In the News
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February 19, 2021
“I think we can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. … Having vaccinations ramp up as (COVID-19) case counts come down at the same time is the ideal scenario,” said Ryan Malosh, assistant research scientist in epidemiology. But he and Emily Toth Martin, associate professor of epidemiology, caution the danger is not over. It’s also becoming increasingly clear that herd immunity likely will prove elusive, at least in the immediate future, Martin said.
MLive -
February 18, 2021
Ride-sharing services are believed to decrease drunk-driving crashes and deaths but they also are linked to an increase in binge drinking, said Jeffrey McCullough, associate professor of health management and policy: “It’s not that we should stop ride-hailing services. They do create value. But … we should be thinking about other public health risks related to alcohol consumption as transportation technology changes.”
WDIV/Detroit -
February 18, 2021
New research shows that reducing sodium intake by any amount can lower blood pressure over the long term. But J. Brian Byrd, assistant professor of internal medicine, says for those looking to lower their blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk, “one of the messages seems to be that changing the diet for a healthier one will be even more powerful than just reducing salt.”
U.S. News & World Report -
February 18, 2021
“It should just be: What’s great about this person? How can I learn from them? How can I teach them from my perspective, too, what I know? So it should be mutually beneficial,” said Riana Elyse Anderson, assistant professor of health behavior and health education, on developing authentic cross-racial friendships.
HuffPost -
February 17, 2021
A recent poll shows that most Republicans said they felt the country was going downhill and most Democrats said it’s going uphill. “It underscores the enormous challenge that Biden faces going forward. There is a significant base that is unalterably opposed and still questions the legitimacy of him holding office,” said Barry Rabe, professor of public policy.
The Detroit News -
February 17, 2021
“Folks with dementia are more dependent on those around them to do the safety stuff, to remember to wear a mask, to keep people away through social distancing. There is the cognitive impairment and the fact that they are more socially at risk,” said Kenneth Langa, professor of internal medicine, and health management and policy, commenting on research that found people with dementia are more likely to catch severe COVID-19.
Smithsonian Magazine -
February 17, 2021
Blue light from TV screens and mobile devices plays a role in keeping people awake, but the emotional response to what’s being viewed also has a big impact, says Jan Van den Bulck, professor of communication and media: “If you check the news right before bed, and it’s something that upsets you, then it’s the fact that you’re upset that’s going to keep you awake and not necessarily the brief exposure to the light.”
The New York Times -
February 16, 2021
A virtual conference with about 200 participants results in carbon emissions roughly equal to that of driving almost 3,300 miles or burning nearly 1,500 pounds of coal, says Grant Faber, graduate student and research assistant at the Global CO2 Initiative: “It is all too easy to ignore the materiality and energy consumption of the internet, as so much of our time spent using digital devices feels like it takes place in an abstract, incorporeal space.”
Anthropocene Magazine -
February 16, 2021
Everyone has been forced to find coping strategies to manage the uncertainty of the pandemic, and alcohol has been part of that picture, says Sean Esteban McCabe, professor of nursing and director of the Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health: “You’re seeing people with health issues, relationship issues from being on top of each other during COVID, employment issues, financial problems. These are all huge triggers.”
WEYI/Flint-Saginaw -
February 16, 2021
The stress of the pandemic has particularly targeted women — lower wages, less job stability and the burdens of parenting tend to fall more heavily on women’s shoulders, says Jessica Mellinger, assistant professor of internal medicine: “If you have all of these additional stressors, with all of your forms of support gone — and all you have left is the bottle — that’s what you’ll resort to.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer
