Credit: iStock SARS-CoV-2—the virus responsible for COVID-19—is a respiratory virus. When first discovered, the virus was thought to mostly affect the lungs. We now know that it affects many different organs in the body, including the heart. All respiratory viruses, including the seasonal flu, lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. But SARS-CoV-2 appears … Continue reading COVID-19 and the Heart
Scientific Research
Survey Results: How COVID-19 Is Affecting Researchers
Credit: American Physiological Society As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in March in the U.S., many employers moved to a work-from-home model. Researchers, like all other employees in the U.S. economy, faced numerous challenges, including securing groceries, figuring out how to pause projects, learning how to work from home when labs were inaccessible and balancing … Continue reading Survey Results: How COVID-19 Is Affecting Researchers
Spotlight On: Itching
Credit: iStock You probably don’t think much about itching until you have an itchy spot that’s just out of reach. Then, it’s all you can think about until you’re able to get rid of the “not-quite-painful-but-almost” feeling with a satisfying scratch. What exactly is itching? And what purpose does it serve? A review published in … Continue reading Spotlight On: Itching
Can Your Blood Vessels Last Until 100?
Credit: iStock As life expectancy increases in the world, centenarians—people who have celebrated their 100th birthday—have become increasingly common. Scientists now have more data related to changes that accompany aging than ever before. One thing the data show is that cardiac (heart) muscle must stay strong and, most importantly, resistant to fatigue for our heart … Continue reading Can Your Blood Vessels Last Until 100?
Beat the Heat with a Wet T-Shirt
Credit: iStock The summer of 2020 will go down in history books because of the novel coronavirus pandemic but also possibly for record heat and humidity across much of the U.S. In some areas of the country, cooling centers and public pools may not be open due to public health concerns. Indoor gatherings are discouraged … Continue reading Beat the Heat with a Wet T-Shirt
The Healing Power of Nature
Credit: iStock Have you considered that nature is a form of medicine? The ancient Greek civilization expressed its need for nature through its father of medicine, Hippocrates, who said “airs, waters and places” were essential for well-being. You may feel profound relaxation on a beach, but you may not know exactly why you feel that … Continue reading The Healing Power of Nature
Reckoning with Diversity and Equity Problems in U.S. Research and Clinical Trials
Credit: iStock Long simmering racial tensions across the U.S. have bubbled to the surface again. This is especially true on the heels of the recent police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. The fallout resulted in protesters taking to the streets around the nation to call for an end to racism and declaring “Black lives … Continue reading Reckoning with Diversity and Equity Problems in U.S. Research and Clinical Trials
Animal Research in the Fight against COVID-19
Credit: Understanding Animal Research As of June 9, the World Health Organization had listed 136 potential vaccines on its registry of candidates to combat the novel coronavirus—also known as SARS-CoV-2—which causes COVID-19. Ten of those are in clinical trials; the other 126 are in what is known as “pre-clinical trials.” What’s the difference? In clinical … Continue reading Animal Research in the Fight against COVID-19
The Power of Gratitude to Improve Mental and Physical Wellness
Credit: iStock In a world that seems out of our control, one thing we can control is our thoughts. We can actively choose to focus on things we are thankful for, such as a sunny day. By looking for things to be grateful for we develop a “gratitude attitude.” Gratitude is different from optimism as … Continue reading The Power of Gratitude to Improve Mental and Physical Wellness
How Physiologists Are Helping Patients Recover from COVID-19
Credit: iStock The entire world started to shut down earlier this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, and most businesses came to a standstill. The streets are now quiet and face masks commonplace. People are working from home, many parks and beaches are still vacant and the concern over the spread of the new severe … Continue reading How Physiologists Are Helping Patients Recover from COVID-19