Credit: iStock Salt is everywhere. It’s used as seasoning and preserves our food. Without enough salt, our muscles, nerves and cells wouldn’t work properly. At the same time, too much salt can be harmful. Many of us know it's linked to serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney damage, obesity and … Continue reading Salt and the Signals We Don’t Notice
Nervous System
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
Can’t Sleep? Turn On Some Tunes!
Credit: iStock/Motortion You have probably struggled with falling asleep at some point in your life. When you don’t sleep well, you may feel less happy or experience reduced cognitive speed, otherwise known as “brain fog.” Chronic sleep deficiency increases the risk for depression, high blood pressure and the development of various diseases. Having trouble falling … Continue reading Can’t Sleep? Turn On Some Tunes!
History of Adrenergic Receptors
Credit: iStock/ibreakstock The adrenergic system is a crucial component of the sympathetic nervous system and has widespread effects throughout the body. “Adrenergic” comes from “Andren,” relating to “adrenaline” (a stress hormone also referred to as epinephrine in the U.S.), and “ergic” derived from the Latin “ergy,” meaning “at work.” Put together, the word “adrenergic” is … Continue reading History of Adrenergic Receptors
The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2024
Credit: iStock/gustavofrazao It’s been another “ph-un” filled year of physiology on the I Spy Physiology blog! We’ve featured posts ranging from marijuana research and bone cancer in children to how many steps do we really need to take per day and if alkaline water lives up to the hype. To complement our Women’s Health Research … Continue reading The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2024
How Exercise Protects You from Dementia
Credit: iStock More than 7 million people in the U.S. live with neurodegenerative disorders. These are chronic diseases of the nervous system that worsen over time. Degenerative disorders are difficult to slow or reverse when nerve cells (neurons) stop working the way they should or die. Examples include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and … Continue reading How Exercise Protects You from Dementia
From Burn to Balm: How Capsaicin Can Help Treat Pain
Credit: iStock Ever wondered why your mouth feels like it’s on fire after eating something spicy? It’s not just the food—there’s a chemical called capsaicin that’s behind that fiery sensation. Capsaicin is a natural compound found in chili peppers. The more capsaicin a pepper has, the hotter it feels when you eat it. It’s thought … Continue reading From Burn to Balm: How Capsaicin Can Help Treat Pain
Spotlight On: The Vagus Nerve
Credit: Yoko Wang 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 … Continue reading Spotlight On: The Vagus Nerve
Zebrafish Help Advance Physiology
Credit: iStock Zebrafish (scientific name Danio rerio) are freshwater fish native to South Asia that can be a little over half an inch to two inches long. About 70% of their genes share a common ancestor with our genes—even more if you look specifically at disease-causing genes. Like us, they have a spinal cord, eyes, … Continue reading Zebrafish Help Advance Physiology
Feeling Queasy? Try Some Ginger!
Credit: iStock Nausea, whether from motion sickness, hormones, stress or even a questionable meal, is a feeling many of us are familiar with. From attempting to read in a moving car to indulging in a bit too much ice cream, this pesky symptom has the uncanny ability to transform an otherwise enjoyable day into a … Continue reading Feeling Queasy? Try Some Ginger!