Here's an un-fun fact: gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, remains as one of the most common oral health issues worldwide. Here's another one: Recents studies show that more than half of adults over 30 in America may have it. Early detection can improve overall health outcomes such as prevent tooth loss, but also relieving chronic pains and resolving many other compounding issues that stem from a dental disease. Here is a brief guide for identifying the symptoms e

Stoppage Rate of Semaglutide Use According to data reported by Reimar Thomsen, MD, PhD, of Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, about 52% (40,262 of 77310) adults without diabetes who took semaglutide for weight loss ceased to take the medication after 12 months, while about 18% of the adults stopping to take Wegovy injection within 3 months, 31% within 6 months, and 42% within 9 months. Thomsen noted at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeti

What is Intermittent Fasting? Is it true that intermittent fasting can cause the growth of cancer? Well to start off, what even is intermittent fasting? Intermittent fasting focuses not on what you eat, but when you eat. With intermittent fasting, you only eat during a scheduled period of your day, whether it be for 1 hour of the day, or a larger chunk such as four. Intermittent fasting is often used for weight loss and works by protracting the period when your body has burne

By Vanessa Muller, PharmD As a pharmacist in Washington State, I see every day how access to vaccines protects our communities. The ability for patients to walk into a pharmacy and receive recommended vaccines without delay isn’t a coincidence, it reflects deliberate state policies designed to make prevention straightforward and equitable. In September 2025, Washington joined California, Oregon, and later Hawaii to form the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) a regional partner

What are antibiotics? Antibiotics are chemical agents that inhibit the growth of bacteria by either killing them or stopping them from growing. They are used in the treatment and prevention of diseases. Antibiotics have improved the life span of human due to their positive outcomes in the management of many bacterial infections Antibiotics resistance This is the ability for a microorganism (bacteria) to thrive in the presence of antibiotic treatment, which has been previously

Image from Pathology Reference Laboratory What is Pathology? The prefix "path-" means disease, while the suffix "-ology" means the study of. In medicine, terminology is read backwards, so when combined, the meaning of pathology is the study of diseases! Furthermore, pathology is the "study of diseases and their effects on the body"(Support3). Why is Pathology so important? Pathology is so important because without it, we would not know why we get sick, how diseases spread,

All of us are familiar with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, popularly known as HIV, as it has been one of the most dreaded viruses in the world for a long time. HIV infection has long been one of the world’s most challenging and stigmatised conditions, and despite decades of awareness efforts and scientific progress, misconceptions still surround it. Once you contract HIV, unfortunately, there is no cure. However, advances in treatment and prevention have transformed HIV in

Understanding the Spread of Infections Infectious diseases are caused by harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites that invade the body and disrupt normal function. These diseases can spread through air, water, direct contact, or insect bites. Understanding their transmission helps us recognize the importance of preventive measures, especially hygiene, in limiting their impact on individual and public health. How does hygiene prevent inf

A quick take for clinicians and  curious readers A new class of health devices delivers gentle electrical pulses to the auricular branch of the vagus nerve at the outer ear: so-called transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS). Early trials in psychiatry-adjacent outcomes (insomnia, depressive symptoms, autonomic dysregulation) are promising, while safety appears favorable. But effects vary by device settings and population, and larger, multisite trials are stil

It is vital to recognize the serious impact the opioid overdoses have had in America. Establishing preventative and corrective response measures on the part of government and nonprofits are critical.                                                                                Opioids are involved in the highest percentage of overdose deaths. [1] They originate from natural substances found in the opium poppy plant to produce pain relief. [2]  Opioid Use Disorder represents

We've all watched a TV scene where a character has a seizure. They fall to the ground, shaking violently. A crowd gathers, and the hero shouts for someone to call 911, STAT!  Understanding Seizures Far from looking like a moment on your favorite medical drama, seizures take many forms, and they don’t always mean you need to call an ambulance. A seizure happens when a person's brain experiences a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity. This can affect their movement, sen

Image from VUMC NEWS Influenza viral infection causes the flu- We have all had the flu and experienced the symptoms that come along with it, including fever, chills, coughing, runny nose, fatigue. Generally, within a few days we are able to recover, however, there are some individuals that are at high risk to whom the flu can be quite dangerous. Generally, we are accustomed to the fact that every year there are seasonal flu outbreaks and epidemics, however, there can also be

High blood pressure or Hypertension is becoming an increasingly problematic health issue. It’s often called the ‘silent killer’ because of the disastrous effects it has on the body. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you’ve probably been told by your healthcare provider to make lifestyle modifications. You might have also heard about the DASH Diet and its importance in controlling blood pressure. But does it actually work? Or is it just an

First responders are those who work in emergency medical services (EMS) and are trained to address emergencies outside of the health clinic or hospital. A common belief is that EMS are ambulance drivers. While transport to hospitals can be part of EMS, the work requires much more. Assessing scene safety, rapid identification of life threatening emergencies, and applying life saving measures are also core parts of the job. Careers in EMS attract those who are interested in lea

Many of us kept a secret journal as kids, documenting our feelings and moments with colorful pens, stickers, and doodles. But whether journaling was just a childhood phase, an activity that never crossed your mind, or something you have been pondering about, this is a sign to start!  What is Journaling? There is no strict rule for journaling. The activity is meant to be limitless and personal to you! Journaling can be a space for expressing emotions, documenting events, or re

Imagine a medicine that works like a missile . It finds diseased cells and delivers a tiny dose of radiation right where it’s needed. That’s what radiopharmaceuticals do. They are drugs that carry a radioactive atom attached to a molecule that knows how to find a specific target in the body. They could direct the radioactivity to specific cells, tissues, or biological pathways, and are used both to image disease (diagnostic tracers) and to treat disease (therapeutic radiophar

Beware of Toxins in skin-care products The use of cosmetics such as makeup, nail polish, eye shadow, and skin-care products such as moisturizers, sunscreens, anti-perspirants, etc. are a part of our daily life. But manufacturing of these products may require Intentional or in some cases unintentional inclusion of some Heavy metals. What are heavy metals and in which form are they present in cosmetics? Heavy metals are metallic elements with high atomic weight and density, com

Prevalence of Obesity in the US According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, between August 2021 and August 2023, the prevalence of obesity in adults was 40.3%. Obesity is considered a chronic condition that increases the risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers. Furthermore, prevalence of obesity has continued to increase among both men and women between 1999 and 2018. GLP-1 Receptor Agonist as

Olivia Orr, RN, BSN Migraine without a headache. How is that possible? Isn’t a migraine just a bad headache? Not at all. Migraine aura without headache (MAWH) is the medical term for this condition. This form of migraine comes without head pain, earning it the nickname of silent migraine. What is Silent Migraine? The American Migraine Foundation (AMF) defines migraine aura without headache as a migraine aura that lacks the accompanying headache. Migraine is often misunder

Paracetamol and ibuprofen are two of the most common painkillers which you can get over the counter at a pharmacy and are widely available for purchase in many shops. But many people don't know the difference between the two, which means many people struggle to know what may be best for them. Drug mechanisms: Paracetamol Paracetamol, sometimes sold under the names Tylenol, Panadol and many others, is used for various types of pain, from headaches, to tooth ache, to period pai