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Dr. Anthony Komaroff, MD

Bio

Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, a Sharecare expert, is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford University, Alpha Omega Alpha graduate of the University of Washington School of Medicine, and is board certified in Internal Medicine.  He is the Simcox-Clifford-Higby Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and former Director of the Division of General Medicine in the Department of Medicine and a Senior Physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA.  Dr. Komaroff is a practicing physician, who also teaches and conducts research at Harvard Medical School. He is the Founding Editor of Journal Watch, a publication that keeps doctors abreast of how the latest medical research affects medical practice. Since 1997, he has served as Editor in Chief of the Harvard Health Publications Division of Harvard Medical School which publishes health information for the general public. Dr. Komaroff’s answers on this site are based on the judgments of many different faculty experts on the topics being discussed.



Activity

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Internal Medicine:
    Gene Variations May Explain Weight Gain Among Men, Women

    WEDNESDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- Weight gain in men and women is predicted by two different genetic variations -- so-called polymorphisms, according to a new study from the Netherlands.

    Men with a certain mutation of the FTO gene had an 87 percent greater ...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Internal Medicine:
    Cellphone Calls During Blood Pressure Readings May Skew Results

    WEDNESDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- New Italian research offers some cautionary advice for patients with high blood pressure: The next time you take a blood pressure reading, turn off your cellphone.

    The reason: Answering a cellphone call during a reading may cause a temporary but signi...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Internal Medicine:
    People With High Blood Pressure May Crave Salt

    WEDNESDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- High-salt diets have long been linked to high blood pressure, but new research finds that those with the condition may have a far greater preference for salty foods than those with normal blood pressure.

    In a small study of ...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Internal Medicine:
    New Guidelines Say Doctors Should Screen All Adults for 'Risky' Drinking

    MONDAY, May 13 (HealthDay News) -- Primary care doctors should screen all adults for drinking problems, and offer them counseling if needed, new guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggest.

    Based on years of research, there is enough evidence that a quick screen at the...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Internal Medicine:
    Cells Throughout Body May Detect Smells, Chemists Say

    SUNDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- Your blood may be able to "smell" that fresh coffee or cinnamon bun, a new study suggests.

    Scientists have found that blood cells have the same receptors for sensing smells as the nose, and they said there is increasing evidence that these odor receptor...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Internal Medicine:
    Brain Changes Could Contribute to Gulf War Illness: Study

    THURSDAY, March 21 (HealthDay News) -- Many of the soldiers who served in the first Gulf War suffer a poorly understood collection of symptoms known as Gulf War illness, and now a small study has identified brain changes in these vets that may give hints for developing a test for diagnosing the c...Full Article

  • Anthony Komaroff, MD
    Anthony Komaroff, MD of Harvard Health Publications answered:
    What kind of impact does diet have on immune system health?
    Like any fighting force, the immune system army marches on its stomach. Immune system warriors...  Full Post
  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Internal Medicine:
    Chronic Pain Is Often a Family Affair, Study Finds

    MONDAY, Nov. 19 (HealthDay News) -- The teenage children of people who suffer chronic pain are at higher risk of suffering from such pain themselves, a new study finds.

    The study tracked more than 5,300 teens (aged 13 to 18) in Norway and their parents and found that teens were more likel...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Internal Medicine:
    Common Antidepressants Tied to Higher Bleeding Risk in Warfarin Users: Study

    THURSDAY, Nov. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Millions of older Americans take the blood thinner warfarin, and many may also take one of a widely used class of antidepressants called SSRIs.

    Now, a new study finds that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) -- which include Celexa, Paxil,...Full Article

  • cleo dendy
    cleo dendy found the following answer helpful:
    Should I take bile salt pills after having my gallbladder removed?
    Bile salts are produced in the liver, secreted into the bile ducts and gallbladder, and sent...Full Post
  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Internal Medicine:
    Blood Test May Spot Serious Health Risks in Women

    TUESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- A new blood test may help identify a woman's risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and breast cancer, a new study suggests.

    The test, which measures levels of a substance called proneurotensin, may also spot an increased risk of early death, the re...Full Article

  • Anthony Komaroff, MD
    Anthony Komaroff, MD answered:
    What is an ankle-brachial index test?
    The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is the highest blood pressure recorded at the ankle divided by...  Full Post
  • Anthony Komaroff, MD
    Anthony Komaroff, MD answered:
    What is a hiatal hernia?
    With a hiatal hernia, part of the upper stomach protrudes through the diaphragm into the chest....  Full Post
  • Anthony Komaroff, MD
    Anthony Komaroff, MD answered:
    What medications can help control high blood pressure?
    The following are medications used to treat high blood pressure: Thiazide diuretics:...  Full Post
  • Anthony Komaroff, MD
    Anthony Komaroff, MD answered:
    How can I quit smoking?
    Smokers who want to quit can choose from a variety of tools that double or triple their chances...  Full Post