The U.S. is in the midst of a racial reckoning. The COVID-19 pandemic, which took a particularly heavy toll on Black communities, turned a harsh spotlight on long-standing health disparities…
Category: Anthropology
CRISPR and other new technologies open doors for drug development, but which diseases get prioritized? It comes down to money and science
Prescription drugs and vaccines revolutionized health care, dramatically decreasing death from disease and improving quality of life across the globe. But how do researchers, universities and hospitals, and the pharmaceutical…
Drinking during holidays and special occasions could affect how you parent your kids
How much alcohol do you typically drink in a week? A month? A year? Did your answer take into account how much you drink on New Year’s Eve? On Christmas?…
Health misinformation is rampant on social media – here’s what it does, why it spreads and what people can do about it
The global anti-vaccine movement and vaccine hesitancy that accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic show no signs of abating. According to a survey of U.S. adults, Americans in October 2023 were…
How do pacemakers and defibrillators work? A cardiologist explains how they interact with the electrical system of the heart
Your heart’s job is to keep your pulse steady to pump blood throughout your body. Sometimes your heart rate is slower when you’re relaxing, and sometimes it’s faster when you’re…
The holidays and your brain – a neuroscientist explains how to identify and manage your emotions
Just as the shift to shorter days and colder weather can bring with it mood swings and other emotional challenges, the holiday season can also bring about somewhat predictable changes…
What does weight-inclusive health care mean? A dietitian explains what some providers are doing to end weight stigma
Weight-inclusive health care means a focus on better health with no weight loss required. This includes practices such as eating for overall well-being rather than for the number of calories.…
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in the weedkiller Roundup, is showing up in pregnant women living near farm fields – that raises health concerns
Living near farmland can significantly increase people’s exposure to glyphosate, the active ingredient in the widely used herbicide Roundup, new research shows. This chemical has been connected to health concerns,…
Texas is suing Planned Parenthood for $1.8B over $10M in allegedly fraudulent services it rendered – a health care economist explains what’s going on
Planned Parenthood no longer provides abortions in Texas, Louisiana and the other 10 states that have essentially banned abortion since the Supreme Court handed down its Dobbs v. Jackson decision…
Native American mothers whose children have been separated from them experience a raw and ongoing grief that has no end
Native American mothers whose children were separated from them – either through child removal for assimilation into residential boarding schools or through coerced adoption – experience the kind of grief…
