The Right Mask That Shows Your Smile Can Be Protective

PLUS: Common Vaccines Against Flu And Pneumonia Might Ward Off Alzheimer's

Shots Gregory Bull/AP See-Through Masks Get An FDA Look-See Face coverings are a key tool for stopping the spread of the coronavirus, but they can slow communication, especially for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Pediatricians and teachers have been clamoring for see-through masks, too, so kids can see their smiles and other expressions. Some vendors sell masks with a transparent panel. But do they work? At least one such mask has cleared the FDA as being "substantially equivalent" to a medical-grade surgical mask for hospitals and other front-line uses. Read on to hear more about these face coverings, and why the CDC says transparent face shields don’t provide the same protection. BONUS Why Wearing A Mask Is Good For You: The Science   Newsletter continues after sponsor message Themba Hadebe/AP Flu Shot And Pneumonia Vaccine To Ward Off Alzheimer’s? Two new studies in people lend extra credence to earlier hints that vaccines designed to prevent respiratory infections -- the flu shot and the pneumonia vaccine -- might also provide some protection against Alzheimer's disease. Both studies were presented last week at the Alzheimer’s Association Annual Conference, which was held as a virtual event this year. "We've always known that vaccines are very important to our overall health," says Maria Carrillo, chief science officer of the Alzheimer's Association. "And maybe they even contribute to protecting our memory, our cognition, our brain." Quantifying how much protection the vaccines afford, how they do it and at what age are the next questions, researchers say. Read on to hear why they think the mechanism might involve an overall boost in immunity. BONUS: Harvested Antibodies Might Help Prevent Coronavirus Infection   Angela Hsieh for NPR Why Forgiveness Is Really About You Have a righteous grudge you can’t let go of? Forget the idea that forgiveness involves condoning or making excuses for unfair treatment or other behaviors that are hurtful, says counselor and author Ana Holub. It’s not about getting an apology or seeing remorse, or about reconciliation, necessarily. "The expanded version of forgiveness that I love to teach is a deep, soul-level letting-go of our pain, our sorrow, our suffering," Holub tells writer Stephanie O’Neill, in this week’s Life Kit episode. "And we do that because we want to be free. We do that because we want to be healthy and we want to have peace of mind." If you can forgive, Holub says, the deepest benefit will be yours. But how do you get there, or even start? Read on for tips in practicing the sort of radical forgiveness that has been shown to improve mental health. BONUS: Got Anger? Try Naming It To Tame It   More of this week's health stories from NPR Gene Therapy’s Success In Child With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ‘Mutual Aid Groups’: Neighborly Solidarity Can Help You Weather The Pandemic 6 Superpowers Of The Novel Coronavirus   We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of NPR's health journalism on Shots and follow us on Twitter at @NPRHealth. Your Shots editor, Deborah Franklin   What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: shots@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Goats & Soda, Daily News, Best of NPR and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy