When many people think of an average lung cancer patient, they often imagine an older man smoking. But the face of lung cancer has changed. Over the past 15 years,…
Category: Anthropology
Which nicotine product is actually the least harmful?
“Do you smoke cigarettes?” I asked my patient succinctly in a recent clinic appointment. He matter-of-factly responded, “Not anymore, I use Zyn pouches now.” As with any patient, I gauged…
That brightly packaged sexual enhancement pill at the gas station might be laced with dangerous drugs
Brightly colored packaging, promises of better sexual performance and names like “Rhino,” “Anaconda” and “Magnum” make sexual enhancement products difficult to miss. They can be found online, in convenience stores…
I teach doctors how to interpret test results – and the labels ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ often hide what matters most
Mr. V felt tightness across his chest. His deepest breaths felt shallow. He sought help at an emergency department, where a resident physician found several worrying signs, including swelling of…
When abortion and surrogacy law collide, contracts can’t answer the hardest questions
Surrogacy arrangements – agreements for someone to carry a pregnancy for the intended parents – have existed for millennia, and modern surrogacy contracts for half a century. These contracts typically…
Sexual assault survivors’ stories may shift over time – a psychologist explains why it doesn’t mean they’re lying
If a person’s story changes in the weeks following an alleged sexual assault, are they not telling the truth? It’s a criticism I’ve seen on social media and heard in…
Why your boss matters more than remote or hybrid work when it comes to burnout and job satisfaction
The post-pandemic push to bring workers back to the office has left many nostalgic for more flexible arrangements, such as hybrid or remote work. But a wealth of data since…
Flu season is near – here’s a guide to available vaccines
The number of people sick with flu is starting to increase across the United States, with health authorities warning that in some western regions of the country, the 2026-27 flu…
What is a professional patient advocate, and why might you need one?
Imagine your mom has just been discharged from the hospital to a rehabilitation center after hip replacement surgery. She has the paperwork, the facility’s address – and a long list…
Does your sleep tracker get it right? A Pittsburgh neuroscientist weighs in
On a typical night, I go to bed wearing a tracking watch on one wrist and another type of tracker on the other wrist. Then I compare their sleep findings…
