Virus

Margaret Cantwell

Vitamin D2 or D3: Proof one’s a dud and the other fights infection

Vitamin D is mired in controversy. Preventive medicine has always sung its praises, while scientists have been skeptical. But not anymore: Researchers have finally proven one form does next to nothing, while the right form fortifies the immune system and keeps infections away. What’s in your bottle?

Joyce Hollman

Is the air in your home safe for post-pandemic indoor gatherings?

As we begin hosting indoor gatherings, experts say we need to stay aware that SARS-CoV-2 and its mutants are still among us. For large gatherings, air circulation is vital for minimizing the risk of viral transmission. How can we be sure our homes and gathering places are safely ventilated?

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How your gut affects how well vaccines work

There’s probably been no time in recent history that more people have been focused on vaccines. But, of course, vaccines are nothing new… the seasonal flu and pneumonia vaccines have been around for a while. What is new is finding that the key to how well they work is in your gut.

Joyce Hollman

No side effects from your COVID vaccine? Here’s what it means

Most vaccines have some side effects, and the COVID-19 vaccine is no different. That’s left a question mark for the many people who experience no side effects at all. If side effects are the immune system doing what it’s supposed to do, does a lack of side effects mean that the vaccine isn’t working?

Carolyn Gretton

The antioxidants that could lower HPV infection risk

Cervical cancer can be one of the more deadly cancers women face. Human papillomavirus causes the vast majority of cervical cancer and in recent years a vaccine was developed for both women and men. But many older adults have never received the vaccine. Luckily, researchers are examining other ways to reduce this threat.

Joyce Hollman

Why showering less is a good idea, even during a pandemic

Even in these strange pandemic times, there’s a real downside to washing your body every day. So, if sheltering in place has changed your hygiene habits, don’t worry. Experts are telling us that what we’re really doing in our daily shower is throwing our microbiome out of balance, and here’s why that is not a good thing…