Dogs are know as being man’s best friend.  Everyone who owns a dog knows the feeling of having their four legged friend run up to them with their wet noses nudging on their leg begging for a head scratch and how their tales wag tirelessly out of joy when in our presence.  But other than those moments, our dogs do so much more for us.  Studies have shown that dog owners have lower blood pressure and help children get over allergies.  They also are able of relieving stresses from an individual.

Recently, there have been multiple observant studies done at locations such as at the University of Missouri – Columbia how have noticed hormonal changes in individuals dealing with depression and large amount of stress.  Studies have shown that after a few minutes of stroking a four legged friend led to the release of “feel good” hormones, including serotonin, oxytocin, and prolactin.  In addition, petting our pets lead to a decrease in the amount of the of stress hormone, cortisol.

Throughout the past 20 years or so, there also have been correlations that have been found, all in this NBC News Article.   They stated that “In 1995, Erika Friedman at the University of Maryland Hospital conducted a study involving 392 people, which found that heart attack patients with dogs were eight times more likely to be alive a year later than people without dogs.” Also that “In 1999, the State University of New York at Buffalo conducted a study involving 24 stock brokers taking medication for high blood pressure. The researchers found that adding a dog or cat to the stock brokers’ lives helped stabilize and reduce their stress levels.”  Although these correlations may not lead to causation, due to the amount of correlations, they may be enough to lead one to believe that dogs are indeed, great stress relievers.

So as one can see, our dogs do indeed make great stress.  It has already been proven that these common household pets posses the ability to reduce an individuals blood pressure as well as now, reduce our stress by increasing our “happy” hormones as well as reduce the amount of our stress hormones.  Penn State even offers puppy petting during finals week in to serve as a stress reliever.  If you feel too stressed out at times, turn to your pooch for a huge relief.

Sources Used:

http://animalsmart.org/species/dogs/dogs-help-reduce-stress

https://www.purina.com/dogs/getting-a-dog/do-dogs-help-relieve-stress

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/therapy-dog-offers-stress-relief-at-work-201107223111

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4625213/ns/health-pet_health/t/puppy-love—-its-better-you-think/#.ViblJRCrTVo

http://www.today.com/health/5-ways-pets-can-ease-your-stress-6C10423970

http://hyper.ahajournals.org/content/38/4/815.short

We all have heard the saying “Sorry, I haven’t had my morning cup of coffee yet,” or something to that effect.  These people are implying that they are not themselves or that they cannot function without their caffeine fix, almost as if they’re reliant on caffeine just like a drug addict is reliant on their drugs.  According to a poll taken in 2013, over 83 percent of adults in the United States drink at least one cup of coffee a day.  There are over 587 million cups of coffee consumed in the United State per day.  For these reasons many people tend to believe that coffee is addictive, that they cannot kick the habit of getting their daily fix of caffeine. Caffeine can be slightly addictive, however, kicking the habit is extremely beneficial to one’s health.

The way the caffeine works in coffee and other drinks such as soda is by the caffeine mimicking a neurochemical called adenosine.  Adenosine is produced by neurons throughout the day as they fire and the more that is produced, the more your nervous system and ultimately your body calms down.  By caffeine mimicking adenosine, they manage to enter the receptors without activating them, causing the receptors the block adenosine to enter which enables use to feel more energetic and have the feeling that we can stay up longer.  Stephen R. Braun, the author of Buzzed: the Science and Lore of Caffeine and Alcohol, writes it is like “putting a block of wood under one of the brain’s primary brake pedals.” This “block” will disable those brakes for four to six hours depending on the person’s height, weight, age etc.

Caffeine in coffee is proven to cause a rise in the consumer’s blood pressure and heart rate.  An increase in heart rate increases and individual’s chances of obtain a stroke.  There are correlations between caffeine consumption and strokes, however correlation does not equal causation.

With those who decide to drop caffeine from their diets will typically go through withdrawals.  They just would not be as strong as ones from other substances such as heroin or alcohol.  Symptoms tend to last from anywhere from the first twenty four hours to a week, again, depending on the person.  Symptoms of caffeine withdrawals consist of the following: headaches, lack of focus, fatigue, mild muscle pain, nausea, and some flu-like symptoms.

We are forced to believe that caffeine is slightly addictive due to all research conducted on the matter as well as the symptoms presented when one goes through caffeine withdrawals for the first few days when one does not have the chemical in their system.  Caffeine is not the best thing to consume for all the potential health risks that may occur such as an increase in the risk of stroke.  If possible, one should try their best to reduce if not fully cut off their caffeine intake.

Work Cited:

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/diet-fitness/brain-and-behavior/articles/2009/06/25/6-signs-of-caffeine-addiction

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/01/29/caffeine-addiction-is-no-joke-for-some/65142.html

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/this-is-how-your-brain-becomes-addicted-to-caffeine-26861037/?no-ist

http://www.mercola.com/downloads/bonus/coffee/report.htm

http://lifehacker.com/5585217/what-caffeine-actually-does-to-your-brain

http://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2012/07/26/what-caffeine-really-does-to-your-brain/

http://www.webmd.com/balance/caffeine-myths-and-facts?page=2#2

As college students, many of us tend tend to believe that cramming and pulling all nighters are beneficial to our grades.  However, despite popular belief, taking study breaks are extremely beneficial for both the grades as well as one’s health. Scientists are finding more and more about the nature of our brain’s attention spans and how the brain demonstrates that even brief distractions or time away from the material can dramatically improve an individuals ability to focus on tasks for prolonged periods of time.

For example, in 2011, psychology professor Alejandro Lleras of the University of Illinois conducted a randomized control study in which eighty four subjects were divided into four groups that all performed the same repetitive, computerized task for 50 minutes.  All four groups were given a set of numbers prior to the start of the 50 minute study and were told to state if they saw these numbers at any point during the trials.  Three of these four groups were not given breaks and as time went on, their ability to identify the numbers decreased as the one controlled group who were given three-five minute breaks managed to score significantly higher.

Overworking our brains is never the way to go.

Not taking breaks while putting our brains through long periods of strain would be the equivalent of putting our bodies muscles through an intense workout without giving them a time to rest.  Eventually, our bodies would give out in the form of physical injury or a potential lose of consciousness.  Same goes with our brains.  According to Amy Arnsten, professor of neurobiology at Yale University, long periods of mental strain and stress during times such as cramming for an exam to prolonged periods of work can cause our brains to “short-circuit” in the sense that we stop taking in information and more times than not, will forget or disregard what it is we have previously studied or work on.  This has obvious repercussions on say an exam in which hours upon hours of studying could go to waste if the brain is to be overworked.

Working our brains is perfectly okay to do, but overworking them can take a toll on it’s health.  Studying is clearly done best with taking some sort form of a break.  MIT recommends that working for 50 minutes with a ten minute break is the most beneficial and efficient way for one to study.  Rethinking your study habits can drastically improve both your grades and overall mental health.

This video provides more insight as to how beneficial taking study breaks truly are.

Works Cited:

http://web.mit.edu/uaap/learning/study/breaks.html

http://www.onlineschools.org/science-of-study-breaks/

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/jobs/take-breaks-regularly-to-stay-on-schedule-workstation.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110208131529.htm

http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/02/09/taking-breaks-found-to-improve-attention/23329.html

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/02/stress-damages-brain/?page=all

According to ABC.com, in 2012, there were over 108 million Americans who tried to lose weight often using a wide variety of tactics ranging from reducing meal portions to flat out fasting for various periods of time.  However, there has been a correlation that has been arisen in previous years between those who eat breakfast and a reduction in their weight and body mass index. In 1992, Vanderbilt University conducted a randomized control study showing that reversing normal breakfast habits, whether by eating or not eating, correlated with the individuals weight loss ability.  According to a pole taken by npd.com, in 2011 there are over 31 million Americans who skip breakfast.  All of these individuals are more susceptible to weight gain and if they wanted to make an attempt to lose weight, are more likely to struggle according to these correlations.

However, like we have learned throughout the year, correlation does not equal causation. There is the chance that although the study done in Vanderbilt could be a valid point of reference as to whether or not there eating breakfast can reduce the chances of obesity, there could always be that chance of a third variable.  For example, certain individuals that were being observed could of been working out more than others while not at the research center or their breakfast could of been a healthier option as compared to others.

There is also the chance of an outlier.  There are people in this world who are luckier than others in the sense that they may have a faster metabolism which enables them to eat more or food that are not considered the be the healthiest and still manage to not put on as much weight as others from said foods.

So although there may be a correlation between those who eat breakfast and obesity, there are too many factors that could come into play which should lead one to think that this correlation does not equal causation.

Works Cited:

http://abcnews.go.com/cgi-bin/login?cmd=redirect&arubalp=7a0b926e-c9d6-4a74-b402-e83fa05590

https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/pr_111011b/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1550038

Admit it.  We all have laid in bed and sent out a text from our phones or worked on our laptops before going to sleep.  Over 75 percent of the worlds population falls asleep with their phones within an arms reach according to NBC news Portland.  This is a prime example as to how light exposure prior to bed can effect disrupt an individuals sleep patterns, just like we discussed in class with the rat’s exposure to light prior to sleep altered their sleeping cycles.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, more than 90 percent of Americans regularly use a computer or electronic device of some kind in the hour before they go to bed.  Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute showed that exposure to light from computer tablets significantly lowered levels of the hormone melatonin, which regulates our internal clocks and plays a role in the sleep cycle.  A research study was conducted according to a journal published in Applied Ergonomics in which volunteers used electronics for various amounts of time measuring the amount of eyes their eyes received.  They came up with the conclusion that two hours of exposure to bright lights from items such as laptops or tablets reduced melatonin levels in the brain by about 22 percent.

Irregular sleep patterns increase the probability heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.  Also, according to Brady Dennis, a writer from The Washington Post,  “chronic suppression of melatonin has been linked to increased risk of prostate, colorectal and breast cancers”.  The usage of electronics before one hits the hay can cause extreme health repercussions.

By using electronics prior to bed is clearly not the greatest idea for the fact that it does indeed alter our sleep which can cause an increase in an individual’s chances of many life threatening diseases.  The best solution is to try to make a conscious effort to stay away from their electronics at least three ours prior to bedtime.  Another thing to do to prevent one from using any sort of electronic prior to going to sleep would be to charge these electronics in any other room than the bedroom.  Staying away from said devices will help one both get to bed and stay asleep longer.

Work Cited:

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/investigations/2014/04/14/doctor-cell-phones-hurt-sleep-quality/12584984/

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/10/really-using-a-computer-before-bed-can-disrupt-sleep/?_r=0

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/health/05light.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/power-down-better-sleep

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/12/22/ipads-tablets-smartphones-disrupt-good-sleep-study-finds/

https://sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/electronics-the-bedroom

It is without a doubt that Mike Trout, the center fielder for the Los Angeles of Anaheim, is the best player currently playing in the Major Leagues.  However, there is often a large debate as to whether or not Trout is/going to be the greatest player who has played in the MLB.  Trout is often compared to a Mickey Mantle type of player in the sense of being a five tool player, meaning he can hit for average, hit for power, steal bases, play great defense and have an above average arm, but does that make him the greatest player of all time?

According to Richard Justice, a writer for MLB.com, Trout has not even reached his prime yet and still has plenty of time to reach his maximum potential.  If this is to be true, sky’s the limit for this young phoneme. Trout has been able to hit for average throughout his time in the pros, averaging a phenomenal average of .306.  His ability to constantly make solid contact with the ball is really reflected in his batting average.  Trout has also hit a total of 124 home runs in his career, averaging 35 per season, which would equate to a top 15 finish in home runs in each of his five seasons. Trout is often viewed as being one of the fastest players in the Major Leagues averaging 31 stolen bases in each of his five season, so he fulfills the speed criteria.  Trout has a career fielding percentage of .992, which is .008 from being errorless in his career, which is a clear achievement of the fielding tool.  But just because Trout’s career numbers are this high right now does not exactly mean he’ll go down as the best.  

However, in comparison to other player such as Babe Ruth, Trout has more runs scored, more hits, more home runs, and more stolen bases at the same 3 year mark as Ruth.  Trout also has more career home runs as Willie Mays and Ernie Banks at the three year mark in his career, all of this according to an article on sportingnews.com

Trout, without a doubt, will go down as one of the greatest player to play the game of baseball, but given the statistics, Trout is on pace to go down as the greatest player to ever step on a baseball diamond in the history of the sport.

Sources Used:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/70427602/richard-justice-angels-outfielder-mike-trout-among-best-and-will-get-better

http://www.sportingnews.com/list/4650183-mike-trout-angels-stats-willie-mays-hank-aaron-ted-williams-legacy/slide/339713

http://www.thecover3.com/2014/04/discussion-of-the-five-tool-players-in-the-mlb.html  

Everyday, millions of people receive headaches.  Whether if its waking up with one or getting one sometime throughout the day, everyone seems to get one in some point in their life.  There are many reasons as to why people receive headaches, but there comes a positive in that statement as well.  There are also many ways to both reduce the pain of headaches as well as avoid getting one entirely.

Sadly, there are many ways one can obtain a headache.  Some of the most common reasons people get headaches are a lack of sleep, dehydration, too much sun or bright light exposure, heat, constant loud noises throughout the day, and sports injuries.  According to Medical News Today, an individual who sleeps less than 36 hours per week triple their chances of both waking up with a headache or getting one throughout the course of their day.  Not many people are aware of the dehydration factor in headaches, but the way in which our brain tells our bodies that we need water or some sort of hydration is by sending out messages telling us that we need to drink in the form of a headache.  Our eyes are not meant to be under large forms of light such as being outdoors for long period of time so in order for our bodies to send out message that our eyes need a rest from the lighting, our brains relay a message to our nerves, giving us a headache.  Heat is also a large factor in an individual receiving a headache.  When our bodies overheat or get close to the point of being overheated, our body tries to warn us by giving us headache, telling us to get into a cooler location.  Loud noises such as listening to music at an extremely loud level for a decent amount of time will irritate our ear drums causing a headache. Finally, contact sports where head contact is constant throughout the sport, such as football or boxing,  can cause one to “ring their bell” meaning the brain rattles around in our skulls can cause a headache and potentially a concussion.

The solutions to these headaches are fairly self – explanatory. One should sleep a little more than they typically would, drink more fluids throughout the course of the day, limit the amount of exposure to bright lights and heat if possible, not listen to music or any noises for that matter at such a high level is possible, and avoid as much head contact both on and off a playing field.

Headaches make day to day life harder to go through with a constant pain shooting through one’s head.  Best to take any precautions in order to prevent them and no better way to do so than following the simple steps listed above.

Works Cited:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/73936.php

http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/migraines-headaches-basics

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20484672,00.html

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003024.htm

“Sleepwalking, formally known as somnambulism, is a behavior disorder that originates during deep sleep and results in walking or performing other complex behaviors while asleep,” (National Sleep Foundation). Roughly 8.4 million adults sleepwalk in the United States according to the May 2015 issue of the journal, Neurology reports CBS News.  Many people ask themselves, why do I sleepwalk? Why when I “sleepwalk” do I actually do other things other than walk?  How can I prevent it from happening?

To address the first question, being why do people sleepwalk, the most common and simple answer is the fact that people lack sleep.  People who are deprived of sleep are much more likely to sleepwalk. There is also the fact that people with a family history of sleepwalking are more probable to sleepwalk.  Sleepwalking can be rather dangerous, resulting in potential confusion, some amnesia, and physical damage from running into objects throughout the surrounding areas.  Sleepwalking can be rather dangerous and those who do it should take extra precautions in order to prevent themselves from doing it.

A study was done to by researchers at a Université de Montréal teaching hospital in which the test subjects in 25 humans where deprived of sleep for 25 hours and were later compensated in sleep and monitored as they slept.  However, they were placed in a bed with five foot containment walls surrounding them.  Each subject responded in their own unique way.  An individual would firmly grasp the sheets and while others would try to climb the walls.  These sleepwalkers, if were to be let go, could of injured themselves by running into surrounding objects.  It just so happens that my roommate sleepwalks on nights where he has been lacking a normal nights rest due to studying.  He often wakes up with his shoes placed randomly throughout on the mens restroom floor.  My roommate could very easily run into his desk on his way out and hurt himself.  The reasoning behind this is often due to fact that certain individuals dream about partaking in certain activities.  Or they are thinking about what they may need to in the upcoming future.  All are linked to the the brain continuing to work as the body attempts to rest according to multiple news reports.

A way an individual can ensure they limit their chances of sleep walking is simple, getting more sleep.  Sleepwalking, as I stated in a previous paragraph, is often caused to lack of sleep, so the best way to decrease the chances of sleepwalking is going to bed at a reasonable time and making an effort to get at least eight hours of sleep per night.

Sleepwalking is something that can be very dangerous and can be caused by a few reasons.  If one comes across a sleepwalker, they are suggested to slowly grab them by the shoulders and guide the individual back to their original resting place.

Works Cited:

https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders-problems/abnormal-sleep-behaviors/sleepwalking

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/more-than-84-million-americans-sleepwalk-each-year-study-finds/

http://www.livescience.com/32460-why-do-people-sleepwalk.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/weird-things-happen-sleep/story?id=23606162#3

Volleyball is often played by both males and females.  However, many believe it to be true that the sport was designed to be played predominately by women. There is a decent amount of evidence that may lead one to believe this to be true despite the fact that males tend to have a height and strength advantages over women. However, that is not was is taken into consideration when one gauges whether or not a player is “good”.  The female volleyball players have their own advantages in their own way just by being female.

Females, are more often than not, more flexible than a male would be, enabling them to reach their arms out further for a potential “bump” or “pass”.  They are also able to get lower to the ground which makes them a better candidate to dig out a “spike” or “hit” as seen in the image below.

UCLA Women’s Volleyball player digs out a spike

Females also have a “hidden” advantage over the males who play volleyball.  Females have the ability to dive for balls and not feel as much pain as a male would for the fact that the males testicles often hit the floor with a decent amount of force as compared to the females vaginal region is often less effected by the dive.

Males are often present at women’s volleyball practice in order to train the girls to get the females accustomed to hitting the ball over a larger blocker and returning spikes with a males force behind it.  However, many schools do not offer a male volleyball team such as Penn State University for the fact that the sport is not that big for males as compared to Penn States Women’s Volleyball Team winning back to back national championships.

These “hidden” advantages the women possess are also made evident in the average number of scholarships handed out.  On average, there are four and a half full ride Division 1 scholarships handed out to males and 12 given out to females.  If there were not to be a science that females make better volleyball players than males, there would not be such a large imbalance between the number of available scholarships for volleyball male and female volleyball players.

Males are often referred to as being dominant athletes.  However, this is clearly not the case in the world of volleyball.  Females, in the volleyball world, are clearly the dominant players.

Sources used:

https://news.illinois.edu/postmarks/spring_2014/volleyball.html

http://espn.go.com/espnw/title-ix/article/7959799/the-silent-enemy-men-sports

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NCAA_men%27s_volleyball_schools

http://idealphysicaltherapy.com/16-fun-volleyball-facts/

With the football regular season starting over this past weekend, both players and fans are ecstatic and anxious to get the season rolling.  However, with the season beginning, also means the start of the many different forms of wear and tear these professional athletes will endure both during the season as well as after their careers are over.  There is the obvious physical tolls the players bodies will take both in the present and in the future, but there are also the overall decline of the player’s mental health which leads to psychological tolls as well.

The first type of wear and tear are the most evident one, the decline of the players physical health.  Just in the first week, key players for certain teams such as Dez Bryant for the Dallas Cowboys and Terrell Suggs from the Baltimore Ravens have gone down with injuries such as a broken foot and a torn anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL).  These injuries will take time for the bodies to recover.  These players will need anywhere from four weeks to a year to recover from these wounds.  Some are even career ending injuries.  The athletes who recover will never be the same player that they were prior to their injuries.  Playing professional football equates to large amounts of pressure applied when flexing muscles during contact and pushing off when making a tackle which takes a tole on the body’s ligaments, joints, and muscles.  These taxes endured on the player’s body during their career can also lead to major complications further into the player’s life such as during retirement.  The constant strains on the player’s body, specifically their joints and ligaments, will lead to “severe arthritis and joint pain”(Livestrong.com). Overall, although watching and playing the game of football may be fun, players and fans should also take the physical tolls into consideration when watching or partaking in the sport.  

There is also a price to pay in the form of psychological health for these athletes.  An recent example would be the suicide of newest addition to the National Football Hall of Fame, Junior Seau.  Seau was a pro bowl linebacker that spent his career playing for the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots.

Junior Seau after winning the AFC Title game

Seau was struck fear into his opponents hearts with his ability to run through players with his large build.  However, Seau often lead his tackles with his head, which constantly caused him to be concussed, causing brain damage.  Seau took his own life by shooting himself in the chest. Seau’s autopsy showed large amount of swelling in the brain as well as “dead spots” in locations that controlled his emotions.  According to a Yahoo report, Seau “portrayed symptoms of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a trauma-induced disease common to NFL players and others who have received repeated blows to the head,” (yahoo.com). CTE damages brain tissues and cause an abnormal about of protein called tau to be produced. Football players also have a significantly higher chance of obtaining brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s.  There are even player who are ending their careers early in order to maintain their health such as former linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, Chris Borland. Borland ended his career after his rookie season due to the release of studies from the Harvard Football Player Health studies done to retired players.  Borland stated in an interview “…the injuries and potential brain damage that I could endure playing the sport is not worth any glory or pride obtained on the field.”  For players to be backing out of playing in the National Football League in order to prevent brain injury, is a true eye opener to the amount of risk and danger that comes with playing the sport and should be taken under consideration for both current and future players.

So as one can see, although the sport of football is often viewed as the most entertaining sports in the United States, one should also view it as one of the more dangerous sports as well.  The sport takes a large toll on the players’ bodies as well as their mental health.  The physical injuries can cause one to never be the same physically, but more importantly mentally.  Junior Seau is, sadly, one of the many cases of retired football players who have taken their life due to head injuries obtained during their time spent in the NFL.  The sport may be fun to play, but one must always take certain precautions in order to prevent future injuries.

Sources Used:

http://www.livescience.com/50163-football-cte-brain-disease-risk.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/543361-long-term-effects-of-playing-football/

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/report-nfl-legend-junior-seau-dead-182120394.html

http://hub.jhu.edu/2015/01/26/nfl-players-concussion-research

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13463272/how-former-san-francisco-49ers-chris-borland-retirement-change-nfl-forever

https://footballplayershealth.harvard.edu/about/

Hey guys!

My name is Greg Horowitz.  I live in Irvine, California which is 10 minutes from the beach, half way between San Diego and Los Angeles. The beach I live by is Newport Beach, with a very popular surf spot called The Wedge.  I have played pretty much every sport there is to play, but the one that I have played throughout my life is baseball.  I live 15 minutes from Angel Stadium so I constantly attend games there.  I am a die hard sports fan, so I plan to relate as many of these blogs I can to sports, just a heads up.

I am taking this course for the fact that it fulfills a general education requirement. Throughout my schooling career, I have always been fairly decent at science, but it was never really my favorite subject.  However this course seems really interesting based off the paper we received on the first day of class.

I am not a science major for the fact that I’m not sure I could find a job out of college in the field of science versus having a degree in business.  I also just do not find science as the most topic to study with this class being the exception.  I am really excited to take this course and am up for the challenge.

This is a photo of where I tend to sit when I go to Angel Games.