Recent Blog Articles
The care that transgender youth need and deserve
Anti-inflammatory food superstars for every season
Warming up to the cold: Staying active in any weather
Struggling to sleep? Your heart may pay the price
The mental health crisis among children and teens: How parents can help
Harvard Health Ad Watch: A blood thinner winner?
Talking to children about tragedies and scary headlines in the news
Close relationships with neighbors influence cardiovascular health in Black adults
Can breastfeeding really prevent pregnancy?
Olive oil: Can it lower your risk of dying early?
Harvard Health Blog
Read the latest posts from experts at Harvard Health Publishing covering a variety of health topics and perspectives on medical news.
Articles
The care that transgender youth need and deserve
Some people feel very strongly that their gender is not the one they were assigned at birth. When families, health care providers, and others ignore or deny this, or try to stop the person from living as the gender they feel is right for them, it’s not only unkind but dangerous.
Anti-inflammatory food superstars for every season
Inflammation is part of the body’s healing process, but chronic inflammation can contribute to a range of health issues. In every season, regularly eating a variety of anti-inflammatory foods can benefit your health.
Warming up to the cold: Staying active in any weather
It’s difficult to get motivated to be active outside during cold-weather months, but it’s important to your health and can help you meet any fitness goals you’re trying to reach. There are ways to get outside and moving in cold temperatures.
Struggling to sleep? Your heart may pay the price
Growing evidence suggests that poor sleep is linked to a host of health problems, including a higher risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Now, a recent study on people in midlife finds that having a combination of sleep problems may nearly triple a person’s risk of heart disease.
The mental health crisis among children and teens: How parents can help
Alarming rates of anxiety and depression are affecting children and teens across the US. While calls are made to expand much-needed programs and access to services, there are actions parents can take today to support their children’s mental health.
Harvard Health Ad Watch: A blood thinner winner?
Medicines known as blood thinners are prescribed as long-term treatment to avoid initial or recurring blood clots that could cause serious complications. What does an ad in heavy rotation about the brand name blood thinner Eliquis get right and what else do you need to consider?
Talking to children about tragedies and scary headlines in the news
When news of the world is overwhelming and awful, our first instinct is usually to shelter our children and not say anything about it to them at all, a strategy that's usually not viable. Instead parents can give children the perspective and skills they need to navigate a sometimes scary world.
Close relationships with neighbors influence cardiovascular health in Black adults
A study of Black adults living in the Atlanta area suggests that feeling rooted in community and socializing with neighbors may strongly contribute to better cardiovascular health, which might lower risk for heart attacks and strokes.
Can breastfeeding really prevent pregnancy?
New parents might want to wait awhile before considering having another child, and breastfeeding prevents ovulation, so some people use it as a natural birth control method during the early months of an infant’s life. However, it's effective only if a mother is breastfeeding frequently and an infant is receiving only breast milk as food.
Olive oil: Can it lower your risk of dying early?
The benefits of olive oil to help reduce the risk of heart disease are well-known, but a recent study showed that people who consumed the highest amount of olive oil daily had a lower overall risk of dying early, as well as lower risk of dying from heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.
Taking an aging parent to the doctor? 10 helpful tips
When you take an aging parent to a medical appointment, you wind up playing many roles. Millions of people in the US are caring for family members and are learning as they go along, so they can benefit from tips to keep them on track before, during, and after the appointment.
Preventing preeclampsia may be as simple as taking an aspirin
Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that can cause serious health issues. While it can happen during any pregnancy, certain risk factors increase its likelihood. Now, a statement from the US Preventive Services Task Force supported by a review of research recommends that doctors prescribe a low-dose daily aspirin for those at risk.
Resilience: 5 ways to help children and teens learn it
The past two years have been hard and children and teens have had to deal with particularly challenging circumstances. Resilience—the ability to overcome hardship and stress—is one of the most important skills parents can teach their children.
Could cataract surgery protect against dementia?
Having surgery to remove cataracts restores blurred or distorted vision, helping to improve quality of life for older adults. Now, a new study makes a strong case that removing cataracts may reduce a person’s risk of developing dementia.
Another natural remedy for constipation?
Constipation can describe many types of problems with moving your bowels. It becomes chronic when it lasts for weeks or months. Many people are interested in natural remedies for constipation, and one of the most common is adding fiber to your diet. A new study compared three natural sources of fiber, with encouraging results.
Even low-level air pollution may harm health
The burning of fossil fuels is a major contributor to climate change, and pollution from this burning has been linked to millions of premature deaths worldwide. And, according to a new report, even low levels of air pollution may harm our health although we can take steps to limit exposure.
Boosting your child’s immune system
As children go through another school year under the cloud of the COVID-19 pandemic, parents are asking what they can do to keep their children healthy. While no magic solutions can ward off every illness, parents can take steps to help children — and everyone in their household — protect their health by keeping their immune systems robust.
Does the sex of your surgeon matter? A new study says yes
If you need surgery, does the sex of the surgeon matter? A study reviewed procedures done in Canada over a 12-year period involving more than a million adults, and found that in general, people operated on by female surgeons were less likely to experience complications. But why?
Can we prevent depression in older adults by treating insomnia?
Depression is common among older adults, and insomnia doubles the risk of major depressive disorder. There is increasing evidence that treating insomnia in older people who have both insomnia and major depression has the potential to improve both their sleep and their mood.
Health disparities and headache treatment
Optimism, heart health, and longevity: Unraveling the link for Black Americans
Icy fingers and toes: Poor circulation or Raynaud’s phenomenon?
Take the lead on lead poisoning
New guidance on return to youth sports and activity after COVID-19
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