News and Views from Harvard Health Blog

Infection, autoimmune disease linked to depression
Jun 17, 2013

Ask questions to get the most out of a health care visit
Jun 14, 2013

Healthy fats may fight early-stage prostate cancer
Jun 12, 2013

New from Harvard Health Publications

• 8 ways to prevent a stroke

  This year, nearly half a million women will have a stroke. The June 2013 Harvard Women's Health Watch offers eight steps women can take to limit the chances a stroke will strike. Women can't do anything about two leading contributors to stroke—age... Read more »

• Joint surgery isn't the first option for knee and hip arthritis

  As summer beckons people outdoors for a bevy of activities, those limited by hip and knee pain due to arthritis may be wondering if it's time for joint replacement surgery so they can be active again. But surgery isn't generally the initial go-to... Read more »

• Simple steps for boosting energy

  Some days do you feel like the Energizer Bunny with a weak battery—starting strong but unable to keep going and going? There are several ways to help boost flagging energy, like pacing activities, taking power naps, and eating healthfully,... Read more »

• Believing myths and misconceptions about heart disease may increase heart attack risk

  Knowledge about heart disease changes quickly, but our beliefs don't always keep up. As a result, misconceptions abound. The June 2013 issue of the Harvard Heart Letter addresses ten commonly held but mistaken, ideas about heart disease. For... Read more »

• Regular exercise releases brain chemicals key for memory, concentration, and mental sharpness

  Looking to stop "brain fog" or frequent bouts of forgetfulness? Exercise turns out to be an excellent way to protect and enhance brain health, according to the May 2013 issue of the Harvard Men's Health Watch. "There's a lot you can do to prevent... Read more »

• Busting myths about poison ivy

  Poison ivy poses real problems to gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts. But some of the "facts" that people know about this plant are really myths, reports the May 2013 Harvard Health Letter. Plants employ a variety of defenses to protect themselves.... Read more »

• New osteoarthritis treatments on the horizon

  For years, osteoarthritis treatments have focused on relieving symptoms: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen to control pain, steroid injections to bring down inflammation, and viscosupplements to replace a joint's... Read more »

• Logical sequence of tests helps identify heart disease

  Doctors can't easily "open the hood" and peer into the heart, making it difficult to determine the cause of chest pain or identify a person at high risk of having a heart attack. As explained in the May 2013 issue of the Harvard Heart Letter,... Read more »