Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) is the use of computer generated simulations to make patients believe they are experiencing a different set and setting. 1 Counselors aid patients guiding them through their thoughts and emotions, and providing suggestions on how to address situations. VRT has been observed to help people suffering from various ailments, including anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and pain management. Bravemind for PTSD Bravemind is a VRT exposure t

Image Credit: Dreamstime.com What Is the 6-Minute Walk Test? The 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is a simple assessment that measures how far a person can walk in six minutes. Rather than testing athletic ability, it evaluates functional capacity.  In other words, how well the heart, lungs, muscles, and circulation work together during everyday activity. It is often used in clinical and rehabilitation settings to track physical endurance and overall health. For example, in pulmonol

What are these versatile treatments? Recent excitement around GLP-1 medications has brought about interest in health benefits outside of the intended weight control and blood glucose effects. Doctors and researchers have noticed positive effects on other health conditions like chronic kidney disease, even without weight loss. There are quite a few examples of drugs with benefits reaching beyond the initially studied or approved use, and many are still used in an "off-label"

Introduction Throughout the day, you encounter minor and major inconveniences. There’s no gas in the car, kids are crying and screaming, or you wake up late because you forgot to set your alarm. These occurrences can build up and contribute to a worldwide phenomenon known as stress. While stress is something everyone experiences, it does not affect everyone in the same way. Cultural background, lived experiences, and social conditions all influence how stress shows up in the

Image Credit: Freepik In the recent decade the onset of puberty in girls is occurring at an earlier age. The timing of of puberty is dependent on genetic and epigenetic factors. The early onset of puberty in girls has raised concerns about what the causes might be and what are the potential risks associated with it. Hormones and Puberty The trigger for the onset of puberty lies in the part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a gland that releases hormone

Introduction Fats are a necessary nutrient; however, they must be consumed in a controlled quantity. There are four main types of fats found in our food: polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, saturated, and trans fats. The American Heart Association's (AHA) initial low-fat recommendations targeted individuals with significant cardiovascular risk factors or family histories of heart disease. These guidelines emphasise replacing animal fats with healthier, non-tropical plant-based

HbA1c measures the percentage of sugar coated on hemoglobin, acting as a "metabolic memory" of your blood sugar over the last 2–3 months. Unlike daily finger-pricks, it provides a long-term view of your health. Understanding this number is vital for diagnosing diabetes and preventing complications like heart or kidney disease. It is the gold standard for tracking treatment success and maintaining long-term wellness.

Your heart feels like it is racing before an exam. Your mind keeps on jumping to worst-case scenarios. Your body feels tense, and you cannot relax, even when there is no real danger. If these situations sound familiar to you, then you are not alone. These are common experiences and may be signs of anxiety. Anxiety is a natural response to stress or perceived threat. Everyone feels anxiety at some point in their life. However, when anxiety becomes intense, long-lasting, or har

On January 7th, 2026 OpenAI launched a new tool directed towards health questions called ChatGPT Health. OpenAI claims that " Health is a dedicated space in ChatGPT where you can ask health and wellness questions and choose to connect your health data (like medical records and wellness apps) so responses can be grounded in that context (What is ChatGPT Health, 2026). This new tool could be beneficial for people to track and get advice on health-related questions, but it may a

Antibiotics Antibiotics are a group medication used to treat or prevent bacterial infections by killing bacteria or stopping them from multiplying. They are prescription drugs that are available as liquids, creams, injections, and pills. Major classes include Beta-lactams (penicillins, cephalosporins), Macrolides, Tetracyclines, Fluoroquinolones, Aminoglycosides, and Glycopeptides. It is important to note that antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria, such as strep thr

Understanding HEDIS: What Those Health Plan Letters Really Mean If you’ve received a letter from your health plan urging you to schedule a checkup or screening, it may be tied to something called HEDIS . For many seniors, these messages feel confusing or impersonal. So, what is HEDIS—and why does it matter? What Is HEDIS? HEDIS stands for Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set . It’s a system used by health plans to measure how well they’re delivering care. These r

Background - An Evidence-Based Look at the 2025–26 Influenza Season Influenza is a seasonal respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. Illness severity ranges from mild to severe and can result in hospitalization or death, particularly among vulnerable populations. Influenza spreads primarily through respiratory droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces. The 2025–26 influenza season is shaping up to be more intense and disruptive than those seen in recent years.

In clinical medicine, it’s easy to assume that if two patients receive the same diagnosis and the same prescription, their outcomes should look similar. In reality, that’s rarely the case. Some patients respond immediately to treatment, while others see little benefit or experience unexpected side effects. While genetics and lifestyle are often cited as explanations, another factor is gaining attention for its quiet but also very significant role: the gut microbiome. The gut

“I’m just tired.” A 21-year-old college student keeps cancelling plans. She sleeps for eight hours but wakes up exhausted. Her hair seems thinner than before, her nails break easily, and climbing a single flight of stairs leaves her breathless. Friends tell her she is overthinking. Family members say she is lazy or stressed. She starts believing them. She is not lazy. She is iron deficient. Approximately one in three women of reproductive age (15-49 years) worldwide is affect

A person properly cleaning fresh, uncooked produce, By: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Introduction Nine out of ten people in the United States derive their tap water from public water systems (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2025, Overview, para. 2). Roughly 150,000 public water systems supply drinking water to the majority of Americans (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2025, Basic Information about Your Drinking Water, para. 3). Tap w

by Abby Newberry If you’ve been hospitalized in the United States, you have likely received multiple documents outlining how much money you are likely to or actually owe for the stay.  Have you ever wondered where that amount comes from and who decides what the hospitalization will cost? In this article, we will take a broad overview of how your hospital diagnosis and treatment get translated into dollars. A Bit of Background Prior to the 1980s, hospitals calculated bills usi

By Anne Denk, RN, BSN Migraines affect 37 million Americans, including men, women, and children. Migraines occur due to a variety of factors. While there are multiple pharmacological treatment options, studies have shown that several alternative treatments are beneficial. Massage therapy is one of these alternative treatment options that can reduce the symptoms of migraines. Origins and Impacts of Migraines Migraine headaches occur for many reasons. Contributing factors inclu

Cortisol is one of the primary stress hormones and plays a significant role in numerous physiological functions, including the body’s fight-or-flight response. When the brain perceives stress, the hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which subsequently stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This hormone then signals the adrenal glands to release cortisol into the bloodstream. Skin, being the largest organ in the b

Introduction Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) stands as the most common inherited cardiac disease, fundamentally characterized by unexplained thickening of the heart muscle and hypercontractility. In patients with the obstructive subtype (oHCM), the hypertrophied muscle acts like a roadblock, impeding the ejection of blood from the left ventricle into the aorta (Left Ventricular Outflow Tract [LVOT] obstruction). This results in debilitating symptoms such as dyspnea, chest p

For most of us, antibiotics are a quick fix: a small pill that can chase away an infection in a matter of days. But not all antibiotics are created equal. Certain commonly prescribed drugs -- especially a group known as fluoroquinolones -- carry a lesser-known risk: they can damage tendons. From the Achilles to the shoulder, these injuries can appear during treatment or even weeks later, sometimes with sudden, intense pain or long-lasting weakness. Doctors have documented cas