{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1.1", "title": "Harvard Health Posts by Peter Wehrwein Feed", "home_page_url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/authors/peter-wehrwein", "feed_url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/authors/peter-wehrwein/feed/json", "language": "en-US", "icon": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/img/logos/hhp-logo-mark-lg.jpg", "items": [{ "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/switching-to-generic-lipitor-201202064195", "title": "Switching to generic Lipitor", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/switching-to-generic-lipitor-201202064195", "content_html": "Lipitor, the blockbuster cholesterol-lowering drug, is now being sold as a less-expensive generic. Several other best-selling prescription drugs are set to lose patent protection this year, including Actos, a diabetes drug; Plavix, which helps prevent heart attacks and strokes; and Singulair, an important asthma drug. Although the lower price is great, some people worry that changing from a brand-name drugs to a “no-name” generic one might be risky. Not so, says Dr. Anthony Komaroff, editor in chief of the Harvard Health Letter. In the newsletter’s February 2012 issue, he tackles the brand-versus-generic issue. The FDA is legally required to determine that generic products are “bioequivalent” to brand-name drugs, which means that they produce similar blood concentrations of the same chemical. The vast majority of studies show that generic versions are just as safe and effective as their brand-name counterparts.", "summary": "Lipitor, the blockbuster cholesterol-lowering drug, is now being sold as a less-expensive generic. Several other best-selling prescription drugs are set to lose patent protection this year, including Actos, a diabetes drug; Plavix, which helps prevent heart attacks and strokes; and Singulair, an important asthma drug. Although the lower price is great, some people worry that changing from a brand-name drugs to a “no-name” generic one might be risky. Not so, says Dr. Anthony Komaroff, editor in chief of the Harvard Health Letter. In the newsletter’s February 2012 issue, he tackles the brand-versus-generic issue. The FDA is legally required to determine that generic products are “bioequivalent” to brand-name drugs, which means that they produce similar blood concentrations of the same chemical. The vast majority of studies show that generic versions are just as safe and effective as their brand-name counterparts.", "date_published": "2012-02-06T18:07:18-05:00", "date_modified": "2012-02-06T18:07:18-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8131/conversions/Generic-drugs-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/do-you-want-to-see-your-doctors-medical-notes-201112204003", "title": "Do you want to see your doctor’s medical notes?", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/do-you-want-to-see-your-doctors-medical-notes-201112204003", "content_html": "As paper medical records give way to electronic health records, it is becoming increasingly possible to view your medical history. Yet experts are debating whether the electronic health record should include the notes that doctors make in them. The Open Notes project is designed to test the consequences of giving patients access to doctors’ notes. Results of a survey of the expectations that doctors and patients have for note sharing, reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine, suggest that while physicians are generally optimistic about doing this, many believe it could cause patients to worry or generate unnecessary questions. Patients who filled out the survey thought that seeing their doctor’s notes would provide a clearer understanding of their medical condition, improve self-care, and give them a greater sense of control.", "summary": "As paper medical records give way to electronic health records, it is becoming increasingly possible to view your medical history. Yet experts are debating whether the electronic health record should include the notes that doctors make in them. The Open Notes project is designed to test the consequences of giving patients access to doctors’ notes. Results of a survey of the expectations that doctors and patients have for note sharing, reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine, suggest that while physicians are generally optimistic about doing this, many believe it could cause patients to worry or generate unnecessary questions. Patients who filled out the survey thought that seeing their doctor’s notes would provide a clearer understanding of their medical condition, improve self-care, and give them a greater sense of control.", "date_published": "2011-12-20T00:00:00-05:00", "date_modified": "2011-12-20T00:00:00-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8108/conversions/Doctor_typing-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Medical Research" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/obama-going-gray-do-presidents-age-faster-201112063912", "title": "Obama going gray: Do presidents age faster?", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/obama-going-gray-do-presidents-age-faster-201112063912", "content_html": "It’s more than just a few flecks. President Barack Obama, who turned 50 in August, is definitely going gray. He’s said the color change runs in his family and has mentioned a grandfather who turned gray at 29. Dr. Michael Roizen, of RealAge.com fame, says presidents age twice as fast as normal when they’re in office. Not so, says new study of presidential longevity. According to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, there’s no evidence that American presidents die sooner than other American men of their time. In fact, quite the opposite: most of them lived long lives and beat the longevity expectations for their time. Seven of the first eight presidents lived to a ripe old age, with average life spans of 81.5 years. These men probably had some inborn hardiness, as well as fortunate circumstances.", "summary": "It’s more than just a few flecks. President Barack Obama, who turned 50 in August, is definitely going gray. He’s said the color change runs in his family and has mentioned a grandfather who turned gray at 29. Dr. Michael Roizen, of RealAge.com fame, says presidents age twice as fast as normal when they’re in office. Not so, says new study of presidential longevity. According to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, there’s no evidence that American presidents die sooner than other American men of their time. In fact, quite the opposite: most of them lived long lives and beat the longevity expectations for their time. Seven of the first eight presidents lived to a ripe old age, with average life spans of 81.5 years. These men probably had some inborn hardiness, as well as fortunate circumstances.", "date_published": "2011-12-06T21:00:24-05:00", "date_modified": "2011-12-06T21:00:24-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8100/conversions/Obama2011-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/propofol-the-drug-that-killed-michael-jackson-201111073772", "title": "Propofol: the drug that killed Michael Jackson", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/propofol-the-drug-that-killed-michael-jackson-201111073772", "content_html": "The manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, focused a lot of attention on a powerful anesthetic agent called propofol. Propofol is sometimes called the “milk of anesthesia” because it comes in a white, oily solution. Propofol is used as an induction agent—the drug that causes loss of consciousness— for general anesthesia in major surgery. Propofol is also a very good anesthetic for milder sedation used for outpatient surgery because it puts people in a semi-conscious, drowsy state. It starts acting quickly, but also wears off quickly. Like many sedating anesthetics, propofol lowers blood pressure and suppresses breathing, so the heart function and breathing of patients need to be constantly monitored. With a lot of propofol around, opportunities exist for abuse, with possibly fatal consequences.", "summary": "The manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, focused a lot of attention on a powerful anesthetic agent called propofol. Propofol is sometimes called the “milk of anesthesia” because it comes in a white, oily solution. Propofol is used as an induction agent—the drug that causes loss of consciousness— for general anesthesia in major surgery. Propofol is also a very good anesthetic for milder sedation used for outpatient surgery because it puts people in a semi-conscious, drowsy state. It starts acting quickly, but also wears off quickly. Like many sedating anesthetics, propofol lowers blood pressure and suppresses breathing, so the heart function and breathing of patients need to be constantly monitored. With a lot of propofol around, opportunities exist for abuse, with possibly fatal consequences.", "date_published": "2011-11-07T22:02:48-05:00", "date_modified": "2011-11-07T22:02:48-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "tags": [ "Addiction" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/astounding-increase-in-antidepressant-use-by-americans-201110203624", "title": "Astounding increase in antidepressant use by Americans", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/astounding-increase-in-antidepressant-use-by-americans-201110203624", "content_html": "Americans are taking antidepressants in astounding numbers. According to a report released yesterday by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the rate of antidepressant use in this country among teens and adults (people ages 12 and older) increased by almost 400% from the early 1990s to the mid 2000s. The federal government’s health statisticians figure that about one in every 10 Americans takes an antidepressant. Antidepressants were the third most common prescription medication taken by Americans in the study period. Antidepressant use was higher in women than men, and in whites than blacks or Hispanics.", "summary": "Americans are taking antidepressants in astounding numbers. According to a report released yesterday by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the rate of antidepressant use in this country among teens and adults (people ages 12 and older) increased by almost 400% from the early 1990s to the mid 2000s. The federal government’s health statisticians figure that about one in every 10 Americans takes an antidepressant. Antidepressants were the third most common prescription medication taken by Americans in the study period. Antidepressant use was higher in women than men, and in whites than blacks or Hispanics.", "date_published": "2011-10-20T16:46:35-04:00", "date_modified": "2011-10-20T16:46:35-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8081/conversions/Pills-spilled-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Mental Health" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/mris-may-be-safe-for-people-with-pacemakers-and-icds-201110033540", "title": "MRIs may be safe for people with pacemakers and ICDs", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/mris-may-be-safe-for-people-with-pacemakers-and-icds-201110033540", "content_html": "People with pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are often told that they can’t get an MRI scan. The worry is that the powerful magnetic fields and radio waves MRI scanners use might “fry” the devices, induce current so hearts would beat wildly or, in the case of ICDs, cause an unnecessary shock. A new study suggests that with the proper monitoring, MRIs can be safe for many people with pacemakers and ICDs. One of the biggest obstacles will be cost, since a specially trained nurse or a doctor would need to be present to reprogram the device and to respond in case of an emergency.", "summary": "People with pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are often told that they can’t get an MRI scan. The worry is that the powerful magnetic fields and radio waves MRI scanners use might “fry” the devices, induce current so hearts would beat wildly or, in the case of ICDs, cause an unnecessary shock. A new study suggests that with the proper monitoring, MRIs can be safe for many people with pacemakers and ICDs. One of the biggest obstacles will be cost, since a specially trained nurse or a doctor would need to be present to reprogram the device and to respond in case of an emergency.", "date_published": "2011-10-03T21:49:06-04:00", "date_modified": "2011-10-03T21:49:06-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8076/conversions/Pacemaker-ICD-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Heart Health" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-survive-a-tornado-201104282496", "title": "How to survive a tornado", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-survive-a-tornado-201104282496", "content_html": "The storms that have recently ripped through the South included dozens of tornadoes. And as the bad weather barreled north today, the National Weather Service declared a tornado watch for eastern parts South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, and warned of severe weather as far north as Boston. Strong wind from any sort of severe weather can wreak havoc, but the speed and spinning winds of a tornado are especially destructive. In most years, tornadoes kill about 60 Americans, about the same number killed by lightning strikes. But this is not going to be an average year. The death toll from the terrible storms in the South is approaching 300 and the number is climbing. Advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center can help you survive a tornado if one is headed your way.", "summary": "The storms that have recently ripped through the South included dozens of tornadoes. And as the bad weather barreled north today, the National Weather Service declared a tornado watch for eastern parts South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, and warned of severe weather as far north as Boston. Strong wind from any sort of severe weather can wreak havoc, but the speed and spinning winds of a tornado are especially destructive. In most years, tornadoes kill about 60 Americans, about the same number killed by lightning strikes. But this is not going to be an average year. The death toll from the terrible storms in the South is approaching 300 and the number is climbing. Advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center can help you survive a tornado if one is headed your way.", "date_published": "2011-04-29T00:16:43-04:00", "date_modified": "2011-04-29T00:16:43-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8031/conversions/Tornado_240-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/kate-middletons-pre-royal-weight-loss-stress-brideorexia-or-the-dukan-diet-201104272444", "title": "Kate Middleton’s pre-royal weight loss: stress, “brideorexia,” or the Dukan Diet?", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/kate-middletons-pre-royal-weight-loss-stress-brideorexia-or-the-dukan-diet-201104272444", "content_html": "One of many hot topics about the upcoming royal wedding of Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton is whether Middleton has lost too much weight in preparing for the ceremony. Prevailing theories about Middleton’s presumptive weight loss include stress, “brideorexia,” and a popular French diet. Harvard Health Letter editor Peter Wehrwein discusses all three possibilities.", "summary": "One of many hot topics about the upcoming royal wedding of Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton is whether Middleton has lost too much weight in preparing for the ceremony. Prevailing theories about Middleton’s presumptive weight loss include stress, “brideorexia,” and a popular French diet. Harvard Health Letter editor Peter Wehrwein discusses all three possibilities.", "date_published": "2011-04-27T15:43:26-04:00", "date_modified": "2011-04-27T15:43:26-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8029/conversions/kate-middleton1-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Diet & Weight Loss" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-boston-marathon-runners-can-avoid-hitting-the-wall-201104172372", "title": "How Boston Marathon runners can avoid hitting the wall", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-boston-marathon-runners-can-avoid-hitting-the-wall-201104172372", "content_html": "Perhaps up to 40% of runners in tomorrow’s Boston Marathon will end up “hitting the wall,” notes Harvard Health Letter editor Peter Wehrwein. This means that their bodies have run out of the carbohydrates needed to sustain intense physical activities like long-distance running. But one Harvard/MIT student and marathon runner has developed an online tool that allows runners to calculate just how many extra calories they should get from high-carbohydrate food or drink before a marathon to avoid hitting the wall.", "summary": "Perhaps up to 40% of runners in tomorrow’s Boston Marathon will end up “hitting the wall,” notes Harvard Health Letter editor Peter Wehrwein. This means that their bodies have run out of the carbohydrates needed to sustain intense physical activities like long-distance running. But one Harvard/MIT student and marathon runner has developed an online tool that allows runners to calculate just how many extra calories they should get from high-carbohydrate food or drink before a marathon to avoid hitting the wall.", "date_published": "2011-04-18T00:50:06-04:00", "date_modified": "2011-04-18T00:50:06-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8021/conversions/boston-marathon-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Exercise and Fitness" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/statin-use-is-up-cholesterol-levels-are-down-are-americans-hearts-benefiting-201104151518", "title": "Statin use is up, cholesterol levels are down: Are Americans’ hearts benefiting?", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/statin-use-is-up-cholesterol-levels-are-down-are-americans-hearts-benefiting-201104151518", "content_html": "The latest annual snapshot of health in America, a report called Health, United States, 2010 offers hours of browsing and food for thought for anyone interested in health trends. Harvard Health Letter editor Peter Wehrwein connects the dots between use of cholesterol-lowering statins and fewer deaths from heart disease.", "summary": "The latest annual snapshot of health in America, a report called Health, United States, 2010 offers hours of browsing and food for thought for anyone interested in health trends. Harvard Health Letter editor Peter Wehrwein connects the dots between use of cholesterol-lowering statins and fewer deaths from heart disease.", "date_published": "2011-04-15T13:47:48-04:00", "date_modified": "2011-04-15T13:47:48-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8017/conversions/Statin-use-HUS20102-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Heart Health" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/play-ball-will-new-rules-for-bats-make-baseball-safer-2-201103312177", "title": "Play Ball: Will new rules for bats make baseball safer?", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/play-ball-will-new-rules-for-bats-make-baseball-safer-2-201103312177", "content_html": "When a hitter makes solid contact with a baseball, the ball leaves the bat travelling very fast. The type of bat matters — ball speeds are higher with aluminum and newer composite bats than they are with wood bats. Why? Wood bats are solid. When one smacks a ball, the bat stays fairly rigid and the ball flattens out for a millisecond, absorbing some of the energy in the bat-ball collision. Aluminum and composite bats are hollow. When they strike a baseball, the bat gives. That means more of the energy of the bat-ball collision is transferred to the “bounce” of the ball off the bat. Harvard Health Letter editor Peter Wehrwein talks with experts in sports injury, the physics of baseball, and bat testing to explain connections between bat type and injury.", "summary": "When a hitter makes solid contact with a baseball, the ball leaves the bat travelling very fast. The type of bat matters — ball speeds are higher with aluminum and newer composite bats than they are with wood bats. Why? Wood bats are solid. When one smacks a ball, the bat stays fairly rigid and the ball flattens out for a millisecond, absorbing some of the energy in the bat-ball collision. Aluminum and composite bats are hollow. When they strike a baseball, the bat gives. That means more of the energy of the bat-ball collision is transferred to the “bounce” of the ball off the bat. Harvard Health Letter editor Peter Wehrwein talks with experts in sports injury, the physics of baseball, and bat testing to explain connections between bat type and injury.", "date_published": "2011-03-31T19:17:17-04:00", "date_modified": "2011-03-31T19:17:17-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8009/conversions/Baseball-bat_240-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Pediatric health","Exercise and Fitness" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/radiation-risk-in-japan-an-update-201103182003", "title": "Radiation risk in Japan: an update", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/radiation-risk-in-japan-an-update-201103182003", "content_html": "Several people who read my earlier post about radiation readings at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan pointed out that the time period over which the radiation exposure occurs is important. They’re right—the radiation dose and how long you are exposed to it determine how much radiation you are receiving. That is why […]", "summary": "Several people who read my earlier post about radiation readings at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan pointed out that the time period over which the radiation exposure occurs is important. They’re right—the radiation dose and how long you are exposed to it determine how much radiation you are receiving. That is why […]", "date_published": "2011-03-19T00:45:58-04:00", "date_modified": "2011-03-19T00:45:58-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "tags": [ "Cancer" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/radiation-risk-in-japan-understanding-radiation-measurements-and-putting-them-in-perspective-201103161976", "title": "Radiation risk in Japan: understanding radiation measurements and putting them in perspective", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/radiation-risk-in-japan-understanding-radiation-measurements-and-putting-them-in-perspective-201103161976", "content_html": "News from Japan is full of talk about radiation risk and millisieverts. Harvard Health Letter editor Peter Wehrwein explains radiation doses and compares what’s happening in Japan with other exposures, from medical testing to Chernobyl and more.", "summary": "News from Japan is full of talk about radiation risk and millisieverts. Harvard Health Letter editor Peter Wehrwein explains radiation doses and compares what’s happening in Japan with other exposures, from medical testing to Chernobyl and more.", "date_published": "2011-03-16T19:25:07-04:00", "date_modified": "2011-03-16T19:25:07-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "tags": [ "Cancer" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/potassium-iodide-pills-and-prevention-of-thyroid-cancer-from-japanese-nuclear-power-plant-201103141864", "title": "Potassium iodide pills and prevention of thyroid cancer from Japanese nuclear power plant", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/potassium-iodide-pills-and-prevention-of-thyroid-cancer-from-japanese-nuclear-power-plant-201103141864", "content_html": "Japanese officials are preparing to distribute potassium iodide pills to people living near the nuclear power plants crippled by last week’s earthquake. Harvard Health Letter editor Peter Wehrwein explains what these pills do and who needs them.", "summary": "Japanese officials are preparing to distribute potassium iodide pills to people living near the nuclear power plants crippled by last week’s earthquake. Harvard Health Letter editor Peter Wehrwein explains what these pills do and who needs them.", "date_published": "2011-03-14T18:54:20-04:00", "date_modified": "2011-03-14T18:54:20-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/7998/conversions/Potassium-iodide-pills-239x300-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Cancer" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/oscar-or-not-the-kings-speech-teaches-about-stuttering-201102271582", "title": "Oscar or not, The King’s Speech teaches about stuttering", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/oscar-or-not-the-kings-speech-teaches-about-stuttering-201102271582", "content_html": "The King’s Speech has won almost universal praise for its portrayal of reluctant monarch George VI’s stuttering. Harvard Health Letter editor Peter Wehrwein takes you behind the scenes with Alex Johnson, an expert in speech and stuttering at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston; Caroline Bowen, an Australian speech-language therapist; and a few other scattered sources.", "summary": "The King’s Speech has won almost universal praise for its portrayal of reluctant monarch George VI’s stuttering. Harvard Health Letter editor Peter Wehrwein takes you behind the scenes with Alex Johnson, an expert in speech and stuttering at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston; Caroline Bowen, an Australian speech-language therapist; and a few other scattered sources.", "date_published": "2011-02-27T23:01:13-05:00", "date_modified": "2011-02-27T23:01:13-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/top-10-health-stories-of-2010-20101231974", "title": "Top 10 health stories of 2010", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/top-10-health-stories-of-2010-20101231974", "content_html": "1.", "summary": "1.", "date_published": "2010-12-31T00:00:00-05:00", "date_modified": "2010-12-31T00:00:00-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/echinacea-for-colds-20101220960", "title": "Echinacea for colds", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/echinacea-for-colds-20101220960", "content_html": "Does echinacea, the popular natural cold remedy, really work? It depends on what you mean by “work.” Results reported in today’s Annals of Internal Medicine found that echinacea may reduce the length of a weeklong cold by 7 to 10 hours and make symptoms a little less onerous. That can’t be characterized as a major effect, so many people may figure that […]", "summary": "Does echinacea, the popular natural cold remedy, really work? It depends on what you mean by “work.” Results reported in today’s Annals of Internal Medicine found that echinacea may reduce the length of a weeklong cold by 7 to 10 hours and make symptoms a little less onerous. That can’t be characterized as a major effect, so many people may figure that […]", "date_published": "2010-12-20T22:06:12-05:00", "date_modified": "2010-12-20T22:06:12-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "tags": [ "Colds and flu" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-safety-of-painkillers-20101220915", "title": "The safety of painkillers", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-safety-of-painkillers-20101220915", "content_html": "Perhaps as many as one in every 5 American adults will get a prescription for a painkiller this year, and many more will buy over-the-counter medicines without a prescription. These drugs can do wonders—getting rid of pain can seem like a miracle—but sometimes there’s a high price to be paid. Remember the heavily marketed COX-2 inhibitors? Rofecoxib, sold as Vioxx, […]", "summary": "Perhaps as many as one in every 5 American adults will get a prescription for a painkiller this year, and many more will buy over-the-counter medicines without a prescription. These drugs can do wonders—getting rid of pain can seem like a miracle—but sometimes there’s a high price to be paid. Remember the heavily marketed COX-2 inhibitors? Rofecoxib, sold as Vioxx, […]", "date_published": "2010-12-20T00:00:00-05:00", "date_modified": "2010-12-20T00:00:00-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "tags": [ "Bones and joints" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vitamin-d-recommendations-20101130862", "title": "Vitamin D recommendations", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vitamin-d-recommendations-20101130862", "content_html": "Vitamin D has been talked about as the vitamin — the one that might help fend off everything from cancer to heart disease to autoimmune disorders, if only we were to get enough of it. “Whoa!” is the message from a committee of experts assembled by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to update recommendations for vitamin D (and for calcium). […]", "summary": "Vitamin D has been talked about as the vitamin — the one that might help fend off everything from cancer to heart disease to autoimmune disorders, if only we were to get enough of it. “Whoa!” is the message from a committee of experts assembled by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to update recommendations for vitamin D (and for calcium). […]", "date_published": "2010-11-30T15:17:45-05:00", "date_modified": "2010-11-30T15:17:45-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "tags": [ "Women's Health","Osteoporosis" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/screening-for-lung-cancer-with-ct-scans-20101104754", "title": "Screening for lung cancer with CT scans", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/screening-for-lung-cancer-with-ct-scans-20101104754", "content_html": "Lung cancer is usually discovered late when it’s difficult to treat and has often spread outside the lung. A reliable screening test to find it at an earlier, more treatable stage would be a legitimate breakthrough—and could potentially save thousands of lives. About 160,000 Americans die each year from lung cancer, which is more than who die from breast, prostate, and […]", "summary": "Lung cancer is usually discovered late when it’s difficult to treat and has often spread outside the lung. A reliable screening test to find it at an earlier, more treatable stage would be a legitimate breakthrough—and could potentially save thousands of lives. About 160,000 Americans die each year from lung cancer, which is more than who die from breast, prostate, and […]", "date_published": "2010-11-05T01:25:20-04:00", "date_modified": "2010-11-05T01:25:20-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "tags": [ "Cancer" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/halloween-candy-20101029716", "title": "Halloween candy", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/halloween-candy-20101029716", "content_html": "Trick or treat? It’s really a rhetorical question. They just want the Halloween candy. Millions of American children will get billions of sugar- and fat-laden treats on Sunday night in a tradition that has its roots in pagan and Christian rituals. It’s fun. The kids are outside, walking. And, gosh, they’re cute in their princess and pirate costumes. But nutritionally and dentally speaking, the […]", "summary": "Trick or treat? It’s really a rhetorical question. They just want the Halloween candy. Millions of American children will get billions of sugar- and fat-laden treats on Sunday night in a tradition that has its roots in pagan and Christian rituals. It’s fun. The kids are outside, walking. And, gosh, they’re cute in their princess and pirate costumes. But nutritionally and dentally speaking, the […]", "date_published": "2010-10-29T20:01:51-04:00", "date_modified": "2010-10-29T20:01:51-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "tags": [ "Dental Health" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/stem-cell-progress-turning-skin-cells-into-heart-cells-20101006587", "title": "Stem cell progress: Turning skin cells into heart cells", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/stem-cell-progress-turning-skin-cells-into-heart-cells-20101006587", "content_html": "Embryonic stem cell research continues to be a political and legal hot potato that stirs up a lot of emotion and argument. In the meantime, researchers are making some remarkable progress using an alternative stem cell approach called induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs (sometimes that gets  shortened to iPS). An induced pluripotent stem cell is an adult cell, often a skin cell, […]", "summary": "Embryonic stem cell research continues to be a political and legal hot potato that stirs up a lot of emotion and argument. In the meantime, researchers are making some remarkable progress using an alternative stem cell approach called induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs (sometimes that gets  shortened to iPS). An induced pluripotent stem cell is an adult cell, often a skin cell, […]", "date_published": "2010-10-06T22:31:52-04:00", "date_modified": "2010-10-06T22:31:52-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "tags": [ "Heart Health" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/kiss-kiss-cpr-the-mouth-to-mouth-part-may-not-be-needed-20101005536", "title": "Kiss-kiss CPR: The mouth-to-mouth part may not be needed", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/kiss-kiss-cpr-the-mouth-to-mouth-part-may-not-be-needed-20101005536", "content_html": "The advice to “keep it simple, stupid”—kiss, kiss—seems to apply to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). But with CPR, kiss-kiss means no mouth-to-mouth contact. A study published in tomorrow’s Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) adds to the evidence that the old way of doing CPR—alternating chest compressions with blows into the mouth—is needlessly complicated in most cases (there are exceptions, which we will get into below). Instead, this study and others (The New England […]", "summary": "The advice to “keep it simple, stupid”—kiss, kiss—seems to apply to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). But with CPR, kiss-kiss means no mouth-to-mouth contact. A study published in tomorrow’s Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) adds to the evidence that the old way of doing CPR—alternating chest compressions with blows into the mouth—is needlessly complicated in most cases (there are exceptions, which we will get into below). Instead, this study and others (The New England […]", "date_published": "2010-10-05T20:03:05-04:00", "date_modified": "2010-10-05T20:03:05-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "tags": [ "Heart Health" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/naps-for-young-doctors-20100929444", "title": "Naps for young doctors", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/naps-for-young-doctors-20100929444", "content_html": "Doctors-in-training should be encouraged to do some on-the-job napping, according to the organization that sets the standards for residency programs around the country. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) issued new standards yesterday that came out in favor of a well-timed snooze. The guidelines, which are scheduled to go into effect next year, say this: Programs must encourage residents to use alertness […]", "summary": "Doctors-in-training should be encouraged to do some on-the-job napping, according to the organization that sets the standards for residency programs around the country. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) issued new standards yesterday that came out in favor of a well-timed snooze. The guidelines, which are scheduled to go into effect next year, say this: Programs must encourage residents to use alertness […]", "date_published": "2010-09-29T15:22:28-04:00", "date_modified": "2010-09-29T15:22:28-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "tags": [ "Sleep" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/no-big-whoop-adult-pertussis-may-not-produce-the-whooping-cough-20100913358", "title": "No big whoop: Adult pertussis may not produce the whooping cough", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/no-big-whoop-adult-pertussis-may-not-produce-the-whooping-cough-20100913358", "content_html": "ARCHIVED CONTENT: As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date each article was posted or last reviewed. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified […]", "summary": "ARCHIVED CONTENT: As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date each article was posted or last reviewed. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified […]", "date_published": "2010-09-13T12:47:25-04:00", "date_modified": "2010-09-13T12:47:25-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/atul-gwandes-latest-gem-hospice-care-and-our-end-of-life-wishes-20100811158", "title": "Atul Gawande’s latest gem: Hospice care and our end-of-life wishes", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/atul-gwandes-latest-gem-hospice-care-and-our-end-of-life-wishes-20100811158", "content_html": "Atul Gawande’s piece about end-of-life care in the Aug. 2 issue of The New Yorker is another gem by the surgeon-writer-health policy wonk and staff member at Harvard-affialiated Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. In an online chat after the article was published, Gawande said he had the usual preconceived notions about hospice before he started researching the article: Telling a patient […]", "summary": "Atul Gawande’s piece about end-of-life care in the Aug. 2 issue of The New Yorker is another gem by the surgeon-writer-health policy wonk and staff member at Harvard-affialiated Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. In an online chat after the article was published, Gawande said he had the usual preconceived notions about hospice before he started researching the article: Telling a patient […]", "date_published": "2010-08-11T00:00:00-04:00", "date_modified": "2010-08-11T00:00:00-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "tags": [ "Caregiving" ] }, { "id": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/are-crabs-and-oysters-good-for-your-eyes-20100808241", "title": "Are crabs and oysters good for your eyes?", "url": "https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/are-crabs-and-oysters-good-for-your-eyes-20100808241", "content_html": "Johns Hopkins researchers have a report in the the journal Opthalmology that sends a mixed  message about whether omega-3 fats protect the eyes. And if you like to eat crab and oysters, enjoy—and we’re with you. But don’t expect any special ophthmalic benefits. Fish and shellfish are natural sources of the omega-3 fats that are believed to pay all kinds […]", "summary": "Johns Hopkins researchers have a report in the the journal Opthalmology that sends a mixed  message about whether omega-3 fats protect the eyes. And if you like to eat crab and oysters, enjoy—and we’re with you. But don’t expect any special ophthmalic benefits. Fish and shellfish are natural sources of the omega-3 fats that are believed to pay all kinds […]", "date_published": "2010-08-08T00:00:00-04:00", "date_modified": "2010-08-08T00:00:00-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Peter Wehrwein" } ], "tags": [ "Diet & Weight Loss" ] } ] }