Reporter
Kotz writes the Daily Dose blog for Boston.com and is a health reporter for the Globe. She’s been covering the health beat for two decades and previously worked as a senior writer at US News and World Report.
Latest stories
Hormone replacement therapy: benefits outweigh risks for some women
By Deborah Kotz , Globe Staff
It’s been a decade since postmenopausal women were warned off hormone replacement therapy after a large randomized trial called the Women’s Health Initiative found that the combination of synthetic estrogen and progesterone caused more heart attacks and strokes than it prevented -- in addition to raising breast cancer risks. But follow-up studies have since indicated that the benefits of hormone therapy outweigh the risks for healthy women in their 50s when it comes to relieving hot flashes and night sweats.
Chicken jerky dog treats linked to health problems in 900 dogs
By Deborah Kotz , Globe Staff
The US Food and Drug Administration has received about 900 reports from dog owners and veterinarians in recent months about severe illnesses and even deaths in dogs that have been linked to chicken jerky pet treats from China. Which treats have been named most frequently?
Massachusetts ranks third for injury prevention
By Deborah Kotz and Globe Staff ,
Massachusetts scored decently in among states for injury prevention, in a national ranking released Wednesday by the non-profit groups Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The state has the third lowest rate of injury-related deaths with 41.1 per 100,000 people dying from fatal injuries every year, compared with a national rate of 57.9 per 100,000.
Healthy men told to skip prostate test
By Deborah Kotz , Globe Staff
A government panel concluded that the harm caused by the PSA blood test for prostate cancer outweighed its benefits.