Health Newsfeed – Johns Hopkins Medicine Podcasts

Shingles is a skin infection that results from reactivation of the virus that causes chicken pox. It can occur in areas like the eye where it may compromise vision, and is also associated with persistent and unremitting pain at the … The shingles vaccine is on the do not miss list, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Vaccines against human papilloma virus or HPV have been shown to dramatically reduce the rates of cervical cancer among recipients, data over decades now shows. Vaccine expert Anna Durbin at Johns Hopkins says males who receive the vaccine also reap … Vaccines against human papilloma virus reduce cancers, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Among the many advances seen while Covid was rampant, mRNA vaccines stand out. That’s according to Anna Durbin, a vaccine expert at Johns Hopkins. Durbin: These mRNA vaccines are very safe. mRNA itself the way it's presented to you it's … After billions of doses, mRNA vaccines have demonstrated their safety, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

The technology that produced the vaccines against Covid relies on a type of RNA known as messenger RNA. Johns Hopkins vaccine expert Anna Durbin explains why utilizing this approach stimulates an effective immune response. Durbin: What we like about mRNA … Why are mRNA vaccines effective? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

RNA stands for ribonucleic acid, and since the development of Covid vaccines a class of it known as ‘messenger RNA’ or mRNA for short has been much in the news. Anna Durbin, a vaccine expert at Johns Hopkins, explains a … What is RNA and how is it used in vaccines? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

It’s probably not high on your fun list to go and get vaccinated, so can more than one vaccine be given at a time so you can minimize the number of visits you need? Yes, says Anna Durbin, a vaccine … Should you get more than one vaccine at a time? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

The majority of flu vaccines are grown in eggs, so people with egg allergies would avoid them. Johns Hopkins vaccine expert Anna Durbin says that landscape has changed. Durbin: The original flu vaccines the way they're made is we pick … If you are allergic to eggs should you avoid flu vaccines? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

You probably know people who got the Covid vaccines but still got the illness, sometimes multiple times. Ditto for flu vaccines. Before you simply choose not to be vaccinated, consider some facts about vaccines offered by Anna Durbin, a vaccine … Why might you get an illness even when you’ve been vaccinated? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

You may recall hearing that this year’s flu vaccine was 40-60% effective against the flu. Why isn’t it more effective? Anna Durbin, a vaccine expert at Johns Hopkins, explains that’s a function of the process that’s used to make the … Why is the flu vaccine sometimes more effective than other times? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Vaccines are public health success stories, with the most effective ones often what’s called ‘live attenuated,’ meaning they do replicate in our bodies but don’t cause infection. Vaccine expert Anna Durbin at Johns Hopkins says there are people who shouldn’t … Who shouldn’t take a live vaccine? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

One way to avoid the reported epidemic of insomnia is to create a routine you follow before you go to bed, resetting your brain to prepare for sleep. That’s according to sleep expert Charlene Gamaldo at Johns Hopkins. Gamaldo: There's … How should you create a sleep routine? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Insomnia appears to be epidemic in the US in some studies, with additional data suggesting the problem is growing. Johns Hopkins sleep expert Charlene Gamaldo says there are things you can do to prevent insomnia. Gramaldo: Blue light wavelength suppresses … What can you do to protect yourself from developing insomnia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Apple watches and other electronic self-monitoring tools may up the risk that you might think you have insomnia when you don’t. That’s according to Charlene Gamaldo, a sleep expert at Johns Hopkins. Gramaldo: All of our devices are great from … Could your electronic devices mislead you into thinking you have insomnia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Everyone has trouble at times falling asleep or staying asleep, but when does that become the diagnosis of insomnia, and when should you seek help? Sleep expert Charlene Gamaldo at Johns Hopkins offers a few metrics. Gamaldo: How much time … What questions should you ask yourself if you suspect you may have insomnia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

When you experience interrupted sleep it can quickly progress to feeling exhausted, but when should you consult a physician about it? Sleep expert Charlene Gamaldo at Johns Hopkins says it never hurts to ask the question. At baseline everybody's going … When should you be concerned that you may have a sleep problem? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Good quality, regular sleep is vital to your health, with many studies finding that when it’s not you are at higher risk for a range of health consequences. Johns Hopkins sleep expert Charlene Gamaldo says you should be asked about … Should sleep be assessed just like blood pressure or vision? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Many millions of people worldwide complain of insomnia, putting them at risk for poor health outcomes. Charlene Gamaldo, a sleep expert at Johns Hopkins, says while it is tempting to just turn to a medicine to help you sleep, that’s … Solving sleep problems starts with an assessment, Elizabeth Tracey reports. Read More »

While it’s been observed that disease and poor sleep seem to sort together, ongoing research is looking into the why of it. Johns Hopkins sleep expert Charlene Gamaldo says a couple of possible causes have emerged. Gamaldo: A couple of … How might compromised sleep put one at risk for poorer health outcomes? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

If your sleep is chronically interrupted or too long or short in duration, you may be at increased risk for some types of cancer, research suggests. Sleep expert Charlene Gamaldo at Johns Hopkins says it’s unclear whether sleep quality puts … Is compromised sleep related to the development of cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Sleep is increasingly being recognized as important in human maladies. Charlene Gamaldo, a sleep expert at Johns Hopkins, says sleep quality is important in both management and prevention strategies. Gamaldo: How is sleep potentially impacting the management and the progression … Increasingly sleep is recognized as a modifiable risk factor for disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More &#18...

Blood in your urine, so-called hematuria, is fairly common, with a new genetic test being studied to rule out bladder cancer as a cause. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says such a test would … Does blood in your urine mean you have cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Blood in your urine is definitely a reason to seek medical attention, and for many people cancer is a top concern. Now a new genetic test that can spot changes in the DNA known as mutations can help rule out … Can a genetic test spot bladder cancer in people who have blood in their urine? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy translates to chemotherapy for cancer before surgery, with a recent study demonstrating its benefit for people with esophagus cancer. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins says this strategy is time tested. Nelson: Neoadjuvant therapy is … Are there advantages to receiving chemotherapy for cancer before surgery? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read M...

Cancer of the esophagus is a tough cancer to treat, and more people worldwide are developing it. A recent study compares one regimen giving chemotherapy and radiation before surgery versus another strategy using four chemotherapy drugs plus surgery. William Nelson, … What is the best way to treat esophageal cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Pain in nerves, called neuropathy, is more common when a couple types of cancer drugs are used or when someone has lung cancer versus other types of cancer, a new study concludes. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson … Is it possible to catch nerve pain early in cancer treatment and minimize it? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »