
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c): What to know if you have diabetes or prediabetes or are at risk for these conditions

What could be causing your blurry vision?

Avocado nutrition: Health benefits and easy recipes

Swimming lessons save lives: What parents should know

Preventing and treating iliotibial (IT) band syndrome: Tips for pain-free movement

Wildfires: How to cope when smoke affects air quality and health

What can magnesium do for you and how much do you need?

Dry socket: Preventing and treating a painful condition that can occur after tooth extraction

What happens during sleep — and how to improve it

How is metastatic prostate cancer detected and treated in men over 70?

Patrick J. Skerrett
Former Executive Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
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 10 years. He is the coauthor 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 BA in biology from Northwestern University and an MA in biology from Washington University in St. Louis.
Posts by Patrick J. Skerrett

Child & Teen Health
Pediatricians should ask teens about drug, alcohol use at every visit

Child & Teen Health
Do chronic diseases have their origins in the womb?
Child & Teen Health
A new view of the teenage brain: adaptation is job 1

Patrick J. Skerrett
Crumbling, confusing Food Pyramid replaced by a Plate

Heart Health
From the wrist to the heart: new angioplasty method is safe, effective

Cancer
Visual and audio guides to radiation risk

Heart Health
At Harvard Forum, experts debate how much vitamin D is enough

Heart Health
Understanding heart failure

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

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

Heart Health
A Chia Pet for diabetes?
Heart Health
Laugh and be thankful—it’s good for the heart
Patrick J. Skerrett
Explosion in diabetes isn’t inevitable
Exercise & Fitness
Americans lag on exercise

Staying Healthy
Is fructose bad for you?

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c): What to know if you have diabetes or prediabetes or are at risk for these conditions

What could be causing your blurry vision?

Avocado nutrition: Health benefits and easy recipes

Swimming lessons save lives: What parents should know

Preventing and treating iliotibial (IT) band syndrome: Tips for pain-free movement

Wildfires: How to cope when smoke affects air quality and health

What can magnesium do for you and how much do you need?

Dry socket: Preventing and treating a painful condition that can occur after tooth extraction

What happens during sleep — and how to improve it

How is metastatic prostate cancer detected and treated in men over 70?