If you have ever undergone a colonoscopy, dental procedure, or surgery, you may have been told that you would be “sedated” or “put under.” Although these phrases are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation, sedation and general anesthesia are not the same thing. Both involve medications that help patients remain comfortable during medical procedures, but they differ in how deeply they affect consciousness, breathing, responsiveness, and recovery. Understanding the

If you've scrolled through social media lately, you may have noticed people wearing a small, round sensor on the back of their arm, paired with a smartphone app full of colorful glucose graphs. These devices, called continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), were originally designed for people with diabetes. Today, they are showing up on marathon runners, biohackers, and wellness enthusiasts with no diabetes diagnosis at all. This shift accelerated in 2024, when the FDA cleared the

The possession and use of drugs is illegal for all adolescents. Still, there has been an alarming increase of adolescents drug abuse. Adolescence, a time marked by emotional, physical, and social change comes with the allure of drugs that so many give in to for numerous reasons thereby exposing themselves to its danger. However, with the right approaches all hope is not lost for adolescents seeking recovery. Drug Abuse Drug abuse is the extreme use or the misuse of drugs fo

Introduction Mites are tiny, tick-like arthropods that usually cannot be seen by the human eye. These tiny arthropods generally do not affect people, but there are a few that can cause irritation in humans. House dust mites, for example, are a common allergen in indoor settings. Chiggers and itch mites that are found in grass, leaves, and hay can cause skin rashes if you come in contact with them. Chicken, rodent, and bird mites are found on different animals, causing condit

Health Literacy in the Digital Age Health literacy in our modern age has several definitions, but the key definition, as stated bythe World Health Organization, is the ability to seek, find, understand, and appraise health information and to apply that knowledge to addressing a health problem.(1) In a world riddledby several opinionated angles from several sources, which is mostly propagated by the newmodern information database that is social media, it is crucial that facts

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

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

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

Motion sickness is a common condition that occurs when the brain receives conflicting signals about movement from the body’s sensory systems. It can be triggered by traveling in a car, boat, or airplane, as well as by virtual reality or other simulated environments. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, and fatigue. The severity of these symptoms varies among individuals based on their sensitivity and susceptibility to motion. Although motion sickness

While opening a medicine cabinet, most of us may have wondered why medication comes in different types of packaging. Some may be contained within a transparent metal strip while others may be contained in a light proof bottle or a sachet. There are many reasons why packaging varies for every drug and it is based on their chemical properties and functioning conditions. In this article, different types of pharmaceutical packaging have been discussed briefly to raise awareness o

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

A pile of plastic trash; picture courtesy of Unsplash Microplastics have been found in varying amounts within many tissues and organs of the human body. There are many theories detailing the possible link between microplastics exposure and the development of inflammation, hormone disturbances, and increased risk of chronic illnesses. Understanding the effects of microplastics exposure and its possible effects on the human body are critical in assisting people in making choic

GLP-1 receptor agonists (often called “GLP-1s”) are medicines commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes and help with weight loss. Researchers are now looking at whether these medicines might also help with addiction. Early studies and patient reports suggest that some people taking medicines like semaglutide or tirzepatide notice fewer cravings—for example, they may feel less urge to drink alcohol or smoke. Because of these reports, more studies are underway to see if GLP-1s co

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 infection

A patient visited hospital for a routine health checkup. He had complained of mild chest discomfort and tiredness for the past two weeks. He attributes work stress and irregular sleep. So, the doctor advised lipid profile test. The laboratory test results show elevated total cholesterol and LDL levels along with decreased HDL levels, indicating an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Introduction The cardiovascular system comprises mainly the heart and blood vessels. Car

Twigs snap beneath your feet as the scent of deep pine and rich earth fills the air. Sunlight peeks through the dense canopy, painting flickering gold speckles across the mossy floor. Every breath you take feels cooler and sharper as the rustle of leaves hums in the background. When we think of ways to preserve our climate, we usually look up. We picture wind turbines slicing the sky, or high-tech fans removing carbon from the atmosphere. But recent scientific breakthroughs r

Emergency room visits for tick bites are up, causing concerns for increases in serious tick-bornehealth issues (1). The graph below shows April data as record-breaking compared to the last five years. The Midwest and Northeast account for the largest number of reported exposures (1). Ticks are known as vectors of eight types of bacterial infections, three viral infections, and a parasitic infection. Ticks can even cause a food allergy to red meat (2,3). What Increases Risk? O

The importance of understanding how serious suicide is, and the impacts it has on families and communities "Suicide," a word that can bring in many mixed emotions and feelings. For some, it's traumatic to hear either because they have a lost a friend or family member to it, or they themselves have been thinking about committing it. And for others, it's foreign to them as they don't really know what it means. This article is to address how it is a public and medical issue in t

Early detection of dementia https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia Dementia is a term for several diseases that affect memory, thinking, and the ability to perform daily activities. Dementia has become one of the major health challenges among the elderly; it can be emotional and physical strain, and dementia patients need constant care, which can be overwhelming for caregivers, who provide on average 5 hours of care and supervision per day. Dementia is just