Dizziness

Why Am I feeling dizzy all the time?

Dizziness is a common feeling of being light-headed and unsteady that is not generally associated with a serious condition. Large population-based studies reported that dizziness affects around 15% to 20% of adults yearly. It is prevalent in women and its frequency increases with age [1]. What Are the Causes of Dizziness? The common causes of dizziness…

Seasonal Affective Disorder

What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of seasonal depression characterized by major depressive episodes in the fall/winter and remissions in spring/summer. The symptoms include persistent low mood, lack of interest, irritability, lack of energy, irritability, longer hours of sleep, withdrawal from social situations, and craving for carbohydrates. It is estimated that 1-10% of the…

Athlete's Heart Syndrome

Can an Athlete Have Heart Failure?

Although non-pathological and often asymptomatic, high-intensity exercise and training can lead to structural, functional, and electrical transformations of the athlete’s heart. This exercise-adaptative physiological remodeling is known as athlete’s heart syndrome, characterized by an enlarged heart and a lower heart rate due to cardiac loading [1]. However, no evidence exists linking athlete’s heart syndrome and heart…

Cell Phones and Brain Cancers

Does Mobile Phone Use Affect the brain?

Due to the high levels of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields that are emitted by mobile phones, there are concerns about their potential association with brain cancer. Although several studies have been published on this subject, these remain highly conflicting and sometimes controversial, and therefore, require further investigations. Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) considered this issue…

Insomnia

What Is the Biology of Insomnia?

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep that can last for days or weeks (short-term insomnia) or for more than 6 months (chronic insomnia). Insomnia can be caused by biological factors such as anxiety, depression, sleep apnoea, genetics, and chronic conditions. It can also be caused by environmental factors such as…

Wound Healing

What Are the Mechanisms of Wound Healing?

Wound healing is a natural reaction of our body to tissue injury that involves crosstalk between different cells, cytokines, mediators, and the vascular system to repair the damaged tissue. It involves 4 main phases including homeostasis, inflammatory response, proliferation, and remodeling [1]. 1. What Are the Stages of Wound Healing? Homeostasis Phase This phase involves…

Is GDF11 a Rejuvenating Factor

Is GDF11 a Rejuvenating Factor?

The growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) or bone morphogenetic protein 11 (BMP-11) is a protein that belongs to the transforming growth factor-beta family (TGF-b) that is involved in cell proliferation and differentiation, wound healing, and the immune system [1]. GDF11 has been proposed as a rejuvenating factor as it was reported that it restores skeletal…

Biology of Fear and Anxiety

What Is the Biology of Fear and Anxiety?

Fear is a primitive human emotion that is caused by specific threat-related stimuli leading to adaptive behaviors aimed at preventing or coping with that threat. The central organ that controls and regulates fear is the amygdala, an almond-chapped structure located deep within the brain’s temporal lobes. 1. What Is the Function of the Amygdala in…