Background - An Evidence-Based Look at the 2025–26 Influenza Season Influenza is a seasonal respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. Illness severity ranges from mild to severe and can result in hospitalization or death, particularly among vulnerable populations. Influenza spreads primarily through respiratory droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces. The 2025–26 influenza season is shaping up to be more intense and disruptive than those seen in recent years.

In clinical medicine, it’s easy to assume that if two patients receive the same diagnosis and the same prescription, their outcomes should look similar. In reality, that’s rarely the case. Some patients respond immediately to treatment, while others see little benefit or experience unexpected side effects. While genetics and lifestyle are often cited as explanations, another factor is gaining attention for its quiet but also very significant role: the gut microbiome. The gut

Understanding the Link Between Sleep and Hormones Sleep is a biological process that involves an active state of unconsciousness of the body where the brain is relatively in a state of rest and reacts primarily to internal stimuli 1 Sleep is important to a number of brain functions, which also includes how nerve cells communicate with each other. Your brain and body usually stay active while you sleep. Recent findings suggest that sleep plays a housekeeping role that removes