When is the best time to get my flu vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Megan Madsen, DO
A: Getting a flu vaccination by the end of October is a great way to protect yourself. Although it is available as early as July, getting a vaccine in September or October helps protect you for the part of flu season that typically has the highest rates of infections. When is flu season? Seasonal Read more…
Is 2 months the minimum or guideline for getting the updated booster after my last dose?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the U.S., people 12 + years old can get the updated bivalent booster 2 months after they received the last dose in the primary series or a dose of the original booster. People who were recently infected may decide to wait a little longer to maximize the benefit of getting boosted. TL;DR: If Read more…
Hispanic Heritage Month–Check out Querida Pandemia for Spanish-language posts!
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we would like to give a shout out to las nerdy girls at Querida Pandemia (QP), our Spanish language facebook site. Dr. Sandra Albrecht leads the team to make evidence-based science available and digestible in Spanish. With 50,000 followers and growing, the Spanish squad is reaching people with Read more…
Is polio back?
Infectious Diseases
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: Polio was never gone, but there is a re-emergence in places where it has not been found for many decades. Polio is an infectious disease that many Americans over 70 might remember from their childhoods. Mass vaccination campaigns in the U.S. and many other countries largely stopped the virus from circulating for many decades, Read more…
“Why is the current breast feeding recommendation at least 2 years?
Families/Kids Reproductive Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
“Why is the current breast feeding recommendation at least 2 years? I feel like this puts a lot of pressure on moms (in a world that has enough ongoing pressures!)” –Karen from Madison, WI TL,DR: Individual breast/chest** feeding duration recommendations vary according to context and shared decision making involving parents, baby’s needs, their pediatric clinicians Read more…
Should I throw out my “expired” COVID-19 rapid antigen tests?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
A) Not so fast!🛑 Before you toss those tests, check online for an expiration date extension. There’s a good chance that the true expiration date is well beyond the date printed on the box. To hunt down extended expiration dates and understand why they can be moving targets, read on: In the United States, 13 Read more…
I heard that US life expectancy fell again. Does this mean *my* lifespan will be shorter?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Not necessarily. Despite the name, life expectancy doesn’t predict the lifespan of individuals. But as a “snapshot” of mortality in the US, the news is not good. Recent U.S. CDC estimates show a loss of a 2.7 years of life expectancy in 2021 compared to 2019. Surprisingly, despite the vaccine roll-out, U.S. life expectancy Read more…
How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough? – Courtney from TX Short answer: adults need a Tdap shot every 10 years & in the 3rd trimester of *each* pregnancy. Who needs a whooping cough vaccine Whooping cough is another name for pertussis. The vaccine for adults and older kids is Read more…
Is it safe to skip periods on birth control?
Reproductive Health
Alexandra Hall, MD
Yes, you can safely skip periods on hormonal birth control. Menstrual periods are often no fun. Aside from the hassle, they can also cause cramps, heavy bleeding, headaches, and mood symptoms. In severe cases, periods can be disabling, disrupting work, school, family life, and self-care. Wouldn’t it be great to just skip them? You actually Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help available. People can call, text 988 or chat here in the U.S. For TTY (teletypewriter) Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Línea de Prevención del Suicidio Read more…
Q: Does hormonal birth control have consequences for mental health?
Mental Health Reproductive Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: It’s possible but unlikely for most people. Hormonal forms of birth control, such as the pill, patch, ring, shot, and some types of IUD, can occasionally cause mood side effects. This makes sense, as there are receptors for these hormones in brain cells. It appears that for most people, any mood symptoms that occur Read more…
Q: What’s the update on COVID-sniffing dogs?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Dogs have proven their awesome ability to identify the smell of COVID-19 patients, but the logistics and cost are slowing down widespread implementation. As we’ve reported in prior posts, medical detection dogs have the miraculous capacity to sniff out COVID-19 patients from their sweat, saliva, or urine. This super sniffing power may allow Read more…
A: Getting a flu vaccination by the end of October is a great way to protect yourself. Although it is available as early as July, getting a vaccine in September or October helps protect you for the part of flu season that typically has the highest rates of infections. When is flu season? Seasonal Read more…
Is 2 months the minimum or guideline for getting the updated booster after my last dose?
VaccinesAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: In the U.S., people 12 + years old can get the updated bivalent booster 2 months after they received the last dose in the primary series or a dose of the original booster. People who were recently infected may decide to wait a little longer to maximize the benefit of getting boosted. TL;DR: If Read more…
Hispanic Heritage Month–Check out Querida Pandemia for Spanish-language posts!
Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we would like to give a shout out to las nerdy girls at Querida Pandemia (QP), our Spanish language facebook site. Dr. Sandra Albrecht leads the team to make evidence-based science available and digestible in Spanish. With 50,000 followers and growing, the Spanish squad is reaching people with Read more…
Is polio back?
Infectious Diseases
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: Polio was never gone, but there is a re-emergence in places where it has not been found for many decades. Polio is an infectious disease that many Americans over 70 might remember from their childhoods. Mass vaccination campaigns in the U.S. and many other countries largely stopped the virus from circulating for many decades, Read more…
“Why is the current breast feeding recommendation at least 2 years?
Families/Kids Reproductive Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
“Why is the current breast feeding recommendation at least 2 years? I feel like this puts a lot of pressure on moms (in a world that has enough ongoing pressures!)” –Karen from Madison, WI TL,DR: Individual breast/chest** feeding duration recommendations vary according to context and shared decision making involving parents, baby’s needs, their pediatric clinicians Read more…
Should I throw out my “expired” COVID-19 rapid antigen tests?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
A) Not so fast!🛑 Before you toss those tests, check online for an expiration date extension. There’s a good chance that the true expiration date is well beyond the date printed on the box. To hunt down extended expiration dates and understand why they can be moving targets, read on: In the United States, 13 Read more…
I heard that US life expectancy fell again. Does this mean *my* lifespan will be shorter?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Not necessarily. Despite the name, life expectancy doesn’t predict the lifespan of individuals. But as a “snapshot” of mortality in the US, the news is not good. Recent U.S. CDC estimates show a loss of a 2.7 years of life expectancy in 2021 compared to 2019. Surprisingly, despite the vaccine roll-out, U.S. life expectancy Read more…
How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough? – Courtney from TX Short answer: adults need a Tdap shot every 10 years & in the 3rd trimester of *each* pregnancy. Who needs a whooping cough vaccine Whooping cough is another name for pertussis. The vaccine for adults and older kids is Read more…
Is it safe to skip periods on birth control?
Reproductive Health
Alexandra Hall, MD
Yes, you can safely skip periods on hormonal birth control. Menstrual periods are often no fun. Aside from the hassle, they can also cause cramps, heavy bleeding, headaches, and mood symptoms. In severe cases, periods can be disabling, disrupting work, school, family life, and self-care. Wouldn’t it be great to just skip them? You actually Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help available. People can call, text 988 or chat here in the U.S. For TTY (teletypewriter) Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Línea de Prevención del Suicidio Read more…
Q: Does hormonal birth control have consequences for mental health?
Mental Health Reproductive Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: It’s possible but unlikely for most people. Hormonal forms of birth control, such as the pill, patch, ring, shot, and some types of IUD, can occasionally cause mood side effects. This makes sense, as there are receptors for these hormones in brain cells. It appears that for most people, any mood symptoms that occur Read more…
Q: What’s the update on COVID-sniffing dogs?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Dogs have proven their awesome ability to identify the smell of COVID-19 patients, but the logistics and cost are slowing down widespread implementation. As we’ve reported in prior posts, medical detection dogs have the miraculous capacity to sniff out COVID-19 patients from their sweat, saliva, or urine. This super sniffing power may allow Read more…
A: In the U.S., people 12 + years old can get the updated bivalent booster 2 months after they received the last dose in the primary series or a dose of the original booster. People who were recently infected may decide to wait a little longer to maximize the benefit of getting boosted. TL;DR: If Read more…
Hispanic Heritage Month–Check out Querida Pandemia for Spanish-language posts!
Women in STEMMalia Jones, PhD MPH
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we would like to give a shout out to las nerdy girls at Querida Pandemia (QP), our Spanish language facebook site. Dr. Sandra Albrecht leads the team to make evidence-based science available and digestible in Spanish. With 50,000 followers and growing, the Spanish squad is reaching people with Read more…
Is polio back?
Infectious Diseases
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: Polio was never gone, but there is a re-emergence in places where it has not been found for many decades. Polio is an infectious disease that many Americans over 70 might remember from their childhoods. Mass vaccination campaigns in the U.S. and many other countries largely stopped the virus from circulating for many decades, Read more…
“Why is the current breast feeding recommendation at least 2 years?
Families/Kids Reproductive Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
“Why is the current breast feeding recommendation at least 2 years? I feel like this puts a lot of pressure on moms (in a world that has enough ongoing pressures!)” –Karen from Madison, WI TL,DR: Individual breast/chest** feeding duration recommendations vary according to context and shared decision making involving parents, baby’s needs, their pediatric clinicians Read more…
Should I throw out my “expired” COVID-19 rapid antigen tests?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
A) Not so fast!🛑 Before you toss those tests, check online for an expiration date extension. There’s a good chance that the true expiration date is well beyond the date printed on the box. To hunt down extended expiration dates and understand why they can be moving targets, read on: In the United States, 13 Read more…
I heard that US life expectancy fell again. Does this mean *my* lifespan will be shorter?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Not necessarily. Despite the name, life expectancy doesn’t predict the lifespan of individuals. But as a “snapshot” of mortality in the US, the news is not good. Recent U.S. CDC estimates show a loss of a 2.7 years of life expectancy in 2021 compared to 2019. Surprisingly, despite the vaccine roll-out, U.S. life expectancy Read more…
How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough? – Courtney from TX Short answer: adults need a Tdap shot every 10 years & in the 3rd trimester of *each* pregnancy. Who needs a whooping cough vaccine Whooping cough is another name for pertussis. The vaccine for adults and older kids is Read more…
Is it safe to skip periods on birth control?
Reproductive Health
Alexandra Hall, MD
Yes, you can safely skip periods on hormonal birth control. Menstrual periods are often no fun. Aside from the hassle, they can also cause cramps, heavy bleeding, headaches, and mood symptoms. In severe cases, periods can be disabling, disrupting work, school, family life, and self-care. Wouldn’t it be great to just skip them? You actually Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help available. People can call, text 988 or chat here in the U.S. For TTY (teletypewriter) Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Línea de Prevención del Suicidio Read more…
Q: Does hormonal birth control have consequences for mental health?
Mental Health Reproductive Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: It’s possible but unlikely for most people. Hormonal forms of birth control, such as the pill, patch, ring, shot, and some types of IUD, can occasionally cause mood side effects. This makes sense, as there are receptors for these hormones in brain cells. It appears that for most people, any mood symptoms that occur Read more…
Q: What’s the update on COVID-sniffing dogs?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Dogs have proven their awesome ability to identify the smell of COVID-19 patients, but the logistics and cost are slowing down widespread implementation. As we’ve reported in prior posts, medical detection dogs have the miraculous capacity to sniff out COVID-19 patients from their sweat, saliva, or urine. This super sniffing power may allow Read more…
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we would like to give a shout out to las nerdy girls at Querida Pandemia (QP), our Spanish language facebook site. Dr. Sandra Albrecht leads the team to make evidence-based science available and digestible in Spanish. With 50,000 followers and growing, the Spanish squad is reaching people with Read more…
Is polio back?
Infectious DiseasesSara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: Polio was never gone, but there is a re-emergence in places where it has not been found for many decades. Polio is an infectious disease that many Americans over 70 might remember from their childhoods. Mass vaccination campaigns in the U.S. and many other countries largely stopped the virus from circulating for many decades, Read more…
“Why is the current breast feeding recommendation at least 2 years?
Families/Kids Reproductive Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
“Why is the current breast feeding recommendation at least 2 years? I feel like this puts a lot of pressure on moms (in a world that has enough ongoing pressures!)” –Karen from Madison, WI TL,DR: Individual breast/chest** feeding duration recommendations vary according to context and shared decision making involving parents, baby’s needs, their pediatric clinicians Read more…
Should I throw out my “expired” COVID-19 rapid antigen tests?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
A) Not so fast!🛑 Before you toss those tests, check online for an expiration date extension. There’s a good chance that the true expiration date is well beyond the date printed on the box. To hunt down extended expiration dates and understand why they can be moving targets, read on: In the United States, 13 Read more…
I heard that US life expectancy fell again. Does this mean *my* lifespan will be shorter?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Not necessarily. Despite the name, life expectancy doesn’t predict the lifespan of individuals. But as a “snapshot” of mortality in the US, the news is not good. Recent U.S. CDC estimates show a loss of a 2.7 years of life expectancy in 2021 compared to 2019. Surprisingly, despite the vaccine roll-out, U.S. life expectancy Read more…
How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough? – Courtney from TX Short answer: adults need a Tdap shot every 10 years & in the 3rd trimester of *each* pregnancy. Who needs a whooping cough vaccine Whooping cough is another name for pertussis. The vaccine for adults and older kids is Read more…
Is it safe to skip periods on birth control?
Reproductive Health
Alexandra Hall, MD
Yes, you can safely skip periods on hormonal birth control. Menstrual periods are often no fun. Aside from the hassle, they can also cause cramps, heavy bleeding, headaches, and mood symptoms. In severe cases, periods can be disabling, disrupting work, school, family life, and self-care. Wouldn’t it be great to just skip them? You actually Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help available. People can call, text 988 or chat here in the U.S. For TTY (teletypewriter) Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Línea de Prevención del Suicidio Read more…
Q: Does hormonal birth control have consequences for mental health?
Mental Health Reproductive Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: It’s possible but unlikely for most people. Hormonal forms of birth control, such as the pill, patch, ring, shot, and some types of IUD, can occasionally cause mood side effects. This makes sense, as there are receptors for these hormones in brain cells. It appears that for most people, any mood symptoms that occur Read more…
Q: What’s the update on COVID-sniffing dogs?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Dogs have proven their awesome ability to identify the smell of COVID-19 patients, but the logistics and cost are slowing down widespread implementation. As we’ve reported in prior posts, medical detection dogs have the miraculous capacity to sniff out COVID-19 patients from their sweat, saliva, or urine. This super sniffing power may allow Read more…
A: Polio was never gone, but there is a re-emergence in places where it has not been found for many decades. Polio is an infectious disease that many Americans over 70 might remember from their childhoods. Mass vaccination campaigns in the U.S. and many other countries largely stopped the virus from circulating for many decades, Read more…
“Why is the current breast feeding recommendation at least 2 years?
Families/Kids Reproductive HealthMK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
“Why is the current breast feeding recommendation at least 2 years? I feel like this puts a lot of pressure on moms (in a world that has enough ongoing pressures!)” –Karen from Madison, WI TL,DR: Individual breast/chest** feeding duration recommendations vary according to context and shared decision making involving parents, baby’s needs, their pediatric clinicians Read more…
Should I throw out my “expired” COVID-19 rapid antigen tests?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
A) Not so fast!🛑 Before you toss those tests, check online for an expiration date extension. There’s a good chance that the true expiration date is well beyond the date printed on the box. To hunt down extended expiration dates and understand why they can be moving targets, read on: In the United States, 13 Read more…
I heard that US life expectancy fell again. Does this mean *my* lifespan will be shorter?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Not necessarily. Despite the name, life expectancy doesn’t predict the lifespan of individuals. But as a “snapshot” of mortality in the US, the news is not good. Recent U.S. CDC estimates show a loss of a 2.7 years of life expectancy in 2021 compared to 2019. Surprisingly, despite the vaccine roll-out, U.S. life expectancy Read more…
How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough? – Courtney from TX Short answer: adults need a Tdap shot every 10 years & in the 3rd trimester of *each* pregnancy. Who needs a whooping cough vaccine Whooping cough is another name for pertussis. The vaccine for adults and older kids is Read more…
Is it safe to skip periods on birth control?
Reproductive Health
Alexandra Hall, MD
Yes, you can safely skip periods on hormonal birth control. Menstrual periods are often no fun. Aside from the hassle, they can also cause cramps, heavy bleeding, headaches, and mood symptoms. In severe cases, periods can be disabling, disrupting work, school, family life, and self-care. Wouldn’t it be great to just skip them? You actually Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help available. People can call, text 988 or chat here in the U.S. For TTY (teletypewriter) Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Línea de Prevención del Suicidio Read more…
Q: Does hormonal birth control have consequences for mental health?
Mental Health Reproductive Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: It’s possible but unlikely for most people. Hormonal forms of birth control, such as the pill, patch, ring, shot, and some types of IUD, can occasionally cause mood side effects. This makes sense, as there are receptors for these hormones in brain cells. It appears that for most people, any mood symptoms that occur Read more…
Q: What’s the update on COVID-sniffing dogs?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Dogs have proven their awesome ability to identify the smell of COVID-19 patients, but the logistics and cost are slowing down widespread implementation. As we’ve reported in prior posts, medical detection dogs have the miraculous capacity to sniff out COVID-19 patients from their sweat, saliva, or urine. This super sniffing power may allow Read more…
“Why is the current breast feeding recommendation at least 2 years? I feel like this puts a lot of pressure on moms (in a world that has enough ongoing pressures!)” –Karen from Madison, WI TL,DR: Individual breast/chest** feeding duration recommendations vary according to context and shared decision making involving parents, baby’s needs, their pediatric clinicians Read more…
Should I throw out my “expired” COVID-19 rapid antigen tests?
Testing and Contact TracingChana Davis, PhD
A) Not so fast!🛑 Before you toss those tests, check online for an expiration date extension. There’s a good chance that the true expiration date is well beyond the date printed on the box. To hunt down extended expiration dates and understand why they can be moving targets, read on: In the United States, 13 Read more…
I heard that US life expectancy fell again. Does this mean *my* lifespan will be shorter?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Not necessarily. Despite the name, life expectancy doesn’t predict the lifespan of individuals. But as a “snapshot” of mortality in the US, the news is not good. Recent U.S. CDC estimates show a loss of a 2.7 years of life expectancy in 2021 compared to 2019. Surprisingly, despite the vaccine roll-out, U.S. life expectancy Read more…
How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough? – Courtney from TX Short answer: adults need a Tdap shot every 10 years & in the 3rd trimester of *each* pregnancy. Who needs a whooping cough vaccine Whooping cough is another name for pertussis. The vaccine for adults and older kids is Read more…
Is it safe to skip periods on birth control?
Reproductive Health
Alexandra Hall, MD
Yes, you can safely skip periods on hormonal birth control. Menstrual periods are often no fun. Aside from the hassle, they can also cause cramps, heavy bleeding, headaches, and mood symptoms. In severe cases, periods can be disabling, disrupting work, school, family life, and self-care. Wouldn’t it be great to just skip them? You actually Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help available. People can call, text 988 or chat here in the U.S. For TTY (teletypewriter) Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Línea de Prevención del Suicidio Read more…
Q: Does hormonal birth control have consequences for mental health?
Mental Health Reproductive Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: It’s possible but unlikely for most people. Hormonal forms of birth control, such as the pill, patch, ring, shot, and some types of IUD, can occasionally cause mood side effects. This makes sense, as there are receptors for these hormones in brain cells. It appears that for most people, any mood symptoms that occur Read more…
Q: What’s the update on COVID-sniffing dogs?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Dogs have proven their awesome ability to identify the smell of COVID-19 patients, but the logistics and cost are slowing down widespread implementation. As we’ve reported in prior posts, medical detection dogs have the miraculous capacity to sniff out COVID-19 patients from their sweat, saliva, or urine. This super sniffing power may allow Read more…
A) Not so fast!🛑 Before you toss those tests, check online for an expiration date extension. There’s a good chance that the true expiration date is well beyond the date printed on the box. To hunt down extended expiration dates and understand why they can be moving targets, read on: In the United States, 13 Read more…
I heard that US life expectancy fell again. Does this mean *my* lifespan will be shorter?
Data and Metrics Data LiteracyJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Not necessarily. Despite the name, life expectancy doesn’t predict the lifespan of individuals. But as a “snapshot” of mortality in the US, the news is not good. Recent U.S. CDC estimates show a loss of a 2.7 years of life expectancy in 2021 compared to 2019. Surprisingly, despite the vaccine roll-out, U.S. life expectancy Read more…
How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough? – Courtney from TX Short answer: adults need a Tdap shot every 10 years & in the 3rd trimester of *each* pregnancy. Who needs a whooping cough vaccine Whooping cough is another name for pertussis. The vaccine for adults and older kids is Read more…
Is it safe to skip periods on birth control?
Reproductive Health
Alexandra Hall, MD
Yes, you can safely skip periods on hormonal birth control. Menstrual periods are often no fun. Aside from the hassle, they can also cause cramps, heavy bleeding, headaches, and mood symptoms. In severe cases, periods can be disabling, disrupting work, school, family life, and self-care. Wouldn’t it be great to just skip them? You actually Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help available. People can call, text 988 or chat here in the U.S. For TTY (teletypewriter) Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Línea de Prevención del Suicidio Read more…
Q: Does hormonal birth control have consequences for mental health?
Mental Health Reproductive Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: It’s possible but unlikely for most people. Hormonal forms of birth control, such as the pill, patch, ring, shot, and some types of IUD, can occasionally cause mood side effects. This makes sense, as there are receptors for these hormones in brain cells. It appears that for most people, any mood symptoms that occur Read more…
Q: What’s the update on COVID-sniffing dogs?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Dogs have proven their awesome ability to identify the smell of COVID-19 patients, but the logistics and cost are slowing down widespread implementation. As we’ve reported in prior posts, medical detection dogs have the miraculous capacity to sniff out COVID-19 patients from their sweat, saliva, or urine. This super sniffing power may allow Read more…
A: Not necessarily. Despite the name, life expectancy doesn’t predict the lifespan of individuals. But as a “snapshot” of mortality in the US, the news is not good. Recent U.S. CDC estimates show a loss of a 2.7 years of life expectancy in 2021 compared to 2019. Surprisingly, despite the vaccine roll-out, U.S. life expectancy Read more…
How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough?
Infectious Diseases VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough? – Courtney from TX Short answer: adults need a Tdap shot every 10 years & in the 3rd trimester of *each* pregnancy. Who needs a whooping cough vaccine Whooping cough is another name for pertussis. The vaccine for adults and older kids is Read more…
Is it safe to skip periods on birth control?
Reproductive Health
Alexandra Hall, MD
Yes, you can safely skip periods on hormonal birth control. Menstrual periods are often no fun. Aside from the hassle, they can also cause cramps, heavy bleeding, headaches, and mood symptoms. In severe cases, periods can be disabling, disrupting work, school, family life, and self-care. Wouldn’t it be great to just skip them? You actually Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help available. People can call, text 988 or chat here in the U.S. For TTY (teletypewriter) Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Línea de Prevención del Suicidio Read more…
Q: Does hormonal birth control have consequences for mental health?
Mental Health Reproductive Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: It’s possible but unlikely for most people. Hormonal forms of birth control, such as the pill, patch, ring, shot, and some types of IUD, can occasionally cause mood side effects. This makes sense, as there are receptors for these hormones in brain cells. It appears that for most people, any mood symptoms that occur Read more…
Q: What’s the update on COVID-sniffing dogs?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Dogs have proven their awesome ability to identify the smell of COVID-19 patients, but the logistics and cost are slowing down widespread implementation. As we’ve reported in prior posts, medical detection dogs have the miraculous capacity to sniff out COVID-19 patients from their sweat, saliva, or urine. This super sniffing power may allow Read more…
Q: How often should we be getting a vaccine against whooping cough? – Courtney from TX Short answer: adults need a Tdap shot every 10 years & in the 3rd trimester of *each* pregnancy. Who needs a whooping cough vaccine Whooping cough is another name for pertussis. The vaccine for adults and older kids is Read more…
Is it safe to skip periods on birth control?
Reproductive HealthAlexandra Hall, MD
Yes, you can safely skip periods on hormonal birth control. Menstrual periods are often no fun. Aside from the hassle, they can also cause cramps, heavy bleeding, headaches, and mood symptoms. In severe cases, periods can be disabling, disrupting work, school, family life, and self-care. Wouldn’t it be great to just skip them? You actually Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help available. People can call, text 988 or chat here in the U.S. For TTY (teletypewriter) Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Línea de Prevención del Suicidio Read more…
Q: Does hormonal birth control have consequences for mental health?
Mental Health Reproductive Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: It’s possible but unlikely for most people. Hormonal forms of birth control, such as the pill, patch, ring, shot, and some types of IUD, can occasionally cause mood side effects. This makes sense, as there are receptors for these hormones in brain cells. It appears that for most people, any mood symptoms that occur Read more…
Q: What’s the update on COVID-sniffing dogs?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Dogs have proven their awesome ability to identify the smell of COVID-19 patients, but the logistics and cost are slowing down widespread implementation. As we’ve reported in prior posts, medical detection dogs have the miraculous capacity to sniff out COVID-19 patients from their sweat, saliva, or urine. This super sniffing power may allow Read more…
Yes, you can safely skip periods on hormonal birth control. Menstrual periods are often no fun. Aside from the hassle, they can also cause cramps, heavy bleeding, headaches, and mood symptoms. In severe cases, periods can be disabling, disrupting work, school, family life, and self-care. Wouldn’t it be great to just skip them? You actually Read more…
What can I do to help prevent suicide?
Mental HealthMK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help available. People can call, text 988 or chat here in the U.S. For TTY (teletypewriter) Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Línea de Prevención del Suicidio Read more…
Q: Does hormonal birth control have consequences for mental health?
Mental Health Reproductive Health
Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: It’s possible but unlikely for most people. Hormonal forms of birth control, such as the pill, patch, ring, shot, and some types of IUD, can occasionally cause mood side effects. This makes sense, as there are receptors for these hormones in brain cells. It appears that for most people, any mood symptoms that occur Read more…
Q: What’s the update on COVID-sniffing dogs?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Dogs have proven their awesome ability to identify the smell of COVID-19 patients, but the logistics and cost are slowing down widespread implementation. As we’ve reported in prior posts, medical detection dogs have the miraculous capacity to sniff out COVID-19 patients from their sweat, saliva, or urine. This super sniffing power may allow Read more…
Content Warning: This post discusses the prevention of death by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help available. People can call, text 988 or chat here in the U.S. For TTY (teletypewriter) Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Línea de Prevención del Suicidio Read more…
Q: Does hormonal birth control have consequences for mental health?
Mental Health Reproductive HealthSara Gorman, PhD, MPH
A: It’s possible but unlikely for most people. Hormonal forms of birth control, such as the pill, patch, ring, shot, and some types of IUD, can occasionally cause mood side effects. This makes sense, as there are receptors for these hormones in brain cells. It appears that for most people, any mood symptoms that occur Read more…
Q: What’s the update on COVID-sniffing dogs?
Testing and Contact Tracing Travel
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Dogs have proven their awesome ability to identify the smell of COVID-19 patients, but the logistics and cost are slowing down widespread implementation. As we’ve reported in prior posts, medical detection dogs have the miraculous capacity to sniff out COVID-19 patients from their sweat, saliva, or urine. This super sniffing power may allow Read more…
A: It’s possible but unlikely for most people. Hormonal forms of birth control, such as the pill, patch, ring, shot, and some types of IUD, can occasionally cause mood side effects. This makes sense, as there are receptors for these hormones in brain cells. It appears that for most people, any mood symptoms that occur Read more…
Q: What’s the update on COVID-sniffing dogs?
Testing and Contact Tracing TravelLauren Hale, PhD MA
A: TL;DR. Dogs have proven their awesome ability to identify the smell of COVID-19 patients, but the logistics and cost are slowing down widespread implementation. As we’ve reported in prior posts, medical detection dogs have the miraculous capacity to sniff out COVID-19 patients from their sweat, saliva, or urine. This super sniffing power may allow Read more…
A: TL;DR. Dogs have proven their awesome ability to identify the smell of COVID-19 patients, but the logistics and cost are slowing down widespread implementation. As we’ve reported in prior posts, medical detection dogs have the miraculous capacity to sniff out COVID-19 patients from their sweat, saliva, or urine. This super sniffing power may allow Read more…
