As the autumn’s cool weather settles in, so does flu season – bringing with it the familiar experiences of sniffles, fever and cough. Every year, influenza – the flu –…
Category: Anthropology
Can you really be addicted to food? Researchers are uncovering convincing similarities to drug addiction
People often joke that their favorite snack is “like crack” or call themselves “chocoholics” in jest. But can someone really be addicted to food in the same way they could…
A Denver MD has spent 2 decades working with hospitalized patients experiencing homelessness − here’s what she fears and what gives her hope
On a recent early fall morning, hope was in short supply. My first patient was a regular. Mr. D was a man in his 50s with diabetes. He had been…
Seasonal allergies may increase suicide risk – new research
Seasonal allergies – triggered by pollen – appear to make deaths by suicide more likely. Our findings, published in the Journal of Health Economics, show that minor physical health conditions…
1 gene, 1 disease no more – acknowledging the full complexity of genetics could improve and personalize medicine
Genetic inheritance may sound straightforward: One gene causes one trait or a specific illness. When doctors use genetics, it’s usually to try to identify a disease-causing gene to help guide…
Even small drops in vaccination rates for US children can lead to disease outbreaks
More than three-quarters of U.S. counties and jurisdictions are experiencing declines in childhood vaccination rates, a trend that began in 2019, according to a September 2025 NBC News–Stanford University investigation.…
Health insurance subsidy standoff pits affordable care for millions against federal budget constraints
As the federal government entered a shutdown on Oct. 1, 2025, competing narratives quickly emerged about the cause. Some Republican lawmakers objected to Democrats’ push to include an extension of…
When pharmacists’ and patients’ values collide
Imagine walking into your pharmacy, handing over your prescription and having it denied. Now imagine that the reason is not insufficient insurance coverage or the wrong dose, but a pharmacist…
How the government shutdown is hitting the health care system – and what the battle over ACA subsidies means
Major rifts over key health care issues are at the heart of the federal government shutdown that began at the stroke of midnight on Oct. 1, 2025. This is not…
As an OB-GYN, I see firsthand how misleading statements on acetaminophen leave expectant parents confused, fearful and lacking in options
When President Donald Trump adamantly proclaimed in a press conference on Sept. 22, 2025, that pregnant women should not take Tylenol, I immediately thought about my own experiences during my…
