Chronic stomach pain in children: What’s the most common cause?
The most common cause of chronic stomach pain in children isn’t anything you can find on a test or cure with a medicine. And that can make it very challenging to diagnose — and treat. You may not have ever heard of functional abdominal pain. Yet it ranks as the most common cause of stomach […]
Leprosy in Florida: How worried should we be?
The media uproar that swirled a few weeks ago around leprosy in the US drew attention away from ongoing heat and extreme weather that pose far more danger to most of us. But does a single case of a man diagnosed with leprosy in central Florida suggest that anyone anywhere in the US could get […]
What color is your tongue? What’s healthy, what’s not?
If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then consider the tongue a sort of check-engine light for the body. The tongue’s appearance gives doctors an idea about certain aspects of your health, and its color is an important clue. What should your tongue look like? The tongue should have a rounded, symmetrical shape. […]
Harvard Health Ad Watch: Why are toilets everywhere in this drug ad?
If the first goal of a drug advertisement is to grab your attention, this ad for Entyvio (vedolizumab) works. You see a young woman getting into her car, sitting in her work cubicle, sitting in a restaurant, and finally in the waiting room of her doctor’s office. But she’s not sitting on the seat of […]
When — and how — should you be screened for colon cancer?
Colon cancer is the second-deadliest form of cancer after lung cancer. If recent messages about colon cancer screening have left you a little confused, that's understandable. In August, the American College of Physicians (ACP) released updated guidance for colon cancer screening that differs from other major organizations, including recommendations from the American Cancer Society (ACS) […]
How to help your child get the sleep they need
It’s tempting at this time of year to let summer sleep schedules stay in place or let bedtimes slide, especially when parents feel tired out, too. But it’s important that children have a regular routine — and that they are sleeping during the dark hours and awake during the light ones, as our bodies do […]
Got immunity? Thank your thymus
Quick, point to your thymus gland. If you pointed to the front of your upper chest, well done! The thymus gland sits just behind the upper part of the breastbone, between the tops of the lungs and in front of and above the heart. In newborns, the thymus gland may be 2.5 inches long and […]
The new RSV shot for babies: What parents need to know
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common virus that just causes cold symptoms for most people. But for very young babies, and for babies and young children with certain health problems, it can be very dangerous. A new immune-boosting therapy may help. What complications can RSV cause? RSV is the leading cause of bronchiolitis […]
Dealing with thick, discolored toenails
Wriggling toes in the sand and wearing sandals are warm weather treats, unless you’d rather keep your toes under wraps due to thickened, yellowish nails. Nail fungal infections (known as onychomycosis) are common, affecting up to 14% of the general population. In advanced cases, nails can become brittle, crumbly, or ragged, or even separate from […]
Heat rash: How to spot it and what to do
The first two weeks of July were the Earth’s hottest on human record, and people across the country continue to suffer from lingering, suffocating heat waves. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued repeated warnings and tips about recognizing and preventing heat-related illnesses, like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps. But […]