Boston Health Journal is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains what information we collect when you visit bostonhealthjournal.com, how we use it, and what choices you have. Please read it carefully.

1. Who We Are

Boston Health Journal (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates the website bostonhealthjournal.com, an independent health publication covering health, wellness, fitness, mental health, and medical news for Boston residents and beyond. We are not affiliated with any hospital, insurance company, or pharmaceutical organization.

If you have questions about this policy, you can reach us through our Talk to Us page.

2. Information We Collect

We collect two types of information: information you provide to us directly, and information collected automatically when you use our site.

Information You Provide

  • Contact form submissions: If you use our Talk to Us page, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message.
  • Comments: If you leave a comment on an article, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your comment. Your email address is not displayed publicly.
  • Newsletter sign-ups: If you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your email address.

Information Collected Automatically

  • Usage data: When you visit our site, our servers automatically record information including your IP address, browser type, referring URL, pages visited, and time spent on each page.
  • Cookies: We use cookies — small text files stored on your device — to understand how visitors use our site and to improve your experience. See Section 5 for more on cookies.
  • Analytics data: We use Google Analytics to understand traffic patterns and reader behavior in aggregate. This data does not personally identify you.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  • To respond to messages and inquiries you send us through our contact form
  • To publish and moderate comments you leave on our articles
  • To send newsletters or updates to subscribers who have opted in
  • To analyze how visitors use our site so we can improve our content and user experience
  • To detect and prevent spam, fraud, or other harmful activity
  • To comply with legal obligations

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We do not use your information for targeted advertising.

4. Medical Disclaimer

Boston Health Journal publishes health and wellness content for informational purposes only. The content on this site is written or reviewed by licensed physicians but is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Nothing on this site should be treated as medical advice specific to your situation.

Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read on this site.

We do not collect or store any health information about you. The health topics we cover are general and educational in nature.

5. Cookies

Our website uses cookies to function properly and to help us understand how readers interact with our content. The types of cookies we use include:

  • Essential cookies: Required for the website to function. These cannot be disabled.
  • Analytics cookies: Used by Google Analytics to collect anonymous information about how visitors use the site — for example, which pages are most popular and how long people stay on them. No personally identifiable information is collected through analytics cookies.
  • Preference cookies: Remember settings you have chosen, such as your comment name, to make your next visit easier.

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or delete them. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect how some parts of the site function. For more information on managing cookies, visit aboutcookies.org.

6. Third-Party Services

We use a small number of third-party services to operate our site. Each has its own privacy policy governing how they handle data:

  • Google Analytics — We use Google Analytics to measure site traffic and reader behavior. Google may use this data in accordance with their own privacy policy. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
  • WordPress — Our site runs on WordPress, which handles comment storage and basic site functionality.
  • Email service providers — If you subscribe to our newsletter, your email address is stored with the email service provider we use to send newsletters. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any newsletter we send.

We do not embed third-party advertising networks or allow advertisers to collect data through our site. Boston Health Journal products are ad-free.

7. Data Retention

We retain your information only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy:

  • Contact form messages are retained for up to 12 months and then deleted.
  • Published comments remain on the site unless you request removal.
  • Newsletter subscriber information is retained until you unsubscribe.
  • Analytics data is retained in aggregate and anonymized form indefinitely.

8. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on where you live, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information. These include:

  • Access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
  • Correction: You can ask us to correct inaccurate information.
  • Deletion: You can request that we delete your personal information where we have no legitimate reason to continue holding it.
  • Unsubscribe: You can opt out of marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link in any email we send, or by contacting us directly.
  • Comment removal: You can request that a comment you posted be removed by contacting us through our Talk to Us page.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us through our Talk to Us page. We will respond within 30 days.

9. Children’s Privacy

Boston Health Journal is intended for a general adult audience. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If you believe a child under 13 has submitted personal information to us, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

10. Links to External Sites

Our articles and resources page contain links to external websites, including hospitals, government agencies, nonprofits, and health organizations. Once you leave bostonhealthjournal.com, this privacy policy no longer applies. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any external site you visit. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of third-party sites.

11. Security

We take reasonable steps to protect the information we collect from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse. Our site uses HTTPS encryption for all connections. However, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we do, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of the site after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

13. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to request deletion of your personal information, and the right to opt out of the sale of your personal information. We do not sell personal information. To exercise your CCPA rights, contact us through our Talk to Us page.

14. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the right of access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, data portability, and the right to object to processing. Our legal basis for processing your data is legitimate interest (analytics and site improvement) and consent (newsletter subscriptions and comments). To exercise your GDPR rights, contact us through our Talk to Us page.

Questions About This Policy?

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this privacy policy or how we handle your data, please reach out to us directly.

Boston Health Journal
Website: bostonhealthjournal.com
Contact: bostonhealthjournal.com/talk-to-us