From the blow of the Black Death in medieval Europe, to the polio epidemics of the 20th century, and the widespread devastation caused by smallpox, pathogens have continually caused widespread morbidity and mortality. Today, several of these microbes feel like threats of the past. With advancements in controlling infectious diseases, vaccine-preventable deaths have dropped and […]

Introduction to the Challenge of Cancer Cancer is one of the major global health issues, with its incidence steadily increasing and mortality rates on the rise, affecting millions of people each year. In 2022, approximately 20 million new cancer cases and nearly 9.7 million cancer-related deaths were reported worldwide. By 2050, cancer cases are projected […]

Jacqueline Racener was diagnosed with leukemia and prescribed a drug offering the hope of combating the cancer with only moderate side effects. However, upon learning that the annual cost would be $8,000, even with her Medicare insurance, Jacqueline opted to stop filling her prescription, hoping that the cancer would not progress further. With cancer drugs […]

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurological disorder that affects nearly 6.7 million Americans over the age of 65. The widespread nature of this disease means that many people are impacted by it in some way, whether it is being diagnosed with the disorder, or caring for an afflicted friend or family member. Despite its high […]

Sometimes a medical condition can be cured with a single surgery or a course of medications. But many illnesses — like diabetes, asthma, and chronic pain — require long-term treatment and management. Recognizing the assistive potential of smart phones and other personal computing devices, some doctors have begun recommending apps to help patients track their […]

Alcohol use is common in the United States. The vast majority of adults (84.0%) have drunk alcohol at some point in their lifetime, with most of them (79.5%) reporting having a drink in the last year. Many social events rely on the presence of alcohol, and most attend these events without alcohol disrupting their lives. […]

Genetic diseases, like cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease, can be devastating to the people afflicted by them, but they often affect few people. The exact cutoffs vary from nation to nation, but in the United States, a rare disease is defined as one that afflicts fewer than 200,000 Americans. Most of these diseases are […]

Imagine you are driving to a friend’s house. You have been there a few times and have formed some general impressions of the route. In the old days, you would only have your imperfect memory to guide you. Now you can use GPS not only to navigate the route, but also to see live traffic […]