Feeling sad, anxious, or angry at times is a normal part of the human experience. But do you — or someone you’re close to — seem to experience these and similar emotions more quickly, more frequently, and more intensely than most people? This problem, known as emotional dysregulation, is a […]
Shining light on night blindness
![Shining light on night blindness](https://jeanfrancoispoirier.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/6ecd6fb1927d8c9dd87db5d7d4e6c6ba.jpg)
Animals renowned for their outstanding night vision include owls, cats, tarsiers (a tiny primate in Southeast Asia) — and even the dung beetle. But humans? Not so much. Over time, many people suffer from night blindness, also known as nyctalopia. This condition makes seeing in dim or dark settings difficult […]
New research shows little risk of infection from prostate biopsies
![New research shows little risk of infection from prostate biopsies](https://jeanfrancoispoirier.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/737f288b08506e3406599fbe655b1921.jpg)
Infections after a prostate biopsy are rare, but they do occur. Now research shows that fewer than 2% of men develop confirmed infections after prostate biopsy, regardless of the technique used. In the United States, doctors usually thread a biopsy needle through the rectum and then into the prostate gland […]
4 things everyone needs to know about measles
![4 things everyone needs to know about measles](https://jeanfrancoispoirier.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/56992384e2ea0553c4b155aaad4a25c4.jpg)
When measles broke out in 31 states several years ago, health experts were surprised to see more than 1,200 confirmed cases –– the largest number reported in the US since 1992. Measles is a very contagious, preventable illness that may cause serious health complications, especially in younger children and people […]
Flowers, chocolates, organ donation — are you in?
![Flowers, chocolates, organ donation — are you in?](https://jeanfrancoispoirier.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/08d43999f5e3db5e65013ba18dc4ac93.jpg)
Chocolates and flowers are great gifts for Valentine’s Day. But what if the gifts we give then or throughout the year could be truly life-changing? A gift that could save a life or free someone from dialysis? You can do this. For people in need of an organ, tissue, or […]
Discrimination at work is linked to high blood pressure
![Discrimination at work is linked to high blood pressure](https://jeanfrancoispoirier.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/d06ed1703d0bdef0d4caf0f6fc046e56.jpg)
Experiencing discrimination in the workplace — where many adults spend one-third of their time, on average — may be harmful to your heart health. A 2023 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that people who reported high levels of discrimination on the job were more likely […]
Can watching sports be bad for your health?
![Can watching sports be bad for your health?](https://jeanfrancoispoirier.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/a02aade85e179598e34f4856d8c8944d.jpg)
As the new year rolls on, sports fans rejoice! You’ve had the excitement of the college football bowl games and the national championship game, the NFL playoff games are winnowing teams down to the Super Bowl contestants, and basketball and hockey seasons are in full swing. Spring training for the […]
Icy fingers and toes: Poor circulation or Raynaud’s phenomenon?
![Icy fingers and toes: Poor circulation or Raynaud’s phenomenon?](https://jeanfrancoispoirier.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/71645dd4218f7d366fe637cb8b5f342d.jpg)
If your fingers or toes ever turn pale (or even ghostly white) and go numb when exposed to cold, you might assume you just have poor circulation. That’s what I used to think when I first started noticing this problem with my own hands many years ago. It usually happened […]
Does sleeping with an eye mask improve learning and alertness?
![Does sleeping with an eye mask improve learning and alertness?](https://jeanfrancoispoirier.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9a21d266018c6eb0f3b2469673f106b0.jpg)
All of us have an internal clock that regulates our circadian rhythms, including when we sleep and when we are awake. And light is the single most important factor that helps establish when we should feel wakeful (generally during the day) and when we should feel sleepy (typically at night). […]
One more reason to brush your teeth?
![One more reason to brush your teeth?](https://jeanfrancoispoirier.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/aad4554910e580b93a84730f9c3b9a5b.jpg)
Maybe we should add toothbrushes to the bouquet of flowers we bring to friends and family members in the hospital — and make sure to pack one if we wind up there ourselves. New Harvard-led research published online in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests seriously ill hospitalized patients are far less […]