Highlights Over 20 years of writing experience Work has appeared in National Geographic, MD Magazine, Understood.org, and more Passion for health and science communication Experience Carisa D. Brewster is a freelance journalist with over 20 years of exper

COVID-19 vaccines hold the honor of being the fastest developed in history, due in part to the undivided attention of both the public and private sector. Now, focus returns to other scientific moonshots—including a universal flu vaccine, work on which is happening right in our backyard.

TOO MANY OF US REMAIN UNAWARE of the health benefits we can reap from fruits and vegetables. According to the 2019 American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) Cancer Risk Awareness Survey, only 42% of Americans understand that a diet high in fruits and vegetables lowers cancer risk.

THANKS TO MARKETING EFFORTS and the default daily target set on Fitbit activity trackers, reaching 10,000 steps has become ingrained as a benchmark for daily walking. However, a study published May 29, 2019, in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that taking as few as 4,400 steps per day made an impact, lowering mortality rates in a cohort of 16,741 women with a mean age of 72.

IN 1989, THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY (ACS) conducted hearings to improve understanding of issues that impoverished people faced in dealing with cancer. The endeavor revealed that “culturally insensitive” and “irrelevant” cancer education programs were doing little to help patients overcome financial barriers and receive adequate care.

Alice Ball developed an injectable form of chaulmoogra oil, which was used for 20 years to treat Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy.

A large number of physicians are improperly prescribing antibiotics for patients diagnosed with both influenza and acute respiratory infections (ARI), which goes against clinical recommendations for antibiotic use, according to a recent study. ARIs, which can affect the upper and lower respiratory systems, can be caused by pharyngitis (sore throat), ear infections, common cold, bronchitis, pneumonia and bronchiolitis.

Many of us know the benefits of breast-feeding; human milk is alive with antibodies from mom and many other components to protect baby from infection, and it also supports optimal growth. I knew the numbers for all women across the nation were low, but this tidbit surprised me: according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), black women have the lowest rates of breast-feeding among all ethnicities.