The American Cancer Society has shared encouraging news: 70% of people in the U.S. now live at least five years after a cancer diagnosis. For many older adults, this milestone offers real hope and reassurance. Back in the 1970s, only half of patients reached the five‑year mark. Even in the 1990s, the number was closer to 63%. Today’s progress reflects decades of better treatments, earlier detection, and healthier habits. Why This Matters for Older Adults Many seniors worry t

The body’s timekeeping system Our bodies have an internal timekeeping system referred to as the circadian clock . It runs on roughly a 24‑hour cycle and helps coordinate almost everything we do: when we feel sleepy or alert, how we process food, how our hormones rise and fall, and even when our cells repair damage. At the centre of this system is a small region in the brain that responds to light and acts as a master clock. But over the past decade (or more) scientists discov

Written by Olivia Orr, BSN, RN Have you ever felt overwhelmed and heard someone say, “Just relax”? It can leave you questioning whether you are overreacting or imagining the problem. You are not. Stress is a real, physiological response rooted in the nervous system. Stress is often described as an emotional response, but it produces physical changes throughout the body. A stress response is the body’s way of telling you something is wrong, similar to an immune response. An im

Image Credit: https://cpap.community/ What Is a CPAP/BiPAP Titration Study? A CPAP or BiPAP titration study is an overnight sleep study designed to figure out the optimal air pressure necessary to keep the airway open during sleep. It is often performed after a diagnosis of sleep apnea and helps tailor treatment to individual differences. Why Titration Matters While CPAP and BiPAP machines both deliver pressurized air, the correct pressure level is key. Too little pressure m

Rotational atherectomy: a diamond-tipped burr is advanced through a narrowed coronary artery to grind calcified plaque into tiny particles, helping restore blood flow. What it is? Atherectomy is a catheter based procedure used to remove or modify plaque inside an artery. Plaque is a buildup of cholesterol, calcium, and scar like material that can narrow blood vessels and reduce blood flow. Atherectomy is performed through a small tube placed into an artery, often in the groin

Fatal Familial Insomnia is a rare, fatal, autosomal dominant neurodegenerative prion disease. FFI is caused by mutation in PRNP gene, causing misfolded proteins (prions) in the brain, particularly in thalamus, where sleep-wake cycle is controlled.

Why the Same Chemotherapy Can Help One Patient and Harm Another? Introduction Chemotherapy remains a cornerstone of cancer treatment across many malignancies, yet patient responses vary dramatically. Two individuals receiving the same regimen can experience entirely different outcomes, ranging from excellent tumour control to severe, life-threatening toxicity. For decades, these differences were largely attributed to age, organ function, or chance. Pharmacogenomics has reveal

Introduction When a child lives with a chronic physical illness, stress becomes part of their everyday life. The influx of doctor visits, medications, ongoing symptoms, and feelings of exclusion from peers can contribute to declines in mental health. Reports of declining mental health among children are not new, but the reasons behind this decline remain unclear. A recent Canadian study offers an important suggestion: long-term stress leaves a biological fingerprint, and that

Introduction Endometriosis occurs when cells like those of the endometrial lining implant and grow outside the uterus, most commonly on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and peritoneal surfaces. These ectopic implants respond to hormonal cycles, leading to inflammation and scar tissue formation. Since the disease depends on estrogen and involves inflammation, it’s most often diagnosed in women aged 25–35. Although endometriosis is diagnosed in 10-15% of women, with 30-50% of dia

If you are someone dealing with chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs), trying to somehow stop the relentless cycle of repeated infections, taking so many courses of antibiotics that your doctor prescribes only to obtain short-term relief and eventually making the bacteria resistant to them, you have already realised that the pain is not just physical. At this point, you are living with hundreds of thoughts, from planning your day around bathrooms, panicking at the first hi

Photo by Brandon Cormier on Unsplash We spend, on average, around eight hours a day asleep, an essential biological process that plays a fundamental role in maintaining physical and cognitive health. Even a single night of inadequate sleep can noticeably impair daily functioning, leading to reduced concentration, lethargy, and mood changes. When sleep disturbances persist over time, however, their effects extend far beyond transient fatigue, contributing to long-term impairm

Guardians of the Vertebral Axis: An Integrative Review of Evidence-Based Strategies for Lifelong Spine Health by Catherina Pascale Abstract Spinal health constitutes a foundational element of human mobility, neurological integrity, and overall quality of life. Degenerative spinal conditions, mechanical back pain, and posture-related disorders represent leading contributors to disability worldwide. Preventive strategies focusing on daily behaviors, ergonomic principles, physic

Most people are taught that a menstrual cycle is supposed to look the same every month: a period comes every four weeks, lasts a few days, and causes some cramps. But in real life, menstrual cycles are often more unpredictable. Some months are heavier, some are lighter. Sometimes your period comes early, late, or not at all. While many cycle changes are completely normal, your period is also an important reflection of overall health. Menstrual patterns can shift due to stress

Cortisone injections are widely used in orthopedics to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain associated with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. These injections deliver synthetic steroid medication directly into joints, tendons, or soft tissues to suppress the immune response that drives inflammation and pain. While commonly referred to as “cortisone shots,” the injections typically contain corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone or triamcinolone combined wit

Causes of Digital Eye Strain Digital eye strain, also called computer vision syndrome, happens when we spend too much time using devices such as computers, smartphones, and tablets. Looking at small text and images for long periods makes our eyes focus continuously, which tires them out faster than normal. Reading on a screen for several hours without breaks can make it hard to focus and cause headaches or blurred vision. Another factor is blinking less while using screens. N

What Is Tungiasis? Tungiasis is a skin infection caused by the adult female sand flea called Tunga penetrans. It usually penetrates through the feet, where the embedded flea grows and lays eggs, causing inflammation, pain, itching, difficulty in walking, sleeping , and concentrating on tasks. Tungiasis affects humans and animals alike. Tungiasis affects millions of people in vulnerable communities across South America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa. People who live

In modern healthcare, cleanliness is more than a best practice it is a norm. From hand hygiene campaigns to hospital-wide protocols for sterilization, infection control has saved many lives. Yet as medicine continues to push toward higher levels of sterility, but there is a quieter concern: could over-sanitization itself be creating new risks for patients? This question challenges long held assumptions about how cleanliness, immunity, and microbial exposure affect healthcare

In the United States, sarcoidosis affects four Black Americans for every one White American diagnosed. Black patients, particularly Black women, experience more severe disease, more multi-organ involvement, higher hospitalization rates, and mortality. Factors such as genetics, environmental toxins, socioeconomic conditions, and unconscious bias contribute to worsening outcomes in sarcoidosis (Hena, 2020). What is sarcoidosis? Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition in which

An open hand framed by a sunset "I've been tryin' to get down To the heart of the matter But my will gets weak And my thoughts seem to scatter But I think it's about Forgiveness, forgiveness…” Don Henley, The Heart of the Matter, 1989 As human beings, we are familiar with the concept of needing to forgive those who have wronged us. However, people are often uncertain about how to accomplish forgiveness (7) or understand its importance in their own health and wellbeing (9). Th

Author Micah Sagini CXCR4 is a chemokine receptor that is associated with the development of cancer and other inflammatory disorders. The endogenous inhibitor of CXCR4 known as EPI-X4, is a recently discovered peptide from human serum albumin that inhibits C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4). Chemokines are small signaling proteins (8–12 kDa) that interact with G-protein-coupled receptors to regulate physiological processes in the body. One of the most studied chemokines