Category: Simple Science

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. There are multiple types of Hepatitis, and most are caused by a viral infection. However, extreme alcohol use, some medications, and certain medical conditions can also cause Hepatitis. The liver is a vital organ that performs over 500 functions to keep the body healthy; it digests food and processes nutrients, battles infections, recycles and filters blood, maintains the level of sugar in the bloodstream, flushes out toxins, and more. When the liver is inflamed, its function can be affected. Many people with Hepatitis suffer from a loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, digestive issues, Read More …

Knuckle cracking can be very stress relieving for most people. Some people enjoy it so much that they can also crack other parts of their body, such as their neck, back, or even their toes. There is a long list of myths and superstitions revolved around knuckle cracking, the most infamous of which is that it can cause arthritis. Arthritis is literally defined as “inflammation of the joint” and can be an informal way of referring to joint pain or disease. Contrary to popular belief, people of all ages can and do have arthritis, and it is the leading cause Read More …

The phrase “eat your carrots; they’re good for your eyes!” is a staple part of many childhoods. This is part of a larger truth–diets rich with fruits and vegetables are important for keeping your eyes healthy. Research shows there are benefits to eating dark leafy greens (like kale, collard greens, and spinach) and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids (like salmon and tuna). This blog will focus on understanding how the eye works, different common eye conditions and diseases, and resources to promote healthy vision. The National Eye Institute’s (NEI) NEI for Kids page offers an excellent simplified explanation of Read More …

When climate change is discussed, it is often in the context of natural disasters, rising temperatures, and rising sea levels. However, conversations about climate change should also include the impacts that climate change will have on food and nutrition.  Natural disasters such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires can impact nutrition by driving down crop yields, hindering the transport of food, and destroying livestock. In addition, the rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere can decrease the nutritional value of global staple crops like rice and wheat. The impact on nutrition is supported by research that was conducted by Sam Read More …

During the second and third season, The West Wing’s fictional president is diagnosed with a debilitating and difficult disease that ultimately leads to a scandal in Washington. His relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) is portrayed with relative accuracy and was commended by The National MS Society—the president continues on to have a productive life, keeping most of his symptoms out of the public eye. MS is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the myelin– a protective layer around the nerves fibers of the spine made of proteins and fats. The cause of MS is unknown. The resulting injuries Read More …

The human body has hundreds of mechanisms in place that keep you healthy and active. But when one of these mechanisms encounters a problem and malfunctions, medical science and innovation steps in to help. One of the best examples of these medical helpers is a pacemaker. A pacemaker keeps heart rhythm steady using electrical signals. It is needed when the heart’s electrical system is faulty. Normally, the heart’s electrical signal starts at the sinus node, which is called the heart’s natural pacemaker. A group of cells creates electrical signals in the top two chambers of the heart, called the atria. Read More …

Kidneys play an important role in filtering excess water and waste products from the blood. Located on either side of your spine below the rib cage, they filter about half a cup of blood every minute, creating one to two cups of urine every day. Kidneys also regulate pH, salt, and mineral levels in the blood. Muscles, nerves, and other tissues need proper acidic blood balance to function normally. Kidneys also make hormones that help regulate blood pressure, create red blood cells, and activate a form of vitamin D that helps the body take in calcium for building bones. Kidneys Read More …

Many people today are looking for affordable, efficient, and convenient ways to ensure that they are receiving all the essential nutrients that they need to maintain their health. For this reason, many turn to dietary supplements as their solution. Dietary supplements include ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, and enzymes. These supplements can come in many forms, ranging from tablets to liquids. Beyond ensuring adequate nutrient intake, supplements can also help reduce the risk of diseases. However, supplements are not permitted to be marketed for treating, diagnosing, preventing, or curing disease. Many supplements contain active compounds that could Read More …

A heart attack is the death of part of the heart muscle due to lack of blood flow. The supply of oxygen and nutrients to the heart is brought by the blood stream, so when this flow is blocked, the heart cannot get the nutrients and oxygen it needs to survive. The technical name for a heart attack is a myocardial infarction: infarction refers to the local death of tissue caused by lack of blood supply, and myocardial refers to the heart muscle. In order to learn more about why heart attacks happen, we need to understand how blood flow Read More …

Thousands of surgeries requiring the heart to be stopped are performed in the U.S. every year, including heart and lung transplants. Modern medical technology serves a critical role in allowing doctors to perform these surgeries while keeping patients in stable condition. Perhaps the most important device in this process is the bypass machine, otherwise known as the heart-lung machine. This machine temporarily takes over the role of the heart and lungs, delivering a steady flow of oxygenated blood to the patient throughout the procedure. During any surgery where the heart must be stopped, known as cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, the doctor Read More …

The heart: it’s the organ most mentioned in media. You can hardly go a day without hearing a song or poem about it. But what is the heart, and how does it work? The “hardest working muscle in the human body,” the heart pumps around 2,000 gallons of blood daily. This blood helps transport oxygen to the entire body. The heart does this, in part, due to its complex and powerful structure. The heart is made up of four chambers: the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle. Atria are the thinner-walled chambers, which receive blood from veins. Read More …

Therapeutic Uses of VR Virtual reality has expanded the options for therapy through creating simulations that help patients overcome physical and mental ailments, making it easier for people to find methods of therapy that work with their condition and lifestyle. This last part of the Virtual Reality in Healthcare series will explore the types of VR found in this important healthcare field. Revisit part 1 in the series Introduction to Virtual Reality in Healthcare and part 2 Uses of VR in Medical Procedures and Education. Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Like surgery, using VR in physical rehabilitation was first explored in Read More …

Uses of VR in Medical Procedures and Education Virtual reality helps medical professionals plan for and execute complex procedures, especially in the surgical field. This technology is being implemented in medical schools and surgical training programs so that the next generation of doctors can be trained in innovative techniques to prepare for their future in the medical field and the operating room. Revisit part 1 in the blog series Introduction to Virtual Reality in Healthcare. Surgery  VR has been used in surgical procedures since the early 1990s when technology was used to plan out surgeries and present complicated information visually. Read More …

Introduction to Virtual Reality in Healthcare Communication in the healthcare industry can improve healthcare experience and outcomes for everyone involved. Whether it’s a doctor explaining treatment options to a patient or an instructor teaching a class how to perform surgery, medical work relies on clear and effective instructions. However, in situations when verbal explanations can be complicated or difficult to follow, how do we make information easy to understand? One technology that has cost-efficiently increased communication in clinical medicine by “showing” rather than just “telling” is virtual reality (VR). VR, also known as a virtual environment, produces simulations that help Read More …

While “a fatty liver” is a phrase typically heard in association with excessive alcohol consumption or with dry January, even those who don’t consume alcohol can develop a fatty liver. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a disease that affects up to 25 percent of the population world-wide. A healthy liver contains a lipid (fat) concentration of about 5 percent by weight. A person whose liver has a lipid concentration of more than 5 percent is said to have NAFLD. NAFLD encompasses a wide range of conditions, from the slightly above normal accumulation of lipids in the liver and minimal Read More …

Most people have some familiarity with diabetes. A family member, perhaps, takes medication to control it, or maybe a friend is avoiding dessert to keep their sugar levels in check. In the US, 10% of the population has diabetes. Diabetes numbers are ballooning all over the world. It is projected that there will be over 365 million cases of diabetes world-wide by 2030 – a couple million more than the population of the United States today. Diabetes is a metabolic disease which causes high blood sugar. Typically, when we eat, our blood sugar levels increase due to the digestion of Read More …

In the late 70s, scientists discovered that the body contains certain cancer-causing genes, which if mutated, lead to the development of cancer. This discovery unleashed a flurry of research in which scientists tried to identify genes that could be directly implicated in cancer. Scientists found one such gene – the HER2 gene – which is overexpressed in about 20% of breast cancers. This cancer was thus named HER2+ breast cancer. It is a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer; it typically does not respond to traditional chemotherapy, and patients with HER2+ breast cancer have a higher likelihood of cancer recurrence. Read More …

Around 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Cancer happens when abnormal cells grow and divide uncontrollably. Though breast cancer primarily appears in women, men can actually get breast cancer too and are affected by the same types of breast cancer as women. About 1 in every 100 diagnosed case of breast cancer in the U.S. affects men. Breast cancer becomes particularly dangerous when it spreads outside the breast through blood and lymph vessels, a process called metastasizing. The most common type of breast cancer is Invasive ductal carcinoma, where cancer cells begin Read More …

Within marrow tissue found in the center of bones, the body produces red and white blood cells, which are critical to transporting oxygen and fighting off infection. Certain types of cancers can cause serious damage to bone marrow, leaving patients without the blood cells needed to perform these important functions. Using stem cells from either the patient or a donor, doctors can now replace this tissue and allow patients to begin forming their own blood cells again. This procedure, which is known as a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, can be lifesaving for cancer patients. Stem cells are cells Read More …

We are all familiar with the phrases “go with your gut,” “gut-wrenching experience,” or “butterflies in your stomach.” Although these phrases and idioms might be used in very different situations, they all suggest a connection between our gut and our emotions. Scientists have studied this connection for a long time and have identified how our brain can influence our gut. For example, simply thinking of eating can release stomach juices even without the presence of food. However, recent studies have suggested that the gut-brain connection might go the other way around too. The Gut-Brain Axis (GBA) refers to the bidirectional Read More …