Recent Blog Articles

If cannabis becomes a problem: How to manage withdrawal

Corneal transplants becoming more common

An emerging treatment option for men on active surveillance

Gun violence: A long-lasting toll on children and teens

Adult female acne: Why it happens and the emotional toll

Talking to your doctor about your LGBTQ+ sex life

Untangling grief: Living beyond a great loss

Thunderstorm asthma: Bad weather, allergies, and asthma attacks

Heart problems and the heat: What to know and do

I’m too young to have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, right?

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
Dr. Robert H. Shmerling is the former clinical chief of the division of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and is a current member of the corresponding faculty in medicine at Harvard Medical School. As a practicing rheumatologist for over 30 years, Dr. Shmerling engaged in a mix of patient care, teaching, and research. His research interests center on diagnostic studies in patients with musculoskeletal symptoms, and rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. He has published research regarding infectious arthritis, medical ethics, and diagnostic test performance in rheumatic disease. Having retired from patient care in 2019, Dr. Shmerling now works as a senior faculty editor for Harvard Health Publishing.
Twitter: @RobShmerling
Posts by Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Harvard Health Ad Watch: When marketing puts your health at risk

Medical Research
Why medical research keeps changing its mind

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
A new look at steroid injections for knee and hip osteoarthritis

Pain
Curcumin for arthritis: Does it really work?

Infectious diseases
HPV and cancer: The underappreciated connection

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Plant-based diets are best… or are they?

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
If you have migraines, put down your coffee and read this

Staying Healthy
Harvard Health Ad Watch: How direct-to-consumer ads hook us

Diseases & Conditions
Can vaping damage your lungs? What we do (and don’t) know

Staying Healthy
Do employee wellness programs actually work?

Staying Healthy
Are antibacterial products with triclosan fueling bacterial resistance?

Back Pain
Should you see a chiropractor for low back pain?

Men's Health
Showering daily -- is it necessary?

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
A poor sense of smell might matter more than you thought

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Is tramadol a risky pain medication?

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
FDA curbs unfounded memory supplement claims

Men's Health
Beer before wine? Wine before beer?

Men's Health
The latest deadly superbug — and why it’s not time to panic

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
The trouble with new drugs

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Is obesity a reason to avoid joint replacement surgery?

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Why the wheelchair? Could it be gout?

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
How long does a joint replacement last?

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Sweeteners: Time to rethink your choices?

Robert H. Shmerling, MD