Harvard Health Blog

Read posts from experts at Harvard Health Publishing covering a variety of health topics and perspectives on medical news.

Articles

Parents: Don’t use a baby walker

While it may be tempting to put a baby in a moving walker, the devices have led to thousands of injuries over the past three decades, plus they do not help babies learn to walk but in fact hinder that process.

Leaving time for last words

When a person needs to be intubated to help them breathe, they are unable to speak, and if something happens it’s possible for someone to die without a chance to have a final conversation with their loved ones. But it’s possible for doctors to adjust intubation protocol to allow for such a conversation.

School refusal: When a child won’t go to school

The adjustment from summer vacation back to the structure and demands of the school year affects many students, but some experience so much anxiety that they avoid going to school. Understanding the reasons for school refusal can help parents identify problems and act quickly.

Is tight blood sugar control right for older adults with diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition in which both high and low glucose levels are harmful to the body. In older individuals with multiple risk factors for hypoglycemia, the goal should be the best blood sugar control that can be achieved without putting the individual at risk for dangerously low blood sugar.

Writing as an antidote to loneliness

Because social connections are vital to human development and health, and writing is a way to form or strengthen a sense of connection to others, the creative expression of writing has been found to improve health and boost healthy emotions.

What’s a healthy breakfast?

It’s more than okay to skip the early-morning breakfast, but no matter what time of day you break your overnight fast, make your first meal a healthy one that won’t cause your blood sugar to spike.

Why pregnant and nursing mothers shouldn’t smoke marijuana

The number of pregnant women who use marijuana has risen in recent years, but the effects of THC on a child’s developing brain make it much safer for women to avoid marijuana use entirely during pregnancy and while nursing.

Healthy lifestyle can prevent diabetes (and even reverse it)

Type 2 diabetes is a major cause of vision loss and blindness, kidney failure requiring dialysis, heart attacks, strokes, amputations, infections, and even early death. Research suggests that a healthy lifestyle can prevent diabetes from occurring in the first place, and even reverse its progress.

Cannabidiol (CBD): What we know and what we don't

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active ingredient in cannabis that is derived from the hemp plant, but it does not cause a high and is not addictive. CBD has been shown to be effective in treating conditions like pain, insomnia, and anxiety.

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