HUMAN VOLTAGE: HOW ELECTRICITY AFFECTS THE BODY

Without electricity, you wouldn't be reading this article right now. And it's not because your computer wouldn't work. It's because your brain wouldn't work.

Everything we do is controlled and enabled by electrical signals running through our bodies. As we learned in intro physics, everything is made up of atoms, and atoms are made up of protons, neutrons and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, neutrons have a neutral charge, and electrons have a negative charge. When these charges are out of balance, an atom becomes either positively or negatively charged. The switch between one type of charge and the other allows electrons to flow from one atom to another. This flow of electrons, or a negative charge, is what we call electricity. Since our bodies are huge masses of atoms, we can generate electricity

When we talk about the nervous system sending "signals" to the brain, or synapses "firing," or the brain telling our hands to contract around a door handle, what we're talking about is electricity carrying messages between point A and point B. It's sort of like the digitalcable signal carrying 1s and 0s that deliver "Law & Order." Except in our bodies, electrons aren't flowing along a wire; instead, an electrical charge is jumping from one cell to the next until it reaches its destination.


Electricity is a key to survival. Electrical signals are fast. They allow for a nearly instantaneous response to control messages. If our bodies relied entirely on, say, the movement of chemicals to tell our hearts to speed up when something is chasing us, we probably would've died out a long time ago.

Those crucial signals that tell our hearts to speed up when we're in danger come from a mass of cells in our heart called the sinoatrial node, or SA node. It's located in the right atrium, and it controls the rhythm of our heartbeat and the movement of blood from the heart to every other part of our body. It's our body's natural pacemaker, and it uses electrical signals to set the pace (see What determines the rhythm of your heart?). But our pulse isn't the only thing that relies on electrical impulses generated by our cells. Almost all of our cells are capable of generating electricity.

In this article, we'll look at the role of electricity in the body and find out how we generate it in the first place.
The starting point is simple: Right now, any cells in your body that aren't actively sending messages are slightly negatively charged. It gets interesting from there.

Human Voltage

Negativity is the natural resting state of your cells. It's related to a slight imbalance between potassium and sodium ions inside and outside the cell, and this imbalance sets the stage for your electrical capacity.

Your cell membranes practice a trick often referred to as the sodium-potassium gate. It's a very complex mechanism, but the simple explanation of these gates, and how they generate electrical charges, goes like this:

Getting struck by lightning is usually enough to fry your body's electrical system.

At rest, your cells have more potassium ions inside than sodium ions, and there are more sodium ions outside the cell. Potassium ions are negative, so the inside of a cell has a slightly negative charge. Sodium ions are positive, so the area immediately outside the cell membrane is positive. There isn't a strong enough charge difference to generate electricity, though, in this resting state.

When the body needs to send a message from one point to another, it opens the gate. When the membrane gate opens, sodium and potassium ions move freely into and out of the cell. Negatively charged potassium ions leave the cell, attracted to the positivity outside the membrane, and positively charged sodium ions enter it, moving toward the negative charge. The result is a switch in the concentrations of the two types of ions -- and rapid switch in charge. It's kind of like switching between a 1 and 0 -- this flip between positive and negative generates an electrical impulse. This impulse triggers the gate on the next cell to open, creating another charge, and so on. In this way, an electrical impulse moves from a nerve in your stubbed toe to the part of your brain that senses pain.

It's also how the SA node tells your heart muscles to contract, how your eyestell your brain that what they just saw is the word "brain," and how you are comprehending this article at all.

Since everything relies on these electrical signals, any breakdown in your body's electrical system is a real problem. When you get an electric shock, it interrupts the normal operation of the system, sort of like a power surge. A shock at the lightning level can cause your body to stop. The electrical process doesn't work anymore -- it's fried. There are also less dramatic problems, like an SA node misfire that causes a heart palpitation (an extra heartbeat), or a lack of blood flow to the heart that upsets the pacemaker and causes other parts of the heart to start sending out impulses. This is sometimes what causes someone to die from coronary artery disease, or narrowing of the arteries. If the heart is constantly being told to contract, it never gets in a full contraction, and it can't get enough blood to the rest of body, leading to oxygen deprivation and a possible heart attack or stroke.

Blood Battery

Panasonic is looking into using human blood to power electrical devices. It's researching how blood could break down sugars to generate power like it generates energy for the human body. This type of "human battery" could ultimately power nano-devices implanted in the body.

With so much electricity jumping around, it may seem like the body is a really great power source. But could human  beings really power the Matrix? Probably not. A human body can only generate between 10 and 100 millivolts [source: NanoMedicine]. A cathode ray tube requires about 25,000 volts to create a picture on a TV[source: Physics Factbook]. If the machines could gather millions of electric eels, on the other hand, they'd be well juiced up. A single eel can produce in the area of 600 volts [source: Physics Factbook].

For more information on the human body's electrical system and related topics, including Panasonic's human-battery research, look over the links on the next page.

An average adult human body at rest generates around 81 watts.

A human cell generates 1 picowatt of power (1/1,000,000,000,000 watt)

A human brain generates around 14 watts.

A human liver generates around 17 watts.

A human intestine generates around 13 watts.

The entire human skin generates around 1.5 watts.

A heart generates 7 watts.

A person standing still can generate around 128 watts.

A person walking can generate around 163 watts.

Brisk walking can generate around 407 watts.

Our body is in a way a mobile portable microelectric generator. If you wanted to see a graphical representation of electricity in action within the body, just take a look at an electrocardiograph. Every wave is an actual voltage of electricity from the heart, the higher the wave the higher the voltage. For every 10 small boxes upwards or downwards is equal to 1 millivolt. Therefore, 1 small box is equal to 0.1 millivolt.

One trend in the fields of Medicine and Bioelectronics is to harness this electricity within the body as efficiently as possible for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of illnesses. If bioengineers would be able to design nanodevices that can power itself using the human cell as its battery, then we won’t have to worry about batteries. Furthermore, it can practically stay within an individual for many years.

THE IMPORTANCE OF POSTURE

We have become a sedentary society. From dawn to dusk we are busy sitting at a desk, sitting in front of the television, sitting while driving or sitting in front of the computer working. As a result, our body is only hunching unconsciously the whole time that we are conscious and awake. Having a good posture is seldom taken into account until back pain strikes. Its importance can’t be stressed enough as apart from instilling confidence in us; it has a direct impact on our mental and physical well-being as well. A poor posture reflects negatively on our self-confidence and intelligence. Not only does it strain the back, neck and vertebrae muscles, it also makes the body expend more energy to perform the simplest of activities such as breathing. If you look at models and celebrities, you will see that they exude supreme confidence and poise. This is because they never slouch and maintain good posture in whatever they do, be it sitting or standing. If you want to know more, explore the information below elaborating on the importance of good posture.

Information On Importance Of Posture

If you hunch for long hours, the blood flow to the back of the head will get restricted. This can cause tension headaches that can be a source of great botheration. Hence, it is important to keep your head vertical to your shoulders and your body straight.

Bad posture can cause energy levels to plummet. This happens because restricted airflow and muscular stress accelerates fatigue. Maintaining correct posture enables proper blood circulation.

Sitting incorrectly for hours together disturbs the smooth process of digestion. When we hunch or slump, the digestive organs get squeezed. Proper posture when adopted allows the smooth functioning of the digestive system. This is because no organ is turned or twisted as the process continues.

Your body becomes sturdier when you take care to have a good posture while doing different activities. This helps decrease the risk of injury as your body is able to withstand it better through balance. A badly postured body can find it difficult to balance itself even under normal circumstances.

It is widely believed in the scientific fraternity that extended hunching and strained neck muscles contribute to higher blood pressure. This kind of strain can trigger the brain cells to raise blood pressure as the body sits in the same position for a very long time without any physical movements to relax it.

Lungs cannot work at their optimum best when you are slouching. This is because slouching prevents the physical intake of a full breath and in turn aggravates your stress levels. On the other hand, retaining an erect back facilitates the inflow of air and facilitates relaxation.

The correct alignment of the spine is important for a proper posture. Sometimes, misalignment of the rib cage can occur if a vertebra gets out of alignment and it can be very painful for the person. Worse, it leads to further strain on the lungs and heart.

Poor posturing of the body forces the muscles to work harder to keep us upright and an undue physical stress on our musculoskeletal structure is created. This can disrupt the release and concentration of stress hormones in the body causing imbalances in the endocrine system. Hormones are vital to the overall health of the body and imbalances in them only trigger more complications. Good posture goes a long way in keeping hormonal issues at bay.

Incorrect body posture fills you with languor and dullness. It may sound incredible, but research has proved that rectifying your posture boosts your confidence levels. Good posture can literally alter your body’s chemistry and energy in an amazingly positive way.

So, now you know the importance of posture. The effects of posture encompass the respiratory, digestive, circulatory systems, as well as the musculoskeletal system.

Cholesterol causes cardiovascular illness and diabetes

Cholesterol facts

Diet is just one of the things that can reduce cholesterol.

A high level of cholesterol is one of the factors that can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, eg angina, heart disease and stroke.

This is because high levels of cholesterol lead to fatty deposits that cause the arteries to narrow (atherosclerosis) and restrict blood flow to the heart. This is what causes cardiovascular disease.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is an important substance that's used by the body in many ways.

It's the starting point of manufacture for many of the body’s natural steroid hormones and for vitamin D, which controls calcium in the body.

It is also an essential component of the membrane that forms the walls of individual cells in all tissues.

Eighty per cent of the cholesterol we have is produced within our own body – mostly by the liver. It's then transported from the liver via the blood stream to other tissues.

Cholesterol travels through the blood in minute packages mixed with large molecules called lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are themselves combinations of fats and proteins.

Fats such as cholesterol don't dissolve well in the blood stream, but become soluble when coated with lipoproteins.

What are lipoproteins?

Four main groups of lipoproteins exist, based mainly on their different sizes and density:

Each group has a different function in the body.

high-density lipoproteins (HDL)

low-density lipoproteins (LDL)

very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL)

chylomicrons.

How do they affect cardiovascular health?

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) mop up excess cholesterol in the body and return it to the liver for re-processing. HDL is often called good cholesterol and raised levels give protection against heart disease.
Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) transport cholesterol from the liver to be deposited elsewhere in the body. LDL is known as bad cholesterol because it deposits cholesterol in the lining of your arteries. The more LDL you have, the more likely you are to develop heart disease.

What affects levels of lipoproteins?

Men generally have higher levels of LDL compared to women.

This is probably because of the protective effect of oestrogen, one of the female hormones. Following the menopause, this difference disappears.

Exercise raises HDL levels, as does modest alcohol intake.

Why test cholesterol?

Every adult should have it measured at least once before they are far past middle age.

Cholesterol is easily measured in a blood sample. If high cholesterol runs in your family, it's better to measure cholesterol at a much younger age - some time in your 20s.

Cholesterol levels don't tend to fluctuate, so if you have a normal level it doesn't need to be repeated for many years.

If it's high, it may need quite frequent re-testing to gauge the effect of treatment.

What do the figures mean?

Total cholesterol

This is the single figure for your cholesterol level, which is all the subtypes combined.

The desirable upper limit of total cholesterol (TC) for people who have diabetes is 4mmol/l.

As with the other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, raised cholesterol is of more concern if there are other factors present:

someone who has a TC of 6mmol/l, but is fit, is not overweight, has no family history of heart disease and doesn't have diabetes or smoke will have little or no benefit from lowering their cholesterol.
someone with the same cholesterol level but who smokes, is overweight and has high blood pressure will reduce his cardiovascular risk quite a lot by getting his cholesterol down.

LDL cholesterol

People with diabetes who have an LDL cholesterol level of more than 2mmol/l should generally receive cholesterol-lowering drug treatment.

HDL cholesterol

The usual range of HDL levels is 0.5 to 1.6mmol/l.

Higher levels are good. Cholesterol experts often divide the total cholesterol (TC) by the HDL level to give a better judge of your risk level than the TC alone.

When the HDL is greater than 1, this has the effect of lowering the TC/HDL ratio, lowering your risk.
When the HDL is low, the TC/HDL ratio goes up and so does your risk.

How can I lower my cholesterol levels?

Most cholesterol in the body is produced in the liver. This means dieting only has a small effect on levels.

Even so, this amount is still helpful, especially as part of a healthier diet in general. Some cholesterol-lowering margarines may also be helpful.

A large proportion of the UK population will not achieve target cholesterol levels without extra help in the form of cholesterol-lowering drug treatment.

Cholesterol treatment and diabetes

The most common drug that is prescribed is a statin. Statins should be prescribed as primary prevention in all diabetic patients over 40 years old with a TC of more than 4mmol/l or and LDL-cholesterol of more than 2mmol/l.

Statins may be prescribed to younger diabetic patients if there are additional risk factors for cardiovascular disease or there is evidence of diabetic eye disease (retinopathy) or diabetic kidney disease (nephropathy).

All diabetic patients with a history of heart attack, stroke or cardivascular disease should be prescribed a statin to preven further attacks (secondary prevention).

Some people find they are intolerant of statins and experience side-effects, such as muscle pains, fatigue and nausea. If that occurs, there are a number of prescribable alternatives - such as ezetimibe or fibrate drugs, which may not cause these problems.

Lower abdominal pain in women

What causes lower abdominal or 

pelvic pain?

All women feel discomfort or pain in the lower abdomen below the navel from time to time, for instance, before or during menstruation.

Taking note of certain symptoms will help you and your doctor accurately diagnose the problem, although this can be difficult.

In many cases it can be difficult to identify the cause of the pain, but noting certain features will help you and your doctor come to a likely diagnosis.

The most common causes are a urinary disorder such as a bladder or kidney problem, a bowel problem or a condition involving the reproductive system – the uterus, Fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Type of pain arising from the 

urinary system

Pain from the urinary system can indicate such conditions as cystitis (inflammation of the bladder), inflammation of the collecting system of one or both kidneys (pyelonephritis), kidney stones or uncommonly tumours.

Typical symptoms of infections are a burning sensation when passing urine and a need to empty the bladder more frequently. In addition, pain travelling from the back and around to the front might suggest a kidney infection or kidney stone.

The pain associated with kidney stones may be particularly severe. The presence of blood in the urine raises the possibilities of infection, kidney or bladder stones or even a bladder or kidney tumour. Both benign and malignant tumours can first make themselves noticed in this way. The presence of blood in the urine always requires further investigation and should be reported to your doctor.

The duration of the pain will further help you and your doctor to make the correct diagnosis.

Type of pain arising from conditions of the 

intestines

The bowel can give rise to a wide variety of symptoms including pain.

Constipation and diarrhoea can be painful in themselves, and the change in bowel habit usually identifies the pain as coming from the bowel. Pain from the bowel is often described as colicky in nature. This means that the pain or discomfort comes in waves with little or no discomfort in between the pain.

Bloating or swelling of the lower abdomen may be present in many intestinal (bowel) conditions including irritable bowel syndrome.

The passing of fresh blood or altered blood (black motions) from the back passage should be reported to your doctor as investigation is usually necessary.

Type of pain arising from conditions of the 

reproductive organs

Pain might originate from the uterus (womb), Fallopian tubes or ovaries. It is usually felt in the middle of the lower abdomen, above the line of pubic hair as far up as the navel. Occasionally, the pain is more to one side, which is more typical of a pain coming from an ovary.

There might be discomfort or even pain during intercourse (called dyspareunia) felt deep within the pelvis.

Pain originating from the uterus is usually worse at the time of a woman's period (dysmenorrhoea).

Examples of conditions of the reproductive organs giving rise to pain includeendometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cysts, fibroids and problems related to the early stages of pregnancy such as miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.

In any case of sudden, severe, unexplained abdominal pain your doctor should be contacted.

What will the doctor do?

Acute and sudden pains are always worrying but chronic pain can also have serious implications and a doctor should be consulted.

The doctor will ask about periods, passing of urine and bowel movements. They might also ask if there have been episodes of nausea, vomiting, or fever. If appropriate, they may ask questions concerning the person's emotional life - family, friends, work - and their sex life.

The doctor will want to examine you. This will involve feeling your abdomen and, in addition, an internal examination (vaginal,rectal or sometimes both) may be necessary.

Further investigations or treatment will be based upon the description of the pain and the findings of the doctor's examination.

Typically, a urine sample will be requested and tested for any signs of infection.

If a kidney problem is suspected than an ultrasound scan of the kidneys and bladder will be arranged.

If a problem with the womb or ovaries is suspected, swabs from the vagina looking for any infection might be performed and an ultrasound scan of the womb and ovaries is commonly performed.

If a bowel problem is suspected, a sample of the motion is often investigated for signs of infection and you may be recommended to have a telescopic examination of the bowel called an endoscopy.

Painful menstruation (dysmenorrhoea)

What are menstrual pains?

Many women experience pain or discomfort at the time of their periods. For most, the pain or unease is not so severe that it interferes with their daily lives or requires any special attention.

However, for some women their monthly period is problematic and almost disabling because of the pain and inconvenience caused. They may have to take time off from school or work and stay at home for one or two days.

Although painful, periods are only sometimes a sign of an actual disease.

If period pains are more than an inconvenience then it is wise to consult your doctor or gynaecologist.

What causes menstrual pains?

The natural pains are caused by contractions in the musculature of the uterus. The contractions are caused by the release of the body's prostaglandins, which are hormones produced by the lining of the womb.

How can you avoid menstrual pains?

The best thing to do yourself, besides convincing yourself that you are not sick, is to stay in good physical health. This can be achieved by a healthy lifestyle with daily exercise, plenty of sleep and rest and, if possible, try to avoid stress. Over-the-counter painkillers, in particular ibuprofen (eg Advil, Nurofen), are often helpful and your pharmacist can often give advise you further on which ones are right for you.

What can the doctor do?

If your period pains are not relieved by simple painkillers then your doctor may wish to perform a pelvic examination to rule out any underlying conditions that can cause dysmenorrhoea.

Depending on this, a pelvic ultrasound scan or laparoscopy may be suggested. Medical treatment includes NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and also the contraceptive pill.

By preventing ovulation the contraceptive pill reduces the production of prostaglandins and pain. If the pain is found to be caused by a condition such as pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis or fibroids, then the treatment will be tailored towards that condition.

How long do drugs/medicine stay in your body?

Drugs are synthetic products which can be used as medicines or narcotics. Drugs are of different types and are differentiated on the basis of their effect on human beings. For e.g., certain drugs and medications are classified as depressants, while some others are stimulants. Prescription drugs are taken for medicinal purposes to overcome depression or physical or psychological disorders. However, certain drugs, mostly, narcotics, are consumed illegally and are termed as drugs of abuse. Do you wish to know how long do drugs stay in your system after taking them? Let us find out.

How Long do Drugs Stay in Your System?

The duration any drug stays in the body varies and it can last for hours to days to even more than a couple of weeks. With the use of modern methods of drug testing, it is even possible to detect whether a person had a drug 2-3 months backs. Drug tests include urine test, blood test and hair test which also help in the diagnosis of the type of drug a person has taken. However, while determining an exact answer on how long do drugs stay in your system, one needs to take several other things into consideration like the amount of drug the person has taken, whether the drug was taken orally or injected in the body, the person's age, gender, etc. Secondly, a person's rate of metabolism (or metabolic rate) also plays an important role in determining the duration the drug stays in the body. If a person has a slower metabolic rate, it takes a longer time for the drugs to get out from the body.

The frequency at which a certain drug is taken (drug abuse) and the drug tolerance capacity of the person also determine the duration of the drug in the body. The following is a chart showing how long do drugs stay in your system in case of prescription drugs as well as drugs of abuse.

How Long do Prescription Drugs Stay in Your System?

Most commonly used drugs like codeine, used to relive cough and pain, can also stay in the body for more than one day. Take a look at the chart to find out the duration prescription drugs stay in the body.

Drugs	Minimum Duration in the Body	Maximum Duration in the Body
Amphetamines	1 day	2 days
Anabolic steroids	1 week	3 weeks
Barbiturates	2 days	3 days
Benzodiazepines	2 days	8 days
Codeine	1 day	2 days
Dilaudid	2 days	90 days
Ketamine	2 days	4 days
Phenobarbital	2 weeks	3 weeks
Suboxone	2 days	5 days
Oxycodone	1 day	2 days
Valium	2 days	7 days

How Long do Recreational Drugs Stay in Your System?

The duration of addictive drugs in the body also differs. The following is the chart depicting how long do these drugs stay in the body.

Drugs	Minimum Duration in the Body	Maximum Duration in the Body
Alcohol	8 hours	12 hours
Cocaine	1 day	2 days
Fentanyl	1 day	90 days
Heroin	1 day	2 days
GHB	1 day	2 days
LSD	2 hours	5 days
Marijuana	2 days	30 days
MDMA	1 day	5 days
Methadone	1 day	7 days
Methamphetamine	2 days	4 days
Methaqualone	9 days	15 days
Nicotine	1 day	2 days
Opiates	1 day	2 days
PCP	1 day	30 days
Quaalude	1 hour	90 hours

As there are severe and even fatal effects of drugs on the body, people are advised not to abuse drugs. It should also be noted that drugs are more addictive as compared to alcohol or cigarette. However, all the three are equally harmful. If a friend, or a partner is found to suffer from drug abuse, he should be encouraged to go to drug rehabilitation where recovery is possible.

Now that you know how long do drugs stay in your system, you might as well be careful before taking any drugs (illegally, without prescription). Drug abuse is a sure way to end life as it is addictive and life threatening. So it is wise to stay away from it. Take care!

The Dirty Dozen: The 12 Most Common Skin Irritants

Admit it. Are your cabinets teeming with cleaning supplies (whether you like to clean or not)? Are your drawers overflowing with personal care products (some way past their expiration dates)? Are you juggling a zillion chores without enough hours in the day to finish them?

Don't worry, you're not alone. Most of us are too busy in our everyday lives to examine every product, chemical, or ingredient that enters our doors. So you don't beat yourself up if you don't have a clue which things lying around your home are common skin irritants.

To help you solve that mystery, WebMD made a list of the top culprits that trigger skin reactions, or contact dermatitis. Some cause symptoms like redness, itchy skin, or inflammation. Others cause a stinging or burning sensation. Some are triggered by an individual's allergy (contact allergic dermatitis) while other chemicals affect everyone (contact irritant dermatitis).

By identifying the common offenders, you can take the proper precautions to protect yourself in your own home. Here are the dirty dozen:

1. Soap

Excessive hand washing, using soap and water, strips the skin of its natural oils and can result in "dishpan hands." At first, it may look like dry, chapped skin. But if it's prolonged and not treated, the skin can actually crack and bleed.

Plain soap and water is at the top of the list, says Donald V. Belsito, MD, clinical professor of medicine at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. "It's particularly problematic in today's germaphobic society because people feel they have to be clean and make no attempt to protect their skin."

Other related irritants include dishwasher soap, bubble bath, and body washes.

2. Household Cleaners

Most people are aware that household cleaners are not intended for the skin and the chemicals used in them can have an irritating effect on the body. These including all-purpose cleaners, dish detergents, laundry detergent, window cleaners, furniture polish, drain cleaners and toilet disinfectants.

Wearing protective gloves before handling such substances is recommended, suggests Belsito.

3. Fabric Dryer Sheets

Fabric softener and dryer sheets can cause itchy, irritant reactions.

"You see rashes in places that are covered by clothing and relative sparing where the clothing is not," says Amy Newburger, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in Scarsdale, N.Y., author of Looking Good at Any Age and spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). "That's a big giveaway."

Belsito recommends sticking with fragrance-free liquid fabric softeners to fight static cling.

4. Clothing

Clothing, especially rough fabrics like wool, can be problematic for individuals who suffer from a skin disorder called atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema. The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that 10% to 20% of children and 1% to 3% of adults develop this condition.

If you suspect that your clothing fabric is causing itching, irritation or a rash, Belsito suggests keeping cotton and cotton poly fabrics in your wardrobe.

5. Heat

Hot weather, especially during summer months, can aggravate skin problems related to sweating. You might notice redness or chafing in certain areas, like the underarms, belly folds and groin, says Belsito.

6. Latex

Some people are hypersensitive to latex, a natural rubber found in everything from gloves to condoms. If you are sensitive to latex, you may experience welts under a bra strap or elastic waistband. Also, people who are allergic to latex may cross react to tropical fruits such as bananas and kiwis.

7. Fragrances

Fragrance allergies are really common, says Newburger. But there are some 5,000 fragrances that use many different combinations so it may be tricky to weed out the offending chemical. Some people might develop a skin rash or hives from musk, while others react to vanilla scents.

8. Facial Creams

Facial skin with its deep pores is very easily breached, says Newburger. That's why you should take extra care with your creams and skin care products if you experience stinging or burning when applied. These products may include wrinkle creams, cleansers, and skin peels.

Check the labels for some common irritants such as ascorbic acid, paraban preservatives, and alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid, malic acid, and lactic acid.

9. Plants

Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are three of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis in the U.S. They all contain an oil called urushiol, which triggers an allergic reaction, typically an itchy rash.

A mild reaction might last 5 to 12 days, while a more severe reaction can last 30 days or longer. Most people don't deliberately expose themselves to poison ivy, oak, or sumac, but you need to learn how to recognize them to avoid contact.

10. Food

Food allergies can certainly cause skin reactions ranging from hives to rashes. But even handling certain foods can cause skin irritations. If you happen to have cuts or cracks on your hands, handling acidic foods or spices can be irritating.

One lesser known phenomenon is when lime on the skin reacts with sunlight and causes severe blistering burns. You'll see this in the summer months when people are mixing up margaritas with lime on the beach, says Belsito.

11. Nickel

Nickel is a common allergy. It can be found in costume jewelry, watchbands, zippers, and other everyday items. Newburger says some individuals with severe allergies even have reactions to vitamins and the hardware used to repair a limb fracture.

12. Sunscreen

Sunblock usage is recommended to protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB radiation, but certain chemical agents in sunscreens can cause a rash or allergic reaction. The most common allergic reactions occur with sunscreens that contain PABA-based chemicals, so you may want to find a PABA-free alternative if you develop an allergy.

The importance of posture

We have become a sedentary society. From dawn to dusk we are busy sitting at a desk, sitting in front of the television, sitting while driving or sitting in front of the computer working. As a result, our body is only hunching unconsciously the whole time that we are conscious and awake. Having a good posture is seldom taken into account until back pain strikes. Its importance can’t be stressed enough as apart from instilling confidence in us; it has a direct impact on our mental and physical well-being as well. A poor posture reflects negatively on our self-confidence and intelligence. Not only does it strain the back, neck and vertebrae muscles, it also makes the body expend more energy to perform the simplest of activities such as breathing. If you look at models and celebrities, you will see that they exude supreme confidence and poise. This is because they never slouch and maintain good posture in whatever they do, be it sitting or standing. If you want to know more, explore the information below elaborating on the importance of good posture.

Information On Importance Of Posture

If you hunch for long hours, the blood flow to the back of the head will get restricted. This can cause tension headaches that can be a source of great botheration. Hence, it is important to keep your head vertical to your shoulders and your body straight.

Bad posture can cause energy levels to plummet. This happens because restricted airflow and muscular stress accelerates fatigue. Maintaining correct posture enables proper blood circulation.

Sitting incorrectly for hours together disturbs the smooth process of digestion. When we hunch or slump, the digestive organs get squeezed. Proper posture when adopted allows the smooth functioning of the digestive system. This is because no organ is turned or twisted as the process continues.

Your body becomes sturdier when you take care to have a good posture while doing different activities. This helps decrease the risk of injury as your body is able to withstand it better through balance. A badly postured body can find it difficult to balance itself even under normal circumstances.

It is widely believed in the scientific fraternity that extended hunching and strained neck muscles contribute to higher blood pressure. This kind of strain can trigger the brain cells to raise blood pressure as the body sits in the same position for a very long time without any physical movements to relax it.

Lungs cannot work at their optimum best when you are slouching. This is because slouching prevents the physical intake of a full breath and in turn aggravates your stress levels. On the other hand, retaining an erect back facilitates the inflow of air and facilitates relaxation.

The correct alignment of the spine is important for a proper posture. Sometimes, misalignment of the rib cage can occur if a vertebra gets out of alignment and it can be very painful for the person. Worse, it leads to further strain on the lungs and heart.

Poor posturing of the body forces the muscles to work harder to keep us upright and an undue physical stress on our musculoskeletal structure is created. This can disrupt the release and concentration of stress hormones in the body causing imbalances in the endocrine system. Hormones are vital to the overall health of the body and imbalances in them only trigger more complications. Good posture goes a long way in keeping hormonal issues at bay.

Incorrect body posture fills you with languor and dullness. It may sound incredible, but research has proved that rectifying your posture boosts your confidence levels. Good posture can literally alter your body’s chemistry and energy in an amazingly positive way.

So, now you know the importance of posture. The effects of posture encompass the respiratory, digestive, circulatory systems, as well as the musculoskeletal system.