MedStar Health Blog

The human immunodeficiency virus—commonly known as HIV—can destroy vital cells that resist infection and disease. This can gradually cause critical and eventually life-threatening weaknes...

Provider burnout is not a new issue. Conversations about the difficulty of working in healthcare and the toll this job takes have been happening for decades. Recently, we have begun to realize ju...

Inflammation is the body’s way of protecting itself against harmful agents—injury, toxins, infection. When cells are damaged, an inflammatory response is triggered from the immune system to safeg...

The muscles of the abdominal wall —the core muscles— wrap in strong layers around the body’s midsection. These vital muscles support the upper body, enable bending and twisting, and help power th...

For most doctors and other providers, 2020 was a year to end all years. In early 2020, we began to hear of a novel virus more lethal than the flu, emerging in China. In a few short months, medica...

The internal carotid arteries are among the most critical blood vessels in the body. Located on both sides of the neck, they deliver oxygen to the brain. But that critical function may be affected b...