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Components of the Brain

Neurons in the Brain
Neurons in the Brain

We have previously discussed the hundreds of trillions of cells, AKA neurons that exist in our brains. Just think about that for a second (or two). Now let’s see what holds all these nerve cells together!

What is the Brain Made of?

There are so many additional details to this piece of ugly gray matter that we haven’t spoken about yet, so now let’s dive into it.

By now, you should have a pretty good idea of what the neurons do, but what causes these nerve cells to react? Well, our sensors (sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste) have a lot to do with this. 

When we sense something, our brain amasses the messages in a manner that has meaning to us; in other words, the nerve cells get to work in order to make us understand what just happened. If you touch something that is hot, say grab a coffee cup from freshly made coffee, that instinct of touch is translated into ‘neuron language’, where millions, perhaps billions of nerve cells get together in our brain to tell us that this item is hot. Of course, this happens instantly to us. Thousands of times faster than it took you to read this paragraph. 

The Components of the Brain

So now that we can identify how the brain translates information, what are the different parts of the brain and how do they work? 

There are three parts. The cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem.

The Cerebrum

The Cerebrum Illustrative View
The Cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and is responsible for logic and problem solving (Photo: Henry Vandyke Carter / Public domain)

The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain. Its function is remembering, problem-solving, thinking and feeling, and movement. The cerebrum is located in the lower back area of your brain.

There are two parts of the cerebrum called the right and left hemispheres, sometimes referred to as the right or left side of the brain. Interestingly enough, each side of the cerebrum controls the other side of the body, so if you have a stroke that comes from the left side, it will be the right side (namely your arms and legs) that will be affected.

The left cerebrum controls speech, comprehension, and math. A more generic way to label the left side of the cerebrum is that it focuses on logic or problem-solving. The left hemisphere is the dominant side for about 92% of the population, which is why so many people are right-handed.

For all of you Star Trek fans, ever wonder how Mr. Spock’s brain is assembled? He is of course a Vulcun whose species focuses specifically on logic, so is his left cerebrum more abundant (and the right side less abundant) proportionally? Or maybe he doesn’t have a right hemisphere at all? After all, he didn’t seem to be that great in music. 

The right hemisphere controls creativity, art, and artistic and musical skills. Does that mean legends such as Leonardo da Vinci, Auguste Rodin, Irving Berlin, Michael Jackson, and Frank Sinatra had larger right hemispheres or that they just used that part of the brain more often? 

Of course, when it comes to scientists, we’d like to deduce that Albert Einstein used his left hemisphere most often, but it is not as simple as that.

Neurons in the Brain
Close up of Neurons in the Brain. photo: Pixaby

In an excerpt from Discover Magazine,

“Those who would explore Einstein’s brain are well aware they’re treading potentially controversial ground. Nevertheless, they believe they’re on to something. In 1985, neuroscientist Marian Diamond of the University of California, Berkeley, reported the Einstein brain had extra cells called glia. These cells support the “thinking” neurons in the left parietal lobe, an area above and behind the left ear involved in spatial relations and mathematics. She speculated that this “might reflect the enhanced use of this tissue in the expression of his unusual conceptual powers.” Seven years later, a researcher in Osaka, Japan, suggested a link between that higher glia-to-neurons ratio and Einstein’s purported dyslexia.”

Cerebellum

360 View of the Cerebellum
The cerebellum is responsible for your body’s movement. (Photo: Polygon data were generated by Database Center for Life Science(DBCLS)[2]. / CC BY-SA 2.1 JP (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.1/jp/deed.en)

The cerebellum resides in the rear of the brain. Its functions involve coordinating voluntary movements such as motor skills, maintaining posture, equilibrium, and balance. 

If the cerebellum is not performing correctly (e.g. brain injury, poorly developed, stroke, born with a defect) can result in numerous issues; such as asynergia, which is a motor coordination illness, dysmetria, makes it difficult to use your hands (e.g. trying to pick up a cup of coffee) and Parkinson’s Disease, which is a neurodegenerative disorder and involves tremors in the hands as well as compromised functionality in other parts of the body.

Brain Stem

Appropriately named because it connects to the spinal cord and resides in front of the cerebellum. 

There are three major parts to this part of the organ:

Midbrain

The midbrain processes visual and auditory information.

Pons

This is the largest part of the brain stem. It’s located below the midbrain. It’s a group of nerves that help connect different parts of the brain. The pons also contains the start of some of the cranial nerves. These nerves are involved in facial movements and transmitting sensory information.

Situated beneath the midbrain, it is the largest part of the brain stem. It’s a gathering of nerves that interface with other parts of the brain. The pons is also part of a segment of the cranial nerves. These nerves are engaged with facial developments and sensory data.

Medulla Oblongata

Resides in the lower part of the brain. It acts as the control center for the function of the heart and lungs. It helps regulate many important functions, including breathing, sneezing, and swallowing.

This is where the heart and lungs are controlled and as such, it controls breathing and other heart/lung functions.

Conclusion:

This brief but rather definitive article gives some insight into how are brain functions and how these functions correspond to other parts of our body, so the next time you think, walk, talk or catch a baseball, consider how your brain made this happen and never take these motor skills for granted since there are some folks who are not as fortunate those with parts of the brain that do function well.

Here are some websites for neurological disorders. We hope you will consider donating! 

Brain Diseases
Autism and Neurodevelopment
Parkinson’s Disease
Lou Gehrig’s Disease

Kill Coronavirus with These at Home DIY Soaps and Hand Sanitizers

Do this. Don’t do that. Dr. Fauci said do it this way. CDC said don’t do it that way. Politicians, oh how the politicians complicate the matter. One can lose their mind listening to all this news (or as some say, fake news, depending upon your particular point of view). Well, let’s try to break through all this confusion by providing some undisputed facts!

KEEPING THE LID ON COVID-19 OVERVIEW: WASH YOUR HANDS!

 

Man washing his hands in a sink
Keeping your hands clean with soap or sanitizer is one of the best protections against spreading the COVID virus. Photo by Mélissa Jeanty on Unsplash

In order to contain this disease, we should wash our hands for a good 20 seconds, but if you don’t have soap immediately available, use hand sanitizers and you should be carrying these cleansing items with you at all times. 

As we know, COVID-19 is a respiratory virus that spreads through our eyes, nose and throat. Often, this virus enters your body through your hands by touching an object infected and then touching your face which is a leading cause for the virus to get into your body. So make sure you wash your hands frequently. This will minimize your chance of catching infections. (Wearing a mask is also just as important!).  

If there aren’t any soap or hand sanitizers available, fret not. You can prepare antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers at home. Here are a few simple ways to make them in next to no time. 

DIY Antibacterial Hand/Body Soap

Ingredients

  • Green soap – this is the most essential ingredient in this soap recipe. It is made from glycerin and vegetable oils and acts as a superb disinfectant. 
  • Distilled water – if not distilled water, use cold water. 
  • Neem oil – works brilliantly on dry skin. It restores moisture and enhances the skin.
  • Essential Oils (tea tree essential oil, clove essential oil, rosemary essential oil, clove essential oil, oregano essential oil) – use all or any of these essential oils for refreshing smell and skin nourishment and enhancement. 
  • Vitamin E oil (optional) – for extra skin nourishment. 
  • Optiphen Plus – this soluble acid helps preserve the soap solution for good.

Tools

  • Soap dispenser 
  • Hand or electric blender
  • Large mixing bowl

Directions 

  1. First, transfer the distilled water in a large mixing bowl. 
  2. Add in the green soap, neem oil, essential oils, Optiphen plus and vitamin E oil (optional).
  3. With the blender, whip the ingredients until they combine well and become foamy. 
  4. Pour the content into a soap dispenser and tada! The soap is prepared for everyday use. 

Note:

  • Green soaps are easily available in stores. 
  • There’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to using the essential oils listed here. You can use any essential oil according to your preference. 

DIY Hand Sanitizer

Bottle of Hand Sanitizer
Making your own hand sanitizer is simple and quick. Photo by Amr Serag on Unsplash

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of 99% pure isopropyl alcohol 
  • 1 tablespoon of 3% of stabilized hydrogen peroxide 
  • 1 teaspoon of 98% glycerin
  • ¼ cup of sterile distilled water (or cold water) 

Tools

  • Measuring cup 
  • 1 pour spout 
  • Spray bottle(s) 
  • Clean spoon
  • A medium-sized container

Directions 

  1. Using the measuring cup, measure the alcohol, and pour it into the container with the pour spout. 
  2. Mix in the hydrogen peroxide.
  3. Add in the glycerin and stir the mixture using the clean spoon. 
  4. Now, pour in the water, making sure to measure it first. 
  5. Transfer the prepared mixture into a spray bottle. Shake well before use. 

 Note:

  • Keep in mind that when you mix the glycerin with alcohol, the mixture will be thick and it will take some time to mix everything together. 
  • If you prefer gel sanitizer, you will need to combine 1 cup of 91% isopropyl alcohol, ½ cup of aloe vera gel, and 15 drops of tea tree oil or any of your favorite antibacterial essential oil. 

Note: If you think that vinegar is a good disinfectant, be careful. Although it is a great cleaning agent, it does not kill many viruses or bacteria. Disinfectants, which vinegar is not, is the agent that will do the job when cleaning away surfaces that may contain viruses, so if you are shopping for disinfectants besides soap and sanitizer, make sure the item specifically states ‘disinfectant’. .

DIY Disinfectant Spray

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons of chlorine bleach 
  • 4 cups of water

Tools

  • Spray bottle 
  • Pour spout

Directions

  1. Add the chlorine bleach in the spray bottle using the pour spout.
  2. Mix in the water. 
  3. Shake thoroughly and spray on disinfected areas. 

Note

  • Bleach is extremely strong, so you should never mix it along with other chemicals when preparing a disinfectant spray for household commodities. 
  • When cleaning affected areas/spots using this DIY disinfectant spray, make sure to wear gloves. 

DIY Disinfectant Cleaning Wipes

Ingredients 

  • ½ cup of vinegar – does a brilliant job at cleaning germs, molds, etc. 
  • ¼ cup of water
  • ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol 
  • 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap
  • 10 drops of antibacterial essential oil (optional)

Tools

  • 1 paper towel roll (better if eco-friendly)
  • Knife 
  • Scissors 
  • Needle 
  • 1 spare coffee canister (with a lid)
  • Bowl

Directions

  1. For creating cleaning wipes, you will need to cut the paper towels in half using the knife. 
  2. Adjust the paper roll into the empty coffee can. 
  3. Now, in the small bowl, mix the vinegar, dish soap, water, and rubbing alcohol. You can also add in your favorite essential oil for a fresh smell. 
  4. Next, gently pour the prepared solution over the paper towels. 
  5. Carefully remove the cardboard center and slightly pull the paper towel from the middle. 
  6. Make a small hole in the middle of the lid, place the lid over the container, and pull out the paper towel from the hole.

Note:

  • You can also paint the coffee container to make it look attractive.
  • Use the DIY antibacterial wipes to clean tables, decorative pieces, etc. 

Conclusion

With the outrageous spread of coronavirus, retailers are facing a hard time keeping up with the persistent demand for soaps, hand sanitizers and other purifiers. But there’s nothing to worry about if you can’t get your hands on them. You can prepare the home-made soaps, hand sanitizer and others by following our above-mentioned recipes and make it safe through the current pandemic. 

How Your Brain Works – An Elementary View

Hey!

Did I catch your attention? How long did it take? What exactly happened that allowed you to register this thought? Well, now we are going to find out.

Previously, we discussed the elements of the brain. Now we are going to go a bit deeper to see how this cognitive process works! Are you ready? Make sure you have your thinking caps on!

Note: Be sure to read How the Brain Affects Our Behavior as a prerequisite to this article.

The Central Nervous System

TE-Nervous system diagram
The Central Nervous System

Your brain does not act alone. It communicates with your spinal cord to coordinate your body’s actions. How it does this is complex; however, we will keep it simple.

Similar to data that is communicated through the Internet, the central nervous system does the same thing within our bodies. It is an information processing system with many ‘wheels’ that regulate how we think and move. In other words, our brain coordinates with the other parts of our body so that all these components work in conjunction with each other.

For example, you decide to get something to eat because your brain has notified you that you are hungry, but who told your brain that you are hungry? Well, most would agree, that t would be your stomach. Now that you know you are hungry, you decide to walk to a restaurant, so your brain tells your legs to start walking. You open the restaurant door and, you guessed it, your brain just spoke to your hands. This process goes on 24/7, even when you are sleeping. 

Simple Cell Creatures

There are so many cells in the human body that it is almost as mind-boggling as the universe itself, but let’s see if we can make sense of it all.

When you look at a building, you look at it as one whole unit, never thinking about seeing it brick by brick. Now, what if we were to look at living organisms that way? Starting with the simple amoeba, we decide to look at it as cells or by each cell that puts it together; however, the amoeba is made up of only one cell, so we can’t do that with this fellow.

Let’s move on to more complicated creatures like tardigrades, which are tiny, almost microscopic animals that live in moist and watery areas. They are simple, but almost immortal creatures. They can live in just about any environment. Water, land, and even outer space, are very hard to kill (not sure why anyone would want to do that though).

With that said, these creatures have up to 40,000 cells, and this is our point. From the ameba to the tardigrade, there are 40,000 more of these tiny organisms in the tardigrade and that is what makes this animal look and live the way it does. But still, 40,000 is not a lot compared to the next species we are going to discuss.

Cells in the Human Brain

100,000,000,000 cells. That’s 100 billion! In comparison, this amount equates to 50 times more than the number of stars in our Milky Way galaxy. No wonder we have intelligence, although some could argue that premise :-).

Artist illustration of the brain's neurons
Artist’s illustration of the brain’s neurons

Of these 100 billion cells, 86% are neurons, also known as nerve cells. These cells’ function is to transmit information from/to the brain and from/to the central nervous system. They do this by electrochemical means, which is the process where electrons move from one location to another. Yes, our brain cells have electrons.

When electrons move from one place to another, they are transmitting information, albeit, it is information that moves in extremely tiny amounts, but it is a transmission of information that is occurring. Neurons can transfer these tiny messages an inch or less or several feet, depending upon where the receiving neuron is located. 

What Neurons Are Made of

Illustration of the parts of a neuron
Parts of a nerve cell. BruceBlaus / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)

Cell Body AKA Soma  

This is the essential part of the nerve cell that contains all the necessary components needed for the cell to function. It is somewhat analogous to the heart in our bodies. The soma contains the nucleus, ribosomes (which build proteins, and mitochondria, the component which makes energy). Just like the heart, if the soma fails, then the rest of the cell fails with it.

Axon

The Sona contains the nucleus of the nerve cell. BruceBlaus / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Think of it as a pipe. The electrical impulse (message) moves down this pipe (or up). In scientific terms, it is the action potential that allows the messages to be projected away from the soma and travel down the axon where it is expelled through the dendrites.

There is an external material that the axons contain. Like a road that contains gravel and a road that is finally paved, some axons are covered with this material which is a thin layer of myelin sheath, while others do not have this sheath component and are called non-myelinated. 

The purpose of the myelin sheath is to allow the messages to travel faster, like a car traveling down a finally paved road in contrast to a non-myelinated axon (gravel road) where the message takes longer to reach its destination. In scientific terms, myelin helps to speed the transmission of the nerve impulses down the axon.

Myelinated neurons are those that are located in the peripheral nerves – neurons that are outside of the brain and non-myelinated neurons are the ones that are located within the brain and spinal cord. Indeed this makes sense since those neurons that are outside of the brain have a longer distance to travel than those that are millimeters away from each other inside the brain.

Dendrites AKA Nerve Endings

Like an octopus’s arms, they branch out from the end of the axon to make electrical contact with the destination neuron. 

If you are familiar with electronics, the transmission of the messages is actually the movement of electrons from one cell to another.

Conclusion

Neurons in the Brain
Neurons in the Brain

The nerve cells communicate or talk (send information) to other nerve cells via a series of electronic pulses that originate in the nucleus (sona) and proceed through the axon to the dendrites where they are picked up by another neuron. Thus, we have the processing of information that goes on continuously. 

The speeds at which the receptors of the dendrites receive and transmit information have not been scientifically proven to complete accuracy; however, scientists estimate that the unmyelinated nerve cells in this gray matter that we call the brain travel around 11 inches per second. So to keep it simple for us human mortals, we can say that the speed of a message is instantaneous, at least within our heads. 

Putting this all together, the processing of information in the brain of, say, deciding to turn on the TV can involve hundreds of thousands of nerve cells and be equated to just one thought; thus, neurons are the mechanisms that transmit our thoughts! What do you think of that?

Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the Poor

 

Microscopic view of the COVID virus
Microscopic view of the COVID virus

COVID-19 has taken the world into its merciless grip, causing illnesses, untimely deaths, and global despair. Everyone – whether poor or rich – is living in constant fear due to the existing pandemic. However, the deadly virus has proven cruelest to poverty-stricken people and families. 

According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), four out of five people have been impacted by workplace restrictions around the globe. The organization further stated that approximately 1.6 billion temporary employees are at risk of losing their livelihood completely. These low-income families face absolute hunger and poverty now. They can’t stay at home despite the lockdown, as they have to look for temporary work for their next meal. We followed the stories of 4 people around the world to explain to us how the coronavirus pandemic has affected them and their families.

New Delhi, India

Since the Indian government went into a shutdown to flatten the coronavirus curve, stories of hunger deaths and suicides have emerged. A large percent of the Indian population has no access to work, food, and are emotionally unstable since the lockdown has taken place, forcing them to commit suicide in their homes. 

For example, about 80 people killed themselves due to the fear and loneliness of being affected by the life-threatening virus. Some coronavirus deaths were also reported due to exhaustion and hopelessness caused by traveling long distances for rations and facing violence while collecting them. 

Also, reportedly, a woman jumped off in the Ganges River along with her five children because of starvation; and an Indian migrant also hung himself after being severely wracked by hunger and poverty during the shutdown. 

Jakarta, Indonesia

Restaurants across the world have been hit the most due to the coronavirus pandemic in comparison to other businesses. Lockdown restrictions have ensued people to quarantine and avoid public places at all costs. Many restaurants can’t afford to stay in business with a lack of regular customers. As a result, many chefs and waiters have lost their jobs. 

One such case is of Budi Santosa, who was a cook in a Chinese fast food restaurant in Jakarta, Indonesia. The 32-year-old man is the sole breadwinner of his family. He has a wife and two young children. So, he worries about them the most. With him and his wife forced to stay at home, Santosa is worried that they won’t have food to eat and will die out of hunger. However, poor circumstances have not deterred Santosa from going out and finding work. For the time being, he has borrowed money from his friends to make ends meet.   

Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi Kenya is counted among the world’s poorest cities. The living conditions over there are below par and have gotten worse since the pandemic. Stories of hardships are countless in Nairobi. 

The one that touched our hearts the most was Judith Andeka – a middle-aged mother of five. She lost her husband two years ago. Since then, she has been earning her livelihood by washing clothes. Before the pandemic, she could earn about $2.50 – $4 per day. But now, she is out of work with the looming pandemic threat. Many people in Kenya’s capital city have lost their jobs and can no longer afford her services. Even if they can pay, they no longer want Andeka to touch their clothes because they are worried about catching the virus. 

Owing to her poorest state of life, Andeka has sent her five children off to live with her relatives until she finds a sustainable job. What’s more is that Andeka suffers from the worst kind of treatment at food distributions. Police officers and law keepers often use sticks and tear gas to keep back large crowds from hovering over the place. She fears losing her few valuable possessions, but despite that, she has to step out and find work daily.  

Islamabad, Pakistan 

As the coronavirus outbreak has spread in this South Asian country, affecting hundreds and thousands of people, a daily wager – Shireen Khan – in the capital city of Pakistan shared that he has not earned a single rupee since the pandemic has forced the countrywide lockdown. The daily wager sits every day by the road in the hope someone will stop by and offer him work. 

The 46-year-old man does this daily out of hunger and illness. He has been suffering from typhoid for over five or six months and needs money for the treatment. Sadly, this is not just a story of Shireen Khan, but a story of hundreds of daily wagers like him who are struggling to find work and fend for themselves in these tough times. 

Final Word

The global economic crisis due to the coronavirus outbreak has worsened the lives of many lower-income people around the world. They are living in constant emotional and financial instability due to the lack of proper food, housing and employment. Specific focus is needed to reach out to the poor and provide them with the necessary means so they can afford the basics. Governments and NGOs should curate actionable plans and programs that can ease the financial hardships of the poor in these COVID-infested times.  

Image Credit: 

https://pixabay.com/zh/photos/coronavirus-corona-virus-pandemic-4972480/

 

How to Stay Safe as an Essential Worker During a Pandemic

Female doctor with mask on holding a globeDo you know the saying “don’t bring your work home with you”? Well, it is a healthy way for you to remember that you should keep work disconnected from your personal life. 

While it has been traditionally used to make sure that you take a break once in a while, it has definitely taken a new meaning during the pandemic. Essential workers who are required to continue working during the coronavirus outbreak need to take extra precautions to ensure that their work does not affect their personal life, especially their health. 

Essential workers are at an increased risk of getting infected with COVID whenever they come into work. They also risk-taking the virus back home to their families after each day. It is a concern that can increase the stress you may already have because of the pandemic. There are employees like doctors, nurses, delivery persons, grocery store workers and more that are at increased risk of infection. 

This is why it is so important for all first responders ensure they are taking extra precautions to secure their safety. With that said, if you are one of these heroes, you may find the following tips helpful. 

While at Work 

Man working on computer wearing a maskHere are some tips that can help you stay safer while you are at work. 

  • Keep personal items separate from your workstation. Items like your rings or cell phones should be kept in the break room, locker or office. This will decrease the chance of any of such items being contaminated. Before you use any of these items again, make sure that your hands are properly washed and sanitized. You should also sanitize these items at least once every day.
    .

  • Clean Your Work Area

    Don’t take for granted that the cleaning staff that comes in at night did a thorough job of disinfecting your office, specifically your desk and the items on it. Clean it yourself. Use anti-bacterial wipes or put soap and water on a cloth and wipe down the areas you use most, even places you may just rest your arms or hands.

  • Check Your Inner Feelings

    As a first responder, especially if you are in the healthcare industry, it can feel quite overwhelming. Pause for a moment or two to recollect can be important. Keeping a straight and clear mind will make sure that you don’t make any mistakes that can lead to you getting infected.

  • Maintaining Social Distancing

    While it can be hard to maintain a good six feet away from everyone at all times, you should still do your best to try to do just that. If you are working in an indoor space, such as a grocery store, it can increase the risk even more. This is why you may want to talk with your employer to make sure that not too many people enter the store at a time so that there isn’t crowding in the aisles.

  • Wash and Sanitize Your Hands Frequently

Illustration of human hands facing up
The more frequent you wash your hands, the less likely you are to contract the disease (Photo: Tim mossholder)

Your hands are the biggest cause of transferring the virus to your face. You may be coming in contact with plenty of contaminated surfaces, but if you regularly continue to sanitize and wash your hands, you will be safer.

You should carry a sanitizer around and regularly use it during the day. After your shift is done, you should make sure to wash your hands with water and soap thoroughly.

  • Face Covering

Illustration of people wearing masks for the United Nations
“The power of togetherness, using images people from different COVID19 impacted countries. Image created by Laura Makaltses. Submitted for United Nations Global Call Out To Creatives – help stop the spread of COVID-19.” (Photo via Unsplash)

Having a mask on can greatly decrease the risk of infecting another person in case you are asymptomatic.

Masks are the best shield against the virus since they stop your hands from touching your face too. 

While At Home 

Keeping the germs away from the home is also important. Here are some tips you can follow to ensure that you stay safe as an essential worker during a pandemic and so does your family: 

  • Leave a pair of shoes near a door that you can wear. A place should also be set up to isolate anything you can’t wash and don’t want to take into the house. 
  • Remove your clothes and place them in a hamper by your door. You should use a garbage bag to line the hamper and wash your clothes at once using the warmest temperature possible. 
  • Wipe the phone down or any jewelry you wore during the day
  • Sanitize and wash your hands frequently
  • If you work in a high-risk environment or have people who are at high risk in the home, you should shower immediately too. 
  • Make sure to drink, sleep and eat with the essential nutrients so that your immune system is never compromised 
  • Monitoring your health is also very important. Taking your temperature twice a day to make sure that you don’t have a fever is vital. Do not go to work if you have a fever or you don’t feel well.
  • Girl Drinking Water After Aerobics Exercise
    Drink lots of water! The most natural ingredient your body can use. Avoid dehydration at all costs.

Conclusion 

Our first responders are our essential workers. If you are one of these heroes, we salute you but it is vital you stay strong and healthy. Taking these precautions will ultimately keep you and your family safe as well as reduce the risk of you infecting others.  

Best Foods to Eat and Vitamins to Take to Stay Healthy!

Photo by Trang Doan from Pexels
You can never go wrong with fresh fruit! (Photo: Trang Doan/Pexels)

Feeling tired, sluggish, or getting sick a lot? Maybe you’re not eating the right foods!

Proper nutrition and hydration are important to maintain a robust immune system, which helps avoid viruses and diseases.

People who maintain a well-balanced and healthy diet have a lower risk for infectious diseases and even chronic illnesses. 

Here are the best foods to eat and vitamins to take to strengthen your immune system and lower the risk of developing serious complications.

Note: Some individuals may have specific health conditions impacted by the foods mentioned below. It’s always advisable to consult a healthcare professional to ensure these foods won’t adversely affect your mental or physical well-being.

Eat Fresh Foods and Avoid Processed Ones

Among the best foods to eat and vitamins to take is fresh foods. Eating vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and foods sourced from animals is a great idea. You can make lots of meals out of beans, lentils, potatoes, wheat, oats, rice, eggs, milk, fish, meat, eggs, etc. 

The daily recommended intake is two cups of fruits, 2.5 cups of vegetables, 160g (~3 oz) of beans and meat, and 180g (~5.5 oz) of grains. For snacks, you can choose fresh fruits and raw vegetables rather than foods high in salt, fat, or sugar. Avoid overcooking fruits and vegetables since they can strip away vital nutrients. If you are going for dried or canned fruits and vegetables, you should try varieties that don’t have a lot of added sugar or salt. 

Staying Hydrated by Drinking Enough Water 

Girl Drinking Water After Aerobics ExerciseWater is the most important nutrient you can have. It helps regulate the body’s temperature, transports compounds and nutrients, and cushions and lubricates the joints. Everyone needs to drink eight to ten cups of water daily to ensure their immune system works in optimum condition. 

Many people don’t like the plain taste of water, but you can incorporate fruits, drinks, and vegetables that also contain water. Lemon juice mixed with water can be nourishing for the body, too. You should remember that many beverages do not hydrate you. Having too many caffeinated drinks or sweetened drinks can be worse for you. Try some of those real fruit smoothies! 

Fast and Oils are Important in Moderation 

It is better to eat unsaturated fats like avocado, fish, nuts, soy, olive oil and sunflower oil is better than saturated fats like butter, fatty meats, cheese, cream, lard, ghee, or coconut oil. Avoiding red meat. Having white meat like fish and poultry is better since it is lower in fat. Processed meats can also have a high content of salt and fat, such as deli meats. Even dairy and milk that have reduced or low fat can be great options. 

One thing that you should absolutely avoid is trans fats, which are often found in snacks, fast food, processed food, cookies, spreads, pies, and frozen pizza. 

Eat Less Sugar and Salt 

Can of sugar cubesWhile preparing and cooking food, you should reduce the amount of high-sodium ingredients and salt. Going easy on the fish or soy sauce can be a good idea. The daily intake of salt should be less than 5g or a teaspoon. It is also better to use iodized salt and avoid snacks that have a lot of sugar and salt. 

Limiting the intake of your sodas and soft drinks with a high amount of sugar like syrups, flavored milk, and juice concentrate, not to mention the weight gain! Selecting fresh fruits instead of eating sweet things like chocolate, cakes, and cookies can go a long way. 

Vitamins and Minerals 

Vegetables
Eating healthy foods is one of the best ways to go

The best foods to eat and vitamins to take during the pandemic (and during normal times as well) include the following. 

  • Vitamin D: Probably the most important vitamin you can take (either via natural foods or over-the-counter). This nutrient is filled with important benefits, which include the following:
      • Supports lung function
      • Supports your heart
      • Strengthens bones and teeth
      • Supports your immune system
      • Supports the brain and nervous system
      • It may help to reduce some cancers

And the foods you should eat that contain vitamin D are:

      • Fish, especially tuna and salmon
      • Orange juice, soy milk, and some cereals (read the ingredients on the box)
      • Cheese
      • Egg yolks

Other important vitamins for your body’s health are:

      • Vitamin A: This can help maintain the health of your respiratory system and intestines. Foods rich in vitamin A include spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, red bell peppers, and broccoli.
      • Vitamin C: Vitamin C is best known for keeping your bones in good shape and building your immune system. You can have kiwis, red bell peppers, and citrus fruits to up your vitamin C intake. The recommended daily amount for vitamin C is 65 to 90 milligrams (mg) per day.
      • Vitamin E: Helps to neutralize free radicals by acting as an antioxidant. Vitamin E exists in nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, and avocados.
      • Zinc: Many enzymes in the body are dependent on zink, and a deficiency can lead to a dysfunction in the immune system. Foods rich in zinc include nuts, seeds, beans, poultry, meat, and seafood.
      • Protein: Amino acids are a good protein and are needed for the T-cell function that protects cells from pathogens, like the COVID-19 virus. Items like seeds, nuts, beans, eggs, seafood, poultry, and meats have plenty of protein that can benefit you. 

Conclusion 

Two Men Exercising on MatAt the end of the day, you have to remember that foods aren’t the only thing that will keep you safe. While the items mentioned here are considered the best nutrients and vitamins to take, especially during this pandemic, good exercise is also highly recommended.

The Bones in Our Hands

In continuation of our series about our bone structure, we will now discuss our hands. Probably of all the bones in our bodies, the hands have the most flexible bone assembly and for good reason. Let’s take a look at how these bones and ligaments work to allow us this extreme flexibility of movement.

OK, so what are the bones in our hands?

There are 14 bones in each finger (and toes too!). Of these, they are broken down into three bone groups: Phalanges, Metacarpal and Carpal.

Phalanges

These are the actual fingers of your bones. They extend from the very tip of your nails down to the part when you can bend your fingers. The phalanges are then broken down into three additional categories: the distal, middle and proximal, with the exception of the thumb which has only two areas.

      • The distal phalanges are your fingertips. Ever hear the expression “sensitive to the touch”?, Well, it is these bones that are responsible for that! They have nerve endings that are designed to interpret the feelings of touch on your fingers into nerve impulses that are channeled to the brain.
      • The middle phalanx is just that, the middle bone section of the phalange It is connected to the distal phalanx at the top and the proximal phalanx at the bottom.
      • The proximal phalanx is the largest of the three bones in the finger, joined by the metacarpal and the middle phalanx as shown in the diagram.

Metacarpal bones

There is one of these bones with each finger, labeled Metacarpal I – Thumb, Metacarpal II – Index finger, Metacarpal III – Middle finger. Metacarpal IV – Ring finger and Metacarpal V – Little finger.

Carpal bones

The bones are located in the wrist area. There are eight of them and are relatively small compared to the other bones in the hands. The carpal are the bones that connect the hand bones to the forearm.
Heard of carpal tunnel? This happens when the nerves, namely the median nerve receives too much pressure, resulting in certain pain and if not resolved, can lead to nerve damage.

The median nerve is one of a group of nerves that originate in the neck. They combine to form a single nerve through the arm. The nerve then continues down the arm to the wrist and then into the hand.

Symptoms

      • Tingling and numbness in your fingers or hand. Usually the thumb and index, middle or ring fingers are affected, but not your little finger.
      • Weakness is another symptom.

Treatment

Carpal tunnel syndrome does not require hospitalization, rather standard home procedures should cure it. Some of treatments you can try are:

      • Take breaks from repetitive tasks, such as typing, which is the most popular method of acquiring the pain.
      • Stretch your hands and wrists whenever possible.
      • Try over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

Other Hand Issues

Arthritis

Arthritis, a common disorder that affects about 54 million people, almost all adults are diagnosed with arthritis. It refers to an inflammation of one or more of the joints. There are two types of arthritis that affect the joints of the hand and wrist. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis. AKA wear-and-tear arthritis mainly affects seniors and is caused by the cartilage in joints that wear away over time.

Rheumatoid arthritis is the result of the lining of the joints to swell.

Both can be painful, but over the counter medications can be the treatment for most people. If meds do not work, your doctor can decide the next step up to surgery, but usually meds will do the trick.

Conclusion

Our hands have evolved over millions of years to be the useful tools they are today. We share these gifts of nature with thousands of other species on the planet, but only now are we moving into a new generation where human hands will not be human, but android. Let’s hope they will be put into as good use as they are with we humanoids.

The Human Ribs

We at Howard Fensterman Charities believe that the more you know about your health, the better you are to identify ailments that may affect you during your lifespan or perhaps you just want to learn more about you your body functions. Either way, we welcome you here and hope you gain the knowledge you are seeking.

Drawing of the human ribsOur Ribs

Before we delve into our rib discussion, let’s lay the groundwork regarding some terms we should be familiar with.

Terms Associated with the Human Rib Cage

Rib Cage: So, we start with the rib cage, also known as the thoracic cage – what is it? Quite simply, it is the ribs that are attached along the vertebral column (spine).

Thoracic Vertebrae: These are the bones along the vertebral column between the cervical bones above and the lumbar vertebrae.

Sternum: Also known as the breastbone, it is a long flat bone situated in the central part of the chest. It connects to the ribs and forms the front of the rib cage and in doing so, it encloses and protects the heart and lungs from injury. It is one of the largest flat bones of the body.

Human Ribs Explained

X-Ray view of human ribs
X-Ray view of the rib cage

The human species have 24 ribs, separated in 12 pairs and are attached at the back to the thoracic vertebrae (spine). They are numbered from 1–12 (more on this later). Essentially, they are the bones that curve around the spine and form the majority of the thoracic cage. They are lightweight, but strong and are designed to protect the heart and lungs, also known as the thoracic organs.

There are 12 ribs in all on each side of the vertebral column and are designated into three categories: true (vertebrosternal) ribs, false (vertebrochondral) ribs and floating (vertebral, free) ribs. True ribs are the ones that attach directly to the sternum and are numbered one to seven. False ribs are numbered eight to ten are indirectly connected to the sternum.

What Happens When You Break a Rib?

Broken ribs are one of the most common injuries when it comes to fractured bones. The injuries are usually associated with sports or vehicle accidents. Generally speaking, broken ribs aren’t dangerous, but if they are cracked into numerous pieces, that could pose a problem. Similar to broken glass, there may be sharp or jagged edges stemming from one of the fractures and that can cause damage to internal organs or major blood vessels.

With that said, if you incur a broken rib, see a doctor. In most cases, fractured ribs can heal on their own in a few months, but it goes without saying that anytime you fracture a bone, you should seek medical help to be sure your health is not in jeopardy.

What are the Symptoms of Broken Ribs?

You may feel chest pressure or squeezing pain. If you do feel this, don’t second guess it because it may also be associated with a heart attack.

How Can I Prevent a Broken Rib?

Essentially you can’t if it occurs from an injury, but you can do some preventative maintenance such as:

    • Wear the appropriate protective equipment in sports.

    • Keep your floors clear of debris. One fall and you can get a bone broken. This is especially important for the elderly. Place a rubber mat in the shower.

    • Eat the right foods that contain calcium and vitamin D which is essential for maintaining strong bones. 1,200 milligrams of calcium and 600 International Units (IU) of vitamin D daily from food and vitamin supplements are recommended.

What is the Human Spine?

In our previous article, we discussed an overview of our bones and what they do (besides the obvious). Now let’s delve a bit deeper to learn what each section of our skeleton does, starting with the spine.

What is the Structure of the Spine?

Human Spine
Photo: Wikimedia (public domain)

The spine, also known as the vertebral column is that long curvey bone that we see on posters when we’re in the doctor’s office. It supports our upper body weight. It runs from the base of the skull to the tailbone, also known as the coccyx.

The spine supports our posture but allows us to move while allowing for movement. It also protects the spinal cord.

This column contains 26 bones in adults which include 24 separate vertebrae (interlocking bones that form the spine), but children (adolescent and younger) have 33 bones in the spine because the sacrum (a triangular set of five bones at the base of the spine just above the coccyx) does not fuse with the coccyx until adulthood.

Child-Adult Spine Increase
Child Spine Increases After Adulthood (Wikipedia Public Domain)

Vertebrae Structure

The vertebrae are divided up into three regions: cervical, thoracic and lumbar and contain several important parts: the body, vertebral foramen, spinous process and transverse process.

There are Five Major Regions of the Spine

    • Cervical: These are the vertebrae in the neck and form the cervical region of the spine. There are seven of them. They are the thinnest vertebrae in the spine, but they provide great flexibility to the neck area.
    • Thoracic: There are 12 vertebrae connected here and are in the chest area, known as the thoracic region. They are larger and stronger than the cervical vertebrae but are not as less flexible as the ones in the neck region.
    • Lumbar: You might have heard on commercials about the lumbar. These are five vertebrae in the lower back because there are many people who have issues in this area due to the fact that all of the upper body’s weight puts pressure on this area. These vendors offer cushions that help strengthen the lumbar area. Lumbar vertebrae are stronger than the thoracic vertebrae, but not strong enough to cause some people periodic pain.
    • Sacral: The sacrum is a single bone in the adult skeleton that is formed by the fusion of the five smaller vertebrae when adulthood starts.
    • Coccygeal: As the name suggests, this is where the coccyx resides. It is a single bone in the adult skeleton and is formed by the fusion of four vertebrae at the beginning of adulthood. Also known as the tailbone, it holds our body weight when we sit.

The Spine Numbering System

The Human Spine
Photo: Wikipedia

The spine is numbered by its the first letter of their vertebrae regions; accordingly, there are five categories of designation.

At the top of the vertical column are the seven cervical spinal nerves labeled C1 through C8. Then there are the 12 thoracic nerves, which are labeled T1 through T12.

Similarly, there are the 5 lumbar spinal nerves titled L1 through L5 and under the lumbar are the 5 sacral spinal nerves S1 through S5 and then the coccygeal of which there is 1.

What Are Some Diseases Associated with the Spine?

Otherwise known as back pain, there are many illnesses associated with the spine. There is Kyphosis, an abnormally excessive curvature of the spine and happens when the vertebrae in the upper back area become more wedge-shaped.

There also herniated disks. Known as the vertebral discs they have the function of shock absorption. With this disc becomes ruptured, it becomes smaller and is no longer able to provide as the amount of shock absorption is was initially intended for. This can result in back pain, sciatica and other disorders. Herniated discs can be caused by injury or from the normal wear and tear of aging. Treatment can be by medication and/or physical therapy and if these methods do not work, then surgery might be needed.

For a comprehensive list of spine disorders, please click here.

 

5 Health Benefits of Drinking Water

Young Girl Drinking Water
Photo by Johnny McClung on Unsplash

Water, the essential ingredient of life, but why is it essential? Why can’t we live without it and what are the benefits of drinking it? Here we will review its benefits and why it is so important to stay hydrated at all times.

1. Dehydration – Easily Prevented

First, what is dehydration?

When you feel thirsty, it is a sign that your body is telling you that you need to replenish yourself with liquids, so you grab a drink, but what if you don’t get that drink? What if there is no water available for a while? What if you are in a hot climate and need a drink but are miles away from any water source?

In these situations, you run the risk of getting dehydrated and that means that if you don’t rehydrate yourself within a reasonable amount of time, your organs will suffer, most specifically, your kidneys, heart and brain can be negatively affected.

This doesn’t mean that if you don’t drink anything right after a jog in the park on a hot day you will need to go to the emergency room, but it does mean that if you continue along this path of dehydration, you will start to feel the symptoms, which are:

    • Feeling tired
    • Dizziness
    • Dry mouth
    • Dry skin
    • Dark-colored urine

What symptoms you fell all depends upon your current health, as well as the environment you are in (e.g. hot climate, etc.). Some people can withstand a lack if water longer than others.

How Do You Prevent Dehydration?

If you are involved in any sport, are traveling or you know you will be in an area where liquids will be sparse, especially in hot climates, make sure you have some water bottles or drinks with you all times. Even bottles of soda will help with hydration.

2. H20 is Good ‘Food’ for Your Brain

The Neural Network in the Human BrainWater makes up 75 percent of your brain. If your brain does not have an adequate supply of this fluid you may feel foggy-headed and dizzy, but more importantly, it will affect your memory. This is especially crucial for the elderly to take note of.

Additionally, a lack of water in the brain will cause a deficiency in cognitive responses. Reduced electrolytes, which assist with the brain’s electrical signals can result in memory loss and other factors such as confusion.

3. Your Spinal Cord and Joints Depend Heavily on Water

You need to keep the tissues in your body moist. Usually, that is part of your body’s normal maintenance, but if dehydrated, your body will notify you. For one thing, your eyes, nose and mouth will feel dry. Your bones can get thirsty too, which is not good. Water acts as a lubricant and cushion to protect your bones, the spinal cord and the joints.

4. Water Aids in Digestion

Besides lubricating your body’s organs, water helps to break down the food you eat. The small and large intestines absorb water, which breaks down important nutrients. Water helps slow down digestion as this fiber turns to gel.

5. Your Heart Will Thank You

Illustration of a heartFor those who are not aware, your blood plasma is about 90 percent water. If you are dehydrated, you stand the risk of lower blood pressure to the point that you may feel light-headed or dizzy when you are standing up.  Now this condition can happen under other circumstances than dehydration (e.g. medication side effects), but if you haven’t drunk anything for a while, it may be that you are dehydrated; however, it these symptoms keep happening, a visit to the doctor would be the practical way to do.

How Much Water Do You Need?

On average, men need about four quarts of H20 per day and women should have about three quarts per day and it doesn’t have to be always water. It can be any type of fluid (but we’re not talking about alcohol here). Most beverages as well as certain fruits and vegetables. So grab that Gatorade. Eat that watermelon, but most of all, make sure you also drink the most natural fluid for your body – good old fashion water!