3 simple swaps for better heart health
Busy days make it hard to put heart health on the front burner. It just feels like you don't have time for habits that keep the ticker in top shape — like exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and eating a healthy diet. So maybe you take the stairs when you can, or you park farther […]
Young men with prostate cancer: Socioeconomic factors affect lifespan
Prostate cancer is generally viewed as a disease of older men. Yet about 10% of new diagnoses occur in men age 55 or younger, and these early-onset cancers often have a worse prognosis. Biological differences partially explain the discrepancy. For instance, early-onset prostate cancers contain certain genetic abnormalities that don’t appear as often in older […]
Taking up adaptive sports
Health guidelines recommend adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, or at least 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. Which activities you choose don’t matter as long as they get you moving. But what if an injury, illness, health condition, disability, or even normal aging makes being active hard for you? […]
Give praise to the elbow: A bending, twisting marvel
I recently saw a car vanity plate that read “LBODOC” (as in elbow doc). The driver — probably an orthopedic doctor or arthritis specialist — was clearly a fan of the elbow, an unassuming joint and a surprisingly central player in many daily tasks. I could relate: throughout my medical career, the elbow has been […]
Health warnings on exercise equipment: Should you worry?
There are warnings just about everywhere you look: The coffee you're about to drink is hot! Construction ahead! This product may contain peanuts! In many cases, the reasons for these warnings are clear. But sometimes warnings raise more questions than they answer. When I was at the gym recently, these warnings on the exercise bike […]
Pouring from an empty cup? Three ways to refill emotionally
It’s hard to care about anything when you feel exhausted, burned out, or ragged around the edges. Your once-fiery enthusiasm may seem more like charred rubble due to overwhelming family responsibilities, a job that drains you, or financial struggles. Or maybe an illness, the uncertainty and disruptions of the age we live in, or a […]
Discrimination at work is linked to high blood pressure
Experiencing discrimination in the workplace — where many adults spend one-third of their time, on average — may be harmful to your heart health. A 2023 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that people who reported high levels of discrimination on the job were more likely to develop high blood pressure […]
IBD and LGBTQ+: How it can affect sexual health
Everyone who lives with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) knows their illness has a major impact on daily life. Many people are diagnosed in their 20s or 30s, a time when we might hope for few health challenges. Medications, and sometimes surgery, may be used to treat IBD. If you identify as LGBTQ+, you might wonder […]
Talking to your doctor about your LGBTQ+ sex life
Editor’s note: in honor of Pride Month, we’re re-publishing a 2019 post by Dr. Cecil Webster. Generally speaking, discussing what happens in our bedrooms outside of the bedroom can be anxiety-provoking. Let’s try to make your doctor’s office an exception. Why is this important? People in the LGBTQ+ community contend not only with a full […]
Harvard Health Ad Watch: An IV treatment for thyroid eye disease
Perhaps you’ve seen this ad about a drug for thyroid eye disease. If so, you may be wondering what thyroid eye disease is — and why the woman in the ad is wearing five pairs of sunglasses at once. Read on for answers. What is thyroid disease and how does it affect the eyes? The […]