In the childbirth cycle, the postpartum period begins after a woman gives birth and extends through the first 12 weeks after delivery. During this time, mothers recover from childbirth and may experience varying levels of uterine, perineal, abdominal incision, and breast pain (American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologist [ACOG], 2020). Researchers have found that Black women in the United States experience greater disparities in postpartum pain management compared to Whit

Have you ever wondered how a drug is discovered and developed? While the process takes more than 10 years to complete, the entire development is stringently regulated for safety and effectiveness by drug regulatory authorities such as FDA. Right from the preliminary step to the final step of releasing the medicine into markets, the drug undergoes rigorous research processes to ensure that it is safe for treatment. Based on international guidelines, a molecule identified for r

By Dionne Roberts, MSN, RN-BC Methanol Toxicity: The Silent Threat Methanol (CH3OH) is a toxic wood alcohol mostly found in household, automotive, and industrial products. Exposure to methanol occurs through ingestion, inhalation or skin exposure. Accidental methanol exposure has occurred due to errors in distillation and fermentation in the production of herbal beverages and bootleg alcohol. Significant morbidity and mortality can result if methanol toxicity is left untreate

Vibrio Parahaemolyticus gram stain, Retrieved by: https://www.britannica.com/science/Vibrio-parahaemolyticus Pensacola, a city located on the Florida panhandle in the United States. Given that it's the only city in Escambia County, Pensacola attracts a large number of tourists during the warmer months. One of these tourists includes Dallas native, Rodney Jackson, who joined roughly 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths annually in the United States; unfortunately passing in 2022 af

By: Dionne Roberts, MSN, RN-BC Understanding Tobacco Dependence Tobacco dependence is a chronic condition driven by an addiction to nicotine, often requiring multiple quit attempts to become tobacco-free. (1) The use of nicotine products can create a temporary sense of euphoria, which reinforces their addictive quality. As nicotine use increases, dependence grows. When nicotine is not used, withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating can oc

For many families, infant formula is part of everyday life. It is measured in scoops at midnight, packed into diaper bags, mixed by tired hands, and trusted to nourish a baby during one of the most vulnerable stages of life. That is why any news involving infant formula and botulism can feel frightening. Recently, federal and state health officials began investigating infant botulism cases linked to powdered infant formula. The situation has understandably raised concern amon

Grandparents play an important role in the lives of their grandchildren, and in some families, have assumed key caregiving responsibilities. In the United States, grandparents have increasingly taken on the care of their grandchildren, due to parental substance abuse, parental death, or other complex family issues (Hughes et al., January 16, 2024). While most grandparents desire an active role in their grandchildren’ lives, an important question remains: How does the “grandpa

Image credit: Freepik News of severe respiratory illness, including two deaths and a critically ill passenger, aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius was reported to the World Heath Organization (WHO) on May 2nd 2026. Subsequently, total of eleven cases including three deaths were reported on May 11th 2026. Among the eleven cases reported, eight cases were confirmed in the laboratory for hantavirus infection, two cases were considered probable, and one case was repor

You start a new medication and notice a mild headache or slight nausea. You may wonder whether this is normal or something to be concerned about. Medicines can affect people in different ways. While many reactions are expected and mild, others may require medical attention. Understanding the difference between side effects and adverse drug reactions can help patients use medicines more safely and confidently. What Are Side Effects? Side effects are unintended but expected eff

​ As looksmaxxing continues to trend on social media, influencers in the niche have recently begun promoting the use of peptides to improve appearance. To define what peptides are, they are short protein chains of around 2-100 amino acids that serve important functions such as sending messages throughout the body, immune responses, and metabolism. Everyone's body naturally produces peptides, and different types of peptides serve different purposes. Peptides as medication are

Oral contraceptives are often introduced in a very straightforward way: take one pill daily, prevent pregnancy, regulate your cycle, and possibly improve acne or menstrual pain. For many people, that explanation is enough to start. But the experience of using them is rarely that simple. A typical first prescription usually comes after a brief consultation where risks are mentioned quickly, benefits are emphasized, and side effects are described as “mild” or “temporary.” What

Introduction Adolescence is a time of significant change. Teens navigate new social dynamics, academic pressures, and personal growth while their brains continue developing. For many adolescents, this period also brings challenges to mental health. When mental health struggles emerge during these years, they often intersect with substance use in ways that complicate both conditions. Mental health issues can make teens more vulnerable to substance use, while substance use can

Palo Mayombe is an ancient African religion that has been documented as parallel to “Santería”; it was developed in Cuba primarily by enslaved communities, and today it is preserved as an active, yet dangerous, practice. The Chemical Reality of Ritual Practice Not exactly because of the possibility of angering some ancestral spirit; I am referring to exposure to ritual mixtures that are used daily with a variety of extremely toxic, reactive, and dangerous substances ranging

Plastics: The Beginning of Disposable Consumption Plastics have been used commercially for well over 100 years. The first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, was invented in 1907 by Leo Baekeland and served not only as a very effective insulator, but was also well suited for production due to its high durability and ease of being molded. Bakelite was revolutionary for its time and set the stage for a new era of plastic manufacturing. By the 1940s, plastic use exploded. World W

The preamble to the constitution of the World Health Organization states “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Health as the Foundation of Wealth - Some thoughts on Well-Being as a supreme value by Catherina Pascale Introduction The enduring expression “health is wealth” is not just a good rhyme. It reflects a fundamental truth grounded in medical science, economics, and public health: physic

​ Hantavirus is a family of viruses that is caused by contact with rodents such as mice and rats. Humans can contract hantavirus by getting exposed through saliva, droppings, and urine from these rodents. Hantavirus can distinctly cause two different symptoms: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome HPS. HFRS predominantly affects the kidneys; symptoms of this specific strand include nausea,blurred vision, intestinal headaches, and fev

Over the past week, reports of a Hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic have sparked a familiar wave of “next pandemic” headlines. It is understandable. Terms like “outbreak” and “fatalities” tend to raise alarm. However, a closer look at the situation, particularly the nature of the Andes virus (ANDV), shows that while this is a serious medical concern for those affected, it is not a cause for global panic. What’s Actually Happening? The current focus is on

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 20

INDEX 1.0 Patient Guide to Understanding Malaria 1.1 Introduction 2.0 Causes 3.0 How Malaria Is Transmitted 4.0 Who Is Most at Risk of Malaria? 4.1 Children Under 5 (Highest Mortality Group) 4.2 Pregnant Women 4.3 People Living with HIV/AIDS 4.4 Travelers and Non-Immune Individuals 4.5 Older Adults 5.0 Geographic Risk 6.0 Genetic and Physiological Factors 7.0 Symptoms of Malaria 8.0 How Malaria Is Tested 8.1 Blood Smear Microscopy 8.2 Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) 8.3 Molecul

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