Harvard Health Publishing is a leading provider of trustworthy and accurate health information. Here are some key features and benefits:






Topics Covered
  1. Diseases and Conditions: In-depth guides to various health conditions, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and prevention strategies.
  2. Healthy Living: Articles on nutrition, exercise, stress management, and sleep, offering practical tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
  3. Mental Health: Insights and advice on mental health topics, such as anxiety, depression, and relationships.
  4. Policy and Global Health: Analysis and commentary on healthcare policy, global health issues, and healthcare innovation.

Resources and Tools

  1. Health Guides: Comprehensive guides to various health topics, including Harvard Special Health Reports and Harvard Health Letters.
  2. Symptom Checker: An interactive tool to help identify potential causes of symptoms and guide users toward seeking medical attention if necessary.
  3. Health News: Breaking news and in-depth analysis of emerging health trends and research findings.
  4. Podcasts: Engaging audio content on various health topics, featuring expert interviews and discussions.

Why Trust Harvard Health Publishing?

  1. Expertise: Content is written and reviewed by Harvard Medical School faculty and other qualified healthcare professionals.
  2. Objectivity: Information is presented in an unbiased and balanced manner, without commercial influence.
  3. Authority: As a trusted source of health information, Harvard Health Publishing is widely cited and respected in the medical community.

By visiting the Harvard Health Publishing website, you can access a wealth of reliable health information and stay informed about the latest medical research and trends. 

The Secrets Behind Cold Sores and What Causes Them

                                                           
It starts as a slight tingling sensation on the outside of your lips, and within a few hours, it’s become a full-blown blister. While cold sores aren’t the worst virus known to man, they’re incredibly common, sometimes painful, and totally embarrassing. But, what exactly are they, and are they preventable?

What Cold Sores Are and How They Spread
Bad news: technically, cold sores are a type of herpes – specifically, herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2. While you might think that herpes is spread only through sexual contact, that’s not always the case. It can also spread through kissing or any other way you might come into contact with herpes-infected saliva, such as by sharing a drink or eating utensil. Cold sores are usually contained to the area around the mouth, but they can spread to other parts of the body, so if you have an outbreak, be careful not to touch the infected area.

What Happens When You Have Cold Sores
So, what’s the physical science behind cold sores? Well, you’re more likely to face an outbreak when you’re not feeling well. When your immune system is busy fighting a cold, flu, or another sickness, the mucous membrane around your mouth become inflamed and the virus spreads, leading to the blisters so common to cold sores. These blisters grow and grow until the fluid contained within them becomes so much that the blisters break, leaving scabs.

Are They Preventable or Treatable?
More bad news: If you’ve got cold sores, you’ve got cold sores, and that’s the way it’s going to stay. There is no cure for them. However, there is a glimmer of hope for those afflicted with this uncomfortable condition. While cold sores can never truly go away, you can reduce the risk of them popping up. For one, help out your immune system by practicing cleanliness and reducing stress, which can help bring cold sores on. Also, avoid contact with others who are suffering from cold sores. You’ll be more likely to suffer an outbreak, even if you already have the herpes complex.

Dealing With Cold Sores
While there’s nothing you can really do about getting rid of cold sores once you’ve got them, you do have some control when you feel an outbreak coming on. As soon as you feel the familiar tingling sensation on your lips, apply a topical medicine designed for cold sores. Doing so can make the blisters less acute and shorter lasting. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait the standard time for the condition to run its course, which can be anywhere from a few days to two weeks.

4 Easy Workouts to Do When You're Pregnant

                                                                   
Did you just find out you’re pregnant? If so, chances are you are feeling pretty ecstatic about the news. But you may also be wondering what this means for your workout program.
How will you continue? It’s clear your normal gym sessions need to change. But how?
Here are a few great workouts that you can start doing now that you’re pregnant.

Uphill Walking
As your pregnancy progresses along, you may not be able to keep up with the jogging or running you used to. While some women do still perform these workouts, for most, it leaves them feeling quite awkward and uncomfortable.
Uphill walking fills in nicely. It’s a bit more intense than flat walking, but not so intense that it’s unsafe for you during this pregnancy period.
Add the incline, turn on your favorite music, and get going.
Pregnancy Yoga
Pregnancy oriented yoga classes are one of the best ways to stay in shape during your pregnancy period.
The great thing about yoga is that there are so many different poses that you can try, all of which will hit your body differently.
Be sure when joining a yoga class that you are doing one specifically tailored to the pregnant woman’s needs. Certain yoga poses could be downright dangerous for you and your developing baby during this time, so you do want to choose carefully.
A good pregnancy based instructor should know this.

Machine Free Weight Training
If there were ever a time to train with machine weights over free weights, now would be it. While you don’t need to switch your entire workout away from free weights, as your balance will be off now with your tummy developing, having that extra support from the machine can be very helpful.
For instance, the leg press is a smart move than doing full on barbell squats and likewise, the chest press will be a better option than a classic bench press as lying flat on your back as you progress through your pregnancy is also not advised.

Swimming
Finally, don’t overlook swimming. Far too many women completely forget about this workout but it’s a great one for use during pregnancy.
As you won’t have any impact on your joints when swimming, this can give those swollen legs and ankles a rest.
Plus, it’s a great way to add more resistance to your workouts without using actual weights. And even better, you’ll work both the upper and lower body at the same time, so it’s an excellent complete workout session.
So keep these few workouts in mind as you prepare for the next nine months ahead. If you train smartly during this period, you can stay fit and best of all, it’ll all help you bounce back faster to your pre-pregnancy weight once again.

5 Essential Things You Should Know About Postpartum Depression

                                                             
You’ve just brought home your new baby and are feeling the excitement and joy over this new addition to your family. Shortly after though, you can’t deny the blue mood you are feeling. Nothing seems to pick you up anymore and you may even find yourself crying for stretches of time. What’s going on? Could it be postpartum depression? This condition occurs more often than many women would like to admit, so it’s important that you arm yourself with a few facts about this so you can get the help you need.
Here are five things to know about postpartum depression.
No Two Women Experience This The Same
Know that there is no ‘standard’ for how you will be feeling when suffering from postpartum depression. Some women feel very sad, others feel anxiety. Yet others may simply feel a fogginess in their brain and not feel quite like themselves. Don’t compare yourself to others. If you aren’t feeling quite right, you need to address these feelings.
Support Will Make A Difference
As much as you can, get support from others around you. Whether this is your significant other, your parents, or your friends. Ask people to help you. If you are trying to take on everything on your own, this can lead to an increased risk of postpartum depression because not only will you feel overwhelmed, but you may feel socially isolated as well.
Seek Support
In many cases, medication may be required for those suffering from severe postpartum depression. Don’t feel ashamed to see a mental health counselor. Remember, you are doing this not only for you but also for your baby. You want to be in your best shape to care for this newborn and you can’t do that if you aren’t healthy.
Exercise Can Help
Another thing to consider is the fact that regular exercise can provide mood-boosting benefits and help get you out of your funk. While you shouldn’t avoid medication thinking exercise will cure everything, if you aren’t getting active, try and get outside for a walk with your baby at least once per day. The sunshine will also help ensure you are producing enough vitamin D, which is also important for warding off feelings of depression as well.
Take Time For Yourself
Finally, work on not feeling guilty for taking time for yourself. You need to care for your own body if you can care for that of another. This means eating right, sleeping enough (or as much as you possibly can!) and getting the exercise as just noted. Put these things on your top priority list so that you can feel your best at all times. While it may be hard to bring yourself to eat right – or anything – if you are experiencing postpartum depression, for example, it’s a must that you try. It will only help you feel better in the end.
So keep these few points in mind and know that you aren’t alone. Millions of women suffer from this and it doesn’t’ make you a bad mother. It just means you need to seek proper treatment to care for your situation.

11 Tiny Apartment Home Workouts

                                                                       
It's wonderful to be able to work out from home, especially if you're too busy (or broke) to hit the gym every day. But what do you do if your home is the size of a shoebox? Just because your apartment or house is tiny, you can still get in a pretty great workout. Here are a few tiny apartment home exercises you can do:
Yoga – Yoga doesn't take up a lot more space than the dimensions of your Yoga mat. You should be able to clear a space beside your bed or in the dining room to set the Yoga mat, and you can get in a full body workout without needing a lot of space. You may not be able to do all the Yoga movements (some require more space), but you'll have no problem running through the basics.
Squats – Squats require very little space, and they're by far the best lower body exercise around!
Static Lunges – Instead of moving forward when you lunge, simply perform these Lunges in place. You don't need a lot of space for these.
Push-Ups – Anyone has space for push-ups, no matter how small the apartment or home.
Burpees – If you have space for a push-up, you have space for Burpees! You may not be able to jump to your full height if the ceilings are low, but you can do the rest of the movement no problem.
Mountain Climbers – This is another exercise that requires only as much space as you'd use for Push-Ups. It's a killer abs and upper body movement that works like a charm even in cramped homes or apartments.
Deadlifts – This one requires a bit more space, but not much. You just need room enough to bend forward (stiff-legged or classic deadlifts work beautifully) holding something heavy.
Wall Squats – All you need for this exercise is a bit of clear wall space and you're ready to go! The movement uses very little room, and it's a static exercise that will do wonders for your legs.
Jumping Rope – Sadly, this exercise does require a bit more room than you'd expect, but thankfully you can do it on the balcony, in the hallway, or outside the apartment building or home. All you need is a $4 jump rope and you're ready to rock!
Stair Climbing – One of the great things about living in an apartment building is that you can use the stairs to challenge yourself. The more flights of stairs, the better the workout! (No one said you had to work out inside your apartment …)
Resistance Band Training – Resistance band exercises use up less space than proper gym equipment, and they can be anchored anywhere: from a door, around a pillar or post, under your foot, around your back, etc. Great for classic resistance training without needing a weight set!
Try these exercises to get in a killer workout no matter how small your home or apartment is.

The Pros and Cons of Working Out at Night

                                                                           
Most people get their workout in first thing in the morning (6-8 a.m.), on their lunch break (2-4 p.m.), or in the late afternoon (5-7 p.m.). But there's another time of day to work out: in the evening, anytime after 7 p.m. It's not the most common of workout times, but for those who work late, commute long distances, or have a different work schedule, it's the only time they have to do it.
But is working out at night good, or will it lead to sleep problems? Below we've got a list of the pros and cons of working out at night:
Pros:
No stress or time pressure. Instead of having to rush back to work, you can work out at night with no other commitments or pressures. You have more time to work out without worrying about what comes next.
Great for decompressing. After an intense day at the office, nothing helps you take your mind off stress and work pressures like a workout. You can run, lift, or cycle away your problems!
Less pressure during the day . With evening workouts, you can sleep later, enjoy your lunch break, and take time with your kids after work, knowing you'll fit your workout in later.
Better musculoskeletal performance. After a day of moving around, your body is warmed up and your joints loosened. You're far less likely to injure yourself with an evening workout.
Cons:
More temptation to bail. You've had a long day, so the last thing you want to do is more work. You're far more likely to cut out early or simply ditch the workout completely if it means you have less stress.
Larger crowds. A lot of other people have the same idea to work out at night, so the gym tends to get pretty busy after 5 p.m. You may end up fighting for the weights and machines!
Fewer options. You may not be able to run or cycle outdoors because of the darkness or cold, or public transportation may no longer be running after you finish the workout.
Disruptions to your sleep patterns.
Working out at night revs up your metabolism, which can stop you from getting to sleep. Levels of adrenaline and stress hormones spike during a workout, preventing restfulness.
No social life. When you spend all your evenings working out, you have fewer opportunities to socialize with friends. Social isolation can lead to depression, boredom, and other emotional problems, all of which could make it harder for you to get your workout.
The truth is that evening workouts do offer a lot of benefits, but it's vital you understand the drawbacks. You may have more time, but the risk of sleep disruptions can be a good reason to stick with morning or afternoon workouts.

2 Killer Secrets That Help You Pack on the Muscle

                                                                   

How much time are you spending lifting weights at the gym? Weightlifting is so much more than just a great way to lose weight; it also helps you to pack on the muscle. Sadly, many people spend their gym time lifting weights and don't see serious results for their efforts.
Don't let that be you!
Try these two killer secrets to pack on the pounds of muscle and seriously bulk up:
Secret #1: Strip-Setting
Strip-setting is simple:
Start with your regular set. Let's say you Bench Press 150 pounds. Perform 1 set of 10, using 150 pounds.
Strip 10 pounds off each side of the barbell (dropping the weight to 130 pounds), and perform another set of 10 reps without pause.
Strip another 10 pounds off each side (dropping the weight to 110 pounds), and perform a third set of 10 reps without pause.
Strip another 10 pounds off each side (dropping the weight to 90 pounds), and perform the final set of 10 reps.
Congratulations, you finished ONE strip-set!
The more consecutive sets of reps you do (with less and less weight), the deeper into your muscle fibers you dig. This type of weight training places a very high demand on your muscles, and you'll hit all the red and white fast and slow twitch muscle fibers. This workout works your stamina and endurance, and will yield some awesome progress in terms of muscle growth.
Be warned: You need extra rest between these sets. For maximum results, rest at least 2-3 minutes between strip-sets.
For beginners, stop after 2 or 3 strip-sets. For more advanced athletes, try to hit at least 5 or 6. With just a few strip-sets, you'll give your muscles all the exercise they need and you can move on to the next muscle group.
Secret #2: Rest-Pause
When you finish a set, you feel the burn in your muscles and you're only too glad to put the weight back on the rack to take a break.
With the "rest-pause" trick, you only rest for a few seconds (2-5) before lifting the weight from the rack and performing as many reps as possible until failure.
For example:
Perform your regular set of 10 bench presses
Rack the weight and rest for 2-5 seconds
Lift the weight and perform as many bench presses as possible until muscular failure
Failure training is NOT easy, and can be incredibly demanding on your muscles. Yet that high demand leads to better results in terms of increased strength and size. Try to start slipping this into your workouts, and you'll see serious growth.
Be warned: Take an extra-long rest after completing a "rest-pause" set--at least 2-3 minutes.
Both of these secrets to pack on the muscle will yield impressive growth, but they're very hard on your body. If you notice the typical symptoms of overtraining (lethargy, excessive soreness, cold or flu-like symptoms, etc.), back off and return your normal training for a few weeks. Once you recover, you can slowly add the strip-sets and rest-pause workouts back into your regular training program.