If you or your child has ever had acute conjunctivitis or “pink eye,” you know how nasty it can be. “Crusty,” “goopy,” “bloodshot,” “itchy,” and “gritty” are all common words used to describe the eye condition that affects some six million people in the US every year. What is conjunctivitis exactly

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire It’s summer — time for vacations, summer camp, outdoor activities, and all sorts of other fun. Some of those fun summer activities, though, can have health and safety risks. Here are six things you can do to help be sure that everyone’s summer memories are good ones: U

I often prescribe exercise for my patients, sometimes more than once in the same visit — exercise for cardiovascular health, weight loss, stress management, lifting mood. Scientific evidence strongly supports the benefits of activity for all of these things. Plus, it’s free, and there are few side e

Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling It’s a question that has challenged generations of patients and their doctors. The answer has changed over the years. When I was in medical school in the early 1980s, bedrest for a week or more was often recommended for severe back pain. This sometimes included hos

Headed to the beach or a day out on the lake? Most likely you’ll protect yourself from the sun with sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. Maybe you also take along insect repellent. But how good is your water safety knowledge? You can’t tuck it in a beach bag or backpack, but it essential to a good day

My Facebook page is a collection of links to stories about inspirational people. Almost all have a common theme — older people who do extraordinary things. Some of my favorite stories, though, involve those with acute mental prowess. This special group of adults ages 60 to 80, called “super-agers,”

Hiding in the shadow of the opioid epidemic is another troubling public health crisis, the precipitous increase in people whose liver is infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). It’s likely you have seen the drug company commercials advertising medications to treat hepatitis C. In these commercials, i

When unaddressed, alcohol and other drug use disorders in the workplace are costly and dangerous for organizations, as well as individuals. There are many good examples of successful programs and resources available that can help, and with over 22 million Americans currently in recovery from alcohol

There’s a certain response I have come to expect whenever I share with someone that I suffer from chronic pain. “You should try acupuncture or yoga,” the person will say, often without asking me first if I have actually tried either. I have lea ed to take such suggestions with a grain of salt, seei

One minute you’re feeling a bit woozy; the next thing you know, you’re flat on your back wondering what happened. No matter what you call it — swooning, passing out, or fainting —the experience is surprisingly common. About a third of people say they’ve fainted at least once. Although often harmless

Last week in the playground another mom remarked that she had just ordered all her sunscreen from Europe: “They have much better ingredients. I ordered one with Tinosorb.” This conversation ironically occurred on the same day that I was asked to write this post and I realized that my sunscreen knowl

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire Measuring liquid medication should be easy, right? You just pour out the amount you need. It tu s out, though, that it’s not so easy — and that lots of parents and caregivers do it wrong. In a study just published in the jou al Pediatrics in which parents were asked

Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling An intriguing new study caught my eye for two reasons. First, there are the fascinating findings of the researchers that could dramatically change our understanding of certain types of pain and how it’s treated. More on the research in a moment. The other reason th

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire It’s the end of the school year, the time of graduation speeches, of looking back at accomplishments and making plans for new ones. It’s a time when many parents think about their hopes and dreams for their children, whether they are graduating or just lea ing to walk

In April, scientists reported encouraging results from a pilot study of men with metastatic prostate cancer, or cancer that has spread beyond the prostate gland. Long considered incurable, these advanced cancers are usually treated by giving men systemic drugs that target new tumors forming in the b

Harvard Medical School (HMS) has a bicycle-friendly campus. Faculty, staff, and students who commute by bike can park their wheels in secured cages, wash off road grime in showers, buy new helmets at a discount, and receive a monthly reimbursement for bike maintenance costs. HMS encourages bicycle c

Going out for di er can be a nice way to unwind with family or friends. But if you’re watching your salt intake, restaurants aren’t always so relaxing. Much of their fare is loaded with sodium, a main component of salt. In fact, some entrees at popular chains contain far more than 2,300 milligrams

Follow me on Twitter @howard_shaffer Many people consider addiction to be a problem of personal weakness, initiated for self-gratification and continued because of an unwillingness or lack of sufficient willpower to stop. However, within the medical and scientific communities, the notion that pleasu

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire No matter how you feel about guns or gun ownership, I think that you will probably agree that when children have access to loaded guns, bad things can happen. In fact, 80% of unintentional firearm deaths of children younger than 15 happen in a home — and 1.7 million ch

June 21 is Inte ational Yoga Day Yoga has several scientifically proven benefits for the mind and body. Yoga improves your strength and flexibility, reduces stress, and boosts your immune system. Yoga can also reduce fatigue, improve sleep, and invigorate the body and mind for people who are recove