Columns

Pennsylvania is confronting a growing public-safety challenge involving e-bikes, e-scooters and other micromobility devices. The concern is no longer theoretical. PennDOT reported bicyclist fatalities rose from 19 in 2024 to 28 in 2025, with 12 killed riding e-bikes. This summer, a 12-year-old York County boy died following an e-bike collision with a pickup truck. And last year, the death of 12-year-old Abigail “Abby” Gillon in a Delaware County e-scooter crash became the catalyst for Senate Bill 1008, known as Abby’s Law. The Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association respects ...

Elderly man’s unable to form words after extreme sun exposure

Columns

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m an 82-year-old man with osteoporosis, a pacemaker, and a vegetable garden, which I worked in yesterday for 5 hours in the extreme heat. I consumed a large bottle of ice water. When I came back into the cool house, I was unable to select or even pronounce the proper words. I felt like my brain’s gears were all in neutral. My wife had me drink a sports electrolyte drink, and I got back to normal in about 15 minutes. Did I damage myself in some way yesterday? — Prof. G ANSWER: The major concern in an elderly person with confusion after prolonged sun exposure ...

Democratic Socialists shove the resistance aside in Florida

Columns

The most surprising result in the batch of primaries held this past week over the vast stretch of America from Florida through Wyoming to Alaska was the defeat of famed anti-Trump whistleblower Alexander Vindman by state Rep. Angie Nixon in the contest for the Democratic nomination against appointed Republican U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody in Florida. Of these candidates, Vindman was by far the best known nationally. His role in spurring the House’s 2019 impeachment of President Donald Trump made him a hero to Democratic money-givers large and small. That helped his twin brother Eugene ...

Tardive dyskinesia in woman might actually be a familial tremor

Columns

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 66-year-old retired female who’s trying to keep active. My neurologist thinks that I may have tardive dyskinesia (TD), for which I tried Ingrezza, but I experienced heaviness in my chest. I’ve tried meds, vestibular therapy, balance therapy and acupuncture. I’ve also been evaluated by an ENT physician and a cardiologist. I’ve become used to the “bobbing” of my upper torso/head after the past two years. I only get relief when my head and shoulders are against something. I have been on Xanax for the past 15 years and may have developed this ...