Recent Blog Articles

Moving from couch to 5K

How — and why — to fit more fiber and fermented food into your meals

Tick season is expanding: Protect yourself against Lyme disease

What? Another medical form to fill out?

How do trees and green spaces enhance our health?

A muscle-building obsession in boys: What to know and do

Harvard Health Ad Watch: New drug, old song, clever tagline

Concussion in children: What to know and do

What color is your tongue? What's healthy, what's not?

Your amazing parathyroid glands

COVID-19 Archive

COVID-19

The tragedy of long COVID

Updated March 1, 2021

Tens of thousands of people in the US have recovered from COVID-19 but continue to experience feelings of exhaustion, little energy, and mental fogginess that linger for months. Known as "post-COVID long haulers," they are grappling with uncertainty surrounding when –– and whether –– their health problems will resolve.

COVID-19

Sick child this school year? Planning for the inevitable during a pandemic

Updated October 22, 2020

Kids get sick: it happens, and most of the time it’s not cause for concern or alarm. But this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, every symptom will be scrutinized. Parents need to be aware of what to do when their child shows signs of illness this year.

Staying Healthy

COVID-19 or something else?

Updated March 29, 2023

Many COVID-19 symptoms—such as fever, cough, or muscle aches—overlap with the symptoms of other respiratory conditions, such as influenza, a common cold, or asthma. But there are differences among the conditions. For example, a bout of the flu or a cold will not cause shortness of breath the way COVID-19 will. And while asthma can cause shortness of breath, it won’t cause a fever or body aches the way COVID-19 will. A person who’s experiencing concerning symptoms of respiratory illness should report them to a doctor.

COVID-19

Which test is best for COVID-19?

Updated January 5, 2021

So much about testing for COVID-19 is confusing—from the types and number of tests available to woefully incomplete information about testing and the changing options. Understanding the current choices can help you make an informed decision about how to proceed if you want to be tested.

COVID-19

Avoiding COVID-19 when following the guidelines seems impossible

Updated July 30, 2020

By now people understand the measures intended to prevent the spread of coronavirus, yet people with certain conditions may not be able to follow these guidelines. Here are some suggestions that may help.

COVID-19

Vaccines for COVID-19 moving closer

Updated December 9, 2020

Scientists around the world are trying to engineer safe, effective, long-lasting vaccines to help the body block the virus that causes COVID-19. Three vaccine approaches out of more than 100 are among the first to be tested clinically in the United States.

COVID-19

How risky is using a public bathroom during the pandemic?

Updated August 24, 2020

If you are wondering whether it's safe to use a public restroom with the specter of COVID-19 hanging over us, your skepticism is justified. But maybe a restroom is just as safe (or unsafe) as any other indoor space at the moment. And there are things you can do to make your restroom visit less risky.

Infectious diseases

Driving across the country in a pandemic

Updated June 23, 2020

Driving halfway across the country may not seem enticing these days, but at the moment traveling by car is arguably safer than traveling by plane. If you're considering a road trip, some planning will make things easier — and safer.

Infectious diseases

Bracing for contact tracing

Updated October 22, 2020

As states reopen, contact tracing — locating and testing people known to have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 — will be an important tool to help contain further spread of illness. But how does it work, and what do you need to know about it?

Child & Teen Health

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children — what parents need to know

Updated May 27, 2021

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome, or MIS-C, is a rare syndrome in some children that affects the heart and other organs. It may be a reaction to a current or past COVID-19 infection, but test results for the coronavirus are sometimes negative.

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