Evoking calm: Practicing mindfulness in daily life helps
Three simple mindfulness options to help with concentration, distraction, and everyday stress. It’s easy to say you simply don’t have time to be mindful. With so much going on in daily life, who has time to stop and be present? But everyone has at least 10 minutes to spare to practice mindfulness. The point of […]
Do the new weight-loss drugs improve your health?
Ask the doctor January 1, 2025 By Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing Q. The holidays made me think of my family, my faith… and those new breakthrough weight-loss drugs. Do they actually improve your health? A. Boy, do they! The GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs you’re referring to […]
Want a calmer brain? Try this
Want a calmer brain? Try this Meditation alters areas of the brain that help cope with fear and anxiety. October 29, 2024 By Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women’s Health Watch Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing For neuroscientist Sara Lazar, a form of meditation […]
Celiac disease: Exploring four myths
Celiac disease: Exploring four myths An expert shines light on common misconceptions about this genetic autoimmune disease triggered by gluten. November 6, 2024 By Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing Celiac disease is a digestive and immune disorder that can […]
Medication side effects: What are your options?
Medication side effects: What are your options? What to do when your medicine causes annoying — or dangerous — side effects. November 20, 2024 By Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing Medications can provide a host of health benefits. They may prevent or eliminate a […]
Gratitude enhances health, brings happiness — and may even lengthen lives
Gratitude enhances health, brings happiness — and may even lengthen lives Six questions can help you evoke the life-enhancing power of gratitude. September 11, 2024 By Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women’s Health Watch Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing Several evenings a week, as […]
An action plan to fight unhealthy inflammation
Although inflammation serves a vital role in the body’s defense and repair systems, chronic inflammation can cause more harm than good. And that may make you wonder: what can I do about it? In fact, there’s a lot you can do. And you may already be doing it. That’s because some of the most important ways to fight […]
Nursing homes: A senior living option for those who need the highest level of care
What are nursing homes? Nursing homes are facilities for people who are ill or frail and need 24-hour care. They are required to have a registered nurse on staff around the clock to provide skilled nursing services, as well as aides to assist with day-to-day care. Some people move to a nursing home temporarily if […]
A.I.’s promise for women’s health
Reading a mammogram is a test in discerning overlapping shadows. Since cancer shows up on mammography images as white areas — just like glandular breast tissue — a radiologist’s challenge becomes teasing out what’s normal from what’s not. But radiologists have a secret weapon: artificial intelligence (A.I.). For years, mammograms have incorporated a technology called […]
Turmeric benefits: A look at the evidence
What is turmeric? Turmeric is a bright yellow spice that is derived from the underground stems, or rhizomes, of the Curcuma longa plant. The plant is part of the ginger family and is grown in warm climates around the world. Turmeric has long been used for its potential health benefits as well as to enhance flavor in […]