January Publications

If you’ve ever felt your heart literally ‘stop’ from grief, you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. A “broken” heart, a “crushing” pain in the chest, or maybe even a feeling that the heart might stop. Medicine has revealed that severe emotional distress can cause temporary changes in the heart’s function. Broken Heart Syndrome, known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (heart disease), is a stress-induced cardiac condition that mimics a heart attack, but without the blocked arteries. Takotsu

Nicknamed the “love hormone,” oxytocin (OXT) is a key chemical messenger involved in building real, human connection. It is strongly associated with feelings of love, trust, empathy, and calmness, especially between parents and their babies. This paper will examine how oxytocin plays a major role in early parent-infant bonding and influences healthy emotional development in babies. Oxytocin functions differently based on where it is in the body. It is first synthesized by neu

The common cold and flu are viral infections of the upper respiratory tract, which comprises the nose, mouth, sinuses, and throat. They are among the most common illnesses affecting humans today. So common, in fact, that they are often self-diagnosed and treated at home. The viruses responsible for both infections are vastly different. The flu is only caused by influenza viruses, whereas the common cold can be caused by over 200 kinds of pathogens. Rhinoviruses, coronaviruse

Our bodies have several ways to defend themselves against pathogens, which are organisms that cause disease. When the body detects a pathogen, it activates the immune system, a complex defence network designed to identify, attack, and destroy harmful invaders. A key part of the immune system is the antibody. Antibodies are specialized proteins designed to target a specific part of a pathogen, known as an antigen. Each antibody is shaped in a way that allows it to recognize an

The immune system is the body’s defence network. Its role is to identify and eliminate harmful invaders such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Rather than functioning as a single organ, the immune system is composed of specialized cells, tissues, and organs that work together in a coordinated manner. The immune system begins protecting the body before pathogens even enter the body. A pathogen is anything that can cause disease or illness. This can include viruses, fungi,