Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Older people who have a chronic medical condition are at increased risk for severe disease and death if they contract COVID-19. Just how old is “older,” what constitutes chronic disease, and how can you lower risks?

Recent guidelines for screening for hepatitis C focused on baby boomers because that population had most of the undiagnosed infections, but because new infections are increasing fastest in those 20 to 39, the guidelines have been revised.

The idea of a detox diet or cleanse seems like it might be beneficial, and the advertising is certainly compelling, but these products are not regulated in any way. Evidence of beneficial effects from using them is limited, and there are reports of side effects and complications.

If you believe ads for nutritional supplement drinks, you might think you can improve your health by drinking them. But for most people, their value is questionable and their cost adds up.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the daily flood of news about the coronavirus and COVID-19. Here’s some positive news and reasons to feel optimism.

Is 98.6˚ F still the norm for body temperature? Data collected over almost 160 years show that the normal body temperature has been declining and is now roughly one degree lower.

Does stress really turn hair gray? Scientists conducted experiments that simulated stress and led to gray hair—in mice, which does not mean it’s true for humans, regardless of what you may have heard in the media.

It’s happened to all of us: a hand or leg temporarily “falls asleep,” usually from being in one position for too long. Why does it happen? Are there times when you should be concerned about it?

Could an ingredient in toothpaste be harmful to your bones? Triclosan, an antibacterial agent, has been banned from soaps and hand sanitizers by the FDA, and researchers have found that women with the highest levels of triclosan in their urine had low bone density measurements.

New information about the spread of coronavirus is coming at us seemingly every minute from many sources. But how much of this information is trustworthy? And which sources should you believe?