Do you remember going through a “phase” when you were a kid? Maybe when you were two years old you developed an intense interest in trains, or maybe your sister was obsessed with the solar system. There are now a myriad of television shows out there, like the Ellen Degeneres Show, or Steve Harvey’s “Little...
The most terrifying moment in the life of a parent is finding out that their child is gravely ill. As a parent, you want to take care of and protect your children, but when circumstances occur that are beyond your control, you feel powerless and desperate. That is how Ruth and James Auten felt when...
Arguably, there is nothing more American than fast food. It may be a detriment to your health, but its a part of the culture none the less. You can’t drive more than ten minutes without seeing a McDonald’s, Burger King, or Taco Bell. Perhaps the only thing as iconic as glowing golden arches is the...
The gut microbiome is made up of hundreds of thousands of microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi. It plays an important role in nutrient and mineral absorption, the synthesis of vitamins, enzymes, and amino acids, and the production of short-chain fatty acids [1]. Thanks to recent technological advancements, researchers are now able to learn a...
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, nearly one million people in the United States are living with MS. This is more than twice their original estimate from a previous study [1]. Currently, there are some treatments that can help speed up the recovery process after an MS attack, modify the course of the disease,...
Although it originated in Japan, sushi has become a beloved food around the world, and many people enjoy heading out to their favorite all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant with a group of their friends to see how much of the stuff they can scarf down in one sitting. Given sushi’s raw preparation, however, occasionally you may get...
There are over two hundred types of cancer, which can affect many different parts of the body. More than one million people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer annually, and cancer accounts for thirteen percent of all deaths globally every year, about 8.8 million people [1]. Early detection is the best way to...
In a study conducted in 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that more than one-third of women across the globe experience mistreatment during childbirth in health facilities. The organization determined that four in ten women in these scenarios experienced physical or verbal abuse, stigma, and discrimination [1]. The situation in the United States, unfortunately,...
In a healthy individual, the body’s immune system is there for protection- it attacks invaders and destroys pathogens. An autoimmune disease occurs when this system makes a mistake, and instead attacks healthy cells. There are more than eighty different types of autoimmune disorders, and a person can have more than one at the same time....
As a parent, you are constantly on high alert for things or situations that could harm your child. You dutifully cut their food into small pieces so they don’t choke, put plugs in every light socket in the house, and you try to keep dangerous items out of reach. Sometimes, even when you do everything...
Youth is fleeting, and for centuries humans have been looking for ways to capture it, to hold onto it, and to stop or reverse the aging process. There have been countless comics, books, and movies in which the characters have pursued immortality or to return to their younger, more beautiful selves. While the idea of...
The scenario is all too familiar: John experiences chest pain, so he goes to see his doctor. The doctor performs some tests, and John finds out that he has some narrowing or blockages in his arteries. Immediately he is sent to a specialist to receive either bypass surgery or a stent to open up the...
