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If you’ve spent as much time as I have surveying the dark corners of the anti-vaccine and free-birthing social media worlds, you won’t be surprised by the fact that wellness influencers pushing “natural” birth control are all over the place. Sometimes they’re promoting some version of the rhythm method, also known as fertility awareness (tracking your menstrual cycle to figure out when you’ll ovulate and avoiding sex or using condoms on or near those days); sometimes they’re selling some poultice of herbs. (Jessica Grose, 11/1)

The new obesity drugs are so much in demand that the food industry has grown concerned that they might threaten future profits. The entertainment industry is speculating about which celebrities might be taking them. Amid the noise, it can be easy to miss a much more fundamental question: Will these new medications improve the health of the country? (Peter Laurie and Joshua Sharfstein, 11/2)

The power and peril of Crispr was up for debate at a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee meeting yesterday. Their task: to consider the risks and benefits of a gene therapy for sickle cell disease developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Crispr Therapeutics Inc. Given the positive tenor of the meeting, the therapy is expected in early December to become the first Crispr-based therapy to reach the market. (Lisa Jarvis, 11/1)

At the bustling Chicago O’Hare airport, my luggage and I collided with an elderly couple. My heart sank when I realized my vision had failed me again. Because of a connective tissue disorder, my peripheral vision and balance were impaired, making such unintentional mishaps part of my journey. Moments like these are stark reminders of the day-to-day issues that patients with rare diseases often face. (Vivian G. Cheung, 11/1)

Earlier this year, the University of Pittsburgh released the results from three studies focusing on the health impacts on people who live near shale gas operations — sometimes called fracking — in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The results of these studies showed that Pennsylvania must do more to defend the health of residents, not just in areas of heavy industrial activity, but all across the commonwealth. (Alison L. Steele, 11/2)

As the memory care director at Blakeford Senior Life, I have had the chance to care for those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and learn more about the symptoms that come with the disease. The health care industry is making strides in treatment, but until there is a cure, the best thing we can do to help is to spread awareness about the effects of the disease. (Ashley Briggs, 11/1)

Only 7 percent of American adults have received the updated coronavirus vaccine, according to the National Immunization Survey. Among older adults, the uptake is higher but still lagging: Just 1 in 5 of those 75 and older have received the shot.These numbers are alarming. (Leana S. Wen, 11/2)