medical and health sciences

A collection of 46 posts

medical and health sciences

🧬 An Extra Chromosome, An Extraordinary Life: Understanding Trisomy 21, 18, and 13

Health & Sciences | The Varrock Street Journal Good morning, readers! This week, we turn our attention to some of the most profound conditions seen in pediatrics: chromosomal trisomies. An extra chromosome can shape a child’s body, health, and experiences, but it doesn’t define their worth. Today, we'

medical and health sciences

Tiny Tummies, Big Problems: Unpacking Pediatric Abdominal Conditions

Health & Sciences | The Varrock Street Journal Good morning, Varrock Street Journal readers! In the world of pediatrics, few things can be as alarming for parents—and as urgent for providers—as a baby or young child with sudden, severe abdominal symptoms. From projectile vomiting to a distended belly and

medical history

🩺 “The Little Tool That Listens: A Journey Through the History of the Stethoscope”

Medical History | The Varrock Street Journal Good morning, readers! Whether you've seen one slung around a doctor's neck or used one in science class, the stethoscope is one of the most iconic tools in medicine. But have you ever stopped to wonder where it came from—

Natural Sciences

🍓 Why Are Kids Allergic to Everything Now? A Deep Dive into Childhood Food Allergies

Natural Sciences | The Varrock Street Journal What is happening this Wednesday, readers! Have you ever wondered why it feels like nearly every classroom now has a peanut-free table or why daycare forms include detailed allergy checklists? Childhood food allergies have skyrocketed in recent years, turning everyday snacks into potential medical

medical and health sciences

💓 What’s That Sound? Understanding Heart Murmurs in Newborns and Children

Health & Sciences | The Varrock Street Journal Happy Monday, Varrok Street Journal readers! This week’s topic comes from a sound many healthcare professionals know well: the subtle “whoosh” that interrupts the rhythm of a beating heart. Known as a heart murmur, this sound can alarm parents when first discovered

medical and health sciences

🌞 Why Is My Baby Yellow? Understanding Newborn Jaundice

Health & Sciences | The Varrock Street Journal Good morning, readers! If you’ve ever been around a newborn, you might’ve noticed something a little surprising—a yellow tint to their skin or eyes. Maybe you are like me, and have heard your parents talk about how you or your

Natural Sciences

Bird Flu and Breakfast: What You Need to Know About the 2025 Avian Influenza Outbreak

Natural Sciences | The Varrock Street Journal If you're a big breakfast person, you might be just as upset with the current egg prices around the country as I am! Maybe you’ve seen the headlines—or maybe you haven’t noticed—but the culprit is the ongoing avian

medical and health sciences

Uncovering Depression: A History, a Challenge, and a Global Conversation

🧠 Health & Sciences | The Varrock Street Journal Good morning, readers! This week, I wanted to explore a topic that’s been close to many of our lives—whether personally or through the people we love: major depressive disorder (MDD). While we often hear the term “depression” tossed around casually, the

medical and health sciences

Not Just Mood Swings: What Bipolar Disorder Really Is

🧠 Understanding Bipolar Disorder: Beyond the Myths Good morning readers, today we are going to do something a bit different. I am going to show you two different scenarios, and I want you to pick which one you think applies to someone with bipolar disorder. Scenario A:Maria feels like she’

residency

From Apprenticeships to Match Week: The Evolution of Medical Residency

Welcome Back VSJ Community, In honor of this week’s residency placements, we’re stepping into the fascinating history of medical residency—one of the most defining aspects of a physician's career. While today’s system may feel like a well-oiled machine (well… sort of), it took over

schizophrenia

The Hidden Risk: Cannabis Use in Adolescence and Schizophrenia

Welcome Back Varrock Street Journal Community, Cannabis use has become an increasingly accepted part of modern culture, especially with the expansion of legalization and its medical applications. However, while many celebrate its potential benefits, research suggests that early cannabis use may come with serious mental health risks—particularly for developing

medical and health sciences

Trauma-Informed Weight Lifting: A New Approach to Healing

Welcome back, Varrock Street Journal Community! As many of you have already figured out, I would consider myself a little bit of a “health nut/enthusiast” and always get excited upon learning something positive that exercise brings to our lives. This past week, in one of my lectures, we were

personality disorders

The Many Faces of Personality: Understanding the Three Clusters of Personality Disorders

Good morning, Varrock Street Journal Community, Personality is what makes us unique—the way we think, feel, and interact with the world. But what happens when certain personality traits become rigid and unhealthy, interfering with daily life and relationships? This week, we're exploring personality disorders and their classifications,

mini mental examination

Inside the Mind: The Exams That Shape Psychiatry

It’s another beautiful Monday, Varrock Street Journal Community! This week, we’re continuing our short psychiatry series in our weekly healthcare and medicine newsletter with an introduction to the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Mental Status Examination (MSE)—two critical tools used by psychiatrists and neurologists to assess

medical history

Balancing the Elements: The Four Humors That Shaped Ancient Medicine

We are back for another edition of the Varrock Street Journal! Today we want to take another step back in time to explore one of the earliest frameworks for understanding the human body and its health: the Four Humors. For centuries, this theory shaped medicine, guiding both diagnosis and treatment.

medical and health sciences

Gastric Sleeve Surgery – Exploring the Science Behind Weight Loss and Wellness

Hello, Varrock Street Journal Community! This week, we dive into the fascinating world of gastric sleeve surgery, a transformative procedure that has reshaped lives by addressing obesity and its associated health challenges. As discussions around health and wellness evolve, understanding surgical options like this one helps highlight the intersection of

lipoma

Lipomas Uncovered: A Deep Dive into Soft Tissue Masses

We’re Back Varrock Street Journal Community! This week, we’re focusing on a topic that many people encounter during routine medical check-ups: soft tissue masses. Among these, lipomas—benign fatty tumors—are the most common. However, not all masses are as harmless as they may seem. Let’s explore

bandaid

The Medical History of Band-Aids

Happy Friday Varrock Street Journal Community! This week, we’re trying to spice it up a little and do something different than normal, which may become a new and regular topic! Together we're going to take a journey down some fun and interesting history into medicine and medical

abdominal surgery

Gallbladder Chronicles: Understanding Diseases, Stones, and Cutting-Edge Treatments

What a Wonderful Morning it is Varrock Street Journal Community! This week, we turn our attention to the gallbladder, a small but mighty organ often overlooked until something goes wrong. With gallbladder diseases affecting millions worldwide, understanding its function, the conditions that can arise, and the various treatment options is

Natural Sciences

Redefining Drug Discovery: The Role of Rational Molecular Editing

Welcome to this Wednesday's edition of Varrock Street Journal! Today we explore a groundbreaking innovation that is reshaping the pharmaceutical industry: Rational Molecular Editing (RME). Have you ever wondered how scientists modify molecules to create safer, more effective medicines? From enhancing potency to reducing side effects, RME is

medical and health sciences

Gut Check: Understanding Constipation and Small Bowel Obstructions

Varrock Street Journal – Weekly Healthcare Feature Understanding Constipation and Small Bowel Obstructions: Key Insights for Digestive Health What a beautiful morning it is for the first Monday of 2025!!! We hope all of our Varrock Street Journal readers had an excellent weekend and a moment to recover from the holiday

medical and health sciences

Understanding Appendicitis

Welcome Back, Varrock Street Journal Community! This week, we’re diving into a fascinating and important topic: appendicitis. Whether you've experienced it, know someone who has, or just want to learn more about your body, understanding this common medical condition can empower you to act quickly if symptoms

medical and health sciences

Frostbite: A Hidden Danger of the Holiday Season

Varrock Street Journal – Weekly Healthcare Feature Stay Warm and Safe: Understanding Frostbite This Winter Hello, Varrock Street Journal readers! Winter is here, and with it comes the magic of snow-covered landscapes and festive outdoor activities. But amid all the holiday cheer, it’s important to be mindful of frostbite—a

medical and health sciences

Knee Deep in Innovation: The Life-Changing Impact of Total Knee Replacements

Varrock Street Journal – Weekly Healthcare Feature Hello Varrock Street Journal Readers! It’s that time of the day again—happy Monday morning to our wonderful readers! This week, the Varrock Street Journal is taking a closer look at a surgical technique that’s likely all around you without you even

medical and health sciences

Understanding Fistulas: A Bridge That Shouldn’t Be There

Varrock Street Journal – Weekly Healthcare Feature Hello again, our wonderful readers! As part of my surgical rotation, I’ve had the opportunity to witness a wide range of procedures, from the routine to the highly complex. One condition that keeps showing up in different forms is fistulas—an issue that