Credit: iStock/Jurgute Imagine you are watering a beautiful flowerbed with a garden hose. The water flows smoothly, nourishing each plant. Now, imagine if the hose gets kinked, causing a weak trickle of water. The flowers start to wilt, unable to receive the sustenance they need. In many ways, the blood vessels in our bodies work … Continue reading How Blood Flow Reveals Our Cardiovascular Future
Chronic Disease
Bile Acids and Gut Microbiota Work Together to Regulate Blood Pressure
Credit: iStock/libre de droit Did you know that liver, our second largest organ, also plays a role in regulating our blood pressure? It has to do with bile acids, a substance that the liver cells make to help with digestion. Let’s dive in a little more to understand how it all works. Bile acids Bile … Continue reading Bile Acids and Gut Microbiota Work Together to Regulate Blood Pressure
Becoming a Science Advocate: Lessons I Learned from the 2025 APS Hill Day
APS members Emily Grammer, Macy Stahl and Brian Simmons advocated for science research funding on Capitol Hill. As a scientist with a chronic illness, I have always been passionate about advocating for patients who may not be able to speak up about their own health care journey. This passion drove my desire to intertwine advocacy … Continue reading Becoming a Science Advocate: Lessons I Learned from the 2025 APS Hill Day
GLP-1 Agonists: More Than Just Weight Loss
Conference attendees listen to a scientific session at the 2025 American Physiology Summit. Originally developed to treat diabetes, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists have recently dominated media coverage due to their potent effects on weight loss. Preliminary research has also suggested that these drugs may also have a protective role in other body systems and improve … Continue reading GLP-1 Agonists: More Than Just Weight Loss
From Tomatoes to Treadmills: What Scientists Are Discovering About Everyday Health
American Physiology Summit attendees view scientific posters. Credit: Erica Roth From record-breaking running speeds set by a 91-year-old to how your body responds to climate shifts, the American Physiology Summit brought together researchers exploring the science of health and life itself. Here’s how their findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Physiological Society could … Continue reading From Tomatoes to Treadmills: What Scientists Are Discovering About Everyday Health
What BPS In Your Water Bottle Means for Your Health
Credit: iStock Plastics are pervasive in our environment. News stories frequently surface about microplastics and the potentially dangerous chemicals present in plastics (such as bisphenol A (BPA). In December 2012 the Food and Drug Administration banned the use of BPA in baby bottles after a slew of research showed detrimental effects to development and health. … Continue reading What BPS In Your Water Bottle Means for Your Health
GLP-1 Drugs for Weight Loss: From Science Fiction to Reality
Credit: iStock/zimmytws Obesity affects more than one billion people around the world. Historically, the genetic ability to store body fat is an evolutionary conserved adaptation to stave off starvation. The combination of the superb ability to store body fat, a high rate of sedentary lifestyle and an abundance of ultra-processed foods—a food landscape our great-grandparents … Continue reading GLP-1 Drugs for Weight Loss: From Science Fiction to Reality
Cancer and Heart Health: A Surprising Connection You Need to Know
Credit: iStock/SDI Productions Cancer and heart disease—one affects cells, the other affects blood flow. You might not think they are connected at all. But these two conditions share more than you might expect. Your heart health and your risk of cancer go hand in hand. Taking care of your heart could also help protect you … Continue reading Cancer and Heart Health: A Surprising Connection You Need to Know
Using Physical Activity Levels as a Health Vital Sign
Credit: iStock/money business images Think back to the last time you had a checkup with your health care provider. They likely weighed you, asked your height and measured your blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and breathing. The medical team probably also asked questions about your health history, current medications and if you had any pain. … Continue reading Using Physical Activity Levels as a Health Vital Sign
How Many Steps a Day for Better Health? It Might Be Fewer Than You Think
Credit: iStock/Tingting Ji Most of us know that regular physical activity is great for health, reducing risks of heart disease and even lowering the risk of death. Walking is one of the easiest ways to fit in physical activity, and even just a little more walking can make a difference. For example, taking an additional … Continue reading How Many Steps a Day for Better Health? It Might Be Fewer Than You Think