Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease that has shaped human history across sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America for centuries. Despite the availability of one of the most effective vaccines ever developed, yellow fever continues to cause outbreaks, and unvaccinated travellers remain at real risk (1). In 2024 alone, 61 confirmed human cases were reported in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and Peru, with a case fatality rate of approximately 50%. By May 202

Microplastics, tiny plastic particles, are increasingly found in drinking water worldwide. Microplastics — tiny particles less than 5 millimeters in size — have emerged as a growing concern in drinking water worldwide. Found in both tap and bottled water, these particles originate from the breakdown of larger plastics, industrial processes, and even household items. Studies suggest that humans may ingest thousands of microplastic particles each year without fully understandi

Vitamin D, the "sunshine vitamin," remains essential for bone and immune health. Vitamin D is often called the "sunshine vitamin" because the body produces it naturally when skin is exposed to sunlight. Yet, surprisingly, deficiency remains common -- even in countries that enjoy abundant sunshine year-round. Researchers estimate that nearly 50% of the global population has vitamin D insufficiency, with over 1 billion people worldwide suffering from deficiency (Kaur et al.).

Evidence of the first alcoholic beverage dates back to 7000 BC, where experts found traces of fermented rice, honey, and fruit in pottery in a Neolithic village in China. A handful of millennia later, alcohol has become deeply embedded in society and known as a social lubricant; it may be considered strange to host a party or go to a wedding without seeing alcohol served as a proverbial icebreaker. There are even entire events that completely revolve around alcohol, like win

By Kat Pachas, BSN, RN When summer arrives, many people enjoy hiking and spending time on trails, but they also know that ticks come out in warmer weather. While outdoor lovers have long known about the risk of Lyme disease from tick bites, only recently have people started hearing about a new and unusual red meat allergy linked to tick bites.​ What Is Alpha Gal Syndrome? Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) is a red meat allergy caused by bites from the lone star tick, and it mostly aff

Hospital at home is a healthcare model that allows people to receive hospital level care in their own homes instead of staying in a traditional hospital . This model has grown rapidly in recent years especially after the COVID-19 pandemic . Hospital at Home programs provide treatment that is just as safe and effective as regular hospital care while improving patient comfort and reducing healthcare costs . This makes it an important development for public health and the f

1.Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition characterized by differences in social communication, behaviour, and sensory processing. It reflects the diversity of human development rather than a single uniform condition. ASD arises from a complex interaction of genetic and environmental influences. Increasing prevalence incidence. Importantly Autism is not disease which can be fixed but has to be under

By Abby Newberry If your doctor has ordered certain medications, tests, or procedures, you may have been notified that they require Prior Authorization. Prior Authorization is a process used by insurance companies to verify that high-risk or high-dollar treatments ordered by doctors are medically appropriate and cost-effective. This can look very different for each patient, depending on what is being ordered and their individual insurance coverage. Prior Authorization may

Introduction Precision medicine is often associated with cancer care. Advances in tumor sequencing, targeted therapies, and biomarker-guided clinical trials have positioned oncology as the flagship application of this approach, shaping public perception to equate precision medicine exclusively with cancer treatment. However, what if these advancements extend beyond oncology? At its core, precision medicine is about understanding variability in genetics, environment, and lifes

Introduction Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists have transformed obesity treatment in recent years. Medications such as semaglutide have become widely used therapies, enabling weight loss that was previously only possible with invasive surgery. Their use continues to grow, with around 1 in 8 US adults reportedly prescribed these in 2025. While efficacious, a significant proportion of weight lost during GLP-1 agonist therapy is attributable to reductions in lean muscle m

In 1995 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), a partnership between several government agencies and healthcare sites in 10 different states to report these illnesses to the local health departments as they occur. Specifically, eight specific bacterial pathogens which cause significant burden of disease were selected for required reporting to state health departments. For the last 30 years

Picture two mid-life women fanning themselves in a waiting room. One leaves her appointment armed with coping tips and a prescription for hormone replacement therapy; the other is met with a shrug and opts to just ride it out. Can you guess what was different about these two women? For something half the population experiences, menopause remains surprisingly misunderstood. And for women from marginalized racial and ethnic groups, it can be both misunderstood and undertreated.

Pediatric Surgeons: Image acquired from BCPHR Journal Pediatric surgeons are surgical technicians who operate on children. Meaning, they conduct surgery on children, usually aged from birth to 18 years old. Typically, these doctors have to go to medical school for 9 years. They usually work in children's hospitals or specialized pediatric care units. For example, the Stanford pediatric emergency facility is specifically specialized in pediatrics. Surgeons in General: Image ac

There is more to a healthy lifestyle than just being physically fit. In fact, fitness is just one fragment of a much larger design. We often obsess over numbers on a scale while ignoring the other aspects of our lives. By viewing our health through the sense of an 8-piece puzzle, we can stop chasing perfection in one area and start building harmony across all of them. These eight areas include physical, emotional, social, intellectual, environmental, spiritual, occupational,

Crohn's disease (CD) represents a complex, chronic, and progressive inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. It is a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes chronic inflammation throughout the digestive tract. Unlike ulcerative colitis, CD can affect any segment from the mouth to the anus and often penetrates the deeper layers of the bowel wall. Because inflammation can penetrate deep into the bowel wall, it can lead to complications like strictur

Angelina Jolie, Actor and Advocate Celebrities are a diverse group of people whose actions are tracked and discussed in traditional and social media. Fans or followers often emulate celebrities in a variety of ways such as fashion, purchases, and even health choices. Many celebrities have gone public about their health status and may share their own opinions about their illnesses and treatment choices. That raises questions about whether the public can benefit from publicity

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

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

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

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