I Love Learning

You probably don’t think about your gallbladder until it starts causing trouble—or until someone casually mentions theirs was removed. But this little organ plays a surprisingly strategic role in your digestion. So let’s settle the mystery once and for all: where is your gallbladder, and why does it matter? Meet the Gallbladder: Small but Strategic The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ tucked just beneath your liver, on the right side of your abdomen. It’s not flashy, but it’s efficient. Its main job? Storing and concentrating bile—a yellowish-green digestive fluid produced by the liver. Bile helps break down fats in the food you eat. When you chow down on a cheesy pizza or a buttery croissant, your gallbladder springs into action, releasing bile into your small intestine to help digest those fats. Here’s a quick breakdown of what the gallbladder does: Stores bile produced by the liver Concentrates bile to make it more effective Releases bile into the small intestine during digestion ...

I remember the first time I saw an iron lung. It was at a museum, tucked away in a corner, its metal frame gleaming under the soft lights. I had read about them in history books, but seeing one in person was different. It was a stark reminder of a time when polio was a looming threat, and the iron lung was a lifeline for many. Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a viral disease that primarily affects children under five. While most infections are mild or asymptomatic, in some cases, the virus can invade the nervous system and cause paralysis. The severity of the disease depends on which part of the nervous system is affected. The Path of the Virus Polio enters the body through the mouth, often from contaminated water or food. It multiplies in the throat and intestines before entering the bloodstream. In rare instances, the virus can invade the central nervous system, leading to inflammation of the spinal cord and brain stem. This can result in paralysis, particularly in the limbs and respir...

Canker sores — also known as aphthous ulcers — are small, painful lesions that form inside the mouth. They often appear suddenly, but what most people don’t realize is that canker sores form not just from one cause, but from a complex mix of biological, nutritional, emotional, and even environmental triggers. This post explores how do canker sores form by delving into what your body might be silently trying to tell you. 🔬 The Science Beneath the Surface: What Is a Canker Sore? A canker sore is not contagious, unlike cold sores caused by the herpes virus. It usually appears as a round or oval ulcer with a white or yellow center and a red border, typically developing on the soft tissues inside the cheeks, lips, tongue, or even the base of the gums. These sores are a type of ulcerative lesion , and while they are mostly harmless, they can be intensely painful. According to the American Academy of Oral Medicine , canker sores affect about 20% of the population at any given time — ...