Facts about laughs

If someone laughs 100 times, it's like riding a 15-minute bike. An energetic laugh increases your heart rate, deepens your breathing and brings into play the muscles of your face, stomach and diaphragm.

In addition to improving our mood, laughter can reduce stress, help fight infections, and reduce pain.

Laughter generates positive changes in brain chemistry through the production of endorphins, and brings more oxygen to the body with deeper inhalations.

Laughter is contagious and instinctive. Our laughter is under minimal conscious control, which challenges the hypothesis that we are in full control of our behavior.

Pietro Aretino, was an Italian author who in 1556 died of asphyxiation from "laughing too much".

Laughter naturally produces killer cells that attack viruses, certain types of cancer and some tumour cells.

The brain can identify a false laugh from an authentic. When the brain senses a false laugh, it increases activity in the area of the prefrontal cortex of the brain. This brain zone gives us the ability to understand the emotions of others. Therefore, no false laughter is worth it.

A good dose of laughter increases energy expenditure and helps eliminate more calories. In addition, some facts suggest that it's a great help in losing weight, although some say the difference isn't much.

Until long ago it was thought that laughter was a quality acquired at birth. However, the obstetrician Stuart Campbell discovered, thanks to 4D ultrasounds, that the first smiles occur when the baby is still in the womb.

According to some facts, you can avoid wrinkles. Want to keep your face younger and wrinkle-free? Start laughing! It's also a simple, natural beauty treatment.

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Facts about smoking

There are more than 4,000 dangerous chemicals in cigarettes, cigars and tobacco pipes. Many of these substances cause cancer (carcinogens).

Every day 3,000 children smoke their first cigarette.

Some facts tell us that more than 400,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking-related illnesses. Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer and many other diseases.

Smoking two to four cigarettes in a row increases blood fats by 200 to 400%. The average smoker (30 cigarettes per day) is 4 to 6 times more likely to have heart problems if in the 45-54 age group.

China has 300 million smokers who consume approximately 4.3 billion cigarettes daily.

Some facts prove that in the United States, cigarettes are responsible for approximately 25% of residential fire deaths, causing about 1,000 fire-related deaths and 3,300 injuries each year.

Smoking reduces life expectancy by about 8 years. This means that each cigarette shortens the life of the smoker by about 8 minutes.

Probably one person will live 14 years longer if they do not smoke.

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Facts about obesity

Women are more likely than men to be obese in all age groups.

Babies born to obese mothers have an increased risk of asthma.

Obesity and overweight pose a major risk for chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, and certain types of cancer.

According to some facts, obesity increases the chances of developing osteoarthritis. This is because excess weight puts more pressure on the articular cartilage.

Obesity in children and adolescents is also associated with an increased risk of emotional problems. Adolescents with weight problems tend to have low self-esteem.

A normal person has between 25 and 35 billion fat cells, but this number can increase in times of excessive weight gain, with a maximum of 100 to 150 billion cells.

According to some facts, Mexican-American children between the ages of 6 and 11 are more likely to be overweight (22 percent) than black children (20 percent) and Caucasian children (14 percent).

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the 21st century with rising rates in developed and developing countries. Obesity rates in Canadian children have increased from 11% in 1980 to more than 30% in the 1990s, while during this same period rates of increase were from 4% to 14% in Brazilian children.

Obesity may be common in the same family, but this is not necessarily genetic and may result from the adoption of similar eating habits and lack of exercise.

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How were the antiseptics discovered?

In 1861, a doctor named Joseph Lister became a surgeon at a hospital in Glascow, Scotland. At that time, many patients who underwent surgery often developed infections that caused the death or loss of a limb. But no one knew why.

Lister then read an article written by French scientist Louis Pasteur, in which Pasteur said that microscopic organisms, called bacteria or germs, were responsible for the deterioration of meat and milk. Since Pasteur mentions that these germs float in the air, Lister wondered if these same organisms could be responsible for the infections that people developed after surgery.

Thus, Lister was the first doctor to use an antiseptic, a substance that kills germs, to fight infection. He used a chemical called phenic acid, and made sure that all surgeons cleaned their instruments with this substance before they operated on a patient. And when the patient developed an infection, Lister would put the chemical directly into the wound to kill the germs.

When Lister began his work at the hospital, nearly half of all patients who had undergone surgery had died after an operation. After Lister discovered the advantages of antiseptics, the death rate dropped to 15 percent!

Today no doctor would think of operating on a patient without first washing his hands and instruments in an antiseptic. Today we use antiseptics such as iodine on small wounds and scratches to kill germs that might cause an infection.

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Is low cholesterol also bad?

 Some studies have shown that this is the case. The effects of high levels of ''bad cholesterol'' (LDL) in the blood, which affects the arteries, are well studied. Not so the consequences of their low production.

A study conducted at the University of San Diego in California compared data from suicidal patients and noted that many of them suffered from low levels of LDL cholesterol. This led to a decrease in the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter, which altered moods.

Other studies have shown that those affected by colon cancer suffer from the same insufficiency, also called hypocholesterolemia. But the cause-effect relationship has not been fully demonstrated.

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When was the first blood transfusion to a human being performed?

It was in June 1667, and was carried out by the French mathematician Jean Baptiste Denis. He injected sheep's blood into a young man. Five months later, Richard Lower transfused two sheep's blood to the theological student Arthur Coga in England.

Although the first transfusions were successful, those that were performed later, unfortunately, caused many deaths and the practice was outlawed. It must be remembered that blood groups were not discovered until 1901, when the Austrian Karl Landsteiner did.

How Noise Can Harm a Baby

Noise Harmful to Babies

EXPOSURE TO NOISE DURING THE FIRST MONTHS OF LIFE could affect a child's hearing and cause learning problems, says medical student Edward Chang, of the University of San Francisco.

He and his consultant, neuroscientist Michael Merzenich, exposed newborn rats to continuous white noise for up to three months. They then anesthetized the animals and studied their brains. The rats showed a significant delay compared to the control group.

"The basic shape of their auditory cortex developed more slowly, and the response properties of individual neurons were also delayed," says Chang.

In general, the brains of rats exposed to noise matured up to four times more slowly than normal.

In many ways, the development of human hearing resembles that of rats. That's why the researchers are concerned about children growing up in noisy environments, such as near airports or busy highways.

"In humans, developmental delay can be severe. Many children with learning disabilities eventually catch up, but they do it more slowly," says Chang.

He and Merzenich are trying to identify children who, due to genetics or physiology, are especially susceptible to noise-related hearing loss. "Then we could recommend if a child needs a special enriched environment.

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What are the benefits of chocolate?

THE BENEFITS OF A CHOCOLATE BAR

A large number of scientific studies have shown that chocolate has many benefits for our body: it reduces stress, calms anxiety, reduces the discomfort of premenstrual syndrome and is rich in antioxidants.

Do you feel guilty every time you eat a chocolate? Forget about that feeling. If you do it in moderation, it can provide you with many benefits. Cocoa is an excellent source of minerals (iron, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, copper and magnesium).

In addition, the fat contained in chocolate is of vegetable origin and therefore does not increase cholesterol. It should come as no surprise that this delicacy is associated with happiness,

because it increases the secretion of endorphins and serotonin, which produces a stimulating effect on the brain, which in turn helps reduce depression and makes you feel good. But be careful when choosing a chocolate, because there are products made with cocoa butter substitutes that do not have the same properties.

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How safe is anesthesia?

Never has anesthesia been safer than today. There are three basic types of anesthesia: general anesthesia causes loss of sensation in the whole body, regional anesthesia causes loss of sensation in only one area, and local anesthesia causes loss of sensation in only one very specific area.

There are certain substances used in the anaesthetic process, such as nitrous oxide, whose frequent, excessive or prolonged use is linked to damage to the marrow and the nervous system, as it interferes with the action of vitamin B12.

In the past, cocaine was used as an anaesthetic, although it caused side effects such as addiction and overstimulation of the nervous system. The general anesthesia used today is contraindicated in specific cases of heart disease, use of certain drugs, certain neurology and other pre-existing medical conditions.

There are several levels in its effects or repercussions on the organism. The first consideration is the psychological aspect, since for adults, and especially for children, the anesthetic procedure -- preparation, application and recovery -- involves discomfort, anxiety and even physical pain. Being completely unconscious and in the hands of another person also causes a lot of stress, so that every time it is applied our organism suffers physiological, mental and emotional trauma.

From the medical point of view, the substances used tend to be eliminated from the body relatively quickly. In principle, anaesthesia is not harmful, but it is a field in which more effective substances are constantly discovered and the methods of application and monitoring are renewed.

The techniques used are safe, but their long-term effects have not yet been fully studied. On the other hand, if the patient suffers from any pre-existing illness or medical condition, it is vital to talk to the doctor before undergoing this procedure.

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What is bipolar affective disorder?

Bipolar disorder (formerly manic-depressive psychosis) is a condition that causes extreme behavior changes in a person, from high-energy manic episodes to the lowest level of depression.

This condition causes such extreme character changes that the sufferer simply cannot function at work, in the family, in social settings, or in relationships with others. This illness can lead to suicide.

Having this condition makes the person feel misunderstood and hopeless. But she is not alone. Talking with others who suffer from the same illness can help her know that there is still hope. And good treatment will put things back in your control.

Family members sometimes don't know what to do when one of their own is depressed or having a manic attack. If this is the case, professional counseling is needed. Therapy will also help a child who has a bipolar parent.

What causes bipolar affective disorder?

The cause of bipolar disorder is not fully understood. It is known to be an often inherited disorder. It can also be caused by your living environment or family situation. Another possible cause is an imbalance in brain chemicals.



What are the symptoms of bipolar affective disorder?

Symptoms depend on unexpected changes in character. In a manic episode, the person may feel very happy, energetic, or willing to do anything. They will think they don't need a lot of sleep. They will feel very self-confident. Some people will feel the compulsion to spend a lot of money or get involved in dangerous activities in their manic state.

After a manic episode, you will return to normal, or your character will go in the opposite direction, that is, a feeling of sadness, depression, and hopelessness. In this depressive state, one will have difficulty thinking clearly or making decisions. You may have memory problems. You will lose interest in things you enjoyed in the past. Suicidal thoughts are not uncommon.

Changes in bipolar disorder can be mild or extreme. They may occur slowly over weeks, days, or suddenly, where a few minutes or hours are enough for them to take place. Behavior change may last a few hours or several months.


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What is vitamin A and why do we need it in our diet?

 Vitamin A Facts

By containing a large amount of antioxidants vitamin A is of great help to the body, specifically to protect the health of our eyes. Vitamin A prevents the damage of free radicals that can be the cause of night blindness, cataracts and macular degeneration. The foods that contain this vitamin are dairy and meats. Vitamin A is also found in vegetables in the form of beta carotenes, lutein and zeaxanthin; you have to choose the yellow or orange fruits and vegetables as the carrot to consume the beta carotenes. Lutein and zeaxanthin are provided by green leafy vegetables such as spinach.

What causes rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to fail to recognize joint tissues and attack them.

Its causes are unknown. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes our body's antibodies not to recognize the tissue of the joints and attack them causing inflammation, pain and deformities.

In addition to joint inflammation, the most common symptoms include morning stiffness, joint deformity and reduced mobility. It has a higher incidence in women than in men, and usually appears between the ages of 40 and 60.


An autoimmune disease

The causes that lead the immune system to react in this way are not known at this time, although it is believed to be due to a genetic predisposition to the disease, coupled with a trigger that can be an infection, a trauma or even tobacco. It can appear in any joint - usually symmetrically - and in 90% of cases it affects the hands and feet.

By not recognizing the joint tissue, the immune system attacks the synovial membrane, causing inflammation. They then attack the cartilage and bone. If the inflammation persists for some time, causing biochemical changes that lead to the bones not maintaining their fixed position, causing dislocations and deformities.

Antibodies travel in the bloodstream, which can cause them to attack other organs as well, such as the salivary and lacrimal glands, causing dry eyes and mouth. In the lung it can cause detachments of the pleural membrane and rheumatoid nodules. It can also cause alterations in the walls of the arteries, causing long-term heart attacks.

Alopecia, causes of alopecia areata

What is alopecia?

Alopecia or hair loss can be due to a variety of causes. Knowing the type of alopecia you suffer and what its origin is, is the first step to start the most effective treatment in your case.


Causes of alopecia areata

The disease may be caused by several autoimmune or psychological factors, which intervene on a genetic basis. The presence of alopecia areata has been related to infectious, endocrine, genetic, psychological factors, and other causes such as eye or dental irritations and head trauma.


Pathogenesis

Some autoimmune factor causes the induction of the phase of detachment (telogen) and hair loss, as well as a paralysis at the beginning of the growth phase of the follicle (anagen) of a certain area.


Symptoms of alopecia areata

Patients usually present one or more oval or round alopecic plates, 2 to 5 cm in diameter, located on the scalp, beard or eyebrows. Inside these plates the skin maintains the follicular orifices, but without hair. On the edge of the plate are short hairs, thin upwards and wide downwards.
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Treatment for alopecia areata

Although there is no totally effective and risk-free treatment, monoxidil, corticoids, rubefacients, etc. are usually used topically, and corticoids and cyclosporines are used systemically.

What causes anemia disorder?

anemia cells

Anemia is a disorder caused by a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin in the blood, which is caused mainly by a lack of iron or malabsorption of iron.

This disorder is one of the most common in terms of nutrition and can lead to the development of various health problems that, in some cases, can be quite serious. However, it can be treated in a variety of ways, starting with food.

In addition to iron deficiency in the body, anemia can be caused by a lack of folic acid and vitamin B12, or hereditary factors in blood cells and even chronic diseases.

Experts have found that a good diet, rich in all types of nutrients and balanced, is key to both the prevention and treatment of anemia. In fact, diet would complement and reinforce the treatment prescribed by the doctor.

What is anxiety and its symptoms?

Anxiety is a proactive response of our organism that is activated when we perceive a possible future situation as threatening to our survival or well-being.

Imagine, for example, a worker who thinks he can be fired from work next week.

He may or may not be fired next week, but he has already anticipated this possible threatening situation by activating an anxiety response in the present.

On many occasions, an anxiety response can be normal and adaptive.

However, when the anxiety response is disproportionately given, lengthened over time, or generalized to other situations, anxiety problems arise.

Anxiety problems

• panic attacks
• chronic anxiety
• generalized anxiety disorder
• social anxiety disorder

Anxiety symptoms

The most common signs and symptoms of nervous anxiety are:

• palpitations
• choking feeling
• sweating
• tremors
• chest tightness
• nerves in the stomach
• nausea
• vomiting
• dizziness
• overeat
• muscular tension
• tiredness
• tingling
• fear of going crazy
• fear of death

Causes of Anxiety

The causes of anxiety may vary depending on the person who has it.

There may be hereditary factors that predispose a person to suffer anxiety.

There may also be imbalances in the neurotransmitters in our brain due to bad habits such as sleeping little or eating badly.

And there may also be everyday situations that make us experience an excess of anxiety such as, for example, too demanding work situations, conflictive family situations, etc..

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How to cure a stye in the eye

 The stye is a lump that appears on the edge of the eyelid, resembling an acne pimple by its inflamed appearance and reddish color. We should never try to break it or manipulate it because we can make things worse and suffer a lot of pain. In this article we will discuss some home remedies to cure a sty in the eye.

As a patient you should know that the stye is a fairly common problem, the usual cause is inflammation of a sebaceous gland located at the edge of the eyelid, as with the chalazion that gland is blocked and can not drain so it is inflamed, but the difference is that in this case there is a bacterial or viral infection that causes greater discomfort due to pus.


Hordeolum is contagious

The stye is a contagious infectious process, that is to say, if for example we share the same towel with which the face dries, clothes, glasses, etc. we can be hit and in a few days we will experience the same symptoms: blocked pore, inflammation of the gland, redness, discomfort and even tearing.


Home remedies to cure the stye

The home remedies to cure a stye are most varied. Some are not very effective but others can help drain the gland. We recommend that you moisten a cloth or compress in hot water and apply it for ten to fifteen minutes several times a day. The idea is to facilitate the drainage of the gland, as it must empty itself.

Other popular homemade solutions are usually gold rings or ice, both are not highly recommended, the ring because unless it is heated does not do anything and the ice because it makes the opposite affect to the hot compresses. Those who prefer natural remedies recommend aloe vera, calendula or chamomile.

What is allergy?

    At some time every year, certain people suffer from sneezing, running nose and watery eyes. They suffer from an allergy. It is usually called hay fever. Their bodies react badly to the pollen from plants and grasses that is blown around in the air in early summer. Some people suffer in the autumn, when there is tree pollen about.
   Pollen is not the only thing that can upset allergic people. There are a great many commonplace things like dust and fur that can start allergies. And coughs and sneezes are not the only reactions found in allergies. Rashes and itches are common also.
   The substances that produce allergies are called 'antigens' or 'allergens'. There are many different sorts. They include proteins from bacteria and pollens, and chemical substances from primulas and many other green plants.
   People may also be allergic to foods. Seasonal fruits and vegetables (particularly straw-berries), shellfish, chocolate, eggs and milk are often the cause of food allergies.
   The body reacts to antigens by producing 'antibodies'. A different antibody is produced for each different antigen. When an antibody reacts with an antigen in the blood stream, the antigen is made harmless. However, if the antigen reaches tissue cells before it meets an antibody, it causes irritation in the cells.
   The irritated tissue produces a chemical called 'histamine'. This seems to be responsible for many of the ill-effects of allergies.
   There are many ways of treating allergies. An obvious one is for the sufferer to avoid contact with the substance to which he is allergic. This is often possible if the substance can be identified. It may be that the sufferer will have to avoid contact with the family cat or change his type of pillow if it is feathers that are the root of the trouble.
   One means of identifying what substances a person is allergic to - his allergens - is called the scratch test. Small scratches are made in a row on the person's body. Tiny amounts of various suspected material like pollen and dust are placed in the scratches. If the skin around a particular scratch soon becomes red and swollen then the doctor knows which substance is the culprit.
   Sometimes it is not possible for a sufferer to avoid an allergen. For instance it is not easy to get away from pollen in the air, even in cities. In this case it may be possible to treat the patient by giving him small doses of the allergen, gradually increasing the dosage. The hope is that he will become used to the allergen and not react so badly.
   Another way is to prescribe drugs known as anti-histamines. These combat the histamine which is always released as part of the allergic reaction.
   Antibodies also protect our bodies from attack by bacteria and viruses. They can prevent illnesses such as measles and mumps. Doctors can inject antibodies to immunize people against diseases. They take great care to make sure that these injections do not cause allergy.

What is Optometry?

   Optometry is a profession specializing in the protection and improvement of vision. The optometrist is one who practices the art and science of vision care. He is trained and licensed to make tests to determine the person's visual skills, especially in relation to his specific needs. When visual errors are found, he prescribes and provides any corrective lenses or visual training needed for adequate and comfortable sight.
   The roots of the profession of optometry lie in the development of research in physics, mathematics, and optics, as well as in physiology and psychology. Modern optometry, however, really dates from the 19th century, when such men as Thomas Young, Herman von Helmholtz, Eduard Jaeger, and others, were busily engaged in Europe in measuring the eye and inventing instruments for testing sight. The results of their research are found in the applications used today. Development in the field of refraction led to the refractive testing of the eye, or optometry, as it is now known.
   The word "optometry," in the sense of "diagnosis of refractive error" first appeared in 1870, and in the next thirty years optometry slowly evolved as a specialized vocation.

What is gangrene?

   Gangrene is the death and decay of body tissue. There are several kinds of gangrene. The most common kind, called dry gangrene, occurs in the extremities of the body when the supply of blood to a tissue is cut off. As a result, cells in the tissue cannot receive adequate nutrients and cannot get rid of their waste products. The affected area turns dark, then blackens, and slowly dries up and becomes shriveled. It is eventually separated from the healthy surrounding tissue by a sharp line of demarcation, after which the dried-up tissue falls or sloughs off. The most frequent causes of dry gangrene are obstruction of a blood vessel, usually by a clot, and hardening of the arteries, especially in old people and diabetics. It may also occur after fingers or toes have been badly frostbitten and frozen.
   Moist gangrene can affect any tissue in the body. It is caused by certain kinds of bacteria that produce toxins, or poisons, destructive to tissue. There is a foul-smelling watery discharge in the affected area. Another kind of gangrene, called gas gangrene, is also caused by bacteria. The bacteria, which usually infect deep wounds, produce gases that collect in the tissue.
   Gangrene is very serious. Moist gangrene and gas gangrene require prompt treatment. The affected tissue must often be surgically removed to prevent the spread of gangrene to healthy tissue. Antibiotic treatment is sometimes helpful. Dry gangrene does not require emergency surgical treatment. Instead, the physician tries to keep the gangrene from spreading by dilating the blood vessels to improve circulation or by removing obstructions from the vessels. After this the process is allowed to run its natural course until demarcation and sloughing off occur.

What are Viruses?

   Most viruses are very small (submicroscopic) bodies. They can be seen best only with an electron microscope. Viruses will pass through a filter that does not allow bacteria to pass.
   Usually, when viruses enter a living plant or animal cell, they grow, multiply and cause disease. Some can live in a cell without harming the victim (host) cell. But if the same viruses enter another kind of host, they produce disease. In addition to causing plant diseases, some viruses cause animal illness, as distemper in dogs, and colds, mumps and polio in man.
   Viruses have various shapes. They may be spherical, rod-like or bottle-shaped. None of them can move by themselves.
   Chemically, a virus consists of a core of NUCLEIC ACID, either RNA, DNA or both. This core is surrounded by a sheath of non-acid PROTEIN. Some viruses leave the sheath behind when they enter a cell. Others are believed to separate the sheath and acid core right after invading the host cell.
   Once inside a living cell, viruses organize the cytoplasmic activities (enzyme systems) of the host and start to reproduce. Using raw materials supplied by the host cell, virus particles of RNA or DNA make copies of themselves.
   Scientists have been unable to decide whether viruses are living or non-living. Because of their chemical composition, and their behavior within a cell, they appear to be living particles. It has been said that viruses are "cell nuclei in search of some cytoplasm." On the other hand, viruses can be crystallized. In this form, they are inert like non-living substances.