Why Do We Hiccup And How Can You Stop Them?

April 2, 2013 by Dave Hunter 59 Comments

These bad boys can be extremely annoying and come on at some very inconvenient times, but what exactly triggers them?

Hiccups are an involuntary activity of the diaphragm. The muscles used when you breath are the intercostal muscles located in the spaces between the ribs. Two things occur in rapid succession: first there is a quick and involuntary inhalation of air and second as the muscle contracts, the glottis (space between your vocal cords at the top of the larynx) quickly slams shuts which is what makes the “hic” sound.

Science doesn’t even know what the purpose is and there is no obvious function. This isn’t to say there is no definite function, but more so to say it hasn’t been discovered yet if there is one. Perhaps it is a remnant of some evolutionary function that is no longer needed in humans but still lingers. Maybe it is something that we need for development in our bodies when we’re young (fetuses hiccup in the womb after the 8th week from conception) but isn’t necessary later in life as we get older. Children tend to hiccup more often and in fact the chances to trigger this phenomenon declines with age.

One thing is that it is actually possible to hiccup for longer than most of us think. Imagine hiccuping for an entire day non stop? What about a week or even a month?! I remember a while ago when watching TV, there was a show talking about a man who’s be hiccuping for 68 YEARS straight. This poor man apparently hiccuped around 40 times a minute. Now that is tough.

So what on earth actually causes this series of actions to occur? There are a number of theories on why we hiccup with a few of the leading ideas listed below.

Drinking or eating too fast

This is probably the most common trigger. You are so pumped to gulp down that tasty beverage or food you’ve been thinking about all day that you can’t help but chug the sustenance as if there would be nothing left on earth in 10 seconds. You can also swallow air in addition to the intended “payload” to be delivered into the put of your belly. The stomach becomes distended and irritated. The diaphragm ends up contracting like it does when breathing.

Drinking or eating too much

This is especially true with fatty foods or of course drinking alcohol because you feel the need to consume ridiculous amounts proving to everyone how “awesome” you are. Same as above this is an action that can irritate the diaphragm. Sure you can ingurgitate copious amounts of water. In fact, you can even get a big water dispenser from Unclutterer and chug from it every now and then. But keep that to just water and not other liquids.

Disturbance to the nerve pathways from the brain

Sometimes hiccups can be brought on by temperature changes or emotional situations. On the other hand this is also the reason why an abrupt shock can sometimes “cure” the attack.

A sign of disease or illness

Normally hiccups are just minor annoyances but persistent hiccups can be a sign of disease. Sources suggest that they can be brought on by many ailments including: brain trauma, spinal cord integrity, infections, lesions, central nervous system conditions, metabolic disorders, peptic ulcers and even anesthesia.

So how can I get rid of these buggers once I start hiccuping?

Hold your breath (This is the one I use and it almost always works)
Breathing into a paper bag
Drink a glass of water quickly
Get scared or surprised abruptly

Some odd potential cures I’ve heard but have no idea on the validity of them:

Swallow a teaspoon of sugar
Sip on some lemon juice
Put your fingers in your ears to block the canals
Use smelling salts
Pull hard on your tongue

Conclusion

Even though you might be excited for that special drink or that meal you’ve been craving, take some time and eat slow! Also don’t overload yourself just because it tastes awesome. Try and do your best to drink in moderation.

Chances are those pesky hiccups are in fact going to show up from time to time and you can’t really avoid it until it’s too late but when they do my top 3 suggestions would be to hold your breath, drink a glass of water fast or if you happen to have one laying around you: breathe into a paper bag. If you’re like me you might not think much of the evil hiccups, but when they kick in it’s usually at the most inopportune time and you’re frantically trying to get rid of them!

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Filed Under: HEALTH, LIFE Tagged With: breath, cause, hiccup, hiccups, how, stop, trigger, why

Don’t Use Q-Tips To Clean Your Ears, How Else?!

March 26, 2013 by Dave Hunter 45 Comments

I’m sure we’ve all been told not to use Q-Tips or at least not to put them far into our ears but how else are we supposed to clean them?!

Ears are naturally developed to be protective and self-cleaning. The wax (cerumen) coats the ear canal and serves to repel water and help protect it against infection or injury. It also aids in keeping the skin inside the ears from drying out or getting itchy in addition to trapping dust, germs and other unwanted things from reaching into the depths of our ears.

In truth we should probably just leave our ears alone and let nature take it’s course. Maybe this would be okay for me if I wasn’t introduced to q-tips and what seemed like their ONLY function was. I mean when someone asks you what you’re supposed to do with a q-tip what do you think of? Maybe it’s cleaning your computer keyboard or using them as makeup brushes because that’s exactly what’s on the back of some of the boxes. Or maybe you’re like me and thought it’s sole purpose is for ear digging!

Now I’ve been scolded and told all the same by my mother while growing up and my girlfriend too, but let’s be honest: How can something that works and feels so good be so wrong?! Well it’s about the potential damage to your eardrum in addition to accidentally pushing wax further into your ear. If wax went too far down you’d have to get it removed by a professional and it might not be the most comfortable thing to do.But some of hearing assist may help you in a better way.You can check them on Hearingaid-guide.com.

Regardless of it feeling good using cotton swabs, it is in fact dangerous and even Q-Tips themselves say not to use them in your ear canal. It’s all about being careful because the last thing you want to do is damage the lining or eardrum by accident. Even washing the outside of your ears is supposed to be avoided. If you must clean them, either use a soft washcloth with a tiny bit of soap or even use Ear candles. Make sure to dry the ears well as not to get them infected and attract the well known “swimmers ear” especially if you are in the water a lot.

You can check out the following to learn about hearing protection for musicians.

Personally I can’t help but carefully use the standard q-tips for my ears, but for those more adventurous and wanting a “safer” way to clean your ears, read on. I did some research on some alternatives and although it seems a bit silly, it would in fact do the trick.

Create A Wax Softening Solution

You can buy a carbamide peroxide cleaning solution from the local pharmacy or you can always make your own.

Combine warm water with one of the following:

A teaspoon or two of 3-4% hydrogen peroxide solution
A teaspoon or two of mineral oil
A teaspoon or two of glycerin

Lie on your side if possible so the ear is completely vertical and put in the solution with an applicator if possible or a small bowl. (Peroxide may cause popping or bubbling sounds so don’t be alarmed, this is normal)

Wait 5-10 minutes or if using peroxide, until the bubbling stops.

Take out the solution and use a rubber bulb syringe with lukewarm water to flush out the wax.

Pull on the ear lobe up and down to open the canal to release the last bit of wax.

You can repeat this process for a few days if necessary but shouldn’t do it more often than this.

See A Specialist

If you’re serious about cleaning your ears safely and are not interested whatsoever in using the home remedy route, then you should consult your doctor or get a professional to take care of it for you. These days, they have all kinds of tech that help the process along, for example the tria hair removal laser 4x will take care of anything you throw at it. In addition to the access to high tech solutions, if you suffer from repeat problems, hearing loss or blockage you should seek help from a doctor.

When it’s all said and done, the point is to be careful and avoid causing any harm to your ear canal. The last thing you want to do is permanently damage your ears or have a hard time listening to words, sounds and music!

Do you use Q-Tips in your ears?

There is a number of procedures that should be done by professionals. Laser hair removal procedure is among them. Check out https://touchuplaser.com/what-to-expect-from-your-laser-hair-removal-session-with-touch-up-laser/ to learn more about it and to understand what you can get as a result.

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Filed Under: HEALTH, LIFE Tagged With: canal, clean, doctor, ear, ears, hearing, how, q-tips, qtip, solution, wax

Why Do We Yawn And Why Is It Contagious?

March 24, 2013 by Dave Hunter 24 Comments

Common Health Risks of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are one of the few house pests that do-little harm at home: They don’t destroy structures, they don’t transfer deadly diseases, and they’re small enough to not be noticed by anyone in the house. Prevent most infestations with fuze bug.

But even though they’re not as harmful as other pests, they still pose harm to one’s health, lifestyle and home furnishings. And if left alone, can do considerable damage to a person’s health over time. Here are four health risks that bed bugs bring:

1. Infection from scratches

Bed bug bites can be very itchy, leading to the strong urge to scratch it until the itch goes away. And because bed bugs often bite in the middle of the night when we’re asleep, we unconsciously scratch them, leading to flesh wounds in the morning.

Small open wounds from continuous scratching may not be a big deal, but germs and bacteria can enter the wound and cause an infection if left untreated. Expanding redness around the wound, increased swelling, tender bumps that are warm to the touch are just some symptoms of a bacterial skin infection. Some common skin infections include cellulitis, Impetigo and boils.

2. Allergic reaction to bites

An allergic reaction to bed bug bites is one of the more serious health risks of having a bed bug infestation. Because bed bugs bite to feed on their host’s blood, some people might experience severe allergic reaction after being bitten, leading to life-threatening situations.

People who are hypersensitive to insect bites and stings could end up in anaphylactic shock, which is an extreme allergic reaction followed by wheezing, tightness in the chest, Swollen or itchy lips or tongue, and tightness in the throat. Anaphylactic shock is often life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

3. Sleep deprivation

If a bed bug infestation within the house becomes too problematic, it can lead to sleep deprivation. The numerous bites, never-ending itch and thought of crawling bugs around is bound to keep anyone up all night, leaving them exhausted physically and mentally the following day.

Sleep deprivation can lead to accidents, impaired thinking, heart diseases, and loss of appetite. In severe cases, this can cause poor work performance and even cause family problems and arguments.

4. Stress

Living in a bed bug infested household can be very stressful and frustrating because of the quick spread of bed bugs around the home, recurring damage to bedsheets and curtains, and constant biting on the body. Living in a stressful environment for long periods of time can lead to a lot of emotional anxiety, which may then lead to health problems.

Emotional anxiety caused by stress can lead to unhealthy behavior and habits like drinking and smoking, may impact on our immune system and its ability to fight off antigens, making us more prone to all kinds of infections. Stress can also increase heart rate and blood pressure, as well as affect our digestive system. All this combined can increase the risk of catching harmful diseases.

When compared to mosquitos that bring deadly and life-threatening diseases like Zika and dengue, or rodents that can spread leptospirosis which can result in liver and kidney damage, bed bugs are the least harmful and only do minor damage. But the little damages they cause accumulate over time, and eventually pose a health risk. So, when you start to see clear and obvious signs of a bed bug infestation, you might be facing quite a serious bed bug infestation.

Make sure to contact your local pest-control professional to help rid of these bug issues and save yourself from these unnecessary health risks.

Filed Under: HEALTH, LIFE Tagged With: brain, carbon dioxide, contagious, cool, oxygen, sleep, theories, theory, tired, why, yawn, yawning

ABCDE’s of Skin Cancer

February 22, 2013 by Kaitlyn Bridge Leave a Comment

Have you ever noticed a new, strange looking mole that has appeared on your body? How about a mole that has changed in shape or colour? No matter the appearance of your skin condition or the length of time you have left it, you should book a consultation with a dermatology shrewsbury expert to make sure you keep yourself safe and healthy. What may have popped up in your mind is “oh my god, what if it is skin cancer”?! Mole removal treatments exist if you have this issue but before there are five simple rules for detecting cancerous moles. There are different procedures to alter one’s look like getting a square chin.

A

Asymmetry – If you take a look at your mole and the shape is not even or symmetrical this could be a sign of a cancerous mole.

B

Border – If you notice an irregular border on your mole this could also be a bad sign. This includes borders that are broken and straying from a circular shape.

C

Colour – If you see that there are two or more different colourings to one mole this could be a sign of skin cancer. One example would be a mole that is light brown with a smaller black colour inside of it.

D

Diameter – If you have a mole that is 6mm or larger in diameter then you might have a problem.

E

Elevation – If there is any elevation to your mole this could be a sign of skin cancer, although there are many normal moles that have elevation also called an elevated nevus.

If you have one or more of the signs above in your mole, refer to your physician. It is also good to get a professional opinion even if your mole does not have any of the signs above.

Jarvis, C. (2009). Physical examination and health assessment. (1st Canadian Ed.). Toronto: Saunders Elsevier. Chapter 3: Assessment of the skin, hair, and nails (Page 280).

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Filed Under: HEALTH, SCIENCE Tagged With: cancer, mole, nevi, signs, skin

Cure For Cancer Found In Canada – Dichloroacetate (DCA)

February 5, 2013 by Dave Hunter 2 Comments

This is one of the most ground breaking things imaginable with a certain impact if it came to fruition. The cure for cancer. Yet why have we not heard much about it?

One of the most feared things a doctor could tell you, is that you have cancer. For most this means you completely tune out every other word the doctor says and your mind goes racing into another dimension. You probably think about your life, the things you have and have not done. The road ahead of you to attempt to combat this horrible disease. Maybe even the costs and potential debt you or your family may accrue from the dreaded C word.

There are many different types of cancer and they can invade almost every part of the human body (you can click here to get more information). Some patients even need Home Care Assistance as part of the treatment. As a society we have been fighting it forever and shelling out millions of dollars into potential cures and research. Even former United States president Richard Nixon declared war on cancer in 1971. This is a serious and seemingly unending battle.

What if the cure was readily available? Better yet, what if it only cost pennies?!

That’s exactly what a Dr. Michelakis and his team at the University of Alberta are claiming. The drug, dichloroacetate (DCA) can alter the metabolism of cancer cells and thus causes them to age and be destroyed. It’s important to note that it kills the cancer cells but only the bad ones. Michelakis have been researching the effects of DCA on non-human subjects since 2007. It has been proven successful and consistently reduced the cancerous cells. Since then, and perhaps more importantly the team has accomplished the same results in human trials. This project is in desperate need of funding to make it a wide spread available treatment and the likely candidates: the pharmaceutical companies are not interested as there isn’t millions of dollars to be made. Another thing that is very compelling is these proven supplements that I’ve been reading about over at apnews.com.

It’s sad that something this useful comes down to greed but that is exactly the case. The drug does not have a patent and therefore anyone can manufacture it without paying a fee and furthermore the drug is so cheap to make it costs pennies! This from a business point of view is not profitable and thus not worth investing in.

From a life stand point it is INVALUABLE…

We are so close but yet so far from banishing the leading cause of death in Canada and other countries around the world. A 2011 report from Cancer.org claims that 40% of woman and 45% of men in Canada will develop cancer during their lifetimes. That is ASTRONOMICAL. It’s estimated that 177, 800 new cases of cancer and 75, 000 deaths from cancer occur each year in Canada.

All I can hope for is someone generous to step up to plate and realize how little money means in comparison to a true cure.

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Filed Under: HEALTH, LIFE Tagged With: canada, cancer, cure, cure for cancer, DCA, dichloroacetate, for, Michelakis, University of Alberta