Even though many state-run COVID-19 testing clinics are closing, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has far from disappeared. New Omicron variants infect thousands of people daily across the nation, and the need for reliable and readily-accessible tests remains high. One of the most efficient ways to keep up with COVID-19 detection and surveillance for yourself and your family is to use a home testing kit. However, the availability of home testing runs the gamut, and many people have questions about this alternate testing option.  Here’s what you need to know about home COVID-19 tests, including whether...

National Breastfeeding Week is recognized and celebrated every year during the first week of August. Here’s more about the significance of this yearly observance and where to get donor milk and support if you and your baby are affected by the 2022 Infant Formula Shortage.  What Is National Breastfeeding Week?  National Breastfeeding Week originated in 1992 and is celebrated every year from August 1 to August 7. It was created to generate public awareness and support for breastfeeding, and to promote breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for a baby during their first year of life. Another...

Over-the-counter (OTC) birth control medication is available in more than 100 countries except for the United States. On July 11, 2022, a pharmaceutical company based in France called HRA Pharma asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve an OTC birth control pill. If approved, the pill will be the first oral contraceptive available in the U.S. without requiring a prescription.  Here’s everything you need to know about OTC birth control medication and other commonly used OTC birth control methods.  What Is OTC Birth Control Medication?  The OTC birth control pill currently...

When school lets out for the summer, it’s not the only routine that gets kicked to the curb. Without the mandatory morning alarms that children and parents become accustomed to during the school year, wake times and bedtimes tend to slide later, and sleep consistency can suffer. Summer vacations — with changing time zones and altered sleep arrangements — can also further distort a healthy sleep routine. Even without travel, longer daylight hours can interrupt your body’s normal sleep cues.  It’s important to enjoy a more relaxed schedule in the summertime, but it’s also important to stay on...

Even if you’ve been deliberately trying to follow the recent events transpiring between Juul e-cigarettes and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it can be hard to keep up.  Here’s what you need to know about the public health effects of e-cigarettes (also known as electronic cigarettes, vape pens, or vaping devices), the status of the FDA ban on Juul e-cigarettes, and whether e-cigarettes have been able to establish themselves as a method of tobacco cessation, and what is most likely to happen next.  The Significance of E-Cigarettes When it Comes to Public Health  Juul’s e-cigarettes,...