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Category Archives: Health Care

Formaldehyde Cancer Risk in Your Neighborhood

ProPublica –  Risk in Your Neighborhood. In most of the country, formaldehyde contributes more to outdoor cancer risk than any other toxic air pollutant. Look up your address to see risks from the chemical on your block and where it comes from.

Formaldehyde causes more cancer than any other toxic chemical in the air. It’s emitted from cars, trucks, planes, industrial facilities and many other sources. It’s also formed in the atmosphere when other chemicals combine in the presence of sunlight. Even if you don’t live in a high-traffic or industrial area, the geography and climate of your area could increase your cancer risk from formaldehyde because of this so-called “secondary formation.”
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Patient-Reported Treatment Outcomes in ME/CFS and Long COVID

LongCovidPharmD: “Yesterday, a preprint including data analysis of my TREATME survey results was released. For those who haven’t heard, this survey collected pertinent information regarding 140+ different medications, supplements, and non-drug interventions from nearly 4,000 Long COVID and ME/CFS patients. For those who participated in the survey, THANK YOU! I hope the paper emphasizes the… Continue Reading

The stunning success of vaccines in America, in one chart

Vox – “Measles, mumps, and polio are supposed to be diseases of the past. In the early to mid-20th century, scientists developed vaccines that effectively eliminated the risk of anyone getting sick or dying from illnesses that had killed millions over millennia of human history. Vaccines, alongside sanitized water and antibiotics, have marked the epoch… Continue Reading

Want to donate to charity? Here are 10 guidelines for giving effectively

Vox: “Giving to charity is great, not just for the recipients but for the givers, too. But it can be intimidating to know how to pick the best charity when there are thousands of worthy causes to choose from, and especially when so many are suffering around the world. Yet that suffering makes it all… Continue Reading

Our World in Data

“Poverty, disease, hunger, climate change, war, existential risks, and inequality: The world faces many great and terrifying problems. It is these large problems that our work at Our World in Data focuses on. Thanks to the work of thousands of researchers around the world who dedicate their lives to it, we often have a good… Continue Reading

Public Trust in Scientists and Views on Their Role in Policymaking

“A majority of Americans say they have confidence in scientists to act in the public’s best interests. Confidence ratings have moved slightly higher in the last year, marking a shift away from the decline in trust seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. A new Pew Research Center survey of 9,593 U.S. adults conducted Oct. 21-27, 2024,… Continue Reading

Genetic Discrimination Is Coming for Us All

The Atlantic: [unpaywalled] “Insurers are refusing to cover Americans whose DNA reveals health risks. It’s perfectly legal…Studies have shown that people seek out additional insurance when they have increased genetic odds of becoming ill or dying. “Life insurers carefully evaluate each applicant’s health, determining premiums and coverage based on life expectancy,” Jan Graeber, a senior… Continue Reading

GAO Congressional and Presidential Transition Resources

[On November 5, 2024] Americans voted for members of the 119th Congress and a new president. Representatives and senators will be sworn in on Friday, January 3. As they take office, our nation faces many significant challenges—including those that threaten national security, financial stability, public health, and more. Our work here at GAO highlights some… Continue Reading

RFK Jr. Healthcare Claims Depository

NewsGuard’s Reality Check – RFK Jr. Healthcare Claims Depository – Explore the provably false health-related claims promoted by Kennedy and his anti-vaccine nonprofit Children’s Health Defense Overview – This depository documents the provably false health-related claims promoted by Kennedy and his Children’s Health Defense anti-vaccine nonprofit. Provably False Claims – NewsGuard has identified 90 false… Continue Reading

A Soft Murmur

Ambient sounds to wash away distraction by Gabiel Brady. I created A Soft Murmur for myself. I like to work in public spaces like libraries and coffee shops, but they can be noisy and distracting. Listening to ambient helps me focus, and I like being able to mix different sounds together to match the environment… Continue Reading