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South Shore Health Blog

Health and wellness information from our experts

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Featured Article

How to Beat Extreme Heat and Stay Healthy This Summer

July is the hottest month of the year in Massachusetts. And it's off to a scorching start. Extreme heat and humidity are in the forecast from July 1 through the July 4th holiday, and those weather conditions can be hazardous to your health.

How to Beat Extreme Heat and Stay Healthy This Summer

A woman wearing flip flops hangs her legs over the edge of a pier

How to Take Care of Your Feet This Summer: Six Helpful Tips

Summer is a season of freedom for your feet! Whether you're digging them into the sand or dipping them in a pool, follow these six tips to ensure your feet have a healthy, happy summer.

How to Take Care of Your Feet This Summer: Six Helpful Tips

Happy child wearing sunscreen

Summer Safety Tips for Kids

From backyard barbecues, beach days and pool parties, to biking, boating, swimming and camping, summer vacation provides plenty of fun activities to keep children busy and entertained. You can also keep them safe by following these summer safety tips.

Summer Safety Tips for Kids

A sprawling poison ivy plant growing in a yard

Preventing Poison Ivy: How to Ditch the Itch this Summer

Now that the warm weather and longer days have arrived, many of us are itching to go enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you’re taking a hike, camping out, or getting the yardwork done, there’s one particular plant you should always try to avoid – poison ivy. Learn how to spot the plant that causes itchy rashes, how to soothe your skin, and when to seek medical attention.

Preventing Poison Ivy: How to Ditch the Itch this Summer

Lyme Disease defined under magnifying glass

Tick Talk: Six Things to Know About Lyme Disease

Tick season is off to a fast start this spring, with health officials already seeing an uptick in Lyme disease and other tickborne illnesses. Todd Ellerin, MD discusses Lyme disease symptoms, treatments and how you can prevent tick bites and the illnesses they transmit.

Tick Talk: Six Things to Know About Lyme Disease

A female dermatologist screens a male patient for skin cancer

Skin Cancer Awareness: Most Common Cancer is Also the Most Preventable

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, a good time to shine light on the disease and the importance of prevention and screening. With more than 5 million cases diagnosed each year, skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the U.S. It’s also one of the most preventable.

Skin Cancer Awareness: Most Common Cancer is Also the Most Preventable

A female lone star tick crawling on a leaf

What You Need to Know About Alpha-gal Syndrome

Also known as alpha-gal allergy or red meat allergy, alpha-gal syndrome is on the rise in Massachusetts, particularly on Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard, where lone star ticks have expanded and become established.

What You Need to Know About Alpha-gal Syndrome

A woman with allergies about to sneeze standing beneath a blooming tree

Six Ways to Alleviate Seasonal Allergies

Spring is here and the budding plants, trees and flowers will soon be in full bloom. So too will the seasonal allergies that affect an estimated 81 million Americans. But there are things you can do to alleviate the sneezing, coughing, congestion and itchy eyes. Allergy specialists recommend the following tips to suppress seasonal allergies.

Six Ways to Alleviate Seasonal Allergies

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Testicular Cancer Awareness: Self-Exams Key for Early Detection, Better Outcomes

While it is less common than other cancers, testicular cancer still affects 1 of every 250 men during their lifetime. The American Cancer Society estimates 9,810 new testicular cancer cases will be diagnosed this year and about 630 people will die from the disease.

Testicular Cancer Awareness: Self-Exams Key for Early Detection, Better Outcomes

Older women and men practicing tai chi

How to Maintain Better Balance as You Age

Declining muscle mass and a variety of medical conditions can contribute to a loss of balance as we age, making us more vulnerable to falls and injury. But there are things you can do to maintain and even build better balance. Community Exercise Program Manager Jennifer Logan offers these tips.

How to Maintain Better Balance as You Age