Cartoon: Annie has anemia
+ Infographic text Image Words Annie teaches a classroom with elementary school children. There is a blackboard with a container of chalk from which chalk is pouring. Annie is looking at the cast Annie: Why do I have a sudden urge to eat chalk? Annie is walking home and looks at the dirt near the…
My uterine fibroids make it difficult to be intimate with my partner and honor my religion, but I’ve found a way to cope
As told to Nicole Audrey Spector Right from the start, my periods have been abnormally long and heavy and often debilitating. As a teenager, I sometimes bled through my clothes, even when wearing a pad and/or tampon. In eighth grade, I bonded in embarrassment with a new friend who lent me her jacket to tie…
The places where you live, work, learn and play can affect your breast health
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide. Conditions in the environments in which people live, work, learn, play and worship, also called social determinants of health (SDoH), influence breast health and medical outcomes. In the United States, 1 in 10 people live in poverty, which means they have less access to healthy…
I have learned to be open about my mental illness to help bring awareness to the Indian community
As told to Nicole Audrey Spector July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. My parents immigrated to the US from India in 1991 and I was born four years later. We lived in an area where there are a lot of South Asian families, so I grew up rooted in my Indian culture. Many…
Where you live, work, learn and play can affect your breast health
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide. Conditions in the environments in which people live, work, learn, play and worship, also called social determinants of health (SDoH), influence breast health and health outcomes. In the United States, 1 in 10 people live in poverty, which means they often have less access to…
The intersection of Long Covid and obesity
Medically reviewed by Mike Myint, MD, MBA + Infographic text What is long Covid? Long Covid, which is sometimes called post-Covid conditions, is when Covid symptoms last 4 weeks or more after the initial infection. Nearly 1 in 3 people who get Covid report having long-term Covid. Since Covid is new, scientists don’t yet know…
Fact or fiction? Solar safety
Good morning sun! Summer is here and for many of us that means more time outdoors. It’s important to practice sunscreen all year round, but it’s especially important in the summer. Before you leave home, take our quiz to brush up on your sunny wits and get tips for protecting your skin today and every…
Ovarian Cancer 101: Know Your Treatment Options
What happens now? This may be one of the first things that comes to mind if you or a loved one is one of the almost 20,000 women in the United States who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year. Dealing with an ovarian cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to treatment…
HPV vaccination is cancer prevention
Reviewed by Debbie Saslow, Ph.D. + Infographic text Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that can cause cancer in: Cervix (cervical cancer) Vagina (vaginal cancer) Vulva (vulvar cancer) Anus (anal cancer) Penis (cancer of the penis) Head and neck (oropharyngeal cancer) There is good news, though! Given early enough, HPV vaccinations can prevent over 90%…
What are community health workers?
When Jamie Collins, a 54-year-old transgender woman from Shreveport, Louisiana, used drugs and engaged in sexual activity with multiple partners, she knew she was taking risks for her health. Hence, she was not surprised when she was diagnosed as HIV positive. She had moved to Dallas, Texas in 2011 and received the news after being…