The 2013 Boston Pride festival was the largest Pride celebration to date in Boston, boasting the best turnout and the most parade marchers ever in its 40 year history. Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates was proud to be part of this history-making event. Continue reading
If you have been told that your child has a food allergy, it can be overwhelming and you probably have a lot of questions running through your mind about what your child can and cannot eat, what other caregivers should and need to know to keep your child safe, what you do if your child has a food reaction, and what will life look and feel like for your child and your family as you try to adjust to this new reality.
But there are resources out there to help. Continue reading
Dr. Richard Marshall, pediatrician, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute have been awarded third place in Round 3 of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine’s (AJPM) Childhood Obesity Challenge, an online competition for innovative ideas to combat the childhood obesity epidemic.
The award was given to the STAR (Study of Technology to Accelerate Research) program, a collaboration between Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute. The STAR Program highlights the use of health information and remote and mobile technology in improving the clinical management of childhood obesity and in supporting families outside of the clinical setting. Continue reading
If you’ve been diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or asthma, your doctor may have prescribed an inhaler as part of your treatment plan. An inhaler is a handheld device that delivers medicine in a measured dose while a person inhales. Inhalers are used for respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD.
Inhaled medicine may work faster than oral medicines to relieve symptoms such as wheezing and spasms in the bronchial tubes, because the inhaler allows the medicine to go directly to the lungs. Inhaled medicine usually causes fewer side effects than oral medicine.
There are two types of inhalers: Continue reading
The SMArt Kids had a sweet time at our recent May SMA. They enjoyed the expertise of Linda Germaine-Miller, our SMArt Kids Nutritionist, and of Chip Wilder, LICSW, from the Burlington Behavioral Health Department. At a past SMA, Chip introduced the concept of mindfulness to our group, and he reinforced the importance of mindful eating this month. He taught us that mindful eating is remaining aware of and accepting what you are experiencing (sensing, feeling, and thinking) before you eat and as you eat. Think about being mindful at your next meal.
We tried to be mindful in the second part of the SMA when we turned to the topic of sugared beverages. A little “food for thought:” Continue reading
The Mediterranean diet is making news again all over the place. Newest research confirms what we thought – a Mediterranean-style diet is a healthy way to eat, because it can help reduce cholesterol, lower the risk of having a heart attack or stroke, and even help to preserve memory.
Here’s a quick summary of three recent studies: Continue reading
On Memorial Day, which is Monday, May 27, 2013, Harvard Vanguard practices will be CLOSED except for Braintree, Chelmsford, Kenmore, Peabody, Somerville, and Wellesley, which are open for pre-scheduled urgent care visits.
To check these sites’ hours of operation on Memorial Day, please click here. Continue reading
Have you ever seen a speck or thread-like strand float across your field of vision? Many times these spots or floaters in your eyes are just an irritating consequence of aging. However, if these symptoms are new or get worse, it’s time to call your eye doctor. Read more about the symptoms, causes and management for this common eye condition. Continue reading
In our society, the stigma of mental illness is very real. While lowering cholesterol is something people discuss openly, seeking mental health treatment is something many view as a secret. As a psychiatrist, it is disappointing to see that negative perceptions are a major barrier to patients receiving the medical care they need. Where do these perceptions come from? And how can they be changed? Continue reading
Now that spring is here, it’s a perfect time to enjoy some of the healthy and nutritious local foods available to us. Local foods tend to be fresher, are seasonal and taste better!
At April’s SMArt Kids’ SMA in Burlington, we were joined by Wright-Locke Farm’s Farm Educator, Rebekah Carter. She taught SMArt kid and parent alike the importance of eating locally.
We learned that a typical grocery store tomato hails from Mexico and travels about 3,000 miles before it arrives at your local store. About 3 weeks elapses from the time it is picked to the time it is eaten. With all of this time and travel, the nutritional value is sacrificed. Exposure to heat, light, and air can decrease both the quantity and quality of vitamins in that once-vitamin-rich tomato. Continue reading
