Health Archives

16 hours ago 0

Opinion: Beware TikTok Medicine

Americans are increasingly turning to the internet for health advice. A 2022 study by CharityRx found that 65% of Americans use Google to get answers to health questions before they consult doctors. Around 20% try TikTok first, with the numbers higher for millennials and Gen-Z. As the demand for information grows, so does the supply of online “health influencers” ready to peddle products, supplements, and questionable treatments. According to the CharityRx study, 37% of Americans seek advice from online health […]

16 hours ago 0

Rats in Boston: A Rising Concern and the Push for a New Pest Control Office

by Sabrina Yeung

As Boston grapples with a surging rat population, officials and residents alike are increasingly concerned about the ramifications of this persistent problem. The city, renowned for its rich history and cultural significance, now faces a less savory challenge that could affect its public image and quality of life. Rats are not just a nuisance but a costly hazard as they get into homes, vehicles and elsewhere. In response to the escalating problem, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn is advocating for […]

16 hours ago 0

Don’t Throw Away That Yogurt Yet: Sampan Interviews Expert on Confusing Sell-by, Use-by Dates

by Derek He

Say you’re grabbing a bottle of milk from the fridge, and see its expiration day passed three days ago. It smells fine, but is it safe? The answer isn’t always clear. In many parts of the world, expiration dates are a familiar sight on a variety of foods, particularly those that are perishable such as meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy. The dates play a crucial role in influencing consumer behavior and managing store inventory. But the dates are not always […]

March 16, 2024 0

Physician Pathway Act Receives Favorable Report from Joint Committee on Public Health, Included in Economic Development Bill

by Yizhen Zhang

On January 11, Massachusetts General Hospital had 103 patients boarding in its Emergency Department, meaning that 103 patients in the ED that day were sick enough to be admitted to the hospital yet have to remain in the ED as there are no available hospital beds. January 11 is marked on the calendar as one of the most crowded days the hospital has experienced in its two centuries of service and caring for Boston and surrounding communities. Massachusetts General Hospital, […]

February 17, 2024 0

Cardiac Arrest Rates Skyrocket Among Asians, But Lives Can Be Saved

by Tracy Huang

Cardiac arrests are a serious issue that has caused an increasing astronomical amount of deaths every year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, About 695,000 people in the United States died from heart disease in 2021—that’s 1 in every 5 deaths. One person dies every 33 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease, many of them being Asian American, due to multiple things, including but not limited to the bystander effect, lack of knowledge of CPR, […]

December 9, 2023 0

Believing There’s an ‘Average’ Asian American is a Dangerous Assumption

by Jeff Millman

In a collection of his autobiographical writings published in 1907, the American writer Mark Twain cited approvingly a little aperçu that there are three kinds of lies – lies, damned lies, and statistics. Would you cross a river that is four feet deep on average? Hopefully not, since it might be a foot deep in parts and seven feet deep in other parts: four feet deep on average, surely, but not necessarily safe to cross.What if you are diagnosed with […]

October 20, 2023 0

A New Strategy for Mass and Cass – and the Opioid Crisis?

by Jeff Millman

Ten years ago, the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard did not yet bear the moniker “Mass and Cass”. Millions of dollars were not spent on emergency services or police overtime in the area. City councilors did not debate about what to do there, and articles were not written about it in national papers. The area’s devolution into its present state as a full-blown humanitarian crisis mirrors the development of the opioid epidemic in the United States, which […]

October 6, 2023 0

Cultivating Mental Well-being: The Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center’s Healthy Minds Project

by Sherry Dong and Lisa Hy

In an era where mental health awareness is taking center stage, community organizations play a pivotal role in ensuring that individuals of all backgrounds receive the support they need. One such organization, the Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center (GBCGAC), has embarked on a remarkable journey through its “Healthy Minds Project,” aimed at addressing the mental health needs of Chinese-speaking Asian seniors in the Boston area. Overcoming the Stigma: Breaking Silence in the Asian Community Mental health challenges within the […]

September 16, 2023 0

Back to School Concerns as COVID Cases Increase: How to Stay Safe

by Jeff Millman

As children in Boston return to school, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) has some tips to stay safe and healthy. In mid-August, BPHC noted that COVID-19-related hospitalizations in the city were low but that the average level of COVID-19 particles in Boston’s wastewater was increasing. This trend has continued over the last few weeks. With the cold and flu season approaching as well, preparation is key to illness prevention. BPHC “strongly recommends that all families stay up to date […]

September 16, 2023 0

Alarming Consequences for Asian Americans About High Exposure to “Forever” Chemicals

by Kristen Si

A shocking article published in August’s Environmental Science & Technology by the American Chemical Society showed that Asian Americans have disproportionately high exposure to polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The primary author, Dr. Shelly Liu who is an associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, additionally noted that when compared to whites, Asian Americans had a median PFAS level that was 88% higher. To fully understand the consequences of these findings, it is important to note the significant […]

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