Prevention, treatment, and ethics
I write on anything I have knowledge of from history of medicine and science to current health issues and ethics and interject my opinion into political and current affairs debates.Most of my articles have been published at Helium, where I am the steward for the Medical Sciences subchannel!
You can write for Helium too! Click here! There is always a need for knowledgeable articles on Medicine titles! Everyone can write to the same titles, giving their own perspective to the title through their article.
I am also the webmaster and sole contributor of Maeflowers. I have a more in depth look at HIV/AIDS on my website and at HealthMad. I also have a full article on cannabis legislation titled Looking Beyond the Haze.
You can write for Helium too! Click here! There is always a need for knowledgeable articles on Medicine titles! Everyone can write to the same titles, giving their own perspective to the title through their article.
I am also the webmaster and sole contributor of Maeflowers. I have a more in depth look at HIV/AIDS on my website and at HealthMad. I also have a full article on cannabis legislation titled Looking Beyond the Haze.
The history of medicine
- The history of the body temperature thermometer
- The first development on the road to thermometers was Galileos invention consisting of a series of glass spheres filled with varying densities of a..., Alicia M Prater PhD
- Facts about the thalidomide tragedy
- Thalidomide was first marketed as a sedative in Europe in the 1950s, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The German pharmaceu..., Alicia M Prater PhD
Heart Disease
- What are fibric acid derivatives (fibrates)?
- Fibric acid derivatives, or fibrates, are drugs prescribed to prevent heart disease. The drugs lower Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) levels by ..., Alicia M Prater PhD
- Causes of hypertension
- Hypertension is defined as a sustained increased in arterial pressure, in other words, high blood pressure. The current guidelines place anyone wit..., Alicia M Prater PhD
- Arteriosclerosis: Symptoms and treatment
- The most well known form of arteriosclerosis is atherosclerosis, but the disease actually occurs in three forms: atherosclerosis, Monckeberg medial..., Alicia M Prater PhD
- Diseases of the heart
- Opening any pathology textbook to the Heart chapter provides a long list of things that can go wrong with this essential organ. There are congenita..., Alicia M Prater PhD
- The dangers of high cholesterol
- High cholesterol is a worry to doctors and patients because the most common form of heart disease, coronary artery disease, is often caused by chol..., Alicia M Prater PhD
Are vaccinations still necessary?
The simple answer is yes.To assess whether vaccinations are necessary, it is important to understand their purpose. Vaccinations are a tool of prevention against disease. They were developed as a means to prevent epidemics and outbreaks that could sicken, maim, or kill hundreds to thousands of individuals at a time. After decades of struggling with vaccination programs, many of these diseases have been nearly or completely eradicated in the United States (smallpox, polio, pertussis, diphtheria, measles). Read more about the reasons to vaccinate.
But if we don't keep up the vaccinations, the diseases will return...bring death with them. Read more at Questioning the necessity of vaccinations in the U.S.
Other medical information
- Nuclear medicine
- Nuclear medicine is a branch of medicine based on the nuclear properties of matter. The procedures involved in diagnosis, such ...
- A gastric system can heal
- The gastric system is also called the gastrointestinal tract. The whole tract consists of the route food takes into your body, ...
- Understanding the Bombay blood group
- The Bombay blood group is a rare exception to the commonly accepted ABO blood types. It is observed to occur in 1 out of every ... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- The body's regulation of blood sugar and glucose
- Glucose is a sugar and the main energy source used by the body. Carbohydrates we eat are broken down, converted to glucose, and... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- What it means to be color blind
- Color blindness is an inability to distinguish between colors. It is a sex-linked recessive genetic disorder, meaning that men ... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- Cells involved in human immunity
- Human immunity to disease and infection is both an active and reactive process. Immune cells and their products protect the bod... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- Anti-depressants: Are they always necessary
- Anti-depressants are not always necessary, either because they will not help the underlying issue or because medication is not the best choice in a..., Alicia M Prater PhD
- Types of lung disease
- The lungs are the largest organ of the respiratory system, making up the majority of the lower respiratory system, the portion of the system locate..., Alicia M Prater PhD
- Vancomycin-resistant MRSA described
- Since penicillin was identified in 1941 and gained consistent use as an antibiotic, resistance to treatment began to appear. Bacteria acquire DNA s..., Alicia M Prater PhD
- Double antibiotic-resistant bacteria explained
- There are a number of pathogens resistant to traditional treatment, including drug-resistant influenza, treatment resistant tuberculosis, and antib..., Alicia M Prater PhD
- Vaccine risk factors
- All medical interventions have a potential for side effects...
Stem Cells
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Stem Cell Research
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Stem cells are an area of scientific research that has been rife with controversy, yet they hold so much potential for future treatments and cures of diseases that currently lack options. The main issue with this field are embryonic stem cells, such...
Influenza
- Breaking the Asian bird flu cycle
- Asian bird flu, also called avian flu or just bird flu, is caused by a virus that normally only infects birds (and in rare case...
- Bird flu from the beginning: where it came from
- Bird flu, also called avian flu or Asian bird flu, is caused by a virus that normally only infects birds (and in rare cases pig...
- Flu treatments
- The flu is a viral respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus, which occurs in several types and strains. Symptoms vary ... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- Symptoms and treatment of flu
- The flu is a common term encompassing three different kinds of infections, but is actually only a viral respiratory disease. Th... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- Bird flu from person to person
- Bird flu, also called avian flu or Asian bird flu, is caused by an influenza virus that normally only infects birds, though in rare cases also pigs..., Alicia M Prater PhD
- Drug resistant influenza explained
- The flu is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. Several strains of the virus are known that fall into one of three types: A, B, or ..., Alicia M Prater PhD
- Should pharmaceutical companies be required to give up patents necessary to developing a vaccine against pandemic flu?
- The needs of the public health should usurp profit motivation. Pharmaceutical companies are allowed to make money off of medical advances as a way ..., Alicia M Prater PhD
For my articles about HIV/AIDS
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Articles on HIV/AIDS
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There's a long road ahead in the battle against HIV infection and it's final stage - AIDS. I have taught graduate level courses on HIV infection and its disease, and I have written a number of articles on the topic, including HIV genetics, H...
Women's Health
- Lybrel (the no period birth control pill): Is it safe?
- Safe is a relative term. The pill is safe in what way? If meaning relative to other birth control pills, it is just as safe physically. However, th...
- Facts about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
- The HPV vaccine has been linked to seizures, paralysis, and deaths. The truth of the matter is that the vaccine only benefits 1... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical cancer
- The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted virus associated with the development of cervical cancers and genital warts. There are man..., Alicia M Prater PhD
- Should a parent have a child vaccinated against cervical cancer
- I do not think that a child should be vaccinated against human papilloma virus. Mollie Mcdoodles Mom had a great article in thi... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- The facts about Gardasil (human papillomavirus vaccine)
- On June 8, 2006 the FDA approved Gardasil, made by Merck and Co., as a vaccine for women aged 9-26 years to protect against cervical abnormalities ..., Alicia M Prater PhD
- Cervical cancer symptoms
- Cervical cancer is a female-only cancer as it is the development of neoplastic, or cancerous, changes in the cells of the cervix. Approximately 11,..., Alicia M Prater PhD
- How can your doctor find out if you have PMDD?
- There are women who suffer from mental illness, a psychiatric disorder, in conjunction with their monthly hormone cycle. It is estimated to affect ..., Alicia M Prater PhD
Recommended reading
Betrayal of Trust: The Collapse of Global Public Health
Provocative look at many aspects of public health with historical and global perspectives of several diseases.
Amazon Price: $18.95 (as of 12/23/2009) 
DMT: The Spirit Molecule: A Doctor's Revolutionary Research into the Biology of Near-Death and Mystical Experiences
An insider's look at barriers in research and the web of drug legislation.
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 12/23/2009)
Selling Sickness: How the World's Biggest Pharmaceutical Companies Are Turning Us All Into Patients
Amazon Price: $12.44 (as of 12/23/2009)
Health Commentary
- Aging is not a medical condition
- A medical condition is something that is abnormal to the day to day functioning of our bodies. Aging on the other hand is a nat... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- Living with Alzheimers
- My grandmother suffered from the effects of Alzheimers years before we realized anything was wrong. She had been getting forget... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- Useful bacteria for humans
- There are many bacteria that are beneficial, and sometimes even necessary, to human life. These useful bacteria are often overl... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- Health problems and aging
- Health problems become more common as a person ages. An older population is more likely to require prescription medication, hos...
- Will discovery of fat gene help prevent obesity
- There is no one single gene that causes obesity. Weight gain is the byproduct of multiple systems acting to increase hunger, re... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- Questioning the possibility of cellular memory
- Cellular memory is a speculative theory on the transference of properties from a donor to a recipient upon transplant. Much of ... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- Should human genes be patented
- The sequencing of the human genome, combined with research studies isolating the sequences of gene variants, has opened the doo... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- The myth of the turkey nap exposed
- The tryptophan in turkey is often thought to cause post-holiday drowsiness. This is not true, though the meal does have something to do with it.T..., Alicia M Prater PhD
- Treating Depression with St. Johns Wort: Clinical Studies Support Hypericum Extract Regulation and Use
- The extract of Hypericum plants has been used for centuries in alternative medicine, but how trustworthy are anecdotes for treating depression?
- Is Iridology a real science?
- Iridology is considered an alternative medicine in that it is not an accepted practice. Iridology is the diagnosis of disease based on the appearan..., Alicia M Prater PhD
Canker Sores
For information on mouth ulcers and canker sores, to be differentiated from fever blisters.-
Canker Sores
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Canker sores can be a painful experience, and is more common than one might think. Ranging from small lesions to large painful welting there are remedies that can help ease the pain, speed healing, and prevent recurrence. Here are some articles abou...
Featured Lenses
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Basic Human Biology
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The human body is an interesting and complex assortment of tissues and organs, all working towards maintaining life. I have written many articles on a number of human body systems, focusing on anatomy and physiology, in order to share an understandin...
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The Renin Angiotensin System
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The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a physiological system involved in blood pressure control, cardiac cell growth, and ion regulation, among others. My dissertation research was on a particular genetic component of this system, and I continue to w...
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Politics and Society - Writing for Helium
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Helium.com is a site that allows everyone to give their opinions, their experience, and their knowledge. They have great traffic and tons of topics. Each member receives stars not only on how much they write but how well the writing is rated by other...
Debate topics
Sometimes I feel strongly about a side of the argument and other times I play Devil's Advocate. Either way a lively debate can raise awareness and present new opportunities for finding compromise and solutions.
- Does Medicares crackdown on doctors profits help or hurt patients?
- A crackdown on doctors profits will help patients in the long-run by forcing the medical industry to reevaluate their practices... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- Is science too quick to condemn everyday products, without first trying to find benefits for using them?
- If anything science is not quick enough to note the negative effects of common products. Vioxx, aspirin, acetaminophen, tobacco... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- Should you vaccinate your teen daughter for HPV/cervical cancer with Gardasil?
- In general, vaccinations maintain public health by keeping disease at bay. There a number of childhood vaccines that, barring pediatric immunity di..., Alicia M Prater PhD
- Does falsification provide the most accurate model of understanding for the progress of scientific knowledge?
- Falsification provides a more accurate model of understanding by giving a structure to the progress of scientific knowledge. If... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- Should doctors be allowed to continue performing cosmetic operations on intersex infants?
- Even though I had a gut wrenching response of no when first reading this question, I understand that there are some instances w... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- Health care is increasingly expensive in the United States, is it time to adopt European style universal health care?
- There should be a more compassionate system of health care in the United States than what currently exists. Universal health ca... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- Should Congress expand existing government health programs to help the uninsured?
- The health care crisis is not only due to a large number of uninsured but also the underinsured. This has come about due to ine... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- Would you be willing to take advantage of genetic screening/engineering to overcome sterility and guarantee a child free of genetic diseases?
- This is both a subjective personal issue as well as an ethical issue. The personal part of it relates to dealing with sterility... by Alicia M Prater PhD
- Should National Institutes of Health scientists be allowed to consult for private drug manufacturers?
- The National Institutes of Health is a federally funded institution in the United States employing many scientists at their off... by Alicia M Prater PhD
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- rose08 rose08 Oct 16, 2008 @ 6:00 am
- you really know a lot about the world:) health and medicine topic are always popular. your writing on helium sounds complete and interesting. thanks for sharing your knowledge and the great information with great resources in this great lens. Helium is on the important element of the protein. we touch its various existences in our daily life.
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Hello! My name is Alicia. I have a PhD in Experimental Pathology, and am a freelance writer and editor specializing in scientific manuscripts and publ...
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