Long-lasting healthy changes: Doable and worthwhile
I’ve been a physician for 20 years now, and a strong proponent of lifestyle medicine for much of it. I know that it’s hard to make lasting, healthy lifestyle changes,…
Recognizing and treating disorders of gut-brain interaction
Dr. Freeman: "Mr. Vargas, great news on the biopsy results: all negative. It means the workup we have done, including imaging, blood work, and endoscopies, is all normal. You’re all…
How to recognize and tame your cognitive distortions
Two things I have accomplished, in different realms, seem like they would require entirely different skill sets, yet I have discovered an unexpected overlap. The first is overcoming a vicious…
Summer camp 2022: Having fun and staying safe
It’s time to make summer plans, and for many families those plans include summer camp. After the past couple of years, the idea of getting out of the house, being…
Even low-level air pollution may harm health
A new scientific report supports research suggesting that even low levels of pollution — well below the current national regulatory cutoffs — may harm our health. Outdoor air pollution stems…
A common virus may be one contributing cause of multiple sclerosis
Discovering the cause of a disease is not easy. One reason is that the vast majority of diseases do not have a single cause. Instead, most diseases occur because multiple…
What is alopecia areata and how is it managed?
Alopecia has been in the news recently. But what does it mean to have alopecia? Alopecia is a catch-all term that encompasses all types of hair loss. Hair loss is…
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…
Blood donations are down — so why restrict blood donors by sexual orientation?
The blood supply in the US is critically low. Donations dropped off so dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic that the American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis. And…
Eating disorders spike among children and teens: What parents should know
During the pandemic, we have seen many more children and teens go to the emergency room with mental health problems. And there has been a notable rise in eating disorders,…