Recent Blog Articles

Can long COVID affect the gut?

When replenishing fluids, does milk beat water?

Safe, joyful movement for people of all weights

Slowing down racing thoughts

Are women turning to cannabis for menopause symptom relief?

3 ways to create community and counter loneliness

Helping children make friends: What parents can do

Can electrical brain stimulation boost attention, memory, and more?

Palliative care frightens some people: Here’s how it helps

Parents don't always realize that their teen is suicidal
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
Can long COVID affect the gut?
By now millions of people around the world have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Some of them have experienced lingering effects like low energy and brain fog; could gastrointestinal problems be another aftereffect of the virus?
When replenishing fluids, does milk beat water?
An ad campaign sponsored by the milk industry claims that milk is better than water for hydration. A few studies appear to support the claim, but they involved a small number of subjects and have important limitations.
Safe, joyful movement for people of all weights
A new study finds that many people with obesity avoid exercising because they fear their weight makes injury more likely. But everyone, at every weight, can find ways to exercise safely, confidently, and joyfully.
Slowing down racing thoughts
Everyone has moments when their brain feels like it’s gone haywire. When these racing thoughts take over the mind can’t stay focused, feeding into a cycle of anxiety. But there are things you can do to break this cycle and regain control.
Are women turning to cannabis for menopause symptom relief?
A survey found many midlife women report turning to cannabis to ease uncomfortable symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, although research evaluating how well this works and long-term safety is lacking.
3 ways to create community and counter loneliness
Loneliness boosts risk for many health problems, and can even contribute to an early death. Many people find it hard to reach out to make new friends, but there are strategies that can help.
Helping children make friends: What parents can do
The COVID-19 pandemic affected children's developing social skills. Many children either didn’t learn the skills they need to make friends — or those skills got rusty. Here are some ways parents can help.
Can electrical brain stimulation boost attention, memory, and more?
Therapies using an electric current for brain stimulation are not new, but marketing devices for home use is a relatively recent phenomenon. While claims include better energy, focus, mood and more, current evidence doesn't support this and the FDA hasn't cleared these devices.
Palliative care frightens some people: Here’s how it helps
Palliative care is a medical specialty meant to help people during many different stages of health. Many people who might benefit from palliative care do not receive it; if more people understand it, more people can take advantage of it.
Parents don't always realize that their teen is suicidal
Parents often think that they would know if their teen was suicidal. However, this is not always the case. Here’s what to be aware of and watch for, and what to do if you see worrisome behavior.
Shift work can harm sleep and health: What helps?
Mounting evidence paints a worrisome picture of the potential health consequences of nontraditional shift work schedules. So how can people who are required to work during the night and sleep during the day protect their health and well-being?
Seeing a surgeon?
A pre-surgery consultation with the surgeon can feel overwhelming. Many people are anxious and have questions about what’s to come. Setting the right expectations on both sides can ease anxiety and help define a successful outcome.
Ketamine for treatment-resistant depression: When and where is it safe?
Ketamine has been used for decades as an anesthetic, and in 2019 an inhaled version of it was approved by the FDA for treatment-resistant depression. But it is generally prescribed only when other treatments have not been effective.
Energy-boosting coffee alternatives: What to know
Beverages that promise similar energy perks and health benefits as coffee and tea are growing in popularity. Often marketed as wellness drinks, how do these alternatives stack up nutritionally?
What is frontotemporal dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a brain disorder caused by damage to nerves in certain parts of the brain. It typically affects people in middle age, and is characterized by marked changes in behavior or problems with language.
What happens when a drug goes viral?
After celebrities touted its weight loss benefits, high demand put the diabetes medication Ozempic in short supply. Learn more about what this means for people with diabetes. |
Proton-pump inhibitors: Should I still be taking this medication?
Proton-pump inhibitors are a commonly prescribed anti-acid medication, but new guidelines from the American Gastroenterological Association recommend that they should be taken at the lowest dose and shortest duration for the condition being treated.
Want to reduce your risk of dementia? Get your hearing checked today
Dementia occurs more often among older people with higher levels of hearing loss than among those with normal hearing. A new study found that wearing hearing aids reduced the risk for dementia in people who had significant hearing loss.
Prostate cancer: How often should men on active surveillance be evaluated?
Doctors used to recommend treating all men with prostate cancer; now they are likely to advise active surveillance for lower-risk cancers. But some men require closer monitoring — so how do they determine which ones?
What makes your heart skip a beat?
The human heart normally keeps a predictable pace, but occasionally you might notice a sensation that feels like your heart is racing, fluttering, or has skipped a beat. While this can be alarming, it’s usually not a cause for concern.
Does inflammation contribute to infertility?
Infertility affects millions of people worldwide. Chronic inflammation has been linked to many health conditions and some research suggests it might be a contributing factor for some cases of infertility. And if true, would an anti-inflammatory diet or lifestyle boost fertility?
Does your child need to gain weight?
Weight can be a sensitive topic with children and teens, and sometimes a child needs to gain some weight. Checking with your doctor before working on adding weight and emphasizing healthy, high-calorie foods are important.
Optimism, heart health, and longevity: Unraveling the link for Black Americans
Late-stage cervical cancer on the rise: What to know
Cervical cancer is curable when caught early through routine screening, so research showing a surprising rise in advanced cancer cases in some groups is worrisome. Two Harvard experts share insights about the research and advice on how people can best protect themselves.
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