Thalidomide is a drug that was first commercialized in the 1950s, mainly as a morning-sickness treatment for pregnant women. However, the drug was soon observed to produce severe birth defects when consumed during pregnancy, resulting in around 10.000 affected infants worldwide (1). This medical catastrophe has served as an early example on why medicines have to go under strict testing before being commercialized and continue to be monitored overtime, setting the princi

The World Health Organization (WHO) credits vaccines with having ‘saved more human lives than any other medical intervention in history’ (1). In 2025 their director of the Department of Immunizations, Vaccines and Biologicals called vaccination one of the most powerful public health tools and cited 150 million lives saved over the past fifty years (2). In spite of this a growing number of people are hesitant to or refusing to receive recommended vaccines (3). Enough peop

Panic disorder is a psychiatric or anxiety disorder characterized by recurring, sudden panic attacks or even fear attacks. Having feelings of anxiety happens to everyone. But experiencing these feelings regularly without a clear reason often points to panic disorder (1). Symptoms of panic disorder include: ● Sudden and repeated panic attacks ● A fear of being out of control ● A fear of death during a panic attack ● An avoidance of places where panic attacks have occurred

Image Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulmonary_lymphangioleiomyomatosis If you've been diagnosed with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) or your healthcare provider suspects you may have it, you may wonder what this rare lung disease is and how it can affect your breathing. LAM primarily affects the lungs and can cause gradual damage to lung tissue over time. What Is LAM? Lymphangioleiomyomatosis, or LAM, is a rare disease in which abnormal cells grow in the lungs and othe

What is Lactoferrin? Lactoferrin is a naturally occurring iron-binding protein found in the milk of mammals, with the highest concentrations present in colostrum and breast milk. It is also found in saliva, tears, and other bodily fluids and is produced by immune cells throughout the body, where it plays an important role in the body’s natural defense system. Its ability to bind iron is responsible for many of its actions. Because of its wide range of biological functions

Introduction: If you have visited someone in the hospital or have watched a medical drama, you may be familiar with the gowns, masks, or goggles healthcare staff wear. You may have also worn a mask during a visit to a hospital or clinic. These items represent personal protective equipment (PPE) that staff wear to protect themselves, patients, and visitors from healthcare associated infections. Healthcare associated infections (HAI), also known as healthcare acquired infecti

Madelaine Gibbon Paranoid Personality Disorder Paranoid personality disorder, also known as PPD, is labeled by the DSM-5 as a cluster A personality disorder. This specific disorder involves severe feelings of suspicion and an unwarranted distrust of others (2). The main symptoms used to diagnose PPD in an individual includes: 1. Belief that someone is out to harm them without any concrete basis (3). 2. Consistent and unwarranted distrust of family, friends, and acquaintance

By Ariana Merino What Is Broken Heart Syndrome? Have you ever heard someone say they felt heartbroken? Whether it’s after a breakup, losing someone they love, or receiving devastating news, heartbreak is something almost everyone experiences. Most of us think of it as an emotion that slowly fades over time. But what if heartbreak could affect more than just your emotions? As surprising as it sounds, there is a real medical condition called broken heart syndrome, also known a

Sundos Hejazi Procrastination encourages feelings of exhaustion (1). Most people are familiar with the endless cycle of postponing something until tomorrow even though it should have been done yesterday. Procrastination is a trap that is easy for people to fall into, and once the habit is adopted, it is difficult to drop. Most people are aware that delaying their responsibilities will not help them in the long run mentally, emotionally, or socially, but what about the physica

Tatsiana Yarash Parents of children with autism often read about new treatments online. One treatment receiving increasing attention is leucovorin. Early research suggests it may improve language and communication in some children with autism, but does the evidence support its use? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects how a person communicates, interacts with others, and experiences the world around them. While speech therapy, occupational therapy and behavioural inter

Did you know a human body weighing 110 pounds contains the equivalent of 40 teaspoons of sodium chloride, or salt? (1) Our bodies maintain a narrow window of “normal” when it comes to sodium levels. Health problems can arise when sodium levels become lower or higher than the normal range. Older adults sometimes have health conditions that can cause difficulty maintaining a normal sodium blood level. Figure 1. Saltshaker spilling salt on a table. (1) What Is Hyponatremia

Alina Khan "I used to have perfect teeth, but after pregnancy my teeth have completely changed." As a dentist, these words ring a bell. Many women struggling with cavities, bleeding gums, tooth sensitivity, or other dental problems after pregnancy may feel that this statement perfectly describes their experience. Pregnancy hormones can feel like a hurricane, carrying a woman through profound physiological and psychological changes. From morning sickness and food cravings to

The Hidden Health Challenge of Remote Work Working from home has become a permanent part of modern life for millions of employees worldwide. While remote work offers flexibility, reduced commuting time, and improved work-life balance, researchers are increasingly questioning whether it may also be contributing to lower physical activity levels and poorer health outcomes. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMC Public Health examined how working fro

Savarimuthu Sherly Alzheimer’s disease is the most predominant type of neurological disorder that causes disability and mortality worldwide, yet has no cure. Alzheimer’s is characterized by beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tau tangles in the brain(1) . These changes occur years before the patients begin to show symptoms, which solidifies the importance of early intervention in delaying disease progression. In the past, certain disease-modifying treatments have failed

Photo Credit: Wix What is Down Syndrome Down syndrome is the most common type of chromosomal condition diagnosed in the United States with about one in every 640 babies born with it. It occurs due to presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21 (Trisomy of chromosome 21), resulting in multiple complications. With improved medical care, life expectancy of people born with down syndrome has greatly increased between 1960 to 2007 from 10 years of age to 47 years of age. Down Syn

Photo Credit: Wix Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder, causes by mutations in the CFTR gene. It affects approx. 105,000 people worldwide. Before CFTR modulators were developed to treat cystic fibrosis, patients with CF rarely survived beyond their 20’s. With the advent of these transformative therapies patients with CF live well into their 60’s and 70’s. While CFTR modulators offer hope to 90% of the patients, many still are unable to benefit. About 10% of pati

Natalie Orlov Neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and glioblastoma, affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide and remain among the most difficult diseases to treat. One of the greatest obstacles in neuroscience is the inability to accurately model the human brain in a laboratory. Traditional two-dimensional cell cultures fail to recreate the complex interactions between neurons, while animal models often do not fully

Causes of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Adolescence is a period of rapid physical, emotional, and mental development. During this stage, some teenagers may experiment with drugs or alcohol due to curiosity, peer pressure, stress, family problems, or a lack of awareness about their harmful effects. Easy access to these substances and negative social influences can also increase the risk. The developing brain can be particularly vulnerable to the effects of early substance use, which

By Angela Anand, BSN, RN, PEL-CSN A Shortage of Doctors There is a trending shortage of Medical Doctors. The World Health Organization estimated a shortfall of up to 12.9 million healthcare workers by 2035 (1). Due to this shortage, advanced nursing programs have been created to help fill the gap in some countries. As some nurses with advanced degrees begin to call themselves “Doctor,” confusion is created for people who are unaware of the significant differences betwee

The human psyche is far from perfect. The brain is an extraordinarily complex organ, yet it remains a biological structure built through countless molecular interactions that ultimately give rise to consciousness. That consciousness is inherently fragile. At some point in life, most people will experience psychological crises, traumatic events, or emotional responses to everyday stressors. Illustration by Rob Dobi (Getty Images) Mental health professionals—including psycholog