MEDICINE

The Phony Disease That Helped Researchers Identify Bach’s (Purported) Body

Johann Sebastian Bach was buried in an unmarked grave in 1750. Nearly two centuries later, a doctor identified the composer’s bones from skeletal evidence of “organist’s disease.”

Room temperature is a frame of reference.

What Exactly Is ‘Room Temperature’?

Misunderstanding room temperature can have some surprisingly serious consequences.

People in high-risk groups may want to consider a measles vaccine booster.

Do You Need a Measles Vaccine Booster? Here’s What Experts Say

If you’re in a high-risk group, you may want to consider getting a booster for full protection against measles.

Tibetan Mastiffs are majestic and expensive.

The 10 Most Expensive Dog Breeds to Own

The upfront costs aren’t the only factors to consider when purchasing a pet.

What Happens When an Astronaut Gets Sick in Space?

Sick astronauts on a space mission can’t just pop down to Earth to see a doctor. Here’s how they deal with bumps, bruises, and worse.

Civil War medical officers including Jonathan Letterman, a surgeon who pioneered the ambulance-to-ER transport of wounded patients during the Civil War.

5 Medical Innovations from the Civil War

Civil War surgeons learned fast. Here are a few of the MacGyver-like medical solutions that have had a lasting impact.

20 Great Songs to Use for CPR

From Taylor Swift's "22" to Missy Elliott's "Work It," these CPR songs will help you find a life-saving tempo.

An illustration of the vagus nerve’s location in the human body.

9 Fascinating Facts About the Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve does it all—tells your lungs to breathe, controls your heart rate, and even forms the foundation for a whole new medical field.

Nurse Agnes from Uganda’s Bwindi Community Hospital prepares a vaccination against measles.

7 Facts About Measles

Before the measles vaccine, there were between 3 and 4 million cases in the U.S. per year. Now, it’s less than 500.

A detail of Edvard Munch’s ‘The Sick Child,’ a portrait of his sister who died of tuberculosis at age 15.

12 Facts About Tuberculosis, the Victorian “Robber of Youth”

Tuberculosis may seem like a historic malady, but it’s still the world’s deadliest infectious disease. Here’s what you need to know about its past and current outbreaks.

Where Are They Now? Diseases That Killed You in ‘Oregon Trail’

Spoiler alert: They’re still around.

Several factors make people more susceptible to the flu in winter.

Why Is the Flu Seasonal?

Like clockwork, flu viruses seem to strike more people in winter than in any other season—and there are several reasons for that.

7 Vital Facts About Blood

George Washington died after his physician treated his sore throat with bloodletting, but don't let that stop you from learning more about the human circulatory system.

The dogs who pulled off the Nome Serum run might have looked a little bit like this.

10 Things You Need to Know About the 1925 Serum Run to Nome, Alaska

From January 27, 1925 until February 2, 20 mushers and 150 dogs heroically transported desperately needed diphtheria antitoxin to the remote town of Nome, Alaska, saving countless lives in the process. But the event wasn’t without controversy.

Feeling like garbage? That’s your immune system at work.

12 Fantastic Facts About the Immune System

Without our immune system, we wouldn't last very long: this complex network of organs and cells fights off pathogens and helps maintain our health.

7 Need-to-Know Facts About Norovirus

The super-contagious gastrointestinal virus is causing outbreaks across the U.S. Here's how to protect yourself (and everyone around you) from norovirus.

The world of medicine is even stranger than you can imagine.

6 Super-Rare Medical Conditions

From Alice in Wonderland Syndrome to the real-life version of Benjamin Button’s disease, these rare conditions could come straight out of a storybook.

The 5500-year-old trepanned skull of a woman now displayed in a Swiss museum.

A Brief History of Trepanation, One of the World’s Oldest Surgeries

The practice of drilling or scraping a hole into the skull’s cranial vault has been performed for thousands of years.

Here’s What To Pack In Your Go-Bag in Case of an Emergency

Get tips for what to pack in a go-bag, including the essentials you should definitely have stashed away before a natural disaster strikes.

MRSA bacteria bound to a neutrophil, a type of infection-fighting white blood cell.

What Is Antibiotic Resistance?

Public health officials are concerned that we could move back into a situation like that of the early 20th century, before antibiotics were discovered.

8 Questionable Moisturizers from History

Winter is synonymous with dry and flaky skin, but we don’t recommend treating it with these ancient recipes for body lotion.

Searching for ideas on what to spend your FSA funds on this year? Consider these.

14 Creative Ways to Spend Your FSA Money Before the Deadline

Unsure how to spend your FSA money? From new glasses to over-the-counter (OTC) medication, here are some health products you can purchase using FSA funds.

12 Foundational Facts About the Liver

Not only is the liver your largest internal organ; it is in charge of hundreds of bodily processes ranging from fighting infection to manufacturing proteins and hormones to helping your blood clot.

Why Does Your Body Jerk Awake As You’re Trying to Fall Asleep?

Up to 70 percent of people have experienced hypnic jerks, but they’re usually nothing to worry about.