Recent Blog Articles

Taking up adaptive sports

Cutting and self-harm: Why it happens and what to do

Discrimination at work is linked to high blood pressure

Pouring from an empty cup? Three ways to refill emotionally

Give praise to the elbow: A bending, twisting marvel

Sneezy and dopey? Seasonal allergies and your brain

The FDA relaxes restrictions on blood donation

Apps to accelerometers: Can technology improve mental health in older adults?

Swimming and skin: What to know if a child has eczema

A muscle-building obsession in boys: What to know and do

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, 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

Staying Healthy
Give praise to the elbow: A bending, twisting marvel

Diseases & Conditions
The FDA relaxes restrictions on blood donation

Exercise & Fitness
Does running cause arthritis?

Staying Healthy
Is snuff really safer than smoking?

Staying Healthy
Drug recalls are common

Mind & Mood
Can electrical brain stimulation boost attention, memory, and more?

Diseases & Conditions
What happens when a drug goes viral?

Women's Health
Does inflammation contribute to infertility?

Staying Healthy
Rating the drugs in drug ads

Staying Healthy
Screening tests may save lives — so when is it time to stop?

Staying Healthy
Motorcycle rallies and organ donation: A curious connection

Staying Healthy
Aspirin and bone health: Is there a connection?

Diseases & Conditions
Genes protective during the Black Death may now be increasing autoimmune disorders

Nutrition
When replenishing fluids, does milk beat water?

Mind & Mood
Can a multivitamin keep your brain healthy?

Staying Healthy
Is the COVID-19 pandemic over, or not?

Diseases & Conditions
Why life expectancy in the US is falling

Diseases & Conditions
Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis may lower dementia risk

Diseases & Conditions
Harvard Health Ad Watch: A new injection treatment for eczema

Heart Health
The case of the bad placebo

Heart Health
How good is your cardiometabolic health — and what is that, anyway?

Diseases & Conditions
Hand pain from arthritis? This may help

Women's Health
Have lupus? What to know about birth control

Diseases & Conditions