Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Monday, August 30, 2021
Sunday, August 29, 2021
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Friday, August 27, 2021
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
BLOG 334 SNORING
BLOG 334 SNORING
Snoring is the occasional or chronic noise produced during sleep that happens when air flows through the throat causes tissues to vibrate during breathing. This noise can be disruptive to others near the sleeper and might be the sign of an actual health problem. Three possible solutions to snoring include losing weight, sleeping on your side, or not consuming alcohol near bedtime.
There are a number of factors that can cause snoring. When we sleep, the muscles of the throat and tongue relax. These muscles can be so relaxed that they block part of the airway and vibrate. The anatomy of a person’s mouth can increase their risk for becoming a snorer. People who are overweight have extra tissues in the back of their throats that can block the airway. A person might have an elongated uvula (the triangular piece of tissue that hangs from the roof of the mouth). Nasal congestion or having a deviated septum can lead to snoring. Sleeping on the back narrows the airway. Being sleep deprived and overly tired increases the risk for snoring. Finally, alcohol can actually relax the throat muscles causing their functioning to become impaired. Snoring can actually be hereditary, and men are at higher risk to be snorers.
For some snorers, the condition can be more serious and considered to be a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Some of the tell-tale signs include having a soar throat upon wakening, gasping or chocking during the night, being very tired during the day, having chest pain at night, and overall having restless sleep at night. People with OSA usually experienced bouts of slow breathing during the night and even might stop breathing a few times. For diagnosis, a doctor might request an x-ray of the airway or refer the person to complete a sleep study. The person will stay at an overnight sleep center and perform a polysomnography. Information will be obtained regarding heart rate, eye and leg movement, brain waives, blood oxygen levels, and breathing rate. A doctor might then create a mouthpiece for the patient that keeps the airway passage open. The doctor might prescribe a continuous positive airway passage (CPAP) mask to wear which directs pressurized air to keep the airway passage open. Surgery is also an option to open up the airway.
Sleep should not be deprived for the sleeper or those in the same vicinity. Methods to try first include losing weight, sleeping on the side, limiting nighttime alcohol use, using nasal strips, raising the head about 4 inches up, treating nasal congestion and allergies. Getting enough sleep is also of importance. Sleep is associated with quite, relaxation, and peace, not noise and frustration. Be courteous to others and take the steps to lower the volume so that everyone can enjoy their head to pillow time at night.
Monday, August 23, 2021
Friday, August 20, 2021
Thursday, August 19, 2021
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
BLOG 333 APPENDIX
BLOG 333 APPENDIX
I’m not talking about the kind at the end of a book. I’m talking about your body part the appendix, which the thin 4-inch tube at the junction of your small and large intestine located in the lower right abdomen. Some say it has no purpose. Others say it is the storage unit for the good bacteria of our digestive system, coming to the rescue after a bad bout of diarrhea. For whatever reason, the good old appendix has stayed with us through evolution.
Monday, August 16, 2021
Sunday, August 15, 2021
Saturday, August 14, 2021
Friday, August 13, 2021
BLOG 332 CIGARS vs CIGARRETTS:
BLOG 332 CIGARS vs CIGARRETTS
Which is the lesser of two cancer causing evils??
While both cigars and cigarettes contain tobacco, there are
some differences between these two forms of smoking. The obvious, visible
difference is that a cigar is wrapped in leaf tobacco, while a cigarette is
wrapped in paper that does not contain tobacco. In general, cigars are bigger,
more expensive, last longer and thicker, and have more tobacco.
Regardless, both types can cause cancer.
One cigar can contain as much tobacco as one pack of cigarettes,
which is close to 200 mg of nicotine. Cigarettes contain about 10 mg of
nicotine. Therefore, cigars are typically saved for special occasions and
events. Cigar smoking is often considered more sophisticated. They’re more
popular in the U.S. then other places in the world, and more popular among men
than women. Cigars have a masculine appeal and are associated with capitalism. Statistics
show that 21% of adults smoke cigarettes, while 2.2% of adults smoke cigars.
This is why people tend to focus more on the health risks of cigarettes because
they are more widely used. However, cigars contain more cancerous chemicals
than cigarettes as well as more tar. Those who wish to disbelieve this
information believe that because cigars are not inhaled into the lungs, they do
not cause cancer. Cigars pose a threat to cancer anywhere they touch. Even if
not lung cancer, one has to consider that cigars do pose quite the risk for mouth
and throat cancer.
Those who are around cigar smokers also experience second
hand smoke equivalent of smoking a cigarette. The type of tobacco leaf used for
a cigar wrapper increases the concentration of toxic chemicals emitted when
burned, mores so than the paper of cigarettes. These chemicals include ammonia,
tar, and carbon monoxide.
Cigar smoking causes double the risk for airway damage that
causes lung disease. This leads to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. Asthma can become exasperated. The risk for
heart disease and stroke also increases. Teeth become stained, gum disease can
develop, tooth loss can occur, and bad breath become regular.
The bottom line is that when it comes to smoking, it’s your
call. Nicotine is highly addictive and habit forming. For some, quitting seems
impossible and picking up the habit has lasted for years and years. Others can
stick to just social occasions. The mind and body learn to crave nicotine and
the withdrawals can be troublesome. Occasional smoking still can have poor
health consequences. The lungs can return close to their original functioning
over time once the nicotine stops entering. The functioning of the cilia which
clean and repair the system, can reverse some of the damage, but this is not to
be relied upon. It’s easy to find yourself addicted and hard to quit, so the
best choice is not to start.
Thursday, August 12, 2021
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Monday, August 9, 2021
Sunday, August 8, 2021
Saturday, August 7, 2021
Thursday, August 5, 2021
Wednesday, August 4, 2021
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
BLOG 331 TYPES OF FATS
BLOG 331 TYPES OF FATS
Society deems the term “fat” in a derogatory manner for sure. The word doesn’t shout positive images or associations with good concepts. Our bodies do need fat. Over the years we have learned of low-fat, less-fat, and reduced fat items. So what are the healthy fats we are supposed to have?? Let’s take a look at good vs. bad fats for us.