Meet the cohosts of "This Podcast Will Kill You."
| | | | Happy Friday! Today, we're kicking off the weekend with disease fun facts and tips on fighting health misinformation. To do that, we scored insights from Erin Welsh, PhD, and Erin Updyke, PhD, the epidemiologists, disease ecologists, and cohosts of "This Podcast Will Kill You." Scroll down to read our brief yet insightful Q&A. | | Next up, we've got: | | | | | Be well,
Morgan Mandriota
Newsletter Editor, Healthline | | | | |
| |  | | Written by Morgan Mandriota
April 7, 2023 • 5 min read | | | | | | | |
| |  | | The Erins of "This Podcast Will Kill You" take a light-hearted approach to heavier topics while helping listeners understand the connection between your health and the world around you. Below, the cohosts drop facts about the history and science behind different diseases. | | *This interview has been edited for length and clarity. | | Q: | Which episode of "This Podcast Will Kill You" so far has been the most enlightening, and why? | | | A: It depends on who you ask! I think that people get different things out of different episodes, and an episode that might feel enlightening to one person may not be very impactful for someone else. | | Personally, one of the topics that has especially stuck with both of us was not an infectious disease. It was our episode on endometriosis. | | Despite being an incredibly common disease, many people wait years for a diagnosis of endometriosis. This is due in part to the implicit bias in medicine against women that leaves them feeling neither listened to nor believed. | | In this episode, we trace the roots of this bias starting with the origins of "hysteria" as a diagnosis all the way to the present day, with studies demonstrating the challenges that many women face in obtaining the healthcare they need and deserve. | | Q: | What do you wish more people knew about infectious diseases? | | | A: Vaccines are safe and effective, antibiotics won't work on your cold or other viral infection, and science is not static! Science is a dynamic process, and as we learn more, that information can be used to fill in knowledge gaps or adjust existing guidelines. Exciting research is constantly underway, and it takes time for the results from that research to translate into application. | | Q: | This question is for each of you: What's one of your favorite facts about one infectious disease that you think our audience might find fascinating? | | | EW: In our typhus episode, I told the story of Dr. Rudolf Weigl and his louse feeders, who were Polish intellectuals and resistance fighters. While feeding lice for vaccine research, they planned underground operations against Nazis during World War II. There's a whole lot more to that story, but typhus in general is fascinating. | | EU: The incantation "Abracadabra" was once used to ward off malaria! | | | | | | |
| | | | Editor faves with health perks | | | | | | |  | | EcoEgg Laundry Egg | | Fellow newsletter editor Ginger swears by this EcoEgg Laundry Egg. According to the company's website, the mineral pellets inside of the egg lift dirt and grease off clothing while also ionizing the water, which helps soften the fabric. Just be careful not to overfill your washer, as it can't handle huge loads. | | This award-winning egg is especially great for people with sensitive skin or allergies, as using fragranced laundry detergent can cause skin irritation. Plus, it may mean you (read: I) can skip buying plastic detergent bottles for good! | | | Every product we recommend has gone through Healthline's vetting process. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline is owned by RVO Health. | | | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | You might want to stop sitting with your legs crossed … | | Women are often socialized to sit cross-legged to appear more "lady-like." But what most folks don't learn is that sitting with your legs crossed may actually harm your health. In fact, this ergonomically incorrect seated position can significantly strain several different parts of your body. | | Sitting cross-legged isn't exactly a medical emergency, but it *can* cause short- and long-term side effects. Studies show that these can include: | | | How you cross your legs matters, too. For example, you can sit with your legs crossed at your knees or your ankles. (Fun fact: 62% of people are right-leg crossers, 26% are left-leg crossers, and the remaining 12% are indifferent.) | | From now on, you may want to reduce how often you sit with your legs crossed. It may take some time to adjust, but consider sitting with your feet flat on the floor or regularly changing positions to reduce your risk. Maintaining an active lifestyle and limiting prolonged sitting can help protect your health as well. | | | | | | |
| | | | Thanks for reading! Is there a topic you'd like us to cover soon? Let us know at wellnesswire@healthline.com. Have a great weekend, and we'll see you on Monday.
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