Dear Dr. Garner, My sister swallows vitamins like they are candy. You can name any vitamin, and I guarantee that she takes it. She doesn’t go to the doctor, and I am afraid that all these pills could be harming her. She is 57 years old and basically in good shape. Do you think she […]
Ask The Doctor
Dr. Steven Garner is a Fidelis Care provider who is affiliated with New York Methodist Hospital in Park Slope, Brooklyn. He also hosts Ask the Doctor on NET TV on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Time Warner Channel 97, Cablevision Channel 30 and Verizon FIOS on Demand.
Is Too Much Exercise Bad for Women?
Dear Dr. Garner, I am 28 years old and love to exercise. In fact, I believe I have become addicted. I feel very nervous when I don’t exercise. My mother has told me that too much exercise can cause problems. Could you verify this and give me some guidance as to how to cure this […]
The Dangers of ‘Robo- Tripping,’ ‘Skittling
Dear Dr. Garner, I am writing this question to you so that other parents might be aware of a real problem that our teenagers are facing. My child, who is 16, almost died last week from an overdose of Robitussin. There were signs that something was wrong, but I didn’t put them together. Thankfully, he is […]
Understanding and Avoiding Panic
Dear Dr. Garner, Yesterday I thought I was going to die. I was out on Flatbush Avenue shopping, when I couldn’t catch my breath. My heart was racing, and I felt like I was going crazy. My friend told me she thinks it could be a panic attack. Is there any way to know what was going […]
Being Happy Is Good for Your Health
Dear Dr. Garner, My husband is great in every way except for one thing – he has the worst temper. He rarely can take a 30-minute drive without shouting at someone. When he gets angry, his face turns red, and you can see the veins on his forehead. I am concerned that he is harming […]
Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder
Dear Dr. Garner, I am concerned about my wife. She is in good health, and basically in a good mood all year, but in the summer she becomes depressed. This seems to be a trend. I have heard of depression related to winter, but not the summer. Is this unusual? SAD Spouse in summer in […]
Can Never Be Too Old to Exercise
Dear Dr. Garner, I haven’t exercised in about two years, but I’m ready to start an exercise program. I feel that I have a better sense of balance when I exercise. My daughter says I am too old to exercise. I am 81 and, aside from a little arthritis and a touch of diabetes, am […]
Avoid Cancer Through Diet and Lifestyle
Dear Dr. Garner, I hear all the time on television about the benefit of certain foods, like green tea and broccoli. Can you give me a list of foods that are good to prevent cancer and foods that might cause me to be more likely to get cancer? I try to eat the right things, […]
Smiling May Have Health Benefits
Dear Dr. Garner, I hope you can resolve this “issue” that has come between my mother and myself. My mother said she heard about a study on TV which found that people who smile a lot are more likely to be healthy. Is this really true? If so, isn’t it being somewhat of a phony […]
Don’t Dismiss Swollen Feet and Ankles
Dear Dr. Garner, My ankles and feet have been swelling each night. It seems to have gotten worse during the past mini-heat wave we had. I can’t fit in my shoes, and when I press on my ankles, it leaves a mark. I am a healthy 78-year-old. I do have thyroid problems, and I take […]