- Winter weather brings higher health risks.
- Snow and ice cause slips and falls.
- Driveways and ground can become frozen.
- Respiratory viruses rise in winter.
- Influenza, COVID-19 and RSV increase.
- Arjun Venkatesh is a professor and chair at Yale School of Medicine.
- He is chief of emergency medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital.
- Four years ago he gave a news interview.
- Two days after the interview he slipped at home.
- It was late at night after a hospital shift.
Difficult words
- respiratory — About breathing and the lungs
- influenza — A virus that makes people very sick
- slipped — To lose balance and fall
- professor — A teacher and leader at a university
- emergency — A sudden medical or dangerous problem
- frozen — Turned to ice because of very cold
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever slipped on ice?
- Do you get sick more in winter?
- Do you walk carefully when the ground is frozen?
Related articles
Reliable Internet Unavailable for 90% of Poorest
A report highlights that 90% of people in low- and middle-income countries lack reliable internet access, affecting their ability to access essential services.
Youth Experiencing Homelessness Get Care with Pets
A study shows that homeless youth are more likely to get medical care if their pets can also receive care.
Internet use may reduce loneliness for older unpaid caregivers
A US study found that older unpaid caregivers who use the internet more often tend to feel less lonely. Researchers analysed 2019–2020 California survey data from 3,957 caregivers aged 65 and older; about 12% had health problems.
Soybean oil linked to weight gain in mice
A University of California, Riverside study found that a high-fat diet rich in soybean oil made most mice gain weight. Engineered mice with a different liver protein did not gain weight; oxylipins from linoleic acid may be involved.
Mechanical tipping point behind sudden fibrosis
Scientists found a mechanical "tipping point" that makes groups of cells switch quickly from healthy to fibrotic states. Collagen fibers, cell spacing and crosslinking control this abrupt change and affect how far mechanical signals travel.
Child Marriage is a Systemic Failure
Child marriage in Pakistan is a serious issue affecting many girls, denying them their dreams and impacting their health. The article discusses the legal framework, societal challenges, and hopeful changes regarding this issue.