Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
It is not a secret that men are less likely to see their doctors on a regular basis than women. But skipping that visit to the doctor can leave you unprotected and unprepared for some conditions that might already be harming your body without your knowledge.
On Tuesday, Planned Parenthood announced the launch of an app that gives women the ability to receive STD testing and treatment, right in the comfort of their own homes.
The saying, “You learn something new every day” is, in fact, true. With each day that passes, your brain acquires new memories – learning how to ride a bike, where you parked your car, the name of your new boss. But how much of this “memory space” does your brain actually have? And can your brain suddenly “run-out” of it?
Nelson Cowan, cognitive psychologist at the University of Missouri explains, “It’s not like each memory takes a cell and then that cell is used up. Over a long period of time, memories are encoded in neural patterns – circuits of connected neurons. And your brain’s ability to knit together new patterns is limitless, so theoretically the number of memories stored in those patterns is limitless as well.”
Many times, your memories combine, creating a kind-of memory interference. A good example of this happens when one tries to learn similar languages at the same time; Spanish and Italian, though they have very similar sounding words and pronunciations, can cause an interference or confusion that researchers are trying to figure out. Cowan assumes, “…two different ideas that are similar have similarities in the patterns of brain activity. Your brain has to settle into the right pattern, and if you are confused, your memory can fail when you settle on the wrong pattern.” This does not mean that your brain has run out of space; It means that it is trying to sort out all of the information that it is quickly taking in. So, according to Cowan, the capability to store information in your brain for the long-term can actually be endless.
How to Power Your Memory and Brain Health by Jerry Hickey, R. Ph
Short-term memory, however, seems to fill to capacity. If you are overworking your brain and trying to juggle too much information at one time, it seems that your short-term memory just can’t handle it. This explains why you can honestly never remember the name of the
person you just met or what you needed to do before you got interrupted by that phone call. Researchers like Cowen say that the number of items that people can actually retain in their short-term memory is very limited. However, by mentally assigning a meaning or group to an item or idea (Think: FBI, CIA, IRS…), short-term memory can actually be turned into long-term memories. Some memories that are forgotten can actually be for good reason. Joe Tsien, a neurologist who runs the Brain Decoding Project at Georgia Regents University, explains, “Our brains aren’t designed to store an infinite amount of information.”
How to Optimize Your Brain by Willie Hernandez, MS, CNS – from energy to circulation!
A study published earlier this year in Nature Neuroscience used neuro-imaging to reveal how learning something new promotes forgetting. They discovered that when two ideas compete with each other, the brain rallies inhibitory mechanisms to help, suppressing the distracting idea. The networks that are trying to hold on to older memories can’t continue to do so, so new memories are created in their place. However, even though older memories are replaced with new ones, Cowen explains, “The memories might still be there because memories depend on context.” This explains how you can still remember the name of the waitress at TGIF Friday’s when you’re sitting in the restaurant or how you can remember the name of the bartender while sitting with some friends at your favorite bar.
Your brain is continuously working to absorb information. Because of this, it is easy to think that eventually your brain will not be able to store any more information. Thanks to science and research, we now know that your brain does the opposite, by forming different methods to remember information – context, grouping items and memories together, forgetting old memories. So don’t feel bad when you can’t remember the name of your new co-worker. Just blame it on your short-term memory!
Source: http://www.msn.com
The FDA has finally taken action against the use of PHOs (Partially Hydrogenated Oils) in the United States food supply, a major source of artificial trans fat.
Men do not usually follow a skincare regimen as most women do. According to a study by the NPD Group, a consumer market research company, only one-quarter of men currently use facial cleansers, moisturizers, or other skin products. It’s safe to assume that most men …
The summer brings more than just heat. From sunburns to jellyfish stings, there is always something that could go wrong while having a good time out in the sun. But how do you usually deal with these incidents? Many of us follow the advice passed down by family, friends or word-of-mouth – never swim on a full stomach, urine gets rid of the stinging after getting stung by a jellyfish or even using butter on a sunburn. But how accurate is this advice we commonly use during the summer? The fact is, they’re mostly all myths.
Myth: Butter on a Sunburn
Margaret E. Parsons, MD, associate clinical professor for the University of California says, “Butter is just moisturizer with no specific burn-healing properties. Cool ice-milk compresses (crushed ice and milk on towels) are soothing. The coolness works as an anti-inflammatory and the milk won’t irritate the skin. A day or two after the burn cools down, keep the skin moisturized for healing.” In other words, save the butter for cooking. An alternative is to use petroleum jelly or aloe vera to soothe and heal the skin, while keeping it moisturized in the summer sun.
Myth: Poison Ivy is Contagious
Dr. Parsons explains, “You react to poison ivy, poison oak and sumac when the plant’s chemical urushiol gets on your skin. Once the chemical is washed off, you can’t spread the rash by scratching it or scratching others. Since the rash often develops two to three days after exposure, the chemical is always certainly washed off.” According the American Academy of Dermatology, this delayed reaction can give the illusion that the rash is spreading when it really is not. Dr. Parsons suggests immediately washing clothes and exposed skin after contact with poison ivy.
Myth: Salt Water Heals Wounds
The difference between salt water from the ocean and the saline that your doctor uses to flush out your cuts and scrapes, is that the saline is carefully produced with pure water and salt, like what is in your body, explains Sandra Fryhofer, MD, ex-president of the American College of Physicians and a clinical associate professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. Saltwater, once in contact with the wound, can actually irritate it because saltwater contains infection-causing bacteria. Dr. Fryhofer recommends cleaning scrapes and cuts with clean water and mild soap before heading to the beach in the summer.
Myth: Tanning before Tanning Helps Prevent Sunburns
According to the AAD, the UV rays from the sun and tanning beds alter the skin cells’ DNA which can potentially cause skin cancer. Though, “There are some skin types that burn less once they have some tan, it’s a false sense of security because the damage from tanning is done whether you burn or not,” says Dr. Parsons. If you plan to tan (or will just be outside in the summer sun) always use sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful rays.
Myth: Too Much Air Conditioning Can Make You Sick
When researchers studied how cold temperatures affected nasal cavity mucous membranes in the 90s and speculated cold temperatures could lower the body’s resistance to infections, the myth that air conditioning could make you sick was born. Dr. Parsons explains, “A chill doesn’t cause a cold. You have to be exposed to a virus to get a cold. However, if the vents to your air conditioning unit aren’t clean, you can then be exposed to mold that can affect allergies.” Be sure to clean out your air conditioners vents and filters every few months.
Myth: Urine Helps Relieve a Jellyfish Sting
We’ve all heard the rumor that pouring urine on the sting is the best thing to do after a person is stung by a jellyfish. But, we’re here to tell you, it does not help relieve the pain or sting. Instead, Dr. Parsons suggests splashing seawater on the affected area or using a credit card to remove any part of the jellyfish that is still remaining on the body, like its tentacles. Using fresh water and rubbing a towel on the area will cause the tentacles left behind to release more venom. If on hand, Dr. Parsons explains that it is best to use vinegar to wash the area and baking soda to relive the stinging.
Myth: Don’t Swim on a Full Stomach
It makes sense that after eating, your body won’t be comfortable doing a strenuous activity like swimming. The common myth, Dr. Parsons says, is that right after you eat, your muscles don’t work as well because your blood is busy breaking down food. However, as far as being able to jump right in after a big meal, be our guest. You might feel comfortable but it is not because of your muscles.
Myth: Mosquitoes Target Those with “Sweet” Blood
Dr. Fryhofer explains, “There is some evidence that some people are more susceptible to mosquito bites but it’s not necessarily because their blood tastes better. People who have O-type blood seem to be more susceptible to mosquitoes because they just happen to emit an odor that mosquitoes like.” To make sure you are not their next meal, wear long pants, long sleeves and use bug repellent.
Myth: A Scrape Should be “Aired Out” To Form a Scab
This is just not true and, for doctors, this is the number one excuse for not covering up a wound. Dr. Parsons states, “Skin cells grow best in a thin layer of ointment, like petroleum jelly. Scabs make it harder for skin cells to grow. Plus, a scabbed wound is more likely to scar.” Always use an ointment and cover up your wounds!
Source: http://www.msn.com