Keith Roach

Dear Dr. Roach: I’m a woman of 54 with somewhat limited mobility due to back pain. Perhaps for this reason, my primary care physician ordered a DEXA scan in 2023 and again in 2026. I was alarmed when the recent scan showed osteopenia in five of the six areas that were tested. I thought the 2023 scan was normal, but when I revisited it, I saw that I had osteopenia then as well. But in the 2023 report, they had only looked for a Z-score of less than -2 as an indicator of a problem, whereas in 2026 they used the T-score.

Explaining the significance of Z- and T-scores in DEXA scans DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm a woman of 54 with somewhat limited mobility due to back pain.

I wish I'd known earlier.

Most DEXA scans now include the FRAX score, which is critical in communicating a person’s risk of fracture.

DEAR DR. ROACH: My son, who is 28, has always had issues with his gut. Almost everything passes through his intestines quickly.

DEAR DR. ROACH: My son, who is 28, has always had issues with his gut. Almost everything passes through his intestines quickly. He frequently sees undigested vegetables in his stool. He had intestinal pain and underwent upper and lower GI scopes because the doctor suspected Crohn's or inflammatory bowel disease. But he found nothing other than inflammation in his stomach, for which he ordered Protonix; this helped with the pain.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your response to a recent question regarding drugs to reduce cholesterol levels. In your response, you talked about the risks of taking niacin and its potential side effects. You commented that statin drugs remain the first-line treatment for reducing heart disease risk and for people who are at an increased risk.

Does patient with digestive issues need to see a specialist?

What do you think of this idea?

Red yeast rice contains a substance, monacolin K, which is the same molecule that is in the active form of a prescription statin (lovastatin).