Credit: iStock COVID-19—the viral respiratory infection caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2—is a rapidly evolving disease that will undoubtedly profoundly affect many, if not all, of our lives in one way or another. As we learn more about the disease, we can better understand how and why it affects people so differently. We don’t have a … Continue reading Why COVID-19 Makes It Hard to Breathe
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Is Dropping Junk Food the Key to Weight Loss?
Credit: iStock Since 1975, obesity has nearly tripled, now affecting over 650 million adults worldwide. Scientists know that diet can influence obesity—researchers have thought that ultra-processed or “junk” foods are part of the cause—but until recently, there have not been many studies to support the claim. Ultra-processed foods such as soda, pre-packaged items, cold cuts … Continue reading Is Dropping Junk Food the Key to Weight Loss?
Who’s WHO When It Comes to COVID-19?
Credit: iStock As the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 spreads, so too does information—and misinformation—about it. Accurate and reliable facts are key to helping us all make the best choices to keep ourselves, our loved ones and our communities safe. But who are these frequently mentioned organizations helping federal, state and local governments make the … Continue reading Who’s WHO When It Comes to COVID-19?
Spotlight On: The Heart and Circulatory System
Credit: iStock If you’ve ever heard a heartbeat through a stethoscope, you may have heard a “lub-dub, lub-dub” sound as the blood circulates throughout your body. You might wonder how your heart actually works, what that sound means and why we need our blood to circulate. Your Blood Gets Around Proper blood circulation is critical … Continue reading Spotlight On: The Heart and Circulatory System
2019’s Most-read Posts
Credit: iStock The year—and the decade—is drawing to a close, and we’ve had another physiology-ful year on the I Spy Physiology blog. In 2019, we’ve explored how horses power themselves and how groundhogs survive the long winter, and we have highlighted the important breakthrough of a new treatment for cystic fibrosis. We’ve also continued to … Continue reading 2019’s Most-read Posts
Can Intermittent Fasting Help People with Diabetes?
Credit: iStock In November, we celebrate Thanksgiving—arguably the biggest food holiday of the year—and recognize National Diabetes Month in the U.S. More than 30 million people living in the U.S. have diabetes—about 29 million of them have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes makes it harder for you to use insulin (insulin … Continue reading Can Intermittent Fasting Help People with Diabetes?
Horror-ibly Wrong Physiology in Scary Movies
Filmmakers have a history of making a few common mistakes in horror movie physiology. Credit: iStock Horror movies have been thrilling fans since the late 1800s, and research has shown that people who watched a horror film had a spike in white blood cells—a basic and important part of the immune system—in response to the … Continue reading Horror-ibly Wrong Physiology in Scary Movies
A ‘Holy Grail’ for Exercise Recovery?
Credit: iStock When you start a new fitness routine—whether you are training for a marathon, planning to walk a 5K or committing to swimming more laps—choosing a plan can help you get started and keep you on track. You can find a lot of information about the best way to recover after exercising. However, whether … Continue reading A ‘Holy Grail’ for Exercise Recovery?
Ketogenic Diets: Passing Fad or Nutritional Hack?
Read recent headlines or scroll through your social media feeds and you’ll likely see people talking about “keto” diets and keto-friendly recipes. This popular diet has gained attention for a variety of reasons ranging from weight loss success stories to the unexpected body odors some people on the diet experience. If the term “keto” is … Continue reading Ketogenic Diets: Passing Fad or Nutritional Hack?
The CBD Craze: How It Affects the Vascular System
In just a few years, the therapeutic use of cannabidiol (CBD)—one of the active ingredients in marijuana (cannabis)—has attracted a lot of attention from the scientific community and general public. This elusive compound has been the subject of debate across the country. Drug classification in the U.S. is not always straightforward and often depends on … Continue reading The CBD Craze: How It Affects the Vascular System