So you think you're fit?

Perhaps you like to go for a run when the weather is nice or meet some friends for a game of basketball on weekends. It turns out you may not be as fit as you think. We approached average Americans on the street to...

Finally, spring has sprung! That means warmer weather, longer days, more chances to enjoy the outdoors, and -- in my experience as a physician -- health opportunities as well as health challenges. While the spring season does offer the chance to pick up on those healthy New Year's resolutions that...

"I want to get in shape, but I don't have time for the gym/I don't know how to exercise/gym memberships cost too much/I don't have anyone to work out with/It's too hot/ It's too cold (insert excuse here)."

As a physician, I've heard lots of excuses why people think they...

I've got news for you: All foods are not created equal. We used to think that "a calorie is a calorie" and all foods basically impacted our bodies the same way. We now know that's not true. In fact, there are some foods that are truly super -- they pack...

There's a lot of confusing information about food out there. One day you hear a report that drinking coffee is good; the next day a new study claims that drinking coffee will lead to a heart attack. Is pasta okay to eat, or is it the enemy? I get frustrated,...

'Tis the season when many of us completely give up on all those resolutions to get healthy we made just a few weeks ago. I bet you were excited to lose a little poundage, and for a while, you might even have been making good on the promise you made...

Have you stepped on a scale lately? I bet you have -- most of us check our weight around New Year's. And after viewing the number, you probably resolve to lose a few pounds over the next few months. If you haven't checked your weight, you should. But you also...

I bet you didn't realize that if you are a D.C. resident, your gender, your race, and what metro stop you live by actually helps determine how long you live and what you might die of. That's right -- here we are in the nation's capital, the world's most powerful...

Is it August... already? Well, if you think it's too late to squeeze in some more summer fun, think again. You still have more than a month to not only squiggle love notes in the sand with your feet -- what, you haven't done that, yet? -- but also some...

If you're wearing sunglasses without sufficient ultraviolet (UV) protection, throw them out. Just in time to celebrate Ultraviolet (UV) Awareness Month -- I know, who knew?! Trading in your current specs for ones that offer protection against the sun's harmful UV rays can go a long way in terms of...

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm always encouraging people to drink plenty of water. Staying properly hydrated is key to staying healthy -- and not just during this oppressively hot weather.

I haven't always been a big proponent of water. Like a lot of other people, I used...

What you wouldn't give for a good night's sleep! Perhaps last night, you snuggled inside the sheets and closed your eyes. Your mind let go of the cares of the day and... ahh! The slumber you so richly deserve is seeping into every cell of your battered body. Then suddenly,...

To my fellow road warriors, I have a question for you: What's worse for your health than a six-hour flight sitting in coach?

The Answer: A six-hour flight sitting in a window seat in coach, according to new guidelines from a group of expert doctors.

Just last week,...

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the sickest of them all? A new study says it might be the guys who are always looking in the mirror!

We all remember those guys who were popular the second they walked into a room. They were probably also the "love 'em and...

That's still a common phrase you might from the doctor after you've have some lab test, biopsy or imaging study like a CT scan. Sometimes the doctor will say "If you don't hear from me, everything is fine." Well, given the complexity and comprehensiveness of medical exams nowadays, that's probably...

I'll be honest -- I like technology and gadgets! When used correctly, they certainly can improve medical care. For the past 15 years of providing clinical care, I have often used an electronic health record when interacting with patients. Since I often fill in for doctors in under-served areas, the...

For anyone on the fence about getting married, there is new data that may assist in your decision to take that walk down the aisle or not. No, it's not about potential changes to the tax code! Rather, it's about surviving a heart attack. A recent study suggests that

Have you noticed your waist getting bigger as you're getting older? It's interesting that we often call this excess weight "love handles", but are those extra rolls of fat around our mid-section really helping to boost your sex life? Turns out, probably not. While this may be disappointing news for...

The weather has been pretty gorgeous lately, and I bet you've been heading outside most chances you get. You've got your hat and sunglasses on when all of a sudden -- slap! -- oh hello mosquito!

The thought of stepping out only to become a blood buffet for these...

With the unofficial start of summer comes lots of heat (it feels like a swamp right now in Washington, D.C.!) and lots of travel. It's often during the summer that I enjoy traveling on the train. It's quiet, there's legroom and we don't have to take our shoes off to...