Posts from Those Nerdy Girls

All the posts from our Those Nerdy Girls Facebook page dating back to May 1st, 2020, are currently archived here and can be searched for by category, key words, etc. Be sure to check back often as additional posts are being added each day.

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What’s a health scam?

Uncertainty and Misinformation

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

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

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…

What’s with the American Heart Association’s new claims about the heart healthiness of alcohol?

General Health Health Policy

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…

Could telehealth be a good option for me?

General Health

Knowing when telehealth makes sense, when it doesn’t, and how to prepare can lead to better healthcare outcomes. Telehealth [archived link], also known as telemedicine or virtual care, is a method of accessing certain types of healthcare services and information without visiting a clinician’s office, using a phone, tablet, or computer instead. During a typical Read more…

The Hepatitis B birth dose is no longer recommended by the CDC.  This is why your baby (or you) should get it anyway.

Infectious Diseases Vaccines

Hepatitis B (HepB) is an infection of the liver that can lead to chronic disease requiring lifelong treatment and an increased risk of cancer and death.  The HepB vaccine has minimal risks and many benefits.  Skipping the birth dose leaves infants vulnerable to a lifelong risk of chronic liver disease and cancer.  This is why Read more…

Q: What is a toilet plume?

Infection and Spread

In our recent post on norovirus, aka stomach flu, we advised folks to “close the lid” to avoid spreading disease via toilet plumes. Here’s a deeper dive (Ewwww!) into that topic. A: A picture is worth a 1000 words. 💩 😱 TL;DR: Close the lid. Scientists have used lasers to measure aerosols (tiny water droplets) Read more…

Wishing Peace and Love to All

Uncategorized

To those who celebrate, Those Nerdy Girls wish you a Merry Christmas. For many, these are precious days filled with family, friends, love, and rejoicing. It is our hope that you enjoy these times to the fullest. We well know, however, that it can also be a very difficult time of year for many of Read more…

Is the Glucola test necessary?

Reproductive Health Videos

The Glucola test is given to pregnant people to test for gestational diabetes and is both necessary and safe. Untreated gestational diabetes can have serious health consequences for both the pregnant person and the baby. What is Gestational Diabetes? Gestational diabetes occurs when a person has elevated blood sugar levels during pregnancy. In gestational diabetes, Read more…

Light in Darkness

Uncategorized

🌏 Across various cultures, light-filled festivals during the colder months are a shared experience rooted in astronomical, psychological, and cultural factors. These celebrations provide warmth, hope, and community bonding during the darkest times of the year. 🌄 Sun’s Trajectory & Seasonal Changes: Winter brings shorter days and longer nights (from December through March in the Read more…

There are lots of different types of “pills” related to pregnancy.

Reproductive Health

There are lots of different types of “pills” related to pregnancy. It’s most helpful to break them into two categories: 1: Contraceptives PREVENT someone from becoming pregnant. 2: Different types of pills are used when there is ALREADY an established pregnancy. It’s mifepristone, from this second group, whose FDA approval is currently being contested in Read more…