Health through Science

Diabetes is a typically chronic medical condition involving a lack of either insulin sensitivity or insulin as a whole. Type 2 diabetes, the most common type, involves your cells becoming resistant to insulin over time due to excess exposure to high blood glucose levels. Oftentimes, people suffering from type 2 diabetes are affected by their lifestyle factors like low levels of physical exercise and a high-glycemic load diet. In terms of managing diabetes, metformin has proved itself as one of the most commonly prescribed medications. Metformin is a biguanide medication (a type of orally consumed diabetes medicine), which offers significant benefits to patients who have type 2 diabetes by improving sensitivity to insulin and decreasing glucose production in the liver. Instead of increasing levels of insulin in the body, metformin works by making your body more sensitive to the already present insulin in the bloodstream. Metformin is always administered orally, with varying dosages ...

Sinusitis is a disease characterized by the inflammation of the sinus cavities, which leads to discomfort and disrupts day to day living. Montelukast, which is most often sold under the brand name singulair, shows great potential in treating sinus-related symptoms. Montelukast is a leukotriene receptor antagonist, which means that it targets leukotrienes (inflammatory mediator agents which play important roles in mucus production, sinus inflammation, and nasal congestion.) It works by blocking the action of these leukotrienes, which reduces inflammation and associated symptoms of sinusitis. Montelukast is often consumed daily in the evening, with or without food, depending on what the patient’s healthcare provider says. ‘Montelukast for chronic sinusitis with polyps’ is a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the efficacy of montelukast in patients who have chronic sinusitis based on polyp formation in the nasal cavity. The research obtained showed that montelukast has a ...

Delayed onset muscle soreness, also known as DOMS, is usually followed by after intense physical activity like dancing, running, going to the gym, high-energy sports, or even walking in the mall for too long. People who experience DOMS are often both uncomfortable with the pain and strong-willed to get rid of it, and that is where pomegranate juice comes to hand. Pomegranate juice has quite recently emerged as a great solution to alleviate soreness in the muscles. Pomegranate juice, obviously derived from the pomegranate, contains a lot of antioxidants, specifically things like polyphenols and anthocyanins. These antioxidants are highly anti-inflammatory and their properties may also include reducing oxidative stress (something which contributes to muscle soreness), Along with that, the juice also enhances blood flow, helping exhausted muscles to get the necessary nutrients at a faster rate. Consuming pomegranate juice after a workout is most efficient, as juices can be rapidly abs...

Acne is a common skincare concern in a lot of adolescents and adults, and it’s the type of concern which can prompt its sufferers to search the world for solutions and end up with barely one. Salicylic acid, however, seems to be the one true ambrosia for a lot of people going through acne bouts. It’s a beta-hydroxy acid, which has gained immense popularity due to its efficacy in the realm of skincare. Salicylic acid is known for its properties as an exfoliant and its ability to penetrate pores filled with oil and sebum. It works by dissolving the top layer of skin, the epithelial cells: leading to unclogged pores and preventing the formation of new acne lesions. Along with that, salicylic acid shows anti-inflammatory effects, which means that it could be effective in reducing redness and swelling in pimples on your skin. Salicylic acid is available in a multitude of different forms; however, people barely tend to apply it as a sole treatment. It is often mixed into cleansers, toner...

Insulin sensitivity is one of the most crucial aspects of your body’s metabolism, and a lot of medicines exist to support this metabolism. However, with increased prevalence of diabetes, due to an extremely sugar-rich diet, even these compounds reach a slump in the long term (unless you increase their dosage to harmful amounts in the body.) This is where people tend to take an approach towards holistic health, something which may provide a slower, yet healthier result towards their disease. This article talks about how vinegar has high potential as a holistic health tool for insulin sensitivity. Vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar (the most studied kind of vinegar in diabetic patients), shows great promise in association with higher insulin sensitivity. Acetic acid or Acetate (a short chain fatty acid) is believed to play a great role in influencing this. It works by increasing the ability of insulin to transport glucose into cells, regulating blood sugar levels much more effecti...

Hormonal acne, which is most often associated with high levels of androgens in the blood, is a persistent and often discomforting concern for many people today. In the realm of skincare, you’ll see so many types of chemical options to treat acne, but it often doesn’t treat the root cause, its just a symptomatic treatment. Here is where spearmint tea comes in hand: it’s a natural remedy which is celebrated for the great potential it shows in addressing hormonal acne. Spearmint tea influences androgen levels, specifically through the reduction of the free testosterone present in the bloodstream. Androgens (testosterone is one of them) are hormones that, when elevated, can lead to overproduction of sebum, causing acne to develop on the skin’s surface. Spearmint tea is believed to exert ‘anti-androgenic’ effects, which can potentially lead to management of the hormonal imbalances which cause this type of acne. The people who use spearmint tea for acne, are typically recommended to cons...

In the realm of skincare and dermatology, tretinoin and retinol have gained a well-deserved popularity to address a variety of skin problems, especially acne. Both of these compounds are from the family of retinoids, but they have small differences in their mechanism of action and potency, which can greatly influence whether tretinoin or retinol is the better choice for an individual. Tretinoin is a highly potent retinoid which works by binding to retinoic acid receptors in your skin cells. It modifies the genes in your skin, resulting in accelerated cell turnover, shedding of old and damaged skin cells, and encouraging the growth of new and healthy skin. This way, it enhances skin texture, reduces hyperpigmentation, and prevents the formation of new acne lesions on the surface of your skin. Retinol is a precursor of tretinoin, which gets converted into the active form when it reaches under your skin layers. Although it works mostly just like tretinoin, retinol is much less potent...