The Montly Check-UP

Botox For Headaches 

Skyler Dunphy 

There have been some recent studies to prove that Botox may be able to treat migraines. Evidence has shown that botulinum toxin (Botox) interrupts the pathway of pain transmission between the brain and nerves that extend from the spinal cord. When a migraine happens, your body releases neurotransmitters and molecules that are associated with pain. Scientists hypothesize that botulinum toxin (Botox) when injected into the muscles around the face, head, and neck, is taken up by the nerves and interferes with the pain neurotransmitters. According to Dr. Mikhail Varshavskin (Dr. Mike), an American YouTube doctor, Botox was found to treat migraines accidentally. Then in the year 2010, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved Botox as a preventive treatment for migraines. If you are experiencing migraines or headaches, talk to your doctor about possibly taking botulinum toxin (Botox) as a preventative treatment.  

 

Sources  

  • ·   “Chronic Migraine Treatment | BOTOX® Chronic Migraine.” Www.botoxchronicmigraine.com, www.botoxchronicmigraine.com/. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024. 

  • ·   Doctor Mike. “Surprising Body Parts Where Botox Can Be Used.” YouTube, 12 May 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYSiMs-f-Cg. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024. 

  • ·   Reddy, Sashank. “Botulinum Toxin Injectables for Migraines.” Www.hopkinsmedicine.org, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/botulinum-toxin-injectables-for-migraines. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024. 



Alcohol and Cancer

Skyler Dunphy

When you think of alcohol, you most likely don’t think about cancer. This is because alcohol and cancer are not seen as having any relation to each other. That is until now. According to the STAT “On Friday, Murthy recommended an update to a decades-old surgeon general warning printed on all alcohol containers in the United States. He proposed that the labels have a more eye-catching look and warn users that drinking increases cancer risks.” Murthy has stated that consuming alcohol will increase your risk of many types of cancer, but women's breast cancer is the biggest one. As most high school students have never had alcohol and have never bought a bottle of alcohol, they most likely wouldn't know that on the label of a bottle of wine, beer, etc, there is a warning label. However, this warning label only states the dangers of drinking while pregnant. Murthy would like to see these warning labels also have a warning of cancer. While it has not fully been proven that alcoholic drinks can cause cancer, there have been studies done by Murthy to show that it does bring up the likelihood of you getting cancer.

Sources 

  • Cueto, Isabella. “The Surgeon General Wants the U.S. To Know that Alcohol Causes Cancer. Plenty Stands in His Way.” STAT, 4 Jan. 2025, www.statnews.com/2025/01/04/alcohol-cancer-risks-surgeon-general-hurdles/. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.

  

Editorials

What is Atomic Power?

By Skyler Dunphy

Edited By Chat GPT

Atomic power, or nuclear power, is generated by splitting uranium atoms in a process called nuclear fission. This reaction releases substantial heat, which produces steam that drives turbines, generating electricity. However, this process produces nuclear waste. The World Nuclear Association notes that while the radioactivity of high-level waste (HLW) decreases over time, reaching levels similar to the originally mined ore within 1,000 to 10,000 years, some industrial wastes, such as heavy metals like cadmium and mercury, remain hazardous indefinitely.  This long-term hazard of nuclear waste necessitates careful management and storage solutions.

Another concern is the potential for nuclear meltdowns. Such events can release harmful radiation into the environment, affecting both wildlife and human populations over extensive areas. Historically, there have been three major nuclear meltdowns: Chernobyl in Ukraine, Fukushima Daiichi in Japan, and Three Mile Island in the United States. Despite these risks, nuclear power remains a significant energy source globally. As of 2023, approximately 440 commercial nuclear reactors are operating in about 30 countries, contributing roughly 9% of the world’s electricity.  Notably, France generates about 65% of its electricity from nuclear energy, while the United States produces nearly 20% of its electricity from nuclear sources. 

The future of nuclear power varies by region. Some countries continue to invest in nuclear technology, viewing it as a low-carbon energy source essential for meeting climate goals. Conversely, others are reducing their reliance on nuclear energy, focusing instead on renewable resources due to concerns about safety, waste management, and economic factors.

 

Sources:

Martucci, Brian. “Nuclear Sector’s Views on Second Trump Administration Mixed as Rogan Interview Raises Questions.” Utility Dive, 8 Nov. 2024, www.utilitydive.com/news/nuclear-energy-sector-mixed-views-second-trump-administration-joe-rogan/732407/. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

 

Nuclear Energy Institute. “Top 15 Nuclear Generating Countries.” Nuclear Energy Institute, June 2021, www.nei.org/resources/statistics/top-15-nuclear-generating-countries. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

“Nuclear Energy, Reactor and Radiation Facts.” Nuclear Energy, Reactor and Radiation Facts, 31 May 2019, www.fairewinds.org/what-is-a-meltdown. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

 

Office of Nuclear Energy. “NUCLEAR 101: How Does a Nuclear Reactor Work?” Energy.gov, Office of Nuclear Energy, 2 Aug. 2023, www.energy.gov/ne/articles/nuclear-101-how-does-nuclear-reactor-work. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

 

PowerfulJRE. “Joe Rogan Experience #2219 - Donald Trump.” YouTube, 25 Oct. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBMoPUAeLnY. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

 

World Nuclear Association. “Radioactive Waste – Myths and Realities - World Nuclear Association.” World-Nuclear.org, 12 Aug. 2024, world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-waste/radioactive-wastes-myths-and-realities. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

 

“Safety of Nuclear Power Reactors.” World-Nuclear.org, 2 Mar. 2022, world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/safety-of-nuclear-power-reactors. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

 

 

 



The History of Notre Dame

By: Kayla Bergen 1-1-25

The Cathedral of Notre Dame, also referred to as “Our Lady of Paris”, is located in Paris, France. For centuries now it has been a popular spot for tourists. Some tourists are of faith, while others are atheists. Why?

In 116,3, the construction of Notre Dame began out of the rubble of two previously destroyed churches. It wasn’t until 1250 that the Cathedral was completed. Since then, the church has changed drastically. From the point of being conceived, to the modern day, many renovations are continually being made to care for this Sacred structure. The Cathedral of Notre Dame has had anything but an easy life, though. Following the French Revolution in 1799, Napoleon saved the Cathedral from the decision of being torn down. After that, Notre Dame underwent many years of construction to repair the damage inflicted by the French Revolution. Yet, more trials for Notre Dame followed. In 2019, during a period of construction, a fire broke out in the attic, destroying most of the roof and biting away at other parts of this massive building, as well as destroying the center spire. It was immediately promised by the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, that the affected parts of the building would be rebuilt. And that is just what happened. This period of construction lasted for five long years. Now, we can finally say that Notre Dame has opened back up again on December 8, 2024.

The Cathedral of Notre Dame has many spiritual aspects to it. One of which is, the many spirals of the Cathedral are designed to attract your eyes up to Heaven. The detailed sculptures covering the building are there to represent the battle between good and evil. The building also symbolizes hope and unity for people of any religious background or none at all. One of its bells, called the EmEmmanuelell, is there to chime for important events, whether it’s daily mass or the end of a war. With those chimes, it has become an accepted part of daily living for everyone and as well as a symbol of Hope.

Notre Dame has been a widely accepted and trusted place for many centuries. Resting in the heart of Paris, it is a common place for gatherings, whether of faith or more public events. In 1239, the Cathedral acquired an even deeper level of trust when King Louis IX placed the Crown of Thorns in the care of the Cathedral. The very Crown of Thorns is believed to have been worn by Jesus Christ leading up to his crucifixion. This boosted the popularity of the already very famous Cathedral. This addition also caused Notre Dame to become an even greater attraction for people with special devotion to Mary, bringing out the fact that Notre Dame is dedicated to the Virgin Mother. This, however, was not the final resting place for The Crown of Thorns. 

In 1793, during the French Revolution, the Cathedral of Notre Dame found itself being attacked. Statues of the Apostles on the outside were mistaken for kings and decapitated; inside, artifacts were destroyed or stolen. The Crown of Thorns was safely transported to the national library until this period of destruction was over. After that, it moved back to Notre Dame. In 2019, due to the fire, the Crown of Thorns was transported again, this time, to the Louvre Museum, also located in Paris. There it stayed until Notre Dame opened again, this December.

Despite all of the reconstruction done to Notre Dame throughout the ages, this structure still holds the same beauty it did in 1250, if not more. The perils that Notre Dame has faced prove to us that God is with us.

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Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2024, December 7). Gothic architecture. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/art/Gothic-architecture 

Notre Dame Cathedral: History, fire, and restoration. World History. (2024, December 5). https://worldhistoryjournal.com/2024/12/07/notre-dame-cathedral-history-fire-and-restoration/