Health Archives

Debra Smith holds her medical bills in her living room on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, in Spring Hill, Tenn. Smith figures she has around $10,000 in unpaid medical bills from a string of hospital stays over the past year, even though she has coverage through Medicare. She hasn't been able to make much progress paying them off. AP Photo/Mark Zaleski

Does Medicare actually provide universal, affordable healthcare?

“There’s this serious concentration of unaffordability among people who don’t have money or who have very high healthcare needs,” says Jeanne Madden, associate professor of pharmacy and health systems sciences at Northeastern. Madden led a new study finding that one in 10 Medicare recipients have had trouble paying medical bills, and the same proportion have delayed care due to worries about cost.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki January 5, 2022

Northeastern community members receive a first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the Cabot Testing Center. Photo Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Do I need another COVID-19 booster?

Given the rise in omicron cases, U.S. officials have been talking about the need for a second booster, or a fourth shot. Which begs the question: Is it possible to overstimulate the immune system with too many shots? Theoretically, yes, say Northeastern pharmacy and public health experts.

by Tanner Stening January 4, 2022

Photo illustration of paper and cloth masks in the Northeastern studio on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

Which is the best COVID-19 mask?

The threat of breakthrough infections brought on by the omicron variant has reinvigorated discourse about which face masks best protect you from the coronavirus. The answer, say Northeastern experts, is that it depends. Here are the factors to consider when putting on a mask.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki December 23, 2021

A survey of U.S. booster shot recipients finds that 30% of vaccinated people have received an extra shot. That is expected to ramp up quickly as the highly transmissible omicron variant spreads during the winter. Photo Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Who is getting COVID-19 booster shots (and who’s resistant)?

More men than women, and more Democrats than Republicans, said they received a booster injection. This and more from a new study by researchers at Northeastern and several partner institutions.

by Peter Ramjug December 22, 2021

Which COVID-19 test should I take?

This holiday season has collided with a surge in COVID-19 cases. Many people have added another task to their travel and party planning to-do lists: Get tested. Northeastern public health experts break down the options.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki December 20, 2021

There has been a noticeable uptick in parental resistance to COVID-19 vaccines since June that is contributing to a slowing of the teen vaccination rate, a study by researchers from Northeastern and partner institutions found. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Parental enthusiasm for teens’ COVID-19 vaccines is waning: U.S. survey

There was a 7 percentage point drop since June among parents who say their kids have already been vaccinated or likely will be, according to a new study by researchers from Northeastern and several partner institutions. The dip in support for COVID-19 vaccines could also foretell a larger movement against other mandatory vaccinations, the researchers say.

by Peter Ramjug December 14, 2021

Northeastern University wins competitive federal grant to help broaden job opportunities in biotech across New England

The university was selected among a competitive pool of 529 applicants to receive a federal grant as part of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge—a program designed to boost pandemic recovery and rebuild communities across the country.

by Tanner Stening and Molly Callahan December 13, 2021

Dr. Gian Corrado, Northeastern University’s team physician, is joining Mass General sports medicine and poses for a portrait at his new offices. His new role will enable Northeastern athletes to receive care at MGH alongside the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Revolution. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

Northeastern team physician joins elite sports medicine team at Mass General Hospital

As director of emergency sports medicine at Mass General, an appointment that begins Jan. 1, Dr. Gian Corrado will help care for a wide variety of athletes at all levels, including the professionals of the New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, and New England Revolution. As Corrado maintains his role with Northeastern, he will be inviting Huskies student-athletes to join him at Mass General to improve their performance as well as to recover from injuries.

by Ian Thomsen December 9, 2021

Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Should I still get a booster shot even though we don’t know much about omicron?

It’s unlikely that the omicron variant will evade COVID-19 vaccine protections entirely, says Mansoor Amiji, university distinguished professor of pharmaceutical sciences and chemical engineering at Northeastern. But you will likely need that booster shot. Here’s why.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki December 3, 2021

A new study, published Wednesday, focused on a severe neurodevelopmental disorder referred to as 16p11.2 Deletion Syndrome, a condition often associated with autism, intellectual disability, language impairments, seizures, obesity and movement disorders, among a range of other health problems. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

Landmark study into genetic disorder offers clues into links between metabolism and mental health

Researchers at Northeastern and neighboring colleges say they’ve made a landmark discovery that takes a deeper look at the origins of a debilitating genetic disease, called 16p11.2 Deletion Syndrome, known to cause a range of symptoms and health problems.

by Tanner Stening December 2, 2021

Health