Join Those Nerdy Girls for answers to your questions about COVID-19 and more. Today’s topics include boosters, masking, and the media frenzy about erythritol and health. Hosted by: – Jenn Dowd, PhD:TNG Editor in Chief & Founding Member – Chana Davis, PhD: TNG Contributing Writer & Founder of Fueled by Science ➡️ Hello and Introductions: Read more…
A: Yes! COVID-19 vaccines are safe to give with other vaccines. Vaccination is incredibly important and delaying vaccination can result in increased risks of infection, serious illness, or death. Many parents and families worry about giving the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other routine childhood vaccines. But we come with good news! It Read more…
The Nerdy Girls at Dear Pandemic join the United Nations in celebrating International Women’s Day. Here are some ways you can too: 1.) Donate to a cause that supports women, including organizations that help women run for office (see link below). 2.) Write a letter or make a phone call to a woman that inspires Read more…
Together, let’s help reduce the stigma of opioid use disorder by recognizing it as the chronic disease it is. Any one of us can develop a chronic disease, regardless of our background, income level, education level, or other intersecting identities. As with other chronic diseases, this is not about willpower or character. It is about Read more…
Yes, a vaccine against avian influenza H5N1 for humans *exists,* but it’s not available, as at this point the infection isn’t spreading among humans. Right now there is a large outbreak of an influenza virus in birds known as avian influenza H5N1. Experts agree that there is very little risk to humans. And they also Read more…
Yes. Despite a recent high-profile review, high quality masks DO reduce transmission of COVID-19 (and other respiratory viruses). A recent Cochrane review grabbed headlines for concluding there was “insufficient” evidence that masks are effective in reducing respiratory illness. Several good articles have outlined the limitations of this review. Read the links below for detailed critiques, Read more…
Yes, the morning-after pill, also known as the Emergency Contraception pill, is still legal in all 50 states. The morning-after pill is contraception, not abortion. It works by delaying ovulation and will not harm a pregnancy. And your right to *contraception* was not changed by the Supreme Court decision that overturned the constitutional right to Read more…
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Please read on to learn a little bit more about eating disorders and how to get help. What are eating disorders?Eating disorders are serious diseases responsible for both medical and physical illness. They are defined as changes in eating behaviors and patterns that affect mental and physical Read more…
“Can’t wait to write a tell all about my experience during my last two trimesters dealing with incompetent doctors at Montefiore [Hospital].” On April 17, 2020, Amber Rose Isaac logged into her Twitter account and aired her grievances for the last time. Just four days later, she died of childbirth complications from a severely delayed Read more…
Fun!! We are jealous! The CDC monitors infectious diseases all over the world and makes recommendations for immunizations you might need that aren’t common in the United States. They keep an up-do-date list for each country. Just go to the CDC Traveler’s Health website and choose your destination. You’ll see notices about any special health Read more…
Thanks to Oregon Health Authority for a concise answer to one of our most common current questions! Image text: Question: I had my bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (my 5th vaccine) in early September 2022, along with my flu shot. Since these vaccines wear off over time, will I be able to receive another COVID-19 and flu Read more…
“Wait, that’s a thing?” Yes, National Condom Week is celebrated every year from February 14-February 21. “Why, for goodness’ sake, do we need to celebrate this?” Well, condoms help prevent the spreading of sexually transmitted infections, and sadly in the US, many sexually transmitted infections are on the rise. So to honor National Condom Week Read more…
Screening for cardiovascular disease (CVD) includes checking for risk factors including high blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose. Screenings such as an EKG, stress test, coronary calcium score CT scan or cardiac catheterization may also be used depending on risks and symptoms. Those Nerdy Girls want to help people identify symptoms and reduce their risk of Read more…
Risk factors and symptoms of CVD can be different for women. Estrogen plays an important role in risk for CVD. Besides chest pain, women may have subtle symptoms such as heartburn, nausea, milder discomfort in the chest, back and abdomen or a sensation of generalized weakness. **Nerds, for the purpose of this article, “women” refers Read more…
As we move into the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk about screens (and yes, we realize that you are reading this on a screen right now, LOL.). But still, we know that screens have changed us. And most of us spend WAY too much time on our screens (phones, computers, laptops, and others). Read more…
A) To stop the spread of Norovirus: reach for bleach, wash your hands, don’t share, close the lid, and stay home for two full days if possible. Noroviruses are the most common cause of “stomach bug” outbreaks (vomiting, diarrhea) in older kids and adults. They strike fast and hard, and are very contagious. 🦠Norovirus is Read more…
TL;DR: Our phrases include more people. When we exclude people by not naming them, they may lack access to critical information they need to make potentially life-saving decisions. We are science communicators. We take complicated scientific research and medical recommendations and try to make them easily digestible to our readers. As scientists, we must be Read more…
TL;DR: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in US adults and prevalence is increasing. Buildup of plaque inside the arteries can lead to heart attacks and strokes. You can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and smoking. Since the 1960s, Read more…
💖 What is self-care and why is it Important? TL; DR: Self-care is a set of things people do to support their overall health and wellness (mental and physical). Self-care can support emotional, physical, and/or spiritual well-being among other areas of life. It is not something that you do only if you have time. It Read more…
A: It depends! You should not get the vaccine while sick with COVID-19, but other mild illnesses are not necessarily a reason to delay vaccination. Lots of folks are getting sick right now with all kinds of viral illnesses including the flu, colds, RSV and COVID-19. You might find yourself feeling under the weather right Read more…
