Inhalers dilate airways and reduce inflammation

Some claim breathwork can improve mental health, help process trauma, and more

Research shows people who practice breathing exercises see a decrease in depression and stress levels, and that such exercises are about as effective at treating PTSD as conventional approaches. Even something as simple as extending exhales can slow one's heart rate and activate the parasympathetic nervous system.

Pollen and other allergens that are inhaled rarely cause anaphylaxis

Food allergies, insect stings, medications, and latex exposure are the main causes of the life-threatening allergic response called anaphylaxis. To reverse this severe reaction, a patient must typically receive an injection of epinephrine, otherwise known as adrenaline, a hormone that can relax some of the body’s muscles and increase heart rate, among other effects. Pollen allergies typically fuel a more localized reaction that isn’t as severe.

Inhalers, antihistamines, immunotherapy, and more have made allergies a multimillion-dollar market

Market research suggests that the allergies market will continue to grow in the years ahead as the number of allergy diagnoses increases, identifying new patients. Areas of growth include the increasing interest in immunotherapies designed to retrain the immune system through regular exposure to potential allergens via injections and under-the-tongue medical formulations, among other approaches.

If you have a cold, the body produces excess mucus to trap germs

This process clogs up narrowed nasal airways, which results in congestion. This process is often accompanied or triggered by swelling of blood vessels in the nose.

Why helium mixtures are used in respiratory medicine

Unlike the air near Earth's surface, which is primarily composed of oxygen and nitrogen, heliox is composed entirely of oxygen and helium. Because helium is lighter than nitrogen, the lungs do not have to work as hard to push air, easing the uptake of oxygen via a ventilator, mask, or nasal tube.

Most people breathe fungal spores daily without getting sick

Most people breathe in hundreds of Aspergillus fumigatus spores daily without getting sick—it’s a common microscopic fungus in our environment. But people who are severely ill, including those who have undergone an organ transplant, are at risk of developing infections from these spores.

There's no specific anti-inflammatory diet, but certain foods increase the chance of inflammation

Research suggests humans can reduce inflammation by limiting foods that are already known to be unhealthy for the human body—because they alter gut bacteria and stress the immune system—such as highly-processed foods, deep fried foods, sugary drinks, trans fats, red meats, and foods made with white flour. Foods that help the body include fatty fish such as salmon, legumes, fruits, and vegetables.

Particles found in Martian air pose significant risks to human lungs

Ultrafine dust, just 3 micrometers wide, is small enough to bypass lung defenses and enter the bloodstream, where its highly reactive chemicals can cause thyroid disease. Silica in the dust can also cause silicosis, a chronic and incurable lung disease.

Autoimmunity is when the body attacks itself, causing inflammation

Inflammation is the body's way of healing itself, and acute inflammation saves our lives when we have injuries or infections. It increases blood flow to the affected areas to bring immune cells to fight off invaders. This often results in short-term swelling, redness, and pain.

Broken or neglected air conditioners are risky for respiratory health

A well-maintained air conditioner can typically keep out unwanted pathogens, but units that are dusty or water-logged can foster germs and cause harm. AC units also remove moisture from the air, potentially causing mucus membranes to dry out and become vulnerable to infection.

Most flu cases are treated at home, but antivirals help high-risk patients

Rest, fluids and common medicines usually ease influenza symptoms. For people at higher risk of complications, doctors may prescribe antiviral drugs, which work best when started soon after symptoms begin.

A closer look at why people snore

Snoring is simply noise caused by improper airflow during sleep—and while it’s something that most people will do at some point in their lives, it can also be indicative of larger health problems. Generally speaking, snoring occurs when soft...

How do anxiety and stress differ?

This article explains that though “stress” and “anxiety” are often used interchangeably, there are distinct differences between the two. Stress is defined as the body's response to an external trigger and can be classified as acute or chronic. Anxiety, however, tends to be triggered internally by excessive thoughts and judgement. Whereas stress disappears when the trigger is gone, anxiety tends to stick around. If left unchecked, both can escalate into more severe mental health conditions.

Anesthetics slow brain activity by promoting inhibitory neurotransmitters

Drugs like propofol and isoflurane increase activity at the GABA receptor, which opens chloride channels. These ions enter neurons and hyperpolarize them, making them less likely to fire. Dexmedetomidine instead blocks norepinephrine receptors in the brainstem to sedate patients.

Doctors differentiate between a phobia and fear by asking patients whether their fear interferes with their day-to-day activities.

Every organ in a mother's body changes during pregnancy

There's limited real estate inside a mother's body; as the uterus grows both up and out, it shifts other organs to make space. A pregnant woman's body produces hormones to loosen muscles to allow for this expansion. Pregnancy also triggers other changes, including faster breathing to compensate for decreased diaphragm range.

This decongestant doesn't work, so why is it still for sale?

Over-the-counter decongestants powered by phenylephrine won't help those with stuffy sinuses find relief, according to current evidence. This 10-minute video explores why these useless medications are still for sale in the US. The decongestant...

Myokines are molecules that facilitate some of the benefits of exercise

When muscles contract, they release ‘hope molecules’ (myokines) such as IL-6 and irisin. These proteins then travel through the bloodstream to reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, and even support brain repair. This piece illustrates how movement triggers a systemic healing cascade throughout the human body.

Lung cancer advances are making a big difference

Lung cancer deaths are declining faster than new cases due to advances in treatment. The progress illustrates what is possible, even for a cancer that has long had a poor prognosis.

A tube-and-diaphragm system tells gas pumps when to stop providing fuel

As long as air passes freely through a small hole at the end of the nozzle, the diaphragm is inflated, and fuel flows normally. Once fluid reaches the hole, the change in pressure from the difference in air and fluid densities collapses the diaphragm, which cuts the flow of gas.

Roughly 45% of clinicians in 2023 reported at least one symptom of burnout

With that kind of statistic as a backdrop, proponents of concierge medicine practices argue that concierge services could help keep doctors in medicine and thus help to address physician shortages.

How supplements and alternative medicine are being used to treat MS

MS patients often use complementary and alternative medicine approaches for MS, including acupuncture, yoga, specific diets, herbs like turmeric, and cannabis. Information on integrative approaches often come from support groups and online communities. Complementary care is typically used in conjunction with traditional medicines.

Disinflation, a decrease in the rate of inflation, is different from deflation

Disinflation happens when prices are still going up, just at a slower rate. Prolonged disinflation is also often accompanied by a recession, making it painful for consumers.

'Breather holes' in airplane windows help manage cabin pressure

Airplane windows have three layers of acrylic: the super durable outside layer, the inner pane which acts like a "scratch" surface, and the middle pane with the tiny hole. This bleed hole allows pressurized cabin air to be borne by the strong outer pane while preventing the inner pane from breaking.

If kids have ear tubes, over-the-counter ear drop solutions to clear buildup shouldn't be used

Mixes of acetic acid or alcohol to help speed water evaporation in the ears shouldn't be placed into children's ears if they have a hole in the eardrum or if they had ear tubes inserted—hollow cylinders made of plastic or metal that are inserted into the eardrum by a doctor to help drain fluid and improve airflow in the middle ear. Alcohol or acids can cause irritation to the middle ear and intense pain as they pass through the hole or tube.

Early peptide research focused on isolating the substances from animal tissue

In the first half of the 20th century, peptides including insulin and adrenocorticotropic hormone were isolated from animals to provide life-saving medicines. ACTH was isolated from the pituitary glands of cows and pigs and insulin was isolated from the pancreas of dogs and cows.

Hookworm infection, though risky, may help fight certain autoimmune conditions by tamping down the immune system's inflammatory response.

Poison ivy will likely become both larger and more resilient due to climate change.

Alzheimer's can lead to brain shrinkage, with an average of around 2% of volume reduction per year

See images of medical cases of firework injuries shared on this 'Instagram for doctors.' (Warning: Graphic content)

Massive 3D printers have been used to build homes by stacking layers of 'concrete toothpaste,' a fire-resistant material that effectively insulates against outside noise.

The use of fungi to detoxify land and water—a process known as mycoremediation—has been used to clean up natural resources affected by the 2025 California wildfires.

To reduce wrinkles in clothing, research recommends gentle wash cycles with more water and tumble drying with smaller loads and longer times.

Telehealth demand for GLP-1s for weight loss is booming as consumers seek easier access.

Shooting stars, or meteors, are fragments of asteroids and comets that burn up as they enter Earth's atmosphere, creating streaks in the sky called meteor showers.

Studies suggest when you sleep is as important as how much you get, and syncing with your circadian rhythms may lead to less fatigue and improved long-term health outcomes

Astronauts have repaired genetic damage in space using CRISPR—a molecular tool that can make precise changes to DNA and is used in single-celled organisms to attack invasive viruses.

Scientists can determine Earth's past climate conditions by analyzing air trapped in microscopic bubbles within ice cores—columns of compressed snow layers that build up over hundreds of thousands of years.

Coral reefs get their colors from zooxanthellae—microorganisms that line corals' digestive tracts and provide them with sugars in exchange for a home within this protective tissue.

Double world record holder Hunter Ewen helped conquer his fear of balloons, called globophobia, by training to win Guinness World Record titles for balloon inflation.

Volcanic activity may have triggered the Black Death by spewing gases that led to crop failures in Europe, thus forcing the import of grain ships with plague-infested fleas.

Gerrymandering works through two techniques: cracking opposing voters across districts to dilute their power, and packing them into a few to waste their votes in lopsided majorities.

Hurricanes, which rely on air consistently spinning in the same direction, cannot cross the equator because air curves in opposite directions north and south of it.

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The price of gas is a composite made up of several different factors, with the federal gas tax making up less than 20% of what drivers pay at the pump.

The word 'jazz' evolved from 'jasm,' 19th-century American slang for 'energy'

Take a 3D tour of the Hajj, Islam's annual pilgrimage to Mecca, undertaken by over 1.5 million Muslims.

An initial public offering or 'IPO' is the process of a private company becoming public by putting shares of the company on the stock market for purchase.

Hotels in Cannes, the glamorous city on the French Riviera, hire hawks to ward off seagulls during the city's famous film festival.

Existentialist writer Jean-Paul Sartre coined the famous phrase 'Hell is—other people' in his play 'No Exit'