Dupuytren’s contracture of the hand
One of the more unusual conditions affecting the hands and fingers is Dupuytren’s contracture (also called Dupuytren’s disease). Here, one or more fingers become curled, which can make it difficult to pick up or hold objects or perform everyday activities. Legend says the condition originated with the Vikings of Northern Europe, although this is debated. […]
Read MoreCo-regulation: Helping children and teens navigate big emotions
When preschoolers are melting down or teens are slamming doors, parents face two difficult tasks: keeping themselves composed and supporting their kids’ ability to self-soothe while building skills to handle future challenges. These abilities are at the heart of co-regulation, a parenting tool that requires patience and practice. But what exactly is involved, and how […]
Read MoreTick season is expanding: Protect yourself against Lyme disease
In parts of the United States and Canada, warming temperatures driven by climate change may be contributing to a rise in tick-borne illnesses. Ticks are now thriving in a wider geographic range, and appearing earlier and sticking around later in the shoulder seasons of spring and fall. That means we need to stay vigilant about […]
Read MoreHow — and why — to fit more fiber and fermented food into your meals
An F may mean failure in school, but the letter earns high marks in your diet. The two biggest dietary Fs — fiber and fermented foods — are top priorities to help maintain healthy digestion, and they potentially offer much more. How can you fit these nutrients into meals? Can this help your overall health […]
Read MoreCan AI answer medical questions better than your doctor?
Last year, headlines describing a study about artificial intelligence (AI) were eye-catching, to say the least: ChatGPT Rated as Better Than Real Doctors for Empathy, Advice The AI will see you now: ChatGPT provides higher quality answers and is more empathetic than a real doctor, study finds Is AI Better Than A Doctor? ChatGPT Outperforms […]
Read MoreMoving from couch to 5K
Need a little motivation and structure to ramp up your walking routine? Want to wake up your workouts but not quite ready for a mud run? Consider trying a couch-to-5K program. Dr. Adam Tenforde, medical director of the Spaulding National Running Center at Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Network and a sports medicine physician at Mass General […]
Read MoreHarvard Health Ad Watch: New drug, old song, clever tagline
It’s not often that a new drug comes along that could help nearly a quarter of the adult population. But when it does, you can bet you’ll see ads for it on TV and the Internet. That’s the case with Veozah (fezolinetant), a medicine for hot flashes and night sweats due to menopause that was […]
Read MoreHow to stay healthy during a drought
What is a drought? A drought is a prolonged dry period without rain. In the last few decades, droughts are occurring more frequently worldwide. With climate change, rising temperatures are making many regions dry within the US and beyond. Here’s how to recognize potential harms if drought has a grip where you live, and actions […]
Read MoreConcussion in children: What to know and do
Concussion is one of the most common injuries to the brain, affecting about two million children and teens every year. It is a particular kind of injury that happens when a blow to the head or somewhere else on the body makes the brain move back and forth within the skull. It’s possible to get […]
Read MoreWill miscarriage care remain available?
When you first learned the facts about pregnancy — from a parent, perhaps, or a friend — you probably didn’t learn that up to one in three ends in a miscarriage. What causes miscarriage? How is it treated? And why is appropriate health care for miscarriage under scrutiny — and in some parts of the […]
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