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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...

Acute vs. Chronic Cough: What Is It Really Trying To Tell You?

Want to be the least popular person in a crowd? Start coughing. You will surely draw the attention of everyone within earshot—and probably not in a good way. You may even notice people inching away from you and your perceived germs, (whether real or not). But, if strangers can interpret the signs and symptoms of a cough so quickly, why are we sometimes last to pay attention to it? Here’s what’s true: A cough is an important symptom that’s trying to tell you something.The Anatomy of a CoughYour...

How I Became A Sickle Cell Warrior

In Kenya, where I was born, many people are aware of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), more so than in the U.S. This may be because there is a greater proportion of the population in Africa that has the disease. My older brother and I were both born with SCD. We have also witnessed many people suffer from and lose family members and friends to the disease.For a long time, I lived in denial about having SCD. As a child, my view of it was very negative; I could not imagine anything positive ever coming...

Preventing Accidental Poisonings at Home

It’s always important to be aware of unintentional poisonings and to learn about poison prevention. Though many adults may not think a poisoning could happen to them or their children, many parents may not even be aware of what the dangers could be! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every 13 seconds, a poison control center in the United States answers a call about a possible poisoning with more than 90% of these exposures occurring in the home. Additionally...

Pediatric Dosing—Giving Your Child a Safe Dose of Medicine

When your child gets a cough or runny nose, do you pick up a bottle of medicine at the pharmacy and give them a dose with a kitchen spoon? Don’t. Giving medicine with that old kitchen spoon may mean that your child may be receiving a larger or smaller dose than directed. In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services asks that you ditch the kitchen spoon and use the dosing device that comes with the over-the-counter (OTC) medication because the dosing spoon or cup that comes with the...

Real People

My Story: Surviving a Brain Aneurysm

I have always been a healthy and active person. In 2014, I was working two jobs: one as a safety associate at Pfizer and one as a neonatal nurse. I was also preparing for a triathlon. Things were great in my life—except for the occasional bout of migraine headaches. Later that year though, I began to experience nausea along with the headaches which grew more and more painful. Like anyone else might do, I passed it off as stress and decided to back off of my athletic training a little to see if...

Common Misconceptions About Vitiligo

Vitiligo (pronounced: vittle-EYE-go) is a skin disorder that causes depigmentation (loss of skin color) in irregular patchy patterns. The disorder itself is rare, affecting only about 0.5% to 1% of the world’s population. Though vitiligo is neither fatal nor life-threatening, there is a social stigma that results in lowered self-esteem among those with the skin condition. As a dermatologist who has treated many patients with vitiligo, raising awareness is one way to help dispel the damaging...

Caregiver’s Guide for Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative motor disorder, meaning there are many features of the disease that will change over time—slowly in most people. And, while no two people experience the disease the same way, there are a number of common symptoms caregivers can look out for that may help prepare them for the changes likely to occur during early-stage, mid-stage, and advanced-stage Parkinson’s disease. As PD progresses, patients may have increased difficulty walking...

What to Ask a Doctor about a New Treatment or Diagnosis

Sometimes getting a new diagnosis from your doctor can be a scary experience. It may be a surprise and—depending on the medical problem—it can impact the rest of your life. Make sure you talk with your doctor and ask key questions to ensure that you fully understand your medical diagnosis and treatment options. Questions for Your Doctor There are some general questions you may ask your doctor when you are given a new diagnosis or recommendation for a new treatment. Remember the 5Ws and an H...

Managing Headaches

Throbbing, pounding, aching head pain…sound familiar? Many of us get headaches. Some people have headaches only occasionally, while others experience them more often. Headaches can have many causes and levels of severity too. If you experience headaches frequently or have difficulty managing them, speak with your healthcare provider. For many people, headaches can be managed effectively with lifestyle changes and medications. What Kind of Headache is it? In order to properly treat a headache...