A: Quick CPR and use of an AED can save a life! Note: This post was updated by Those Nerdy Girls from the original published on January 6, 2023. When someone’s heart stops beating, there are three things to do. First, call 911. Second, get the AED, or Automatic External Defibrillator, because it can help Read more…
Medications have a way of piling up and can pose real risks. The good news is that getting rid of prescription and over-the-counter medications safely is simple, and any time of year is a good time to do it. đź’ŠMedications have a way of piling up. A prescription you picked up but ended up not Read more…
Navigating the healthcare system is difficult – even for those without disabilities or social, financial, employment, and/or family challenges. Many helpful tips are available on various reputable websites, examples here, here , and here. But if you find you’re still frustrated (I’m betting you are), keep reading, and remember – you’re taking care of your Read more…
Keep yourself as active as you can and clear your home of fall hazards. Even if you don’t notice an injury, falls can be an early warning sign for many health issues. Don’t delay asking for help when you need it! Roughly 1 in 4 adults over age 65 fall each year. About 800,000 people Read more…
Any health decision or complex health question should always be discussed with a human clinician. However, AI chatbots can be helpful for answering some basic health questions, with some caveats. It seems like every industry nowadays wants a piece of the artificial intelligence (AI) pie. Healthcare has been no exception, with 2 out of 3 Read more…
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is an independent advisory panel of experts who make evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services. (This post was updated by Those Nerdy Girls from the original published on August 22, 2025.) In July 2025, the current Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) abruptly canceled a meeting Read more…
Continued research is needed, but in the meantime, avoiding unproven and harmful therapies is the best medicine. For children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), effective therapies for social/communication symptoms and medications to help co-occurring conditions (depression, anxiety, irritability) exist. Continued research is needed, but in the meantime, avoiding unproven and harmful therapies is the best Read more…
Implementation science is the study of how to make sure good, evidence-based ideas in medicine and public health actually reach people. In the hospital, very sick patients may need a central line to receive important medicines and fluids. In the past, these helpful tubes too often led to serious infections in the bloodstream. Doctors already Read more…
Febrile seizures most commonly happen in a child between six months and five years old. Though it looks scary, febrile seizures are common and generally not a cause for major concern. A febrile seizure can happen in a child between the ages six months to five years old when they have a fever. A true Read more…
Heavy metals, like lead, can build up in the body and cause poisoning or toxicity. For most people, this is unlikely to happen from everyday exposures. Your clinician can tell you if testing is a good idea. Heavy metal toxicity can be very dangerous, but it is the amount of heavy metals that you’re in Read more…
Managing osteoporosis begins with lifestyle approaches. Medication can further lower the chance of a bone break from osteoporosis. Your clinician can help you decide which treatment is right for you. When my mom was first diagnosed with osteoporosis, she was both surprised and upset. The idea of thinning bones is an unsettling thought. It’s especially hard to Read more…
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
Knowing when telehealth makes sense, when it doesn’t, and how to prepare can lead to better healthcare outcomes. Telehealth [archived link], also known as telemedicine or virtual care, is a method of accessing certain types of healthcare services and information without visiting a clinician’s office, using a phone, tablet, or computer instead. During a typical Read more…
Note – Evidence and research around this topic continue to emerge and evolve. The post below is based on the best information currently available (Dec 2025). TL;DR: It is NOT safe to drive after using cannabis. Cannabis can negatively affect your ability to drive safely, even hours after use. While it’s tempting to think driving Read more…
Mitochondrial diseases are a broad category of diseases that have many different symptoms and appearances. They can be mild or severe. Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, but they’re also, in my opinion, the coolest part, aka organelle, of the cell. An organelle is a specialized part of the cell, including the mitochondria, Golgi Read more…
Pharmacies provide essential care, from medications to vaccinations and more. The loss of a nearby pharmacy hurts the people who rely on it the most. Here’s why more pharmacies are closing—and what you can do to support pharmacy access for all. Imagine stepping into your local pharmacy—the place where you ask questions, get vaccines, and Read more…
Most biopsies won’t spread cancer. For cancers like testicular cancer, a biopsy can spread cancer, which is why physicians will remove suspected cancer rather than biopsy. Biopsies have come under fire on social media recently. People are saying that biopsies aren’t safe because they can “seed” the cancer. Seeding is the term used for cancer Read more…
Diagnosing Alzheimer’s is a complex, long process, but new technologies show promise for more rapid and accurate diagnosis. With over 7 million people in the U.S. living with Alzheimer’s disease, and as a disease that is rarely publicly discussed with much surrounding stigma, it is only natural that many people have questions about what it Read more…
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Nerdy Girl Alumna Dr. Chana Davis takes a deep dive into breast cancer risk: what we can and cannot control. (This post was originally published on October 30, 2024.) A candid look at breast cancer risk It’s time to shift the conversation about breast cancer risk and be candid Read more…
It’s important to have discussions about what you want the end of your time on earth to look like and have a healthcare proxy and an advance directive in place. When my sister and I were teenagers, my mom sat us down, and in a potentially more dramatic fashion than the moment called for, she Read more…
