Discover a broad spectrum of topics, from fundamental anatomy to the latest in medical research and treatments, all aimed at enhancing your understanding of health, wellness, and our bodies. Our resources are meticulously curated to offer precise and pertinent information to students, professionals, and anyone interested in learning more about the medical sciences. Dive in to stay informed, make well-informed health decisions, and explore the intriguing world of medicine.
Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.
In this podcast episode, historian John Barry explores the 1918 influenza pandemic—from its wartime origins and deadly second wave in Philadelphia to government missteps, global impacts, and comparisons with later pandemics like H1N1 swine flu.
Sepsis is the result of an overly aggressive immune system trying to combat infection, triggering inflammation throughout the body. After it begins, each passing hour increases the risk of death by 4% to 9%, and an estimated 350,000 people die from the condition in the US each year.
More than 100 million people in the United States suffer from allergies each year. But Wichita, Kansas, tops the charts year after year as the worst city in America for those suffering from seasonal allergies. Longer and more intense pollen allergy seasons, however, are increasing the burden of living with seasonal allergies in numerous locations across the country.
The 1580 influenza pandemic, traced from Asia to Africa and into Europe, became the first flu outbreak clearly documented across the continent—killing tens of thousands and highlighting influenza’s potential for rapid global spread.
Scientists are trying to figure out if there are unique receptors that respond to the molecules that make up flavors we associate with calcium, blood, batteries, and other items that often escape dinner menus. Taste researcher Dr. Danielle Reed says the minimum evidence for a taste category typically involves identifying dedicated receptors and then removing them to show the taste vanishes.
Skin prick tests and blood tests, the two most common allergy tests, both detect the presence of allergen-specific antibodies. But just because the body has those antibodies doesn’t mean that a person is “allergic” to a substance or that they will develop symptoms of an allergy when encountering the substance. Allergists work with families to interpret the results and sometimes combine that data with approaches including exposure challenges—giving someone a tiny bit of the food or substance they may be allergic to—under medical supervision.
When the body experiences stress, the sympathetic nervous system releases the hormone norepinephrine. This hormone prematurely activates pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) in hair follicles, which depletes the hair's ability to retain color over the long run.
Clotting is how our body stops bleeding in the event of an injury. Typically, platelets adhere to exposed tissue, becoming sticky and forming a plug. Chemical signals trigger the coagulation cascade, converting fibrinogen into fibrin threads that stabilize the plug. This prevents bleeding but can obstruct vessels if overactive or misplaced.
While there are innumerable conditions ultimately leading to the joint pain we collectively term "arthritis," one common pathway is progressive inflammation and joint damage many years after an injury.
A study led by a team from Stanford University showed that MR can help people with depression by providing pathways to engage in activities such as digital board games and dancing. Participants saw reduced symptoms of depression that made their overall treatment plans more successful.