Recently, a friend asked me about tonsil stones. He has sore throats several times a year, which are instantly relieved by gargling to remove them. When I told him I thought tonsil stones were pretty rare, he asked: “Are you

Continue ReadingEver hear of tonsil stones?

Not so long ago, a friend texted me from a coffee shop. He said, "I can't believe it. I'm the only one here without a tattoo!" That might not seem surprising: a quick glance around practically anywhere people gather shows

Continue ReadingDo tattoos cause lymphoma?

The daily bath or shower is a routine for many of us — and for our children, too. But is it really necessary? The short answer is no. Obviously, there are days when washing up makes good sense — like

Continue ReadingDoes your child need to bathe every day?

Are online gambling and sports betting new to your area? Are gambling advertisements catching your eye? Have you noticed sports and news shows covering the spread? Recent changes in laws have made gambling widely accessible, and its popularity has soared.

Continue ReadingEver worry about your gambling?

It’s an unfortunate reality: all medicines can cause side effects. While there are a few tried-and-true ways to deal with drug side effects, here’s a less common option to consider: adding a second medication. That’s the approach taken with valbenazine

Continue ReadingHarvard Health Ad Watch: Got side effects? There’s a medicine for that

When experts talk about the dangers of excessive drinking, we often assume those warnings apply mostly to people with alcohol use disorder, a health issue sometimes referred to as alcoholism. But people who don’t meet formal criteria for this disorder

Continue ReadingFeel like you should be drinking less? Start here

“Sleep is still most perfect… when it is shared with a beloved,” wrote D.H. Lawrence, and most young children would agree. But sometimes those beloved — that is, parents — would rather have some privacy and not be woken by

Continue ReadingHow to help your preschooler sleep alone

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.

Continue ReadingEvoking calm: Practicing mindfulness in daily life helps

Don’t worry. It’s good advice if you can take it. Of course that’s not always easy, especially for health concerns. The truth is: it’s impossible (and ill-advised) to never worry about your health. But are you worrying about the right

Continue ReadingHow well do you worry about your health?

Trouble staying focused and paying attention are two familiar symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a common health issue among children and teens. When ADHD persists through early adulthood and on into middle age, it presents many of the

Continue ReadingMidlife ADHD? Coping strategies that can help