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.

Skin conditions can range from a mild annoyance, like an occasional blemish or patch of dry skin, to hives, rashes, and patches of scaly skin that itch or burn so intensely that you can’t focus on everyday activities. Some topical medications, like creams, require prescriptions from your healthcare provider, but many also fill the shelves of your local pharmacy or even grocery store, as well.  You may not even realize that when you’re reaching for an anti-itch cream to sooth your mosquito bite, you may be putting a drug on your skin, and possibly even into your bloodstream. Here’s what…

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Diabetes is one of the biggest challenges of our generation, and I’m at heightened risk for developing it. As some MedShadow readers might already know, I am one of the many women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS.) That condition puts me at a substantially higher risk than the average woman for developing diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4.8% of people between the ages of 18 and 40 (with or without PCOS), and 18.9% of those aged 45 to 64, in the U.S. have diabetes. But by the time they’re 40 years old, more than…

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David Smith was starting to notice his hair thinning, and started talking about it with a friend who was also lamenting his newfound lack of hair. Shortly after that, Smith’s friend seemed to have solved the problem. He’d asked his healthcare provider for a prescription for Propecia (finasteride). “I was hesitant to try [finasteride] because I was unsure about the potential side effects of propecia. However, after seeing some great results he had, I decided to go for it,” says Smith. A few months after starting the prescription, he started to appreciate a little more hair on his head. He…

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At MedShadow, we regularly interview patients about their experiences with medications. Time and time again, we have patients tell us that shortly after starting a new regimen, they gained weight. They don’t always know whether the drug directly caused their weight gain, but the timing is often suspect. Weight gain around your midsection is often associated with something called “insulin resistance,” a condition that researchers are finding more and more to be a side effect of drugs. Take Masonia Traylor, for example, who told MedShadow she gained 40 pounds after she switched to a new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) medication.…

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When Raelene Brooks, PhD RN, was a critical care nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU), the cardiothoracic surgeon would always ask her, “how is my patient’s urine output?” after he performed heart transplants. At first, Brooks was confused as to why the urine output would be so important when a patient had just received a new heart. But one day, he told her, “Well, it’s a good indicator of whether or not that new heart is pumping adequately, because remember, all of your vital organs are anatomically as if they were on a totem pole. Kidneys are the last…

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K. Arnold, who asked that we only use his first initial to maintain his medical privacy, first heard about doxy-PEP, a medication that can help prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) if taken shortly after unprotected sex, from an Instagram ad. He has always taken good care of his health, and as a man who has sex with men, he knows he has an elevated risk of contracting an STI. But he started taking extra care after he learned a previous partner had not been faithful. On the rare occasion that he has had sex without a condom over the past…

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Blogger Divyanshu Verma‘s skin was itchy. He suspected his mild, but bothersome symptoms were caused by ringworm, so he found himself an over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal cream called “Ring Guard” which contains low concentrations of several antifungal medications. After using the cream for two weeks, he says, the infection disappeared. Unfortunately, his smooth skin didn’t last long, as shortly after stopping the cream application symptoms emerged again. This time, he tried a homeopathic remedy called Dr. Reckeweg R82 which contains a natural antimicrobial and several fungi that the company says help stimulate your immune response. It took longer—four months this time—to…

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t seems there is always some hot new supplement trend that promises to cure any number of troubles. Spirulina is one of those trending in today’s markets. But what is this supplement, and what can it really do for you? Steve Brown does not recommend taking spirulina. “I was expecting positive changes in my energy, digestion, and skin, but nothing happened” when he started taking it, he says. “I was disappointed and felt like I had wasted money on a useless product.” Still, others report better outcomes from supplements. Therapist Aya Rechenburg, for example, says it helped her kick her…

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hile the human immunodeficiency virus, more commonly known to go by its initials, HIV, is nothing new, the science to better understand it and its qualities continues to grow. In a not so distant past, this disease was considered a death sentence to many, with few options to reduce its impact or prevent its progression into AIDS. Can food help for HIV/AIDS? Thankfully, things are changing on this front, and more and more is not only understood about the virus, but great strides have been made in curtailing its effects. “HIV is on the decline,” says Registered Dietician and MedShadow…

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The holiday season is upon us, a time when comfort food abounds. These foods need not derail your health to taste yummy. MedShadow scoured TikTok for some of the most festive, but also healthy holiday recipes to add to your holiday spreads. Below, find recipes for vegan, vegetarian, paleo, keto, and Whole30 diets. Stick to your health plan. Indulge a little, but there’s no need to totally ditch the healthy lifestyle during the holidays! Besides the holidays falling at peak cold-and-flu season, there are plenty of benefits to staying healthy during this hectic time of year. For one, your mood…

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