Health

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological that is most strongly associated with motor and functional impairments. Its pathophysiology is currently thought to be driven by accumulations of the protein, alpha-synuclein, in certain regions of the brain. In this condition, patients may lose the ability to control their movements, over time.

NIH’s (National Health Institute) National Eye Institute has estimated that 42% of Americans have myopia (nearsightedness, where objects closer to the eye are better visible than those far away), and about 5-10% suffer from hyperopia or farsightedness.

A migraine is a potentially debilitating condition that may involve pain, rated as severe, by those affected. It can be a chronic or episodic condition. Some patients may experience migraine-type headaches for 14 days out of 30. In addition to pain that appears to concentrate in the skull, migraine is also associated with symptoms such as photophobia, aura, and nausea. Unfortunately, it has been a difficult condition to treat.

Given the plans for all the manned missions to Mars, there may be several opportunities to explore space, soon. However, prospective space explorers face a number of downsides in the process. The effects of long-term interstellar travel on the human body is a prominent example.

Moles are common skin lesions made up of aggregated melanin, a biological pigment that makes moles dark brown or black in color.

Coffee, one of the world's most popular beverages, is prized for its marvelous effects on alertness. However, over the years, it has acquired a reputation of negatively affecting heart health. Some doctors advise their patients to avoid consuming coffee if they have certain heartbeat irregularities.

Motor neurone disease (MND), also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is mostly associated with the progressive loss of motor control through decreasing numbers of functioning spinal neurons. However, some patients with MND/ALS also experience detrimental effects on their cognitive functions and capabilities.

Birth defects can be any abnormal developments to fetuses or infants that result in malformation, retardation, other intellectual or physical disabilities, and sometimes, even leading to death. 150,000 babies born in the United States each year have congenital birth defects. Among these numbers, 1% of births per year are affected by CHDs (congenital heart defects), making it the most common type of birth defects.

We have been told, since time immemorial, that the liver was the biggest internal organ in the human body, making the skin the largest external one. Weighing about 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) and covering 22 square feet (2 square meters) in some cases, the versatile skin has been considered the largest human organ. But there has been a new discovery in the anatomy as we know it!

Many people may have reluctantly abandoned pasta as a part of their diet, in order to lose weight and become healthier. Giving up this food could be related to the steadily-emerging role of carbohydrates in the development of obesity. However, a paper published recently in the BMJ Open journal demonstrates that pasta is really not so bad for the waistline. This research is a systematic review of the effects of pasta consumption on health-related outcomes.

Stroke is a serious health event in which interrupted blood supply to the brain impacts the functional status and life quality of the patient. The largest ever study regarding the risk of this condition has turned up more relevant genetic factors than before. This project, known as the MEGASTROKE initiative, gathered data from over 520,000 people.

Ketamine is a compound that was originally marketed as a painkiller, but achieved notoriety as a recreational drug. It has a long-held and rather deserved reputation for causing hallucinations and other possibly psychotic symptoms in those who take it.