Monthly Archives: April 2008
- April 29, 2008
- Do humans really use only 10 to 20 percent of their brains?
There are many different nonscientific answers to this question. A wife might argue that her husband uses less than 10 percent of his brain at times, a coach often tells his players that they aren’t using their heads enough, and we often think that our politicians don’t use their brains at all. The truth is [...]
- April 27, 2008
- Does your heart stop when you sneeze?
When you sneeze, it changes the pressure inside your chest (intrathoracic pressure) and this affects blood flow to the heart. This alteration in blood flow can temporarily affect the beating of the heart, but it most definitely will not stop.
By the way, the medical term for a sneeze is sternutation. Throw that one around and [...]
- April 21, 2008
- Do copper bracelets help with rheumatism?
This was a question from Billy’s wife’s grandmother. We love the term rheumatism. It’s so old-fashioned and dramatic and makes you think about other illnesses like lumbago, dropsy, or the fits. Rheumatism isn’t a term that is used in hospitals, but is generally used to refer to arthritis.
Arthritis doesn’t refer to one specific condition, but [...]
- April 20, 2008
- Do men experience menopause too?
The concept of male menopause and the need for hormone replacement therapy as a treatment is a highly controversial topic. The many names that are used to describe these changes in an aging male include andropause, viropause, male climacteric, ADAM (Androgen Decline in the Aging Male) syndrome, Aging Male Syndrome (AMS), or late-onset hypogonadism. Some [...]
- April 16, 2008
- Is it dangerous to hold it when you have to pee?
My junior high school biology teacher instilled fear in our young hearts when he told us that if we got into a car accident with a full bladder, the bladder could rupture. He was right. In general, a full bladder ruptures more easily than an empty bladder.
This doesn’t mean that your bladder will explode if [...]
- April 14, 2008
- Can diets high in fat throw off the body’s internal clock?
Diets high in fat can throw off the body’s internal clock, a new study by researchers at Northwestern University has found.
The study, published in Cell Metabolism, found that mice fed a fatty diet for two weeks showed significant behavioural changes. Their sleep/wake cycle lengthened suggesting the brain mechanism that controls the timing of activity and [...]
- April 13, 2008
- Is coffee a health drink?
Coffee is not usually thought of as health food, but a number of recent studies suggest that it can be a highly beneficial drink. Researchers have found strong evidence that coffee reduces the risk of several serious ailments, including diabetes, heart disease and cirrhosis of the liver.
Among them is a systematic review of studies published [...]
- April 12, 2008
- Why is listeriosis especially dangerous for pregnant women and their children?
Hormonal changes during pregnancy have an effect on the mother’s immune system, which leads to an increased susceptibility to listeriosis in the mother. According to the American Centre for Disease Control, pregnant women are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis. In fact, about one-third of listeriosis cases result during [...]
- April 11, 2008
- Does internet use cause a decline in psychological well-being?
Internet use appears to cause a decline in psychological well-being, according to research at Carnegie Mellon University.
Even people who spent just a few hours a week on the Internet experienced more depression and loneliness than those who logged on less frequently, the two-year study showed. And it wasn’t that people who were already feeling bad [...]
- April 11, 2008
- What is the difference between food infection and food poisoning?
Food borne diseases can be divided into food infection and food poisoning. The popular media tends to describe all food-related illnesses as “food poisoning”, but strictly speaking, this is incorrect.
Food poisoning is caused by consuming foods that contain toxins. These toxins can be produced by micro organisms, can occur naturally in the food (for [...]
- April 9, 2008
- Is there a risk for Enterobacter sakazakii when breast-feeding?
In the current state of knowledge, no exclusively breastfed infants have been reported to have Enterobacter sakazakii infections. Based on the available information, in 50-80 % of cases, powdered infant formula is both the vehicle and the source (direct or indirect) of E. sakazakii induced illness.
- April 9, 2008
- How does water go bad?
Many people store water for emergencies. This is especially true in rural areas where drinking water comes from private wells. These wells are useless unless there is power to run the pump. If you are trying to store water safely, today’s question is a great one!
It turns out that there are two ways for water [...]
- April 9, 2008
- Can vitamin D lower risk of major cancers?
Cancer researchers urged people on Wednesday to take more vitamin D to lower their risk of colon, breast and ovarian cancer, saying studies showed a clear link.
“Our suggestion is for people to increase their intake,” through diet or a vitamin supplement, Dr. Cedric Garland said in a telephone interview.
Garland’s research team reviewed 63 [...]
- April 8, 2008
- Will staring at an eclipse make you go blind?
Things to avoid staring at:
a woman’s cleavage
a large facial mole
a couple making out in public
the sunThe answer to this question is that you probably will not go blind, but staring at an eclipse can indeed cause harm.
The eclipse of the sun on August 11, 1999, put many people at risk of solar retinopathy. Solar retinopathy [...]
- April 8, 2008
- Will food that is stored in a freezer for a long period of time be safe to eat?
Safe food that’s properly handled and stored at -18° C or below will remain safe. Only the quality of foods suffers with lengthy freezer storage. Tenderness, flavour, aroma, juiciness, and colour of frozen foods can all be affected.
- April 8, 2008
- Why eye color changes as people age?
It can bend light, bring the world into focus, and next to the human brain may be our most complicated organ. But for many people the most intriguing feature of the human eye is simply its color.
Can it really change for no apparent reason?
In most people, the answer is no. Eye color fully matures in [...]
- April 8, 2008
- What is Enterobacter sakazakii?
Enterobacter sakazakii is a bacterium belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae , which contains a number of bacterial species found in the human and animal gut and the environment. The microorganism has been implicated in outbreaks causing meningitis or enteritis, especially in infants.
In the few outbreaks reported 20% to >50% of the infants who contracted [...]
- April 8, 2008
- What can you do to prevent E. coli O157:H7 infection?
Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a pathogenic variety of the E. coli bacterium, which has been associated with beef.
Cook all ground beef and hamburger thoroughly. Because ground beef can turn brown before disease-causing bacteria are killed, use a digital instant-read meat thermometer to ensure thorough cooking. Ground beef should be cooked until a thermometer inserted [...]
- April 8, 2008
- What is Listeria?
Listeria is a type of bacteria found everywhere in soil and ground water and on plants. Animals and people can carry Listeria in their bodies without becoming sick. Despite being so widespread, most infections in humans result from eating contaminated foods.
Most people are not at increased risk for listeriosis. However, there are some people [...]
- April 8, 2008
- Where is the name Listeria from?
The bacterium Listeria was named in honour of Joseph Lister (1827-1912), an English surgeon, who introduced modern antiseptic surgery. He demonstrated in 1865 that carbolic acid was an effective antiseptic agent, decreasing postoperative fatalities from infection.
- April 7, 2008
- Is there a risk for Enterobacter sakazakii infection in day-care centers?
It is recommended by the WHO that caregivers to infants, particularly those at high risk (children less than 1 year old), should be regularly alerted to the fact that powdered infant formula is not a sterile product. In situations where the mother cannot breastfeed, or chooses not to breastfeed for any reason, caregivers should use, [...]
- April 7, 2008
- Why do people need less sleep when they get older?
Actually, people do not need less sleep as they get older.
The body’s sleep requirements remain constant throughout our lives. The average total sleep time, however, actually increases slightly after age sixty-five. This sounds like something to be excited about, but not really. The problem is that as you age, you have more difficulty falling asleep. [...]
- April 7, 2008
- Why does caffeine keep people awake?
Caffeine interrupts our daily sleeping patterns by altering the chemical reactions in our brain.
An addictive drug that 90% of Americans consume every day, caffeine prevents us from getting our ZZZZs by increasing nerve activity in our bodies-keeping us alert and hyperactive.
After drinking a hot cup of caffeinated coffee, the caffeine causes three different chemical [...]
- April 7, 2008
- Can sugarless yoghurt help beat bad breath?
Sugarless yoghurt could help beat bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease, say scientists.
Japanese researchers found eating the yoghurt reduced levels of hydrogen sulphide - a major cause of bad breath - in 80% of volunteers. The key are active bacteria in yogurt, specifically Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus.
Details were presented at a [...]
- April 7, 2008
- Several erroneous viewpoints about diet
Many primitive peoples believed that by eating an animal they could get some of the good qualities of that animal for themselves. They thought, for example, that eating deer would make them run as fast as the deer. Some savage tribes believed that eating enemies that had shown bravery in battle would make them brave. [...]
- April 6, 2008
- Why is it so difficult to fall asleep when you are overtired?
There is no one answer that applies to every individual. But many people fail to note the distinction between fatigue — physical tiredness — and sleepiness, the inability to stay awake. It’s possible to feel “tired” physically and still be unable to fall asleep, because while your body may be exhausted, you don’t feel sleepy. [...]
- April 6, 2008
- Why the flu is so common in winter?
For the first time, scientists have solid evidence suggesting exactly why the flu is so common in winter.
A new animal study suggests that the influenza virus’ success hinges on low relative humidity and cold temperatures. Such conditions keep the virus more stable and in the air longer than warm, [...]
- April 6, 2008
- Is it safe to remove the mouldy part of food and eat the rest?
Moulds produce filamentous (feathery) structures, called hyphae. These hyphae can branch and grow over and through the food. There is no way to determine how deep it has grown within the food. It is, therefore, safest to throw away mouldy food.
- April 6, 2008
- Why I get a headache when I eat ice cream?
Most people have experienced the dreaded ice cream headache at some point. You are minding your own business, eating something like an ice cream cone, a milk shake, a snow cone… Then, suddenly you are hit with the most excruciating headache!
According to Dr. Joseph Hulihan of Temple University, ice cream pain, also known as [...]
- April 6, 2008
- Can I eat cheese fondue during pregnancy?
A cheese fondue is usually made with Swiss and maybe cheddar cheese, and mixed with either wine or beer. Soft cheeses sometimes pose a health problem, especially during pregnancy. This is due to the fact that Listeria monocytogenes , a bacterium found in soft cheeses, can cause serious illness and foetal death. Some studies have [...]
- April 6, 2008
- Where does the name Salmonella come from?
The Genus Salmonella is named after the American bacteriologist Daniel E. Salmon who, together with some colleagues, isolated in 1886 a bacteria from pigs (now known to be Salmonella choleraesuis ) which they considered to be the cause of swine fever (hog cholera). Daniel E. Salmon (1850-1914), organizer of the (US) Bureau of Animal Industry, [...]
- April 6, 2008
- What is microbiological spoilage?
Microbiological spoilage refers to damage to food that is caused by micro organisms (bacteria, moulds and yeasts). Micro organisms can grow in almost all kinds of food products. As micro-organisms occur everywhere around us, there is always a risk of microbial spoilage.
There are thousands of kinds of micro organisms, most of which can grow [...]
- April 6, 2008
- When do food borne diseases occur?
The most common cause of food borne diseases is food prepared too early and not stored at the correct temperature. Bacteria grow best between 5-63 °C.
Most non-spore forming bacteria are killed at temperatures of 70 °C.Bacteria do not grow, or grow only slowly below 5 °C. Some bacteria die at very low temperatures, but [...]
- April 5, 2008
- Why do I have to go to the bathroom immediately after a cup of coffee?
In our house, we call it the coffee alarm. Nothing is more reliable.
Coffee is definitely known to have a laxative effect. The caffeine in coffee speeds up every system in the body including the bowels. But when used excessively, caffeine can interfere with the bowels’ normal contractions and lead to constipation. Decaffeinated coffee does away [...]
- April 5, 2008
- What is a food coma?
We are sitting at i Trulli, a top New York City Italian restaurant, and I have already unbuttoned my pants as I try to gather strength for dessert. I glance to my left and my sister-in-law has eaten herself to sleep. Her head is slumped on my wife’s shoulder and drool is about to begin [...]
- April 3, 2008
- Why do I get bloated when I eat salty food?
This is a common question that is most often asked by women who feel bloated because of PMS and believe that it is related to the amount of salt they eat. We both have learned over the years that you should never upset a woman if she is having premenstrual symptoms, so we went back [...]
