Scoliosis is a condition where the spine is curved or rotated. Scoliosis affects between 6 and 9 million people across the U.S. It is often diagnosed in the tween and teen years but can develop at any time. Women tend to have scoliosis more than men. There are four different types of scoliosis curvatures that … Continue reading Spotlight On: Scoliosis
Every year about 800,00 people living in the U.S. have a stroke. Stroke is a public health concern that costs the U.S. billions of dollars and remains one of the leading causes of death. A stroke is sometimes called a “brain attack” because it interferes with oxygen and glucose (sugar) delivery to the brain. The … Continue reading Spotlight On: Stroke
You may notice the term “probiotics” popping up more and more often. These products seem to be everywhere. As you walk down your local supermarket aisles, you will find probiotics in fermented food such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha, as well as supplement pills. Additionally, the global market for probiotics is growing rapidly. … Continue reading Spotlight On: Probiotics
“Barbie”—an empowering movie about feminism featuring a personified version of the iconic doll—ends with a line that is shocking, surprising and funny (spoiler alert!): “I’m here to see my gynecologist.” Earlier in the movie, viewers learned that Barbie does not have genitals, but by the end of the movie, she starts to embrace her womanhood. … Continue reading Spotlight On: Cervical Cancer
Obesity, broadly defined as “a condition characterized by the excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body,” has long been recognized as increasing the risk of human disease and death. Hippocrates, often called the “father of medicine,” noted in the fifth century B.C. that “sudden death is more common in those who are naturally … Continue reading Spotlight On: Obesity
Our heart tirelessly pumps blood through the body to nourish our tissues with oxygen and nutrients and to remove waste. The human heart has four chambers: the two upper chambers are the left and right atria and contract first. The two bottom chambers, called the left and right ventricles, contract second. The right side of … Continue reading Spotlight On: Heart Attack
In recent years, the vagus nerve has become more well-known than ever before, as it has become a golden target for many chronic disease therapies. What is the vagus nerve? And what does it do, and why is it so important to our health? For centuries, the vagus nerve (also called the cranial nerve X … Continue reading Spotlight On: The Vagus Nerve
Atherosclerosis, a disease that affects the large vessels of the body and typically progresses over time, is one of the major causes of heart attack and stroke. It begins with the development of fatty streaks in the blood vessels, which can start forming as early as childhood. Compounds that cause inflammation (including cholesterol and fat) … Continue reading Spotlight On: Atherosclerosis and Cholesterol
From the calming sound of birds chirruping to a warning honk of a car, your sense of hearing is integral to your understanding of the world around us. Certain sounds can help you sleep, calm your mind, cause feelings of panic or stress, or even evoke nostalgic memories. You might wonder why this happens and … Continue reading Spotlight On: Hearing
Cells have many different compartments—known as organelles—that have different functions. A commonly known example of an organelle is the “energy center” of the cell called mitochondria. Each organelle has its own important role in cellular function. One lesser-known organelle is the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The ER is essential for making and maturing proteins, making fats … Continue reading Spotlight On: Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
