Hollywood and modern medicine: where do their roads cross? Celebrities have the power to influence your medical decisions. In fact, Hollywood has had a large impact on how and why people seek medical treatment. You might be thinking about plastic surgery and cosmetic care right now, but that’s not the topic of discussion today: cancer is, and, in particular, how celebrity cancer experiences have fueled many–in fear of heritable disease–to actively pursue preventative care. 

From the media to your social circle, the COVID-19 pandemic has been like an endless game of telephone. Emerging data is confirmed, disproven, then re-confirmed, leaving us riddled with confusion day after day as information about COVID-19 is misconstrued, tangled, and re-tangled, and questions are left unanswered even when answered. Distorted perspectives and controversial opinions aside, there’s scientific truth amidst the COVID frenzy that has yet to gain the mainstream traction it warrants. This truth lies within your DNA.

Sometimes, the immune system mistakes healthy parts of the body as invaders, like bacteria or viruses, and attacks them. In other words, the human body can attack itself in the same sense it would a pathogen. When the immune system attacks a pathogen, it’s protecting you against infectious illness. When the immune system attacks itself, it causes autoimmune disease but believes it’s acting in a protective manner. 

The cost of poor sleep is undeniable–it’s essential to your total health and wellness. Sleep keeps you healthy, re-energizes your body, and helps it heal and cope with stress. From weight management, improved mental health and focus to preventing and overcoming illness, sleep comes with many benefits.

Consider this: the genetic makeup of a star athlete is different from the genetic makeup of a couch potato. However, that doesn’t mean that a star athlete won’t become a couch potato or a couch potato can’t become a star athlete.