Author: Emma Yasinski

Emma Yasinski

I am a freelance science and medical journalist, fascinated by how the scientific process leads to incredible discoveries, but also can lead to publication bias leaning toward positive findings and minimizing negatives. With a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Lafayette College and a Master’s in Science and Medical Journalism from Boston University, I’ve written about clinical trial transparency, organ donation, and basic molecular biology for publications like The Scientist, The Atlantic, Undark.org, Kaiser Health News, and more. At MedShadow, I research and write about the sometimes unexpected ways that medicines can affect us, and what we can do if and when it does.

Between 2020 and 2021, there was a large jump in the number of prescriptions doctors wrote for ADHD medications, according to the CDC. But even before 2020, prescriptions had been on the rise for nearly 10 years. During the pandemic, our daily life changed dramatically and many of us may have struggled to keep up with tasks that may have been simpler within our structured routines. Telehealth companies, like Cerebral, rose to prominence promising quick access to ADHD diagnoses and medications from the comfort of your own home. Content creators on social media have grown followings by describing experiences that…

Read More
HIV

“I don’t have a problem saying I have AIDs,” says Hydeia Broadbent in a video made as a part of a campaign with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but she acknowledges that many others still live in fear of sharing their status due to ongoing stigma. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), is no longer the death sentence it was in the 1980s, provided that you receive timely, consistent treatment. Still, it’s a serious illness with complications that can be fatal. Here’s what you need to know about HIV, and the benefits…

Read More

As the great philosophers Smash Mouth once sang, “the years start coming and they don’t stop coming.” Another new year is creeping up on us, and MedShadow’s staff is planning some health-related resolutions ahead of time so that we can “hit the ground running.” Smash Mouth would be so proud.  If you’re looking for some 2024 inspiration, look no further! Our research-backed new year’s resolutions to improve and maintain our health are below. Let us know which ones resonate with you, and if you’ve got ideas of your own, add them in the comments! Better Sleep Regularly getting high quality…

Read More

Katie McCann has had more than one urinary tract infection (UTI), so when she felt a persistent urge to urinate, and felt a burning sensation when she did, she knew it was likely another UTI.  “While in the past, I might have considered at-home remedies or waited a bit longer before seeking medical intervention, the stakes felt higher,” she says, because this time she was pregnant. As a breastfeeding counselor, she was aware that untreated UTIs could raise the risk of her giving birth prematurely. Her doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics.  If you think you might have a UTI,…

Read More

When the pandemic first broke out in 2020, every COVID-19 treatment was experimental. Researchers tested existing drugs, like the antiparasitic Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) or the anti-inflammatory Ozurdex, Maxidex or others (dexamethasone), that they hoped could fight the virus or dampen damaging inflammation. Other medical personnel tried antidepressants on patients.   Now, researchers and regulators have provided evidence-based guidelines for repurposing drugs and administering newly developed treatments to patients at high risk of, or who already are, experiencing severe disease. Read on to learn your options, if you test positive. Immediately After Testing Positive: As the pandemic has continued, scientists have found several…

Read More

It’s not a secret that the population of the United States has high levels of obesity. In 2012, Georgia attempted to raise awareness and thwart childhood obesity with shocking ads showing children with obesity with captions such as “It’s hard to be a little girl if you’re not,” and “Stop sugarcoating it, Georgia.” The controversial ads had been based off of previous public health campaigns such as those aimed to prevent smoking and encourage quitting. However, the causes of obesity, its impacts on our health, and effectiveness of strategies for shedding pounds are not nearly as straightforward as putting down…

Read More

Regular “MedShadow” readers are likely familiar with the idea of deprescribing—the process of reducing the number or dose of drugs a person is taking. “MedShadow” has written about the phenomenon before. But, while the idea of taking fewer medications is simple, the real world process of deprescribing, while balancing risks versus benefits, is complicated. Some medications have withdrawal symptoms, and tapering may take time. The Therapeutics Initiative at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is hosting a series of webinars with healthcare professionals sharing real-life stories about their own patients whose medications they were able to reduce, and what happened…

Read More

If you have heard about the latest craze of taking the supplement known as Ashwagandha for anxiety, you are not alone. There is certainly a buzz around this popular supplement. But what exactly is it, and what can ashwagandha do for you? Todd Miller had been taking Wellbutrin, an antidepressant, when he decided to add ashwagandha to his regimen about two years ago. He doesn’t remember where he heard about ashwagandha, but he says, “I always felt like [wellbutrin] made me sort of sluggish and slow.”  With ashwagandha, he says, he not only feels that his depression is managed, but…

Read More

Most parents know that newborn babies, toddlers, and young children go through a litany of vaccines. Very specific schedules are set, and parents are frequently back-and-forth to doctors’ offices just to keep up. But, what shots do adults need? The schedules can be difficult to read or understand. To stay on top of adult vaccines, read on to help determine what may be best for you. If you’ve felt overwhelmed by the number of vaccines you’re hearing about this fall, you are not alone. Christian Miller, 34, who says he’s always kept up to date on his vaccines found himself…

Read More

Angela Tong, BscPharm, ACPR, met her patient, a woman in her 20s, when she’d just overdosed on acetaminophen. The overdose was not her first. Tong is a clinical pharmacist at Fraser Health Authority, a hospital system in Canada. She treated the woman as she stayed at the hospital for several months.  The woman had just started a new job as a medical assistant, but the stress quickly became overwhelming. She listed her symptoms to Tong.  “She felt really anxious. She feels sleepy during the day, but she had trouble sleeping at night. There are lots of voices in her head,…

Read More