It used to be easy, if unpleasant. A man noticed a bulge in his groin, his doctor diagnosed it as a hernia, and a surgeon was asked to repair it. This 1-2-3 approach was simple and straightforward, but it has given way to a more complex strategy. There are still three steps to consider, but now each is a question: Should the hernia be repaired? Which repair is best? And, what type of anesthesia should be used?

Men who prefer the good old way can let their doctors proceed in a 1-2-3 fashion. But other gents should first understand the ...

When you're admitted to a hospital, you expect to receive tests and treatments that will make you feel better. When you get antibiotics in the hospital, you expect that the drugs will treat or prevent infection. But it doesn't always work that way. A distressing number of patients acquire infections while they are in the hospital. And antibiotic therapy can actually increase the odds of coming down with a hospital-acquired infection, particularly when the cause is a bacterium named Clostridium difficile. Although doctors are working hard to control intestinal infections caused by the bug commonly (if not fondly) known as ...

I'm a 61-year-old man with high blood pressure. My doctor wants me to take Zocor to lower my cholesterol, but I'm worried about muscle damage. I found a Web site that claimed coenzyme Q10 would help. Is that right?