National Geographic | YOUR WEEKLY CHECKUP

National Geographic

YOUR WEEKLY CHECKUP

This week: The mysteries of COVID toe; the foods than can lengthen your life; the battle to save mothers and infants; understanding pain; the truth about "sweating out toxins."

PHOTOGRAPH BY JANET JARMAN

These women are frontline soldiers in the battle to save mothers and their babies

The fight to reduce maternal and infant deaths in Guatemala and Mexico doesn’t usually take place in fully staffed hospitals, but in bare-boned rooms hours away. Known as parteras or comadronas, midwives were some of the region's first health care providers—and their work has become even more essential during the COVID-19 pandemic.

'YOU HAVE TO BREATHE'

RELATED: These photos show how dangerous it can be to give birth +

PHOTOGRAPH BY SCIENCE SOURCE

Mysterious wave of COVID toes still has scientists stumped

Puffy, red-purple, and sometimes painful toes were one of the odder symptoms seen early in the pandemic. But experts are debating their cause—and whether COVID-19 is even to blame.

PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID MCLAIN

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ FROM THE ARCHIVES‌ ‌ ‌

The traditional diets that can lead to long lives

It's been more than a decade since Dan Buettner first wrote about the world’s longest-lived people for National Geographic magazine. He's still uncovering the secrets of centenarians in regions he calls the blue zones. He recently returned to four of them to learn more about the foods—whole grains, greens, nuts, and beans—that contribute to this remarkable longevity.

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

PHOTOGRAPH BY LAUREL GOLIO, REDUX

Can you really sweat out toxins?

There are plenty of good reasons to work up a sweat. Detoxifying your body isn’t one of them.

FACT VS. FICTION

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

NG STAFF

U.S. launches COVID.gov as Omicron subvariant dominates

New daily cases in the U.S. have decreased to the lowest number since mid-July 2021.

TRACK COVID IN THE U.S.

Who should get a fourth COVID-19 vaccine shot—and when? (Vox)

If no one else is wearing a mask, should you?

Two years later, coronavirus evolution still surprises experts. Here’s why.

Never had COVID? You may hold key to beating the virus (Bloomberg)

It used to be hard to find a coronavirus test. Now there are too many. (Washington Post)

POST MORTEM

PHOTOGRAPH BY WHITE IMAGES/SCALA, FIRENZE

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE‌ ‌ ‌

The gruesome disease that killed kings and commoners alike

For millennia, humanity has feared smallpox, which killed roughly 3 out of every 10 people it infected—until an English doctor found a way to stop it, by way of a remedy from Turkey.

THE BIRTH OF VACCINES

MORE HEALTH NEWS

PHOTOGRAPH BY CRAIG CUTLER, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

How you think about physical pain can make it worse

It's not all in your head. But a promising new approach to treatment may offer relief to many sufferers of chronic pain.

HOW SCIENCE IS TRYING TO HELP

SPENCER WEINER, LA TIMES/GETTY

Research shows your brain can actually self-medicate

STEPHANIE GRELLA

Memories can be altered in mice. Are humans next?

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANA ELISA SOTELO

These stingless bees make medicinal honey. Some call it a 'miracle liquid.'

People in the tropics use several types of stingless bee honeys and wax from their hives to treat upper respiratory infections, skin conditions, gastrointestinal problems, and even diabetes and cancer.

WHAT DOES SCIENCE SAY?

The 1918 pandemic mistake that changed medicine forever

What climate change means for the future of coffee and other popular foods

What everyone should know about drinking tap water (Mashable)

Sleeping with even a little bit of light isn't good for your health, study shows (NPR)

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