Many people instinctively associate mucus with something disgusting, but in fact, it has incredibly many valuable functions for our health. It keeps track of our important intestinal flora and feeds the bacteria. It covers all internal surfaces of our body, and, as a barrier to the outside world, it helps us protect ourselves from infectious […]
How tendons become stiffer and stronger
Tendons connect muscles to bones. They are relatively thin, but withstand enormous forces. Tendons need a certain elasticity to absorb high loads, such as mechanical shock, without tearing. In sports involving sprinting and jumping, however, stiff tendons are an advantage because they transmit the forces that unfold in the muscles more directly to the bones. […]
Big data can help doctors predict which COVID patients will become seriously ill
The pandemic continues to pose huge challenges to health services worldwide. Hospitals are in crisis as the pace of new COVID-19 cases outstrips their capacity. What makes things particularly difficult is that the coronavirus doesn’t affect everyone in the same way. Being able to better predict which patients will get seriously ill would allow hospitals […]
UK coronavirus variant could become dominant US strain by March, CDC says
The fast-spreading “U.K. variant” of the coronavirus could become the predominant strain in the United States by March, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About 76 cases of the new variant, known as B.1.1.7, have been detected in 10 U.S. states so far, but its ability to […]
'My Fibromyalgia Inspired Me To Become A Travel Blogger'
Women are more likely than men to have their symptoms dismissed or downplayed by medical professionals. When they get a diagnosis, they often face stigma and judgment. In light of this, WH created the “Owning It” package—which spotlights various women with complicated and often difficult-to-diagnose conditions who decided to take a stand for their health. […]
Smokers in England have become less dependent but also less motivated to stop
Published online today in the scientific journal Addiction, a 10-year study led by researchers at UCL of 41,610 smokers in England has found that smokers today show fewer signs of dependence than a decade ago but are less inclined to try to stop smoking. Thus, smokers consume fewer cigarettes per day (an average of 10.9 […]