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.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced that if you’re vaccinated and not in a large crowd, you don’t need to wear a mask outdoors. Some of us, though, may still want to wear one for another reason. Research suggests that the face covering may help reduce the allergy symptoms, like runny noses and itchy throats. Allergy symptoms happen when your body recognizes something harmless, like pollen or dust known as an “allergen,” as potentially dangerous and mounts an immune response. While allergens like peanuts and pet dander persist year-round, many of us suffer from seasonal allergies,…

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