Ask Lucy

Ask Lucy Archive

Dear Lucy: I have recently taken up running again after some time off and am again wondering about a problem that I’ve had for years. I run maybe three miles at a comfortable pace on a treadmill about three or four times a week. After a run, my face turns bright red for an hour or so. I’m not particularly red when I’m running, only when I stop. Someone told me that I’m a “red sweater.” Should I be concerned that this indicates a physiological problem? —Rosy Runner  

Dear Lucy: My mom and other family members have had shingles over the years. Does this increase my chances of getting shingles myself, and should I get the vaccine? —Shingle Belle

Dear Lucy: If an enrolled MIT student has a diagnosis of ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder] and takes medications for it, does that student qualify as a disabled person under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act? Can that student get additional time to complete exams or papers? —It Takes Me Longer

Dear Lucy: Recently, while having sex, the condom we were using broke. I am not worried about pregnancy, as I am also on birth control; however, how long should I wait to get an STD test? Is it better to wait a week or two (or some other period of time), as it would presumably take some time for the infection/symptoms to appear, or should I just get checked out ASAP? —Worried Sick