Science Archives - HandbagMafia

Whooping Cough and Babies

Some stories hit the news and never really leave our collective memories. There are many, but a couple of names will always make my heart clench whenever I read them. Those names are Dana McCaffrey and Riley Hughes. Both babies were only a few weeks old when they died, several years apart, as a result of contracting whooping cough (pertussis). If their names bring a tear to my eye, I can only imagine what it would be like to have carried them, birthed them, held them in my arms and loved them.

Babies under 6 months old are at the highest risk from whooping cough. They are too young to be fully vaccinated against it and make up the majority of pertussis-related hospital admissions. Approximately 1 in 200 babies who contract it will die due to brain damage or pneumonia associated with the disease.

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The Alternative Therapies in my Newsfeed: A side-effect

There are a lot of things that appear in my news and social feeds that would maybe surprise the people that know me. At first glance, they’d wonder why so much pseudoscience cluttered my socials. Alternative therapies up the wazoo. They’d think “Whoooooo, is their targeting way off! No way is she buying a salt lamp or a crystal water bottle or a bunch of oils!”

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The thing is, when you write about stuff like that, it seems internet algorithms don’t much care if you’re writing about it because it’s woo you want to warn people against. You googled it, you clicked links, you found Facebook and twitter pages. Therefore, you wanna see it! So, for the last little while, I’ve been seeing a petition shared around, asking people to sign to block changes to health fund rebates for alternative therapies. Mainly from alternative therapists, annoyed that their services will no longer be covered.

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Gym Membership

Wanna hear about something that I’m finding really frustrating at the moment? Trying to join a gym. There are gyms everywhere and everyone I’ve spoken to at gyms? Totally fine and lovely. They have to be or who would ever join up?

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It’s not so much the joining of the gym that’s frustrating, it’s the cost.

You can spend approximately $12-$30+ a week on gym membership. It’s not cheap. For those of us doing the 38-40 hour a week grind, it means using your gym at least 3 times a week, for good value as well as good health. For those of us that work ridiculous hours, there are even 24 hour access gyms, for your 3 a.m. workout or whatever.

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Natural and Chemical-Free Cleaning

Natural and chemical-free cleaning tips are rampant online and have been for a few years now. You might even use some of them or at least have given them a whirl. Did you read the title of this post and maybe think about the diluted vinegar you use on the floors? The bicarb mix you clean the sink with? Or the fantastic cloth you bought (via an MLM seller) that allows you to clean things CHEMICAL-FREE? Cleaning your house is something we all have to deal with and there’s nothing wrong with re-examining how you do it and what products you use. There is, however, some serious flaws to what passes for natural and chemical-free cleaning. Not only because labeling that way is disingenuous; it’s also part of a bigger problem.

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Pregnant? Protect Yo Self! (and baby too!)

Whooping Cough and Babies

Alternative Therapies: No proof, no rebate!

The Alternative Therapies in my Newsfeed: A side-effect

Gym membership: Here’s an annoying thing you might not have known!

Gym Membership

This Post is 100% Natural and Chemical-Free

Natural and Chemical-Free Cleaning