
Extreme heat endangers older adults: What to know and do

Want to cool down? 14 ideas to try

What is a PSA test and how is it used?

Blood sugar–friendly fruits if you have diabetes

Gratitude enhances health, brings happiness — and may even lengthen lives

Respiratory health harms often follow flooding: Taking these steps can help

Could tea tree oil help treat acne or athlete’s foot?

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c): What to know if you have diabetes or prediabetes or are at risk for these conditions

What could be causing your blurry vision?

Avocado nutrition: Health benefits and easy recipes

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Dr. Robert H. Shmerling is the former clinical chief of the division of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and is a current member of the corresponding faculty in medicine at Harvard Medical School. As a practicing rheumatologist for over 30 years, Dr. Shmerling engaged in a mix of patient care, teaching, and research. His research interests center on diagnostic studies in patients with musculoskeletal symptoms, and rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. He has published research regarding infectious arthritis, medical ethics, and diagnostic test performance in rheumatic disease. Having retired from patient care in 2019, Dr. Shmerling now works as a senior faculty editor for Harvard Health Publishing.
Twitter: @RobShmerling
Posts by Robert H. Shmerling, MD

Cancer
The problem with tanning (and the myth of the base tan)

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Can you virtually improve your knee pain?

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Some medications don’t help back pain as much as we thought

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
The data are in: Eat right, reduce your risk of diabetes

Staying Healthy
Do glucosamine and chondroitin supplements actually work for arthritis?

Exercise & Fitness
Staying active at “that time of the month”

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
What exactly is cupping?

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
The truth behind standing desks

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
What Michelangelo’s hands (can and can’t) tell us about arthritis

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
The truth about tequila and your bones

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Taking your medications as prescribed: Smartphones can help
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Staying Healthy
How useful is the body mass index (BMI)?

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
My fall last fall: Reaction time and getting older

Exercise & Fitness
Vitamin D and physical function: Is more better?

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Why men often die earlier than women

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Kidney stones are on the rise

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Don't judge your mucus by its color

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
What happens when you faint?

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
The gender gap in sports injuries

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Can the weather really worsen arthritis pain?

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
The placebo effect: Amazing and real

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Is it hard to decide about total knee replacement? Totally!

Robert H. Shmerling, MD
First, do no harm

Skin and Hair
Are There Benefits to a "Base" Tan?

Extreme heat endangers older adults: What to know and do

Want to cool down? 14 ideas to try

What is a PSA test and how is it used?

Blood sugar–friendly fruits if you have diabetes

Gratitude enhances health, brings happiness — and may even lengthen lives

Respiratory health harms often follow flooding: Taking these steps can help

Could tea tree oil help treat acne or athlete’s foot?

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c): What to know if you have diabetes or prediabetes or are at risk for these conditions

What could be causing your blurry vision?

Avocado nutrition: Health benefits and easy recipes