DukeMedicine HealthNews: What have we learned about how COVID-19 spreads? Nicholas Turner, MD, MHSc: Novel coronavirus poses a few challenges. Compared to other respiratory viruses (including SARS from 2003), it has a higher transmission rate, can be spread while symptoms are still mild or have yet to develop, and may … Read More
On Monday, March 16, President Trump predicted that the COVID-19 outbreak could go on until July or August, prompting a collective gasp among Americans who had been hoping for a quicker resolution. While there are too many variables at play to know for sure when this will end, experts are … Read More
The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is an evolving public health issue, and public health officials are working diligently to understand and quickly communicate relevant information. Unfortunately, misinformation and disinformation about COVID-19 is running wild. What should you really be doing and not doing? Who do you listen to? How often should … Read More
Take the time now to check the medications you take on a regular basis and make sure you have enough for at least two weeks longer than usual. If you or someone you live with comes down with COVID-19 you may not be able to leave your home for a … Read More
More people are upping their hand-washing game now that the CDC and health officials have emphasized that regular hand washing is imperative to helping curb the spread of COVID-19. But there's one step we all tend to forget after washing our hands or applying hand sanitizer – that critical layer … Read More
You are no doubt alarmed by news reports about the spread of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus. Most confirmed cases of coronavirus cause mild symptoms, and it is possible that the death rate for the virus is artificially high because many of these mild cases haven’t been reported. However, early … Read More
Skin problems and skin care (or the lack of it) begin at day one and continue for a lifetime. At no point in time is a person immune to a skin condition that could be life-changing or even life-threatening. Evidence-based medicine tells us three things about skin and skin care. … Read More
Everyone can benefit from getting a flu shot, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend vaccinating everyone six months of age and older. For people age 65 and older, Medicare covers annual flu shots, including the high-dose version. Many health insurance plans also cover flu shots with … Read More
You may have heard of maca root, but what exactly is it? Native to the Andes Mountains in Peru, maca root—after harvesting—can be sundried and then processed as a supplement. Also called ‘‘Peruvian ginseng,” maca is an adaptogen, meaning it helps the body adapt to stress.. A popular health supplement, … Read More
Canes, walkers, and other assistive devices offer a triple play of better balance, improved mobility, and fewer falls. If a person can get past the idea that assistive devices are just for “old people,” they can re-open a world that might have become smaller as a result of balance and … Read More
