Have you ever blanked on an answer during a stressful exam, or remembered a scary moment in clear detail? Stress does not just make you feel tense, it physically changes how your brain stores and recalls memories. How Your Brain Handles Memory Your brain breaks memory down into three main types: sensory, short-term, and long-term. While your frontal and parietal lobes manage temporary, short-term information, your long-term memories are stored across widespread areas of the b

Stress, I'm sure we're all well aware of it. It can sometimes motivate us to get our work done, or it can be the fuel for our procrastination. Many people think stress only affects their minds, but did you know that, in recent scientific research, it has been shown that it can reshape your heart? What Stress Does Inside The Body When you’re stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These chemicals are meant to help you react quickly, but when stress

Imagine sitting in a quiet, dimly lit room, forced to step away from your day because every ray of light feels like a sharp glare and even low sounds trigger a surge of discomfort. For millions of people, this is a regular reality caused by a migraine. Migraine attacks can disrupt everyday life, causing intense pain alongside nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. While many people think of a migraine as simply a severe headache, it is actually a complex neurological cond

As a healthcare provider in my 70s who still actively cares for patients, this resurgence has struck a deeply personal chord. My youngest granddaughter’s parents have chosen to forgo traditional pediatric immunizations, and within our immediate family, six children remain unvaccinated. What once felt like a distant, historical threat is now a real and present concern for families like mine — and for older adults across the country. 1. Measles Deaths in Pennsylvania Highlight

Can you imagine being able to find out whether you have tuberculosis in under an hour? A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that a portable device called MiniDock MTB could help make that possible. Traditionally, tuberculosis (TB) testing involves collecting a sputum sample, which is thick mucus from the lungs. Many patients find it difficult to produce this sample, often experiencing chest pain or discomfort. Moreover, culturing bacteria from spu

Nearly 9% of the human genome comes from ancient retroviruses that infected our ancestors millions of years ago. Although most of these viral remnants can no longer produce viruses, some still influence how human genes function. Researchers have now found that certain fragments can become active in multiple cancers, switching on genes that help tumors grow and survive. How Ancient Viral DNA Influences Cancer Normally, most ancient viral DNA remains tightly packed and inactive

How Air Pollution Enters Our Daily Lives Air pollution is a part of our daily lives, even when we cannot see it. Smoke from cars, factories, burning waste, and dust can release harmful substances into the air we breathe. Some of these particles are so tiny that we cannot see them with our eyes. When we breathe, these particles enter our nose and lungs. The smallest particles, known as PM2.5, can travel deep into the lungs and may even enter the bloodstream. This means that ai

Ginseng is one of the most widely used medicinal plants in the world, with a history spanning thousands of years in traditional Chinese and Korean medicine. Scientifically known as Panax ginseng, it is classified as an adaptogen — a substance believed to help the body resist stress and enhance energy. In recent years, ginseng supplements marketed for "vitality" and "activation" have become increasingly popular. But what does the evidence actually say? What Is Ginseng and Wher

Cold feet are common and are often a normal response to cold temperatures. When the body is exposed to cold, blood vessels near the surface of the skin narrow, reducing blood flow to the extremities and directing more blood toward the body's core. This helps conserve heat and maintain the body's internal temperature. People with less body fat may be more sensitive to cold because they have less insulation. However, cold feet can have many other causes. In some cases, the feet

For people struggling with insomnia, sleep medications can provide relief when difficulty falling or staying asleep begins to interfere with daily life. However, combining these medications with alcohol can create potentially dangerous effects. Alcohol and many medications used to treat insomnia affect the central nervous system (CNS), which controls functions ranging from alertness and coordination to breathing. When taken together, their sedating effects can become stronger

Rest is often thought of simply as getting enough sleep, yet a full night of sleep does not always leave us feeling refreshed, focused, or emotionally recharged. Rest goes beyond simply closing our eyes at the end of a long day. In her book Sacred Rest, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith explains that there are seven different types of rest, each addressing a different type of rest deficiency (1,8). Understanding these forms of rest can help us better recognize what our minds and bodie

Have you ever had a patient wake up from surgery and, within a few hours they complain of soreness or stiffness in an area where a procedure wasn't even performed? Positioning in the Operating Room (OR) is an important component of patient safety while patients are undergoing surgical procedures. Careful attention should be given to bony prominences and areas at risk for nerve damage due to possible prolonged pressure related to the length of the surgery. Who Is At Risk? The

There are trillions of tiny organisms living inside your gut right now—and they may be influencing your emotions more than you think. Section 1: What Is the Microbiome? Microbes are tiny living things that are usually too small to see without a microscope. They can be found everywhere on Earth and living inside our bodies. Main Types of Microbes Bacteria: Single-celled organisms with no nucleus that live almost everywhere. Viruses: Tiny infectious agents that need a host cell

Sources of Noise Pollution Environmental noise comes from several sources, with road traffic being the most common. Cars, buses, trucks, and other vehicles contribute significantly to noise levels, particularly in busy urban areas. Railways are another major source, followed by airports and aircraft. Airport noise affects fewer people overall but can cause considerable disturbance for those living near airports. Industrial activities, such as factories and machinery, are anot

By Kat Pachas BSN, RN Imagine never knowing whether your next meal or a stressful day will throw your gut into chaos. For millions of women with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), this happens every day. They deal with unpredictable waves of cramping, bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea (6, 9, 17). For them, these symptoms can feel like they have a mind of their own. IBS is very common, affecting 10–20% of the global population. Women are up to th

A new hypothesis called “Digital Dementia” suggests that forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, and decreased ability to focus are symptoms of technology overexposure. Traditionally, the medical use of the term “dementia” describes a decline in a person’s ability to think due to changes in areas of the brain responsible for memory, language, and reasoning. Is it possible that technology may induce these changes in healthy adults and children, or is the term “digital dementi

For many people, caffeine is part of their daily routine, whether it comes from coffee, tea, energy drinks, or other products. While it is best known for increasing alertness, caffeine can affect several systems throughout the body. How Caffeine Affects the Brain Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, meaning it acts directly on the brain to promote alertness and reduce feelings of tiredness. Moderate amounts may also support processing speed and memory. However, con

Abida Mozid, BSc Biomedical Science Figure 1: Depiction of anitbodies (17) Biologics are a group of medications derived from living organisms, such as yeast, bacteria or plant and animal cells. (1) They have transformed how many autoimmune diseases are treated. Most biologics are intended to target pathways of the immune system implicated in inflammation and disease, in contrast to traditional medications that may impact multiple immune processes in the body. They are typical

Medical Cannabis: What You Need to Know About THC, CBD, CBN, and CBC

New research suggests a bacterium found in food may help trap tiny plastic particles and carry them out of the body. Plastic pollution is everywhere, from oceans and rivers to the food and water we consume. As larger pieces of plastic break down, they can become extremely tiny particles called nanoplastics. A new study has found that a food derived bacterium called Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656 may have an interesting ability: it can attach to nanoplastics and help move t