Drugs

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio @Pexels Increasing numbers of infants and children are missing school and other critical developmental activities because of the current triple threat. The triple threat comprises COVID-19, the seasonal flu, and a lesser-known virus. This lesser-known virus is the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and used to be a yearly virus floating around.

Image by Ryan McGuire @Pixabay Beauty products, like hair products, may contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs are “chemicals or a mixture of chemical compounds that interfere with normal hormone actions,” increasing cancer risk.1,2  Certain people have a greater chance of being exposed to these chemicals. Evidence shows who needs the most protection and what products

Photo by Soana [email protected] What is the botulinum toxin? The botulinum toxin is frequently known as the reason behind botulism. Luckily this is a different form of the toxin. The botulinum toxin is produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum.1 One effect of this toxin’s exposure is reversible muscle paralysis.2 People often know botulism as food

Photo credit Pexels: Matilda Wormwood Commonly considered a haven, hospitals can sometimes be where an infection is acquired. Whether it is a primary care, surgical, or emergency room visit, there may be a risk of pathogen exposure.  One metric that measures this phenomenon is a Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI).1 It’s a means of judging overall

Photo Credit: Jacob Colvin. Genetics is the code of life. Genetics can reveal a myriad of information about our bodies. Genetic wellness testing is a powerful tool with medical and non-medical applications.  Genetic testing can tell us whether we’ve inherited specific genes from our parents. Some of these genes make us more susceptible to developing

Pixabay Photo Credit: Mohamed Hassan. Aromatherapy for sleep and relaxation has been used for centuries. Despite this, we are still overly stressed and sleep-deprived. Our sleep duration needs can vary throughout our lives. An infant’s needs range from 10-16 hours.1 Children and young adults come in a close second with a need for 8-12 hours,

It’s time to mind the wealth vs health gap. You haven’t been paying attention if you’ve never heard the term “inflammation” concerning general health. However, inflammation has been a hot topic in the wellness world over the past few years as it relates to almost every chronic condition.  But can social determinants like social status,

With an estimated global prevalence of 240 million people, Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis.1 As a degenerative joint disease, OA can lead to decreased mobility, quality of life, pain, and loss of productivity.1,2 It is also associated with a heavy societal burden concerning social expenditure and an increased reliance on healthcare

Photo credit: Mikhail Nilov Exercise helps to nourish skin cells by increasing blood flow that carries oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Besides the conventional benefits, studies have revealed a link between skin health and exercise. Deep skin benefits of exercise At a molecular level, skin cells contain mitochondria. Mitochondria are organelles that produce the

Be careful what you drink New recommendations on alcohol consumption were published in August of 2022. It is now recommended to drink no more than two drinks weekly to minimize alcohol-related injuries.1 This recommendation is significantly lower than past guidelines.  For comparison, a 2011-updated report from Health Canada recommended that men consume three or fewer

An abstract representation of the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox is a virus within the Poxviridae family. Monkeypox has clinical presentations similar to smallpox, though usually with a much smaller fatality rate (~10%).1 In 1958, the monkeypox virus was first identified in monkeys transported from Africa to Denmark.  The virus has been documented in other mammals, misleading

Booster vaccines Multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 were identified throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus’ genetic material can mutate whenever viruses replicate inside a host cell. Since SARS-CoV-2 is a rapidly spreading virus with a high replication rate, it has many opportunities to evolve and change.1 A new study investigates the differences between the Omicron variant

Fighting monkeypox with vaccinia vaccines Monkeypox is a painful and debilitating viral infection. Cases have been rising rapidly since April, causing the World Health Organization to declare the monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency as of July 20221. Thankfully, science is on our side and vaccinia-based vaccines may be the key to stopping another pandemic.

A new study shows that engaging in solitary drinking during young adulthood can greatly increase the risk of developing Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Drinking alcohol has become an integral part of most social events and gatherings and is particularly prevalent amongst adolescents. However, while most adults drink while in the company of others, studies show

Recent evidence has shown that a person’s lifestyle contributes more to dementia risk than aging. Risk factors, including smoking and diabetes, have been found to have a more significant effect on acquiring this disease than the aging process.1 Studies looked at participants from 18-89 years old and found that identifying and modifying these risk factors

Air pollution is estimated to have caused 6.7 million deaths around the world in 2019.  As the leading environmental cause of premature death, air pollution has been linked to several health conditions, including stillbirths, asthma, neurological and mental health disorders, strokes, and lung cancer.  These consequences are more prevalent in marginalized populations.1 Some advancements have

Iodine is instrumental in the creation of thyroid hormones, which normalize metabolism, development, and growth, from birth right up to the end of life.  Accordingly, iodine deficiency can have negative effects on brain function, fertility, and child development.  This nutrient can be found in foods such as seaweed, fish, iodized salt, dairy products, and some

While aging is associated with a progressive decline in physical activity, it is thought that balancing only starts to decline sometime after an individual enters their sixties. 1 Falls have been shown to be the second leading cause of unintentional injury-based deaths worldwide.  1 It is estimated that 684,000 individuals die each year from fall-related

A new study investigates the potential antimicrobial benefits of a phytochemical. The development of antibiotics was pivotal to the practice of modern medicine. Before the discovery of the first antibiotic, penicillin, in 1928, treatable and common bacterial infections often resulted in serious complications or were fatal.1  Since then, many different types of antibiotics were developed,

It has been shown that regular check-ups between a patient and the same doctor have numerous positive benefits for the patient, the doctor, and the overall health system. These benefits include:1 Reduction in all-cause mortality, Greater patient satisfaction with services, Improved adherence to medical advice and uptake of preventive medicines, Lower use of hospital care,

A new study investigates whether SARS-CoV-2 targets heart cells in COVID-19 patients. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, exerts well-documented adverse effects on the respiratory system.  These effects can vary significantly between individuals, as some COVID-19 patients require hospitalization while some patients only develop mild symptoms.1  Notably, a growing body of evidence suggests that individuals

The human nervous system is divided into two major parts known as the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.1 While the central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord, the peripheral nervous system represents the nerves that connect these structures to different parts of the body.1 When damage occurs to these branches,

Currently, a topic of intense research is long COVID. One recurring symptom that has been identified in some long COVID patients is peripheral neuropathy – damage to nerves that causes numbness and weakness in affected areas of the body (not including the brain or spinal cord).1  A study from researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and

The use of smartwatches has become increasingly common throughout the world with over $25 billion USD spent by consumers in 2021 alone.1 One type of wearable devices is the Fitbit. Although Fitbits are available in different models, all are equipped with an accelerometer to count steps taken, a heart rate monitor, and activity trackers.2 These

New research continues to emerge surrounding COVID-19, specifically around how, mechanistically, the SARS-CoV-2 virus affects the body. A new study from Osaka University in Japan, revealed that the virus interferes with the insulin/IGF pathway.1    This new finding may explain COVID-19 symptoms including diabetes and insulin resistance; symptoms related to energy metabolism.  The insulin/IGF pathway key

A new analysis estimates the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on global rates of COVID-19-related mortality. The development of vaccines for the SARS-CoV-2 virus was an integral part of the global pandemic response plan.  Studies show that these are effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19; for example, the Janssen Ad26.COV2.S vector vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 exhibited an efficacy

As we head into summer, the rise in humidity and temperature creates an ideal environment for ticks to thrive in.1 In fact, warmer weather is associated with an increased risk of infections caused by ticks, specifically Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tick-borne encephalitis.1 As a result, it is important to learn about how

A new study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia shows a possible association between diabetes, stroke, and heart disease with dementia.1 The study, conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, followed 2,577 seniors over a 12-year period. According to their results, those who had at least 2 cardiometabolic diseases were more likely to develop dementia.1