Article
Featured Articles
Read our latest stories on the people and scientific innovations making a difference in patients’ lives.
When Should You Speak Up at the Doctor’s Office?
We’ve all seen the healthcare system undergo major changes. Providers, patients, and policymakers all share the desire for these changes to result in improved access, enhanced quality for patients and reduced healthcare costs within the system. And though it used to be common for patients to be relatively passive when receiving care, you may now find yourself being invited to participate more fully in the process of your own health and wellbeing. This is true whether you have a chronic condition...
Taking Medication During Pregnancy
The reality is that some women get sick and are diagnosed with serious diseases during pregnancy. Or they may have a chronic illness that needs to be managed while pregnant. Sometimes making the decision whether to take medication during pregnancy is not so easy. It is difficult to study new medications in pregnant women, and even more difficult to assess the effects of medication on the developing fetus. Pregnant women are considered a vulnerable group by regulatory agencies and ethics...
Empowering Patients to Overcome the Social Stigma of Psoriasis
Managing psoriasis—an immune-mediated dermatologic condition, characterized by red, scaly plaques and/or lesions on the skin—can be challenging in of itself. But one aspect of psoriasis that is not as apparent to the visible eye is the social stigma and misperception that many people with psoriasis often deal with. This can include people asking inappropriate questions, making rude comments, or steering clear because they’re afraid it’s contagious. As a dermatologist, I have come across many...
Clinical Trials for Children – Why Are They So Important?
When doctors prescribe a medication, they may rely on the drug label (or US prescribing information) to help them understand how to use it safely and successfully. This prescribing information document comes along with a prescription medication and provides detailed information which comes directly from research studies and clinical trials: How the medication works in the body What specifically the medication has been approved to treat in the US (e.g., high blood pressure, high cholesterol...
Taking Medication and Breastfeeding
A breastfeeding mother may find herself in a difficult and complex situation when faced with making medical treatment decisions, especially when she is managing or becomes diagnosed with a health concern or chronic illness. As with pregnancy, much remains to be known about the effects of many medications on the breastfeeding infant. Often the mother and her healthcare provider are left to discuss treatment options with limited information available to them. There are very few large, randomized...
Living with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
Chronic myeloid (or myelogenous) leukemia (CML) is one of four main types of leukemia that can affect adults. These 4 types of leukemia are classified as either myeloid or lymphocytic based on the type of cells affected, and either acute or chronic. The chronic forms of leukemia tend to take longer to develop than the acute forms of leukemia; and therefore, people with chronic leukemia can live with the disease for many years.But there are some important things to know in order to manage life...
Supporting the Hemophilia Community
Hemophilia is a rare and life-long bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot normally. While people with hemophilia can lead fairly normal lives with certain precautions to prevent and control bleeds, managing the condition can be challenging. Those living with hemophilia or caring for someone with hemophilia can face a wide range of difficulties—including medical, psychological, social and financial – which is why a strong network of support is a vital part of comprehensive care. Each...
What If You Could Donate Your Data For Research?
There are many ways you can help researchers learn more about certain conditions or diseases by sharing your data. Being an active participant in a study that involves medical testing is not the only way scientific data is gathered in research studies and clinical trials. In fact, researchers can find valuable information from medical data such as electronic health records. Another source of data important to researchers is you, the patient. Some studies may ask patients to track and self...
Understanding Fungal Skin Infections
When you hear the word fungus, you may think of mushrooms growing on a wet tree trunk, mold on old bread, or mildew at the back of the refrigerator. These are perhaps the most well-known forms of fungi (more than one fungus), but did you know that there are up to 1.5 million species of fungi, approximately 300 of which can cause illness in people?Is There a Fungus Among Us?Fungi in the form of yeast, mold, or mildew are found just about everywhere, including in the air, in soil, on plants and...
Vaccine Schedules for Infants, Children and Adults
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination as a way to control and prevent disease outbreaks in the United States. Vaccine schedules include immunizations against contagious diseases such as measles, mumps, and pertussis, to name a few. You may have wondered how these recommendations are developed. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is a group of medical and public health experts that develop recommendations on the routine administration and...
Breast Cancer in the Workplace
Except for some kinds of skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the U.S. According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 8 (12%) women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer during her lifetime. Though possibly due to earlier detection and improved treatments, there is a slight decline in death from breast cancer in recent decades. Currently, there are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.With increased detection and survivorship, many...
Overcoming the Stigma of Sickle Cell Disease
People living with sickle cell disease (SCD), an inherited blood disorder that primarily affects African Americans in the U.S., have to deal with constant fatigue and severely painful episodes that can last for a few hours or as long as a week. Adding to these daily challenges, family, friends, and the general public can sometimes view people with SCD as weak, lazy or faking their symptoms. These stigmas even exist in healthcare settings, making it more difficult for people living with SCD to...
Media Resources & Contact Information
Anyone may view our press releases, press statements, and press kits. However, to ensure that customers, investors, and others receive the appropriate attention, Pfizer Media Contacts may only respond to calls and emails from professional journalists.