Physiology
Kidney Health: Location, Functions and How They Change Throughout Your Lifetime If you’re considering a career in renal healthcare or are simply curious about organ functionality, you may have pondered the changes in your kidney health over time. While kidneys would ideally function flawlessly from birth to the golden years, that’s not the case. We experience countless changes as we progress through life, and our renal systems are no exception, undergoing their own evolutionary process. In this article, we’ll explore the basics of kidney health, including their location, function and how their role evolves throughout your life. Where Are the Kidneys Located? Think back to playing Operation as a kid
Pharmacology
Cutting-Edge Insulin Delivery Systems For over a century, insulin has been a lifeline for millions, helping to regulate blood sugar and keep diabetes in check. But gone are the days of relying solely on painful daily injections. As we mark 100 years since insulin’s groundbreaking discovery, let’s explore how this game-changing hormone — and the way it’s delivered — has evolved, making diabetes management easier and more advanced than ever. What Is the Role of Insulin in Diabetes? Insulin plays a vital role in regulating blood sugar by helping glucose move from the bloodstream into the body’s cells, where we use it for energy. In people with diabetes, this process is disrupted in one of two key ways: Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the pancreas, preventing the body from producing insulin. Type 2 diabetes happens when the body doesn’t use insulin effectively or doesn’t produce enough. Without proper insulin function, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, leading to elevated blood sugar levels and long-term health risks. So, how does insulin actually work? When you eat, your body breaks food down into glucose (a simple sugar)
Aging
Men Vs. Women: Explaining the Life Expectancy Gap It’s a tale as old as time—men vs. women competing in all aspects of life. Who makes the better dinner? Who’s best at tucking in the kids at night? And, the ultimate question: when it comes to longevity, who will live the longest? In 2010, women had a projected life expectancy that was approximately 4.8 years longer than their male counterparts. In 2021, the gap widened to 5.8 years
Aging
50 Is the New 40? Understanding Chronological Age vs. Perceived Age If I asked you to tell me your age, would you give me your biological age, or would your brain revert to an age you feel more akin to? (To be fair, we’d probably shave off a few years because we feel younger at heart—and that’s okay). So, is age just a number? Chronologically, we all have a birthday that marks our years on Earth. But what about how old we feel? Those are two very different perspectives. Today we’re exploring the gap between how old you feel and how old you are, the factors that influence those perceptions and the benefits of embracing an age that is a few years younger than the one on your birth certificate. Chronological Age vs. Perceived Age Your chronological age refers to the objective number of years you’ve been alive. In contrast, your perceived age is how young or old you feel physically and mentally. Let’s say you’re 57
Aging
The 3 Most Common Age-Related Diseases (and How to Help Prevent Them) Heart disease, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease are among the most common age-related diseases in the United States. While aging increases the risk of developing certain conditions, lifestyle choices and preventive care can play a significant role in lowering that risk. While hitting 10,000 steps a day won’t guarantee perfect heart health, everyday choices — like regular movement, balanced nutrition and quality sleep — can meaningfully influence long-term wellness. Below, we examine three common age-related diseases and what you can do to reduce your risk. #1 Heart Disease The name alone may not sound too intimidating, but heart disease is the number one cause of death for people in the United States. In fact, it’s so common that one person dies from cardiovascular disease every 33 seconds. So, what is this silent but deadly killer that’s responsible for approximately 20% of the deaths in the United States? What Is Heart Disease? Otherwise known as cardiovascular disease, heart disease comes in many types that can affect people of all ages, and the risk of developing one of them only increases as you age. Some of the most common types include: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) CAD occurs when the major vessels supplying blood to the heart have difficulty sending it enough blood and oxygen. Cholesterol deposits are usually the main cause of CAD, and the condition generally develops over several decades. Heart Attack When CAD goes undiagnosed, individuals may not know they have it until the blockages cause a heart attack, which happens when the blood flow to the heart becomes severely blocked. How to Prevent Heart Disease While there’s no guarantee that you can be completely safe against cardiovascular disease, there are a few preventative measures you can take to lower your risk: Don’t Use Tobacco While this may seem obvious, there are approximately 28 million American adults who currently smoke cigarettes. Cigarette smoke lowers the amount of oxygen in your blood, increasing your blood pressure and heart rate
Physiology
Medical Cardiovascular and Muscle Physiology: A Deep Dive Into Heart & Muscle Function Ever found yourself lost in the labyrinth of graduate-level medical physiology courses, with course names and descriptions blurring together? Fear not, because we’re here to shed light on each course’s distinctive and essential contributions to the field. Today, let’s zoom in on Medical Cardiovascular and Muscle Physiology. This course delves deep into the intricate functions and regulation of muscles and the cardiovascular system. It uncovers how the body adapts to factors like exercise, environmental influences and diseases. But what sets Medical Cardiovascular and Muscle Physiology apart, and why should you make room for it in your already packed online course load? Join us as we unravel its fundamentals, explore its relevance for your future career and navigate its course structure. What Is Cardiovascular Physiology? Simply put, cardiovascular physiology is the study of how the heart and blood vessels work in tandem to pump blood through the body. Let’s dive into some of the basic components of the cardiovascular system: The Heart Responsible for circulating blood throughout your body, the heart works a 24-hour shift, 365 days a year. It beats approximately 115,000 times a day to ensure blood and oxygen are circulated through the body. Hearts have four total chambers, including two upper chambers called atria and two lower ones known as ventricles
Pharmacology
4 Major Factors That Affect Drug Absorption in the Body Before any medication can relieve pain or treat illness, it must first be absorbed into the bloodstream. But absorption isn’t automatic. In fact, several internal and external factors shape it. In pharmacology, the four major factors that affect drug absorption are: Physiological state of the patient Drug formulation and manufacturing Method of drug administration Chemical properties of the drug itself Below, we break down each factor with examples to show how the body processes medications differently from person to person. The 4 Major Factors That Affect Drug Absorption Drug absorption isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. How quickly (or slowly) a medication enters the bloodstream depends on four main factors: the patient’s physiological state, how the drug is formulated, how it’s administered and the drug’s own chemical and physical properties
Aging
Starting a Business After Retirement: What Senior Entrepreneurs Need to Succeed Just because someone retires doesn’t mean they leave behind the skills they spent decades developing. For many older adults, retirement marks the beginning of a new chapter — one that includes entrepreneurship. Starting a business after retirement is becoming increasingly common as retirees look for meaningful work, additional income or the opportunity to turn lifelong passions into profit. While older entrepreneurs often bring valuable experience, succeeding in today’s market means getting familiar with modern business practices and tools. Below are practical ways communities, organizations and institutions can support retirees who are ready to launch their own small businesses. Why Are More Retirees Starting Businesses? Many retirees enter entrepreneurship with established expertise, industry insight and long-standing professional relationships. Compared to younger founders, older business owners often have more defined goals and a clearer understanding of the markets they’ve worked in. With the right support, launching a venture later in life can be both practical and personally rewarding. Small Business Ideas for Retirees Rather than beginning entirely from scratch, many retirees build businesses that expand on prior careers or long-standing interests
General
What Is Disease X — and Why Are Scientists Preparing for It? Since the COVID-19 pandemic, one question has lingered in the background of global health conversations: What comes next? That concern has a name. Disease X. Disease X isn’t a specific illness. Instead, it’s a placeholder for a future infectious disease that could cause a global outbreak, similar to or worse than COVID-19. While no one knows exactly what Disease X will be, scientists are preparing now to reduce its potential impact. Disease X is a term introduced in 2017 by the World Health Organization (WHO) to describe a currently unknown pathogen with the potential to cause a serious international epidemic or pandemic. It was added to the WHO’s priority disease list to acknowledge a reality scientists already understood: The next major outbreak may come from a virus or bacterium we haven’t identified yet. What Is Disease X? Disease X appears on the same high-priority list as well-known threats like: COVID-19 Ebola Lassa fever Zika Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever The difference? Disease X hasn’t emerged yet. Why Does Disease X Worry Us? The fear surrounding Disease X isn’t just about the unknown. It’s that modern life could allow a new disease to spread faster and farther than ever before. Taken together, these factors explain why experts see Disease X as a serious global threat: 1
Aging
6 Unique Careers in the Field of Aging Whether you’re embarking on a career change, considering graduate school or interested in expanding your professional horizons, get ready to explore six unique careers in the field of aging. #1 Gerontechnology Specialist As the name suggests, a gerontechnology specialist uses technology to improve the lives of older adults. They bridge the widening gap between today’s ever-advancing gadgets and the often not-so-tech-savvy elderly, helping them to learn to use different kinds of equipment that can increase their independence and overall well-being. Some of the technologies they utilize with their clients include: Telehealth platforms that make remote checkups more efficient. Elderly-friendly smart home devices, such as smart locks, refrigerators and stoves that others can control remotely. Health monitoring devices, like smartwatches, blood pressure monitors and medication dispensers. #2 Public Health Administrator Public health administrators oversee and manage multiple aspects of public and private public health programs at the federal and local level, including those focused on the elderly. While your duties would vary depending on your particular sector (state, federal or private), some of your responsibilities would include: Designing and Developing Programs for Older AdultsTo better serve the older population, public health administrators work with a team of other professionals to create programs that address the well-being of older adults. Some of these programs focus on topics of interest to the elderly, including fall prevention, mental health support and disease management. Advocating for Elderly-Friendly PoliciesFrom Medicare and Medicaid to other long-term care services, public health administrators work alongside other policymakers to advocate for policies that promote the improved health and wellness of older adults. #3 Intergenerational Program Coordinator Do you enjoy bringing people together for the greater good? How about seeing their faces light up when they’re enjoying the company of new (and sometimes unexpected) companions? Intergenerational program coordinators plan and oversee programs that unify people from different generations. Why do they do it, you ask? For a multitude of uplifting and joyful reasons, such as: Forging positive relationships between unlikely individuals
