Care.com • 15th July 2020

Covid-19 Vaccines And Kids: What We Do (And Don’t) Know So Far

While researchers attempt to condense a years-long process into just 12-18 months, some parents are left wondering when, exactly, will a COVID-19 vaccine be ready? How well will it work? And will it be safe? Here’s what experts had to say.

Berxi • 4th April 2020

5 Coping Strategies for Healthcare Pros in High-Stress Situations

Between routine staff shortages, workplace bullying, and growing paperwork demands, many healthcare professionals are stressed out -- to the point of burnout. Mental health experts warn that emergency situations like the COVID-19 pandemic can compound that stress and lead to potentially serious mental health issues. Here are some things that might help.

Care.com • 17th March 2020

Social Distance: How Does It Compare To Quarantine And Isolation?

As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spreads throughout the U.S. and elsewhere, health officials are asking everyone to practice social distancing. But what exactly is it? How does it work? And do you really need to keep your family in a bubble? Here's what health experts want you to know about social distancing and why it's so important right now.

Verywell Health • 10th March 2020

How to Prepare for a Pandemic

The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 (coronavirus) a pandemic. The threat of a disease spreading across the globe should be taken seriously. There are real, actionable things you can do to soften the impact a pandemic might have on your life and those you care about.

Verywell Health • 16th August 2019

How to Talk About Caregiver Burnout

This Conversation Coach will simulate a real chat—either with a loved one with cancer or a different friend or relative—to give you tips for asking for help and avoiding caregiver burnout.

The Washington Post • 7th October 2018

Flu can be a killer, but some refuse to take a shot

Latasha Haynes was 34 when she almost died of the flu last year. What started as a little coughing and fatigue ended with two blood transfusions and a diagnosis of congestive heart failure weeks later. Flu had caused damage to her heart muscles and the saclike tissue around it. She survived, but just barely, and it took her months to recover.

The Washington Post • 11th August 2018

Here’s what parents should tell kids before the school year begins

Preparing kids for school takes more than vaccines and backpacks. Bullying and technology look different than they did a few decades ago, and the Internet has ushered in a new age of misinformation and anxiety. From Head Start to high school and college, kids need help navigating complex social and safety issues — ideally, before they happen. Here are some things that experts say parents should be thinking about as their kids and teens head back to school.

The Washington Post • 19th February 2018

My toddler was so sick with the flu. Here’s why I think he survived.

I knew my son was sick when he didn’t want the iPad. Normally, my energetic toddler would have been begging to get his sticky fingers on the screen, but when I set it down next to him, he didn’t even reach for it.

Verywell • 24th January 2018

What Is Health Equity and How Do We Get There?

In 2010, the U.S. government pinned down the definition of health equity as the “attainment of the highest level of health for all people.” That means everyone, regardless of race, socio-economic status, geography, or circumstance, has the same shot at living a healthy life. It is a lofty goal, and to achieve it will require some pretty big changes at all levels—from individuals to society as a whole.

Verywell • 27th December 2017

5 Things to Know About America’s Struggle With Opioids

Like many public health issues, there's no easy solution to the opioid epidemic. Combatting the abuse of these drugs will take a multi-disciplinary approach that includes everyone from single individuals to massive government entities.

Verywell • 22nd December 2017

What Would a Public Health Approach to Gun Violence Look Like?

The United States sees more gun violence than any other developed nation. More than 33,000 people die every year as a result of firearms—roughly the same as car crashes—yet United States officials don't approach gun violence in the same way they do other health and safety issues, like infectious diseases or drownings. Why not? And what if we did?

The Washington Post • 7th December 2017

What Happens When We Ask Parents with Sick (or Unvaccinated) Kids to Stay Away

My son saw a doctor 28 times before he turned 1 year old — roughly once every two weeks. It was miserable but not wholly unexpected. I knew when he started day care he would get sick; I just didn’t know how much. With every illness came the gut-wrenching reminder that I couldn’t protect him from everything, and equally awful: I knew he would probably infect others, too.

Verywell • 16th November 2017

What Vaccines Do Health Care Professionals Need?

People who work in health care settings are frequently exposed to germs while being with or around patients. Vaccinating healthcare personnel (HCP), like physicians and nurses, helps protect them from potentially dangerous diseases like flu and whooping cough, as well as protects the patients they care for. All adults should make sure they are up-to-date on all routinely recommended vaccines. But if you're an HCP or work in a health care setting, there are six shots in particular that are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

Verywell • 30th October 2017

How Do Vaccines Work, Exactly?

Credited for causing drastic reductions in dangerous diseases like measles and polio, vaccines are widely heralded as one of the greatest public health achievements in modern history. But how do they work? How can a simple shot protect us from getting sick? Vaccination trains your body's immune system to identify and fight specific diseases. It's is a lot like prepping your army before a war begins.

The Points Guy • 28th October 2017

Why You Feel Lousy After a Long Flight

Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt the long-haul hangover. You know the feeling — after spending several hours on the plane, you pull yourself onto the jetway tired and queasy, with a foggy head and slight headache. You feel gross and not just because you need a shower. While some might blame this general state of ickiness on jet lag, germs or recycled air, the reason we feel so lousy after a long flight actually has more to do with chemistry — specifically, how our bodies react to the change in chemistry that happens miles above the ground. Here’s a look at four key factors that play into this, and four tips for making it easier.

Verywell • 20th October 2017

What Challenges Still Exist for the Deaf Community?

What life is like for the deaf and hard of hearing (HOH) has changed significantly in the past half century. Policy changes and new technologies have provided solutions for many, and yet some hurdles have stayed the same.

Verywell • 2nd October 2017

Why Are Some Diseases Making a Comeback?

In the past century or so, humans have fought—and won—their fair share of battles with disease. Vaccines defeated smallpox. Antibiotics conquered scarlet fever. And insecticide scaled back mosquito-borne illnesses. Despite these successes, some diseases appear to be making a comeback. Outbreaks of measles and mumps have made more than a few headlines of late, and once-lost pathogens like cholera are creeping back into medical histories. While the reasons behind the rise and fall of diseases are often complex and difficult to pin down, here are a few key reasons behind some of these resurgences.

Verywell • 26th September 2017

Vaccines in Pregnancy: What You Should Know

When seemingly harmless things like cold cuts and soft serve ice cream suddenly become off-limits, the world can be a downright scary place for a pregnant woman. The many do's and don'ts can leave you feeling cautious about everything you put in your body—including getting vaccinated. But like prenatal vitamins and exercise, vaccines are an important part of a healthy pregnancy.

The Points Guy • 24th September 2017

Study Links Sitting Too Long With Increased Risk of Death

Sitting around and not exercising is bad for your health — that’s not news. But a new study is making waves after finding that people who had long bouts of sedentary behavior were at an increased risk of dying regardless of whether they exercised or not. So what does that mean for frequent flyers?

Verywell • 5th September 2017

5 Health Threats and Epidemics After Natural Disasters

While immediate casualty totals are what’s often cited following a natural disaster, the events can have long-lasting, detrimental effects on a population. When critical infrastructure is interrupted and people are displaced, it can make way for myriad public health problems, and understanding these problems is important for first responders and second-wave recovery efforts.