Q: June is Pride Month. Why do Those Nerdy Girls feel it is important to write about Pride? June is Pride Month in the U.S. and many countries around the world. Pride events serve to celebrate, honor, uplift, educate, and increase understanding and visibility for and among members of Queer communities and their families and Read more…
Today Those Nerdy Girls honor Dr. Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth. We first wrote about her last year (scroll down to read that post) and now want to give you some exciting updates on her amazing life and contributions to society. 🟣 On May 3, 2024, Dr. Lee was awarded the Presidential Medal of Read more…
Certain jobs and communities face higher exposure to PFAS (a type of forever chemical) and a higher risk of health impacts. Three jobs with higher exposure to PFAS are: firefighters, ski wax technicians, and chemical manufacturing workers. Communities near facilities that make or use PFAS may also have increased exposure. Those Nerdy Girls recommends caution, Read more…
Those Nerdy Girls discuss the ins and outs of cancer screening. Which cancers should you get screened for? What are the pros and cons? Why do screening guidelines keep changing? Hosted by: – Sarah Coles, MD: TNG Contributing Writer, Family physician and Assistant Professor – Chana Davis, PhD: TNG Contributing Writer & Founder of Fueled Read more…
A: Here is what’s new in the realm of COVID-19 right now: In a nutshell: ➡️ There is a new COVID variant family called FLiRT that may lead to an increase in cases this summer. ➡️ Current vaccines will provide some protection against FLiRT variants. ➡️ Data so far does not suggest that FLiRT variants Read more…
Mineral sunscreens aren’t absorbed into the body, so they may be safer than chemical ones. But when you need sunscreen, any type of sunscreen is better than none. Protecting your skin from the sun is the best way to avoid skin cancer and visible signs of sun damage. While it’s true that some people have Read more…
A: In the first 5 months of 2024, there were nearly 3 times the number of cases reported in the U.S. by this time last year. Cases are also up globally. Make sure you are up-to-date on this vaccine! TL; DR: Whooping cough cases are on the rise. Key time points for this vaccine are Read more…
A: Swimming is a great way to beat the heat and get some healthy, fun exercise outdoors and there are simple steps that we can take to protect children from water injury and drowning. Learn CPR, fence off pools, keep a watchful eye on children around water, teach kiddos how to swim, and use life Read more…
Vaping has not been around long enough to know the long-term health effects, but research so far shows that vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes. E-cigarettes (also called vapes) and regular cigarettes have a lot in common. They both contain nicotine, the addictive part of tobacco products, and people inhale both products to access Read more…
This information is up to date as of May 29, 2024 at 12 pm EDT. Here is what’s new and what we know about the current HPAI/H5N1/avian/bird flu situation (We know, we know, how many names can one virus have?! Jeesh! In this post we will call it the avian flu unless quoting another source.) Read more…
As we wind down this beautiful month of May, we would like to take a moment to highlight Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. People of Asian and Pacific Islander ancestries are from approximately 50 distinct ethnic groups speaking over 100 languages. These ancestries include Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, Hawaiian, and more. Read more…
A: Yes! So glad you asked! Tl; DR: The News Literacy Project just released a new (and free!) ‘Camp Fact-Check” kit that is designed to help educators build kids in searching for information, evaluating evidence, and assessing claims. Are you teaching summer school and looking for curriculum ideas that can boost kids skills in news Read more…
There is no evidence that ivermectin can prevent or treat COVID-19, and it can cause harm. In the early days of a pandemic when there are no vaccines or treatments, sometimes we look at existing drugs to see if they might be effective against a new virus. This is what happened in 2020 with a Read more…
*This information is up to date as of May 22, 2024 Press releases from the CDC and the Victoria, Australia Department of Health were sent out today regarding two new cases of human H5N1 infections. Here is what we know about each case: Michigan, USA Dairy Worker This is the second US case this year Read more…
Heuristics are fast, efficient mental shortcuts that we use all the time to help us make decisions and solve problems. These rule-of-thumb strategies can decrease our cognitive load to make choices without becoming overwhelmed. Heuristics can be both helpful and harmful so it’s important to recognize when a heuristic might not be such a great Read more…
A: The short answer is probably, but no one really knows. But: we do know that cooking your food properly and practicing good food safety to avoid cross-contamination is always SAFER. Reducing your risk is effective no matter what the risk was in the first place or how badly we understand it, so risk-reduction is Read more…
Nearly 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health condition in any given year. And over half of all people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. This is not just about some of us. It is about all of us. Our mental health is complex and influenced by many factors. Mental Read more…
The month of May is brimming with blooms, celebrations, and plans. As you gear up for summer, it’s also a good time to check in on your sun-safety routine. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light is a major risk factor for skin cancer, but it’s a preventable one with good daily habits. The 3 essential sun-safe Read more…
Are there any updates on what’s happening with the current Bird Flu outbreak? Here is what’s new and what we know about the current H5N1 outbreak: In a nutshell: ⚫ According to the USDA there are now 46 affected cattle herds across nine states (although testing remains patchy and spread is likely wider). ⚫ There Read more…
National Women’s Health Week is an observance that aims to ➡️ Highlight women’s health issues and priorities and ➡️ Encourage women of all ages to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This year’s theme is Empowering Women, Cultivating Health: Celebrating Voices, Wellness, and Resilience. The Office on Women’s Health uses this week to celebrate Read more…
