Recent Blog Articles
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15477/conversions/59f61b05-2e23-463a-a0f7-b8aef6addd73-micro.jpg)
Testosterone-blocking drugs boost heart disease risk when given in combination
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15472/conversions/9f706d6e-3ba5-441f-a1ce-d93af96cdb5d-micro.jpg)
Parenting isn't easy: Two important skills can help
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/14937/conversions/fcff561e-5fc9-4fbd-aac0-b9ea3778052b-micro.jpg)
Does sleeping with an eye mask improve learning and alertness?
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15415/conversions/2acee670-1e43-413e-a07b-437512d22803-micro.jpg)
Do tattoos cause lymphoma?
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/14051/conversions/dea50ed5-99ea-4779-aa5b-56fae11aaa92-micro.jpg)
Hot weather hikes: Staying safe when temperatures spike
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15405/conversions/f22b5f3d-fd64-479d-b10a-b2409347f160-micro.jpg)
Cannabis drinks: How do they compare to alcohol?
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15404/conversions/ccd2e44a-96c4-492f-a05c-c2706549efc0-micro.jpg)
What is Lewy body dementia?
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15083/conversions/2fa8315b-f48e-43fb-8b56-d681a1715343-micro.jpg)
Dog bites: How to prevent or treat them
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15386/conversions/33679f9f-8065-4e13-a188-2ca67472b36f-micro.jpg)
Ever read your medical record? Here's why you should
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/14810/conversions/778f3d8c-0b73-420c-8d03-e8542d49660d-micro.jpg)
Shining light on night blindness
![photo of Robert H. Shmerling, MD](https://d2icykjy7h7x7e.cloudfront.net/authors/OdKCKaVzyx3xPsUxIBc9zJz8m3zvysnJa3UJsGOd.jpg)
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
![Hand pain from arthritis? This may help featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12982/conversions/e4333ef6-e03e-4e58-9084-e7f65b6a7609-thumb.jpg)
Diseases & Conditions
Hand pain from arthritis? This may help
![Have lupus? What to know about birth control featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12961/conversions/67d539e0-8112-42e6-a385-3022bb17cb6f-thumb.jpg)
Women's Health
Have lupus? What to know about birth control
![Tracking viruses: The best clues may be in the sewer featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12960/conversions/ed65a43f-a1f3-4e13-aee0-882976bae4b0-thumb.jpg)
Diseases & Conditions
Tracking viruses: The best clues may be in the sewer
![Could eating fish increase your risk of cancer? featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12956/conversions/d462f08d-ba43-42ee-bbfb-a3bfde5f1a17-thumb.jpg)
Cancer
Could eating fish increase your risk of cancer?
![Can a vegan diet treat rheumatoid arthritis? featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12884/conversions/9fa1609e-8fd4-4695-aca6-6808a43c4b57-thumb.jpg)
Diseases & Conditions
Can a vegan diet treat rheumatoid arthritis?
![Thunderstorm asthma: Bad weather, allergies, and asthma attacks featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12853/conversions/95b1d7b8-7b6c-430d-b892-06c715c4a4e9-thumb.jpg)
Diseases & Conditions
Thunderstorm asthma: Bad weather, allergies, and asthma attacks
![Year three of the pandemic is underway: Now what? featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12784/conversions/9dd7c2bc-e8ef-4c70-a94e-520e09490bc1-thumb.jpg)
Staying Healthy
Year three of the pandemic is underway: Now what?
![Ring vaccination might help curtail monkeypox outbreaks featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12780/conversions/de553304-9306-46b6-9252-5463c27bae01-thumb.jpg)
Diseases & Conditions
Ring vaccination might help curtail monkeypox outbreaks
![Considering pregnancy and have lupus? Plan ahead featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12771/conversions/302b935b-6957-408f-a404-d087fa4b7683-thumb.jpg)
Women's Health
Considering pregnancy and have lupus? Plan ahead
![Monkeypox: An unfamiliar virus spreading fast — sound familiar? featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12769/conversions/65ba94c4-b172-442f-a38e-1be7409ee46f-thumb.jpg)
Diseases & Conditions
Monkeypox: An unfamiliar virus spreading fast — sound familiar?
![An action plan to fight unhealthy inflammation featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12672/conversions/31a3b3b2-1542-4486-8e44-1e3f5c6932da-thumb.jpg)
Staying Healthy
An action plan to fight unhealthy inflammation
![Blood donations are down — so why restrict blood donors by sexual orientation? featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12641/conversions/f396962e-efdf-474a-ade9-2dcccd995105-thumb.jpg)
Healthcare Disparities
Blood donations are down — so why restrict blood donors by sexual orientation?
![Should you be tested for inflammation? featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12526/conversions/ed6fb414-d554-4b09-b3d8-47b47b53af16-thumb.jpg)
Diseases & Conditions
Should you be tested for inflammation?
![Can vitamin D supplements prevent autoimmune disease? featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12519/conversions/1f660cb7-8ac3-4092-8c83-f0fccce5a4d2-thumb.jpg)
Nutrition
Can vitamin D supplements prevent autoimmune disease?
![Why all the buzz about inflammation — and just how bad is it? featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12448/conversions/eb95aaa9-ebcb-40bb-8bac-21c5648bdb3c-thumb.jpg)
Staying Healthy
Why all the buzz about inflammation — and just how bad is it?
![Harvard Health Ad Watch: A blood thinner winner? featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12413/conversions/420c215b-7574-4f01-999b-4f88f4c1c7da-thumb.jpg)
Diseases & Conditions
Harvard Health Ad Watch: A blood thinner winner?
![Could cataract surgery protect against dementia? featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12390/conversions/dd43333a-55b6-4336-9db4-1c3d303338ac-thumb.jpg)
Staying Healthy
Could cataract surgery protect against dementia?
![Does the sex of your surgeon matter? A new study says yes featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12359/conversions/7e81765d-705d-4406-9146-d83d4585f2eb-thumb.jpg)
Diseases & Conditions
Does the sex of your surgeon matter? A new study says yes
![Can ALS be caused by traumatic brain injury? featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12266/conversions/cc8a598e-651a-4d1f-908a-54651b757521-thumb.jpg)
Diseases & Conditions
Can ALS be caused by traumatic brain injury?
![Tics and TikTok: Can social media trigger illness? featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12185/conversions/c801a79e-1e05-4d7b-8c95-b0ebe05a7879-thumb.jpg)
Mind & Mood
Tics and TikTok: Can social media trigger illness?
![If you have knee pain, telehealth may help featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12116/conversions/97782011-52da-4162-af9d-d0792a8daf87-thumb.jpg)
Pain
If you have knee pain, telehealth may help
![Are poinsettias, mistletoe, or holly plants dangerous? featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12096/conversions/86b784e1-0788-4c74-b1c8-b6f008de43e2-thumb.jpg)
Staying Healthy
Are poinsettias, mistletoe, or holly plants dangerous?
![Got back pain? Can virtual reality provide real pain relief? featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12021/conversions/8dfb72bc-8a76-46aa-be19-852ec05224ee-thumb.jpg)
Pain
Got back pain? Can virtual reality provide real pain relief?
![Harvard Health Ad Watch: An upbeat ad for a psoriasis treatment featured image](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/12005/conversions/1c2f93df-4233-486a-927a-71062a388943-thumb.jpg)
Diseases & Conditions
Harvard Health Ad Watch: An upbeat ad for a psoriasis treatment
Recent Blog Articles
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15477/conversions/59f61b05-2e23-463a-a0f7-b8aef6addd73-micro.jpg)
Testosterone-blocking drugs boost heart disease risk when given in combination
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15472/conversions/9f706d6e-3ba5-441f-a1ce-d93af96cdb5d-micro.jpg)
Parenting isn't easy: Two important skills can help
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/14937/conversions/fcff561e-5fc9-4fbd-aac0-b9ea3778052b-micro.jpg)
Does sleeping with an eye mask improve learning and alertness?
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15415/conversions/2acee670-1e43-413e-a07b-437512d22803-micro.jpg)
Do tattoos cause lymphoma?
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/14051/conversions/dea50ed5-99ea-4779-aa5b-56fae11aaa92-micro.jpg)
Hot weather hikes: Staying safe when temperatures spike
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15405/conversions/f22b5f3d-fd64-479d-b10a-b2409347f160-micro.jpg)
Cannabis drinks: How do they compare to alcohol?
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15404/conversions/ccd2e44a-96c4-492f-a05c-c2706549efc0-micro.jpg)
What is Lewy body dementia?
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15083/conversions/2fa8315b-f48e-43fb-8b56-d681a1715343-micro.jpg)
Dog bites: How to prevent or treat them
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/15386/conversions/33679f9f-8065-4e13-a188-2ca67472b36f-micro.jpg)
Ever read your medical record? Here's why you should
![blog image 1](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/14810/conversions/778f3d8c-0b73-420c-8d03-e8542d49660d-micro.jpg)
Shining light on night blindness