The COVID-19 pandemic’s public health emergency status in the U.S. expires on May 11, 2023. And on May 5, the World Health Organization declared an end to the COVID-19 public…
Category: Anthropology
FDA’s approval of the world’s first vaccine against RSV will offer a new tool in an old fight – 4 questions answered
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the world’s first vaccine to prevent the respiratory infection RSV, short for respiratory syncytial virus, on May 3, 2023. The new shot represents…
Disinfectants and cleaning products harboring toxic chemicals are widely used despite lack of screening for potential health hazards
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Concerns about unnecessary use of a common class of antimicrobial chemicals used in disinfectants reinforces recommendations…
Many people are tired of grappling with long COVID – here are some evidence-based ways to counter it
A patient of mine, once a marathon runner, now gets tired just walking around the block. She developed COVID-19 during the 2020 Christmas holiday and saw me during the summer…
Medicaid work requirements would leave more low-income people without health insurance – but this policy is unlikely to pass this time around
The legislative package the U.S. House of Representatives passed on April 26, 2023, by a narrow margin would pare federal spending over the next decade while also raising the debt…
Mindfulness, meditation and self-compassion – a clinical psychologist explains how these science-backed practices can improve mental health
Mindfulness and self-compassion are now buzzwords for self-improvement. But in fact, a growing body of research shows these practices can lead to real mental health benefits. This research – ongoing,…
Obesity in children is rising dramatically, and it comes with major – and sometimes lifelong – health consequences
In the past two decades, children have become more obese and have developed obesity at a younger age. A 2020 report found that 14.7 million children and adolescents in the…
Black mothers trapped in unsafe neighborhoods signal the stressful health toll of gun violence in the U.S.
Black mothers are the canaries in the coal mine when it comes to the mental and physical harms of stress from living with gun violence in America. In the U.S.,…
Cannabis-derived products like delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC have flooded the US market – two immunologists explain the medicinal benefits and potential risks
These days you see signs for delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC and CBD, or cannabidiol, everywhere – at gas stations, convenience stores, vape shops and online. Many people are rightly wondering…
‘Got polio?’ messaging underscores a vaccine campaign’s success but creates false sense of security as memories of the disease fade in US
“Got Polio? Me neither. Thanks, Science.” Messages like this are used in memes, posters, T-shirts and even some billboards to promote routine vaccinations. As this catchy statement reminds people of…
