In BC, Alberta and around the world, forcing drug users into treatment is a violent policy
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Intervention without human rights goes by many names—involuntary institutionalization, compulsory drug treatment, “coerced care,” forced abstinence or a combination of all of those terms. Involuntary treatment in the Global South has been labeled inhumane by rights-based organizations, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNAIDS and Human Rights Watch. […]
Understanding how hormones influence anemia
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Northwestern Medicine scientists have uncovered how peptides produced by bones during inflammation prevent anemia in mice, according to a recent study published in the journal Blood. Inflammation, a feature of many chronic illnesses, is known to lead to the concomitant increased production and cleavage of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), a […]
What are some signs of overtraining?
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain We’re surrounded by warning signs on roads, at work, and on packaging and equipment. Your body sends warning signs too. As your race date nears, it’s tempting to pull out all the stops in your training. That makes this a prime time to watch for warning signs of overtraining. Overtraining or […]
Q and A: Binge-eating disorders
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain My niece is living in my home while she is attending college. I’ve invited her to eat meals with our family, but she typically declines, desiring to eat alone in her room. I’m concerned because she often seems to eat a lot of food at one time, like two sandwiches with […]
Exploring the mechanisms behind swallowing
Graphical Abstract. Credit: Neuron (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.04.025 Sensory cells in the vagus nerve can detect and locate food in the esophagus. Their signals help transport the food onward to the stomach. Signal failure leads to swallowing disorders, say a team led by Carmen Birchmeier at the Max Delbrück Center. They have published their findings in […]
The most common depression medications, explained
You’ve been diagnosed with depression. What’s next? The cornerstone of treatment remains antidepressants, so it’s likely your doctor will prescribe one for you, but which one might be best? You will join millions around the world who struggle with how to treat the mental health disorder. An estimated 3.8% of the global population experiences depression, […]
Drilling down on treatment-resistant fungi with molecular machines
The 3D structure of a molecular machine. The molecular machine consists of rotor (top) and stator (bottom) portions connected by a central axle. Following light activation, molecular machines rotate rapidly, drilling into fungal cells. Credit: Tour Lab, Rice University Fungi are present on the skin of around 70% of the population, without causing harm or […]
A little-understood sleep disorder affects millions and has clear links to dementia—4 questions answered
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A little-known and poorly understood sleep disorder that occurs during the rapid eye movement, or REM, stage of sleep has been garnering attention for its role in foreshadowing neurodegenerative brain diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. The disorder, known as REM sleep behavior disorder, or RBD in […]
From symptoms to treatment, two women’s health experts explain this little known condition
Credit: Leszek Glasner/Shutterstock BBC presenter Naga Munchetty recently revealed that she suffers from adenomyosis, a chronic condition that affects the uterus. She spoke of how her pain can leave her unable to move and how a recent flare-up was so intense her husband had to call an ambulance. Yet many people have never heard of […]
Tips from an expert in oncology and psychiatry
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain It’s hard to talk about a cancer diagnosis without thinking about the emotions that can be involved: fear, anxiety, anger, shame. Even those who seem to have great mental health will likely feel rattled after a cancer diagnosis. Adding in a mental illness, a history of unhealthy coping mechanisms or a […]