Author Archives: Olivia Diane Talbot

Whiskey Hangover

As many of us know, hangovers suck. They leave us laying in bed with a pounding headache, sensitivity to light and sometimes even make us throw up. Many people know what is going to make them hungover, but they still continue to drink it anyway

A study done by Damaris Rohsenow, published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research says that whiskey is more likely to give you a hangover than vodka. The study was conducted by monitoring “healthy heavy drinkers” ages 21 to 23 while they drink. Whiskey has a higher congener content than vodka because of the way it is made. It is made in oak barrels which takes out different molecules. They were monitored for two nights but were given one night to get acclimated to the whiskey and vodka.  On both nights after the acclimatization night, the drinkers had to build a BAC level of 0.11 (thats about 7 drinks for a 200 lb person). They drank whiskey or vodka on one night, then consumed a matched placebo the next. The study found that whiskey gave the drinkers a worse hangover. Studies also found that the reason for the terrible hangover is because of the level of congeners (37 times more than vodka) within the whiskey.

Although this study gave useful information I believe it could of been conducted better. I think the study could of been larger and also could of contained more alcoholic beverage options. Also, there could be a third variable within the trial causing a worse hangover for the people who drank the whiskey. The third variable could range anywhere from what they ate that day to even a certain prescribed medicine they are taking. It is understandable that whiskey makes a person more hungover due to the congener level, but I think a third variable really comes into play when monitoring a whiskey hangover.  Next time you’re out with your friends or frolicking on frat row, monitor what you drink and see how you feel the next day (if you’re 21 of course).

Unknown

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/in-search-of-a-cure-for-the-dreaded-hangover/

Vyvanse

I was diagnosed with ADD the summer going into my senior year of high school. I was prescribed Vyvanse, a pill used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder. Many people are prescribed ADD medication like Vyvanse, Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta and have different feelings about them. For me personally, I try to take my medicine as little as possible. I HATE the way it makes me feel. It alters my personality to the point I feel like a zombie, it gives me headaches by the end of the day, and the worst part is…I don’t eat. My stomach growls constantly, but the thought of putting food in my mouth makes me want to vomit. Picking between doing well in school is a hard choice for me. I have been asked multiple times if I would be willing to sell my pills and for the life of me I can not figure out why anyone would want to feel this way. (Andrew, if you do read this…I have NEVER sold them (= ) The response I get is, “It helps me do better in school.” Well believe it or not, for people who do not have ADD it does absolutely nothing for you.

MTA, a government funded study showed that in the long run students who take ADD medication and do not have ADD see no differences in the classroom. 579 students with ADD were randomly placed into 3 different control groups for 14 months. In the study, children 8-9 who do not have ADD began to see ADD symptoms after taking the medication. Kids with ADD who are taking the medicine saw improvement in their schoolwork. Recently, there was an 8 year follow up on the groups and there was no difference in academic achievement for the children without ADD. The studies showed that the medication kept a student quieter and less distractive, but had no effect on their test taking or homework. This study is a retrospective study because their medical history and lifestyle were being monitored. The possibility of chance is always an option. The children without ADD could have had more distractions in their test-taking environment, which could affect their scores and academic achievements. I believe the study was done well because it was large, was conducted over a couple of years and also contained a double-blind placebo making the results more accurate and trust worthy.This being said, taking ADD medication without a prescription is pointless. In the long run, taking unprescribed ADD medication will not achieve what you are working for but could seriously get you in trouble with the law. 

bigstock_Medication_110567

http://www.drugs.com/vyvanse.html

http://online.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323368704578593660384362292

Past Lives

When I was 14 I was obsessed with a show called “Past Lives” on Fox Television. I had my alarm set for every Tuesday at 9 because it interested me so much. It fully convinced me that the life we are living right now is not the only life we have experienced. For the past 4 years I have always wondered if it was just an extremely believable TV show, or if it was the real deal. The definition of reincarnation is “ the religious or philosophical concept that the soul or spirit, after biological death, can begin a new life in a new body.” Many religions reject the belief of reincarnation, especially Christianity where reincarnation is not stated in the bible. Looking past religious beliefs, there is clear evidence that reincarnation is credible. Consider “old souls”. An old soul is someone who is “wise beyond their years” and often finds interest in different generations…to them, it just comes naturally. Consider phobias. Have you ever gotten an extensive answer as to why spiders scare you so much?

            Medical Doctor, Ian Stevenson performs extensive research on children in order to piece together their past live stories. A particular study that caught my eye was one done on Rashid Khaddege of Lebanon. Rashid was born in 1943 and at the age of 25 (1968), he was killed in a car accident where his friend Ibrahim was driving. About a year later, a boy named Daniel Jurdi was born. Daniels first word was “Ibrahim.” When Daniel was about two years old he started explain to his mother that where they were living was not his home. He begged his parents to let him go “home”, and later explained that they were not his parents and that his father, Naim, was dead. Naim was Rashids father. Also when Daniel was two, a family member tried to pronounce the name of the Kfarmatta. Daniel then corrected his relative on the pronunciation and explained he was correct because that’s where he was from. Another instance is from when Daniel and his mother were driving. When passing a place on the coast named Military Beach, Daniel began to cry and screamed, “This is where I died.” It is said that Daniel went into extensive detail about the accident. Daniels father began to do research on deaths in Kfarmatta and there was a perfect fit for what Daniel had been describing, which was the death of Rashid Khaddege. Doctor Stevenson interviewed both families. Before the interview, Daniel asked if bananas could be served because that is what his “mom” loved. Daniel recognized all of the people present at the interview. Daniel has always had a fear of fast cars, which can be explained through his death in the previous life.

            This could be completely due to chance, but in my opinion there is WAY too much evidence and chance is not a factor (again, I am a believer this is 100% real.) I believe this is a good study and the timeline of these events is essential. The belief that Daniel had a previous life was not concluded after the first incident, it was concluded after years of research and other situations making it more believable due to time and events. Ian Stevenson has hundreds of other cases concluding past lives are legit. I am a firm believe that past lives are real, and phobias are related to an event that occurred in a different life.images

 

http://www.datehookup.com/content-reincarnation-facts-and-resources.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reincarnation

http://www.virginia.edu/insideuva/2001/03/stevenson.html

Fireball Recall

Fireball Whiskey has always been a frat row favorite, especially for those who are willing to throw a little more for something other than “Vlad”. It is a popular beverage of choice and is usually mixed with apple cider (or if you’re a college kid then a coke from the vending machine is fine too). We as the consumer know what we are mixing our beverage with, but do we really know what is inside the beverage itself?

On October 28, 2014 Fireball Whiskey was recalled in 3 different European countries for containing high levels of propylene glycol. Propylene glycol is a chemical commonly used in antifreeze in high levels. Propylene Glycol is not only used in antifreeze, it is also used in some foods, sweeteners and other alcoholic beverages. Surprisingly, there are two recipes for Fireball Whiskey. One recipe is for the Canada and the United States, and the other is for Europe. The European recipe contains smaller amounts of Propylene, if any at all. The United States and Canadian version of Fireball was sent to European manufacturers and recalled instantly.

A study done by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that the chemical can be consumed “over long periods of time and in substantial quantities without causing frank toxic effects.” Recently it has been released that the European Fireball Whiskey contains 1/8 of the amount the FDA allows for consumption of Propylene Glycol. The recipes in the United States and in Canada do not meet the same regulation requirements as needed in Europe. The recall on Fireball Whiskey is a retrospective study because they have looked back on the previous records of fireball and the ingredients. After plenty of research (and I’m sure taste tests), Fireball is deemed safe to consume in all countries. Fireball Whiskey is now back on the shelves in Europe, and is still continuing to be “downed” here.

As bad as it sounds, I do not believe people would stop drinking fireball even if it did contain high levels of a dangerous chemical. Propylene Glycol is in many of our foods and drinks. Studies show we consume Propylene Glycol almost every day. As long as the chemical is not affecting us in a negative way, I think Fireball should stay on the market and continue to be a Frat Row favorite.tumblr_mi47ksP6mk1s2ikrwo1_500

http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-fireball-recalled-european-countries-antifreeze-20141029-story.html

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/10/28/frathouse-favorite-fireball-whiskey-recalled-in-europe.html

Within the past year I have started to get involved with weight lifting. I feel stronger and look like I have toned up in my target areas. I’ve never been one to take dietary supplements or do fads but ever since I joined my gym and learned about lifting there is new fads and weight loss supplements everywhere. Starting with “pre-workout”. Almost all gym rats take pre-workout. It is meant to help you focus, perform better and decrease muscle breakdown resulting in less muscle pain the next day. Pre-workout supplements do a lot more than I just listed, but a BIG reason people take pre-workouts is because it helps burn calories resulting in rapid weight loss. I have taken a pre-workout only once in my “gym” career. I did not continue with this because I did not like the way it made me feel, and there was a lot of things in it that I did not know what they were. Pre-workout supplements are filled with caffeine and extra additives to assist in performance and burn calories even after a workout, but this leads me to ask…Why not just drink coffee?Unknown

We all know coffee helps us start our day because of that caffeine kick it gives us. Is that not the same thing pre-workout does? Black coffee accelerates weight loss, increases performance, improves focus, decreases muscle pains, AND prevents disease. The International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism says that if a person drinks coffee about an hour before a workout, they can burn about 15% more calories when a workout is completed.

A study done in Spain recorded that drinking coffee before a workout can burn that 15% of extra calories for up to 75 minutes following the training. The researchers studied a group of 12 males and females whose average workout lasts about an hour a day, 4-7 times a week. The males and females were given a placebo, or a dose of caffeine. They dosages were given in 0.5, 1.5, 3.0 or 4.5 milligrams per kilogram of the participant’s body weight about an hour before their workout began. After the workout, the participants worked out for an hour, then were given a rest period of 3 hours. Their respiration, heart rate and blood pressure were all monitored. The information showed that at 4.5 milligrams per kilogram of weight of caffeine (about 12 oz. of coffee), boosted metabolism

I believe this study was well conducted, but the results could still be left to chance. Also, if I were to change this study I would make it slightly larger with a variety of people ranging from differences in race to height. If you are a “pre-workout taker” I encourage you to substitute your supplement with a 12 oz. cup of coffee an hour before your workout and see the differences.

http://www.mensfitness.com/nutrition/what-to-drink/crush-your-workouts-coffee/slide/4

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/caffeine-pre-workout

http://total-weight-training.com/pre-workout-supplements/

VetiGel

Today I was scrolling through Facebook, you know those little videos that always pop up? One caught my eye about a new invention to stop excessive bleeding.
I thought “okay, kind of interesting…hopefully this isn’t gross”. It wasn’t. It was so interesting to learn about this brand new product called VetiGel, which was invented to control bleeding. The title of the video I watched was “The Bandaid of the Future”, which caught my eye immediately. I chose this topic because it is clearly science related and I have never heard anything like it. I was very skeptical about VetiGel until I did more research on it.VetiGel is a fast acting, bioresorbable gel used to stop bleeding in seconds. The product is designed for veterinarians to bleeding, internally and externally. It is made to stop minor or severe wounds in an animal without manual pressure. When VetiGel is applied to a wound, it speeds up the body’s production of fibrin, which is what clots our blood. There has been numerous tests done on VetiGel and most of them have come to the conclusion that this gel forms a strong clot within seconds of application.

Healthline, a website that provides trusted health information, wrote an article on Joe Landolina, the man with the brains behind VetiGel. The study shows that with VetiGel, he was able to stop the bleeding of a mouse’s sliced liver within seconds. There was a video posted to YouTube with proof. VetiGel was the compared to other “blood stopping competition” products and was sought out to be the best once passed by the FDA. When compared to The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s injectable foam, it finished second for external wounds. The biggest advantage to VetiGel is that it has no preparation. Today, the US Military uses a product called QuickClot. QuickClot is a piece of gauze that is soaked in kaolin, a drying agent. QuickClot is effective, but it has its disadvantages. It takes about 5 minutes to prepare, and when it comes to a life or death situation…5 minutes is just too much. VetiGel has been approved for animals, but not yet humans.

VetiGel is causality. It has a direct causal relationship with the blood that is being released. Once VetiGel is applied, it instantly stops the bleeding which could save the life of an animal, or even a human. In all honesty, I could not find many studies done on VetiGel just yet. If more studies are released, I hope they will have large sample sizes and will be compared to the other methods of blood stopping. I do believe VetiGel is the new and upcoming bandaid of the future, but I also believe it needs to be perfected before being released to the public. I am also skeptical about why this was tested on animals. If it was passed for animals, why hasn’t it been passed for humans?

Vetigel-Stops-Bleeding-In-Seconds-2

http://www.healthline.com/health-news/tech-nyu-student-invents-clotting-veti-gel-031513#1

http://www.suneris.co/vetigel/

Cardiovascular Caffeine

This post is for all you coffee drinkers. We consume excess amounts of caffeine in order to wake up and even to stay awake at some times. For those of you who drink coffee every morning and have for a long time…have you found yourself needing more coffee in order to get the same effect? Your body is becoming so acquainted with the caffeine in your coffee that it doesn’t effect you anymore (thought that was kind of cool). The more coffee a person drinks, the less the caffeine will effect their heartbeat. Caffeine is the main ingredient in our beloved coffee, which some people consider a necessity in order to start their day. When we drink caffeine it  goes straight to our stomachs, then right into our blood stream. After the blood steam the caffeine then makes its way to our small intestines, which then begin’s to stimulate our central nervous system. The caffeine works with the receptors found within cells which in the end boosts our heart rate. A study found in Psychosomatic Medicine, says that four cups of coffee can raise your blood pressure for an exorbitant number of hours. 85% of adults in the United States consume a caffeinated drinks in the morning and the average number of cups of coffee per person is 3.3. 

coffee_heart_300x300_flickr_Br3nda_1

In order to figure out how caffeine effects the heart a study was done. The experiment was conducted with 47 people. 24 people in the experiment were given caffeine capsules (which equalled four cups of coffee), and the other 23 people were given placebo pills. Each groups heart rate, blood pressure and stress level were measured at the same time. The groups switched the next day. What the researchers found was that the heart rate of those who took the caffeine capsules was significantly higher on the days they took the caffeine capsules. Also, the people who took the caffeine capsules had higher stress levels. When the caffeine capsules were taken, their stress level rose about 32% from their normal days. This is just one study done on the effects of caffeine. So this leads me to say..We all drink coffee to help us out (especially in the morning), but is it hurting us more than helping?

Unknown

 

http://www.livestrong.com/article/125699-effect-caffeine-heart-rate/

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20020801/is-caffeine-bad-for-your-heart

Chemo

Most of us know someone who’s life was taken by cancer and it sucks, and Chemo always seems to be the best, most used, remedy. The point of chemo is to kill and prevent cancerous cells. The treatment is so powerful that it destroys the cancerous cells. Way back when, the Egyptians used plants and animals to cure diseases like cancer (i don’t think they knew it was cancer though). Chemotherapy is composed of about 5 different drugs; Alkylating drugs, Antimetabolites, Antitumor antibiotics, Topoisomerase Inhibitors, and Mitotic Inhibitors. Alkylating drugs kill cancer cells by attacking the DNA in the patient. Antimetabolites interfere with the production of DNA which prevents the cells from growing and multiplying. Antitumor antibiotics interfere with the important cell functions which produce the DNA and the cell proteins. Topoisomerase Inhibitors inhibit the intracellular enzymes which cause the cancerous cells to die. Mitotic Inhibitors prevents cell division which also causes the cells to die. From doing research on chemotherapy…I learned there were different types which I thought was kind of cool. Neo-Adjuvant Chemotherapy reduces the size of tumors before a surgery or before radiation. Adjuvant Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells that could still be there after the surgery or radiation. Chemotherapy can also kill the recurrent cancer cells. Recurrent cancer cells is what people suffer from when their cancer comes back…They can spread to other parts of the body as well.

Chemo can also be given in many different forms. It can be taken through a pill, an injection, and IV, put into your arteries, Intralesional, Intraperitoneal, Intrathecal or applied directly onto the skin. Intralesional is when the chemo is put directly into the tumor. Intraperitoneal when the chemo is placed into a part of the patients abdomen. Intrathecal is put directly into the spinal fluids. Most of these are done with a giant needle. The type of treatment used to cure the cancer is based on the type of cancer the patient is suffering from, the other types of treatments they’ve received, and also based on their history of health problems. Cancer is terrible and I would never wish it upon my worst enemy…(not that I have enemies, its just the worst thing in the world).

images images-1

 

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/treatmenttypes/chemotherapy/chemotherapyprinciplesanin-depthdiscussionofthetechniquesanditsroleintreatment/chemotherapy-principles-types-of-chemo-drugs

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/treatmenttypes/chemotherapy/chemotherapy-landing

Wheres the Chapstick?

Check in anyones backpack, purse, or pocket… you are bound to find the nations most popular purse item, also a “necessity”…AKA Chapstick. Applying Chapstick, lip balm, or lip gloss can easily be a part of a persons daily routine but is that necessarily a good thing? The more Chapstick you apply to your lips, the more you’re going to want to put it on. Although Chapstick does not contain the addictive chemical found in cigarettes, nicotine, it can be very addictive. Some people even call it their “drug of choice”. Studies have show that once you put chapstick on your lips, you immediately feel better because it is soothing. Putting chapstick can be relaxing to some people and it makes us feel better even when it comes to the look of it. There are some cons behind wearing Chapstick… especially too much of it. Too much of something is never a good thing, and in this case it is the moisture applied to our lips when we apply Chapstick. The application of Chapstick can interfere with our bodies ability to make its own moisture for our lips and in the end cause a lot more dryness than expected. My best advice to you is…Only apply when needed, and don’t make it such a habit that it becomes an addiction. The oils in lip balm, chap stick, or lip gloss can clog the pores around our lips and cause sores, rashes or pimples. I went through a phase where I was addicted to a certain type of lip balm I got at a surf shop… For about a month i applied it almost every hour throughout the school day.. By the end of the month my lips were super sensitive and they craved the oily feeling of that balm. I stopped using it and switched to vaseline. If you have an addicted to Chapstick of balm that you’re trying to break for the sensitivity of your lips, try vaseline, it is naturally better for you because it does not contain the perfumes or other additives. images Unknown

 

http://greatist.com/health/chapstick-addictive

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/can-you-actually-become-addicted-to-chapstick#3hzjk9e

http://beautyhigh.com/can-we-be-addicted-our-chapstick-dr-zeichner-explains/

Is Bodybuilding a Disorder?

Our society loves the idea of being thin, and obsesses over the idea of being physically fit… but there comes a point when enough is enough because your health, and well being, is at risk. Anorexia Nervosa is a complex eating disorder where the person has an intense fear of gaining weight and becomes obsessed with being thin.  Muscle Dysmorphia is a disorder where a person becomes obsessed with being muscular and alter their eating habits in order to gain more muscle mass…Typically seen in professional bodybuilders. So this leads me to the question… Is body building a disorder?  Bodybuilding can be classified as reverse anorexia (aka muscle dysmorphia) because they are obsessed with their look and diet and exercise begin to control their lives. People who suffer from anorexia believe they are too big, while bodybuilders believe they are too small… both of which affect their perception of their body image. A study done at Vanderbilt says that 8% of bodybuilders insisted they were smaller than they really are. Research done by Pasman and Thompson found that people obligated to weightlifting demonstrate more eating disturbance than eating controls and while they are trying to find their perfect physique, they reach unparalleled extremes in changing their eating habits to maximize workouts for greater muscle mass and definition. They eat massive amounts of meats and consume enormous amounts of protein, they eat healthy fats in order to get rid of the bad ones and drink a lot of water.

Female BodyBuilders 08

These disorders engulf their minds and can alter their lives not just through physical appearance. People who suffer from anorexia also tend to suffer from depression, making them isolate themselves from friends family and/or actives. Fussell (a retired bodybuilder) stated that he gave up many aspects of his life like his job, his friends, and his family to pursue his obsession with bodybuilding. Bodybuilders are a team of one, meaning they rely only on themselves because coaches and teammates are not apart of the lifestyle. Knowing all of this, do you believe bodybuilding is a disorder?

bodybuilder_physique

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anorexia

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/eating-disorders/anorexia-nervosa.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_dysmorphia

http://www.askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding/56_fitness_tip.html

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/psychology/health_psychology/buffed.htm

Undercover Colors

As sad as it is to say, we’re growing up in a rape culture. Rape has become  more and more common and it is practically all we hear about when it comes to safety in college. As college students, we should all be aware of the high risk of rape. Girls, because were in college we are four times more likely to be raped than any other gender or age. Many girls try to avoid these situations by not going out to bars or parties but many girls also argue they do not want to miss out on the college experience. Four men the North Carolina State University decided they would help out.

 dipped

They invented a nail polish that changes color when it comes in contact with a liquid that has been contaminated by drugs. For example, Rohypnol, Xanax or Gama Hdroxybutyric Acid…AKA GHB, all of which are the most common forms of date rape drugs. The polish is meant to help prevent date rape in a discrete way and to empower women while keeping them safe. People are beginning to argue that this nail polish is feeding the rape culture and normalizing it. We’ve all had it drilled into our heads not to leave drinks unsupervised or with someone we don’t know. But is that enough? No, it is not enough because 84% of women knew their rapist. With this nail polish, you simply dip your finger in your beverage, stir it around and the results are instantly shown on your nail. The product has not been released to the public just yet, it is it still being perfected by adding different color options and making the polish 100% accurate. This product was not created to stop rape and many people are skeptical but there is no possible way that it can not decrease the number or rape victims at any University. Undercover colors is taking donations in order to get this product on the market quicker.

Undercover_Colors_Site_Widehttp://www.usciences.edu/shac/counseling/daterape.shtml

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/undercover-colors

https://www.facebook.com/undercovercolors

https://undercovercolors.cloverdonations.com/uc-donations-page/

Dreams

“I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now?”
 John Lennon

Yes, dreams are real. When you fall asleep there are several cycles your brain goes through before waking up, and one of them is where you dream.  This cycle of sleep is called the REM. sleep_cycle_REM_8_hour_graph

This is a super important part of a good night sleep. During the REM cycle the back side of your brain is most active and this is where you have most of your dreams and also remember the most. At night your brain slows down, we do not have to focus on anything and this allows us to have dreams. When you dream, your brain sorts out everything that happened throughout the day. This is why if you had a stressful, chaotic, or sad day you are most likely to have a nightmare. A person that is enrolled in a language is more likely to have dreams than a person who is not. I.e. Spanish, French, ect. Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist who studied dreams. He said that dreams are “disguised fulfillments of repressed wishes” and said that there are two different components that make up dreams: The Manifest content and the Latent content. The manifest content is what makes up the images you see in your dreams while the latent content is what the dreams mean and the psychological meaning behind the dream. Freud’s theories on dreams and how they work, states that dreams are unconscious desires.  Dreams are very important to a good night sleep, and they represent a good night sleep. If one dreams then they completed all cycles of rest.

pic78

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_Freud

http://psychology.about.com/od/statesofconsciousness/p/dream-theories.htm

Celiac

Do not ever, and I mean ever, take eating bread for granted. Bread isn’t the only thing a person with Celiac Disease cannot eat. Celiac Disease is a reaction your body gets from eating gluten, which is a certain protein found in barley, wheat an rye.  The symptoms of Celiac Disease are stomach pain, bad diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, weight loss, weight gain, fatigue, defects in their permanent teeth, stunted growth, ADD or ADHD. A child with ADD/ADHD is more likely to have Celiac or a Gluten intolerance than a child without. A gluten intolerance is a lot more common than Celiac Disease. This intolerance pretty much feels like a bad stomach ache after eating certain foods with gluten in them. Celiac disease can also be hereditary and you are also more likely to have it if an immediate family member has it as well. Many people are diagnosed with Celiac between the ages of 18-20. If not caught early, Celiac Disease can lead to Type 1 Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Anemia, Osteoporosis, infertility and sometimes even intestinal cancer.

I was diagnosed with Celiac disease in 2010 and I still cannot grasp the fact that I have it because I love bread. I like to think of it as more of a Gluten Intolerance but it is just a very minor case of Celiac. When I eat bread or wheat products my stomach feels full very quick and begins to ache like I am having very bad cramps. Recently, many of my friends have started to have these same symptoms and I encouraged them to get tested for Celiac. Believe it or not, 3 of my friends were diagnosed this past year with either Celiac or a Gluten Intolerance. I urge you, if having any symptoms like the ones given above to get tested. I know it seems unimaginable to cut wheat (yes that includes beer) from your diet, but I promise you, you will feel like a new person. Some people have had Celiac for so long and never knew, that before they cut gluten out of their diet they didn’t know what good felt like.

csaLogo

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/celiac-disease/basics/definition/con-20030410

http://celiac.org

Penn State Plague

I know for a fact I am not the only person waking up in the morning with a sore throat unable to swallow, the only one popping Sudafed every four hours or the only one taking extra Nyquil to make it through the night. The Penn State “Plague” is among us and it all started with one person. A cold is spread either through direct contact of a contaminated area or by breathing in the virus after a person sneezes, coughs, ect. Person to person contact increases your chances of catching a cold or sickness. The first three days is when a person is most contagious.

I don’t think we realize how often we touch our noses or our mouths then touch something or someone else. This contaminates both our bodies, and the surfaces that we touched. There are many ways to avoid getting a cold, and many ways to get rid of one but we all know it sucks just to have it. Although wiping out the Big O’s orange juice selection will amp up your vitamin c, theres plenty of other options. For example, taking an antibiotic, getting enough sleep, (believe it or not) chicken soup, vitamin intake, and drinking water… lots and lots of water.

Like I said, having a cold sucks and we all want to do whatever we can to avoid catching one. Washing your hands is a HUGE thing. The more you wash your hands the less likely you are to catch a cold. You can also lessen your chances of catching a cold through covering your nose and mouth, don’t share drinks, sleep and disinfect everything…and i mean everything. All the way from your desk top, to your computer, to your door knobs, to your phone… anything helps. Please, for the sake of Penn State and your fellow students make an effort to be sanitary and lets figure out a way to make this cold chill out.

tumblr_luplv0Jzph1qdscdgo1_500_large

but if being sick looked like that then maybe i wouldn’t mind so much.

http://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/cold-flu/5-ways-to-get-rid-of-cold.htm#page=5

http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/treat-symptoms-12/contagious-colds

 

Broken Hearts

Can you die of a broken heart? Yes, yes you can, at leasts thats what the studies say. Many studies show that “broken heart syndrome” is very similar to a heart attack, but is caused by grief. Usually grief from the loss of a loved one. Grief increases a persons risk of cardiovascular problems. Studies show that a “broken heart” can not only be mentally excruciating, but also life threatening. Your body releases a very power chemical, similar to adrenaline. The amount of this adrenaline like chemical stuns the muscles in your heart making them weak which makes causes the heart to pump improperly. This chemical also changes the left ventricle, one of the hearts most important chambers. Heres a fun fact: “The researchers found that 16 per 10,000 people whose partners died experienced heart attacks or strokes within 30 days of their partner dying, compared with only 8 per 10,000 from the control population.” There, theres statistics and numbers don’t lie.

Ive heard many stories where a husband or wife dies within a week of his beloved spouse. Coincidence? I think not! The Knapke’s have been married for 65 years. As they were aging and their health started to deteriorate their love remained strong (cliche but really). Harold Knapke was struggling to stay alive, but his wife, Ruth, stayed with him every step of the way. every. step. Just 11 short hours after Harold passed, Ruth suffered from cardiovascular issues that took her life right after. Crazy! There are so many stories that make me a firm believer that a being can die from a broken heart. Does this mean “Till death do us part” can now be taken to a completely different level?

Obviously love can lead to a physical connection and causes us to do crazy things, but did you ever realize it could be quite like this?

 Unknown

 http://www.today.com/health/died-broken-heart-science-behind-close-couple-deaths-8C11018276

http://www.webmd.com/heart/features/broken-heart-syndrome-stress-cardiomyopathy

Chemicals in Recruitment

Sorority recruitment can really screw with a girls brain…no, really. Your brain is literally on an emotional roller coaster for one week straight. One second, you’re flirting with your “rush crush”, the next you’re crying over them because they dropped you. I kid you not, rush week has been the most exhausting, eye opening experience of my life. I have seen girls go from radiating joy to crying their eyes out within the time it took them to read a slip of paper.. but why? This roller coaster of emotions is all apart of a complex chemical process. When something makes you sad and you want to cry, or something makes you happy and you want to jump for joy… this is your brain working its chemical communicators. Rush week is all about becoming one with your chemical communicators, and yes, i applaud you if you can control yours.

Potential new members (PNMS) have been known to have anxiety attacks over their next days list and can go into deep depression mode when its not what was expected. Anxiety? Really? (Yes really, this process is emotional and so scary). Deep down in your brain is a small structure called the amygdala…This almond shaped piece sends signals back and forth from the part of your brain that senses fear, to the part of the brain that interprets fear. Never underestimate this little piece though… its very observant! This little piece tells the brain that a threat is imposing and triggers anxiety

Remember when I said the amygdala interprets fear? Well the hippocampus does it even better. This piece “encodes threatening events into memories”. This means that all those anxiety attacks a PNM has over getting her list back each day… is because the hippocampus is working its magic and remembering she was anxious about it.

No, sorority recruitment is not filled with only sad tears… happy tears can come out of it too! (Rare before bid day, but it happens)! Ever heard of happy chemicals? No? Well then hi there!!! Happy chemicals are obviously chemicals in your brain that make you happy. They are “turned on” when something makes you feel good, and “turned off” when that action is complete…much like when you finish an awesome recruitment party, you walk out those suite doors and your back in real non-sorority world. The happy chemicals of your brain are Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin, and Endorphins. Dopamine and Serotonin will no doubt be turned on during rush week.

Dopamine will be sparked when your efforts are rewarded… For example; spending hours talking to a girl in a room full of 80 screaming others, and getting invited back the next day.Serotonin will be sparked when you feel wanted… For example; receiving that invite, or getting that bid from your absolute favorite sorority. All anybody ever wants to is to be wanted…right?

But by the end of it all, no matter what chemical is released or what brain piece is working the hardest… rush will always be an overwhelming process, that can change a person for the better (or for the worse) depending on what you make of it.

Good luck to every PNM and may the odds be ever in your favor.

f784d3fc9fbc6d38af228b4b50142334

Sources:

Click to access happy-chemicals.pdf

http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep3d.htm

http://www.brainfacts.org/brain-basics/cell-communication/

 

Link

Have you ever had that feeling where you can’t get enough of something? Something that doesn’t involve chemicals or additives.. a thing that you just can’t seem to peel your hands, or mind off of…maybe a person? a book? or even a phone?  Well if you didn’t know… that feeling is called addiction.

    No, Im not addicted to cigarettes, gambling, or sex (all three of which are very common) but I do believe I am addicted to my phone and capturing moments that I think ill never get back. Thousands and thousands of pictures take up the memory of my 64 gb iPhone which I constantly have to sync to my computer. I get the same pleasure out of taking a picture of my friends walking down the street as you do taking a puff of that cigarette. But why? Because were addicted.

Addiction is a disease…a disease (in my opinion) that can only be cured through a mental cleanse, or maybe it can’t be cured just managed. I say a mental cleanse… because its all in your head. Some say addiction is such a serious psychological disease that there is no cure…its irremediable. The definition of addiction is “a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry”. The term brain reward (again, in my opinion), sums up the disease of addiction in the simplest of terms. When your desire is fulfilled, you feel rewarded. Whether you feel the reward physically or mentally, your addiction satisfies you.  

So this leads me to ask… Is addiction a disease or is it just a mind game?

 images

 

1

Hi guys!

My name is Olivia Talbot and I am from the beautiful area of Annapolis, Maryland. Honestly, I am taking this course because my Communications advisor recommended it for me… along with the hundreds of other comm majors. I will not be a science major because I have no interest in science and I do not think anyone would approve of me being a scientist anyway… I would probably screw up the science world more than I would improve it because anything having to do with math is a negative for me. Enjoy!

10496906_10152290634883359_7525354196255509450_o

 

P.S. I also love photoshop and graphic design, I put this picture together (: