Got food cravings? What’s living in your gut may be responsible
Eggs or yogurt, veggies or potato chips? We make decisions about what to eat every day, but those choices may not be fully our own. New University of Pittsburgh research on mice shows for the first time that the microbes in animals’ guts influence what they choose to eat, making substances that prompt cravings for […]
Opinion | How to Stop Sabotaging Yourself
Doctors have already proven their worth. We have succeeded beyond what most of the population will achieve. And yet, there are certain goals we cannot seem to achieve. And the worst part is that we know we could do it, and the person getting in our way is someone we know well. We look at […]
Is Pus a Sign of Infection? What Causes It?
What is pus? Pus is a thick fluid that builds up when an injury becomes infected. But pus isn’t the only sign of an infection. The word “pus” conjures all kinds of unpleasant images. It’s linked with injuries and infection and no one likes to think about that. Pus is a thick fluid that builds […]
Xanax (alprazolam) vs. Valium (diazepam): Side Effects & Dosage
What are the differences between Xanax and Valium? Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam) are benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety and panic attacks. A difference is that Valium is also used for the treatment of agitation, tremors, delirium, seizures, and hallucinations resulting from alcohol withdrawal. It is also used for the treatment of seizures, relief of muscle spasms […]
What Causes Stress? Stress Management, Signs, and Types
What is stress? Excess stress can manifest itself in a variety of emotional, behavioral, and even physical symptoms, and the symptoms of stress vary enormously among different individuals. Stress is a normal part of life that can either help us learn and grow or can cause us significant problems. Stress releases powerful neurochemicals and hormones […]
Can Major Depression Lead to Bipolar Disorder?
What is depression? Depression and bipolar disorder are not the same despite sharing some symptoms. Major depression can’t lead to bipolar disorder. Major depression can’t lead to bipolar disorder. However, someone with an earlier diagnosis of clinical depression might later be rediagnosed with bipolar disorder. Depression and bipolar disorder are not the same despite sharing […]
The art of smell: Research suggests the brain processes smell both like a painting and a symphony
What happens when we smell a rose? How does our brain process the essence of its fragrance? Is it like a painting — a snapshot of the flickering activity of cells — captured in a moment in time? Or like a symphony, an evolving ensemble of different cells working together to capture the scent? New […]
This Is What Happens To Your Brain When You Orgasm
For National Orgasm Day, we know they feel good – but what exactly do they do to our brains? We asked sex therapist and neuroscientist Dr Nan Wise, author of Why Good Sex Matters to explain exactly what happens when we orgasm, from how our brain registers pleasure to the health benefits behind the Big […]
Staph Infection: Treatment, Symptoms, Contagious, Pictures, MRSA
What is antibiotic-resistant S. aureus? Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, known as MRSA, is a type of Staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to the antibiotic methicillin and other drugs in the same class, including penicillin, amoxicillin, and oxacillin. MRSA is one example of a so-called “superbug,” an informal term used to describe a strain of bacteria that […]
Who Heals Ukrainian Refugees’ Mental Health Wounds?
They didn’t know what to do for the woman who couldn’t stop shaking. The aid workers wanted to help, but couldn’t agree on what approach to take: just let the shaking go? Maybe the woman was expressing emotion safely? Or should they intervene to ease her visible anxiety? That was the dilemma described by a […]