Yes, there is a lot of COVID around right now.
COVID Variants Infectious DiseasesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
There is a lot of COVID around. Now is a good time to take extra precautions to reduce your risk and protect those around you. If you feel like a lot of people have COVID right now, you’re right. Recent estimates from wastewater data suggest over 900,000 new infections a day in the US and 1 in Read more…
August 7, 2024
Nerdy Girls Live 08/07/24 – Savvy Supplement Shopping
Health & Wellness Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Join Those Nerdy Girls and Unbiased Science to learn about savvy supplement shopping and why we need a heavy dose of skepticism in the wellness section. Hosted by: Chana Davis, PhD: Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls & Fueled by Science @fueledbyscience Jess Steier, DrPH, PMP: Unbiased Science Podcast @unbiasedscipod NB: Always seek the advice of your Read more…
August 6, 2024
Are you caught up? 8 health screenings for women and people assigned female at birth that can’t wait
Health & Wellness
Ashley Sever, MPH
Tens of millions of U.S. women* are behind on their recommended health screenings, based on results from a recent Hologic-Gallup survey. Even though 90% of women surveyed said that health screenings for conditions like breast cancer, heart disease, and sexually transmitted infections are important, as many as 43% have fallen behind or skipped them entirely. We Read more…
August 2, 2024
Should I get a blood test for PFAS (“forever chemicals”)?
Health & Wellness Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
Testing your blood for PFAS (“forever chemicals”) is not recommended for most people. However, for the small fraction of people with a history of high PFAS exposure, the potential benefits of testing may outweigh the harms. PFAS blood tests can flag unusually high blood levels of these chemicals or offer peace of mind, but they Read more…
July 30, 2024
Cannabis vaping and young people: What do we know?
Health & Wellness
Megan Reilly, Intern
Most recent data show that about 10-14% of young people in the US have used cannabis vapes in the past 30 days. It’s more common in areas where recreational use is legal, and it can have negative health effects. Covering nicotine vaping in previous posts (posts one and two) has answered a lot of questions, but this Nerdy Read more…
July 26, 2024
How are vaccines developed, and how do we know they are safe?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sandy Laping
Vaccine development is regulated and monitored at every stage. A vaccine is only approved if it is deemed safe and effective, following a rigorous assessment of its benefits and risks. This ensures that you can trust vaccines offered by your healthcare professional, even those developed during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines have saved A Read more…
July 25, 2024
Help us welcome our newest Nerdies!
Women in STEM
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
Learn more about them in this post We are excited to introduce you to our newest Nerdy Girls! Because. . . you know. . . the more Nerds the better! The diversity and breadth of expertise in this group is a hallmark of what makes TNG a valued resource on a wide variety of health Read more…
July 23, 2024
Is it safe to use vaginal estrogen for local menopausal symptoms?
Reproductive Health
Alexandra Hall, MD
Current data support that vaginal estrogen is very safe and effective for most people, yet many clinicians are under-informed about and overly reluctant to prescribe treatment for menopausal symptoms. “I’m struggling with post-menopausal vaginal symptoms, and my clinician only recommended a moisturizer, which doesn’t help much. Why didn’t they prescribe an estrogen cream?” – Becca Read more…
July 21, 2024
Gabriella Kountourides, PhD
Dr. Gabriella Kountourides completed her PhD at the University of Oxford, where she investigated variations in premenstrual syndrome through both anthropological and immunological approaches. She is currently a Postdoctoral Affiliate at the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at Oxford. In her professional capacity, Dr. Kountourides works at Ofcom as a statistician, focusing on illegal Read more…
July 19, 2024
What’s going on with FDA approval of MDMA for PTSD, and what does it mean for psychedelics as psychiatric treatment in general?
Health Policy Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
An independent advisory committee voted against approval of MDMA for PTSD. This makes it unlikely the FDA will approve it, but we’re still not sure. There’s no reason to believe this substantially affects the opportunity for other psychedelics to be approved for other psychiatric conditions. On May 30, 2024, there were headlines everywhere (at least Read more…
July 16, 2024
Rachel Spahnn, MPH
Rachel Spahnn is a public health professional and research administrator located in Madison, WI. She earned her Master of Public Health Degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and completed her thesis work in Harare, Zimbabwe last summer as part of a project focused on HPV among women and girls in rural areas. She has worked on Read more…
July 16, 2024
What is harm reduction?
Health Policy Staying Safe
Harm reduction or risk reduction is a strategy that aims to reduce the negative impacts of specific behaviors. This is the first in a series of posts meant to look at harm reduction: what it is, what it isn’t, and how we can use it to effect positive change in people we care about (including Read more…
July 13, 2024
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
July 12, 2024
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Chana Davis, PhD
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best? Water filters are a wise investment if your tap water has potentially harmful levels of PFAS (a type of “forever chemical”). Roughly 5-10% of public water supplies in the United States have elevated PFAS levels (above the US EPA limits). Read more…
July 9, 2024
What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it?
Biology/Immunity Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Elisabeth Adkins Marnik, PhD
Q: What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it? A: Don’t let statements about imprinting stop you from getting your annual vaccines for COVID and flu. Immune imprinting refers to the fact that our immune response to a vaccine (or infection) is affected by previous exposures to similar vaccines (or infections). Read more…
July 5, 2024
Are chemical sunscreens really “toxic,” as some social media influencers say?
Families/Kids Health & Wellness Staying Safe
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Chemical sunscreens have no proven health risks, but they ARE proven to protect the skin from the sun’s UV radiation — a major risk factor for skin cancer. As with many things in our daily lives, we can’t be sure that chemical sunscreens are 100% risk-free. Still, medical and scientific experts agree that the benefits Read more…
July 3, 2024
4th of July Safety Tips
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
🇺🇸🇺🇸 Those Nerdy Girls wishes a safe and happy 4th of July to all who celebrate! Here are some tips to get you, your family, and your pets through safely. ➡️ FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS (courtesy American Red Cross) The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Read more…
June 28, 2024
What are the nicotine vaping trends among young people?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Megan Reilly, Intern
Over the past decade, vape use has increased among young people in the US and is now far more popular than other types of nicotine or tobacco products. Increase in Vaping Among Young People According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2023, vapes (also called e-cigarettes) are by far the most popular nicotine or tobacco Read more…
June 27, 2024
How can I be an effective ally?
Social and Racial Justice
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
June 25, 2024
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Yes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…
There is a lot of COVID around. Now is a good time to take extra precautions to reduce your risk and protect those around you. If you feel like a lot of people have COVID right now, you’re right. Recent estimates from wastewater data suggest over 900,000 new infections a day in the US and 1 in Read more…
Nerdy Girls Live 08/07/24 – Savvy Supplement Shopping
Health & Wellness VideosChana Davis, PhD
Join Those Nerdy Girls and Unbiased Science to learn about savvy supplement shopping and why we need a heavy dose of skepticism in the wellness section. Hosted by: Chana Davis, PhD: Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls & Fueled by Science @fueledbyscience Jess Steier, DrPH, PMP: Unbiased Science Podcast @unbiasedscipod NB: Always seek the advice of your Read more…
August 6, 2024
Are you caught up? 8 health screenings for women and people assigned female at birth that can’t wait
Health & Wellness
Ashley Sever, MPH
Tens of millions of U.S. women* are behind on their recommended health screenings, based on results from a recent Hologic-Gallup survey. Even though 90% of women surveyed said that health screenings for conditions like breast cancer, heart disease, and sexually transmitted infections are important, as many as 43% have fallen behind or skipped them entirely. We Read more…
August 2, 2024
Should I get a blood test for PFAS (“forever chemicals”)?
Health & Wellness Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
Testing your blood for PFAS (“forever chemicals”) is not recommended for most people. However, for the small fraction of people with a history of high PFAS exposure, the potential benefits of testing may outweigh the harms. PFAS blood tests can flag unusually high blood levels of these chemicals or offer peace of mind, but they Read more…
July 30, 2024
Cannabis vaping and young people: What do we know?
Health & Wellness
Megan Reilly, Intern
Most recent data show that about 10-14% of young people in the US have used cannabis vapes in the past 30 days. It’s more common in areas where recreational use is legal, and it can have negative health effects. Covering nicotine vaping in previous posts (posts one and two) has answered a lot of questions, but this Nerdy Read more…
July 26, 2024
How are vaccines developed, and how do we know they are safe?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sandy Laping
Vaccine development is regulated and monitored at every stage. A vaccine is only approved if it is deemed safe and effective, following a rigorous assessment of its benefits and risks. This ensures that you can trust vaccines offered by your healthcare professional, even those developed during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines have saved A Read more…
July 25, 2024
Help us welcome our newest Nerdies!
Women in STEM
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
Learn more about them in this post We are excited to introduce you to our newest Nerdy Girls! Because. . . you know. . . the more Nerds the better! The diversity and breadth of expertise in this group is a hallmark of what makes TNG a valued resource on a wide variety of health Read more…
July 23, 2024
Is it safe to use vaginal estrogen for local menopausal symptoms?
Reproductive Health
Alexandra Hall, MD
Current data support that vaginal estrogen is very safe and effective for most people, yet many clinicians are under-informed about and overly reluctant to prescribe treatment for menopausal symptoms. “I’m struggling with post-menopausal vaginal symptoms, and my clinician only recommended a moisturizer, which doesn’t help much. Why didn’t they prescribe an estrogen cream?” – Becca Read more…
July 21, 2024
Gabriella Kountourides, PhD
Dr. Gabriella Kountourides completed her PhD at the University of Oxford, where she investigated variations in premenstrual syndrome through both anthropological and immunological approaches. She is currently a Postdoctoral Affiliate at the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at Oxford. In her professional capacity, Dr. Kountourides works at Ofcom as a statistician, focusing on illegal Read more…
July 19, 2024
What’s going on with FDA approval of MDMA for PTSD, and what does it mean for psychedelics as psychiatric treatment in general?
Health Policy Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
An independent advisory committee voted against approval of MDMA for PTSD. This makes it unlikely the FDA will approve it, but we’re still not sure. There’s no reason to believe this substantially affects the opportunity for other psychedelics to be approved for other psychiatric conditions. On May 30, 2024, there were headlines everywhere (at least Read more…
July 16, 2024
Rachel Spahnn, MPH
Rachel Spahnn is a public health professional and research administrator located in Madison, WI. She earned her Master of Public Health Degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and completed her thesis work in Harare, Zimbabwe last summer as part of a project focused on HPV among women and girls in rural areas. She has worked on Read more…
July 16, 2024
What is harm reduction?
Health Policy Staying Safe
Harm reduction or risk reduction is a strategy that aims to reduce the negative impacts of specific behaviors. This is the first in a series of posts meant to look at harm reduction: what it is, what it isn’t, and how we can use it to effect positive change in people we care about (including Read more…
July 13, 2024
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
July 12, 2024
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Chana Davis, PhD
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best? Water filters are a wise investment if your tap water has potentially harmful levels of PFAS (a type of “forever chemical”). Roughly 5-10% of public water supplies in the United States have elevated PFAS levels (above the US EPA limits). Read more…
July 9, 2024
What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it?
Biology/Immunity Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Elisabeth Adkins Marnik, PhD
Q: What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it? A: Don’t let statements about imprinting stop you from getting your annual vaccines for COVID and flu. Immune imprinting refers to the fact that our immune response to a vaccine (or infection) is affected by previous exposures to similar vaccines (or infections). Read more…
July 5, 2024
Are chemical sunscreens really “toxic,” as some social media influencers say?
Families/Kids Health & Wellness Staying Safe
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Chemical sunscreens have no proven health risks, but they ARE proven to protect the skin from the sun’s UV radiation — a major risk factor for skin cancer. As with many things in our daily lives, we can’t be sure that chemical sunscreens are 100% risk-free. Still, medical and scientific experts agree that the benefits Read more…
July 3, 2024
4th of July Safety Tips
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
🇺🇸🇺🇸 Those Nerdy Girls wishes a safe and happy 4th of July to all who celebrate! Here are some tips to get you, your family, and your pets through safely. ➡️ FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS (courtesy American Red Cross) The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Read more…
June 28, 2024
What are the nicotine vaping trends among young people?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Megan Reilly, Intern
Over the past decade, vape use has increased among young people in the US and is now far more popular than other types of nicotine or tobacco products. Increase in Vaping Among Young People According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2023, vapes (also called e-cigarettes) are by far the most popular nicotine or tobacco Read more…
June 27, 2024
How can I be an effective ally?
Social and Racial Justice
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
June 25, 2024
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Yes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…
Join Those Nerdy Girls and Unbiased Science to learn about savvy supplement shopping and why we need a heavy dose of skepticism in the wellness section. Hosted by: Chana Davis, PhD: Those Nerdy Girls @thosenerdygirls & Fueled by Science @fueledbyscience Jess Steier, DrPH, PMP: Unbiased Science Podcast @unbiasedscipod NB: Always seek the advice of your Read more…
Are you caught up? 8 health screenings for women and people assigned female at birth that can’t wait
Health & WellnessAshley Sever, MPH
Tens of millions of U.S. women* are behind on their recommended health screenings, based on results from a recent Hologic-Gallup survey. Even though 90% of women surveyed said that health screenings for conditions like breast cancer, heart disease, and sexually transmitted infections are important, as many as 43% have fallen behind or skipped them entirely. We Read more…
August 2, 2024
Should I get a blood test for PFAS (“forever chemicals”)?
Health & Wellness Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
Testing your blood for PFAS (“forever chemicals”) is not recommended for most people. However, for the small fraction of people with a history of high PFAS exposure, the potential benefits of testing may outweigh the harms. PFAS blood tests can flag unusually high blood levels of these chemicals or offer peace of mind, but they Read more…
July 30, 2024
Cannabis vaping and young people: What do we know?
Health & Wellness
Megan Reilly, Intern
Most recent data show that about 10-14% of young people in the US have used cannabis vapes in the past 30 days. It’s more common in areas where recreational use is legal, and it can have negative health effects. Covering nicotine vaping in previous posts (posts one and two) has answered a lot of questions, but this Nerdy Read more…
July 26, 2024
How are vaccines developed, and how do we know they are safe?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sandy Laping
Vaccine development is regulated and monitored at every stage. A vaccine is only approved if it is deemed safe and effective, following a rigorous assessment of its benefits and risks. This ensures that you can trust vaccines offered by your healthcare professional, even those developed during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines have saved A Read more…
July 25, 2024
Help us welcome our newest Nerdies!
Women in STEM
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
Learn more about them in this post We are excited to introduce you to our newest Nerdy Girls! Because. . . you know. . . the more Nerds the better! The diversity and breadth of expertise in this group is a hallmark of what makes TNG a valued resource on a wide variety of health Read more…
July 23, 2024
Is it safe to use vaginal estrogen for local menopausal symptoms?
Reproductive Health
Alexandra Hall, MD
Current data support that vaginal estrogen is very safe and effective for most people, yet many clinicians are under-informed about and overly reluctant to prescribe treatment for menopausal symptoms. “I’m struggling with post-menopausal vaginal symptoms, and my clinician only recommended a moisturizer, which doesn’t help much. Why didn’t they prescribe an estrogen cream?” – Becca Read more…
July 21, 2024
Gabriella Kountourides, PhD
Dr. Gabriella Kountourides completed her PhD at the University of Oxford, where she investigated variations in premenstrual syndrome through both anthropological and immunological approaches. She is currently a Postdoctoral Affiliate at the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at Oxford. In her professional capacity, Dr. Kountourides works at Ofcom as a statistician, focusing on illegal Read more…
July 19, 2024
What’s going on with FDA approval of MDMA for PTSD, and what does it mean for psychedelics as psychiatric treatment in general?
Health Policy Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
An independent advisory committee voted against approval of MDMA for PTSD. This makes it unlikely the FDA will approve it, but we’re still not sure. There’s no reason to believe this substantially affects the opportunity for other psychedelics to be approved for other psychiatric conditions. On May 30, 2024, there were headlines everywhere (at least Read more…
July 16, 2024
Rachel Spahnn, MPH
Rachel Spahnn is a public health professional and research administrator located in Madison, WI. She earned her Master of Public Health Degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and completed her thesis work in Harare, Zimbabwe last summer as part of a project focused on HPV among women and girls in rural areas. She has worked on Read more…
July 16, 2024
What is harm reduction?
Health Policy Staying Safe
Harm reduction or risk reduction is a strategy that aims to reduce the negative impacts of specific behaviors. This is the first in a series of posts meant to look at harm reduction: what it is, what it isn’t, and how we can use it to effect positive change in people we care about (including Read more…
July 13, 2024
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
July 12, 2024
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Chana Davis, PhD
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best? Water filters are a wise investment if your tap water has potentially harmful levels of PFAS (a type of “forever chemical”). Roughly 5-10% of public water supplies in the United States have elevated PFAS levels (above the US EPA limits). Read more…
July 9, 2024
What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it?
Biology/Immunity Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Elisabeth Adkins Marnik, PhD
Q: What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it? A: Don’t let statements about imprinting stop you from getting your annual vaccines for COVID and flu. Immune imprinting refers to the fact that our immune response to a vaccine (or infection) is affected by previous exposures to similar vaccines (or infections). Read more…
July 5, 2024
Are chemical sunscreens really “toxic,” as some social media influencers say?
Families/Kids Health & Wellness Staying Safe
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Chemical sunscreens have no proven health risks, but they ARE proven to protect the skin from the sun’s UV radiation — a major risk factor for skin cancer. As with many things in our daily lives, we can’t be sure that chemical sunscreens are 100% risk-free. Still, medical and scientific experts agree that the benefits Read more…
July 3, 2024
4th of July Safety Tips
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
🇺🇸🇺🇸 Those Nerdy Girls wishes a safe and happy 4th of July to all who celebrate! Here are some tips to get you, your family, and your pets through safely. ➡️ FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS (courtesy American Red Cross) The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Read more…
June 28, 2024
What are the nicotine vaping trends among young people?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Megan Reilly, Intern
Over the past decade, vape use has increased among young people in the US and is now far more popular than other types of nicotine or tobacco products. Increase in Vaping Among Young People According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2023, vapes (also called e-cigarettes) are by far the most popular nicotine or tobacco Read more…
June 27, 2024
How can I be an effective ally?
Social and Racial Justice
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
June 25, 2024
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Yes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…
Tens of millions of U.S. women* are behind on their recommended health screenings, based on results from a recent Hologic-Gallup survey. Even though 90% of women surveyed said that health screenings for conditions like breast cancer, heart disease, and sexually transmitted infections are important, as many as 43% have fallen behind or skipped them entirely. We Read more…
Should I get a blood test for PFAS (“forever chemicals”)?
Health & Wellness Testing and Contact TracingChana Davis, PhD
Testing your blood for PFAS (“forever chemicals”) is not recommended for most people. However, for the small fraction of people with a history of high PFAS exposure, the potential benefits of testing may outweigh the harms. PFAS blood tests can flag unusually high blood levels of these chemicals or offer peace of mind, but they Read more…
July 30, 2024
Cannabis vaping and young people: What do we know?
Health & Wellness
Megan Reilly, Intern
Most recent data show that about 10-14% of young people in the US have used cannabis vapes in the past 30 days. It’s more common in areas where recreational use is legal, and it can have negative health effects. Covering nicotine vaping in previous posts (posts one and two) has answered a lot of questions, but this Nerdy Read more…
July 26, 2024
How are vaccines developed, and how do we know they are safe?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sandy Laping
Vaccine development is regulated and monitored at every stage. A vaccine is only approved if it is deemed safe and effective, following a rigorous assessment of its benefits and risks. This ensures that you can trust vaccines offered by your healthcare professional, even those developed during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines have saved A Read more…
July 25, 2024
Help us welcome our newest Nerdies!
Women in STEM
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
Learn more about them in this post We are excited to introduce you to our newest Nerdy Girls! Because. . . you know. . . the more Nerds the better! The diversity and breadth of expertise in this group is a hallmark of what makes TNG a valued resource on a wide variety of health Read more…
July 23, 2024
Is it safe to use vaginal estrogen for local menopausal symptoms?
Reproductive Health
Alexandra Hall, MD
Current data support that vaginal estrogen is very safe and effective for most people, yet many clinicians are under-informed about and overly reluctant to prescribe treatment for menopausal symptoms. “I’m struggling with post-menopausal vaginal symptoms, and my clinician only recommended a moisturizer, which doesn’t help much. Why didn’t they prescribe an estrogen cream?” – Becca Read more…
July 21, 2024
Gabriella Kountourides, PhD
Dr. Gabriella Kountourides completed her PhD at the University of Oxford, where she investigated variations in premenstrual syndrome through both anthropological and immunological approaches. She is currently a Postdoctoral Affiliate at the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at Oxford. In her professional capacity, Dr. Kountourides works at Ofcom as a statistician, focusing on illegal Read more…
July 19, 2024
What’s going on with FDA approval of MDMA for PTSD, and what does it mean for psychedelics as psychiatric treatment in general?
Health Policy Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
An independent advisory committee voted against approval of MDMA for PTSD. This makes it unlikely the FDA will approve it, but we’re still not sure. There’s no reason to believe this substantially affects the opportunity for other psychedelics to be approved for other psychiatric conditions. On May 30, 2024, there were headlines everywhere (at least Read more…
July 16, 2024
Rachel Spahnn, MPH
Rachel Spahnn is a public health professional and research administrator located in Madison, WI. She earned her Master of Public Health Degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and completed her thesis work in Harare, Zimbabwe last summer as part of a project focused on HPV among women and girls in rural areas. She has worked on Read more…
July 16, 2024
What is harm reduction?
Health Policy Staying Safe
Harm reduction or risk reduction is a strategy that aims to reduce the negative impacts of specific behaviors. This is the first in a series of posts meant to look at harm reduction: what it is, what it isn’t, and how we can use it to effect positive change in people we care about (including Read more…
July 13, 2024
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
July 12, 2024
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Chana Davis, PhD
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best? Water filters are a wise investment if your tap water has potentially harmful levels of PFAS (a type of “forever chemical”). Roughly 5-10% of public water supplies in the United States have elevated PFAS levels (above the US EPA limits). Read more…
July 9, 2024
What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it?
Biology/Immunity Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Elisabeth Adkins Marnik, PhD
Q: What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it? A: Don’t let statements about imprinting stop you from getting your annual vaccines for COVID and flu. Immune imprinting refers to the fact that our immune response to a vaccine (or infection) is affected by previous exposures to similar vaccines (or infections). Read more…
July 5, 2024
Are chemical sunscreens really “toxic,” as some social media influencers say?
Families/Kids Health & Wellness Staying Safe
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Chemical sunscreens have no proven health risks, but they ARE proven to protect the skin from the sun’s UV radiation — a major risk factor for skin cancer. As with many things in our daily lives, we can’t be sure that chemical sunscreens are 100% risk-free. Still, medical and scientific experts agree that the benefits Read more…
July 3, 2024
4th of July Safety Tips
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
🇺🇸🇺🇸 Those Nerdy Girls wishes a safe and happy 4th of July to all who celebrate! Here are some tips to get you, your family, and your pets through safely. ➡️ FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS (courtesy American Red Cross) The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Read more…
June 28, 2024
What are the nicotine vaping trends among young people?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Megan Reilly, Intern
Over the past decade, vape use has increased among young people in the US and is now far more popular than other types of nicotine or tobacco products. Increase in Vaping Among Young People According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2023, vapes (also called e-cigarettes) are by far the most popular nicotine or tobacco Read more…
June 27, 2024
How can I be an effective ally?
Social and Racial Justice
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
June 25, 2024
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Yes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…
Testing your blood for PFAS (“forever chemicals”) is not recommended for most people. However, for the small fraction of people with a history of high PFAS exposure, the potential benefits of testing may outweigh the harms. PFAS blood tests can flag unusually high blood levels of these chemicals or offer peace of mind, but they Read more…
Cannabis vaping and young people: What do we know?
Health & WellnessMegan Reilly, Intern
Most recent data show that about 10-14% of young people in the US have used cannabis vapes in the past 30 days. It’s more common in areas where recreational use is legal, and it can have negative health effects. Covering nicotine vaping in previous posts (posts one and two) has answered a lot of questions, but this Nerdy Read more…
July 26, 2024
How are vaccines developed, and how do we know they are safe?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sandy Laping
Vaccine development is regulated and monitored at every stage. A vaccine is only approved if it is deemed safe and effective, following a rigorous assessment of its benefits and risks. This ensures that you can trust vaccines offered by your healthcare professional, even those developed during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines have saved A Read more…
July 25, 2024
Help us welcome our newest Nerdies!
Women in STEM
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
Learn more about them in this post We are excited to introduce you to our newest Nerdy Girls! Because. . . you know. . . the more Nerds the better! The diversity and breadth of expertise in this group is a hallmark of what makes TNG a valued resource on a wide variety of health Read more…
July 23, 2024
Is it safe to use vaginal estrogen for local menopausal symptoms?
Reproductive Health
Alexandra Hall, MD
Current data support that vaginal estrogen is very safe and effective for most people, yet many clinicians are under-informed about and overly reluctant to prescribe treatment for menopausal symptoms. “I’m struggling with post-menopausal vaginal symptoms, and my clinician only recommended a moisturizer, which doesn’t help much. Why didn’t they prescribe an estrogen cream?” – Becca Read more…
July 21, 2024
Gabriella Kountourides, PhD
Dr. Gabriella Kountourides completed her PhD at the University of Oxford, where she investigated variations in premenstrual syndrome through both anthropological and immunological approaches. She is currently a Postdoctoral Affiliate at the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at Oxford. In her professional capacity, Dr. Kountourides works at Ofcom as a statistician, focusing on illegal Read more…
July 19, 2024
What’s going on with FDA approval of MDMA for PTSD, and what does it mean for psychedelics as psychiatric treatment in general?
Health Policy Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
An independent advisory committee voted against approval of MDMA for PTSD. This makes it unlikely the FDA will approve it, but we’re still not sure. There’s no reason to believe this substantially affects the opportunity for other psychedelics to be approved for other psychiatric conditions. On May 30, 2024, there were headlines everywhere (at least Read more…
July 16, 2024
Rachel Spahnn, MPH
Rachel Spahnn is a public health professional and research administrator located in Madison, WI. She earned her Master of Public Health Degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and completed her thesis work in Harare, Zimbabwe last summer as part of a project focused on HPV among women and girls in rural areas. She has worked on Read more…
July 16, 2024
What is harm reduction?
Health Policy Staying Safe
Harm reduction or risk reduction is a strategy that aims to reduce the negative impacts of specific behaviors. This is the first in a series of posts meant to look at harm reduction: what it is, what it isn’t, and how we can use it to effect positive change in people we care about (including Read more…
July 13, 2024
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
July 12, 2024
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Chana Davis, PhD
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best? Water filters are a wise investment if your tap water has potentially harmful levels of PFAS (a type of “forever chemical”). Roughly 5-10% of public water supplies in the United States have elevated PFAS levels (above the US EPA limits). Read more…
July 9, 2024
What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it?
Biology/Immunity Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Elisabeth Adkins Marnik, PhD
Q: What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it? A: Don’t let statements about imprinting stop you from getting your annual vaccines for COVID and flu. Immune imprinting refers to the fact that our immune response to a vaccine (or infection) is affected by previous exposures to similar vaccines (or infections). Read more…
July 5, 2024
Are chemical sunscreens really “toxic,” as some social media influencers say?
Families/Kids Health & Wellness Staying Safe
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Chemical sunscreens have no proven health risks, but they ARE proven to protect the skin from the sun’s UV radiation — a major risk factor for skin cancer. As with many things in our daily lives, we can’t be sure that chemical sunscreens are 100% risk-free. Still, medical and scientific experts agree that the benefits Read more…
July 3, 2024
4th of July Safety Tips
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
🇺🇸🇺🇸 Those Nerdy Girls wishes a safe and happy 4th of July to all who celebrate! Here are some tips to get you, your family, and your pets through safely. ➡️ FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS (courtesy American Red Cross) The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Read more…
June 28, 2024
What are the nicotine vaping trends among young people?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Megan Reilly, Intern
Over the past decade, vape use has increased among young people in the US and is now far more popular than other types of nicotine or tobacco products. Increase in Vaping Among Young People According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2023, vapes (also called e-cigarettes) are by far the most popular nicotine or tobacco Read more…
June 27, 2024
How can I be an effective ally?
Social and Racial Justice
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
June 25, 2024
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Yes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…
Most recent data show that about 10-14% of young people in the US have used cannabis vapes in the past 30 days. It’s more common in areas where recreational use is legal, and it can have negative health effects. Covering nicotine vaping in previous posts (posts one and two) has answered a lot of questions, but this Nerdy Read more…
How are vaccines developed, and how do we know they are safe?
Infectious Diseases VaccinesSandy Laping
Vaccine development is regulated and monitored at every stage. A vaccine is only approved if it is deemed safe and effective, following a rigorous assessment of its benefits and risks. This ensures that you can trust vaccines offered by your healthcare professional, even those developed during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines have saved A Read more…
July 25, 2024
Help us welcome our newest Nerdies!
Women in STEM
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
Learn more about them in this post We are excited to introduce you to our newest Nerdy Girls! Because. . . you know. . . the more Nerds the better! The diversity and breadth of expertise in this group is a hallmark of what makes TNG a valued resource on a wide variety of health Read more…
July 23, 2024
Is it safe to use vaginal estrogen for local menopausal symptoms?
Reproductive Health
Alexandra Hall, MD
Current data support that vaginal estrogen is very safe and effective for most people, yet many clinicians are under-informed about and overly reluctant to prescribe treatment for menopausal symptoms. “I’m struggling with post-menopausal vaginal symptoms, and my clinician only recommended a moisturizer, which doesn’t help much. Why didn’t they prescribe an estrogen cream?” – Becca Read more…
July 21, 2024
Gabriella Kountourides, PhD
Dr. Gabriella Kountourides completed her PhD at the University of Oxford, where she investigated variations in premenstrual syndrome through both anthropological and immunological approaches. She is currently a Postdoctoral Affiliate at the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at Oxford. In her professional capacity, Dr. Kountourides works at Ofcom as a statistician, focusing on illegal Read more…
July 19, 2024
What’s going on with FDA approval of MDMA for PTSD, and what does it mean for psychedelics as psychiatric treatment in general?
Health Policy Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
An independent advisory committee voted against approval of MDMA for PTSD. This makes it unlikely the FDA will approve it, but we’re still not sure. There’s no reason to believe this substantially affects the opportunity for other psychedelics to be approved for other psychiatric conditions. On May 30, 2024, there were headlines everywhere (at least Read more…
July 16, 2024
Rachel Spahnn, MPH
Rachel Spahnn is a public health professional and research administrator located in Madison, WI. She earned her Master of Public Health Degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and completed her thesis work in Harare, Zimbabwe last summer as part of a project focused on HPV among women and girls in rural areas. She has worked on Read more…
July 16, 2024
What is harm reduction?
Health Policy Staying Safe
Harm reduction or risk reduction is a strategy that aims to reduce the negative impacts of specific behaviors. This is the first in a series of posts meant to look at harm reduction: what it is, what it isn’t, and how we can use it to effect positive change in people we care about (including Read more…
July 13, 2024
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
July 12, 2024
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Chana Davis, PhD
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best? Water filters are a wise investment if your tap water has potentially harmful levels of PFAS (a type of “forever chemical”). Roughly 5-10% of public water supplies in the United States have elevated PFAS levels (above the US EPA limits). Read more…
July 9, 2024
What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it?
Biology/Immunity Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Elisabeth Adkins Marnik, PhD
Q: What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it? A: Don’t let statements about imprinting stop you from getting your annual vaccines for COVID and flu. Immune imprinting refers to the fact that our immune response to a vaccine (or infection) is affected by previous exposures to similar vaccines (or infections). Read more…
July 5, 2024
Are chemical sunscreens really “toxic,” as some social media influencers say?
Families/Kids Health & Wellness Staying Safe
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Chemical sunscreens have no proven health risks, but they ARE proven to protect the skin from the sun’s UV radiation — a major risk factor for skin cancer. As with many things in our daily lives, we can’t be sure that chemical sunscreens are 100% risk-free. Still, medical and scientific experts agree that the benefits Read more…
July 3, 2024
4th of July Safety Tips
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
🇺🇸🇺🇸 Those Nerdy Girls wishes a safe and happy 4th of July to all who celebrate! Here are some tips to get you, your family, and your pets through safely. ➡️ FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS (courtesy American Red Cross) The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Read more…
June 28, 2024
What are the nicotine vaping trends among young people?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Megan Reilly, Intern
Over the past decade, vape use has increased among young people in the US and is now far more popular than other types of nicotine or tobacco products. Increase in Vaping Among Young People According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2023, vapes (also called e-cigarettes) are by far the most popular nicotine or tobacco Read more…
June 27, 2024
How can I be an effective ally?
Social and Racial Justice
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
June 25, 2024
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Yes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…
Vaccine development is regulated and monitored at every stage. A vaccine is only approved if it is deemed safe and effective, following a rigorous assessment of its benefits and risks. This ensures that you can trust vaccines offered by your healthcare professional, even those developed during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines have saved A Read more…
Help us welcome our newest Nerdies!
Women in STEMGretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
Learn more about them in this post We are excited to introduce you to our newest Nerdy Girls! Because. . . you know. . . the more Nerds the better! The diversity and breadth of expertise in this group is a hallmark of what makes TNG a valued resource on a wide variety of health Read more…
July 23, 2024
Is it safe to use vaginal estrogen for local menopausal symptoms?
Reproductive Health
Alexandra Hall, MD
Current data support that vaginal estrogen is very safe and effective for most people, yet many clinicians are under-informed about and overly reluctant to prescribe treatment for menopausal symptoms. “I’m struggling with post-menopausal vaginal symptoms, and my clinician only recommended a moisturizer, which doesn’t help much. Why didn’t they prescribe an estrogen cream?” – Becca Read more…
July 21, 2024
Gabriella Kountourides, PhD
Dr. Gabriella Kountourides completed her PhD at the University of Oxford, where she investigated variations in premenstrual syndrome through both anthropological and immunological approaches. She is currently a Postdoctoral Affiliate at the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at Oxford. In her professional capacity, Dr. Kountourides works at Ofcom as a statistician, focusing on illegal Read more…
July 19, 2024
What’s going on with FDA approval of MDMA for PTSD, and what does it mean for psychedelics as psychiatric treatment in general?
Health Policy Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
An independent advisory committee voted against approval of MDMA for PTSD. This makes it unlikely the FDA will approve it, but we’re still not sure. There’s no reason to believe this substantially affects the opportunity for other psychedelics to be approved for other psychiatric conditions. On May 30, 2024, there were headlines everywhere (at least Read more…
July 16, 2024
Rachel Spahnn, MPH
Rachel Spahnn is a public health professional and research administrator located in Madison, WI. She earned her Master of Public Health Degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and completed her thesis work in Harare, Zimbabwe last summer as part of a project focused on HPV among women and girls in rural areas. She has worked on Read more…
July 16, 2024
What is harm reduction?
Health Policy Staying Safe
Harm reduction or risk reduction is a strategy that aims to reduce the negative impacts of specific behaviors. This is the first in a series of posts meant to look at harm reduction: what it is, what it isn’t, and how we can use it to effect positive change in people we care about (including Read more…
July 13, 2024
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
July 12, 2024
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Chana Davis, PhD
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best? Water filters are a wise investment if your tap water has potentially harmful levels of PFAS (a type of “forever chemical”). Roughly 5-10% of public water supplies in the United States have elevated PFAS levels (above the US EPA limits). Read more…
July 9, 2024
What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it?
Biology/Immunity Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Elisabeth Adkins Marnik, PhD
Q: What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it? A: Don’t let statements about imprinting stop you from getting your annual vaccines for COVID and flu. Immune imprinting refers to the fact that our immune response to a vaccine (or infection) is affected by previous exposures to similar vaccines (or infections). Read more…
July 5, 2024
Are chemical sunscreens really “toxic,” as some social media influencers say?
Families/Kids Health & Wellness Staying Safe
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Chemical sunscreens have no proven health risks, but they ARE proven to protect the skin from the sun’s UV radiation — a major risk factor for skin cancer. As with many things in our daily lives, we can’t be sure that chemical sunscreens are 100% risk-free. Still, medical and scientific experts agree that the benefits Read more…
July 3, 2024
4th of July Safety Tips
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
🇺🇸🇺🇸 Those Nerdy Girls wishes a safe and happy 4th of July to all who celebrate! Here are some tips to get you, your family, and your pets through safely. ➡️ FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS (courtesy American Red Cross) The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Read more…
June 28, 2024
What are the nicotine vaping trends among young people?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Megan Reilly, Intern
Over the past decade, vape use has increased among young people in the US and is now far more popular than other types of nicotine or tobacco products. Increase in Vaping Among Young People According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2023, vapes (also called e-cigarettes) are by far the most popular nicotine or tobacco Read more…
June 27, 2024
How can I be an effective ally?
Social and Racial Justice
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
June 25, 2024
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Yes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…
Learn more about them in this post We are excited to introduce you to our newest Nerdy Girls! Because. . . you know. . . the more Nerds the better! The diversity and breadth of expertise in this group is a hallmark of what makes TNG a valued resource on a wide variety of health Read more…
Is it safe to use vaginal estrogen for local menopausal symptoms?
Reproductive HealthAlexandra Hall, MD
Current data support that vaginal estrogen is very safe and effective for most people, yet many clinicians are under-informed about and overly reluctant to prescribe treatment for menopausal symptoms. “I’m struggling with post-menopausal vaginal symptoms, and my clinician only recommended a moisturizer, which doesn’t help much. Why didn’t they prescribe an estrogen cream?” – Becca Read more…
July 21, 2024
Gabriella Kountourides, PhD
Dr. Gabriella Kountourides completed her PhD at the University of Oxford, where she investigated variations in premenstrual syndrome through both anthropological and immunological approaches. She is currently a Postdoctoral Affiliate at the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at Oxford. In her professional capacity, Dr. Kountourides works at Ofcom as a statistician, focusing on illegal Read more…
July 19, 2024
What’s going on with FDA approval of MDMA for PTSD, and what does it mean for psychedelics as psychiatric treatment in general?
Health Policy Mental Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
An independent advisory committee voted against approval of MDMA for PTSD. This makes it unlikely the FDA will approve it, but we’re still not sure. There’s no reason to believe this substantially affects the opportunity for other psychedelics to be approved for other psychiatric conditions. On May 30, 2024, there were headlines everywhere (at least Read more…
July 16, 2024
Rachel Spahnn, MPH
Rachel Spahnn is a public health professional and research administrator located in Madison, WI. She earned her Master of Public Health Degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and completed her thesis work in Harare, Zimbabwe last summer as part of a project focused on HPV among women and girls in rural areas. She has worked on Read more…
July 16, 2024
What is harm reduction?
Health Policy Staying Safe
Harm reduction or risk reduction is a strategy that aims to reduce the negative impacts of specific behaviors. This is the first in a series of posts meant to look at harm reduction: what it is, what it isn’t, and how we can use it to effect positive change in people we care about (including Read more…
July 13, 2024
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
July 12, 2024
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Chana Davis, PhD
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best? Water filters are a wise investment if your tap water has potentially harmful levels of PFAS (a type of “forever chemical”). Roughly 5-10% of public water supplies in the United States have elevated PFAS levels (above the US EPA limits). Read more…
July 9, 2024
What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it?
Biology/Immunity Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Elisabeth Adkins Marnik, PhD
Q: What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it? A: Don’t let statements about imprinting stop you from getting your annual vaccines for COVID and flu. Immune imprinting refers to the fact that our immune response to a vaccine (or infection) is affected by previous exposures to similar vaccines (or infections). Read more…
July 5, 2024
Are chemical sunscreens really “toxic,” as some social media influencers say?
Families/Kids Health & Wellness Staying Safe
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Chemical sunscreens have no proven health risks, but they ARE proven to protect the skin from the sun’s UV radiation — a major risk factor for skin cancer. As with many things in our daily lives, we can’t be sure that chemical sunscreens are 100% risk-free. Still, medical and scientific experts agree that the benefits Read more…
July 3, 2024
4th of July Safety Tips
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
🇺🇸🇺🇸 Those Nerdy Girls wishes a safe and happy 4th of July to all who celebrate! Here are some tips to get you, your family, and your pets through safely. ➡️ FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS (courtesy American Red Cross) The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Read more…
June 28, 2024
What are the nicotine vaping trends among young people?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Megan Reilly, Intern
Over the past decade, vape use has increased among young people in the US and is now far more popular than other types of nicotine or tobacco products. Increase in Vaping Among Young People According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2023, vapes (also called e-cigarettes) are by far the most popular nicotine or tobacco Read more…
June 27, 2024
How can I be an effective ally?
Social and Racial Justice
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
June 25, 2024
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Yes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…
Current data support that vaginal estrogen is very safe and effective for most people, yet many clinicians are under-informed about and overly reluctant to prescribe treatment for menopausal symptoms. “I’m struggling with post-menopausal vaginal symptoms, and my clinician only recommended a moisturizer, which doesn’t help much. Why didn’t they prescribe an estrogen cream?” – Becca Read more…
Gabriella Kountourides, PhD
Dr. Gabriella Kountourides completed her PhD at the University of Oxford, where she investigated variations in premenstrual syndrome through both anthropological and immunological approaches. She is currently a Postdoctoral Affiliate at the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at Oxford. In her professional capacity, Dr. Kountourides works at Ofcom as a statistician, focusing on illegal Read more…
What’s going on with FDA approval of MDMA for PTSD, and what does it mean for psychedelics as psychiatric treatment in general?
Health Policy Mental HealthSara Gorman, PhD, MPH
An independent advisory committee voted against approval of MDMA for PTSD. This makes it unlikely the FDA will approve it, but we’re still not sure. There’s no reason to believe this substantially affects the opportunity for other psychedelics to be approved for other psychiatric conditions. On May 30, 2024, there were headlines everywhere (at least Read more…
July 16, 2024
Rachel Spahnn, MPH
Rachel Spahnn is a public health professional and research administrator located in Madison, WI. She earned her Master of Public Health Degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and completed her thesis work in Harare, Zimbabwe last summer as part of a project focused on HPV among women and girls in rural areas. She has worked on Read more…
July 16, 2024
What is harm reduction?
Health Policy Staying Safe
Harm reduction or risk reduction is a strategy that aims to reduce the negative impacts of specific behaviors. This is the first in a series of posts meant to look at harm reduction: what it is, what it isn’t, and how we can use it to effect positive change in people we care about (including Read more…
July 13, 2024
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
July 12, 2024
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Chana Davis, PhD
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best? Water filters are a wise investment if your tap water has potentially harmful levels of PFAS (a type of “forever chemical”). Roughly 5-10% of public water supplies in the United States have elevated PFAS levels (above the US EPA limits). Read more…
July 9, 2024
What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it?
Biology/Immunity Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Elisabeth Adkins Marnik, PhD
Q: What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it? A: Don’t let statements about imprinting stop you from getting your annual vaccines for COVID and flu. Immune imprinting refers to the fact that our immune response to a vaccine (or infection) is affected by previous exposures to similar vaccines (or infections). Read more…
July 5, 2024
Are chemical sunscreens really “toxic,” as some social media influencers say?
Families/Kids Health & Wellness Staying Safe
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Chemical sunscreens have no proven health risks, but they ARE proven to protect the skin from the sun’s UV radiation — a major risk factor for skin cancer. As with many things in our daily lives, we can’t be sure that chemical sunscreens are 100% risk-free. Still, medical and scientific experts agree that the benefits Read more…
July 3, 2024
4th of July Safety Tips
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
🇺🇸🇺🇸 Those Nerdy Girls wishes a safe and happy 4th of July to all who celebrate! Here are some tips to get you, your family, and your pets through safely. ➡️ FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS (courtesy American Red Cross) The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Read more…
June 28, 2024
What are the nicotine vaping trends among young people?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Megan Reilly, Intern
Over the past decade, vape use has increased among young people in the US and is now far more popular than other types of nicotine or tobacco products. Increase in Vaping Among Young People According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2023, vapes (also called e-cigarettes) are by far the most popular nicotine or tobacco Read more…
June 27, 2024
How can I be an effective ally?
Social and Racial Justice
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
June 25, 2024
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Yes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…
An independent advisory committee voted against approval of MDMA for PTSD. This makes it unlikely the FDA will approve it, but we’re still not sure. There’s no reason to believe this substantially affects the opportunity for other psychedelics to be approved for other psychiatric conditions. On May 30, 2024, there were headlines everywhere (at least Read more…
Rachel Spahnn, MPH
Rachel Spahnn is a public health professional and research administrator located in Madison, WI. She earned her Master of Public Health Degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and completed her thesis work in Harare, Zimbabwe last summer as part of a project focused on HPV among women and girls in rural areas. She has worked on Read more…
What is harm reduction?
Health Policy Staying SafeHarm reduction or risk reduction is a strategy that aims to reduce the negative impacts of specific behaviors. This is the first in a series of posts meant to look at harm reduction: what it is, what it isn’t, and how we can use it to effect positive change in people we care about (including Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and MisinformationAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
July 12, 2024
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Chana Davis, PhD
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best? Water filters are a wise investment if your tap water has potentially harmful levels of PFAS (a type of “forever chemical”). Roughly 5-10% of public water supplies in the United States have elevated PFAS levels (above the US EPA limits). Read more…
July 9, 2024
What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it?
Biology/Immunity Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Elisabeth Adkins Marnik, PhD
Q: What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it? A: Don’t let statements about imprinting stop you from getting your annual vaccines for COVID and flu. Immune imprinting refers to the fact that our immune response to a vaccine (or infection) is affected by previous exposures to similar vaccines (or infections). Read more…
July 5, 2024
Are chemical sunscreens really “toxic,” as some social media influencers say?
Families/Kids Health & Wellness Staying Safe
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Chemical sunscreens have no proven health risks, but they ARE proven to protect the skin from the sun’s UV radiation — a major risk factor for skin cancer. As with many things in our daily lives, we can’t be sure that chemical sunscreens are 100% risk-free. Still, medical and scientific experts agree that the benefits Read more…
July 3, 2024
4th of July Safety Tips
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
🇺🇸🇺🇸 Those Nerdy Girls wishes a safe and happy 4th of July to all who celebrate! Here are some tips to get you, your family, and your pets through safely. ➡️ FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS (courtesy American Red Cross) The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Read more…
June 28, 2024
What are the nicotine vaping trends among young people?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Megan Reilly, Intern
Over the past decade, vape use has increased among young people in the US and is now far more popular than other types of nicotine or tobacco products. Increase in Vaping Among Young People According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2023, vapes (also called e-cigarettes) are by far the most popular nicotine or tobacco Read more…
June 27, 2024
How can I be an effective ally?
Social and Racial Justice
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
June 25, 2024
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Yes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best?
Health & Wellness Hot Health TopicsChana Davis, PhD
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best? Water filters are a wise investment if your tap water has potentially harmful levels of PFAS (a type of “forever chemical”). Roughly 5-10% of public water supplies in the United States have elevated PFAS levels (above the US EPA limits). Read more…
July 9, 2024
What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it?
Biology/Immunity Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Elisabeth Adkins Marnik, PhD
Q: What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it? A: Don’t let statements about imprinting stop you from getting your annual vaccines for COVID and flu. Immune imprinting refers to the fact that our immune response to a vaccine (or infection) is affected by previous exposures to similar vaccines (or infections). Read more…
July 5, 2024
Are chemical sunscreens really “toxic,” as some social media influencers say?
Families/Kids Health & Wellness Staying Safe
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Chemical sunscreens have no proven health risks, but they ARE proven to protect the skin from the sun’s UV radiation — a major risk factor for skin cancer. As with many things in our daily lives, we can’t be sure that chemical sunscreens are 100% risk-free. Still, medical and scientific experts agree that the benefits Read more…
July 3, 2024
4th of July Safety Tips
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
🇺🇸🇺🇸 Those Nerdy Girls wishes a safe and happy 4th of July to all who celebrate! Here are some tips to get you, your family, and your pets through safely. ➡️ FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS (courtesy American Red Cross) The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Read more…
June 28, 2024
What are the nicotine vaping trends among young people?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Megan Reilly, Intern
Over the past decade, vape use has increased among young people in the US and is now far more popular than other types of nicotine or tobacco products. Increase in Vaping Among Young People According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2023, vapes (also called e-cigarettes) are by far the most popular nicotine or tobacco Read more…
June 27, 2024
How can I be an effective ally?
Social and Racial Justice
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
June 25, 2024
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Yes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…
Should I get a water filter to remove PFAS from my water? Which type is best? Water filters are a wise investment if your tap water has potentially harmful levels of PFAS (a type of “forever chemical”). Roughly 5-10% of public water supplies in the United States have elevated PFAS levels (above the US EPA limits). Read more…
What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it?
Biology/Immunity Infectious Diseases VaccinesElisabeth Adkins Marnik, PhD
Q: What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it? A: Don’t let statements about imprinting stop you from getting your annual vaccines for COVID and flu. Immune imprinting refers to the fact that our immune response to a vaccine (or infection) is affected by previous exposures to similar vaccines (or infections). Read more…
July 5, 2024
Are chemical sunscreens really “toxic,” as some social media influencers say?
Families/Kids Health & Wellness Staying Safe
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Chemical sunscreens have no proven health risks, but they ARE proven to protect the skin from the sun’s UV radiation — a major risk factor for skin cancer. As with many things in our daily lives, we can’t be sure that chemical sunscreens are 100% risk-free. Still, medical and scientific experts agree that the benefits Read more…
July 3, 2024
4th of July Safety Tips
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
🇺🇸🇺🇸 Those Nerdy Girls wishes a safe and happy 4th of July to all who celebrate! Here are some tips to get you, your family, and your pets through safely. ➡️ FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS (courtesy American Red Cross) The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Read more…
June 28, 2024
What are the nicotine vaping trends among young people?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Megan Reilly, Intern
Over the past decade, vape use has increased among young people in the US and is now far more popular than other types of nicotine or tobacco products. Increase in Vaping Among Young People According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2023, vapes (also called e-cigarettes) are by far the most popular nicotine or tobacco Read more…
June 27, 2024
How can I be an effective ally?
Social and Racial Justice
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
June 25, 2024
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Yes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…
Q: What is immune imprinting, and should the public be worried about it? A: Don’t let statements about imprinting stop you from getting your annual vaccines for COVID and flu. Immune imprinting refers to the fact that our immune response to a vaccine (or infection) is affected by previous exposures to similar vaccines (or infections). Read more…
Are chemical sunscreens really “toxic,” as some social media influencers say?
Families/Kids Health & Wellness Staying SafeDaphne Berryhill, RPh
Chemical sunscreens have no proven health risks, but they ARE proven to protect the skin from the sun’s UV radiation — a major risk factor for skin cancer. As with many things in our daily lives, we can’t be sure that chemical sunscreens are 100% risk-free. Still, medical and scientific experts agree that the benefits Read more…
July 3, 2024
4th of July Safety Tips
Families/Kids Staying Safe
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
🇺🇸🇺🇸 Those Nerdy Girls wishes a safe and happy 4th of July to all who celebrate! Here are some tips to get you, your family, and your pets through safely. ➡️ FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS (courtesy American Red Cross) The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Read more…
June 28, 2024
What are the nicotine vaping trends among young people?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Megan Reilly, Intern
Over the past decade, vape use has increased among young people in the US and is now far more popular than other types of nicotine or tobacco products. Increase in Vaping Among Young People According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2023, vapes (also called e-cigarettes) are by far the most popular nicotine or tobacco Read more…
June 27, 2024
How can I be an effective ally?
Social and Racial Justice
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
June 25, 2024
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Yes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…
Chemical sunscreens have no proven health risks, but they ARE proven to protect the skin from the sun’s UV radiation — a major risk factor for skin cancer. As with many things in our daily lives, we can’t be sure that chemical sunscreens are 100% risk-free. Still, medical and scientific experts agree that the benefits Read more…
4th of July Safety Tips
Families/Kids Staying SafeGretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
🇺🇸🇺🇸 Those Nerdy Girls wishes a safe and happy 4th of July to all who celebrate! Here are some tips to get you, your family, and your pets through safely. ➡️ FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS (courtesy American Red Cross) The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Read more…
June 28, 2024
What are the nicotine vaping trends among young people?
Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Megan Reilly, Intern
Over the past decade, vape use has increased among young people in the US and is now far more popular than other types of nicotine or tobacco products. Increase in Vaping Among Young People According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2023, vapes (also called e-cigarettes) are by far the most popular nicotine or tobacco Read more…
June 27, 2024
How can I be an effective ally?
Social and Racial Justice
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
June 25, 2024
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Yes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…
🇺🇸🇺🇸 Those Nerdy Girls wishes a safe and happy 4th of July to all who celebrate! Here are some tips to get you, your family, and your pets through safely. ➡️ FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS (courtesy American Red Cross) The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Read more…
What are the nicotine vaping trends among young people?
Health & Wellness Hot Health TopicsMegan Reilly, Intern
Over the past decade, vape use has increased among young people in the US and is now far more popular than other types of nicotine or tobacco products. Increase in Vaping Among Young People According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2023, vapes (also called e-cigarettes) are by far the most popular nicotine or tobacco Read more…
June 27, 2024
How can I be an effective ally?
Social and Racial Justice
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
June 25, 2024
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Yes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…
Over the past decade, vape use has increased among young people in the US and is now far more popular than other types of nicotine or tobacco products. Increase in Vaping Among Young People According to the US National Youth Tobacco Survey of 2023, vapes (also called e-cigarettes) are by far the most popular nicotine or tobacco Read more…
How can I be an effective ally?
Social and Racial JusticeGretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
June 25, 2024
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health Topics
Yes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…
As a cisgender woman, Pride Month always feels like a good time for me to do some thinking on what it means to be an effective ally for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Two Spirit, Intersex, Agender, and Asexual (LGBTQ2SIA+) and Same Gender Loving (SGL) people. The Human Rights Campaign defines “ally” as “A Read more…
Are we seeing more colorectal cancer cases in younger adults?
Clinical Symptoms Health & Wellness Hot Health TopicsYes. There is a recent global uptick in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50. If you are aged 45 or older (or <45 with increased risk of colorectal cancer due to family history or certain medical conditions), talk to your clinician about getting screened. In the US, colorectal cancer (CRC) – cancer that starts in Read more…