All the posts from our Those Nerdy Girls Facebook page dating back to May 1st, 2020, are currently archived here and can be searched for by category, key words, etc. Be sure to check back often as additional posts are being added each day.
Measles cases in the U.S. and Canada continue to rise, but not as dramatically as they did. Vaccination is still the best way to protect your family and those around you who cannot be vaccinated. (Note – we use data from both the CDC and the Brown University Pandemic Center’s weekly tracking report. While the Read more…
Norovirus aka “stomach bug” season is around the corner, and cruise ships are a common hotspot for outbreaks. Luckily, there’s a team of public health professionals working behind the scenes to keep passengers safe from the moment they step on board. Did you know there is a team of about 15 scientists and public health Read more…
A: Don’t let statements about imprinting stop you from getting your annual vaccines for COVID and flu. Immune imprinting refers to the fact that our immune response to a vaccine (or infection) is affected by previous exposures to similar vaccines (or infections). Imprinting has both pros and cons – it allows our immune system to Read more…
Update: A federal judge ruled that emergency funds can be used for SNAP, but it’s not yet clear if this applies to all states or only those involved in the lawsuit. The decision could also be appealed or delayed. Even if funds are released, it will take time for them to reach families. That’s why Read more…
People experiencing intimate partner violence who live in rural communities often face bigger challenges and have fewer options for safety and support. But when prevention and support programs are adapted to fit rural life, they can make a real difference – improving safety, expanding options, and helping build healthy relationships across communities. Intimate partner violence Read more…
If you’re struggling to find food, you are not alone. The team at Those Nerdy Girls cares and wants to make sure you know how to get help, and if you have extra we want to make sure you know how to help others. Here are some resources that may help you. 🥫 The Emergency Read more…
Chagas disease is an infection you can get from a “kissing bug” bite. Chagas disease is very common in tropical regions. Don’t worry–there is treatment for early stages of the disease that can cure it. Chagas disease happens when a tiny parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi gets into the body. People get Chagas disease when they Read more…
TL;DR: We (clinicians and researchers) generally worry the most about long-term, high dose exposure to things during pregnancy. Using acetaminophen at recommended doses for short periods of time during pregnancy is extremely unlikely to cause significant long-term harm. 👀 In this video, OB/GYN Dr. Katherine Cartwright and MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC help us understand what Read more…
The holidays are coming! The lights are up, festive music is playing loudly, and ads are full of big dinners and gift piles. But when money is tight, the holidays can sting, and joy can become lonely. Around the world, loneliness and money stress often appear together, especially when the holiday pressures tell us that Read more…
A: Good question! Sensitivity and specificity are characteristics of a medical test that help us determine how useful that test is and how to interpret the result. But, they aren’t the be-all and end-all. We also want to know the positive and negative predictive value. Strap in for the ride, and let’s talk stats! (NOTE: Read more…
Flu vaccines are recommended for everyone 6 months and older (with very few exceptions). To learn more, head to our latest flu shot posts 👇: https://thosenerdygirls.org/flu-shot-25/ https://thosenerdygirls.org/busting-flu-shot-myths-2/ Big picture: Getting the flu shot is an effective way to keep people from getting the flu as well as reduce illness severity, hospitalization, and death. If you Read more…
Most biopsies won’t spread cancer. For cancers like testicular cancer, a biopsy can spread cancer, which is why physicians will remove suspected cancer rather than biopsy. Biopsies have come under fire on social media recently. People are saying that biopsies aren’t safe because they can “seed” the cancer. Seeding is the term used for cancer Read more…
Are there longterm studies on using acetaminophen or Tylenol during pregnancy? It’s very understandable to have questions about using acetaminophen during pregnancy. There’s a lot of information and noise out there that’s hard to sort through. Don’t hesitate to ask your clinician if you have concerns. 🧡 Watch as OB/GYN Dr. Katherine Cartwright breaks it Read more…
Community immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same. Did you know? The term herd immunity was first used when British scientists back in Read more…
What are the limitations of current studies on using Tylenol or acetaminophen during pregnancy? Nerdy Girl and OB/GYN Dr. Katherine Cartwright breaks down the limitations of current studies on using acetaminophen (Tylenol or Paracetamol) during pregnancy. 🤓 Those Nerdy Girls want to help you stay on the frontline of science and health information. ✨ Follow Read more…
Diagnosing Alzheimer’s is a complex, long process, but new technologies show promise for more rapid and accurate diagnosis. With over 7 million people in the U.S. living with Alzheimer’s disease, and as a disease that is rarely publicly discussed with much surrounding stigma, it is only natural that many people have questions about what it Read more…
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Nerdy Girl Alumna Dr. Chana Davis takes a deep dive into breast cancer risk: what we can and cannot control. (This post was originally published on October 30, 2024.) A candid look at breast cancer risk It’s time to shift the conversation about breast cancer risk and be candid Read more…
Commitment bias is when we stick to what we did or said in the past, even when we were clearly wrong, and the outcome didn’t turn out well. Nerdy Girl Dr. Gabriella Kountourides (@GabriellaExplains) talks about why we do it and how it limits our personal growth and ability to learn from mistakes — but Read more…
It’s important to have discussions about what you want the end of your time on earth to look like and have a healthcare proxy and an advance directive in place. When my sister and I were teenagers, my mom sat us down, and in a potentially more dramatic fashion than the moment called for, she Read more…
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Learn more here. What are Dense Breasts? We say breasts are dense if they have more fibrous and connective tissue. Less dense breasts have more fat and less fibrous tissue. Tissue is typically graded from A through D in terms of density. A is almost entirely fat, while D Read more…
