What Is Implementation Science?
General Health Health Policy
Guest Author Bertha A. Hidalgo, PhD, MPH, FACE
Implementation science is the study of how to make sure good, evidence-based ideas in medicine and public health actually reach people. In the hospital, very sick patients may need a central line to receive important medicines and fluids. In the past, these helpful tubes too often led to serious infections in the bloodstream. Doctors already Read more…
Black History Month: Celebrating Nerdy Girl Camille Seaberry, MPS
Women in STEM
Those Nerdy Girls
For Black History Month we are excited to celebrate the fabulous Black Nerds that are part of Those Nerdy Girls. Today we are highlighting Camille Seaberry, MPS Camille is a professional data nerd. As a senior research associate at DataHaven, a nonprofit based in New Haven, CT, she does data analysis, data science, and data Read more…
Black History Month: Celebrating Nerd Kelly Valentin
Women in STEM
Those Nerdy Girls
For Black History Month we are excited to celebrate the fabulous Black Nerds that are part of Those Nerdy Girls. Today we are highlighting Kelly Valentin Kelly has a passion for psychiatric epidemiology, and her research interests include psychopharmacology, behavioral health, social determinants of mental health outcomes, and psychopathology. Currently, she is pursuing a Master Read more…
Black History Month: Celebrating Nerdy Girl MacKenzie Isaac, MA
Women in STEM
Those Nerdy Girls
For Black History Month we are excited to celebrate the fabulous Black Nerds that are part of Those Nerdy Girls. Today we are highlighting MacKenzie (Kenzie) Isaac, MA, CHES® Kenzie is a social epidemiologist and health communications specialist who loves discussing all things health equity. Her specific research passions are the sociology of body image; Read more…
You see a WILD claim on social media, but how do you know it’s true?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
The Bradford-Hill Criteria give you a scientific checklist that can help you evaluate whether wild health claims are actually true. What is causality anyway? Causality means that one thing directly makes another thing happen. For example, flipping a light switch (A) causes the light to turn on (B), so A causes B. But ice cream Read more…
Are puberty blockers helpful or harmful to trans youth?
Families/Kids Mental Health Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Current evidence suggests that puberty blockers, which hit the pause button on puberty and are reversible, significantly improve the mental health of trans youth while reducing the risk of needing future surgeries. (Note: This post was updated by Those Nerdy Girls from the original published on January 23, 2024.) A recent study showed that Read more…
Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community.
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community. In keeping with our tradition of offering practical advice to our readers and addressing mental health consequences of public health crises, we have put together a piece that we hope will help during these extraordinarily trying times. We are living Read more…
What are febrile seizures?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Febrile seizures most commonly happen in a child between six months and five years old. Though it looks scary, febrile seizures are common and generally not a cause for major concern. A febrile seizure can happen in a child between the ages six months to five years old when they have a fever. A true Read more…
What’s the deal with heavy metal poisoning?
General Health Videos
Those Nerdy Girls
Heavy metals, like lead, can build up in the body and cause poisoning or toxicity. For most people, this is unlikely to happen from everyday exposures. Your clinician can tell you if testing is a good idea. Heavy metal toxicity can be very dangerous, but it is the amount of heavy metals that you’re in Read more…
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns?
Social and Racial Justice
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns? A: Using correct names and gender pronouns can make a significant difference in someone’s life. Pronouns are the words we use to refer to ourselves or someone else when not using a name. Gender pronouns specifically refer to people and possessions (she/her/hers, they/them/theirs, ze/zir/zirs, etc.) The 2022 U.S. Read more…
Osteoporosis treatment options: pills, injections, or lifestyle changes — how do I choose what’s right for me?
General Health Treatments
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Managing osteoporosis begins with lifestyle approaches. Medication can further lower the chance of a bone break from osteoporosis. Your clinician can help you decide which treatment is right for you. When my mom was first diagnosed with osteoporosis, she was both surprised and upset. The idea of thinning bones is an unsettling thought. It’s especially hard to Read more…
What is H. Flu?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Haemophilus influenzae, also called H. flu, is not the typical yearly flu. H. flu isn’t a virus; it’s a bacteria that can cause a wide variety of illnesses, from a sinus or ear infection to pneumonia and meningitis. There are a few different types of H. flu, but type b is the one we’ll talk Read more…
How can I talk to my child about the news?
Families/Kids
Those Nerdy Girls
Address any concerns, talk about the news in an age-appropriate way, and check in regularly. (NOTE: This post was originally published on November 8, 2023.) Many children have questions about what is happening in the world. They may feel afraid, upset, confused, and even guilty. Helping them talk about what they see or hear and Read more…
Who Counts? Data Collection & the Communities Left Out
Data and Metrics
Claire Wilkinson, MPH
Who gets counted in data shapes whose needs are seen, funded, and addressed. When you see data driving big decisions, check who is included and who is missing. Otherwise, entire communities can be overlooked. Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): When people are counted accurately, their needs become visible. This visibility is the first step toward Read more…
What’s a health scam?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Clara Ke, BSN, RN
Health scams are products or treatments claiming to prevent, treat, or cure certain health conditions but aren’t proven safe or effective for those uses. Health scams not only hurt your wallet but also can lead to serious, even deadly, injury from faux products or treatments. They can delay you from getting appropriate medical diagnosis or Read more…
What’s going on with this U.S. childhood vaccine schedule change?
Health Policy Vaccines
The U.S. federal government recently announced big changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. It is reducing the number of vaccines “routinely” recommended for all kids and moving several vaccines into an “optional/shared decision” category instead. This means they’re only routinely recommending protection against 11 diseases, instead of 17. Those Nerdy Girls and many other public Read more…
Q: What does science say about gender identity?
Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Differences in brain structure and/or function, hormone levels during different phases of development, and even genetics seem to shape our internal sense of gender identity. Sometimes these “line up” with the factors determining body anatomy, and sometimes they do not. Gender identity seems to be “hard wired” into the brain. There is no evidence Read more…
What are neglected tropical diseases, and why do they matter?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of bacterial and parasite related diseases. NTDs are considered “neglected” because they have often been ignored as they tend to impact those living in extreme poverty, where there is little access to safe water and healthcare. NTDs include Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter?
Uncategorized
Gretchen Peterson, Production Team
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health Policy
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
Implementation science is the study of how to make sure good, evidence-based ideas in medicine and public health actually reach people. In the hospital, very sick patients may need a central line to receive important medicines and fluids. In the past, these helpful tubes too often led to serious infections in the bloodstream. Doctors already Read more…
Black History Month: Celebrating Nerdy Girl Camille Seaberry, MPS
Women in STEMThose Nerdy Girls
For Black History Month we are excited to celebrate the fabulous Black Nerds that are part of Those Nerdy Girls. Today we are highlighting Camille Seaberry, MPS Camille is a professional data nerd. As a senior research associate at DataHaven, a nonprofit based in New Haven, CT, she does data analysis, data science, and data Read more…
Black History Month: Celebrating Nerd Kelly Valentin
Women in STEM
Those Nerdy Girls
For Black History Month we are excited to celebrate the fabulous Black Nerds that are part of Those Nerdy Girls. Today we are highlighting Kelly Valentin Kelly has a passion for psychiatric epidemiology, and her research interests include psychopharmacology, behavioral health, social determinants of mental health outcomes, and psychopathology. Currently, she is pursuing a Master Read more…
Black History Month: Celebrating Nerdy Girl MacKenzie Isaac, MA
Women in STEM
Those Nerdy Girls
For Black History Month we are excited to celebrate the fabulous Black Nerds that are part of Those Nerdy Girls. Today we are highlighting MacKenzie (Kenzie) Isaac, MA, CHES® Kenzie is a social epidemiologist and health communications specialist who loves discussing all things health equity. Her specific research passions are the sociology of body image; Read more…
You see a WILD claim on social media, but how do you know it’s true?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
The Bradford-Hill Criteria give you a scientific checklist that can help you evaluate whether wild health claims are actually true. What is causality anyway? Causality means that one thing directly makes another thing happen. For example, flipping a light switch (A) causes the light to turn on (B), so A causes B. But ice cream Read more…
Are puberty blockers helpful or harmful to trans youth?
Families/Kids Mental Health Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Current evidence suggests that puberty blockers, which hit the pause button on puberty and are reversible, significantly improve the mental health of trans youth while reducing the risk of needing future surgeries. (Note: This post was updated by Those Nerdy Girls from the original published on January 23, 2024.) A recent study showed that Read more…
Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community.
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community. In keeping with our tradition of offering practical advice to our readers and addressing mental health consequences of public health crises, we have put together a piece that we hope will help during these extraordinarily trying times. We are living Read more…
What are febrile seizures?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Febrile seizures most commonly happen in a child between six months and five years old. Though it looks scary, febrile seizures are common and generally not a cause for major concern. A febrile seizure can happen in a child between the ages six months to five years old when they have a fever. A true Read more…
What’s the deal with heavy metal poisoning?
General Health Videos
Those Nerdy Girls
Heavy metals, like lead, can build up in the body and cause poisoning or toxicity. For most people, this is unlikely to happen from everyday exposures. Your clinician can tell you if testing is a good idea. Heavy metal toxicity can be very dangerous, but it is the amount of heavy metals that you’re in Read more…
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns?
Social and Racial Justice
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns? A: Using correct names and gender pronouns can make a significant difference in someone’s life. Pronouns are the words we use to refer to ourselves or someone else when not using a name. Gender pronouns specifically refer to people and possessions (she/her/hers, they/them/theirs, ze/zir/zirs, etc.) The 2022 U.S. Read more…
Osteoporosis treatment options: pills, injections, or lifestyle changes — how do I choose what’s right for me?
General Health Treatments
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Managing osteoporosis begins with lifestyle approaches. Medication can further lower the chance of a bone break from osteoporosis. Your clinician can help you decide which treatment is right for you. When my mom was first diagnosed with osteoporosis, she was both surprised and upset. The idea of thinning bones is an unsettling thought. It’s especially hard to Read more…
What is H. Flu?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Haemophilus influenzae, also called H. flu, is not the typical yearly flu. H. flu isn’t a virus; it’s a bacteria that can cause a wide variety of illnesses, from a sinus or ear infection to pneumonia and meningitis. There are a few different types of H. flu, but type b is the one we’ll talk Read more…
How can I talk to my child about the news?
Families/Kids
Those Nerdy Girls
Address any concerns, talk about the news in an age-appropriate way, and check in regularly. (NOTE: This post was originally published on November 8, 2023.) Many children have questions about what is happening in the world. They may feel afraid, upset, confused, and even guilty. Helping them talk about what they see or hear and Read more…
Who Counts? Data Collection & the Communities Left Out
Data and Metrics
Claire Wilkinson, MPH
Who gets counted in data shapes whose needs are seen, funded, and addressed. When you see data driving big decisions, check who is included and who is missing. Otherwise, entire communities can be overlooked. Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): When people are counted accurately, their needs become visible. This visibility is the first step toward Read more…
What’s a health scam?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Clara Ke, BSN, RN
Health scams are products or treatments claiming to prevent, treat, or cure certain health conditions but aren’t proven safe or effective for those uses. Health scams not only hurt your wallet but also can lead to serious, even deadly, injury from faux products or treatments. They can delay you from getting appropriate medical diagnosis or Read more…
What’s going on with this U.S. childhood vaccine schedule change?
Health Policy Vaccines
The U.S. federal government recently announced big changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. It is reducing the number of vaccines “routinely” recommended for all kids and moving several vaccines into an “optional/shared decision” category instead. This means they’re only routinely recommending protection against 11 diseases, instead of 17. Those Nerdy Girls and many other public Read more…
Q: What does science say about gender identity?
Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Differences in brain structure and/or function, hormone levels during different phases of development, and even genetics seem to shape our internal sense of gender identity. Sometimes these “line up” with the factors determining body anatomy, and sometimes they do not. Gender identity seems to be “hard wired” into the brain. There is no evidence Read more…
What are neglected tropical diseases, and why do they matter?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of bacterial and parasite related diseases. NTDs are considered “neglected” because they have often been ignored as they tend to impact those living in extreme poverty, where there is little access to safe water and healthcare. NTDs include Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter?
Uncategorized
Gretchen Peterson, Production Team
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health Policy
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
For Black History Month we are excited to celebrate the fabulous Black Nerds that are part of Those Nerdy Girls. Today we are highlighting Camille Seaberry, MPS Camille is a professional data nerd. As a senior research associate at DataHaven, a nonprofit based in New Haven, CT, she does data analysis, data science, and data Read more…
Black History Month: Celebrating Nerd Kelly Valentin
Women in STEMThose Nerdy Girls
For Black History Month we are excited to celebrate the fabulous Black Nerds that are part of Those Nerdy Girls. Today we are highlighting Kelly Valentin Kelly has a passion for psychiatric epidemiology, and her research interests include psychopharmacology, behavioral health, social determinants of mental health outcomes, and psychopathology. Currently, she is pursuing a Master Read more…
Black History Month: Celebrating Nerdy Girl MacKenzie Isaac, MA
Women in STEM
Those Nerdy Girls
For Black History Month we are excited to celebrate the fabulous Black Nerds that are part of Those Nerdy Girls. Today we are highlighting MacKenzie (Kenzie) Isaac, MA, CHES® Kenzie is a social epidemiologist and health communications specialist who loves discussing all things health equity. Her specific research passions are the sociology of body image; Read more…
You see a WILD claim on social media, but how do you know it’s true?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
The Bradford-Hill Criteria give you a scientific checklist that can help you evaluate whether wild health claims are actually true. What is causality anyway? Causality means that one thing directly makes another thing happen. For example, flipping a light switch (A) causes the light to turn on (B), so A causes B. But ice cream Read more…
Are puberty blockers helpful or harmful to trans youth?
Families/Kids Mental Health Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Current evidence suggests that puberty blockers, which hit the pause button on puberty and are reversible, significantly improve the mental health of trans youth while reducing the risk of needing future surgeries. (Note: This post was updated by Those Nerdy Girls from the original published on January 23, 2024.) A recent study showed that Read more…
Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community.
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community. In keeping with our tradition of offering practical advice to our readers and addressing mental health consequences of public health crises, we have put together a piece that we hope will help during these extraordinarily trying times. We are living Read more…
What are febrile seizures?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Febrile seizures most commonly happen in a child between six months and five years old. Though it looks scary, febrile seizures are common and generally not a cause for major concern. A febrile seizure can happen in a child between the ages six months to five years old when they have a fever. A true Read more…
What’s the deal with heavy metal poisoning?
General Health Videos
Those Nerdy Girls
Heavy metals, like lead, can build up in the body and cause poisoning or toxicity. For most people, this is unlikely to happen from everyday exposures. Your clinician can tell you if testing is a good idea. Heavy metal toxicity can be very dangerous, but it is the amount of heavy metals that you’re in Read more…
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns?
Social and Racial Justice
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns? A: Using correct names and gender pronouns can make a significant difference in someone’s life. Pronouns are the words we use to refer to ourselves or someone else when not using a name. Gender pronouns specifically refer to people and possessions (she/her/hers, they/them/theirs, ze/zir/zirs, etc.) The 2022 U.S. Read more…
Osteoporosis treatment options: pills, injections, or lifestyle changes — how do I choose what’s right for me?
General Health Treatments
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Managing osteoporosis begins with lifestyle approaches. Medication can further lower the chance of a bone break from osteoporosis. Your clinician can help you decide which treatment is right for you. When my mom was first diagnosed with osteoporosis, she was both surprised and upset. The idea of thinning bones is an unsettling thought. It’s especially hard to Read more…
What is H. Flu?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Haemophilus influenzae, also called H. flu, is not the typical yearly flu. H. flu isn’t a virus; it’s a bacteria that can cause a wide variety of illnesses, from a sinus or ear infection to pneumonia and meningitis. There are a few different types of H. flu, but type b is the one we’ll talk Read more…
How can I talk to my child about the news?
Families/Kids
Those Nerdy Girls
Address any concerns, talk about the news in an age-appropriate way, and check in regularly. (NOTE: This post was originally published on November 8, 2023.) Many children have questions about what is happening in the world. They may feel afraid, upset, confused, and even guilty. Helping them talk about what they see or hear and Read more…
Who Counts? Data Collection & the Communities Left Out
Data and Metrics
Claire Wilkinson, MPH
Who gets counted in data shapes whose needs are seen, funded, and addressed. When you see data driving big decisions, check who is included and who is missing. Otherwise, entire communities can be overlooked. Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): When people are counted accurately, their needs become visible. This visibility is the first step toward Read more…
What’s a health scam?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Clara Ke, BSN, RN
Health scams are products or treatments claiming to prevent, treat, or cure certain health conditions but aren’t proven safe or effective for those uses. Health scams not only hurt your wallet but also can lead to serious, even deadly, injury from faux products or treatments. They can delay you from getting appropriate medical diagnosis or Read more…
What’s going on with this U.S. childhood vaccine schedule change?
Health Policy Vaccines
The U.S. federal government recently announced big changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. It is reducing the number of vaccines “routinely” recommended for all kids and moving several vaccines into an “optional/shared decision” category instead. This means they’re only routinely recommending protection against 11 diseases, instead of 17. Those Nerdy Girls and many other public Read more…
Q: What does science say about gender identity?
Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Differences in brain structure and/or function, hormone levels during different phases of development, and even genetics seem to shape our internal sense of gender identity. Sometimes these “line up” with the factors determining body anatomy, and sometimes they do not. Gender identity seems to be “hard wired” into the brain. There is no evidence Read more…
What are neglected tropical diseases, and why do they matter?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of bacterial and parasite related diseases. NTDs are considered “neglected” because they have often been ignored as they tend to impact those living in extreme poverty, where there is little access to safe water and healthcare. NTDs include Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter?
Uncategorized
Gretchen Peterson, Production Team
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health Policy
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
For Black History Month we are excited to celebrate the fabulous Black Nerds that are part of Those Nerdy Girls. Today we are highlighting Kelly Valentin Kelly has a passion for psychiatric epidemiology, and her research interests include psychopharmacology, behavioral health, social determinants of mental health outcomes, and psychopathology. Currently, she is pursuing a Master Read more…
Black History Month: Celebrating Nerdy Girl MacKenzie Isaac, MA
Women in STEMThose Nerdy Girls
For Black History Month we are excited to celebrate the fabulous Black Nerds that are part of Those Nerdy Girls. Today we are highlighting MacKenzie (Kenzie) Isaac, MA, CHES® Kenzie is a social epidemiologist and health communications specialist who loves discussing all things health equity. Her specific research passions are the sociology of body image; Read more…
You see a WILD claim on social media, but how do you know it’s true?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
The Bradford-Hill Criteria give you a scientific checklist that can help you evaluate whether wild health claims are actually true. What is causality anyway? Causality means that one thing directly makes another thing happen. For example, flipping a light switch (A) causes the light to turn on (B), so A causes B. But ice cream Read more…
Are puberty blockers helpful or harmful to trans youth?
Families/Kids Mental Health Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Current evidence suggests that puberty blockers, which hit the pause button on puberty and are reversible, significantly improve the mental health of trans youth while reducing the risk of needing future surgeries. (Note: This post was updated by Those Nerdy Girls from the original published on January 23, 2024.) A recent study showed that Read more…
Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community.
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community. In keeping with our tradition of offering practical advice to our readers and addressing mental health consequences of public health crises, we have put together a piece that we hope will help during these extraordinarily trying times. We are living Read more…
What are febrile seizures?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Febrile seizures most commonly happen in a child between six months and five years old. Though it looks scary, febrile seizures are common and generally not a cause for major concern. A febrile seizure can happen in a child between the ages six months to five years old when they have a fever. A true Read more…
What’s the deal with heavy metal poisoning?
General Health Videos
Those Nerdy Girls
Heavy metals, like lead, can build up in the body and cause poisoning or toxicity. For most people, this is unlikely to happen from everyday exposures. Your clinician can tell you if testing is a good idea. Heavy metal toxicity can be very dangerous, but it is the amount of heavy metals that you’re in Read more…
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns?
Social and Racial Justice
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns? A: Using correct names and gender pronouns can make a significant difference in someone’s life. Pronouns are the words we use to refer to ourselves or someone else when not using a name. Gender pronouns specifically refer to people and possessions (she/her/hers, they/them/theirs, ze/zir/zirs, etc.) The 2022 U.S. Read more…
Osteoporosis treatment options: pills, injections, or lifestyle changes — how do I choose what’s right for me?
General Health Treatments
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Managing osteoporosis begins with lifestyle approaches. Medication can further lower the chance of a bone break from osteoporosis. Your clinician can help you decide which treatment is right for you. When my mom was first diagnosed with osteoporosis, she was both surprised and upset. The idea of thinning bones is an unsettling thought. It’s especially hard to Read more…
What is H. Flu?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Haemophilus influenzae, also called H. flu, is not the typical yearly flu. H. flu isn’t a virus; it’s a bacteria that can cause a wide variety of illnesses, from a sinus or ear infection to pneumonia and meningitis. There are a few different types of H. flu, but type b is the one we’ll talk Read more…
How can I talk to my child about the news?
Families/Kids
Those Nerdy Girls
Address any concerns, talk about the news in an age-appropriate way, and check in regularly. (NOTE: This post was originally published on November 8, 2023.) Many children have questions about what is happening in the world. They may feel afraid, upset, confused, and even guilty. Helping them talk about what they see or hear and Read more…
Who Counts? Data Collection & the Communities Left Out
Data and Metrics
Claire Wilkinson, MPH
Who gets counted in data shapes whose needs are seen, funded, and addressed. When you see data driving big decisions, check who is included and who is missing. Otherwise, entire communities can be overlooked. Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): When people are counted accurately, their needs become visible. This visibility is the first step toward Read more…
What’s a health scam?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Clara Ke, BSN, RN
Health scams are products or treatments claiming to prevent, treat, or cure certain health conditions but aren’t proven safe or effective for those uses. Health scams not only hurt your wallet but also can lead to serious, even deadly, injury from faux products or treatments. They can delay you from getting appropriate medical diagnosis or Read more…
What’s going on with this U.S. childhood vaccine schedule change?
Health Policy Vaccines
The U.S. federal government recently announced big changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. It is reducing the number of vaccines “routinely” recommended for all kids and moving several vaccines into an “optional/shared decision” category instead. This means they’re only routinely recommending protection against 11 diseases, instead of 17. Those Nerdy Girls and many other public Read more…
Q: What does science say about gender identity?
Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Differences in brain structure and/or function, hormone levels during different phases of development, and even genetics seem to shape our internal sense of gender identity. Sometimes these “line up” with the factors determining body anatomy, and sometimes they do not. Gender identity seems to be “hard wired” into the brain. There is no evidence Read more…
What are neglected tropical diseases, and why do they matter?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of bacterial and parasite related diseases. NTDs are considered “neglected” because they have often been ignored as they tend to impact those living in extreme poverty, where there is little access to safe water and healthcare. NTDs include Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter?
Uncategorized
Gretchen Peterson, Production Team
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health Policy
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
For Black History Month we are excited to celebrate the fabulous Black Nerds that are part of Those Nerdy Girls. Today we are highlighting MacKenzie (Kenzie) Isaac, MA, CHES® Kenzie is a social epidemiologist and health communications specialist who loves discussing all things health equity. Her specific research passions are the sociology of body image; Read more…
You see a WILD claim on social media, but how do you know it’s true?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
The Bradford-Hill Criteria give you a scientific checklist that can help you evaluate whether wild health claims are actually true. What is causality anyway? Causality means that one thing directly makes another thing happen. For example, flipping a light switch (A) causes the light to turn on (B), so A causes B. But ice cream Read more…
Are puberty blockers helpful or harmful to trans youth?
Families/Kids Mental Health Reproductive HealthThose Nerdy Girls
A: Current evidence suggests that puberty blockers, which hit the pause button on puberty and are reversible, significantly improve the mental health of trans youth while reducing the risk of needing future surgeries. (Note: This post was updated by Those Nerdy Girls from the original published on January 23, 2024.) A recent study showed that Read more…
Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community.
Mental Health
Those Nerdy Girls
Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community. In keeping with our tradition of offering practical advice to our readers and addressing mental health consequences of public health crises, we have put together a piece that we hope will help during these extraordinarily trying times. We are living Read more…
What are febrile seizures?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Febrile seizures most commonly happen in a child between six months and five years old. Though it looks scary, febrile seizures are common and generally not a cause for major concern. A febrile seizure can happen in a child between the ages six months to five years old when they have a fever. A true Read more…
What’s the deal with heavy metal poisoning?
General Health Videos
Those Nerdy Girls
Heavy metals, like lead, can build up in the body and cause poisoning or toxicity. For most people, this is unlikely to happen from everyday exposures. Your clinician can tell you if testing is a good idea. Heavy metal toxicity can be very dangerous, but it is the amount of heavy metals that you’re in Read more…
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns?
Social and Racial Justice
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns? A: Using correct names and gender pronouns can make a significant difference in someone’s life. Pronouns are the words we use to refer to ourselves or someone else when not using a name. Gender pronouns specifically refer to people and possessions (she/her/hers, they/them/theirs, ze/zir/zirs, etc.) The 2022 U.S. Read more…
Osteoporosis treatment options: pills, injections, or lifestyle changes — how do I choose what’s right for me?
General Health Treatments
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Managing osteoporosis begins with lifestyle approaches. Medication can further lower the chance of a bone break from osteoporosis. Your clinician can help you decide which treatment is right for you. When my mom was first diagnosed with osteoporosis, she was both surprised and upset. The idea of thinning bones is an unsettling thought. It’s especially hard to Read more…
What is H. Flu?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Haemophilus influenzae, also called H. flu, is not the typical yearly flu. H. flu isn’t a virus; it’s a bacteria that can cause a wide variety of illnesses, from a sinus or ear infection to pneumonia and meningitis. There are a few different types of H. flu, but type b is the one we’ll talk Read more…
How can I talk to my child about the news?
Families/Kids
Those Nerdy Girls
Address any concerns, talk about the news in an age-appropriate way, and check in regularly. (NOTE: This post was originally published on November 8, 2023.) Many children have questions about what is happening in the world. They may feel afraid, upset, confused, and even guilty. Helping them talk about what they see or hear and Read more…
Who Counts? Data Collection & the Communities Left Out
Data and Metrics
Claire Wilkinson, MPH
Who gets counted in data shapes whose needs are seen, funded, and addressed. When you see data driving big decisions, check who is included and who is missing. Otherwise, entire communities can be overlooked. Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): When people are counted accurately, their needs become visible. This visibility is the first step toward Read more…
What’s a health scam?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Clara Ke, BSN, RN
Health scams are products or treatments claiming to prevent, treat, or cure certain health conditions but aren’t proven safe or effective for those uses. Health scams not only hurt your wallet but also can lead to serious, even deadly, injury from faux products or treatments. They can delay you from getting appropriate medical diagnosis or Read more…
What’s going on with this U.S. childhood vaccine schedule change?
Health Policy Vaccines
The U.S. federal government recently announced big changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. It is reducing the number of vaccines “routinely” recommended for all kids and moving several vaccines into an “optional/shared decision” category instead. This means they’re only routinely recommending protection against 11 diseases, instead of 17. Those Nerdy Girls and many other public Read more…
Q: What does science say about gender identity?
Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Differences in brain structure and/or function, hormone levels during different phases of development, and even genetics seem to shape our internal sense of gender identity. Sometimes these “line up” with the factors determining body anatomy, and sometimes they do not. Gender identity seems to be “hard wired” into the brain. There is no evidence Read more…
What are neglected tropical diseases, and why do they matter?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of bacterial and parasite related diseases. NTDs are considered “neglected” because they have often been ignored as they tend to impact those living in extreme poverty, where there is little access to safe water and healthcare. NTDs include Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter?
Uncategorized
Gretchen Peterson, Production Team
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health Policy
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
A: Current evidence suggests that puberty blockers, which hit the pause button on puberty and are reversible, significantly improve the mental health of trans youth while reducing the risk of needing future surgeries. (Note: This post was updated by Those Nerdy Girls from the original published on January 23, 2024.) A recent study showed that Read more…
Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community.
Mental HealthThose Nerdy Girls
Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community. In keeping with our tradition of offering practical advice to our readers and addressing mental health consequences of public health crises, we have put together a piece that we hope will help during these extraordinarily trying times. We are living Read more…
What are febrile seizures?
Families/Kids General Health
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Febrile seizures most commonly happen in a child between six months and five years old. Though it looks scary, febrile seizures are common and generally not a cause for major concern. A febrile seizure can happen in a child between the ages six months to five years old when they have a fever. A true Read more…
What’s the deal with heavy metal poisoning?
General Health Videos
Those Nerdy Girls
Heavy metals, like lead, can build up in the body and cause poisoning or toxicity. For most people, this is unlikely to happen from everyday exposures. Your clinician can tell you if testing is a good idea. Heavy metal toxicity can be very dangerous, but it is the amount of heavy metals that you’re in Read more…
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns?
Social and Racial Justice
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns? A: Using correct names and gender pronouns can make a significant difference in someone’s life. Pronouns are the words we use to refer to ourselves or someone else when not using a name. Gender pronouns specifically refer to people and possessions (she/her/hers, they/them/theirs, ze/zir/zirs, etc.) The 2022 U.S. Read more…
Osteoporosis treatment options: pills, injections, or lifestyle changes — how do I choose what’s right for me?
General Health Treatments
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Managing osteoporosis begins with lifestyle approaches. Medication can further lower the chance of a bone break from osteoporosis. Your clinician can help you decide which treatment is right for you. When my mom was first diagnosed with osteoporosis, she was both surprised and upset. The idea of thinning bones is an unsettling thought. It’s especially hard to Read more…
What is H. Flu?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Haemophilus influenzae, also called H. flu, is not the typical yearly flu. H. flu isn’t a virus; it’s a bacteria that can cause a wide variety of illnesses, from a sinus or ear infection to pneumonia and meningitis. There are a few different types of H. flu, but type b is the one we’ll talk Read more…
How can I talk to my child about the news?
Families/Kids
Those Nerdy Girls
Address any concerns, talk about the news in an age-appropriate way, and check in regularly. (NOTE: This post was originally published on November 8, 2023.) Many children have questions about what is happening in the world. They may feel afraid, upset, confused, and even guilty. Helping them talk about what they see or hear and Read more…
Who Counts? Data Collection & the Communities Left Out
Data and Metrics
Claire Wilkinson, MPH
Who gets counted in data shapes whose needs are seen, funded, and addressed. When you see data driving big decisions, check who is included and who is missing. Otherwise, entire communities can be overlooked. Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): When people are counted accurately, their needs become visible. This visibility is the first step toward Read more…
What’s a health scam?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Clara Ke, BSN, RN
Health scams are products or treatments claiming to prevent, treat, or cure certain health conditions but aren’t proven safe or effective for those uses. Health scams not only hurt your wallet but also can lead to serious, even deadly, injury from faux products or treatments. They can delay you from getting appropriate medical diagnosis or Read more…
What’s going on with this U.S. childhood vaccine schedule change?
Health Policy Vaccines
The U.S. federal government recently announced big changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. It is reducing the number of vaccines “routinely” recommended for all kids and moving several vaccines into an “optional/shared decision” category instead. This means they’re only routinely recommending protection against 11 diseases, instead of 17. Those Nerdy Girls and many other public Read more…
Q: What does science say about gender identity?
Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Differences in brain structure and/or function, hormone levels during different phases of development, and even genetics seem to shape our internal sense of gender identity. Sometimes these “line up” with the factors determining body anatomy, and sometimes they do not. Gender identity seems to be “hard wired” into the brain. There is no evidence Read more…
What are neglected tropical diseases, and why do they matter?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of bacterial and parasite related diseases. NTDs are considered “neglected” because they have often been ignored as they tend to impact those living in extreme poverty, where there is little access to safe water and healthcare. NTDs include Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter?
Uncategorized
Gretchen Peterson, Production Team
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health Policy
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
Armed conflict of any kind has severe public health consequences for the entire global community. In keeping with our tradition of offering practical advice to our readers and addressing mental health consequences of public health crises, we have put together a piece that we hope will help during these extraordinarily trying times. We are living Read more…
What are febrile seizures?
Families/Kids General HealthRebecca Raskin-Wish
Febrile seizures most commonly happen in a child between six months and five years old. Though it looks scary, febrile seizures are common and generally not a cause for major concern. A febrile seizure can happen in a child between the ages six months to five years old when they have a fever. A true Read more…
What’s the deal with heavy metal poisoning?
General Health Videos
Those Nerdy Girls
Heavy metals, like lead, can build up in the body and cause poisoning or toxicity. For most people, this is unlikely to happen from everyday exposures. Your clinician can tell you if testing is a good idea. Heavy metal toxicity can be very dangerous, but it is the amount of heavy metals that you’re in Read more…
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns?
Social and Racial Justice
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns? A: Using correct names and gender pronouns can make a significant difference in someone’s life. Pronouns are the words we use to refer to ourselves or someone else when not using a name. Gender pronouns specifically refer to people and possessions (she/her/hers, they/them/theirs, ze/zir/zirs, etc.) The 2022 U.S. Read more…
Osteoporosis treatment options: pills, injections, or lifestyle changes — how do I choose what’s right for me?
General Health Treatments
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Managing osteoporosis begins with lifestyle approaches. Medication can further lower the chance of a bone break from osteoporosis. Your clinician can help you decide which treatment is right for you. When my mom was first diagnosed with osteoporosis, she was both surprised and upset. The idea of thinning bones is an unsettling thought. It’s especially hard to Read more…
What is H. Flu?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Haemophilus influenzae, also called H. flu, is not the typical yearly flu. H. flu isn’t a virus; it’s a bacteria that can cause a wide variety of illnesses, from a sinus or ear infection to pneumonia and meningitis. There are a few different types of H. flu, but type b is the one we’ll talk Read more…
How can I talk to my child about the news?
Families/Kids
Those Nerdy Girls
Address any concerns, talk about the news in an age-appropriate way, and check in regularly. (NOTE: This post was originally published on November 8, 2023.) Many children have questions about what is happening in the world. They may feel afraid, upset, confused, and even guilty. Helping them talk about what they see or hear and Read more…
Who Counts? Data Collection & the Communities Left Out
Data and Metrics
Claire Wilkinson, MPH
Who gets counted in data shapes whose needs are seen, funded, and addressed. When you see data driving big decisions, check who is included and who is missing. Otherwise, entire communities can be overlooked. Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): When people are counted accurately, their needs become visible. This visibility is the first step toward Read more…
What’s a health scam?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Clara Ke, BSN, RN
Health scams are products or treatments claiming to prevent, treat, or cure certain health conditions but aren’t proven safe or effective for those uses. Health scams not only hurt your wallet but also can lead to serious, even deadly, injury from faux products or treatments. They can delay you from getting appropriate medical diagnosis or Read more…
What’s going on with this U.S. childhood vaccine schedule change?
Health Policy Vaccines
The U.S. federal government recently announced big changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. It is reducing the number of vaccines “routinely” recommended for all kids and moving several vaccines into an “optional/shared decision” category instead. This means they’re only routinely recommending protection against 11 diseases, instead of 17. Those Nerdy Girls and many other public Read more…
Q: What does science say about gender identity?
Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Differences in brain structure and/or function, hormone levels during different phases of development, and even genetics seem to shape our internal sense of gender identity. Sometimes these “line up” with the factors determining body anatomy, and sometimes they do not. Gender identity seems to be “hard wired” into the brain. There is no evidence Read more…
What are neglected tropical diseases, and why do they matter?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of bacterial and parasite related diseases. NTDs are considered “neglected” because they have often been ignored as they tend to impact those living in extreme poverty, where there is little access to safe water and healthcare. NTDs include Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter?
Uncategorized
Gretchen Peterson, Production Team
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health Policy
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
Febrile seizures most commonly happen in a child between six months and five years old. Though it looks scary, febrile seizures are common and generally not a cause for major concern. A febrile seizure can happen in a child between the ages six months to five years old when they have a fever. A true Read more…
What’s the deal with heavy metal poisoning?
General Health VideosThose Nerdy Girls
Heavy metals, like lead, can build up in the body and cause poisoning or toxicity. For most people, this is unlikely to happen from everyday exposures. Your clinician can tell you if testing is a good idea. Heavy metal toxicity can be very dangerous, but it is the amount of heavy metals that you’re in Read more…
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns?
Social and Racial Justice
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns? A: Using correct names and gender pronouns can make a significant difference in someone’s life. Pronouns are the words we use to refer to ourselves or someone else when not using a name. Gender pronouns specifically refer to people and possessions (she/her/hers, they/them/theirs, ze/zir/zirs, etc.) The 2022 U.S. Read more…
Osteoporosis treatment options: pills, injections, or lifestyle changes — how do I choose what’s right for me?
General Health Treatments
Daphne Berryhill, RPh
Managing osteoporosis begins with lifestyle approaches. Medication can further lower the chance of a bone break from osteoporosis. Your clinician can help you decide which treatment is right for you. When my mom was first diagnosed with osteoporosis, she was both surprised and upset. The idea of thinning bones is an unsettling thought. It’s especially hard to Read more…
What is H. Flu?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Haemophilus influenzae, also called H. flu, is not the typical yearly flu. H. flu isn’t a virus; it’s a bacteria that can cause a wide variety of illnesses, from a sinus or ear infection to pneumonia and meningitis. There are a few different types of H. flu, but type b is the one we’ll talk Read more…
How can I talk to my child about the news?
Families/Kids
Those Nerdy Girls
Address any concerns, talk about the news in an age-appropriate way, and check in regularly. (NOTE: This post was originally published on November 8, 2023.) Many children have questions about what is happening in the world. They may feel afraid, upset, confused, and even guilty. Helping them talk about what they see or hear and Read more…
Who Counts? Data Collection & the Communities Left Out
Data and Metrics
Claire Wilkinson, MPH
Who gets counted in data shapes whose needs are seen, funded, and addressed. When you see data driving big decisions, check who is included and who is missing. Otherwise, entire communities can be overlooked. Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): When people are counted accurately, their needs become visible. This visibility is the first step toward Read more…
What’s a health scam?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Clara Ke, BSN, RN
Health scams are products or treatments claiming to prevent, treat, or cure certain health conditions but aren’t proven safe or effective for those uses. Health scams not only hurt your wallet but also can lead to serious, even deadly, injury from faux products or treatments. They can delay you from getting appropriate medical diagnosis or Read more…
What’s going on with this U.S. childhood vaccine schedule change?
Health Policy Vaccines
The U.S. federal government recently announced big changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. It is reducing the number of vaccines “routinely” recommended for all kids and moving several vaccines into an “optional/shared decision” category instead. This means they’re only routinely recommending protection against 11 diseases, instead of 17. Those Nerdy Girls and many other public Read more…
Q: What does science say about gender identity?
Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Differences in brain structure and/or function, hormone levels during different phases of development, and even genetics seem to shape our internal sense of gender identity. Sometimes these “line up” with the factors determining body anatomy, and sometimes they do not. Gender identity seems to be “hard wired” into the brain. There is no evidence Read more…
What are neglected tropical diseases, and why do they matter?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of bacterial and parasite related diseases. NTDs are considered “neglected” because they have often been ignored as they tend to impact those living in extreme poverty, where there is little access to safe water and healthcare. NTDs include Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter?
Uncategorized
Gretchen Peterson, Production Team
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health Policy
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
Heavy metals, like lead, can build up in the body and cause poisoning or toxicity. For most people, this is unlikely to happen from everyday exposures. Your clinician can tell you if testing is a good idea. Heavy metal toxicity can be very dangerous, but it is the amount of heavy metals that you’re in Read more…
Q: Why are people sharing their pronouns?
Social and Racial JusticeQ: Why are people sharing their pronouns? A: Using correct names and gender pronouns can make a significant difference in someone’s life. Pronouns are the words we use to refer to ourselves or someone else when not using a name. Gender pronouns specifically refer to people and possessions (she/her/hers, they/them/theirs, ze/zir/zirs, etc.) The 2022 U.S. Read more…
Osteoporosis treatment options: pills, injections, or lifestyle changes — how do I choose what’s right for me?
General Health TreatmentsDaphne Berryhill, RPh
Managing osteoporosis begins with lifestyle approaches. Medication can further lower the chance of a bone break from osteoporosis. Your clinician can help you decide which treatment is right for you. When my mom was first diagnosed with osteoporosis, she was both surprised and upset. The idea of thinning bones is an unsettling thought. It’s especially hard to Read more…
What is H. Flu?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Haemophilus influenzae, also called H. flu, is not the typical yearly flu. H. flu isn’t a virus; it’s a bacteria that can cause a wide variety of illnesses, from a sinus or ear infection to pneumonia and meningitis. There are a few different types of H. flu, but type b is the one we’ll talk Read more…
How can I talk to my child about the news?
Families/Kids
Those Nerdy Girls
Address any concerns, talk about the news in an age-appropriate way, and check in regularly. (NOTE: This post was originally published on November 8, 2023.) Many children have questions about what is happening in the world. They may feel afraid, upset, confused, and even guilty. Helping them talk about what they see or hear and Read more…
Who Counts? Data Collection & the Communities Left Out
Data and Metrics
Claire Wilkinson, MPH
Who gets counted in data shapes whose needs are seen, funded, and addressed. When you see data driving big decisions, check who is included and who is missing. Otherwise, entire communities can be overlooked. Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): When people are counted accurately, their needs become visible. This visibility is the first step toward Read more…
What’s a health scam?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Clara Ke, BSN, RN
Health scams are products or treatments claiming to prevent, treat, or cure certain health conditions but aren’t proven safe or effective for those uses. Health scams not only hurt your wallet but also can lead to serious, even deadly, injury from faux products or treatments. They can delay you from getting appropriate medical diagnosis or Read more…
What’s going on with this U.S. childhood vaccine schedule change?
Health Policy Vaccines
The U.S. federal government recently announced big changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. It is reducing the number of vaccines “routinely” recommended for all kids and moving several vaccines into an “optional/shared decision” category instead. This means they’re only routinely recommending protection against 11 diseases, instead of 17. Those Nerdy Girls and many other public Read more…
Q: What does science say about gender identity?
Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Differences in brain structure and/or function, hormone levels during different phases of development, and even genetics seem to shape our internal sense of gender identity. Sometimes these “line up” with the factors determining body anatomy, and sometimes they do not. Gender identity seems to be “hard wired” into the brain. There is no evidence Read more…
What are neglected tropical diseases, and why do they matter?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of bacterial and parasite related diseases. NTDs are considered “neglected” because they have often been ignored as they tend to impact those living in extreme poverty, where there is little access to safe water and healthcare. NTDs include Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter?
Uncategorized
Gretchen Peterson, Production Team
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health Policy
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
Managing osteoporosis begins with lifestyle approaches. Medication can further lower the chance of a bone break from osteoporosis. Your clinician can help you decide which treatment is right for you. When my mom was first diagnosed with osteoporosis, she was both surprised and upset. The idea of thinning bones is an unsettling thought. It’s especially hard to Read more…
What is H. Flu?
Infectious DiseasesRebecca Raskin-Wish
Haemophilus influenzae, also called H. flu, is not the typical yearly flu. H. flu isn’t a virus; it’s a bacteria that can cause a wide variety of illnesses, from a sinus or ear infection to pneumonia and meningitis. There are a few different types of H. flu, but type b is the one we’ll talk Read more…
How can I talk to my child about the news?
Families/Kids
Those Nerdy Girls
Address any concerns, talk about the news in an age-appropriate way, and check in regularly. (NOTE: This post was originally published on November 8, 2023.) Many children have questions about what is happening in the world. They may feel afraid, upset, confused, and even guilty. Helping them talk about what they see or hear and Read more…
Who Counts? Data Collection & the Communities Left Out
Data and Metrics
Claire Wilkinson, MPH
Who gets counted in data shapes whose needs are seen, funded, and addressed. When you see data driving big decisions, check who is included and who is missing. Otherwise, entire communities can be overlooked. Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): When people are counted accurately, their needs become visible. This visibility is the first step toward Read more…
What’s a health scam?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Clara Ke, BSN, RN
Health scams are products or treatments claiming to prevent, treat, or cure certain health conditions but aren’t proven safe or effective for those uses. Health scams not only hurt your wallet but also can lead to serious, even deadly, injury from faux products or treatments. They can delay you from getting appropriate medical diagnosis or Read more…
What’s going on with this U.S. childhood vaccine schedule change?
Health Policy Vaccines
The U.S. federal government recently announced big changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. It is reducing the number of vaccines “routinely” recommended for all kids and moving several vaccines into an “optional/shared decision” category instead. This means they’re only routinely recommending protection against 11 diseases, instead of 17. Those Nerdy Girls and many other public Read more…
Q: What does science say about gender identity?
Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Differences in brain structure and/or function, hormone levels during different phases of development, and even genetics seem to shape our internal sense of gender identity. Sometimes these “line up” with the factors determining body anatomy, and sometimes they do not. Gender identity seems to be “hard wired” into the brain. There is no evidence Read more…
What are neglected tropical diseases, and why do they matter?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of bacterial and parasite related diseases. NTDs are considered “neglected” because they have often been ignored as they tend to impact those living in extreme poverty, where there is little access to safe water and healthcare. NTDs include Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter?
Uncategorized
Gretchen Peterson, Production Team
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health Policy
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
Haemophilus influenzae, also called H. flu, is not the typical yearly flu. H. flu isn’t a virus; it’s a bacteria that can cause a wide variety of illnesses, from a sinus or ear infection to pneumonia and meningitis. There are a few different types of H. flu, but type b is the one we’ll talk Read more…
How can I talk to my child about the news?
Families/KidsThose Nerdy Girls
Address any concerns, talk about the news in an age-appropriate way, and check in regularly. (NOTE: This post was originally published on November 8, 2023.) Many children have questions about what is happening in the world. They may feel afraid, upset, confused, and even guilty. Helping them talk about what they see or hear and Read more…
Who Counts? Data Collection & the Communities Left Out
Data and Metrics
Claire Wilkinson, MPH
Who gets counted in data shapes whose needs are seen, funded, and addressed. When you see data driving big decisions, check who is included and who is missing. Otherwise, entire communities can be overlooked. Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): When people are counted accurately, their needs become visible. This visibility is the first step toward Read more…
What’s a health scam?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Clara Ke, BSN, RN
Health scams are products or treatments claiming to prevent, treat, or cure certain health conditions but aren’t proven safe or effective for those uses. Health scams not only hurt your wallet but also can lead to serious, even deadly, injury from faux products or treatments. They can delay you from getting appropriate medical diagnosis or Read more…
What’s going on with this U.S. childhood vaccine schedule change?
Health Policy Vaccines
The U.S. federal government recently announced big changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. It is reducing the number of vaccines “routinely” recommended for all kids and moving several vaccines into an “optional/shared decision” category instead. This means they’re only routinely recommending protection against 11 diseases, instead of 17. Those Nerdy Girls and many other public Read more…
Q: What does science say about gender identity?
Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Differences in brain structure and/or function, hormone levels during different phases of development, and even genetics seem to shape our internal sense of gender identity. Sometimes these “line up” with the factors determining body anatomy, and sometimes they do not. Gender identity seems to be “hard wired” into the brain. There is no evidence Read more…
What are neglected tropical diseases, and why do they matter?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of bacterial and parasite related diseases. NTDs are considered “neglected” because they have often been ignored as they tend to impact those living in extreme poverty, where there is little access to safe water and healthcare. NTDs include Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter?
Uncategorized
Gretchen Peterson, Production Team
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health Policy
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
Address any concerns, talk about the news in an age-appropriate way, and check in regularly. (NOTE: This post was originally published on November 8, 2023.) Many children have questions about what is happening in the world. They may feel afraid, upset, confused, and even guilty. Helping them talk about what they see or hear and Read more…
Who Counts? Data Collection & the Communities Left Out
Data and MetricsClaire Wilkinson, MPH
Who gets counted in data shapes whose needs are seen, funded, and addressed. When you see data driving big decisions, check who is included and who is missing. Otherwise, entire communities can be overlooked. Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): When people are counted accurately, their needs become visible. This visibility is the first step toward Read more…
What’s a health scam?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Clara Ke, BSN, RN
Health scams are products or treatments claiming to prevent, treat, or cure certain health conditions but aren’t proven safe or effective for those uses. Health scams not only hurt your wallet but also can lead to serious, even deadly, injury from faux products or treatments. They can delay you from getting appropriate medical diagnosis or Read more…
What’s going on with this U.S. childhood vaccine schedule change?
Health Policy Vaccines
The U.S. federal government recently announced big changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. It is reducing the number of vaccines “routinely” recommended for all kids and moving several vaccines into an “optional/shared decision” category instead. This means they’re only routinely recommending protection against 11 diseases, instead of 17. Those Nerdy Girls and many other public Read more…
Q: What does science say about gender identity?
Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Differences in brain structure and/or function, hormone levels during different phases of development, and even genetics seem to shape our internal sense of gender identity. Sometimes these “line up” with the factors determining body anatomy, and sometimes they do not. Gender identity seems to be “hard wired” into the brain. There is no evidence Read more…
What are neglected tropical diseases, and why do they matter?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of bacterial and parasite related diseases. NTDs are considered “neglected” because they have often been ignored as they tend to impact those living in extreme poverty, where there is little access to safe water and healthcare. NTDs include Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter?
Uncategorized
Gretchen Peterson, Production Team
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health Policy
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
Who gets counted in data shapes whose needs are seen, funded, and addressed. When you see data driving big decisions, check who is included and who is missing. Otherwise, entire communities can be overlooked. Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): When people are counted accurately, their needs become visible. This visibility is the first step toward Read more…
What’s a health scam?
Uncertainty and MisinformationClara Ke, BSN, RN
Health scams are products or treatments claiming to prevent, treat, or cure certain health conditions but aren’t proven safe or effective for those uses. Health scams not only hurt your wallet but also can lead to serious, even deadly, injury from faux products or treatments. They can delay you from getting appropriate medical diagnosis or Read more…
What’s going on with this U.S. childhood vaccine schedule change?
Health Policy Vaccines
The U.S. federal government recently announced big changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. It is reducing the number of vaccines “routinely” recommended for all kids and moving several vaccines into an “optional/shared decision” category instead. This means they’re only routinely recommending protection against 11 diseases, instead of 17. Those Nerdy Girls and many other public Read more…
Q: What does science say about gender identity?
Reproductive Health
Those Nerdy Girls
A: Differences in brain structure and/or function, hormone levels during different phases of development, and even genetics seem to shape our internal sense of gender identity. Sometimes these “line up” with the factors determining body anatomy, and sometimes they do not. Gender identity seems to be “hard wired” into the brain. There is no evidence Read more…
What are neglected tropical diseases, and why do they matter?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of bacterial and parasite related diseases. NTDs are considered “neglected” because they have often been ignored as they tend to impact those living in extreme poverty, where there is little access to safe water and healthcare. NTDs include Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter?
Uncategorized
Gretchen Peterson, Production Team
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health Policy
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
Health scams are products or treatments claiming to prevent, treat, or cure certain health conditions but aren’t proven safe or effective for those uses. Health scams not only hurt your wallet but also can lead to serious, even deadly, injury from faux products or treatments. They can delay you from getting appropriate medical diagnosis or Read more…
What’s going on with this U.S. childhood vaccine schedule change?
Health Policy Vaccines
The U.S. federal government recently announced big changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. It is reducing the number of vaccines “routinely” recommended for all kids and moving several vaccines into an “optional/shared decision” category instead. This means they’re only routinely recommending protection against 11 diseases, instead of 17. Those Nerdy Girls and many other public Read more…
Q: What does science say about gender identity?
Reproductive HealthThose Nerdy Girls
A: Differences in brain structure and/or function, hormone levels during different phases of development, and even genetics seem to shape our internal sense of gender identity. Sometimes these “line up” with the factors determining body anatomy, and sometimes they do not. Gender identity seems to be “hard wired” into the brain. There is no evidence Read more…
What are neglected tropical diseases, and why do they matter?
Infectious Diseases
Rebecca Raskin-Wish
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of bacterial and parasite related diseases. NTDs are considered “neglected” because they have often been ignored as they tend to impact those living in extreme poverty, where there is little access to safe water and healthcare. NTDs include Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter?
Uncategorized
Gretchen Peterson, Production Team
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health Policy
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
A: Differences in brain structure and/or function, hormone levels during different phases of development, and even genetics seem to shape our internal sense of gender identity. Sometimes these “line up” with the factors determining body anatomy, and sometimes they do not. Gender identity seems to be “hard wired” into the brain. There is no evidence Read more…
What are neglected tropical diseases, and why do they matter?
Infectious DiseasesRebecca Raskin-Wish
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of bacterial and parasite related diseases. NTDs are considered “neglected” because they have often been ignored as they tend to impact those living in extreme poverty, where there is little access to safe water and healthcare. NTDs include Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter?
Uncategorized
Gretchen Peterson, Production Team
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health Policy
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of bacterial and parasite related diseases. NTDs are considered “neglected” because they have often been ignored as they tend to impact those living in extreme poverty, where there is little access to safe water and healthcare. NTDs include Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter?
UncategorizedGretchen Peterson, Production Team
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health Policy
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
Did you know that Those Nerdy Girls has a Substack newsletter? (thosenerdygirls.substack.com) We send Substack newsletters to all subscribers (both free and paid) directly to their inboxes twice a week. To improve the readability of our FB posts, we no longer embed tinyurls in the text. A major benefit of receiving our newsletters is that Read more…
What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?
General Health Health PolicySara Gorman, PhD, MPH
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently suggested that light drinking may be a positive for heart health. The health benefits of even moderate alcohol use seem very small while the risks are real. In July, the Association, which is a leader in the heart health field, published a review suggesting that not only is light Read more…
