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Why is hypoxia pro-inflammatory?

Posing “why” questions is a classic approach in evolutionary medicine. I have been interested in why oxygen regulates the immune system since medical school when I learned about diving and hyperbaric medicine and high altitude medicine. For both, oxygen treatment plays a key role. High altitude illnesses share many of […]

Sickness behavior and permissive underfeeding

Sickness behaviors are a coordinated suite of behavioral changes that accompany illness. These evolved behaviors include lethargy, decreased sociality, reduced eating, disinterest in sex, and increased sleep. Many of these are evolutionarily conserved, seen across the tree of life. For instance lethargy, social withdrawal, and eating less are seen in […]