Health + Medicine – The Conversation

A man, outdoors and at a public gathering, is inhaling through a balloon.

Nitrous oxide recreational use is linked to brain damage and sudden death − but ‘laughing gas’ is still sold all over the US

Andrew Yockey, University of Mississippi

A male doctor and patient examine a brain MR scan

‘Grit’ and relentless perseverance can take a toll on brain health − particularly for people facing social stresses like racism

Darlingtina Esiaka, University of Kentucky

When doctors don’t believe their patients’ pain – experts explain the all-too-common experience of medical gaslighting

Elizabeth Hintz, University of Connecticut and Marlene D. Berke, Yale University

View of a person clutching their groin area as if in pain.

Contaminated milk from one plant in Illinois sickened thousands with Salmonella in 1985 − as outbreaks rise in the US, lessons from this one remain true

Michael Petros, University of Illinois Chicago

Grayscale photo of workers in milk processing area of Hillfarm Dairy

Measles could again become widespread as cases surge worldwide

Rebecca Schein, Michigan State University

Illustration of measles virus particles, orange green and blue.

Teachers and librarians are among those least likely to die by suicide − public health researchers offer insights on what this means for other professions

Jordan Batchelor, Arizona State University; Charles Max Katz, Arizona State University, and Taylor Cox, Arizona State University

a black male adult stands at the front of a classroom as school-age children sitting at desks raise their hands

News in context

Read the latest Health + Medicine articles

The Women’s Health Initiative has shaped women’s health for over 30 years, but its future is uncertain

Jean Wactawski-Wende, University at Buffalo

A younger woman and an older woman, daughter and mother, smiling cheek to cheek.

Whooping cough is making a comeback, but the vaccine provides powerful protection

Annette Regan, University of California, Los Angeles

Pope Francis’ death right after Easter sounds miraculous – but patients and caregivers often work together to delay dying

Michelle Riba, University of Michigan

Pope Francis pushed in a wheelchair past cardinals in red, hand raised in greeting

The sudden dismissal of public records staff at health agencies threatens government accountability

Reshma Ramachandran, Yale University

A blue book with a cover that says FOIA Freedom of Information Act lying on a desk

Healthy lifestyles

Gratitude comes with benefits − a social psychologist explains how to practice it when times are stressful

Monica Y. Bartlett, Gonzaga University

Close-up view of a person's hand holding a blue-colored pencil, beginning to write in a journal.

Pornography may be commonplace, but a growing body of research shows it causes lasting harm to the brain and relationships

Danielle Sukenik, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Diagram of a crossed-out eye and the words 'Sensitive Content'

Social media before bedtime wreaks havoc on our sleep − a sleep researcher explains why screens alone aren’t the main culprit

Brian N. Chin, Trinity College

Side view of a woman staring at her phone in the dark.

Vitamin D builds your bones and keeps your gut sealed, among many other essential functions − but many children are deficient

Jacqueline Hernandez, Florida International University and Cristina Palacios, Florida International University

Smiling children in swim clothes on a beach, running toward the camera

Reproductive health

Hormone therapy may cut cardiovascular risk in younger menopausal women

Matthew Nudy, Penn State

Colorado and other states have expanded access to abortion, but not for adolescents

Kate Coleman-Minahan, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

An abortion clinic with an ultrasound machine and an empty clinic bed.

Prenatal supplements largely lack the recommended amount of omega-3 fatty acids to help prevent preterm birth − new research

Mary J. Scourboutakos, Eastern Virginia Medical School

Pregnant woman sitting on couch with a plate of healthy food on her pregnant belly.

10 states had abortion measures on the ballot – where they passed, where they failed, and what it all means

Katherine Drabiak, University of South Florida

We have a birds eye view of two long tables where 14 people are seated and reviewing ballots

Doctors are preoccupied with threats of criminal charges in states with abortion bans, putting patients’ lives at risk

Sophie Bjork-James, Vanderbilt University; Anna-Grace Lilly, University of Toledo, and Isabelle Perry Newman, University of Virginia

Female nurse taking notes and talking to a pregnant woman in a hospital bed.

COVID-19

A wall painted with hearts of varying sizes, with a person leaning against it, looking forlorn.

5 years on, true counts of COVID-19 deaths remain elusive − and research is hobbled by lack of data

Dylan Thomas Doyle, University of Colorado Boulder

5 years of COVID-19 underscore value of coordinated efforts to manage disease – while CDC, NIH and WHO face threats to their ability to respond to a crisis

Katherine A. Foss, Middle Tennessee State University

Inside a white tent, doctors wearing masks test a patient for COVID-19.

5 ways schools have shifted in 5 years since COVID-19

Rachel Besharat Mann, Wesleyan University and Gravity Goldberg, Wesleyan University

Four green pop up tents are arranged in a classroom with students seated inside them.

COVID-19 is the latest epidemic to show biomedical breakthroughs aren’t enough to eliminate a disease

Powel H. Kazanjian, University of Michigan

person enters city pharmacy advertising COVID-19 vaccinations

Is it COVID-19? Flu? At-home rapid tests could help you and your doctor decide on a treatment plan

Julie Sullivan, Emory University and Wilbur Lam, Georgia Institute of Technology

Plastic rapid test with COVID-19 and Flu A+B testing strips

Caregiving

Medicare Advantage is covering more and more Americans − some because they don’t get to choose

Grace McCormack, University of Southern California and Victoria Shier, University of Southern California

A domed building topped with a gold figure. Flags fly at half staff on pole near the dome.

Shaken baby syndrome can cause permanent brain damage, long-term disabilities or death – a pediatrician examines the preventable tragedy

Lori Frasier, Penn State

A brown-eyed infant with a downturned mouth and a sad look.

How the hidden epidemic of violence against nurses affects health care

Jason Blomquist, Boise State University

Health care worker in blue scrubs standing by the window, arms crossed, rubbing their eyes

Stroke survivors may be saddled with an invisible disability known as spatial neglect – but a simple treatment offers significant improvement

A.M. Barrett, UMass Chan Medical School and Kevin Houston, UMass Chan Medical School

An elderly woman holding on to a cane looks out a window.

Mental health

An Hispanic man in the U.S. military, dressed in camouflaged clothes, enjoying time with his wife and children.

Children in military families face unique psychological challenges, and the barriers to getting help add to the strain

Ian H. Stanley, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Anne Ritter, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Schools and communities can help children bounce back after distressing disasters like the LA wildfires

Rita V. Burke, University of Southern California and Santina Contreras, University of Southern California

Being alone has its benefits − a psychologist flips the script on the ‘loneliness epidemic’

Virginia Thomas, Middlebury

With his back to the camera, a young man sits on a wooden bench looking at trees and greenery.

Just having a pet doesn’t help mental health – but pet-owners with secure relationships with their pets are less depressed

Brian N. Chin, Trinity College

Person holding cat tucked against chest and chin

Decluttering can be stressful − a clinical psychologist explains how personal values can make it easier

Mary E. Dozier, Mississippi State University

Senior couple organizing items in home attic

Mind and body

A woman with flowering trees behind her and hair blown back sneezes.

Worsening allergies aren’t your imagination − windy days create the perfect pollen storm

Christine Cairns Fortuin, Mississippi State University

What causes RFK Jr.’s strained and shaky voice? A neurologist explains this little-known disorder

Indu Subramanian, University of California, Los Angeles

Standing behind a lectern, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks.

Alcohol causes cancer, and less than 1 drink can increase your risk − a cancer biologist explains how

Pranoti Mandrekar, UMass Chan Medical School

Close-up of hand holding glass of whiskey against black background

Measles cases are on the rise − here’s how to make sure you’re protected

Daniel Pastula, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Green glove holding a vial of MMR vaccine and syringe

Doctor shortages have hobbled health care for decades − and the trend could be worsening

Rochelle Walensky, Harvard Kennedy School and Nicole McCann, Boston University

Computer monitor displaying vital signs and other patient information.

Technology in health care

Are you one of the millions about to have cataract surgery? Here’s what ophthalmologists say you need to know

Allan Steigleman, University of Florida and Elizabeth M. Hofmeister, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Several companies are testing brain implants – why is there so much attention swirling around Neuralink? Two professors unpack the ethical issues

Nancy S. Jecker, University of Washington and Andrew Ko, University of Washington

Brightly colored threads in the outline of a brain shape float against a dark background with constellation-like patterns.

A blood test that screens for multiple cancers at once promises to boost early detection

Colin Pritchard, University of Washington

For millions of Americans, high-speed internet is unavailable or unaffordable − a telecommunications expert explains how to bring broadband to the places that need it the most

Christopher Ali, Penn State

A truck moves past a farm as it drives down a gravel road in a rural area.

Research insights

As heated tobacco products reenter the US market, evidence on their safety remains sparse – new study

Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, UMass Amherst

A hand holding a device that heats tobacco products.

Hotter and drier climate in Colorado’s San Luis Valley contributes to kidney disease in agriculture workers, new study shows

Katherine Ann James, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Dozens of agricultural workers tend to planted rows with mountains in background.

Americans die earlier at all wealth levels, even if wealth buys more years of life in the US than in Europe

Sara Machado, Brown University and Irene N. Papanicolas, Brown University

A glass of green juice sitting on a napkin that reads 'The greatest wealth is health.'

Providing farmworkers with health insurance is worth it for their employers − new research

John Lowrey, Northeastern University; Timothy Richards, Arizona State University, and Zachariah Rutledge, Michigan State University

Farmworkers pick crops in a field on a sunny day.