Recent Blog Articles

Monkeypox: An unfamiliar virus spreading fast — sound familiar?

Diabetes: Does a long-term study reinforce or change approaches to prevention?

War anxiety: How to cope

Can we prevent depression in older adults by treating insomnia?

Want to try veganism? Here's how to get started

Vitamin B6 flies under the radar: Are you getting enough?

The formula shortage is hurting families: What parents should know and do

Gyn Care 101: What to know about seeing a gynecologist

Swimming lessons save lives: What parents should know

Strong legs help power summer activities: Hiking, biking, swimming, and more
Patrick J. Skerrett
Former Executive Editor, Harvard Health
Pat Skerrett is the editor of STAT's First Opinion and host of the First Opinion podcast. He is the former editor of the Harvard Health blog and former Executive Editor of Harvard Health Publishing. Before that, he was editor of the Harvard Heart Letter for ten years. He is the co-author of Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Guide to Healthy Eating, The Fertility Diet, and several other books on health and science. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Popular Science magazine, Science magazine, the Boston Globe, and elsewhere. He earned a B.A. in biology from Northwestern University and an M.A. in biology from Washington University in St. Louis.
Posts by Patrick J. Skerrett

Heart Health
Understanding heart failure

Heart Health
Oh please, not the “sex causes heart attack” story again

Child & Teen Health
Sudden death in young athletes—can it be prevented?

Cancer
Thyroid cancer a hazard from radioactive iodine emitted by Japan’s failing nuclear power plants

Child & Teen Health
Sugary soda and juice can boost blood pressure, weight
Exercise & Fitness
If pulmonary embolism can strike Serena Williams, it can ace anyone

Patrick J. Skerrett
Cell phone use stimulates brain activity

Patrick J. Skerrett
Zinc for the common cold? Not for me

Exercise & Fitness
Heart disease forecast: Gloomy, with boom time ahead

Exercise & Fitness
New dietary guidelines offer little new guidance

Child & Teen Health
FDA approves new treatment for head lice

Heart Health
“Just in case” heart tests can do more harm than good

Heart Health
A Chia Pet for diabetes?

Exercise & Fitness
Decline in stroke deaths reinforces importance of preventing “brain attack”
Heart Health
Laugh and be thankful—it’s good for the heart
Patrick J. Skerrett
Explosion in diabetes isn’t inevitable
Patrick J. Skerrett
Medical journals: Stop being so passive
Exercise & Fitness
Americans lag on exercise
Patrick J. Skerrett
Are drugs lurking in your dietary supplements?
Heart Health
Strong warning on diabetes drug Avandia

Staying Healthy