In the past five years, several new drugs have been brought to market that could lead to a profound, if not revolutionary, change in how health care providers – and…
Category: Anthropology
Cytomegalovirus lies dormant in most US adults and is the leading infectious cause of birth defects, but few have heard of it
“Why didn’t anyone tell me about this virus?” is a frequent response I hear from parents upon learning their newborn is infected with cytomegalovirus, or CMV. Although more than half…
Including race in clinical algorithms can both reduce and increase health inequities – it depends on what doctors use them for
Health practitioners are increasingly concerned that because race is a social construct, and the biological mechanisms of how race affects clinical outcomes are often unknown, including race in predictive algorithms…
A little-understood sleep disorder affects millions and has clear links to dementia – 4 questions answered
A little-known and poorly understood sleep disorder that occurs during the rapid eye movement, or REM, stage of sleep has been garnering attention for its role in foreshadowing neurodegenerative brain…
Anesthesia can cause disturbing sexual hallucinations, leading to lasting psychological trauma
Some patients can have vivid and detailed sexual hallucinations during anesthesia with sedative-hypnotic drugs like propofol, midazolam, diazepam and nitrous oxide. Some make suggestive or sexual comments or act out,…
Trans joy and family bonds are big parts of the transgender experience lost in media coverage and anti-trans legislation
Since the beginning of 2023, 49 U.S. state legislatures have introduced over 500 anti-trans bills. While mainstream media increasingly cover violence and legislative attacks against trans people, many scholars and…
How wildfire smoke can harm human health, even when the fire is hundreds of miles away – a toxicologist explains
Smoke from more than 200 wildfires burning across Canada has been turning skies hazy in North American cities far from the flames. We asked Chris Migliaccio, a toxicologist at the…
Wildfire smoke can harm human health, even when the fire is hundreds of miles away – a toxicologist explains why
Smoke from more than 100 wildfires burning across Canada has been rolling into North American cities far from the flames. New York City and Detroit were both listed among the…
Balance declines with age, but exercise can help stave off some of the risk of falling
My wife and I were in the grocery store recently when we noticed an older woman reaching above her head for some produce. As she stretched out her hand, she…
Parasitic infections hit the health of low-income Black communities where states have neglected sewage systems
Intestinal infections take a heavy toll on impoverished Black communities that have out-of-date sewage systems. These infections often spread through contaminated soil and water and are among the most common…
