Dr. Peter Gott combines the empathy of an old-fashioned family doctor with the outspoken fervor of a patients' rights advocate in his nationally syndicated column, Dr. Gott. A general internist in practice in Connecticut since 1966, Dr. Gott responds to readers' medical questions with sensitivity and accuracy. His daily column has been syndicated by Newspaper Enterprise Association since 1984. Dr. Gott devotes six days each week to answering readers' medical questions, and one day each week to his own health-related commentary. Dr. Gott is praised not only for his knowledge of medicine, but also for his support of patients' rights, having once advised readers, "If your doctor keeps you waiting more than 45 minutes without a good reason, send him a bill for your time." More than 6,000 readers write to Dr. Gott each month, and many are in the medical profession. A doctor from Plainview, Tex., wrote, "Your articles are thoroughly knowledgeable and widely diversified. In all areas you serve your readers and our profession extremely well." A reader in Ventura, Calif., wrote, "I love your column because of your wonderful humor and your 'bedside manner.' Not to mention wisdom." Another from Galesburg, Ill., wrote, "I read your column religiously every day. I appreciate your sincere, truthful, straightforward answers in lay language." No House Calls (Simon & Schuster, 1986) is a collection of some of Dr. Gott's columns. Dr. Gott is a graduate of Princeton University and Tulane Medical School.

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February 25th, 2009
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009
If readers would like to contact Dr. Gott, they may write him through your newspaper or send their mail directly to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th fl., New York, NY 10016. However, if readers want to request a newsletter, they should write to the Ohio address.
DR. GOTT
Is it really Restless Legs Syndrome?
By Peter H. Gott, M.D.
DEAR DR. GOTT: I read your article about statin drugs and their effects. What, if any, drugs can cause Restless Legs Syndrome? I'm currently taking a cholesterol-lowering medication and wonder if that is the reason for my discomfort. Your help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
DEAR READER: As I have indicated numerous times in the past, almost every drug, even over-the-counter aspirin, carries side effects for some people. You don't indicate what medications, other than your cholesterol-lowering drug, you may be on. Most major brands of cholesterol-lowering medications can cause seriou ...

February 24th, 2009
Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009
If readers would like to contact Dr. Gott, they may write him through your newspaper or send their mail directly to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th fl., New York, NY 10016. However, if readers want to request a newsletter, they should write to the Ohio address.
DR. GOTT
Cause of bruising needs to be identified
By Peter H. Gott, M.D.
DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 64-year-old male in reasonably good health for the life I have lived. But in the last five weeks or so, I have had three baseball-sized bruises on my thighs, midway up, for no apparent reason. The first was on the outside of my right thigh, and about two weeks later, one appeared on the inside of my left thigh. Now I have one on the inside of my right thigh. Do you have any idea as to the cause?
DEAR READER: Bruising is generally the result of injury -- even minor trauma, such as hoisting a heavy box and resting it on your thighs. The process doesn't appear to cause damag ...

February 23rd, 2009
Monday, Feb. 23, 2009
If readers would like to contact Dr. Gott, they may write him through your newspaper or send their mail directly to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th fl., New York, NY 10016. However, if readers want to request a newsletter, they should write to the Ohio address.
DR. GOTT
Bizarre beginnings for common medications
By Peter H. Gott, M.D.
DEAR DR. GOTT: I was prescribed Coumadin/warfarin in 2005. I have just recently learned that both are a form of rat poison! Is that the best our "medical industry" can come up with? What's next? Leeches? I want to know what I can take in place of the "rat poison." There has to be something better.
DEAR READER: It is true that Coumadin's generic form, warfarin, is one of the main ingredients in rat poison. However, that does not mean it is not beneficial for humans. Many life-saving medications and treatments have been found in unlikely places. Aspirin was derived from the bark of willow trees ...

February 22nd, 2009
Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009
If readers would like to contact Dr. Gott, they may write him through your newspaper or send their mail directly to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th fl., New York, NY 10016. However, if readers want to request a newsletter, they should write to the Ohio address.
DR. GOTT
Emphysema not curable
By Peter H. Gott, M.D.
DEAR DR. GOTT: I have emphysema. When I walk a short distance, I am out of breath. I have to stop, sit and wait until I get all my breath back before going on. At home, I am on 15 liters of oxygen, and, when I go out, I have to use a tank on wheels that goes only up to 10 liters. I take nine pills every day. I was told I had one blocked lung.
I don't do much at home but really feel good. I don't even have chest pain. I have been to the hospital five times but only for three or four days at a time to have tests. They told me it was to check my lungs and heart valves.
I started smoking when I was 14 but quit in ...

February 21st, 2009
Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009
If readers would like to contact Dr. Gott, they may write him through your newspaper or send their mail directly to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th fl., New York, NY 10016. However, if readers want to request a newsletter, they should write to the Ohio address.
DR. GOTT
Gynecologist disagrees with routine CA125
By Peter H. Gott, M.D.
DEAR DR. GOTT: I read your recent column and take exception to your comments. You recommended an annual CA125 blood test for all women as a preventive step toward reducing the risk of cancer-related death. I feel you are entirely wrong and must share my reasons.
I am a practicing gynecologist and do not order a routine CA125. This is a nonspecific test that can generate abnormal results for a number of reasons, to include fibroids and endometriosis. If I referred each abnormality to my local oncologists, they would throw up their arms in dismay, having to sort out a plethora of possibilities ...

February 20th, 2009
Friday, Feb. 20, 2009
If readers would like to contact Dr. Gott, they may write him through your newspaper or send their mail directly to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th fl., New York, NY 10016. However, if readers want to request a newsletter, they should write to the Ohio address.
DR. GOTT
Herniated disc difficult to treat
By Peter H. Gott, M.D.
DEAR DR. GOTT: My mother was diagnosed with a herniated disc last year. She was in pain but able to walk. She tried physical therapy, which did not help, and also steroid injections into her back. The first shot helped only a little, and the second did nothing at all. Her legs are now much weaker, and the pain is more intense, and she has to use a wheelchair because of it. Surgery is not an option because of her diabetes, high blood pressure, a partially blocked carotid artery and autoimmune hepatitis. Is there any way to treat her pain and weakness?
DEAR READER: Your mother certainly has some serious ...

February 19th, 2009
Thursday, Dec. 19, 2009
If readers would like to contact Dr. Gott, they may write him through your newspaper or send their mail directly to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th fl., New York, NY 10016. However, if readers want to request a newsletter, they should write to the Ohio address.
DR. GOTT
Head pain needs diagnosis
By Peter H. Gott, M.D.
DEAR DR. GOTT: I hope you can help me. I am an 80-year-old widow, living alone, not overweight and I am active. I still mow my own lawn and have a garden and orchard. I grow veggies, berries, grapes, several types of tree fruits and walnuts. I have many other hobbies that keep me busy during the winter months. My faith is also very important to me. My only medication is thyroid hormone replacement, which I have been taking for more than 60 years.
My problem is that for the past 40 years, when I go to bed, I awaken between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. because of a pounding pulse and pain on the right side of my head th ...

February 18th, 2009
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009
If readers would like to contact Dr. Gott, they may write him through your newspaper or send their mail directly to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th fl., New York, NY 10016. However, if readers want to request a newsletter, they should write to the Ohio address.
DR. GOTT
Cinnamon for angina?
By Peter H. Gott, M.D.
DEAR DR. GOTT: I am writing to you about the benefits of taking cinnamon supplements daily. I first saw an article in your column sent by a man who lowered his cholesterol by 30 points after taking cinnamon for a year. After taking cinnamon tablets for a year and changing nothing else, my cholesterol went from 230 to 170.
I later told one of my friends (a nurse), who said that her husband (a physician) had high cholesterol, but he didn't want to take statins because of the side effects. They discussed the cinnamon and decided to try it, as he had nothing to lose. At the time, he was also having terrible bouts o ...