Can an online game really improve blood sugar control for people with diabetes?
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling When it comes to serious health problems, you might think a game would be unlikely to help. But a recent study of people with diabetes could change your mind....
View ArticleCan shoveling snow put your heart at risk?
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling When it comes to heart disease, there’s lots of advice. There are heart-healthy diets and exercise programs to follow. Of course, if you smoke, you’re urged to stop....
View ArticleAre you getting the most out of your high-deductible health plan?
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling Picking a health insurance plan can be maddeningly complicated. It may seem that no matter what you do, you’re picking the wrong plan. Should you go with the one with...
View ArticleIs “man flu” really a thing?
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling This one got by me. I’d never heard of “man flu” but according to a new study of the topic, the term is “so ubiquitous that it has been included in the Oxford and...
View ArticleThe flu is here — and so is a new advisory from the CDC
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling It seems like we hear the same thing every flu season — it’s going to be bad this year. In fact, different years bring different strains of flu, and the numbers of...
View Article10 things you can do for your pet when it’s cold outside
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling Venturing out in frigid conditions with our golden retriever, I was wishing I had worn another layer or two. And that got me thinking. Sparky’s got a thick coat of...
View ArticleVaccinations: More than just kid stuff
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling This is the time of year when it’s important to think about flu vaccinations. And there’s good reason for that! The flu causes thousands of preventable...
View ArticleStem-cell transplant: A possible high-risk/high-reward treatment for scleroderma
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling Some medical news stories don’t get the attention they deserve. Perhaps it’s because the disease is rare and not many people have ever heard of it. I think this story...
View ArticleDr. Google: The top 10 health searches in 2017
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling Ever wonder what other people are wondering about? I know I do. So, here are the top 10 health searches in Google for 2017. And just so you don’t have to look each...
View ArticleKnowing when to screen… and when to quit
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling Let us sing the praises of good medical screening tests. These are the tests that can detect medical problems before they become untreatable, and before they cause...
View ArticleWhy it’s so hard to lose excess weight and keep it off: The Biggest Losers’...
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling For most people trying to lose weight, it’s a struggle. It takes more than good intentions and a lot of will power. One reason is that in order to lose weight, we...
View ArticleWhere do you stand on bystander CPR?
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling A recent survey confirmed what many have suspected: if you collapsed, there’s a good chance that the average bystander would not be prepared to perform...
View ArticleAre you taking too much anti-inflammatory medication?
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling You might call them pain relievers. You might take them for back pain, headache, or arthritis. Your doctor calls them “NSAIDs,” which stands for nonsteroidal...
View ArticleCelebrities get shingles, too
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling Perhaps you heard the news recently that Lin-Manuel Miranda has shingles. Headlines announced this in a variety of ways: Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda is...
View ArticleCryotherapy: Can it stop your pain cold?
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling Let’s say you’ve started working out at the gym and you’re wondering what you can do for your aching muscles. How does this sound? Put on a pair of gloves, shoes,...
View ArticleApple cider vinegar diet: Does it really work?
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling People search for information on a wide variety of health topics in Google and other search engines. That’s no surprise. But I was surprised to learn that “apple...
View ArticleAerobic exercise or tai chi for fibromyalgia — which is better?
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling Fibromyalgia is a common condition that causes chronic body-wide pain and affects millions of people. The cause is unknown, and medications approved to treat it often...
View ArticleChondroitin and melanoma: How worried should you be?
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling Chondroitin sulfate is among the most popular supplements in the world. It’s often taken in combination with glucosamine for joint disease — some take it for...
View ArticleKnuckle cracking: Annoying and harmful, or just annoying?
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling Knuckle cracking is a common behavior enjoyed by many. It can become a habit or a way to deal with nervous energy; some describe it as a way to “release tension.” For...
View ArticleCould medications contribute to dementia?
Alzheimer’s disease and other illnesses that cause dementia are devastating, not only for those affected but also for their friends and family. For most forms of dementia, there is no highly effective...
View Article