Healthy Living : health

Why crying is GOOD !

0 awareness, benefits, crying, emotional, good, health October 20, 2017

<div class="post-content"><h2 class="title">Why crying is GOOD for you: 5 unusual health benefits you get from tearing-up easily</h2>
People who cry might have a reputation of appearing weak or too emotional.  
This causes some to choke down their emotions instead to appear stronger and in control.
But experts insist that there are some 
unexpected health benefits for people who cry often, including lower 
stress levels, a decrease of toxins in the body, and greater emotional 
awareness.

Researchers have found that crying is a positive
 release of emotions and stress for someone. It allows the body to rid 
itself from toxic stress hormones (file photo)

1. Crying allows a positive release
Crying activates the parasympathetic nervous system in the body to signal to the glands in the eyes to release tears. 
After the crying session is over, the body is able to slow down its breathing and heart rate to a more controlled pace.
This entire experience sends a positive release throughout the body and gives off the feeling of relief for the person. 
One study from the University of South Florida studied how people felt after crying.

The researchers found that almost everyone in the study felt better after a crying session. 
'The overwhelming majority of our participants reported mood improvement after crying,'' the researchers said.
Out of everyone who was studied, more than 88 percent said they felt better after they cried. 
The researchers also found that personality also played a role into who was more likely to enjoy their crying session. 
2. Toxic hormones are flushed from the body
Human tears contain the stress hormone adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). 
People who have higher levels of ACTH in their body are at risk of developing diseases such as Addison's disease. 
This disease can cause extreme fatigue, low blood sugar levels and depression. 
Crying flushes ACTH from the body, which can then make the person feel calmer. 
Tears also contain the hormone prolactin.
This hormone is found in both genders during moments of sexual gratification and interpersonal connections. 
When someone cries, this hormone is 
released in the body to help give off the soothing and calming feeling 
that people feel afterwards.

3. The body's emotional awareness is heightened
Animals cry in order to clear their tear ducts from any debris.  
But Humans are have a different reason for
 tear ducts. They are the only living organism on the planet who cries 
because of how they are feeling. 
A good cry is the body's cue that it is feeling the emotion and therefore it makes it more self-aware. 
By allowing the body to tap into emotions 
of sadness, it can also become more aware of other feelings such as 
happiness, relief and gratitude. 
4. Stress is alleviated 
It can be stressful to attempt to contain your emotions when you don't feel fine. 
But allowing yourself to cry can release tension that has built up in the body. 
Experimental psychologist Alex Goetz, who 
founded leading health risk management company General Health Inc, said:
 'Emotional tears, shed in moments of intense feeling, carry stress 
hormones and are a way of getting rid of them. 
'Even if crying embarrasses you, it signals that you've reached a level of stress that's detrimental to your health.' 
Experts have found that the majority of people who cry immediately feel more relaxed after they are done.  
5. It makes others more comfortable with their emotions
Being open with your emotions towards 
others can help improve relationships and allow for them to also show 
how they are feeling. 
Certain businesses in Japan and the UK have capitalized on having areas where people can openly express their sadness.
'Crying clubs' are spaces where people can go and connect with their emotions without feeling shame. 
This idea first originated in Japan and 
then traveled to England in 2007 when Loss, the first British 'crying 
club', was opened. 
These places play sad music or movies to help people tap into their own emotions.  
People who attend these places find they grow more comfortable witnessing other people cry.  
</div> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MSWbhPCJkqg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Why crying is GOOD !

Why crying is GOOD for you: 5 unusual health benefits you get from tearing-up easily People who cry might have a reputation of appearing we...

How Bad Sleep Can Literally Make You Go Crazy

0 biopolar, hallucination, health, mental, sleeping October 14, 2017

<img alt="shutterstock_107926484.jpg" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5321e6f36da811cf28760448-1000-559/shutterstock_107926484.jpg" style="width:711.002px;height:397.45px;" /> <div class="post-content"><h2 class="title">World Mental Health Day: How Bad Sleep Can Literally Make You Go Crazy</h2>
You probably don’t need scientific evidence to know that lack of 
sleep makes a person very cranky. And the fact that regular sleep has 
such a huge impact on a person’s mood is reason enough to make it a 
priority. The National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that 
insomnia influences depression, anxiety and other psychological 
conditions in at least half of all people who suffer such sleeplessness.
Scientists don’t fully understand why sleep and mood are so 
connected. One study published in Current Biology looked at the 
amygdala, which is part of the deep brain located in the temporal lobe. 
This region is known to play a role in our ability to regulate emotions.
For the study, the researchers showed the participants—who hadn’t 
slept in 35 hours—photos that could be classified as sad. Magnetic 
resonance imaging revealed the sleep-deprived participants had more 
responsive amygdalas. But the links to other areas of the brain were 
weaker, suggesting that the reason people who are sleep deprived tend to
 be emotionally volatile is also due to the lack of response from other 
mental faculties. In short, lack of sleep hinders the ability to 
regulate emotions. 
Keep up with this story and more by subscribing now
"With poor sleep, thoughts can be more negative, and the processing 
of them may be more likely to include negative repetitive loops, or 
rumination, leading to negative emotions," says Jenna Carl, a clinical 
psychologist who specializes in the research and treatment of anxiety, 
depression and insomnia. She is also the medical director of Big Health,
 a digital medicine company that created a program known as Sleepio that
 helps users track their sleeping habits.
A recent paper tested out the program as a way to manage and change 
poor sleep habits and found it also appeared to improve the mental 
health of study participants. The study, published in the October issue 
of The Lancet Psychiatry, involved more than 3,700 college students who 
used the Sleepio program, which is based on cognitive behavioral 
therapy, a type of psychological intervention that focuses on how 
thought processes influence behaviors.
The participants filled out self-reported questionnaires about their 
sleep habits and mental health symptoms such as anxiety and depression 
and more severe problems such as hallucinations and paranoia. They were 
randomly assigned to either the test or control group for six weeks. 
Each participant kept a sleep diary.

<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="text-align:center;height:200px;"><ins style="border:none;height:200px;margin:0;padding:0;width:1200px;background-color:transparent;"><ins style="border:none;height:200px;margin:0;padding:0;width:1200px;background-color:transparent;"><iframe style="width:1200px;height:200px;" width="1200" height="200"></iframe></ins></ins></ins>
The researchers found that at 10 weeks people in the treatment group 
reported far less insomnia and experienced fewer hallucinations and 
less depression, anxiety and paranoia than people in the control group.
It turns out that keeping a consistent sleep schedule and getting at 
least eight hours a night could be one of the most effective ways to 
manage existing psychological conditions. Mental health 
professionals emphasize the importance of getting plenty of sleep since 
it's one of the most effective ways to control symptoms of depression, 
anxiety and bipolar disorder. "Historically, clinicians believed that 
sleep difficulties were merely symptoms of anxiety and depression and 
would resolve when good mental health was restored," says Carl. 
But it's also important to remember that changes in sleeping habits 
can also be a sign of mental health problems. According to the Sleep 
Foundation, people with insomnia are 10 times more likely to have 
clinical depression and 17 times as likely to suffer from anxiety.
For people who struggle with bipolar disorder, insomnia is a 
significant problem. At the same time, lack of sleep can also increase 
the severity of a person’s manic episode. For that reason alone, sleep 
disturbance is considered a core symptom of bipolar disorder. "The 
advantage of sleep is that it is a far less stigmatized topic than 
anxiety or depression, making it a great starting point for addressing 
these conditions," says Carl.
</div>

How Bad Sleep Can Literally Make You Go Crazy

World Mental Health Day: How Bad Sleep Can Literally Make You Go Crazy You probably don’t need scientific evidence to know that lack of sl...

How to Exercise for Brain Health

0 brain, briskwalk, exercise, health, taichi October 13, 2017

<img alt="boost-brain-health_1-1024x808.jpg" class="irc_mi" height="603" src="http://watchfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/boost-brain-health_1-1024x808.jpg" style="margin-top:0px;width:561.259px;height:442.983px;" width="764" /><div class="post-content"><h2 class="title">How to Exercise for Brain Health</h2>

(CONSUMER REPORTS) You have many good reasons to become more 
physically active: Doing so can boost mood, help maintain a healthy 
weight, and keep muscles strong. Now a growing body of evidence suggests
 that workouts may have brain benefits as well.
Much of the research on brain health and exercise is focused on 
aerobics. Yet a recent analysis from the University of Canberra in 
Australia found that certain nonaerobic activities can also help improve
 brain function in people over 50.
“Even when people did have some level of decline already, they were 
actually able to improve their cognitive function,” says the study’s 
author, Joseph Northey, a Ph.D. candidate in sport and exercise science.
We reviewed the most recent research to find tips on optimizing your 
exercise routine to help improve your brain health and keep your mind 
sharp.
Take a Brisk Walk
If you don’t exercise now, it’s easy to start. Just walk out your door and keep going.
It’s fine to start small. Build up from 10 minutes walking a day 
until you get to at least 30, says Elissa Burton, Ph.D., a research 
fellow in the school of physiotherapy and exercise science at Curtin 
University in Australia.
And if you can, pick up your pace. Getting your heart rate up will 
maximize the benefits to your brain, according to Helen Macpherson, 
Ph.D., a dementia research fellow at Deakin University in Australia. 
That means you should be exercising at an intensity where you start to 
find it difficult to have a conversation.
Do More Than the Minimum
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that older 
adults get 150 minutes of this sort of moderately intense aerobic 
exercise each week, which is five 30-minute workouts. But the biggest 
boost in brain health in the Canberra study was linked to exercise 
sessions of 45 to 60 minutes.
So try consolidating some workouts into a longer session. Or gradually work up to 45 to 60 minutes, five days per week.
Try Tai Chi
This Chinese martial art, which consists of slow, rhythmic movements,
 was one of several types of exercise tied to improved cognitive 
functioning in the recent Canberra study.
Plus it’s low-impact, which can be good for people who haven’t been 
active in awhile, Northey says. It’s also easy on your joints.
To learn the proper technique, it’s best to seek out a local class, 
Northey says. You can find instructors near you who are certified by the
 American Tai Chi and Qigong Association.
Resistance Training Can Help, Too
Resistance training, exercise that causes muscles to contract, is 
meant to strengthen, but it may also help protect against cognitive 
decline. And you don’t need weights or other equipment, Northey says. 
The CDC recommends resistance training at least twice per week. Here are
 three tips to get you started:
Stand up, sit down, repeat. As long as you’re steady on your feet, 
try standing up from a chair without using your hands. Do this in sets 
of five or more anytime you find yourself sitting around the house.
Make daily tasks harder. Choose stairs over elevators and escalators.
 You’ll get an aerobic workout and build muscle at the same time.
Join a class. Northey’s study found that group programs incorporating
 resistance and aerobic training were beneficial for the brain. Check 
out the offerings at your local YMCA or senior center, and remember to 
talk with your doctor before you start any new exercise program.

</div>

How to Exercise for Brain Health

How to Exercise for Brain Health (CONSUMER REPORTS) You have many good reasons to become more physically active: Doing so can boost mood...

HEALTH QUICKIES

0 food, health, lemon, protein, quikies, vitaminc October 12, 2017

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4C-gxOE0j7s/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4C-gxOE0j7s?feature=player_embedded" width="720"></iframe></div>
 
My schedule has been cray cray lately. When the pace of life is super
 fast, it’s NOT the time to put taking care of yourself on hold. 
 
It’s the time to give your body even more TLC so you have the stamina
 to show up w/ high energy. How can you prioritize health when your 
schedule is jammed? Meet health QUICKIES. 
 
a smart-fun-fast way to keep your mind + body healthy when time crunched. 
 
Apply grapefruit essential oil on your wrists for an energy burst 
 
Sprinkle cayenne pepper on a meal for a metabolism boost

Add shot glass of sauerkraut to a meal for better mood & craving control 
 
Deep breathe for 16 seconds to change your brain to be happier, more present, less frazzled 
 
Cut a lemon into 4 wedges & drink a cup of HLW for vitamin-C rich hydration 
 
Rinse/store canned beans in fridge for quick plant-protein 
 
Make air-popped popcorn for a whole grain snack

Make this super fast green juice to have with a snack or meal 
 
Try this full body workout to improve strength & stamina 
 
Broil salmon to top salads or avocado toast and get a dose of healthy omega-3 fats 
 
Don’t wait another second. 
 
Start using health QUICKIES TODAY! 
 </div>

HEALTH QUICKIES

My schedule has been cray cray lately. When the pace of life is super fast, it’s NOT the time to put taking care of yourself on hold. ...

Health & Wellness: The Energy Drink Issue

0 Drinks, energy, health October 08, 2017

Long days, a lot of runs, sleepless nights, several shifts in a row. 
It’s not surprising that coffee is a staple at firehouses across the 
country. Increasingly, firefighters also are consuming energy drinks to 
get the extra boost they need to make it through their shifts. 
 While sales of soda are sliding due to health concerns and a 
struggling economy, the rate of sales for energy drinks are steadily 
growing. Redbull and Monster have long dominated the energy drink market
 and sell a combined $8 billion worth of product annually.1

Impact of caffeine
 The topic of energy drinks has been receiving some increased scrutiny
 in the fire service after the June 10, 2017, collapse of a Kansas City 
firefighter during a routine training on a warm day. He ended up in a 
week-long coma due to heat stroke. According to his cardiologist, the 
firefighter’s use of energy drinks may have contributed to the severity 
of the event due to the diuretic effect of caffeine contained in the 
drinks.
 Unfortunately, the incident was not an isolated event. A report from 
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 
found rates of emergency room visits due to energy drinks doubling 
between 2007 and 2011.2
 But it remains unclear how dangerous energy drinks are, what 
constitutes an appropriate or safe level of use, and whether they are 
something that firefighters can or should use on a regular basis.
 An 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee hosts about 95 mg of caffeine. While a
 12-oz. Redbull or 16-oz. Monster have similar amounts of caffeine to 
brewed coffee, others can have twice that amount, and energy “shots” can
 host up to three times the caffeine of coffee.
 There is no exact universal amount of caffeine that is appropriate 
for all people. The amount of caffeine and the effect it has on any 
given person varies by personal factors, such as BMI, medication use, 
genetics, age, medical disorders, and how much caffeine the person 
typically consumes. Bodies can build a tolerance to caffeine, requiring 
more of it for the same effect over time.
 As with any drug, caffeine also has addictive properties, and 
stopping can lead to withdrawal. According to a report by Dr. Catherine 
Striley3 in the Journal of Caffeine Research, 35 percent of people meet 
the diagnostic criteria for caffeine dependence. Withdrawal can lead to 
headaches, aches and pains, depression and irritability. 
 The level of caffeine in energy drinks may not be the only concern. 
Several other ingredients common to energy drinks or shots have other 
energy-enhancing ingredients— taurine, guarana, yerba, and green tree 
extract—that mimic the effects of caffeine.   
 According to a report by Dr. Fahad Ali published in the journal 
Postgraduate Medicine,4 the most common negative effects of energy 
drinks are cardiovascular and neurological. Of particular concern in his
 review of the literature was the interaction of ingredients. While the 
ingredients have all been found to be safe on their own, research on the
 combinations is limited.
 A few literature reviews have been conducted on the health effects of
 energy drinks, examining results across individual studies to form 
conclusions on the science thus far. Many of the beneficial and negative
 physiologic, cognitive, behavioral and performance effects of energy 
drinks likely come from the caffeine and taurine content.

The upside
 There are benefits associated with energy drinks as well. Energy 
drinks have been associated with increased cognitive and physical 
performance.5 Research examining the effect of energy drinks on 
cognition has found increased memory performance, improved performance 
on information processing tasks, improved performance on six composite 
cognitive function measures, and increased alertness. There was also 
evidence of improvement on subjective measures, such as anxiety and 
levels of stress. 
 The effects of energy drinks on physical performance have also been 
positive, likely due to taurine.6 Energy drinks have been found to 
improve physical performance in muscle strength and endurance, endurance
 exercise tests, jumping, and sport-specific movements, but not 
sprinting. 
The downside
 While there are some researched benefits of energy drinks, there also
 have been a number of negative effects noted.5 Multiple self-report 
surveys and a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial found 
insomnia, nervousness, increased pulse rate/palpitations, and activeness
 to be the most common side effects.
 Energy drinks have been shown to have negative effects on the 
cardiovascular system.5 Among normal healthy individuals, energy drinks 
have been shown to significantly increase mean 24-hour systolic, 
diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure when compared to a simple 
caffeine solution with similar levels of caffeine as a cup of coffee. 
Thus, energy drink consumption is not recommended for those with high 
blood pressure. Myocardial contractility, or the innate ability of the 
heart to contract, can be also increased by consumption of energy drinks
 containing both caffeine and taurine, which may be dangerous for those 
with cardiac arrhythmia. 
 Looking at 17 case studies of acute cardiovascular events associated 
with energy drink consumption, only one case had any sign of previous 
cardiac disease, and there were no predisposing cardiac abnormalities in
 most cases.5 The high caffeine content of energy drinks, and 
consumption of multiple drinks, are likely associated with the 
cardiovascular complications in these cases.

Energy drinks and alcohol
 The FDA announced in November 2010 that caffeine was an unsafe food 
additive to alcoholic beverages, which eliminated the pre-mixed 
alcoholic energy drink market.5 However, drinks such as “Red Bull 
Vodkas” are still sold and widely consumed at bars. Mixing energy drinks
 with alcohol has been associated with binge drinking, risky sexual 
behavior, and driving while intoxicated. Another concern with mixing 
energy drinks and alcohol is the possibility the caffeine content from 
the energy drinks will keep the individual awake longer, extending the 
drinking session and therefore encouraging intoxication. 
More research is needed
 Self-report and clinical studies have shown negative health effects 
of energy drinks, but there is still much more that needs to be 
answered. One of the main concerns about energy beverages revolves 
around the lack of research on the interaction of the ingredients. While
 many of the ingredients in energy beverages are generally recognized as
 safe on their own within a certain range of doses, the safety of the 
effect of these ingredients together has not been examined in depth, 
especially in the long term.7 Further, many consume more than the 
recommended one can serving per day, or may drink other caffeinated 
beverages during the day.  
 Another concern is the lack of regulation around energy beverages. 
The United States has one of the least stringent regulatory systems for 
energy beverages.7 Energy beverages are classified as dietary 
supplements, which doesn’t require the strict regulation food products 
endure. For example, energy beverage companies are only required to list
 the ingredients, not the amount of the ingredient on the label. In 
2012, Consumer Reports examined the level of caffeine in 20 popular 
energy beverages. It found that of the 16 that listed a specific amount 
of caffeine, five had caffeine levels more than 20 percent of what was 
listed on the label.8 So an individual may know they are consuming 
caffeine in their energy drink, but either not know how much is in that 
drink, or the amount contained differs from the amount reported.

Firefighters and hydration
 The firefighting environment poses many challenges to maintaining 
hydration. Firefighting tasks have been found to be particularly 
stressful and lead to dehydration.9 The heat stress associated with 
being in encapsulating gear in a high-heat environment is the perfect 
environment for dehydration.
 A study by Gavin Horn and colleagues in the journal Prehospital 
Emergency Care suggests that firefighters often are dehydrated even when
 they arrive on the fire ground or at training.9 Energy drinks in 
particular, and caffeine in general, work as diuretics, which also can 
lead to dehydration. Consuming energy drinks and high levels of caffeine
 without proper water consumption may exacerbate dehydration during 
firefighting tasks.
What is a firefighter to do?
 Given energy drinks are used to combat tiredness, working to avoid 
extreme tiredness as much as possible is an important step for avoiding 
needing energy drinks on a regular basis. Sleep hygiene and trying to 
get as much sleep as you need when you are off duty is as important as 
getting sleep on duty. For busy stations where you will likely be awake 
during the night, try to get a nap during the day. Drinking caffeine 
immediately before taking a short nap might be the best way to combat 
fatigue.
 Pay attention to the quality of the sleep you are getting. More than 
80 percent of firefighters report symptoms of sleep disorders, but most 
have not received a diagnosis or treatment.10 If you snore or have other
 symptoms of sleep disorders, discuss them with your doctor.

Do not count energy drinks toward your hydration goal for the day. 
Trying to hydrate yourself with water once you are on shift is too late 
to combat dehydration. Make water your staple beverage and be sure to 
drink up (the water that is) the day before you go on shift. If you are 
drinking a lot of caffeine or energy drinks, you may need to up your 
water intake even more. 
 As with most things, moderation is key. What is most important for 
the fire service is being responsible consumers of what they are taking 
in to their bodies. While there is no specific rule for safe caffeine 
consumption, 400 mg a day is typically recommended as safe. That amount 
is approximately 4 cups of brewed coffee, 10 sodas or just 2 energy 
shots—or one depending on the type of shot. For those who use energy 
drinks to stay awake and alert, it is important to know how much 
caffeine and sugar is being consumed and titrate both the consumption of
 energy drinks and other caffeine containing products as appropriate. 
References
 1. Top Selling Energy Drink Brands. March 14, 2016 caffeineinformer.com/the-15-top-energy-drink-brands.
 2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center 
for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. The DAWN Report: Update on
 Emergency Department Visists Involving Energy Drinks: A Continuing 
Public Health Concern. Rockville, MD; 2013.
 3. Striley, CLW; Griffiths, RR; Cottler, LB. Evaluating Dependence 
Criteria for Caffeine. J Caffeine Res. 2011;1(4):219-225. 
doi:10.1089/jcr.2011.0029.
 4. Ali, F; Rehman, H; Babayan, Z; Stapleton, D; Joshi, D-D. Energy 
drinks and their adverse health effects: A systematic review of the 
current evidence. Postgrad Med. 2015;127(3):308-322. 
doi:10.1080/00325481.2015.1001712.
 5. ManchesterJulianne, EshelInbal, W M. The Benefits and Risks of 
Energy Drinks in Young Adults and Military Service Members. Mil Med. 
July 2017. doi:10.7205/MILMED-D-16-00339.
 6. Souza, DB; Del Coso, J; Casonatto, J; Polito, MD. Acute effects of
 caffeine-containing energy drinks on physical performance: a systematic
 review and meta-analysis. Eur J Nutr. 2017;56(1):13-27. 
doi:10.1007/s00394-016-1331-9.
 7. Higgins, JP; Tuttle, TD; Higgins, CL. Energy Beverages: Content 
and Safety. Mayo Clin Proc. 2010;85(11):1033-1041. 
doi:10.4065/mcp.2010.0381.

Health & Wellness: The Energy Drink Issue

Long days, a lot of runs, sleepless nights, several shifts in a row. It’s not surprising that coffee is a staple at firehouses across the ...

Why crying is GOOD !

How Bad Sleep Can Literally Make You Go Crazy

How to Exercise for Brain Health

HEALTH QUICKIES

Health & Wellness: The Energy Drink Issue

Popular Posts

Blog Archive