December 2022

DEAR DR. ROACH: My friend lost hearing in one of her ears af ter a vertigo and dizziness spell a few months ago, when she also noted tinnitus. Her hearing issues have not resolved, unfortunately. Given some anecdotal reports of issues like this happening after receiving a COVID vaccine, she is wondering whether to get the new booster or not. She wants to, but losing hearing in her other ear would be devastating. Her doctors haven’t had real answers. Any thoughts on the issue or on who to contact for a more educated answer? -- K.L.R.

Q: I’ve heard that there are some breathing exercises that can help me control my anxiety. How does that work exactly? -- Olivia F., Richmond, Virginia A: That’s a great question! There are a couple of new studies out that show how powerfully breathing affects brain function, including mood and emotions. One published in Psychological Review found that brain rhythms are closely tied to the rhythm of your breathing and how you breathe affects emotions, attention, and how you process the outside world. The researchers also observed that you are more sensitive to the outside world when you breathe in deeply and you tune out the outside world when exhaling.